# Huel Protein Powder Review > Huel protein powder review: Complete Protein vs Black Edition label-checked, cost per 25 g, sweeteners and testing, and who should buy a plain protein instead. - **URL**: https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/huel-protein-powder-review/ - **Updated**: 2026-11-02 - **Author**: [Best Protein Powder Editorial Team](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/authors/editorial-team/) - **Publisher**: [Best Protein Powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/) --- Huel sells two very different things that both get called protein powder: a 110-calorie plant protein and a 400-calorie complete meal. We checked both labels, the cost per 25 g of protein and the testing, so you buy the one that fits. **How we rank:** We judge every powder on the label, not the marketing: protein per scoop, cost per 25 g of protein, the full ingredient list and third-party testing. No paid placements, and commission never sets a ranking. [Read our methodology](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/how-we-test/) If you want a protein shake, Huel Complete Protein is a decent plant option at a mid-to-premium price. If you want a meal, Black Edition is one of the better powdered meals on the market. The most common mistake is buying Black Edition as a post-workout protein shake and drinking 400 calories you did not plan for. ## Our Top Picks | Award | Product | Why | | --- | --- | --- | | Best Huel Protein Powder | [Huel Complete Protein](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/huel-protein-powder-review/#huel-complete-protein) | The Huel to buy if you want a protein shake, not a meal, and do not need certification. | | Best Huel Meal | [Huel Black Edition](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/huel-protein-powder-review/#huel-black-edition) | A strong meal replacement that only works as a protein shake if it replaces a meal. | | Most Convenient | [Huel Black Edition Ready-to-Drink](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/huel-protein-powder-review/#huel-black-edition-ready-to-drink) | Worth it for travel and hectic mornings, not as an everyday protein source. | | Protein Plus Greens | [Huel Daily Superblend](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/huel-protein-powder-review/#huel-daily-superblend) | A convenient all-in-one breakfast, but a costly way to buy protein. | | Alternative: Certified Plant Protein | [Garden of Life Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/huel-protein-powder-review/#garden-of-life-sport-organic-plant-based-protein) | The plant protein to choose over Huel if you need certification or a bigger dose. | ## 1. The Short Verdict Huel is a good brand with a naming problem for protein buyers. Its best-known powders, Huel Powder and Black Edition, are nutritionally complete meals, not protein supplements. Black Edition lists 40 g of plant protein per serving, which looks like an elite protein shake, but that 40 g comes packaged with roughly 400 calories, 28 g of carbohydrate and 15 g of fat, per Huel's own label for one flavor. The product most people searching for a Huel protein powder actually want is Huel Complete Protein. It is a plant protein built from pea, faba bean and brown rice protein, per Huel's current US formula page, with 20 g of protein in a 29 g scoop at about 110 calories. Huel adds 27 vitamins and minerals, which is unusual for a protein powder, and keeps sugar at 0 g. Is it any good? Complete Protein is a sound plant protein, but a 20 g scoop is on the small side, it uses sucralose in the US formula, and we could not find any sport certification. Black Edition is one of the strongest powdered meals you can buy if you want a quick, filling lunch. Neither is the cheapest way to buy plant protein; our [best plant-based protein powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-plant-based-protein-powder/) ranking covers cheaper and certified options. > **THE VERDICT** > > **Buy Complete Protein for shakes, Black Edition for meals.** > > Complete Protein is the Huel protein powder. Black Edition is a 400-calorie meal with a big protein number. Choose by what you are replacing, not by the grams on the front of the bag. One ownership note before the details. Danone completed its acquisition of Huel in September 2026, after agreeing the deal in March and receiving UK competition clearance in August. Huel has said its leadership team stays in place. Nothing on the labels has changed because of the deal so far, but it is worth watching future formula updates, as with any acquired brand. ## 2. What Huel Actually Sells Huel started in the UK in 2015, founded by Julian Hearn with nutritionist James Collier, with the idea of nutritionally complete, convenient food. That focus still shapes the range. Most Huel products are designed to replace a meal, and protein is one part of the nutrition panel rather than the whole point. That is why comparing Huel to a whey tub needs care. The current US range includes Huel Powder, the original complete meal; Black Edition, the higher-protein, lower-carb meal; Complete Protein, the dedicated protein powder; Daily Superblend, a protein and greens hybrid; and two ready-to-drink lines, the original Ready-to-drink and Black