0g sugar per serving
Sugar-Free Protein Powder
Optimal Plant Protein has 0g of sugar and 26g of organic plant protein from four ingredients, sweetened only with organic monk fruit.
4.9 average from 94 reviews
Per serving
Optimal Plant Protein, vanilla.
Our sugar-free protein
0g sugar and 26g of organic plant protein per serving, from four ingredients.
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Optimal Plant Protein
Our simplest formula: organic pea and brown rice protein, vanilla and monk fruit.
- Protein
- 26g per serving
- Protein from
- Organic pea and brown rice
- Sweetened with
- Organic monk fruit
- Sugar
- 0g
- Certified
- Organic, Non-GMO, gluten-free
Best for: the most protein from the fewest ingredients.
$69.99$59.49 with subscribe & save
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What customers say
4.9 average from 94 reviews of Optimal Plant Protein. Quotes from verified buyers.
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Fitppl
“Good, clean ingredients, and the taste is perfect, not too sweet and not too bland. The biggest thing for me is cutting down on the sugar intake and this plant Protein seems to hit all of the checkpoints needed for someone like me”
Gerves F.Verified buyer · Optimal Plant Protein -
Best Ever
“I've been using plant protein powders for decades and this is the best in class. Checks all the boxes: organic, 26 grams of protein per serving, uses monk fruit for sweetener, mixes easily, and tastes delicious.”
Lina J.Verified buyer · Optimal Plant Protein -
Best protein !
“This is the best protein I have tried. There are no artificial additives and it tastes great too!”
Susan R.Verified buyer · Optimal Plant Protein
What "sugar-free" means on a label
"Sugar-free" is a regulated claim. In the U.S., a food labeled sugar-free, zero sugar or no sugar must have less than 0.5g of sugars per serving.1 That's why some products with a gram or less of sugar can't use the claim.
Optimal Plant Protein has 0g of sugar per serving. Its only ingredients are organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein, organic vanilla and organic monk fruit.
Sugar-free vs. no added sugar
The two claims sound alike but mean different things. "No added sugar" means no sugars, or ingredients that contain them, were added during processing. The product can still contain sugars that are naturally present in its ingredients.1 "Sugar-free" is about the total amount.
| Sugar-free | No added sugar | |
|---|---|---|
| What it limits | Total sugar per serving | Sugar added during processing |
| The line | Under 0.5g per serving | None added |
| Optimal Plant Protein | Yes: 0g sugar | Yes |
How sugar-free protein powders taste sweet
Most sugar-free protein powders use a high-intensity sweetener instead of sugar. The FDA has approved six as food additives, including sucralose, acesulfame potassium and aspartame, and has received GRAS notices for purified stevia extracts and monk fruit extracts.3 Some powders also use sugar alcohols like erythritol.
Optimal is sweetened only with organic monk fruit, with no sucralose, stevia or erythritol. See our page on protein powder without artificial sweeteners for how the options compare.
Why cut sugar in your shake?
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend avoiding added sugars, and keeping them to no more than 10g per meal when you do have them.2 A protein shake is an easy place to cut back: check the Added Sugars line on the label before you buy.
The same guidelines also advise avoiding non-nutritive sweeteners, a group that includes monk fruit and stevia.2 If you'd rather skip sweeteners entirely, an unsweetened powder is the strictest choice. If you want a little sweetness without sugar, monk fruit is the option we chose. The World Health Organization has also advised against relying on non-sugar sweeteners for weight control.4
If you're managing blood sugar or diabetes, talk with your doctor or dietitian about how protein shakes fit your plan. Our guide to protein powder and diabetes covers what to look for.
What to check on the label
- Total Sugars and Added Sugars. Both lines are on the nutrition panel, per serving.
- The sweetener. Look in the ingredient list for sucralose, acesulfame potassium, stevia, monk fruit or sugar alcohols.
- The serving size. Sugar is listed per serving, so compare the scoop you'll actually use.
- What you mix it with. Dairy milk and juice bring sugar of their own. Water or an unsweetened plant milk keeps the shake sugar-free.
Questions, answered
Sugar-free, no added sugar and sweeteners, explained.
Is there a protein powder with 0g sugar?
Yes. Optimal Plant Protein has 0g of sugar and 26g of plant protein per serving. To be labeled sugar-free, zero sugar or no sugar, a product must have less than 0.5g of sugars per serving.1
What's the difference between sugar-free and no added sugar?
Sugar-free limits the total: less than 0.5g of sugars per serving. No added sugar means no sugars were added during processing, but the product can still contain sugars that are naturally in its ingredients.1
Do sugar-free protein powders have artificial sweeteners?
Many do. Sucralose, acesulfame potassium and aspartame are common, along with stevia, monk fruit and sugar alcohols.3 Optimal Plant Protein is sweetened only with organic monk fruit.
Is sugar-free protein powder good for people with diabetes?
It can fit, but sugar is only one part of the picture. Protein, carbs, what you mix it with and your overall plan all matter, so check with your doctor or dietitian. Our guide to protein powder and diabetes has more.
How do I keep my protein shake sugar-free?
Start with a powder that has 0g sugar, like Optimal Plant Protein, then watch what you mix it with. Water or an unsweetened plant milk like almond or oat keeps it sugar-free. Dairy milk, juice and sweetened plant milks add sugar of their own, so check their labels too.
Sources
- Code of Federal Regulations. 21 CFR 101.60: Nutrient content claims for the calorie content of foods (sugar content claims).
- Elsayed S, Nelson M. Dietary Guidelines for 2025–2030: Recommendations From the USDA and HHS. American Family Physician, 2026.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. High-Intensity Sweeteners.
- World Health Organization. Use of non-sugar sweeteners: WHO guideline. 2023.