Greens powders are a concentrated source of nutrition—they are dried green vegetables in powder form, and some can have added ingredients. For example, some greens powders have added protein that may be helpful for active people, and others have probiotics for digestive health.
Greens powders may be helpful for many people including athletes, travelers, and people who are pressed for time and looking for a nutrition boost, especially when it’s harder to get enough whole fruits and vegetables.
To find the best options for a greens powder, we taste-tested 39 greens powders ourselves and spoke with four registered dietitians to determine the best greens powders on the market. In our testing, we rated their texture, taste, aftertaste, smell, and value. In selecting our top picks, we considered these characteristics, and we prioritized third-party-tested options whenever possible.
Our team of registered dietitians reviews and evaluates every single supplement we recommend according to our dietary supplement methodology. From there, a registered dietitian on our Medical Expert Board reviews each article for scientific accuracy. Always speak with a healthcare professional before adding a supplement to your routine to ensure that the supplement is appropriate for your individual needs and which dosage to take.
AG1
Dietary Considerations: Vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, dairy-free | Flavors: None | Sweetener: Stevia | Third-Party Tested: Yes, NSF | Note-Worthy Ingredients: Raw superfood complex, herbs, antioxidants, digestive enzyme & super mushroom complex, dairy-free probiotics
AG1 by Athletic Greens is a comprehensive greens supplement perfect for those who want it all: a superfood complex, herbs, antioxidants, digestive enzymes, mushroom extract, and probiotics. There are a total of 75 ingredients intended to aid with digestive health, energy, immunity, hormonal support, and longevity.
As a result, it’s an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals, including B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin A, biotin, zinc, chromium, and more. That being said, if you’re taking other vitamin or mineral supplements, you’ll want to check the amounts of vitamins and minerals from all supplements to be sure you aren’t getting too much of any nutrient. Also, some of the ingredients (like astragalus and licorice root) lack thorough research to support their benefits, so you and a healthcare provider should decide whether you’re comfortable with that or not.
All three of the RDs we interviewed for this article recommend AG1 because of its third-party testing and high-quality standards. Since it’s NSF Certified for Sport, it’s a good choice for athletes (or anyone) who want to be sure their greens powder is free from banned substances or contaminants. Plus, we love that you can buy AG1 in a big canister or travel packets so you can have it at home or on the go.
We really like the flavor and texture of AG1 in our testing. We think it’s a great balance of being creamy, slightly sweet, and earthy. It even tasted good, just mixed into water. While it has a smooth texture, we did notice some sediment build up in the bottom of the glass after mixing, but it was not a lot.
While the comprehensive nutrition of AG1 may be a plus for some, it also increases the risk of side effects or drug-nutrient interactions. Plus, the exact amounts of most ingredients are not listed on the supplement facts label. Speak with a healthcare provider before starting AG1, especially if you’re taking other supplements or medications.
Amazon
Dietary Considerations: Organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO | Flavors: Hint of vanilla | Sweetener: Stevia | Third-Party Tested: Yes | Note-Worthy Ingredients: Plant-based protein blend, super greens blend with spirulina, wheatgrass, barley grass, and chlorella
Sakara’s Organic Protein + Greens Super Powder has our highest testing scores thanks to its high-quality standards, simple ingredient list, and pleasant flavor. Plus, it’s recommended by Brooke Baird, Registered Dietitian and owner of Simply Divine Nutrition. She loves this powder because it has 12 grams of plant protein per serving, along with greens like spirulina and chlorella. The protein comes from a mix of pea, hemp, and pumpkin to ensure you’ll get all of the essential amino acids. In turn, it’s a good protein snack after a workout or anytime you want a filling snack.
We also appreciate each serving has 3.7 grams, or 20% of the daily value (DV), of iron, which can be a nutrient hard to get enough of from food, especially for those who are vegan or vegetarian. Unlike many other greens powders, we love that this one has just four greens. This reduces the likelihood of unwelcome medication interactions or side effects from adaptogens and herbs. However, it’s still likely high in vitamin K and may interact with certain medications, like blood thinners or other supplements.
We like Sakara’s smooth texture and lovely vanilla flavor. It mixes well into water and would also taste good when mixed into non-dairy milk. The smell is fresh and minty, although the taste is more vanilla. There is a subtle vanilla aftertaste, but it didn’t last long and wasn’t unpleasant.
Our tester says, “I noticed the flavor profile tastes more like a protein smoothie than a green powder. It has a pleasant, mild vanilla flavor, which can appeal to people averse to straight-up green powders.”