Edition Ready-to-drink. There are also greens powders, hot savory meals and an energy drink, which are outside the scope of a protein review. | Product | Protein | Calories | What it is | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Complete Protein | 20 g | About 110 | Protein powder | | Black Edition powder | 40 g | About 390-400 | Complete meal | | Black Edition Ready-to-drink | 35 g | About 400 | Bottled meal | | Daily Superblend | 25 g | About 250 | Protein and greens | | Original Ready-to-drink | 20 g | About 400 | Bottled meal | Huel sells direct through its own site, with subscriptions that cut the price, and through its official Huel Inc storefront on Amazon. Its ready-to-drink bottles have also moved into US retail, including Target, per trade coverage. On Amazon, check the seller line before you buy; the listings we checked were sold by Huel Inc, which is the safest option for freshness and authenticity. Everything in the range is plant-based and vegan, and Huel labels its products as gluten-free and non-GMO. That makes the brand a natural fit for dairy-free buyers. It also means the protein is a blend of legumes and grains rather than milk, which affects dose, digestion and amino acid profile in ways we cover below. ## 3. The Huel Range, Ranked for Protein Buyers These are the four Huel products that matter most if protein is your reason for buying, ranked by how well they work as a protein source rather than as a meal, plus one plant protein alternative from another brand. All figures are per Huel's labels and listings at the time of writing and can vary by flavor. ### 1. Huel Complete Protein **Award:** Best Huel Protein Powder | **Type:** Plant protein powder with vitamins and minerals - **Protein per serving:** 20 g per 29 g scoop (label) - **Calories:** About 110 - **Third-party testing:** No sport certification found - **Best for:** Vegan shakes between meals Complete Protein is Huel's dedicated protein powder. Huel's US label lists a 29 g scoop with 20 g of protein from pea, faba bean and brown rice protein, about 110 calories, 0 g of sugar and 27 added vitamins and minerals. It is sweetened with sucralose in the US formula. It suits vegan buyers who want a lean shake with micronutrients rather than a meal. **Bottom line:** The Huel to buy if you want a protein shake, not a meal, and do not need certification. **Pros:** - 20 g of plant protein in about 110 calories, per the label - 27 vitamins and minerals added - 0 g sugar and a blended protein source - Sold by Huel Inc on Amazon and direct with subscription savings **Cons:** - 20 g scoop is small for a post-workout plant shake - Contains sucralose in the US formula - No sport certification we could find [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LNVYZX7?tag=sktiger-20) ### 2. Huel Black Edition **Award:** Best Huel Meal | **Type:** High-protein complete meal powder - **Protein per serving:** 40 g per 90 g serving (label) - **Calories:** About 390-400 - **Third-party testing:** No sport certification found - **Best for:** Replacing breakfast or lunch Black Edition is a nutritionally complete meal powder, not a protein supplement. Huel's label lists a 90 g serving with 40 g of protein from pea and brown rice, about 390-400 calories, 28 g of carbohydrate, fiber that varies by flavor and 27 vitamins and minerals. It is sweetened with stevia and a little coconut sugar, with no artificial sweeteners, and comes in 17-meal bags. **Bottom line:** A strong meal replacement that only works as a protein shake if it replaces a meal. **Pros:** - 40 g of plant protein per meal, per the label - No artificial sweeteners; unflavored version available - Filling, with fiber and 27 vitamins and minerals **Cons:** - About 400 calories per serving, too many for a protein top-up - No sport certification we could find [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085W7MZHR?tag=sktiger-20) ### 3. Huel Black Edition Ready-to-Drink **Award:** Most Convenient | **Type:** Bottled high-protein meal - **Protein per serving:** 35 g per bottle - **Calories:** About 400 - **Third-party testing:** No sport certification found - **Best for:** Grab-and-go meals The bottled version of Black Edition delivers 35 g of protein from pea and faba bean protein in about 400 calories per bottle, per Huel, with 27 vitamins and minerals and no artificial sweeteners. It is sold in 12-packs of 16.9 fl oz bottles. It is the easiest Huel to use on busy days and the most expensive per gram of protein. **Bottom line:** Worth it for travel and hectic mornings, not as an everyday protein source. **Pros:** - 35 g of plant protein per bottle, per Huel - No mixing; no artificial sweeteners - Several flavors, including chocolate peanut butter **Cons:** - Highest cost per 25 g of protein in the Huel range - About 400 calories, so it is a meal, not a snack [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H5T7MDPD?tag=sktiger-20) ### 4. Huel Daily Superblend **Award:** Protein Plus Greens | **Type:** Plant protein and greens blend - **Protein per serving:** 25 g per 2 scoops (label) - **Calories:** About 250 - **Third-party testing:** Stated, program not named - **Best for:** Protein-and-greens breakfasts Daily Superblend combines 25 g of plant protein with greens, 6 g of