We evaluated 23 greens powders against six key criteria: third-party testing, organic certifications, presence of harmful additives, ingredient transparency, and formula quality. We tested the best-performing options for taste, and impact on energy levels & gut health. See our complete research.
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The research shows greens powders can help fill daily nutritional gaps. But our review of 23 top products found most big brands can’t prove what’s actually in their powder. Many brands skip third-party testing for heavy metals, contaminants, or label accuracy. Ingredients are often hidden behind “proprietary blends,” so you don’t know how much you’re getting. Worse, many formulas are loaded with things you don’t want to consume everyday—like sugars, gums, flavorings, and anti-clumping agents. Greens powders are worth considering, but only if the brand is obsessively transparent, third-party tested, organic, and free of junk. Most aren't. We found a few that are.
Our top-rated greens powder, based on rigorous and 100% transparent research & testing. #1 of 23 products evaluated.
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After thoroughly testing 23 greens powders, Green Vibrance emerged as our clear winner. What stood out most was the brand's commitment to making an incredibly pure product with total transparency—every ingredient is precisely measured and disclosed on the label. They also rigorously test their products using third party labs, and provided us with example certificates of analysis of the results, when we reached out to them for details. The formula balances nutrient-rich organic ingredients without any added fillers or harmful additives. During our week-long real-world taste test, we noticed sustained energy levels and improved digestion, and its taste was very manageable! At only $1.65 per day, it's a lot more affordable than many of the more expensive and often heavily advertised alternatives—like AG1, Huel or Sakara.
• Comprehensive third-party testing for purity and label accuracy
• Fully transparent formula with no proprietary blends
• 100% organic ingredients
• Formula free from harmful additives and fillers
• Superior nutritional profile
• Excellent performance in real-world 7-day taste, energy and gut health test
• Non-GMO, Soy-free, Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Vegan-friendly
• Earthy greens taste may take time to adjust to
• Pricing reflects high-quality ingredients
• Should be refrigerated after opening
High ratings on iHerb, Amazon and the Better Business Bureau®.
Our research is 100% transparent. Check out our open-source, collaborative greens powder analysis to use and review our data. We welcome questions, comments or opportunities to improve here.
Despite AG1's popularity and seemingly endless promotion by health influencers and podcast hosts, it performed poorly in our testing. Most AG1 ingredients are not organic, it's packed with ultra-processed soy lecithin (one of the largest ingredients by volume!), it hides behind a proprietary formula that lacks transparency, and costs a whopping $3.30/scoop (nearly double that of far superior alternatives). We ranked AG1 #13 out of the 23 products evaluated. We don't recommend AG1.
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See the greens powders we ranked best below. This is a summary of our complete collaborative research document found here. We welcome any comments, corrections, or suggestions to write us directly.
Rank
Score
Tested / Certified
Transparent label
View Complete Research >
If you listen to the same podcasts and Instagram influencers that we do, you'd be forgiven for assuming that the likes of AG1, Huel and Thorne are the best and most reputable greens powder brands. Think again. By objective measures, these brands tripped up and thoroughly disappointed in our testing.
Celebrities and health influencers, like Andrew Huberman and Joe Rogan, are paid millions of dollars per month to promote AG1. It's important to understand these “endorsements” are financially motivated with AG1’s affiliate program offering 20-50% commissions every month a customer stays subscribed! (No wonder AG1 is nearly DOUBLE the price of superior alternatives).
Our process is different. We do the honest research first, pick the winner based on objective data (which we publish openly for anyone to review), and only then set up affiliate partnerships when available. Any commissions we earn help to fund more independent research and evidence-based reviews like this one.
Questions? View our complete research or email us directly getevident@gmail.com.
"Greens powders" promise a quick and easy way to meet your daily micronutrient needs—but do they deliver? Like many of you, we’ve long been intrigued by the allure of daily greens powders. We make a conscious effort to maintain balanced and varied diets, but let’s face it—keeping up with all your nutritional needs every single day can be a challenge, especially when life gets busy. That’s why we’ve dabbled with AG1 on and off, for years. But after noticing an increasing number of anti-AG1 headlines citing exorbitant prices and secret blends, and an increasing number of greens powder competitor brands, we decided to take a closer look at the category.