Some may find the vanilla flavor slightly overwhelming, but we liked that it was sweet and not earthy tasting.
Amazon
Dietary Considerations: Gluten-free, non-GMO | Flavors: None | Sweetener: N/A | Third-Party Tested: Yes | Note-Worthy Ingredients: Green food blend, antioxidant blend, fiber blend, and digestive enzyme & active culture pre/probiotic blend
Many greens powders are meant to be mixed into cold water, but we love that Amazing Grass Greens Blend The Original can easily be mixed into hot water or milk for a slightly sweet drink. We also love that it’s a budget-friendly choice. Recommended by Ilkay, it includes your standard mix of chlorella, spirulina, wheat grass, barley grass, and other greens, but it also has an antioxidant blend made of ingredients like rose hips, pineapple, carrot, green tea leaf extract, and more.
Unlike other greens powders, this one also has a fiber blend that contributes a total of three grams of fiber per serving. Not all greens powders are a good source of fiber, so we like that this one has fiber, like you would get eating whole green vegetables.
We appreciate that the label states the total vitamin K content, as this is a nutrient found in high amounts in greens powders that’s especially important for people on blood thinners to be aware of. We think it has a delightful matcha flavor without any added sugars.
Our tester says, “This one tastes really good. It kind of tastes like matcha. It tastes sweet without being overly sweet and without tasting artificial. It really tastes like a matcha drink I would get at a coffee shop. I was surprised to see that it only has three grams of sugar.”
The texture for this pick is more grainy than others—it’s not as smooth. It doesn’t mix well when we stir it with a spoon, so we recommend mixing it with a shaker bottle or blender.
Note that it contains digestive enzymes, which not everyone will want to take. It also has some herbal ingredients that increase the risk of side effects or drug-nutrient interactions.
Live It Up
Dietary Considerations: Vegan, non-GMO | Flavors: Original, wild berries | Sweetener: Monk fruit extract | Third-Party Tested: Yes | Note-Worthy Ingredients: Greens blend, digestive enzyme complex, dairy-free probiotics
Many greens powders don’t list the amounts of each vitamin and mineral per serving, but not Live It Up. They clearly list the amounts per serving of 22 vitamins and minerals, which is valuable, especially if you’re taking other vitamin or mineral supplements that put you at risk of exceeding the safe upper limit. It’s also valuable information if you’re taking any prescription medications that may interact with this greens powder.
Plus, for those concerned about gut health, each serving of this greens powder has 5 billion CFUs of probiotics, made up of four probiotic strains. Some other greens powders contain probiotics, but in doses likely too small to have a beneficial effect, so we like that this dosage is within the range of other probiotic supplements.
We think this powder has a delightfully sweet and minty flavor with no unpleasant aftertaste. We enjoy it mixed in water, oat milk, or even coffee. Although it took some work to stir it into water in a glass, we found that using a blender bottle did the trick for getting a smooth consistency.
This supplement has digestive enzymes from papaya and pineapple, which some people may be allergic to.
Amazon
Dietary Considerations: Vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free | Flavors: Acaí lemonade, pomegranate berry | Sweetener: Sugar, stevia | Third-Party Tested: Yes, NSF | Note-Worthy Ingredients: Greens mix, high-performance recovery complex, antioxidants, digestive and absorption blend with probiotics
Recommended by Callins, Biosteel’s Sports Greens are designed with athletes in mind. Not only are they NSF Certified for Sport, but they contain a mix of antioxidants like quercetin and turmeric to promote exercise recovery and performance.
Studies have shown that quercetin supplementation promotes muscle recovery and reduces soreness for people with varying fitness levels. Other studies show that turmeric may reduce inflammation post-workout, which could lead to less muscle soreness.
This supplement also has antioxidants from goji, maqui berry, camu camu, tart cherry, blueberry, and green tea. There’s also astaxanthin combined with glutamine and leucine—amino acids that may also play a role in exercise recovery. Plus, it contains inulin and black pepper to support gut health and nutrient absorption.
We tested the acai lemonade flavor, which resembled a minty lemon fruit punch. Thanks to the mint, the aftertaste was fresh and just a bit earthy. It mixes well into water without feeling grainy or leaving any clumps. We also think this would be great mixed into a smoothie because of the fruity flavor.
The amounts of each ingredient and of most vitamins and minerals are not clearly listed on the label.
