The best vegan cheese and butter available in India in 2026 comes from Indian plant-based dairy brands like Soft Spot and Millie's. Soft Spot makes mozzarella, cheddar, smoked cheddar, parmezan, spicy Double Chill cheese, cheese spreads (plain, truffle, smoked garlic) and salted vegan butter; Millie's makes cultured cashew cheeses, a melty mozzarella and flavoured butters — all dairy-free. The best vegan cheese for melting is a mozzarella: vegan mozzarella melts and stretches on pizza (see the Soft Spot vegan cheese and butter range); vegan cheddar suits sandwiches and burgers; vegan parmezan adds umami to pasta; and plant-based salted butter spreads, cooks and bakes like dairy butter. With a majority of Indian adults lactose-intolerant to some degree, dairy-free cheese and butter are practical daily swaps. Every vegan cheese and butter on EarthBased is screened for hidden animal derivatives and ships pan-India in 3–5 days.
Vegan Cheese in India: What's Actually Available
Mozzarella (soft and firm): The pizza and pasta workhorse. Soft Spot's plant-based mozzarella is creamy, melts well and delivers the familiar mild, milky flavour — without milk. There is also a softer cashew-and-coconut mozzarella for salads and caprese, and Millie's Fresh Melty Mozzarella.
Cheddar and smoked cheddar: Rich and sharp, ideal for sandwiches, burgers and grilled cheese. The smoked version adds a hickory depth that works brilliantly in wraps, and the firm cheddar grates.
Parmezan: Nutty, savoury and umami-rich — grate plant-based parmezan over pasta, risotto and salads exactly as you would dairy parmesan. Want both workhorses? There's a parmezan + mozzarella combo.
Cheese spreads: Plain, truffle and smoked garlic variants for sandwiches, crackers and party platters. The truffle spread uses Italian black truffle oil; the plain spread is the everyday one.
Double Chill: A spicy bhoot jolokia cheese block for those who want chilli heat built into the creaminess.
Millie's artisan cheeses: cultured cashew cheeses in Creamy Original, Garlic & Pink Himalayan Salt, Rosemary, Thyme & Oregano, Burnt Red Chilli & Garlic, White Truffle Oil and the Gujarati-inspired Methiyano Masalo — the ones for a cheese board or a gift. Every variety is covered in our Millie's vegan cheese guide.
Which vegan cheese for which job?
| Use | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza / pasta bake | Soft Spot mozzarella, Millie's Fresh Melty Mozzarella | Formulated to melt and stretch under heat |
| Sandwiches / toasties | Soft Spot cheddar or smoked cheddar | Firm block, sharp flavour, melts slowly |
| Cheese board / gifting | Millie's Garlic & Pink Salt, Rosemary, Thyme & Oregano | Cashew richness, meant to be eaten cold |
| Wraps, crackers, bagels | Millie's Creamy Original or Soft Spot garlic spread | Spreadable, high flavour |
| Pasta / salad topping | Soft Spot parmezan | Grates and crumbles like the original |
Best vegan cheese in India: prices at a glance
Prices as listed on EarthBased in September 2026; check the product page for today's price.
| Cheese | Brand | Pack | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant-based mozzarella | Soft Spot | 200 g | Pizza, pasta bakes | ₹528 |
| Plant-based cheddar | Soft Spot | 200 g | Toasties, burgers | ₹528 |
| Plant-based parmezan | Soft Spot | 200 g | Grating over pasta | ₹528 |
| Parmezan + mozzarella combo | Soft Spot | 2 x 200 g | Home pizza nights | ₹1,056 |
| Plain cheese spread | Soft Spot | 150 g | Sandwiches, crackers | ₹474 |
| Fresh melty mozzarella | Millie's | See product page | Pizza | ₹550 |
| Creamy Original | Millie's | See product page | Wraps, bagels | ₹550 |
| Garlic & pink Himalayan salt | Millie's | See product page | Cheese boards | ₹550 |
Vegan Butter in India
Soft Spot salted plant-based butter behaves like dairy butter across all three uses — spreading on toast, sautéing, and baking. Millie's also makes salted butter and garlic butter. They are cholesterol-free, lactose-free and contain no animal fat.
How Vegan Cheese Is Made
Most Indian vegan cheese is built on one of three bases. Cashew gives the richest, most fermented flavour and is the base of most artisan cheeses and spreads. Coconut oil + starch is what makes vegan cheese melt and stretch, so mozzarella-style cheeses usually rely on it. Soy shows up in slices and blocks. No rennet (an enzyme from calf stomachs, used in most traditional cheese) and no milk solids are involved — worth knowing because many "vegetarian" cheeses in India still use dairy protein.
How to choose (and what to check on the label)
Check the base first: nut-based means richer flavour but check allergens; coconut-oil-based means better melt but higher saturated fat. Check storage — vegan cheese dries faster than dairy once opened, so wrap tightly and use within the stated window. And compare price per 100 g rather than per pack, since pack sizes vary between brands.
Browse the full dairy alternatives range, or if you would rather make your own, see our tofu coagulant guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best vegan cheese in India?
For melting on pizza and pasta, a mozzarella such as Soft Spot mozzarella or Millie's Fresh Melty Mozzarella. For sandwiches, Soft Spot cheddar; for a cheese board, Millie's cultured cashew cheeses. All are plant-based and available online with pan-India delivery.
Does vegan cheese melt?
Some does. Mozzarella-style vegan cheeses built on coconut oil and starch melt and stretch under heat; give them slightly longer in the oven than dairy cheese. Cashew-based cheeses and spreads soften rather than melt.
What is the best vegan cheese for pizza in India?
A mozzarella-style vegan cheese designed to melt — Soft Spot mozzarella or Millie's Fresh Melty Mozzarella. Shred or slice thin and add it a few minutes before the pizza finishes.
Is vegan cheese lactose-free?
Yes — all vegan cheese is lactose-free, casein-free and whey-free, because it contains no milk in any form.
How long does vegan cheese last?
Unopened, follow the pack date. Opened, most vegan cheeses keep 5–10 days refrigerated in an airtight wrap. Cashew cheeses are best eaten within a week.
Is vegan butter good for baking?
Yes. Plant-based salted butter substitutes 1:1 for dairy butter in most baking, cooking and spreading.
Where can I buy vegan cheese and butter online in India?
EarthBased (earthbased.in) stocks the Soft Spot and Millie's vegan cheese and butter ranges plus other plant-based dairy alternatives, with delivery across India in 3–5 days.
Shop the products in this guide
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Plant-Based Mozzarella 200 g — Melts & Stretches | Soft Spot — Soft spot, ₹528 -
Fresh Melty Vegan Mozzarella | Millie's Vegan Cheese — Millie’s Vegan Cheese, ₹550 -
Plant-Based Cheddar 200 g — Firm & Gratable | Soft Spot — Soft spot, ₹528 -
Parmezan & Mozzarella Combo — 2 x 200 g | Soft Spot — Soft spot, ₹1056 -
Truffle Cheese Spread 150 g — Italian Black Truffle | Soft Spot — Soft spot, ₹504 -
Creamy Original Vegan Cheese | Millie's — Millie’s Vegan Cheese, ₹550 -
Salted Plant-Based Butter — Pack of 2, 180 g Each | Soft Spot — Soft spot, ₹600
Shop all Vegan Cheese at EarthBased → · Soft Spot · Millie's