You’re standing in front of the vegan cheese display at your local grocery store. The options seem endless. And that’s a good thing, right? But with so many different flavors, styles, and brands, how do you know which to buy? This is where we come in! We’ve sifted through all of those options for you. And we’ve chosen a few of our favorites. Want to know which brand to go with for that plant-based BLT? We’ve got you! Wondering what to add to your charcuterie board? We can help! And this isn’t just your average listicle. We’ve sampled a hearty selection to come up with our hands-down best brands. So, sit back, keep reading, and get your grocery list ready.
What Is Vegan Cheese Made Of?
For starters, vegan cheese usually consists of a nut base. Think cashews, almonds, and more. Some cheeses boast a soy, tofu, or pea protein foundation. In addition to the protein, plant-based cheeses contain oils and thickening agents. Common oils include olive, coconut, and avocado. Then for the fun stuff! Flavors! We’re talking herbs like rosemary and oregano, and add-ins like sun-dried tomatoes, pistachios, and olives. Whatever your dish and appetite, there is a brand and flavor to fit your needs.
The Best Vegan Cheese Brands
Please note that our ranking here is based strictly on taste and texture, not on the health profile of the cheese. We’re looking for how it melts, tastes between bread with tomatoes and our favorite vegan deli meat, spreads on a cracker, and other important decisions when whipping up our go-to creations. So if you are looking for the best vegan cheese brands, these are the ones we choose.
1. Rebel Cheese
This artisanal cheese brand rocks the number one position on our list! If you are lucky enough to get your hands on Rebel Cheese, definitely give it a try. It’s sold at natural food and specialty stores nationwide. We’re talking shops like Erewhon and Lassens. But don’t worry, it’s also available for shipping. And if you happen to live in Texas, the brand has a brick-and-mortar restaurant and cheese shop in Austin.
2. Treeline Cheese
Treeline Cheese is another artisanal vegan cheese brand that may be easier to locate than Rebel. Stores across all 50 states, including Whole Foods, Kroger, Sprouts, and others, stock this dairy-free alternative. This one works great for holiday snack boards and all your festive entertaining needs! And be sure to check out the brand’s Ricotta flavor, the winner of “Plant-Based Product of the Year” in the 2025 Mindful Awards.
3. Miyoko’s
Is it just us, or is it still sad that Miyoko herself is no longer with the company? But Miyoko’s Creamery continues to rank toward the top of our list for its creamy texture and delicious taste. The Pourable Cashew Milk Mozzarella is delicious on pizza, and we love the Roadhouse Cheddar Cheese Spread for dipping pretzels. Whatever you choose from this plant-based brand, you can’t go wrong.
4. Violife
We like Violife for its meltability and range of products. We’re talking Smoked Gouda Slices, Parmesan Wedge, and Just Like Feta, among others. The European vegan cheese brand is widely available and at a budget-friendly price point. It’s great for use on grilled cheese, vegan burgers, pasta, sub sandwiches, and more.
5. Field Roast Chao
Another OG, Field Roast’s Chao has been around since 2015, and it’s still one of our classic vegan deli meat sandwich favorites! Add a slice or two along with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and your condiments of choice for the full taste flavor package. We like the Creamy Original, but you can also find this one in Smoked Original, Tomato Cayenne, and more.
6. Follow Your Heart
You’ve probably heard of the vegan cheese brand Follow Your Heart. If you haven’t, here’s your heads up! Follow Your Heart is just the right option for melting atop a big, juicy Beyond burger. We also like it for grilled cheese. And, fyi, the shreds are just the cheese you’re looking for to load those nachos!
7. Babybel Plant-Based Cheese
Say hello to the taste explosion of Babybel Plant-Based Cheese! We had to double-check the packaging to make sure we bought the vegan one. This brand’s dairy-free option tastes like the old-school cheese sticks we remember from childhood. While we haven’t had dairy cheese in years, we bet the plant-based version tastes similar to Babybel’s original cheese. We enjoy this one on its own, but it’s also good with crackers!
8. Daiya
Daiya gets a lot of hate, but they were founded in 2008 and were there for us when options were slim, so they’ll always have a place in our hearts. And they’ve gone through several formulations, so their products actually melt now! This one is great for creamy mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, and more.
9. Trader Joe’s
Check out Trader Joe’s brand vegan cheese for their slices, shreds, and parm! This affordable option comes in forms to fit all your cooking needs. Pick up their cashew-based Dairy-Free Mozzarella Style Shreds for those family pizza nights. Or go for the Dairy-Free Cheddar Style Slices for your lunchtime sandwich needs. The hidden gem here, though, is the Dairy-Free Shredded Parmesan Cheese Alternative. Chef’s kiss!
10. The Laughing Cow Plant-Based
Laughing Cow’s plant-based cheese missed the mark for us. This one is fairly bland—not quite enough flavor. Interestingly, even the Garlic & Herb variety came up short. The brand is fine in a pinch, but with so many other great-tasting options on the market, it definitely comes up last on our list. The texture is there, and it’s spreadable, so it works well with crackers. We would just like to see a little richer taste profile.