fiber, probiotics and an adaptogen and mushroom blend in a two-scoop serving of about 250 calories, per Huel's listings. It states no artificial sweeteners and says it is third-party tested without naming a program. It suits people who want one morning shake instead of a protein and a greens powder. **Bottom line:** A convenient all-in-one breakfast, but a costly way to buy protein. **Pros:** - 25 g of plant protein per serving, per the label - Greens, fiber and probiotics in one shake - No artificial sweeteners, per the listing **Cons:** - Expensive per 25 g of protein - Unnamed testing program; extras are hard to evaluate [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1RJJV9Y?tag=sktiger-20) ### 5. Garden of Life Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein **Award:** Alternative: Certified Plant Protein | **Type:** Organic pea-based legume blend - **Protein per serving:** 30 g per 2 scoops (label) - **Calories:** About 160 - **Third-party testing:** NSF Certified for Sport (verify flavor) - **Best for:** Tested athletes, vegans If you want a plant protein shake with a certificate behind it, Garden of Life Sport is the alternative to Huel Complete Protein. Its listing states 30 g of protein per two-scoop serving from pea, navy bean, lentil and garbanzo bean, at about 160 calories, with USDA Organic and NSF Certified for Sport status and no artificial sweeteners. It costs similar or less per 25 g. **Bottom line:** The plant protein to choose over Huel if you need certification or a bigger dose. **Pros:** - 30 g of protein per serving, per the label - NSF Certified for Sport and USDA Organic, per the listing - No artificial sweeteners **Cons:** - No added vitamin and mineral blend like Huel's - Buyers commonly report an earthy, thick texture [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7DTD98?tag=sktiger-20&linkCode=ll1) ## 4. Complete Protein, Label-Checked Huel's US formula page for Complete Protein, using the Chocolate Fudge Brownie flavor, lists a 29 g scoop with 110 calories, 20 g of protein, 5 g of carbohydrate, 2 g of fiber, mostly from chicory, 1.8 g of fat and 0 g of sugar. It also lists 5 g of BCAAs and 9 g of essential amino acids per serving. Those are clean, lean numbers for a plant protein. The protein blend has changed over time. Huel's current US page names pea, faba bean and brown rice protein, while older material, including the Amazon listing copy we checked, names hemp, faba and pea. Blending legumes with a grain protein is a sensible way to round out the amino acid profile, since pea is low in methionine and rice is low in lysine. The change does not worry us, but check your bag's ingredients if hemp matters to you. The feature that makes Complete Protein different is the micronutrient blend. Huel adds 27 vitamins and minerals, which is why it calls the product nutritionally complete. That is useful if your diet is patchy, but it can double up with a daily multivitamin or other fortified foods. If you already take supplements, compare the totals rather than assuming more is better. The weak point is dose. A 20 g scoop of plant protein delivers less leucine than 20 g of whey, so for a post-workout shake many people would want a scoop and a half. Huel itself says Complete Protein is not meant to replace a meal. Our [best pea protein powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-pea-protein-powder/) guide explains why larger plant servings close most of the leucine gap with whey. > **Complete Protein, per 29 g Scoop** > > - **20 g**: Protein > - **110**: Calories > - **0 g**: Sugar > - **27**: Vitamins and minerals ## 5. Black Edition, Label-Checked Black Edition is Huel's high-protein meal powder. Huel's formula page, using the Strawberry Banana flavor, lists a 90 g serving with 390 calories, 40 g of protein, 28 g of carbohydrate, 1 g of sugar, 9 g of fiber and 15 g of fat, including some MCTs. The protein comes from pea and brown rice protein, with smaller amounts from flaxseed. Fiber varies by flavor, and Huel's own text quotes a lower range for some. Black Edition is sweetened with stevia and a small amount of organic coconut sugar, per Huel, with no artificial sweeteners. That is a different sweetener system from Complete Protein, which matters if you avoid sucralose. There is also an unflavored and unsweetened version, which is the one to pick if you dislike stevia or want to control sweetness yourself. As a meal, the numbers are strong. Forty grams of protein, a decent dose of fiber, healthy fats and 27 vitamins and minerals in 400 calories will keep most people full for hours, and it is far better than skipping lunch or grabbing a pastry. Huel sells it in 17-meal bags, and the range of flavors is wide, from chocolate and vanilla to cinnamon roll and salted caramel. As a protein shake, it is the wrong tool. If you drink Black Edition after training on top of your normal meals, you add around 400 calories a day, which is roughly 2,800 a week. That can stall a fat-loss diet quickly. Use it to replace a meal, or use Complete Protein when you only want the protein. The two products look similar on the shelf but do completely different jobs. Black Edition Ready-to-drink follows the same logic in a bottle: 35 g of protein from pea and faba bean protein in about 