Cheapest Meal Replacement Shakes in 2021
One of the main benefits of meal replacements shakes is that they can help you stay on a budget. While not all are equally affordable, and some can cost up to $6 per meal, you can get healthy meal replacements at a sensible price point. Therefore, I have created this list with the best cheap meal replacement shakes to show that you can buy quality shakes at a bargain.
In order to do so, I have included those that have a good balance between quality and price. In here, you will find the best value meal replacements shakes.
Furthermore, I have included a list with the cheapest meal replacements at the end of the article, ordered by price.
Best Cheap Meal Replacement in 2021
Complete 360 Meal
- Vegan.
- Costs under $1.3/£1.2 per serving.
- Available in 3 delicious flavours.
- Very filling, can be used for weight loss.
- 30g of protein per serving.
1. Complete 360 Meal
Editor’s Choice
- Great nutrition; with 30g of protein per serving
- Delicious and very pleasant to drink
- Best value for money
- Always great discounts to benefit from
- Vegan and non-vegan options
- Best priced in Europe and particularly in the UK
Complete 360 meal is the best value meal replacement shake. This is because it’s the perfect blend between great taste, balanced nutrition and affordable pricing. In fact, while the starting price is £2/400kcal; there’s always a great discount make it cheaper.
Unfortunately, prices are a bit higher if you are in Europe or the US, but most of the time it will still be one best cheap meal replacement shakes.
Regarding the nutritional aspect, Complete 360 meal is a fully vegan shake, with custom protein blend (pea protein, rice protein and hemp protein) that provides you with 30g. Besides that, it also is rich in fiber (10g) and complex carbs, while being a low sugar shake (1g). This high protein and fiber mix makes it one of the best cheap meal replacement shakes for weight loss.
On top of all this, the shakes taste delicious. I, personally, really enjoy Double Milk Chocolate, but Strawberry and Vanilla are good too.
Nutrition
| per serving | Complete360 | RI (%) |
| Energy (C/P/F) | 46/30/24 | – |
| Energy (kCal) | 400 | 20 |
| Fats (g) | 11.0 | 19 |
| Saturated (g) | 1.3 | 6.5 |
| Carbs (g) | 45.0 | 17 |
| Sugars (g) | 1 | 1 |
| Fiber (g) | 10.0 | 35 |
| Protein (g) | 30.0 | 60 |
| Salt (g) | 0.3 | 5 |
2. Plenny Shake
Popular
- Multiple flavours to choose from
- Thin shake, easy to drink
- Affordable in both Europe and US
- Also available in Active version (extra protein)
- Flavours can be a bit weak
- Strawberry is not very good
There’s no conversation about cheap meal replacement shake without mentioning Plenny Shake. Jimmyjoy’s star powder based product has always been a fan favourite due to its affordable pricing. In 5 years, they have been king of budget meal replacements.
However, Plenny Shake is not only affordable, but it’s also healthy. It follows the WHO recommendations, and each shake provides you with all your body needs. Plus, this is a plant-based shake, also low in sugar and high in complex carbs.
Furthermore, you can choose from up to 6 flavours: Vanilla, Chocolate, Coffee, Banana, Strawberry and Mango. Otherwise, you can opt for the Active version for just few extra cents per serving, which provide you with more protein and more flavour options.
As for the price, Plenny Shake will cost you under $1.5 per 400kcal. It is one of the cheapest shakes in both Europe and the US.
Nutrition
| per serving | Plenny Shake | DV (%) |
| Energy (C/P/F) | 47/21/32 | – |
| Energy (kCal) | 400 | 20 |
| Fats (g) | 13.0 | 20.0 |
| Saturated (g) | 2.0 | 10.0 |
| Carbs (g) | 52.0 | 17.3 |
| Sugars (g) | 5.6 | 11.0 |
| Fiber (g) | 7.2 | 28.8 |
| Protein (g) | 15.0 | 30.0 |
3. Milk Fuel
Popular in US
- Cheapest meal replacement in the US
- Many flavours to choose from
- Can customize servings to suit your needs
- Cheap international shipping
- Need to add milk to be complete
- Not beginner friendly
Superbodyfuel’s Milk Fuel is the cheapest meal replacement in the US, costing as little as $0.8 per serving. The reason for this is because the powder mix lacks some nutrients that the user needs to compliment with milk (hence the name).
While this can have some drawbacks, like heavy reliance on milk to get some nutrients (fats) and high sugar levels; there are upsides, too. For instance, you can tweak your macros by adding more or less milk. Furthermore, you can choose your own source of milk to make the shake vegan.
Nonetheless, Milk Fuel will provide you all the nutrients you need for about $1. Plus, you can choose from 6 flavours, including Chocolate, Plain, Cinnamon or Strawberry.