The world of greens powders is overwhelming. A single Google search bombarded us with countless options, each claiming to be the best and the healthiest. Some brands boasted over 70+ ingredients in their formulation, while another had just four. Many touted “superfood blends,” while others seemed to pad out their formulas with fillers or additives. Faced with this sea of confusing choices, we embarked on a mission to find—once and for all—the ultimate greens powder.
In this review, we tested 23 of the most popular greens powders. A good greens powder brand should be transparent about its formulation and use clean, organic ingredients proven to support health. So we put each product through a rigorous set of evaluations—testing each brand for third-party testing, ingredient quality, transparency, effectiveness, and their actual impact on our bodies. We collected thousands of peer-reviewed clinical studies, scoured ingredients lists, verified testing certificates and contacted brands directly to query their claims. We poured, mixed, and chugged the good, the bad, and the downright gritty. Countless rounds of evaluation and over $1,500 of green powders later, we’re thrilled to reveal the winner of our search for the very best.
Our research is 100% transparent. Please visit our open-source, collaborative analysis to review our data and share any suggestions for improvements. We welcome questions or comments directly.
We examined how rigorously each brand validates the purity and accuracy of their ingredients using third-party testing, ensuring they’re accurate and free from harmful microbial contaminants & heavy metals.
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We verified whether products had USDA Organic certifications and/or contained a majority of organic ingredients to ensure products were free from pesticides, GMOs, and chemical residues.
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We flagged any brands that contained any known harmful ingredients, including added sugars, gums, emulsifiers, or fillers.
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We assessed how open, honest and transparent brands were at disclosing the amounts of each ingredient in their formulas.
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We determined the quality of the ingredients in each brand’s recipe, based on the presence of clinically proven ingredients and essential nutrients.
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We tested each of our two final pick products for 7 days each, analyzing their taste, and impacts on energy levels and gut health.
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Unlike most review sites that rank products based simply on price, the author's taste preferences or hidden affiliate incentives, we took a cleaner, deeper, and more scientifically rigorous approach. We analyzed all 23 products against five objective factors. Remember: we're looking for the greens powder to consume every single day. That means we’re hunting for the brand that’s honest and transparent, with a formulation that’s genuinely clean and proven to support health. Bright packaging, massive marketing budgets and a sugary taste won't cut it for us!
We bought 23 different green powders from 23 different brands that all claimed to deliver a range of different health benefits.
• Popular choices with broad claims: We included the most popular greens powders that claimed to address a wide range of daily nutrient and mineral needs.
• We ruled out any powders with just one ingredient. Instead, we looked for products packed with superfoods that could offer multiple health benefits.
• No price bias: Price wasn’t a factor in our selection—we were interested in finding the best quality, regardless of cost.
When it comes to choosing a greens powder that we’d want to consume every morning, quality control and third-party testing are absolutely essential. Why? Because we want to be absolutely certain that we’re actually eating what’s printed on the packaging, and that each scoop is free of microbiological contaminants (like mold, e. coli or salmonella) or heavy metals (like lead, arsenic or mercury).
⚠️ The Wild West of supplement certifications and packaging requirements in the USA
The FDA standards for labeling in the USA are essentially an "honor system". No supplement or green powder is required to perform any third-party testing or certification to ensure the quality or accuracy of their ingredients. It's an extremely low standard to sell legally in the USA; that's why these certifications and proof of testing are so important.
We were pleased to find a number of brands with official certifications like USDA Certified Organic, NSF Certified for Sport, and Non-GMO. These certifications are the real deal. Independent bodies set strict standards, and only permit brands to use their logos when those standards are met and consistently maintained. Bravo.
Sadly however, the majority of the brands we studied advertise that they get tested by third-parties, but were not transparent about which labs they use or declined to provide the results of any testing completed. We reached out to all the brands in our review asking them for to clarify their testing procedures and to share the results. Most were somewhat shady with what they were willing to share. See a few typical examples, below:
If you’re a brand reading this and feeling a little embarrassed about your lack of testing transparency, feel free to contact us here and we’ll be more than happy to update our analysis.