Amazon
Dietary Considerations: Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, organic, non-GMO | Flavors: Greens, mint, watermelon | Sweetener: N/A | Third-Party Tested: Yes | Note-Worthy Ingredients: Greens, veggie, and fruit blend, digestive health blend, fermented botanical and mushroom blend
Each serving of Ancient Nutrition’s Organic Super Greens has over 25 nutrient-dense foods, 2 billion CFUs of probiotics, and 10 digestive enzymes. It also includes a mix of adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms like ashwagandha root, reishi mycelium, and astragalus root extract.
You’ll find a mix of veggies and fruits in this powder which contributes a number of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. However, these amounts are not disclosed on the supplements facts label which makes it hard to ensure you don’t exceed the safe upper limit if combining this supplement with others.
This powder is USDA-certified organic and free from added sugars, dairy, gluten, and soy.
What makes this our favorite organic option is how well we like the taste and texture. It mixes very well into water, with no sediment left in the glass at the end. We also like the fruity flavor with just a hint of earthiness. You can definitely enjoy this greens powder just mixed in water.
The probiotic dosage (2 billion CFUs) is at the time of manufacturing, so it may not actually have this many probiotics when you take it. Plus, there are many herbs and adaptogens in this greens powder that lack sufficient research to confirm their purported benefits.
Amazon
Dietary Considerations: Organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan | Flavors: None | Sweetener: None | Third-Party Tested: Yes | Note-Worthy Ingredients: Only six ingredients: wheatgrass, barley grass, moringa, baobab, spirulina, and chlorella
Many greens powders have a long list of ingredients, but not this one. Your Super Super Green Mix has just six ingredients: wheatgrass, barley grass, moringa, baobab, spirulina, and chlorella. These are all sea- and land-sourced plants with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients that you may be missing out on if you don’t eat many veggies. There are no added sweeteners, fillers, or flavors, making this a great green powder for those who want just greens and nothing extra.
Each serving has two grams of fiber—7% of the DV—so it also adds a little more fiber to your day. Otherwise, there’s only information on the amounts of the four vitamins and minerals required to be on a nutrition facts label (vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium). Yet, this supplement is likely a source of vitamin K, iron, zinc, vitamin C, and B-vitamins.
What makes this green powder stand out to us is how easily it mixes into water. In just 15 seconds, you can have a smooth beverage with minimal sediment remaining at the end. Since there are no added sweeteners or flavors, the taste and smell are quite earthy. We could see it going well in either a sweet smoothie or a savory soup. Of course, you can also enjoy it simply mixed in water if you like that grassy green flavor. Your Super recommends taking it as a wellness shot or mixing it into a smoothie since it has a very earthy flavor.
The limited nutrition information makes it impossible to know exactly how much and which vitamins and minerals this powder has.
Amazon
Dietary Considerations: Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, organic | Flavors: Orange | Sweetener: Monk fruit | Third-Party Tested: Yes | Note-Worthy Ingredients: Grass blend, greens blend, digestive adaptogens and prebiotics
Ora Organic Easy Being Green is full of greens, adaptogens, and herbs. Each serving has 9–10% of the DV for vitamins A, C, and K. This is a decent amount, but it’s lower compared to other greens powders, which makes it a good complement to a balanced diet. As an added bonus, each serving has two grams of fiber.
The digestive adaptogens and prebiotic blend include two plants traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine—ashwagandha and Triphala. Ashwagandha may reduce stress and anxiety and improve sleep, but more studies are necessary to evaluate its safety long-term. Meanwhile, Triphala has prebiotic benefits, supporting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. The efficacy of these ingredients in Western medicine needs to be further evaluated since their benefits have primarily been seen in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.
Finally, we appreciate that Ora provides a certificate of approval for their products that verifies the accuracy of the supplement facts label.
The orange flavor is subtle, so we suggest using it in a smoothie with other fruits to have a stronger flavor. We also recommend adding it to a smoothie because it noticeably makes the texture thicker when just mixed with water. We like that there is no aftertaste with this, even if you drink it with just water.
Some ingredients in this supplement may be harmful if you’re taking certain medications or if you have certain medical conditions. For example, ashwagandha may interact with medications for diabetes, high blood pressure, immune suppression, seizures, and thyroid conditions.
Swolverine
Dietary Considerations: Vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, soy-free | Flavors: Natural orange | Sweetener: Stevia, monk fruit | Third-Party Tested: Yes | Features: Super greens, antioxidant-rich reds, adaptogens, digestive enzymes & absorption blend
We love that Swolverine Greens+Reds thoroughly lists the amounts of each ingredient and of many vitamins and minerals. This transparency allows you (and a healthcare professional) to make an informed decision about whether this supplement is best for you to take based on your health conditions and medication regimen.