400 calories, per Huel. It is the most convenient option in the range and the most expensive per gram of protein. It makes sense for travel days and busy mornings, not as your everyday protein source. ## 6. Huel vs a Protein Powder The question behind searches for Huel versus protein powder is usually whether Huel can replace a whey or plant protein tub. The answer depends on which Huel product you mean. Complete Protein can, because it is built as a protein supplement. Huel Powder and Black Edition cannot, because they are meals that happen to contain protein, with the carbohydrate, fat and calories that come with that. A useful rule is calories per gram of protein. A lean protein powder sits around 4.5 to 6 calories per gram of protein. Complete Protein lands at about 5.5. Black Edition sits at about 10, and Huel's original Ready-to-drink at about 20, because it delivers 20 g of protein in a 400-calorie bottle. The higher the number, the more the product behaves like food rather than a supplement. | Product | Calories per g of protein | Best use | | --- | --- | --- | | Huel Complete Protein | About 5.5 | Shake between meals or after training | | Huel Daily Superblend | About 10 | Light breakfast with greens | | Huel Black Edition | About 10 | Meal replacement | | Huel original Ready-to-drink | About 20 | Bottled meal | Neither type is better in the abstract. If you regularly miss meals, a Huel meal can improve your diet more than any protein shake, because it brings fiber and micronutrients along with the protein. If you already eat well and just need an extra 20 to 30 g of protein a day, a dedicated protein powder is cheaper, lower in calories and easier to fit around your food. Meal shakes from other brands follow the same pattern. Our [Ka'Chava review](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/kachava-review/) compares another popular meal shake on the same terms, and our [how much protein do I need](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/how-much-protein-do-i-need/) guide helps you work out whether you need extra protein at all, or simply more regular meals. ## 7. Cost per 25 g of Protein Huel's pricing depends heavily on whether you subscribe. On Huel's US site at the time of writing, Complete Protein cost about 1.35 dollars per serving on subscription and about 1.79 dollars one-time, for a 26-serving bag. That works out at roughly 1.70 dollars per 25 g of protein on subscription and about 2.20 dollars one-time. Amazon pricing sat close to the one-time figure. Black Edition is cheaper per gram of protein than you might expect, because each serving carries 40 g. At about 2.65 dollars per meal on subscription and about 3.53 dollars one-time, it lands at roughly 1.65 to 2.20 dollars per 25 g of protein. The difference is that you are also buying 400 calories of food, which is good value as a meal and poor value if you only wanted the protein. | Product | Protein per serving | Approx. cost per 25 g | | --- | --- | --- | | Complete Protein | 20 g | About 1.70-2.20 dollars | | Black Edition powder | 40 g | About 1.65-2.20 dollars | | Black Edition Ready-to-drink | 35 g | About 3.00-4.60 dollars | | Daily Superblend | 25 g | About 3.70 dollars | | Garden of Life Sport (alternative) | 30 g | About 1.85 dollars | The ready-to-drink bottles are the expensive way to buy Huel. A 12-pack of Black Edition bottles worked out at roughly 4.25 dollars a bottle on Amazon and more on Huel's site without a subscription, which puts the cost per 25 g of protein between about 3 and 4.60 dollars. Daily Superblend is also pricey per gram, because you are paying for greens, probiotics and mushroom extracts alongside the protein. Against other plant proteins, Complete Protein sits in the middle to upper tier. Single-ingredient pea isolates are much cheaper per gram, while certified plant blends such as Garden of Life Sport land at a similar or lower cost per 25 g with a larger 30 g serving. If you are buying purely on price, Huel is not the brand to choose; if you value the vitamins and the flavors, the premium is modest on subscription. ## 8. Sweeteners, Testing and Ownership Sweeteners differ across the range. Huel's US ingredient list for Complete Protein includes sucralose. Black Edition and the Black Edition bottles are labelled as having no artificial sweeteners and use stevia, with a little coconut sugar in the powder. Daily Superblend also states no artificial sweeteners. If you avoid sucralose, Complete Protein is the one Huel product to check carefully before buying. We could not find NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport or Informed Choice certification for Huel's protein products at the time of writing. Huel publishes detailed formula pages for each product, and the Daily Superblend listing says it is third-party tested without naming a program. That is more transparency than many brands offer, but it is not the same as a sport certificate that screens each batch for banned substances. For drug-tested athletes, that is the deciding factor. If you compete in a tested sport, choose a plant protein with a certificate you can look up by product and flavor, such as Garden of Life Sport, which carries NSF Certified for Sport status per its listing. Our [Garden of Life protein powder review](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/garden-of-life-protein-powder-review/) covers that range in detail. On ownership, Danone, the food group behind brands including Activia and Silk, now owns Huel, after completing the acquisition in September 2026. Reported deal values were close to 1 billion euros, though Danone did not confirm a price. For buyers, the practical effect so far is nil. The thing to watch over the next year is whether formulas, prices or the subscription model change as Huel moves inside a much larger company. ## 9. Taste, Texture and Digestion We have not tasted Huel, so this is buyer feedback. Black Edition gets the most consistent praise for flavor among the Huel powders, with chocolate, vanilla and the dessert flavors popular, and many buyers find it thick and filling. Complete Protein's reviews are more mixed; its Amazon listing sat at about 3.7 out of 5 stars at the time of writing, against about 4.0 for the Black Edition listing we checked. Texture complaints are common with plant proteins and Huel is no exception. Some buyers describe a slightly gritty or earthy finish, especially with less water. Huel's own directions for Complete Protein suggest one level scoop in about 10 fl oz of cold water, shaken for 10 to 20 seconds. Using a blender, adding ice or mixing with plant milk tends to improve mouthfeel significantly. Digestion is the other recurring theme. Black Edition contains a meaningful dose of fiber, and plant proteins can cause gas or bloating in people who are not used to them. Some buyers report this settles after a week or two. Starting with half a serving and building up is a sensible approach, and anyone with a sensitive gut or a diagnosed digestive condition should check with a doctor or dietitian first. Because flavors vary so much in reception, start with a single bag, or a variety box if Huel offers one for the product you want, before setting up a subscription. Subscriptions on Huel's site can usually be paused or changed, but it is easier to avoid a stack of bags you dislike than to work through them. Our [best protein powder for smoothies](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-protein-powder-for-smoothies/) guide has ideas for masking plant protein textures. ## 10. Who Should Buy Huel, and Who Should Skip Buy Complete Protein if you want a vegan protein shake with added vitamins and minerals, are happy with sucralose and do not need a sport certification. It suits people topping up protein between meals and plant-based eaters who want something more nutritionally rounded than a single-ingredient pea isolate. Plan on a larger serving after hard training sessions. Buy Black Edition if you regularly skip breakfast or lunch and want a fast, filling, high-protein meal. It is one of the better options in the meal replacement category on protein per serving and fiber. It also suits people trying to gain weight or eat more consistently. It does not suit people who want a low-calorie protein top-up, because every serving is a full meal. Skip Huel if you are a drug-tested athlete, if you want the lowest cost per gram of protein, or if you want a dairy-based shake. Whey isolates deliver more leucine per gram and usually cost less, and single-source pea proteins are far cheaper. Skip Black Edition in particular if you are dieting and plan to drink it on top of your normal meals. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, managing kidney disease or taking medication, check with a doctor or registered dietitian before using meal replacements or protein supplements, Huel included. This review is not medical advice. For other plant options worth comparing, see our [Owyn protein powder review](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/owyn-protein-powder-review/) and the full [plant-based protein ranking](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-plant-based-protein-powder/). ## 11. Common Mistakes to Avoid ### Using Black Edition as a post-workout shake Black Edition's 40 g of protein comes with about 400 calories. Drinking it after training on top of your usual meals adds roughly 2,800 calories a week, enough to stall a diet. If you only want protein, buy Complete Protein; use Black Edition to replace a meal, not to supplement one. ### Assuming every Huel product is sucralose-free Black Edition and its bottles are labelled free of artificial sweeteners, but Huel's US ingredient list for Complete Protein includes sucralose. If you avoid it, check the specific product and flavor before ordering, and consider Black Edition Unflavored or another brand's protein instead. ### Stacking Huel with a full multivitamin Complete Protein and Black Edition both add 27 vitamins and minerals. Combined with a daily multivitamin and fortified foods, some nutrients can add up faster than you expect. Compare the totals across what you take, and ask a pharmacist or dietitian if you are unsure. ### Buying bottles as your daily protein Black Edition Ready-to-drink is convenient, but at roughly 3 to 4.60 dollars per 25 g of protein it costs far more than the powder. Keep bottles for travel and busy mornings, and use powder, ideally on subscription, for everyday protein if cost matters to you. ### Expecting a sport certification We could not find NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport certification for Huel's protein products. Drug-tested athletes should not assume detailed formula pages are the same as batch testing for banned substances. Choose a certified plant protein, such as Garden of Life Sport, if you compete. ## 12. Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Huel a protein powder? Mostly not. Huel Powder and Black Edition are nutritionally complete meals with protein, carbohydrate, fat and fiber, at around 400 calories a serving. Huel Complete Protein is the brand's actual protein powder, with 20 g of protein in about 110 calories per Huel's label. If you want a protein shake rather than a meal, Complete Protein is the product to buy. ### How much protein is in Huel Black Edition? Huel's label lists 40 g of plant protein per 90 g serving of Black Edition powder, from pea and brown rice protein with some flaxseed, in about 390 to 400 calories. The bottled Black Edition Ready-to-drink lists 35 g per bottle. Figures can vary slightly by flavor, so check the label of the one you buy. ### Is Huel Complete Protein good for building muscle? It can be, as part of enough total daily protein. A 20 g scoop of plant protein carries less leucine than the same amount of whey, so after training a scoop and a half, about 30 g of protein, is a sensible target. Total protein across the day and consistent training matter far more than which brand you choose. ### Does Huel contain sucralose? Some Huel products do. Huel's US ingredient list for Complete Protein includes sucralose. Black Edition powder and Black Edition Ready-to-drink are labelled as having no artificial sweeteners and use stevia, with a little coconut sugar in the powder. There is also an unflavored, unsweetened Black Edition. Check the specific product and flavor before buying. ### Is Huel third-party tested? We could not find NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport or Informed Choice certification for Huel's protein products at the time of writing. Huel publishes detailed formula pages, and the Daily Superblend listing says it is third-party tested without naming a program. Drug-tested athletes should choose a certified product whose status they can look up. ### Who owns Huel now? Danone completed its acquisition of Huel in September 2026, after agreeing the deal in March and receiving UK competition clearance in August, per Danone and press coverage. Huel was founded in the UK in 2015 by Julian Hearn and James Collier. Huel has said its leadership team will stay in place, and the labels have not changed because of the deal so far. ### Huel vs protein powder: which should I buy? Buy a protein powder, including Huel Complete Protein, if you already eat regular meals and want an extra 20 to 30 g of protein for few calories. Buy a Huel meal, such as Black Edition, if you often skip meals and want a fast, filling replacement. The deciding question is whether you are adding protein or replacing a meal. ## Related Plant Protein Guides - [Best Plant-Based Protein Powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-plant-based-protein-powder/): The full plant protein ranking on dose, testing and cost per 25 g. - [Ka'Chava Review](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/kachava-review/): Another popular meal shake, checked against Huel Black Edition. - [Garden of Life Protein Review](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/garden-of-life-protein-powder-review/): The certified organic plant range that undercuts Huel on cost per gram. ## The Bottom Line Huel is two brands in one bag. Complete Protein is a reasonable vegan protein powder with added vitamins, a small 20 g scoop and sucralose in the US formula. Black Edition is one of the better powdered meals you can buy, with 40 g of protein, plenty of fiber and no artificial sweeteners, but it carries about 400 calories and should replace a meal rather than sit on top of one. If certification or price matters most, a certified plant blend or a simple pea isolate will serve you better, and our [best plant-based protein powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-plant-based-protein-powder/) ranking lays out the options. If convenience and complete nutrition are the point, Huel earns its place, as long as you pick the right product for the job. ## More in Brand Reviews Guides in this category that pair with what you just read. - [Owyn Protein Powder Review](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/owyn-protein-powder-review/) - [Vega Protein Powder Review](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/vega-protein-powder-review/) - [Whey vs Plant Protein](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/whey-vs-plant-protein/) About the Author [Best Protein Powder Editorial Team](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/authors/editorial-team/), Supplements Desk The editorial team reads the label, the certificate and the price per gram of protein before a powder gets near a ranking -- and says plainly when a cheaper tub does the same job. [Full profile](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/authors/editorial-team/) | [How we test](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/how-we-test/)