Short answer: the best agar agar powder in Canada is pure agar from red seaweed, with nothing added, at a low price per 100 g. Plant of Life Agar Agar is 100% agar from Gelidium red seaweed. The 454 g bag is $46.99 CAD, or $10.35 per 100 g, the lowest price per 100 g in our comparison.
Buying a smaller bag? Elo's Premium and Everland beat our mid and small sizes on price per gram. Details below.
Our pick: Plant of Life Agar Agar
From $14.99 CAD for 50 g up to $46.99 for 454 g ($10.35 per 100 g). Buy 2 and save 5%, buy 3 and save 10%. Or subscribe and save 10%, or 15% when you take 3.
- 100% agar agar from Gelidium red seaweed. Free from animal products, GMOs, gluten, preservatives and additives.
- 1 tsp sets 1 cup of liquid, and it sets at room temperature in 30 to 60 minutes.
- Four sizes (50 g, 120 g, 240 g, 454 g), rated 4.9 out of 5 from 20 reviews.
How we compared
We compared label facts and prices for seven agar agar products that Canadians can buy today from Amazon.ca, Healthy Planet, Bulk Barn and our own store. Prices were checked October 28, 2026, in Canadian dollars. Price per 100 g is the shelf price divided by the package size. The directions column shows how much agar each label calls for. Anything a brand does not state is marked "not listed."
Agar agar in Canada: side by side
| Brand | Size | Price (CAD) | Price per 100 g | Form | Seaweed listed | Label directions | Where sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant of Life Agar Agar | 454 g (also 50, 120, 240 g) | $46.99 | $10.35 | Powder | Gelidium red seaweed | 1 tsp per 1 cup liquid | plantoflifeco.com |
| Elo's Premium Agar Agar | 250 g | $34.95 | $13.98 | Powder | Not listed | Not listed | Amazon.ca |
| Everland Agar Agar | 50 g | $9.99 | $19.98 | Not listed | Not listed | 1 tsp per 1 cup cold liquid | Amazon.ca |
| Telephone Brand Agar-Agar | 5 × 25 g packets | $37.17 | $29.74 | Powder | Not listed | Not listed | Amazon.ca |
| NOW Real Food Agar | 57 g | $18.57 | $32.58 | Powder | Marine red algae | 2 tbsp per pint (2 cups) | Amazon.ca, Healthy Planet ($18.99) |
| Koyo Agar-Agar Flakes | 28 g | $12.99 | $46.39 | Flakes | Not listed | Not listed | Healthy Planet |
| Bulk Barn Agar Agar Powder | By weight | Not listed online | Not listed online | Powder | Not listed | 1 tsp per 1 cup boiling liquid | Bulk Barn stores |
Best overall: Plant of Life Agar Agar
Plant of Life is the only agar in our table that names its seaweed species: Gelidium, a red seaweed. The ingredient list is one line, 100% agar agar, with no animal products, preservatives or additives.
The 454 g bag is the lowest price per 100 g we found, at $10.35. The label keeps it simple: dissolve 1 tsp in 1 cup of liquid, bring it to a full boil while whisking, pour, and it sets at room temperature in 30 to 60 minutes. Use it for gummies, custards, jellies, pie fillings, jams and vegan desserts. Four sizes mean you can start small.
Best mid-size value: Elo's Premium Agar Agar
Elo's Premium sells a 250 g bag on Amazon.ca for $34.95, or $13.98 per 100 g, packaged in Toronto. That beats Plant of Life's 240 g bag ($15.41 per 100 g), so if you want about a quarter kilo, Elo's costs less per gram.
The listing says pure agar with no fillers, dyes or flavours, but it does not name the seaweed or give mixing directions. If you bake with agar often, our 454 g bag still costs less per gram.
Best small bag: Everland Agar Agar
Everland, from Burnaby, B.C., sells a 50 g agar for $9.99 on Amazon.ca, or $19.98 per 100 g. Its directions match ours: 1 tsp per 1 cup of cold liquid, then heat and stir until it thickens.