Nutrition
| per serving | Milk Fuel | DV (%) |
| Energy (C/P/F) | 45/20/35 | – |
| Energy (kCal) | 500 | 25 |
| Fats (g) | 20.0 | 25 |
| Saturated (g) | 10.0 | 40.0 |
| Cholesterol (mg) | 49.0 | 16.0 |
| Carbs (g) | 60.0 | 22 |
| Sugars (g) | 23.0 | |
| of which added (g) | 0.0 | 0 |
| Fiber (g) | 8.0 | 30 |
| Protein (g) | 23.0 | 47 |
| Sodium (mg) | 575 | 25 |
4. Saturo Powder
- Top quality nutrition at a very affordable price
- 140 meals per pack!
- Great prices in both US and Europe
- Nice neutral taste, creamy and superb for daily use
- Price per purchase is high
- 2 flavours only
Mana Family pack is the ideal meal replacement for those in a budget. The cheap powder option that Mana offers allows you to purchase big (140 meals!) to save you money.
I personally love this format, even if it can be a little hard to store, since it allows you not to order constantly. Obviously, you also save in shipping and each meal can be as cheap as $1.61 or €1.41!
There are two flavours available. Origin is a more neutral flavour, almost milk like with buttery touches and some hints of vanilla. This is a flavour that you cannot get bored of. The Chocolate is great too, although not as rich or sweet as some other counterparts.
One last thing to mention is that Mana’s reliability is top notch, they customer support super friendly, and overall they offer one of the best buyers’ experience in the market.
Nutrition
| per serving | Mana | RI(%) |
| Energy (C/P/F) | 35/21/44 | – |
| Energy (kCal) | 400 | 20 |
| Fats (g) | 19.0 | 27 |
| Saturated (g) | 2.0 | 10 |
| Carbs (g) | 33.0 | 13 |
| Sugars (g) | 7.0 | 7 |
| Fiber (g) | 6.7 | 34 |
| Protein (g) | 21.0 | 42 |
| Salt (g) | 0.9 | 15 |
List of Cheap Meal Replacement Shakes
For those who are more number oriented, here is a list with the cheap meal replacement powders:
In the USA:
| Product | Price ($)/400kcal | Tag |
|---|---|---|
| Milk Fuel | 0.80 | Vegan* |
| Complete 360 | 1.23 | Vegan |
| Athlete Fuel | 1.27 | Sport |
| Plenny Shake | 1.45 | Vegan |
| Soylent Powder | 1.50 | Vegan |
| Huel Powder | 1.51 | Vegan |
| Plenny Active | 1.59 | Vegan, Sport |
| Super Fuel | 1.60 | Vegan, Low Carb |
| Mana Powder | 1.61 | Vegan |
It is worth noting that the base price for some of the products might be a bit higher. I displayed the best case scenario for these products. For some, reaching this price-point will be easier, while others might require more commitment (bulk purchasing).
In Europe:
| Product | Price (€)/400kcal | Tag |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 360 | 1.05 | Vegan |
| Plenny Shake | 1.19 | Vegan |
| Queal | 1.29 | |
| Satislent Powder | 1.30 | Vegan |
| Huel Powder | 1.30 | Vegan |
| Plenny Active | 1.31 | Vegan, Sport |
| Queal Vegan | 1.38 | Vegan, |
| Mana Powder | 1.39 | Vegan |
In Europe, there are more cheap meal replacement shakes available. In fact, there are multiple more options below €2/400kcal not displayed above. However, these are only powders. For other formats, like ready to drinks and bars, prices are still a little higher.
Cheap Bars and RTDs
These are some of the best options for RTDs and bars. Mind that there are more, and I widely discuss them in other articles.
In the US
Plenny Bar
- $2.55/400kcal
- Vegan
- Available in 3 flavours
Soylent Drink
- $2.69/400kcal
- Vegan
- Available in 7 flavours
In Europe
Plenny Bar
- €2.13/400kcal
- Vegan
- Available in 3 flavours
YFood Drink
- €2.37/400kcal
- High in protein
- Available in 6 flavours
If you leave in the UK there might be some small variations in prices. For instance, Huel Ready-to-Drink is much cheaper in the United Kingdom when compared to the rest of the world.
Cheap Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss
If you are looking for affordable Shakeology alternatives, or other popular weight loss shakes, I recommend using one of the above mentioned. I say so, since most of the diet shakes are often more expensive than standard versions.
For instance, Complete 360 is a great choice, since it’s incredibly filling and has high protein content to help you stay full for longer. In fact, they have a dedicated weight loss shake that I really like, Diet Meal Replacement Extreme, but I don’t think it’s worth it if you are on a budget. Even though, it does include extra ingredients to help you with weight loss.
Conclusion: Cheap Meal Replacement Shakes
As shown by the options above, there are plenty of options that can fit your budget. The best affordable meal replacement shakes will provide you with all the nutrients you need for less than $1.5.
Consequently, you can easily stay on budget while you eat at home, in the office or on the go; while you keep your nutrition at check. This is one of the aspects I love the most about meal replacements.
Make sure to choose wisely and enjoy your cheap healthy meal replacement shakes.
Sources
1.US Dietary Guidelines 2015-20.
2. FDA Daily Values.