10 Best Plant Based Energy Drinks for a Natural Caffeine Boost (Updated for 2025)

Looking for the best plant-based energy drinks for a natural caffeine boost? Below I’ve rounded up the best natural energy drinks that are currently on the market.

Sometimes in order to get through the day, a mid-afternoon boost is just what you need. So, ditch the monster energy drinks and the red bull and try one of the below alternatives instead. 

As someone who used to be a bit addicted to energy drinks in college (5 hour energy may have been a frequent purchase of mine), trust me when I say natural alternatives are SO much better! Not only do you avoid the crash and adverse side effects, but they aren’t filled with synthetic caffeine, artificial sweeteners or chemicals. 

BUT FIRST, WHAT IS AN ENERGY DRINK?

Energy drinks are drinks that are used to increase alertness and energy. In plant based energy drinks this is usually done through either caffeine or adaptogens.

WHAT MAKES AN ENERGY DRINK PLANT BASED?

What determines a plant based energy drink might be different from person to person. For this list I specifically looked for energy drinks that were dairy-free that avoided artificial sugars / ingredients (such as sucralose). The drinks below focus on natural ingredients such as adaptogens, as well as natural sources of caffeine (i.e. those coming from yerba mate, coffee, green tea, etc).

With that being said, make sure to look at the ingredients in an energy drink before purchasing to make sure it fits your personal preferences.

And now let’s get into the best natural energy drink brands!

10 BEST PLANT BASED ENERGY DRINKS

1. EBOOST

Flavor(s): Orange Mango, Strawberry Lemonade, Ginger Lime, Blue Raspberry (my favorite!).

Caffeine Source: 110mg from green coffee beans and green tea leaf extract.

Why I Like It: Taste-wise, EBOOST is one of my favorite drinks! I also like that it’s low in sugar and it has plenty of caffeine for those days where I really need a pick me up. Note – they do contain honey, so they are vegetarian but not vegan.

P.S. You can try a sample kit here!

2. Clean Cause

Clean Cause uses Yerba Mate to provide it’s caffeine boost! Each can contains 2 servings of 80mg of caffeine. With a wide variety of flavors it’s perfect for busy days when you need a productivity boost. 

Caffeine Source: 160mg of caffeine that is naturally sourced from Fair Trade Yerba Mate tea.

Flavor(s): Raspberry, Blackberry, Peach, Lemon Lime, Cherry Lime.

Why I Like It: Not only do they have great reviews on Amazon (4.7 out of 5 with 1,000+ reviews) but they are also certified organic energy drinks and donate 50% of their net profits to support addiction.

3. Sambazon Amazon Energy Drink

Packed with antioxidants and sustainably sourced, this energy drink is equivalent to two shots of caffeine!

Flavor(s): Original Acaí Berry, Pomegranate, and Blood Orange.  

Caffeine Source: 120-150mg of naturally occurring caffeine from yerba mate extract, guarana extract and green tea extract.

Why I Like It: Not only does it taste delicious, but Sambazon offers two versions of their energy drink, one sweetened with cane sugar and one sweetened with erythritol and stevia. So, if you’re sensitive to alternative sweeteners, the original is a great option.

4. nuun Energy

Nuun is known for their electrolytes, but did you know they also have energy tablets?

Flavor(s): Ginger Lime Zing, Berry Blast, Watermelon Burst, Tropical Punch

Caffeine Source: 80 mg from green tea extract

Why I Like It: I love having this in the afternoon for a mid-day pick up! With 80 mg of caffeine I find it’s perfect for staying awake without keeping me up at night. Plus, they’re packed with electrolytes.

5. MUDWTR Coffee Alternative

This drink mix focuses on adaptogenic mushrooms, so it’s actually pretty low in caffeine at 35mg. If you’re looking for a low-caffeine energy boost – this is the one.

Flavor(s): Original

Caffeine Source: 35 mg

Why I Like It: If you’re looking for a boost of energy and alertness, this mushroom boost from MUD/WTR is a great option! It’s low on caffeine and relies heavily on organic mushrooms for energy.

6. Guayaki Yerba Mate

A non-carbonated blend of organic fruit and herbs, as well as yerba mate, this drink provides caffeine without the crash!

Flavor(s): Revel Berry, Lemon Elation, Enlighten Mint, and various others.

Caffeine Source: 80-150 mg of naturally occurring caffeine from yerba mate.

Why I Like It: Comes in a wide variety of flavors, plus it’s sweetened with cane sugar, so if you’re sensitive to sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit, this is a great option.

7. Organifi Red Juice

A powdered supplement designed to be mixed with water, Organifi’s Red Juice is an all-natural, caffeine free drink designed to improve energy and endurance!

Flavor(s): Berry

Caffeine Source: No caffeine

Why I Like It: Despite being caffeine-free, Organifi’s red juice powder gives me a burst of energy – especially for workouts. Plus, since there’s no caffeine you don’t need to worry about it keeping you up.

P.S. it does contain beets, so if you don’t like the taste of beets (there’s a slight beet aftertaste) this may not be the one for you! But if you’re looking for a caffeine-free pre-workout, it’s hard to find a better option.

8. Plant Press

Crafted by a neuroscientist, Plant Press is an energy drink crafted with electrolytes and vitamins.

Flavor(s): Grapefruit Ginger, Passionfruit Peach, Watermelon

Caffeine Source: 100mg from green coffee beans

Why I Like It: It’s packed with electrolytes, free of artificial ingredients, and packed with about as much caffeine as a cup of coffee.

9. NAKED Sparkling Energy Drink

Crafted by the makers of NAKED protein, they recently launched a sparkling energy drink.

Flavor(s): Orange, Lemonade, and Strawberry Lemonade.

Caffeine Source: 100mg from unroasted coffee beans.

Why I Like It: With only 6 ingredients, NAKED stays true to their minimal ingredient products!

10. GORGIE

A sparkling energy drink crafted with green tea caffeine that comes in a wide variety of flavors.

Flavor(s): Cherry Lime, Citrus Burst, Mango Tango, Orange Twist, Paradise Punch, Peach, Watermelon Crush and Wild Berry.

Caffeine Source: 150mg from green tea

Why I Like It: They have a ton of different flavors to choose from, are available at most grocery stores, and contain biotin and vitamins.

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And there you have it, 10 great healthy energy drinks that fit into a vegan diet. Let me know if you’ve tried any of the above options and/or if you have any plant based energy drinks you think are missing from this list!