Not necessarily. While the terms are often used interchangeably, vegan implies a strict exclusion of all animal products (often for ethical reasons). Plant-based refers to a diet consisting primarily of plant foods, but it does not technically prohibit the occasional consumption of meat, dairy, or eggs. Vegan takes into account the whole supply chain while plant-based focuses on the end product only. Also note, vegan often requires to be certified (while this is not the case for plant-based).