We Tried 6 Different Oat Milk Brands — Here’s The Best Brand to Buy

May 15, 2023

Clean Plates

I’m a big fan of oat milk. As someone who grew up drinking plant-based milk because they were lactose intolerant, the recently-buzzy oat milk ranks high on the list of plant-based drinks for me. Even though I’ve seemingly tried them all (soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, macadamia milk — you name it, chances are I’ve had a glass of it), I find oat milk to be consistently delicious.

The dairy-free alternative, which first became big in Sweden via a company called Oatly (maybe you’ve heard of them before?), has become incredibly popular in recent years because it’s not only tasty and creamy but because it also doesn’t taste too far off from cow’s milk, which some people appreciate.

If you’re new to the world of oat milk, shopping for the best oat milk brand may feel intimidating. There are so many different brands (and flavors) on grocery store shelves that it feels nearly impossible to figure out which ones are actually worth spending money on. Because of this, we decided to run a taste test on some of the most popular oat milk brands to find out which is the best oat milk brand out there. We considered taste, texture, mouth feel, and nutritional value when deliberating. We also were sure to include background notes for each to help give you a better idea. Here’s our result for the best oat milk brand.

1. Winner: Planet Oat Extra Creamy Oat Milk

A peek at the label:

Calories: 120
Total fat: 3.5 g
Protein: 2 g
Calcium: 350 mg
Sugar: 5 g

If you want a super creamy oat milk that goes down incredibly smooth, then you need to give Planet Oat a try. In my opinion, it’s one of the best oat milk brands currently offered because it tastes so good — it has a slightly sweet flavor that sets it apart and a refreshing quality that other brands seem to lack. Even better? It’s packed with 25% of the daily recommended amount of calcium. I like to pour this one into my strawberry peanut butter smoothies or enjoy a glass with chocolate chip cookies.

Buy now: Planet Oat Extra Creamy Oat Milk

2. Runner-Up: Elmhurst Milked Oats Unsweetened Oat Milk

A peek at the label:

Calories: 100
Total fat: 2 g
Protein: 3 g
Calcium: 22 mg
Sugar: 1 g

Elmhurst is hands down, one of my favorite brands for plant-based milks. Elmhurst, founded as a dairy farm in the 1920s, reemerged as an innovative plant milk company in 2017. They make a line of elevated milk and creamers from plant-based ingredients, including cashews, almonds, walnuts, and oats. They even managed to craft milk from walnuts.

Their unsweetened oat milk is smooth, has a delicate oat flavor, and tastes high-end. As someone who prefers low-sugar oat milk, this option is a no-brainer. I also like knowing that they don’t use any gums or fillers in their milk — in fact, according to their website, they use up to four times more nuts and whole grains than other brands. They only received the runner-up position because their milk cartons are on the smaller side, their prices are often slightly higher than other brands, and this milk is lower in calcium.

Buy now: Elmhurst Milked Oats Unsweetened Oat Milk

3. Califia Farms Extra Creamy Oat Milk

A peek at the label:

Calories: 110
Total fat: 6 g
Protein: 4 g
Calcium: 260 mg
Sugar: 2 g

First, I must start by saying that I absolutely love Califia Farms’ packaging. Boasting an eye-catching bell-shaped design, their oat milk bottle has an oversized screw cap and an easy-grip neck that makes it so easy to pour.

This oat milk, which I’ve used on and off for the past few years, has a slightly rich texture and definitely tastes more “oaty” than other brands. Their extra creamy option, which I like to use in smoothies and granola bowls, is also very low in sugar (if you want zero-sugar oat milk, pick up one of their unsweetened milk options instead). Beyond oat milk, Califia Farms also makes high-quality cold brews and creamers.

Buy now: Califia Farms Extra Creamy Oat Milk

4. Chobani Oat Original Oat Milk

A peek at the label:

Calories: 140
Total fat: 8 g
Protein: 2 g
Calcium: 260 mg
Sugar: 7 g

You may be familiar with Chobani for its delicious yogurts, but did you know they make pretty good oat milk, too? In 2019, the famous brand began to roll out a line of oat-based products, including oat milk and creamers.

This milk reminds me a lot of Planet Oat’s, just with a bit more sugar and a little less calcium. It has an uber-creamy texture that works well in smoothies, coffee, and more and a very subtle flavor that isn’t too in your face.

Buy now: Chobani Oat Original Oat Milk

5. Oatly Original Oat Milk

A peek at the label:

Calories: 120
Total fat: 5 g
Protein: 3 g
Calcium: 350 mg
Sugars: 7 g

Oatly is one of the best oat milk brands out there, not just because they may be top-notch oat milk, but because they also carry a wide range of oat-based products, beyond milk, that taste delicious. I’m particularly a fan of the brand’s chocolate fudge-dipped frozen bars, yogurt, and frozen desserts reminiscent of ice cream.

Their regular oat milk, sold in eye-catching blue cartons that allow you to spot them in the refrigerated aisle quickly, is smooth and light. It has a very slight thickness to it, which I find works well for smoothies, and a subtle oat taste that doesn’t feel overpowering. Although I’ve been buying this pick for years, I took a few points off since its sugar content is slightly higher than other brands.

Buy now: Oatly Original Oat Milk

6. Pacific Organic Original Oat Milk

A peek at the label:

Calories: 130
Total Fat: 2 g
Protein: 4 g
Calcium: 120 mg
Sugar: 17 g

This one may be my least favorite oat milk. Although it only has two grams of fat per serving, it is still very high in sugar, making it a super sweet drink that tastes even too sugary to me (and I love cookies and cake). The texture also isn’t creamy or smooth but has more of a gritty, grainy mouthfeel to it. One pro is that this option is shelf stable, which is helpful if you’re looking for shelf-stable oat milk that you can stock up on.

Buy now: Pacific Organic Original Oat Milk

Read next: Is Oat Milk Actually Healthy?

Disclaimer: We only recommend products we seriously love and want to share. We may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which includes affiliate links.