Updated October 2026. If you're comparing Orgain, Koia and GROUNDED, all three offer plant-based ready-to-drink protein shakes — but they define a “clean” protein shake very differently.
Transparency: this page is published by GROUNDED. Competitor information was checked against Orgain's current 20g Plant-Based Protein Shake and Koia's current Cacao Bean Protein Shake pages in October 2026.
What does “clean ingredients” actually mean?
There is no regulated definition of “clean ingredients” for protein shakes. For this comparison, we're using the phrase as shorthand for the ingredient choices shoppers commonly look at: protein sources, sweeteners, gums and stabilisers, added sugar, and how much formulation is used to reach a particular nutrition target.
That matters because a shake can be very low in sugar but use a high-intensity sweetener, or use more familiar sweeteners but contain more sugar. Neither approach automatically makes a product better — it depends on what you are trying to avoid or prioritise.
Orgain vs Koia vs GROUNDED at a glance
| GROUNDED Chocolate Protein Milkshake | Koia Cacao Bean Protein Shake | Orgain 20g Plant-Based Protein Shake | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 20g | 18g | 20g |
| Calories | 310 | 190 | 140 |
| Total sugar | 23g | 4g | 0g |
| Protein sources | Pea + organic sunflower | Brown rice + pea + chickpea | Pea |
| Sweetening approach | Organic cane sugar | Organic cane sugar + monk fruit | Stevia |
| Gums / texture system | No gums | Locust bean gum + gellan gum | Carrageenan-free; check the current label for the full formula |
| What stands out | 20g protein without stevia, monk fruit or gums | 4g sugar + 7g fibre | 20g protein with 0g sugar and 140 calories |
Formulas can change. Always check the current product label if a specific ingredient, sweetener or allergen matters to you.
If “clean” means no stevia, monk fruit or gums
GROUNDED is the most distinct of the three on this definition. The Chocolate Protein Milkshake uses organic cane sugar and is formulated without gums, stevia, monk fruit or artificial sweeteners.
The trade-off is visible on the nutrition panel: GROUNDED has 23g total sugar and 310 calories in its larger 16.6 fl oz carton. It is intentionally built closer to a chocolate milkshake than a low-calorie sports shake.
If “clean” means very low sugar and calories
Orgain has the clearest advantage. Its current Creamy Chocolate 20g Plant-Based Protein Shake lists 140 calories and 0g sugar. Orgain says the shake is sweetened with stevia and describes it as certified plant based, carrageenan free, gluten free, made without soy ingredients, and made without artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
Orgain also explicitly uses “clean nutrition” as part of its brand positioning. If your definition of clean starts with minimising sugar and calories, that approach is likely to make more sense than GROUNDED's.
If “clean” means low sugar plus fibre
Koia's Cacao Bean shake sits between the two approaches. It has 18g protein, 190 calories, 4g sugar and 7g fibre in a 12 fl oz bottle.
Its ingredient list includes an almond milk base; brown rice, pea and chickpea proteins; agave and chicory-root fibres; organic cane sugar; monk fruit; locust bean gum; and gellan gum.
That makes Koia particularly relevant if you want a lower-sugar shake with meaningful fibre, but it is not the obvious choice if you specifically avoid monk fruit or gums.
The sweetener question matters more than the “clean” label
The three products show why “clean ingredient protein shake” is too broad on its own:
- GROUNDED: regular cane sugar, no stevia, no monk fruit and no gums.
- Koia Cacao Bean: a small amount of cane sugar plus monk fruit, with locust bean and gellan gums.
- Orgain: 0g sugar and sweetened with stevia.
If taste preference or sensitivity to high-intensity sweeteners matters to you, the ingredient list is more useful than the front-of-pack phrase “clean”.
Which one is right for you?
- Choose GROUNDED if: you want 20g plant protein and specifically prefer no stevia, monk fruit or gums, and you are comfortable with a higher-sugar, milkshake-style drink.
- Choose Koia if: you want lower sugar, 18g protein and 7g fibre, and don't mind monk fruit or gums.
- Choose Orgain if: 0g sugar, 20g protein and lower calories are your highest priorities, and you're comfortable with stevia.
How GROUNDED approaches ingredients
GROUNDED's Chocolate Protein Milkshake uses a coconut milk base, pea and organic sunflower protein, organic cane sugar, olive oil, cocoa, vanilla, citrus fibre and Himalayan salt. The formulation avoids gums and high-intensity sweeteners rather than trying to push sugar as low as possible.
That is a deliberate trade-off. Someone focused on minimum sugar will probably prefer Orgain or Koia. Someone looking for a richer plant-based shake with a shorter texture system and no stevia or monk fruit may prefer GROUNDED.
Shop GROUNDED Chocolate Protein Milkshake, browse our dairy-free protein shakes, or read the broader 2026 dairy-free RTD protein shake guide.
Related comparisons
- GROUNDED vs Orgain Plant-Based Protein Shakes
- GROUNDED vs OWYN Protein Shakes
- GROUNDED vs ALOHA Protein Drinks
- Protein Shakes Without Artificial Sweeteners
- Protein Shakes Without Gums