Protein bars are a good source to get protein, carbohydrates, and fiber. It’s not only for bodybuilders, but also for who want to gain weight, and even lose weight. A protein bar is also a convenient snack for everyone.
However, there are so many models available on the market, each of which has its own disadvantages and advantages. We have experienced and researched a lot of models to pick the 9 best protein bars.
Here are the best protein bars you can buy in 2024:
- Best For Sweet Teeth: CLIF BUILDER'S Protein
- Quick Energy Boost: Stoka Bar
- Best Meal Replacement: thinkThin High Protein Bar
- