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100% Plant-Based

Best Vegan Snacks: 15 Plant-Based Options Worth Trying

I'll be honest with you, I personally follow a carnivore-style diet and believe animal foods are the most nutrient-dense options available. But I understand that many of you choose vegan eating for ethical, environmental, or health reasons, and I respect that. If you're going to eat plant-based, I want to help you find the best options that actually taste good and provide solid nutrition. The vegan snack market has exploded, which means there's a lot of garbage out there alongside some genuinely good options. I've researched dozens of products to find 15 vegan snacks that deliver on taste, use quality ingredients, and provide actual nutritional value, not just empty carbs with a "plant-based" label slapped on them.

What Makes a Snack Truly Vegan?

A truly vegan snack contains zero animal products or derivatives. This means no meat, dairy, eggs, honey, gelatin, or hidden animal-derived additives. "Plant-based" is often used loosely and may include animal products, always check ingredients.

Look For:

  • • Certified vegan labels
  • • Whole food ingredients (nuts, seeds, fruits)
  • • Plant-based proteins (pea, rice, hemp)
  • • Natural sweeteners (dates, maple syrup)

Watch Out For:

  • • Whey, casein, lactose (milk derivatives)
  • • Honey (bee product)
  • • Gelatin (animal bones/skin)
  • • Carmine, cochineal (insect-based dye)

Quick Comparison: Best Vegan Snacks at a Glance

Product Best For Protein Calories Buy
Aloha Organic Protein Bar High Protein 14g 230 Amazon
GoMacro MacroBar Sustained Energy 10-12g 260-290 Amazon
KIND Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Satisfying Crunch 6g 200 Amazon
HIPPEAS Chickpea Puffs Chip Alternative 4g 130 Amazon
88 Acres Seed Bar Nut-Free Option 4g 200 Amazon
LARABAR Fruit & Nut Bar Minimal Ingredients 4-5g 200-220 Amazon
Siete Grain-Free Tortilla Chips Chip Lovers 2g 140 Amazon
Solely Organic Fruit Jerky Sweet Craving 0g 60-80 Amazon
LesserEvil Organic Popcorn Low Calorie 2g 110-140 Amazon
The Only Bean Roasted Edamame Highest Protein 11g 100 Amazon
MadeGood Granola Bars School-Safe 2g 100 Amazon
Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers Savory Snacking 3g 150 Amazon
Hu Dark Chocolate Chocolate Craving 2g 180 Amazon
Biena Roasted Chickpeas Crunchy Protein 6g 140 Amazon
That's It Fruit Bars Cleanest Ingredients 1g 100 Amazon

15 Best Vegan Snacks: Detailed Reviews

1. Aloha Organic Protein Bar - Best High-Protein Vegan Bar

Calories: 230 | Protein: 14g | Sugar: 5g | Fiber: 10g

Aloha Protein Bars are one of the better vegan protein bars I've come across. They use brown rice and pea protein to deliver 14g of plant protein without the chalky texture that plagues many vegan bars. The ingredient list is clean, organic, non-GMO, and free from the seed oils that I typically warn against. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip flavors are particularly good. If you're going to use a vegan protein bar, this is a solid choice. Check Price on Amazon

2. GoMacro MacroBar - Best Meal Replacement

Calories: 260-290 | Protein: 10-12g | Sugar: 10-12g | Fiber: 3-5g

GoMacro bars are organic, plant-based, and made with real food ingredients. They're on the larger side (2.3oz) which makes them work well as a meal replacement or substantial snack. The Everlasting Joy (coconut, almond butter, chocolate chips) is their best seller for good reason. My issue: some flavors are higher in sugar than I'd prefer, so choose carefully. The Protein Pleasure line keeps sugar around 8-10g which is more reasonable. Check Price on Amazon

3. KIND Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt - Best Everyday Snack

Calories: 200 | Protein: 6g | Sugar: 5g | Fiber: 7g

KIND bars are everywhere for a reason, they're convenient, reasonably priced, and taste good. The Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt variety is vegan (many KIND flavors contain honey, so always check). You can see the whole almonds through the wrapper, and the dark chocolate coating provides sweetness without excessive sugar. Not a protein powerhouse, but a solid everyday snack that won't spike your blood sugar. Check Price on Amazon

4. HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Puffs - Best Chip Alternative

Calories: 130 | Protein: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 3g

If you're looking for a vegan chip alternative, HIPPEAS delivers. Made from chickpeas instead of potatoes or corn, they provide more protein and fiber than regular chips. The Vegan White Cheddar flavor is surprisingly good. However, check the oil used, some flavors contain sunflower oil, which I generally avoid. The Sea Salt flavor uses coconut oil, making it the cleaner choice. Check Price on Amazon

5. 88 Acres Seed Bar - Best Nut-Free Option

Calories: 200 | Protein: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Fiber: 3g

88 Acres makes seed-based bars that are not only vegan but also free from the top 14 allergens, including nuts. If you or someone you know has nut allergies, these are a godsend. Made with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and watermelon seeds, they offer a different flavor profile than nut-based bars. The Triple Berry Crumble is particularly tasty. Great option for schools with allergen restrictions. Check Price on Amazon

6. LARABAR Fruit & Nut Bar - Best Minimal Ingredients

Calories: 200-220 | Protein: 4-5g | Sugar: 18-20g | Fiber: 4g

LARABAR's claim to fame is simplicity, most flavors contain just 3-9 ingredients. The Cashew Cookie flavor is literally just cashews and dates. I appreciate the transparency, though the sugar content (even from dates) runs high. These work better as a pre-workout energy source than an everyday snack. If you're looking for minimal processing and recognizable ingredients, LARABAR delivers. Check Price on Amazon

7. Siete Grain-Free Tortilla Chips - Best Grain-Free Chips

Calories: 140 | Protein: 2g | Sugar: 0g | Fiber: 2g

Siete makes cassava-based tortilla chips that are grain-free, vegan, and actually taste like real chips. The Sea Salt flavor is my go-to, crispy, well-salted, and great with guacamole. They use avocado oil instead of seed oils, which is a significant plus. The Lime flavor adds a nice tang. These are proof that vegan snacks don't have to be weird health food, they can just be good food. Check Price on Amazon

8. Solely Organic Fruit Jerky - Best Sweet Craving Fix

Calories: 60-80 | Protein: 0g | Sugar: 12-15g | Fiber: 2g

For a sweet snack with minimal processing, Solely's organic fruit jerky is just dried fruit, no added sugars, preservatives, or anything else. The Mango and Pineapple varieties are like eating the actual fruit in portable form. Obviously there's no protein here, but if you're craving something sweet, this beats candy. Good for kids too, though watch portion sizes given the natural sugar content. Check Price on Amazon

9. LesserEvil Organic Popcorn - Best Low-Calorie Crunch

Calories: 110-140 | Protein: 2g | Sugar: 0-3g | Fiber: 2g

Popcorn is naturally vegan and one of the lower-calorie crunchy snacks available. LesserEvil does it right with organic corn and coconut oil instead of the industrial seed oils most popcorn uses. The Himalayan Pink Salt flavor is clean and simple. The "No Cheese Cheesiness" flavor uses nutritional yeast for a cheesy taste without dairy, surprisingly good if you're into that. Check Price on Amazon

10. The Only Bean Roasted Edamame - Best Protein-to-Calorie Ratio

Calories: 100 | Protein: 11g | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 6g

If you want the highest protein vegan snack without protein powder, roasted edamame is your answer. The Only Bean packages these in single-serve portions with various seasonings. 11g of protein and 6g of fiber in 100 calories is an impressive ratio. The Sea Salt flavor is straightforward, while Sriracha adds some heat. Be aware: soy is a common allergen and some people prefer to limit soy intake. Check Price on Amazon

11. MadeGood Granola Bars - Best School-Safe Option

Calories: 100 | Protein: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Fiber: 1g

MadeGood bars are specifically designed to be safe for school environments, they're free from the top 9 allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, sesame, fish, shellfish). They're also vegan and fortified with hidden vegetable nutrients. The Chocolate Chip flavor is a kid favorite. Lower in protein than I'd prefer, but the allergen-free aspect makes them valuable for parents navigating school restrictions. Check Price on Amazon

12. Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers - Best Savory Snack

Calories: 150 | Protein: 3g | Sugar: 0g | Fiber: 2g

For savory snacking, Simple Mills makes grain-free crackers using almond flour as the base. They're vegan, paleo-friendly, and have a satisfying crunch. The Farmhouse Cheddar flavor (made with nutritional yeast, not cheese) is their best vegan option. Great paired with hummus or guacamole. The ingredient list is short and pronounceable, which I always appreciate. Check Price on Amazon

13. Hu Dark Chocolate - Best Clean Chocolate

Calories: 180 | Protein: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Fiber: 3g

When chocolate cravings hit, Hu is one of the cleaner vegan options. They use organic cacao and coconut sugar instead of refined sugar, and they avoid emulsifiers like soy lecithin. The Cashew Butter and Simple Dark Chocolate varieties are excellent. Not cheap, but the ingredient quality justifies the price. A square or two satisfies without the guilt of standard candy bars. Check Price on Amazon

14. Biena Roasted Chickpeas - Best Crunchy Protein

Calories: 140 | Protein: 6g | Sugar: 4-6g | Fiber: 5g

Biena roasts whole chickpeas into a crunchy snack with solid protein and fiber. They come in various flavors from Sea Salt to Honey Roasted (note: honey varieties are NOT vegan, stick to Sea Salt, Rockin' Ranch, or Habanero). The crunch is satisfying, and they're much more nutrient-dense than chips. Watch your portion size though, they're easy to overeat. Check Price on Amazon

15. That's It Fruit Bars - Best Two-Ingredient Simplicity

Calories: 100 | Protein: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Fiber: 3g

If you want the absolute simplest vegan snack, That's It bars contain literally two ingredients: apples plus one other fruit (mango, banana, cherries, etc.). That's it. No added sugar, no preservatives, nothing artificial. The sugar is high because it's all from fruit, but at least you know exactly what you're eating. Perfect for people who want to avoid all processed foods while still having portable snacks. Check Price on Amazon

Ingredients to Avoid in Vegan Snacks

Hidden Animal Products
  • Whey/Casein: Milk proteins, common in protein bars
  • Gelatin: From animal bones, found in gummies and marshmallows
  • Honey: Bee product, in many "natural" bars
  • Carmine/Cochineal: Red dye from crushed beetles
  • Vitamin D3: Often from lanolin (sheep wool)
Questionable Ingredients
  • Seed Oils: Canola, soybean, sunflower, inflammatory for many
  • Natural Flavors: Vague term that may hide animal-derived ingredients
  • Mono & Diglycerides: May be animal or plant-derived
  • L-Cysteine: Often from duck feathers, used in bread
  • Confectioner's Glaze: Shellac from beetle secretions

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best high-protein vegan snacks?
The best high-protein vegan snacks include: Aloha Organic Protein Bars (14g protein), roasted edamame like The Only Bean (11g protein), GoMacro MacroBars (10-12g protein), and Biena Roasted Chickpeas (6g protein). For whole food options, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, and nut butters also provide solid plant protein.
Are all plant-based snacks vegan?
No, "plant-based" and "vegan" are NOT the same. Plant-based products may still contain honey, whey protein, or other animal derivatives. Always check ingredient lists for hidden animal products. Look for certified vegan labels to be sure.
Are vegan snacks automatically healthier?
Not necessarily. Vegan cookies, chips, and candy can be just as processed and sugar-laden as their non-vegan counterparts. "Vegan" describes what's NOT in a product (animal ingredients), not what IS in it. Focus on whole food vegan snacks like nuts, seeds, fruits, and minimally processed bars rather than vegan junk food.
What vegan snacks are best for kids?
For kids, look for: MadeGood Granola Bars (allergen-free for school), HIPPEAS Chickpea Puffs (fun flavors), That's It Fruit Bars (just fruit, no additives), and fresh fruit with nut butter (if allergies aren't a concern). Avoid products with artificial colors and excessive added sugar.

Explore More Snack Guides

Whether you're fully vegan or just looking to add more plant-based options to your rotation, these snacks prove that eating vegan doesn't mean sacrificing taste or convenience. For more options, check out our other guides covering specific dietary needs and occasions.

Jeff Walker - Photo

Health Optimization Specialist & Founder

Jeff Walker is a health optimization specialist with 23+ years of personal research into nutrition and chronic health management. After overcoming digestive, metabolic, and inflammatory health challenges through dietary changes, he founded Healthy Snack Guides to help others make informed snacking choices backed by real data.