I tested every vegan butter on the market and only 3 are worth the price

Let me be honest with you: I've eaten more butter in the past month than I have in the five years since going vegan. Fourteen brands, to be exact. Some came from specialty health food stores, others from the regular grocery aisle. A few arrived in the mail with impressive marketing claims about being "indistinguishable from dairy."

Here's what I learned after spreading, melting, baking, and sautéing my way through every option I could find: most vegan butters are fine. Perfectly acceptable.

But when you're paying $6 to $8 for a small tub, "fine" doesn't cut it. You want something that makes your morning toast feel like a small luxury, that browns properly in a pan, that doesn't leave a weird aftertaste. So which ones actually earn their spot in your fridge?

1. Miyoko's Creamery European Style Cultured Vegan Butter

I'll admit I was skeptical of the hype around Miyoko's. At roughly $7 for 8 ounces, it's one of the pricier options out there. But the first time I spread it on warm sourdough, I understood. This butter has a depth of flavor that most vegan options simply don't achieve, thanks to its cashew cream base and actual culturing process.

What sets Miyoko's apart is how it performs across different uses. It browns beautifully for sautéing vegetables. It creams into frosting without that grainy texture some plant butters leave behind. And perhaps most importantly, it tastes like something you'd actually want to eat, not just a vehicle for getting fat into your recipe.

Is it worth the premium price? For special occasions, baking projects, or when you simply want your breakfast to feel a little more luxurious, absolutely yes.

2. Earth Balance Original Buttery Spread

Sometimes the classic choice becomes classic for a reason. Earth Balance has been around since the early 2000s, and while it's not the most exciting option on this list, it's the one I reach for most often in my daily cooking.

The original spread offers a reliable, neutral flavor that works in virtually any application. It melts evenly, spreads smoothly even when cold, and costs significantly less than artisan options, usually around $4 to $5 for a 15-ounce tub. For weeknight stir-fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, or a quick schmear on your morning bagel, it delivers without drama.

What I appreciate most about Earth Balance is its consistency. After years of using it, I know exactly how it will behave in any recipe. That predictability matters when you're trying to get dinner on the table or nail a finicky baked good. It won't wow your dinner guests, but it won't let you down either.

3. Violife Plant Butter

Violife surprised me. I'd written them off as primarily a cheese company, but their plant butter has quietly become one of the best values in the category. At around $5 for 8.8 ounces, it sits in that sweet spot between budget and premium.

The texture is remarkably close to dairy butter, firm when cold but softening quickly at room temperature. It has a clean, mild taste without the coconut undertones that plague some vegan butters. I tested it in pie crust, and the results were flaky and tender, exactly what you want from a baking fat.

Where Violife really shines is accessibility. Unlike some specialty brands, you can find it at most major grocery stores. That convenience factor matters when you're out of butter at 7 PM and don't want to make a special trip to Whole Foods.

The ones that didn't make the cut

I tested eleven other brands that ranged from disappointing to merely adequate. Some had an overwhelming coconut flavor that overpowered everything they touched. Others refused to melt properly or left a waxy coating on my tongue. A few tasted fine on toast but broke into greasy puddles when I tried to bake with them.

The most frustrating were the expensive "gourmet" options that promised artisanal quality but delivered mediocre results. Price doesn't always correlate with performance in the vegan butter world, and I learned that lesson the hard way with a $9 tub that tasted vaguely like sunscreen.

Final thoughts

After all this testing, I've settled into a rotation: Miyoko's for baking and special meals, Earth Balance for everyday cooking, and Violife when I want something in between. Your perfect butter depends on how you cook and what you value most.

What matters is finding options that make plant-based eating feel sustainable and enjoyable, not like a constant compromise. Have you found a vegan butter that's earned permanent fridge space in your kitchen? The search for the perfect spread is deeply personal, and I'd love to know what's working for you.