Cheapest Meal Replacement Shakes in 2023
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 2023
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. Soylent Powder
Cheapest in the US
| Taste | 90% |
| Texture | 90% |
| Nutrition | 90% |
| Price | 85% |
| Overall | 89% |
Pros
- As cheap as $1.57/serving
- Easy to like flavor, great for daily use
- Vegan, low-carb formula
- Filling
- Available in US and CAN
Cons
- Only 2 flavors
- Ships from UK ($100 for free)
Soylent is the perfect solution for busy people who want to make sure they’re getting the nutrients they need. Soylent is a cheap, budget-friendly meal replacement shake that comes in 2 lovely flavors. It’s quick and easy to prepare, and it’s packed with all the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs.
In fact, this American brand has been a staple for many American meal replacement shake enthusiasts since the beginning. The Original flavor is one of the most beloved meal replacement shakes. Creamy, buttery, and with a light vanilla touch, it’s incredibly timeless and great to have on its own or mixed.
However, one of Soylent Powder’s strengths has always been being a cheap meal replacement shake. While the extremely budget-oriented Soylent Bucket ($1/serving) is no longer around, they are still able to offer you a meal for around $1.5.
It is true, nonetheless, that this price is only achieved through subscription. Luckily you can cancel it anytime.
Key Stats
- Macros (C/P/F): 38/20/42
- Serving size: 400kcal
- Protein (g): 20g – from soy protein isolate
- Sugars (g): 16.0g
- Allergens: Soy
- Flavors: Original, Cacao
- Best Flavour: Original
| Vegan | Y |
| Gluten-free | Y |
| Keto | N |
| Soy-free | N |
| Artificial Sweeteners | Y |
2. Complete 360 Meal
Best in the UK
| Taste | 90% |
| Texture | 85% |
| Nutrition | 90% |
| Price | 90% |
| Overall | 89% |
Pros
- Great nutrition; with 30g of protein per serving
- Best value for money in UK/EU
- High in protein (30g/400kcal)
- Delicious and very pleasant to drink
- Discounts are very common
Cons
- Discounts needed for the best price
- Ships from UK ($100 for free)
Complete 360 meal is the best value meal replacement shake. This is because it’s the perfect blend of great taste, balanced nutrition, and affordable pricing. In fact, while the starting price is £2/400kcal; there’s always a great discount to make it cheaper.
You will often find Complete 360 Meal at about £1.3 per serving. Comparatively, other cheap meal replacement shakes will cost you over £1.5/serving.
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. For the US, I recommend you making use of the free shipping.
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.
Key Stats
- Macros (C/P/F): 46/30/24
- Kcal: 400kcal
- Protein (g): 30g – pea, hemp, brown rice // whey protein concentrate*
- Sugars (g): 1g
- Allergens: Oats, Soy
- Flavours: Banana Smooth, Choc Mint Brownie, Double Milk Chocolate, Strawberries N’ Cream Classic, and Vanilla Creme.
- Best Flavour: Double Milk Chocolate or Cookies ‘n’ Cream.
| Vegan | Y |
| Gluten-free | N |
| Keto | N |
| Soy-free | Y |
| Artificial Sweeteners | Y |
3. Plenny Shake
Popular
| Taste | 80% |
| Texture | 80% |
| Nutrition | 90% |
| Price | 90% |
| Overall | 85% |
Pros
- Tons of flavors available
- $1.45 per meal with a subscription
- Sports formula available for a little extra
- Available in the US, EU, and UK
- Also offers bars, RTD
Cons
- Often out of stock in the US
- Many flavors taste similar
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 flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Coffee, Banana, Strawberry and Mango. Otherwise, you can opt for the Active version for just a few extra cents per serving, which provides you with more protein and more flavor 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.
Key Stats
- Macros (C/P/F): 47/21/32
- Kcal: 400kcal
- Protein (g): 20g – soy protein isolate
- Sugars (g): 3.1g
- Allergens: Gluten, Soy
- Flavours: Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana, Strawberry, Mango, Coffee, Pistachio, Coconut, Passion Fruit, and Apple Cinnamon
- Best Flavour: Chocolate
| Vegan | Y |
| Gluten-free | N |
| Keto | N |
| Soy-free | N |
| Artificial Sweeteners | Y |
4. Milk Fuel
Popular in US
| Taste | 75% |
| Texture | 75% |
| Nutrition | 80% |
| Price | 95% |
| Overall | 81% |
Pros
- Most affordable shake in the US
- Has kept prices stable
- Allergen free
- Can customize macros
- Also available in keto
Cons
- Requires extra preparation
- Nutrition relies heavily on milk
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 that the powder mix lacks some nutrients that the user needs to complement with milk (hence the name).
While this can have some drawbacks, like the 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 with all the nutrients you need for about $1. Plus, you can choose from 6 flavours, including Chocolate, Plain, Cinnamon or Strawberry.
Key Stats
- Macros (C/P/F): 45/20/35
- Kcal: 500kcal
- Protein (g): 23g – from milk
- Sugars (g): 23g
- Allergens:
- Flavours: Vanilla, Chocolate, Original, Cinnamon, Coffee, and Plain
- Best Flavour: Vanilla
| Vegan | Y |
| Gluten-free | Y |
| Keto | N* |
| Soy-free | Y |
| Artificial Sweeteners | N |
5. Mana Powder
| Taste | 85% |
| Texture | 85% |
| Nutrition | 85% |
| Price | 85% |
| Overall | 85% |
Pros
- Bulk packaging for cheaper meals
- As low as €1.5 or $1.95
- Origin flavor is fantastic
- Vegan, science-based formula
- One of the best for regular use
Cons
- More expensive in the US
- Big one-time payment
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 $1.61 or €1.41!
There are three flavours available. Origin is a more neutral flavor, almost milk with buttery touches and some hints of vanilla. This is a flavour that you cannot get bored of. The Chocolate is great too, although not as rich or sweet as some other counterparts.
One last thing to mention is that Mana’s reliability is top notch, they customer support is super friendly, and overall they offer one of the best buyers’ experiences in the market.
Key Stats
- Macros (C/P/F): 34/22/44
- Kcal: 400kcal
- Protein (g): 22g – from soy protein isolate
- Sugars (g): 7g
- Allergens: soy
- Flavours: Origin, Choco, and Apricot
- Best Flavour: Origin
| Vegan | Y |
| Gluten-free | Y |
| Keto | N |
| Soy-free | N |
| Artificial Sweeteners | Y |
List of Cheap Meal Replacement Shakes
For those who are more number oriented, here is a list of cheap meal replacement powders:
In the USA:
| Product | Price ($)/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.
3. Ultimate Meal Replacement List.
4. Latestfuel’s Best Meal Replacement Shakes.