Provided Third-Party Certificates of Analysis (COA)
Some brands engage third-party labs to independently test their products for contaminants, the labs provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA). This is the unbiased, raw results of testing. We believe that all brands should make their COAs publicly available to prove their products are clean.
USDA Organic
Ensures that the product is made with at least 95% organic ingredients, meaning they were grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs. It's a rigorous standard that also prohibits the use of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Non Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMO)
Certifies a product does not contain any genetically modified organisms (GMOs). While the safety of GMOs is supported by scientific consensus, some consumers prefer to avoid them for personal, environmental, or ethical reasons.
NSF Sport - Certified for Sport
Tests for banned substances and ensures they only contain the ingredients listed on the label, in the declared amounts. It's an important certification for athletes who need to ensure their supplements won't lead to failed drug tests.
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
Means that a supplement manufacturer follows strict quality control and safety standards in their production facilities. It helps ensure the purity, potency, and consistency of supplement products.
In our hunt for the very best greens powder, we wanted to make sure we're eating organic. Unlike conventionally grown ingredients, organic greens and veggies are grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. This means fewer harmful chemicals make it into the final product, not only reducing your exposure to potentially dangerous residues but also supporting long-term health and well-being. Given the amount of choice in the market, choosing organic is a no-brainer.
Additionally, organic farming prohibits the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms), keeping your food closer to its natural state. Research also suggests that organic produce often contains higher levels of certain nutrients, like antioxidants. Organic dairy and meats may have more omega-3 fatty acids compared to industrial grown equivalents. Choosing organic ensures better nutritional quality while also protecting the environment through practices that conserve water, improve soil health, and reduce pollution.
USDA Organic
Ensures that the product is made with at least 95% organic ingredients, meaning they were grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs. It's a rigorous standard that also prohibits the use of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Majority Organic Ingredients
Majority Organic Ingredients
Label contains mostly organic ingredients and clear effort by brand to use organic ingredients when possible.
Next up, we carefully scoured each greens powder's ingredient list for any unwanted added ingredients that really shouldn't be part of anyones daily diet. You’d be shocked at how often we found these “healthy, natural, veggie mixes” loaded with artificial additives, fillers, sweeteners or anti-clumping agents. Stuff that’s probably fine now and then, but not what you want to be eating day-after-day, especially first thing in the morning. We hunted down the most common culprits: artificial colors and flavors, added sugars, synthetic folic acid, soy lecithin, maltodextrin, and synthetic thickeners like guar gum and xanthan gum that are so frequently snuck into these mixes.
In one striking example, we discovered that Naked Greens powder contained 1g of added sugars in every 7g serving. Yikes. Despite marketing itself as the purest choice with "nothing to hide," we just can't recommend committing to a "healthy" morning supplement that is approximately 14% added sugar. Adding sugars defeats the point, and can lead to blood sugar spikes and weight gain. We think a morning green powder should be clean, pure and 100% nutrient-focused.
Ingredients to avoid:
❌ Added sugars: Spikes blood sugar and contributes to inflammation
❌ GMOs: Lack long-term safety studies and may contain pesticide residues
❌ Folic acid: Synthetic B12, less bioavailable than natural folate, can mask B12 deficiency
❌ Artificial colors/flavors: Linked to hyperactivity and allergic reactions
❌ SCC: Synthetic chlorophyll substitute with potential liver toxicity concerns
❌ Artificial sweeteners: May disrupt gut bacteria and metabolic function
❌ Spirulina/chlorella (from unknown sources): Risk of heavy metal contamination
❌ Fillers/anti-caking agents: No nutritional value, may irritate digestive system
❌ Silicon dioxide: Potential respiratory irritant in powder form
❌ Guar gum: Can cause digestive discomfort and bloating
❌ Xanthan gum: May trigger allergic reactions and digestive issues
❌ Maltodextrin: High glycemic index, spikes blood sugar more than table sugar
❌ Soy lecithin: Often GMO-derived, may contain harmful processing residues
❌ Natural flavors: Umbrella term that often hides numerous undesirable chemical compounds
Prop 65 Warning: Several brands we evaluated display scary-sounding printed warnings regarding "harmful levels of lead" and "dangers to pregnancy" on their packaging. While these labels sound alarming, our research revealed a more nuanced reality. California's Proposition 65 legislation uses extremely conservative thresholds and requires warnings even for trace amounts of elements that in practice pose minimal risk. In most cases, these warnings represent legal precaution rather than genuine health concerns. If you're interested to learn more, check out this video.
