The 5 Best Vegan Cheeses to Try

From meltable shreds and sandwich slices to cream cheese, there are many options when it comes to buying vegan cheese. To help you make your way through the aisle with ease, learn what to look for when shopping for a plant-based cheese. Plus, get our picks for the best vegan cheeses.

While dairy-based cheese typically has at least 3 grams of saturated fat per serving, vegan cheese is often made with coconut oil and can have as much as 7 grams. Look for 6 grams or less per serving—ones made from nuts and seeds will primarily contain heart-healthy unsaturated fats—to help keep your saturated fat intake from exceeding 10% of your total daily calories.

Cheese is inherently salty. Hard varieties, like Parmesan, are on the higher side, while cream cheese is on the lower. Aim for 260 milligrams or less of sodium per serving to help stay under 2,300mg a day.

Related: 7 Things That Can Happen to Your Body When You Eat Too Much Salt

Something to keep in mind: vegan cheese is usually low in protein and calcium compared to the dairy-based kind—so don't rely on it to fulfill those goals. Nut- and seed-based cheeses have the most protein while those made with starches and coconut oil have the least. As for calcium, some plant-based cheeses are fortified, but they often still have less than dairy versions.

Related: The 10 Best Vegan Protein Sources

So Delicious Creamy Original Cream Cheese Style Spread

70 cal, 6g sat fat, 0g protein, 115mg sodium, 0mg calcium 

Coconut oil makes this super-creamy spread look and feel just like the real thing (minus a little of the tang).

Treeline French Style Cheese Herb Garlic

90 cal, 1g sat fat, 3g protein, 90mg sodium, 10mg calcium

This spreadable cheese has herbaceous flavor reminiscent of Boursin. It's great on a cheese board or as a snack with crackers.

Vevan Mozza-Shred

80 cal, 5g sat fat, 190mg sodium, 0g protein, 0mg calcium 

Don't be fooled by the drier-looking melt of this mozz— it's plenty gooey. Cheese pull, anyone?

Daiya Cheddar-Style Slices

60 cal, 4g sat fat, 0g protein, 170mg sodium, 140mg calcium 

A salty Cheddar, reminiscent of mild dairy versions, it's the best melter of all the ones we tried— perfect for a grilled cheese or topping a plant-based burger.

Field Roast Spicy Original Vegan Chao Slices 

60 cal, 4g sat fat, 0g protein, 180mg sodium, 0mg calcium 

Dotted with spicy pepper flecks, these creamy slices are good both cold and melted.