Follow Your Heart invented plant-based mayo in the 1970s, and five decades later their Original Vegenaise still beats everything else on the shelf. Sporked gave it a perfect 10/10, calling it 'creamy, rich, and nearly indistinguishable from egg-based mayo.' Tasting Table ranked it #1 of 9 brands in their worst-to-best ranking, with reviewer Hunter Wren Miele describing spreading it on bread as 'a sacred experience.'
The flavor profile separates it from the pack: citrusy and aromatic, with hints of savory garlic and sweet apple that linger after each bite. PureWow scored it 93/100, praising how its plainer base makes it ideal for recipes without altering the overall taste. Everything Vegan ranked it #2 and noted it holds emulsification when thinned into dressings, a test that trips up competitors.
The ingredient list is remarkably short: canola oil, filtered water, brown rice syrup, apple cider vinegar, soy protein, sea salt, mustard flour, lemon juice concentrate. No modified starches, no gums, no preservatives. That simplicity costs about $10 per 32 oz jar, which puts it in the mid-range on a per-ounce basis. It's stocked at Kroger, Whole Foods, Sprouts, and most natural grocery chains.
What It Won't Do
Follow Your Heart uses soy protein as its emulsifier, which rules it out for anyone with soy allergies. Make It Dairy Free's blind taste test was less enthusiastic, noting 'it tasted like too much mustard was added' and finding it thicker and less smooth than traditional mayo. It also requires constant refrigeration (even unopened), which eats fridge space and means you can't keep a backup in the pantry. The texture runs thick compared to Hellmann's silky smoothness.
Hellmann's has been making mayo for over 100 years, and their plant-based version proves the formula translates. Vegan in the Freezer named it Best Classic with a 4.8/5 score, praising its 'perfectly uniform texture with plenty of body.' Everything Vegan ranked it #1 of 6 brands. Tasting Table placed it #3, noting it 'tastes just like the real deal' with a 'creamy, mouth-coating' quality.
At roughly $7 for a 24 oz jar (about $0.29 per ounce), Hellmann's Vegan is the cheapest option we evaluated on a per-ounce basis. Vegan in the Freezer confirmed it was 'the most economical of all the mayos we tested.' And unlike niche brands with spotty distribution, you'll find this at every Walmart, Target, Kroger, Safeway, and corner grocery in the country.
The texture is smoother and more luscious than the original Hellmann's, trading the bouncy egg-protein feel for a silk-like consistency. Tasting Table called it 'most versatile for baked goods and mashed potatoes.' It's the right pick for someone who wants to swap out regular mayo without changing their shopping habits or their recipes.
What It Won't Do
Hellmann's plays it safe, and that's its limitation. Tasting Table dinged it for being 'far too standard to compete with the more distinct products,' ranking it behind both Vegenaise and NotMayo. The ingredient panel includes modified food starch, sorbic acid, and calcium disodium EDTA, plus bioengineered ingredients. If clean labels matter to you, this isn't it. Make It Dairy Free's blind test was surprisingly lukewarm: 'texture is good but doesn't taste like mayo, no tang.' The vinegar bite can also be sharp on its own.
Who Should Buy Which
Follow Your Heart Original Vegenaise
The original plant-based mayo, still unbeaten after five decades
- You want the most authentic mayo flavor from a plant-based product, with citrus and garlic notes that separate it from generic alternatives
- You care about short, readable ingredient lists without modified starches or preservatives
- You regularly use mayo in recipes (dressings, dips, baking) and need something that emulsifies well when thinned
- You shop at natural grocery chains like Whole Foods, Sprouts, or well-stocked Kroger locations
- You've tried vegan mayo before and were disappointed by bland or overly processed options
Hellmann's Vegan Dressing and Spread
The big brand nails plant-based mayo at the lowest price per ounce
- You want a dead-simple swap for regular mayo with the closest possible taste match
- Budget matters and you go through mayo regularly at ~$0.29 per ounce
- You shop at mainstream groceries (Walmart, Target, Kroger) and need guaranteed availability
- You're new to vegan mayo and want the safest, most familiar starting point
- You use mayo primarily as a background ingredient in sandwiches or recipes where it shouldn't stand out