15 Best Soy Protein Powders | OriGym

Are you wondering ‘what is the best soy protein powder in the UK?’. If so, you’re in the right place! 

Here at OriGym, we’ve got you covered with our list of the 15 very best soy protein powders that you can buy today.

If you follow a plant based diet, drinking soy protein regularly is a great way of ensuring that you hit your protein goal with ease.  

Before we go any further, if you’re interested in a career in the health and fitness sector, why not check out our Advanced Sports Nutrition Course. Through OriGym, you can become a nutritionist, providing guidance and meal plan advice to those looking to see quicker results and lead healthier lives.

Otherwise, you can download our prospectus for further information about the range of courses that you can study with us! 

What is soy protein powder?

Very soon, we’re going to share our reviews of a whole range of products so that you can find the best soy protein powder for you. But first, we thought we would answer any questions that you might have about soy protein, starting by ‘what is it?’. Here we go!

Soy protein originates from the soya bean, a staple in most vegan diets due to its high protein content. Soy protein powder is made by processing soybeans until they become soy protein isolate. 

Unsure of how to eat soy protein powder? As with other kinds of protein powder, it can be used to make protein shakes or added into meals to increase your protein intake. 

This protein is a complete protein which means it has all of the essential amino acids (EAA) that your body requires. 

Amino acids are vital for your body to grow and function correctly. Nine of the amino acids cannot be made within the body. These are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. 

Because your body can’t make these amino acids, they must come from food. Amino acids are part of many animal protein foods like eggs and meat, but also some plant-based food staples such as soy, quinoa, and buckwheat. Hence, soy protein is vital for people who follow a plant based diet as they cannot eat animal products!

Now you know what soya protein is and why it is an important part of your diet (especially if you’re a vegan!), let’s find out if soy is actually better than whey!

What is better soy or whey protein powder?

When it comes to the ‘best kind of protein’, there’s no one size fits all approach! It really does depend on your individual goals, preferences, and dietary requirements. 

Even within the categories ‘whey’ and ‘soy’, the quality of protein powders will still differ from brand to brand. 

There is a much larger selection to choose from when it comes to whey protein so you can be spoilt for choice. Whey protein tends to be smoother and has a creamier texture as you drink them. Meanwhile, soy protein has a slightly more grainy texture, but again, it’s down to personal preference. 

However, if you’re looking to cut back on dairy, or you are lactose intolerant or vegan, your best bet would be to go for soy protein as you will still get the same amount of protein per serving as the whey protein. 

If you do not know how to use soy protein powder, don’t worry, you can still use it like regular whey protein and drink it as part of a shake before or after your workout. 

Now you know what it is, let’s find out where to buy soy protein powder!

Best Soy Protein Powders (UK)

#1 – BULK POWDERS – Pure Series Soya Protein Isolate 90

Price: from £6.29

Bulk Powders sell a large selection of protein supplement powders in various flavours. BULK are among the more popular supplement brands out there, with thousands of 5 star reviews on Amazon.

Their powder is made with purely 100% soy protein and is arguably the best soy protein isolate powder you can find on Amazon.

Wondering ‘what is soy isolate protein?’ Well, soy isolate is made from soybean flakes and has been thoroughly washed in alcohol or water to remove any sugars or fibre. After this process, the flakes are dehydrated and then turned into a powder ready to be sold. 

The protein powder is low in carbs and fat while being high in protein, with 27g of soy protein per serving!

Their soya powder also contains a high presence of BCAA’s, with two essential amino acids measuring in at 5g of glutamic acid and 2g of arginine per serving.  

This product is an unflavoured soy protein powder, common with other soy protein isolate powder products, so don’t be afraid to experiment with your protein shake if you want a more flavoursome taste!  

Bulk Powders sell their Pure Series Soya Protein Isolate 90 powder in 500g, 1kg, and 2.5kg sizes, meaning that you can buy as much as you want and for a price that is right for you too.

Speaking of price, don’t be put off by the fact that this is a cheap soy protein powder. Although this isn’t the most expensive product on our list, it's still a great quality option and is one of the best rated options according to previous buyers! 

This BULK POWDERS product has some of the best soy isolate protein powder reviews we’ve seen, making it an excellent value proposition for anyone looking for soy protein supplements.

If you do not follow a plant based diet but are looking for similarly priced protein powders, look at OriGym's article on the cheapest protein powders you can find online.

#2 – Pulsin Soya Protein 

Price: from £4.99

Pulsin has created a great all natural soy protein powder. Not only are their products as natural as possible, but they can also be used in various meals and recipes as opposed to just protein shakes. 

Pulsin’s gluten free soy protein powder is rich with isoflavones – a polyphenol that contains many health benefits – and packed with BCAA’s (branch chain amino acids) such as glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and arginine.  

If you’re wondering ‘what is the best soy protein powder for weight loss?’, Pulsin's soy gluten free protein powder could be a great choice for you as each serving is low in calories. 

Plus, because this protein powder is designed to be used in meals, you don’t have to consume a high-calorie soy protein shake on top of your daily meals. 

If that wasn’t enough to convince you that this is a great product, Pulsin also has some of the best soy protein powder reviews on Amazon, with 84% of their 461 reviews being 4 or 5 stars. 

Try their natural soy protein powder, and you won’t be disappointed. In fact, this product is selected as Amazon’s Choice for the soy protein powder category, which represents its great price to rating combination.

#3 – Myprotein – Gluten Free Soy Protein Powder

Price: £15.99

This Myvegan Soy Protein Isolate powder from Myprotein is made using an innovative process of extracting protein from defatted soybeans, resulting in a sugar free soy protein powder that uses sucralose as a sweetener. 

With one serving offering a generous 27g of soy protein, this powder is an easy way to quickly boost your protein intake if you follow a plant-based diet.

Simply pair the powder with your dairy-free milk of choice, and you have an excellent soy protein powder shake ready to go for after your workout. 

What’s more is their soy protein powder comes in a choice of flavours, so if you want their soy protein powder in vanilla or chocolate, you can choose either! 

It is also great to know that this product is also gluten-free. If you ask us, this is definitely the best soy based protein powder you can find on this list! 

#4 – SCI-MX Nutrition Pro V-Gain Plant Based Protein Powder

Price: £27.95

While not strictly just a soy protein powder, SCI-MX’s ‘plant based’ Pro V-Gain protein powder contains a blend of protein from plant sources made up of non-GMO 90% soy protein isolate, non-GMO 85% pea protein, and non-GMO 84% rice protein. 

Per serving, this protein powder by SCI-MX contains 33g of protein! This is a large amount for a single serving, especially considering that an adult male’s average protein intake for an adult male is around 55g per day.

Their soy protein powder in chocolate comes very highly rated, as do their strawberry and vanilla flavours, too. 

If you’re looking for the best soy based protein powder reviews, then this product with over 1000 reviews should be a great choice for you as 86% of these reviews come in at 4 or 5 stars!

However, one important note is that SCI-MX’s protein powder is produced in a shared factory that also produces other products that contain gluten, milk, eggs, nuts, and fish. So if you are allergic to any of these or don’t want to risk any contamination (no matter how small the chance), then maybe opt for another product on our list.

#5 – The Protein Works Soy Protein Isolate 90

Price: from £10.99

The Protein Works are another top supplement brand in the UK. With no added sugar, 0.2g of fat per serving, and 25g of purely plant-based protein, their Soy Protein Isolate 90 range is a solid choice for anyone looking for great tasting soy protein powder shakes.

One of The Protein Works’ unique selling points is the range of flavours available in their products. 

If you have a sweet tooth and aren’t interested in other unflavoured soy protein powders (although they do sell an unflavoured version), then choose your favourite flavour of soy protein powder like chocolate mint brownie, chocolate peanut cookie, chocolate silk, millionaire’s shortbread, vanilla, and vanilla crème.

If a great tasting protein powder is important to you, then The Protein Works’ Soy Protein Isolate 90 range should be the best soy based protein powder for you. 

#6 – Bodybuilding Warehouse – Pure Vegan Soy Protein Isolate

Price: from £8.98

Available in a range of sizes from 500g to 4kg, this Vegan Soy Protein Isolate Powder is a great choice of supplement for anyone wanting to buy their protein in bulk. 

This product is the best unflavoured soy protein powder for men. If you’re concerned about calories, this product works great with water! If you want to know how to make a soy protein shake taste better, you can just easily mix with your choice of milk and flavourings to create a more indulgent post-workout treat!

Speaking of post-workout, high-quality protein consumption after training has been shown to help increase muscle growth and prevent muscle soreness after exercise. This makes your choice of protein intake post-workout important, as well as your method of delivery. 

Protein shakes, such as this option from Bodybuilding Warehouse, provide a quick hit of high-quality, easily digestible protein, that may suit some people more than eating a full meal. 

If you’re looking for vegan bodybuilding soy protein powder, then look no further, as this protein supplement is made of 100% pure soy protein isolate which is completely vegan and gluten free at the same time.

#7 – PhD Nutrition Smart Protein Plant

Price: £14.99

Amazon’s Choice for PhD plant protein powder, this salted caramel flavour is extremely popular with consumers. This is shown through the hundreds of positive soy-based protein powder reviews for this particular flavour. 

PhD Nutrition is another well-known protein supplement brand that you may be familiar with. Their products are well made, well received, and consistently high quality; a great trifecta of properties that make PhD successful at what they do. 

You’ll find a pea protein and soy protein powder blend in this item to create a healthy, vegan friendly protein powder. 

To top this off, the salted caramel flavour makes the protein powder taste delicious. 

PhD recommend several recipes that are a perfect match for the salted caramel taste, and, of course, they also advise the good old fashioned protein shake.

#8 – Peak Supps Soy Protein Isolate

Price: £10.99

This soy isolate protein powder from Peak Supps is available in a variety of purchase options. Their standard 1kg bag is £10.99, yet you can purchase 5 bags for a discounted price, or even buy a 50g sample bag if you just want to give it a try.

This protein source comes from a soy lecithin protein powder, which means it may be a suitable choice for people trying to deal with high cholesterol. 

Total calories from this supplement remain low while the protein count is high, with 109 calories and 27g of protein per serving. This is great news for anyone looking to find ways to increase muscle growth rate and fast track recovery post-workout without adding too many calories to their diet. 

As well as this, the pure soy protein powder also contains a high and varied mix of BCAA’s which are useful for anyone who frequently exercises and wants to enhance their performance in the gym.

#9 - Protein Works Vegan Soy Protein Powder 

Price: From £10.99

If you’re on the lookout for soy protein powders, Protein Works have a fantastic option that can help you to achieve your health and fitness goals. 

This is a 100% natural and plant-based recipe that uses only the finest ingredients. 

Compared with other vegan shakes on the market, this soy protein shake powder contains 5 different sources of protein. These include:

• Soy
• Pea
• Brown rice
• Hemp
• Sunflower

Each protein source has its own unique nutritional profile that allows you to get a more complete nutrient intake.

With that, the range has no added sugar while being low in fat. Each serving contains 25g of protein which is certainly impressive. 

There are copious flavour options with Protein Works’ range, such as:

• Vanilla
• Chocolate
• Cookies and Cream
• Salted Caramel
• Millionaire’s Shortbread… just to name a few

This helps you to keep your soy protein powder intake varied and interesting, thus ensuring that you remain on track to achieving your health and fitness goals.

#10 - Star Nutrition Soy Isolate Protein Powder 

Price: From £18.99

Next up on our list of the best soy protein shake powder is a range by Star Nutrition. 

Their soy isolate protein powder is a vegan-friendly powder that is made from soybeans. 

Between 77-84% of each serving is protein as well as being low in sugar. Each 30g serving contains 23.3g of protein which is certainly an impressive profile.

With that, the protein contains all essential amino acids and so while supporting your fitness goals, you’re still getting a complete nutrition intake. 

The protein comes in the following flavours:

• Chocolate
• Vanilla
• Unflavoured

The cheapest is chocolate, priced at just £18.99 per kilo which is a very reasonable price compared with other soy isolate proteins on the market. 

Now, when shopping around for soy protein powders, reviews can help you to make a decision.

Star Nutrition’s range has over 20 5-star reviews with many enjoying the richness of the vanilla and chocolate flavours as well as the versatility that the unflavoured option provides.

One reviewer commented:

“Excellent source of protein for vegetarians, vegans, people with dairy intolerances, or just wanting a varied source of protein. 

It’s ideal for adding extra protein without any unwanted calories and has an impressive 23.3g of protein per 30g serving.” 

So, if you’re wanting the best soy powder proteins on the market, Star Nutrition is most certainly up there.

#11 - T-Nutrition Soy Isolate Protein 

Price: £29.57

If you’re looking for soy protein powder for men and women that enjoy bulking, T-Nutrition’s soy isolate protein is a great go-to. 

Each serving contains 25.6g of protein and so can assist you in achieving your health, fitness, and bodybuilding goals.

Plus, each serving is 100% soy protein while offering an impressive source of amino acids, both of which are important for building lean muscle.

There are two flavours available by T-Nutrition, either vanilla or chocolate. 

This helps you to keep your protein intake varied and interesting as well as making it easy to incorporate protein powder into other foods. 

Here are some of the ways that you could use your soy protein powders:

• As a pancake mix
• Smoothies
• Cakes
• Into porridge and rice pudding
• Into hot chocolates

Each of these offers a different sweet treat to keep your muscle-building regime on track.

So, if you’re on the hunt for soy powder proteins, T-Nutrition is well worth checking out in time for your next workout.

#12 – Nature’s Sunshine – Soy Protein Shake

Price: £19.95

Nature’s Sunshine’s SynerProTein is unique compared to other soy protein powders on this list as it contains a couple of additional nutrients that you don’t typically find in most supplements. 

The SynerPro Concentrate mix comprises a range of whole foods such as broccoli, carrot, red beet, rosemary, tomato, turmeric, cabbage, and grapefruit. This means that this soy protein isolate powder from Nature’s Sunshine is nutrient dense and high in protein.

On top of this, the antioxidants from the whole foods and their health benefits, including turmeric, can be very beneficial when reducing heart disease risks or dealing with carcinogens in the body. 

Aside from what makes this soy protein powder unique, it also contains the benefits of most other soy protein supplements. 

This product is suitable for vegans, gluten-free, and comes from a non-GMO source of soy. 

Nature’s Sunshine claim that the formula behind their SynerProTein mix comes from Dr James Scala, a nutritionist for NASA – so if you want a supplement that comes backed by science (or just want bragging rights over your mates!) then opt for this soy protein powder.   

#13 - Naturya Soy Spirulina Protein Powder 

Price: £5.99

This next option offers you something a little different from the previous powders; a soy protein concentrate powder. 

Spirulina is an ancient blue and green algae that can be found underwater. It contains a plethora of plant-based nutrients. 

Each pack contains 66% protein as well as being rich in fibre.

It also contains vitamin B1 and B2 which promotes healthy heart and psychological functions as well as offering protection from oxidative stress. 

High amounts of vitamin A can be found in each serving which can help to maintain healthy immune functions. 

A 30g serving of Naturya’s soy protein concentrate powder contains 20g of protein and so can help to enhance your health and fitness goals as well as providing a wealth of other benefits too. 

The range has some pretty impressive reviews with an average rating of 4.5/5-stars. Here is a reviewers comments that can help to influence you into opting with Naturya:

“It’s easily absorbed energy for your body. Can be used either sprinkled over a morning cereal or included in a smoothie. Start the day with a bonus! I recommend this product.”

So, if you approached this article wanting to discover some soy spirulina protein powders, Naturya’s product is one of the best on offer.

#14 – Buy Whole Foods Online - Organic Soy Protein Powder

Price: from £4.48

This Buy Whole Foods soy protein powder is a great low fat vegan option for anyone looking for protein supplements in the UK. 

This particular soy protein powder contains ‘nil’ carbohydrates, and so if you are looking for a soy protein powder for diabetics, then this may be a great choice to help keep your blood sugar in check. 