So there’s this funny thing in greens powders: most brands don’t want to come clean about how much of each ingredient is inside their product. Which we find odd. If you don’t know how much of something is inside, how do you know what you're consuming, or if you’re eating enough to make a difference?
You must consume a minimum amount of an ingredient (its "clinical dose") before you can expect to experience the proven benefits of that ingredient. Which is why we’re a little suspicious of many of the brands we tested that choose to keep their blends secret. Similarly, we were thrilled when we find products whose labels are clear and transparent about the individual ingredient quantities inside their product.
Athletic Greens / AG1®—arguably the most well-known of the greens powder brands—is much-criticized for its secrecy over the volumes of the ingredients in its blends. Each AG1 packet has an extraordinarily long list of ingredients which, given the limited scoop size of 7g per serving, means that most of the ingredients are present in such microscopic quantities to be clinically irrelevant.
Transparent labeling
All ingredients and their qualities are clearly and precisely specified. You know exactly what is in the product you're consuming.
Proprietary labeling
The label uses "blends" to hide exact amount of each ingredient, making it nearly impossible to know what amounts of each ingredient you are actually consuming.
In the next step in our search for the ultimate greens powder, we performed a thorough assessment of each brand's product formulation. Even the most stringent quality control testing and organic certifications can't make up for a subpar ingredient recipe.
Unsurprisingly, almost every greens powder we tested had remarkably different ingredients listed in their formulation. Some lists were short (with only 4 ingredients) and some were very, very long. But not all ingredients are equally proven to support health outcomes. Some ingredients boast a considerable amount of clinical research proving their benefits, while others remain completely unproven. We set out to find out which brand's formulation was the best.
We painstakingly collected over 3,900 peer-reviewed clinical studies of the effectiveness of 550 of the most common supplement ingredients. We've used this fact-base in our assessment of the formulation quality of the greens powders we tested.
To assess formulation quality, we studied each brand's ingredient list in two ways:
1. Essential nutrient profile - the number of essential micronutrients (as defined by the FDA) each formulation contained. We meticulously compared each product's micronutrient content values to the FDA's established Daily Values (DVs). These DVs represent the minimum amounts needed to prevent deficiencies and support overall health.
2. Clinically proven ingredients - the number of clinically proven ingredients (from our top list) contained in the formula. While essential nutrients form the foundation of a well-rounded greens powder, the inclusion of clinically proven ingredients elevate a product from adequate to exceptional. These "power player" ingredients have been rigorously studied in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials—the gold standard of scientific evidence. To gauge each product's commitment to science-backed ingredients, we cross-referenced each product's formulations with our database of over 75 extensively researched ingredients. This list, compiled from over 3,900 peer-reviewed studies, represents the most promising and well-established players in the world of nutritional supplements.
Disclaimer: Assessing a product's formulation quality is not a perfect science. Remember: We don’t always know how much of each ingredient is inside (due to the pesky "proprietary blends"), but it’s a good start to know if brands are selecting the most scientifically proven ingredients, or not.
🧪 Why we look at clinical trials of supplements
Placebo-controlled, double-blind trials are the gold standard for testing supplement efficacy. In these studies, participants are randomly split into two groups: one receives the real supplement, the other gets a lookalike placebo pill. Neither participants nor researchers directly involved know who's getting what, eliminating bias. The study tracks critical health markers over time, then analyzes the data to see if the group that received the supplement had significant improvements compared to the placebo group. The larger the trial's sample size and the longer the duration, the more reliable the results. When choosing supplements, prioritize products that have undergone these large-scale, long-term, double-blind trials. That's the best evidence that a supplement delivers real benefits, and isn't just hype.