For a first try, that is $5 less than our 50 g bag. The listing does not name the seaweed or say whether it is powder or flakes. Once you know you like baking with agar, a bigger bag pays off.
Best single-use packets: Telephone Brand
Telephone Brand agar powder is a product of Thailand. On Amazon.ca, a 5 pack of 25 g packets is $37.17 from a third-party seller, or $29.74 per 100 g, with 1,287 ratings at 4.7 stars.
The small packets are handy because each one stays sealed until you use it. The listing gives no seaweed source or directions, and it costs nearly three times as much per gram as our 454 g bag.
Best health store name: NOW Real Food Agar
NOW's 57 g jar is $18.57 on Amazon.ca and $18.99 at Healthy Planet, or about $33 per 100 g. It is 100% agar powder from marine red algae.
Read the directions before you compare prices: NOW's label calls for 2 tbsp of powder per pint of liquid, about 3 tsp per cup. Plant of Life's label calls for 1 tsp per cup.
Flakes and bulk bins
Healthy Planet does not list a store brand agar. It sells NOW powder plus agar flakes from Koyo ($12.99 for 28 g) and Eden Foods ($19.99 for 28 g). Bulk Barn sells agar agar powder by weight, but its website does not list a price. Its label lists agar as the only ingredient, with a "may contain" note for peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, milk, egg, soy, wheat, mustard and sulphites. We did not find an agar powder on Anthony's own site.
What to look for when buying
- One ingredient. The label should say agar or agar agar, nothing else.
- A named seaweed. Agar comes from red seaweeds. Only one product in our table names the species.
- Powder or flakes. Powder dissolves faster and is easier to measure. Flakes need more product and longer soaking.
- How much the label calls for. Directions in our table range from 1 tsp per cup to about 3 tsp per cup, which changes your cost per batch.
- A sealed package. Bulk bins carry "may contain" allergen notes. A sealed bag avoids that.
Looking for ways to use it? See our four kitchen staples for healthier baking.
FAQ
What is agar agar powder made of?
Agar agar is a plant-based gelling agent made from red seaweed. It is the go-to vegan swap for animal gelatin. Plant of Life Agar Agar is 100% agar from Gelidium red seaweed, and NOW lists marine red algae. Odourless and flavourless, it sets jellies and thickens sauces without changing their taste.
How do you use agar agar instead of gelatin?
Unlike gelatin, agar has to boil to work. Plant of Life suggests 1 tsp of powder in 1 cup of liquid: bring it to a full boil while whisking hard, then pour into moulds. It sets at room temperature within 30 to 60 minutes and holds firm, so you do not need the fridge to set it.
What is the difference between agar powder and agar flakes?
Both are dried agar. Powder is finely ground, so it dissolves faster and measures more evenly. Flakes are bulkier, so recipes usually need about three times more flakes than powder, plus soaking time. Powder is the easier pick for most home recipes.
Is agar agar vegan?
Yes. Agar comes from seaweed, not animal bones or skin, so it works in vegan and vegetarian recipes. Plant of Life Agar Agar is free from animal products, GMOs, gluten, preservatives and additives. Elo's Premium also lists its agar as kosher and halal friendly.
Where can I buy agar agar powder in Canada?
Online, you can order it from Plant of Life in four sizes, or from Amazon.ca, where Elo's Premium, Everland, Telephone Brand and NOW are listed. In stores, Healthy Planet carries NOW powder and Koyo and Eden flakes, and Bulk Barn sells agar powder by weight.
Ready to try the best overall pick?
Plant of Life Agar Agar is 100% Gelidium red seaweed agar, from $14.99 CAD for 50 g to $46.99 for 454 g, the lowest price per 100 g in our comparison, and covered by our 30-day wellness guarantee. New here? Use code WELCOME10 for 10% off your first order, and get free shipping on orders of $49+.