It includes a mix of greens, fruits, seeds, herbs, adaptogens, and digestive enzymes intended to promote digestive and immune health. It’s a great choice for those who want a 2-in-1 supplement with both fruit and veggies.
Plus, there are four grams of protein in each serving—not nearly as much as a protein shake, but enough to boost the protein content of a smoothie or glass of milk.
Swolverine reports that their products are all third-party tested and shares the Certificate of Analysis for each of their products, verifying that they’re not contaminated with harmful pathogens.
This supplement is sweetened with both stevia and monk fruit, which gives more of an artificial flavor. Behind the sweet flavor is a noticeable taste of greens, similar to green tea. We found that it was more palatable and had a better texture when mixed into 20-40 ounces of water instead of the 8 ounces recommended by the manufacturer.
This could be a good pick to help you drink more water since we think it’s best mixed with 20-40 ounces of water.
Amazon
Dietary Considerations: Organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, soy-free | Flavors: Original, apple, chocolate | Sweetener: N/A | Third-Party Tested: Yes | Note-Worthy Ingredients: Green juice blend, fruit & veggie juice antioxidant blend, sprout blend, raw probiotic & enzyme blend
Lots of greens powders use stevia for sweetness, but not Garden of Life Raw Organic Perfect Food Green Superfood Juiced Greens Powder. It’s stevia-free, making it a great option for those who don’t want the taste of artificial sweeteners.
It contains a mix of 40 greens, sprouts, and vegetables that are juiced and then dried within an hour of harvesting to preserve the nutrients. It also has added probiotics and enzymes to support gut health.
Even with all those ingredients, we like that it’s free from adaptogens since this may make it safer for those with certain health conditions or those taking prescription medications; however, it’s still important to check with a healthcare provider before starting this supplement.
This has a fruity, grassy, and earthy flavor. The powder didn’t mix well into the eight ounces of water recommended, so we recommend using at least 10 ounces or blending it for a better texture. We also found it had a slightly bitter aftertaste, but it wasn’t strong.
If you have food allergies, note that some enzymes are sourced from papaya and pineapple.
While these didn’t make our top picks, they are still worth mentioning.
The benefits of greens powders are largely due to their vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant content. Some greens powders also include probiotics, protein, and digestive enzymes, which can have the following benefits:
In addition to speaking with experts and researching each product with our nutrition methodology, we tested 39 greens powders in our Testing Lab. We prepared the greens powders in water according to the manufacturer’s directions and then we used them at least 1–2 times a week for over a month. We continue to test green powders on an ongoing basis to make sure we are providing the best options on the market, based on the following criteria:
Third-party testing is important to be sure that the ingredients and dosages listed on the supplement facts label are accurate and that the greens powder isn’t contaminated with unsafe levels of heavy metals like lead or mercury. We prioritize products that are third-party tested and certified by one of three independent third-party certifiers: USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab.com. However, there are other certifiers, and some manufacturers do not disclose who does their third-party testing.
Amazon is starting to require third-party testing for certain products, but for now, that does not include green powders. That’s why we are diligent in making sure to recommend products that are third-party tested, or at least let you know if they are not, so you can make an informed decision.
While it’s a good idea for everyone to prioritize third-party tested greens powders whenever possible, it’s especially important for competitive athletes to be sure there aren’t any anabolic steroids or other banned substances in their greens powder, says Callins. Additionally, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, taking a third-party tested greens powder is especially important.
Some greens powders have a long list of ingredients, while others have just a handful. Either way, there are a few ingredients you’ll find in most greens powders. There are some drug-nutrient interactions to be aware of with all of these ingredients, and green powders may not be recommended if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have medical conditions like kidney disease, diabetes, or liver disease. Common ingredients with interactions include:
We interviewed three registered dietitians about the benefits, drawbacks, and safety considerations of taking greens powders. We also asked about their favorite greens powders. Another registered dietitian was interviewed to establish our greens powders testing process. The experts we interviewed are:
Isabel Vasquez RD, LDN is a registered dietitian, experienced freelance health and nutrition writer, and the founder of Nourishing Narratives LLC. Her work is especially focused on helping individuals divest from a one-size-fits-all approach to health and connect with their unique needs. In her work as a dietitian, she regularly examines supplements to ensure they are high-quality before recommending them to her patients, clients, and readers.
Holly Klamer MS, RDN is our nutrition commerce editor. She helps give nutrition and third-party ratings for all our greens powders we test, and she has personal experience with tasting many of the greens powders we recommend.
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