In fact, now that we’re on the subject, we should discuss the potential benefits that soy has for people with diabetes. Soy products contain isoflavones - phytoestrogens derived from plants with estrogenic activity. 

While these compounds have some contentious properties among scientists and health professionals, what is known is their ability to lower blood pressure by producing nitric oxide that opens blood vessels. 

On top of this, there is also research on whether isoflavones lower blood glucose and insulin levels. 

As far as soy protein powders go, this one from Buy Whole Foods Online is a good choice. With 27g of protein per serving and the ability to purchase a small sample size of 250g to see if you like it, there is a lot to offer here for customers looking for a good offer. 

And if you are looking for a specific organic protein supplement, then this product from Buy Whole Foods Online could be the best organic soy protein powder in the UK for you.

#15 - BeNu Complete Balanced Nutrition

Price: From £8.99

Finding the best soy protein powder for women and weight loss can be difficult which is why MyProtein's new BeNu range is getting a lot of attention. 

BeNu Complete is not just another protein or diet shake - it’s a nutritionally complete meal and one of the easiest ways to get all the required nutrients into your body. 

Each tasty serving contains a rich nutrition formula containing the following:

• Soy protein isolate
• Whey protein concentrate
• Gluten-free oat flour
• Essential vitamins and minerals

There is also a range of benefits of this soy protein shake powder such as:

• Balanced macronutrient split
• 1 meal contains ⅓ of your daily needs
• Contains 27 essential minerals and vitamins
• Digestion support
• Immunity support

Priced from £8.99, this is a cost-effective way of shedding some pounds while still providing your body with all of the nutrients that it needs.

It also has over 20 5-star reviews with many enjoying the shake’s richness despite being low in calories compared to meals (400 calories per serving). 

So, if you’re searching for the best soy weight loss shake, be sure to check out BeNu Complete - we’re sure it’s everything that you’re looking for.

FAQ’s

How much soy protein is too much?

Like with most foods you eat, everything in your diet needs to be varied and balanced. As mentioned before, having soy protein is a great way to cut back on dairy and meat. 

Unsure of how many grams of soy protein to consume per day? According to Healthline,  if you eat or drink 25 grams of soy protein per day, which is the average amount of protein per shake, it’ll help reduce the bad cholesterol (LDL) by up to 3%. 

You don’t have to worry and think ‘how much soy protein per day should I eat and drink?’, as you’d have to consume an awful lot of this protein powder to see any serious side effects. At the same time, even having the odd soy protein shake will have some benefit and will help you to swap meat and dairy out of your diet.

What are the drawbacks of soy protein?

With all food and drink, there will be people asking ‘why is soy protein bad for you?’ One concern about soy is that it is thought to affect thyroid function. However, in a study by Messina et al, eating soy protein was found to have very mild or no thyroid function effects.

Another reason that some people steer away from soy protein is because of its phytoestrogen content. If you didn’t know, phytoestrogens are chemical compounds with estrogen properties that help bind to your body. If you eat foods that contain high amounts of phytoestrogen content, it could disrupt your natural hormone levels. 

However, the initial process of making soy protein often means that a significant portion of phytoestrogen is removed by rinsing the soybeans with alcohol and water. 

So to anybody asking ‘why is soy protein bad for you?’, the answer is that soy is safe for most people and isn’t bad at all! The potential drawbacks that have been listed above is for soy as a whole rather than soy protein.

Before you go!

The soy protein powders listed above are the best 15 you can find online! Each product has its selling points, but we know you will love whichever one you choose.

Compared to other vegan protein sources, drinking soy protein blows the competition out of the water when it comes to the amount of protein you receive from each shake. 

If you’re interested in a career helping clients lead healthier lives through diet & nutrition, enquire about our Level 4 Sports Nutrition Course.

Otherwise, download our free prospectus for more information! 

References

Messina et al. 2006. Effects of Soy Protein and Soybean Isoflavones on Thyroid Function in Healthy Adults and Hypothyroid Patients: A Review of the Relevant Literature. Available at: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/thy.2006.16.249

Goodson, 2018. Soy Protein: Good or Bad? Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/soy-protein-good-or-bad#bottom-line