After an exhaustive evaluation process, two of the 23 products we studied remained as contenders for the ultimate green powder crown: Green Vibrance and Garden of Life. For the final step, we put these powders to the test in a real-world, 7-day trial to assess their impact on three key factors: taste, energy levels and gut health (digestion, bloating etc.)
Our methodology
• Each morning for two weeks (one week per product), we mixed up a 10g serving of the green powders with water (we wanted to get the 'real' taste of these products, without any other flavors) and carefully documented our experiences.
• We consumed each product for 7 consecutive days, using consistent serving sizes (10g) and timing (30 minutes post-waking, before eating anything).
• We evaluated taste using a the 9-point hedonic scale, which helps to objectively assess overall palatability, bitterness, and mixability.
• Energy levels were quantified using the Chalder Fatigue Scale, administered daily to track changes in physical and mental fatigue.
• Gut function was assessed using a subjective 5-point bloating and movement-regularity scale.
Disclaimer: This section, in particular, is a highly imperfect science. Taste, energy levels and gut health are highly subjective and personal concerns. What works for us may work differently for you. We chose to use well-researched taste, energy and gut measurement scales to reduce the level of subjectivity in this assessment.
Green Vibrance emerged as the clear winner across all categories. It earned an impressive 7.2 on the taste scale: it does take a little bit to get used to, but it has great palatability and a smooth texture. It honestly tasted like a clean greens powder should: grassy, fresh and with earthy notes . Even better, our energy level scores showed a 28% reduction in fatigue over the 7 days. And our digestion? Smooth sailing, with optimal Bristol scores and minimal bloating (average score of 8.1).
On the other hand, Garden of Life didn't quite measure up as well. It tasted pretty close to Green Vibrance, but didn't mix as well. There was a noticeable bitter after-taste, too. While there was a slight improvement in our subjective energy levels, it wasn't as pronounced as with Green Vibrance. Digestive function was also less consistent, with occasional bloating reported (average score 7.2).
After extensively testing 23 popular greens powders, our research revealed a clear winner: Green Vibrance, by Vibrant Health. Unlike most competitors, including the heavily marketed AG1, Green Vibrance excelled across all key criteria: it's third-party tested, uses organic ingredients, contains no harmful additives, provides transparent labeling of ingredients, and delivers clinically effective nutrient doses at a reasonable price point ($1.65 per serving). During our 7-day trial, it demonstrated superior mixability, palatable taste, and notable improvements in energy and digestion. Many popular brands like AG1 ($3.30/serving), Huel, and Thorne disappointed, often hiding behind proprietary blends, using non-organic ingredients, or including questionable additives like processed soy lecithin. For those seeking a science-backed, transparently formulated greens powder for daily nutrition, Green Vibrance stands out as our clear recommendation.
Our top-rated greens powder, based on rigorous and 100% transparent research & testing. #1 of 23 products evaluated.
After thoroughly testing 23 greens powders, Green Vibrance emerged as our clear winner. What stood out most was the brand's commitment to making an incredibly pure product with total transparency—every ingredient is precisely measured and disclosed on the label. They also rigorously test their products using third party labs, and provided us with example certificates of analysis of the results, when we reached out to them for details. The formula balances nutrient-rich organic ingredients without any added fillers or harmful additives. During our week-long real-world taste test, we noticed sustained energy levels and improved digestion, and its taste was very manageable! At only $1.65 per day, it's a lot more affordable than many of the more expensive and often heavily advertised alternatives—like AG1, Huel or Sakara.
• Comprehensive third-party testing for purity and label accuracy
• Fully transparent formula with no proprietary blends
• 100% organic ingredients
• Formula free from harmful additives and fillers
• Superior nutritional profile
• Excellent performance in real-world 7-day taste, energy and gut health test
• Non-GMO, Soy-free, Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Vegan-friendly
• Earthy greens taste may take time to adjust to
• Pricing reflects high-quality ingredients
• Should be refrigerated after opening
High ratings on iHerb, Amazon and the Better Business Bureau®.
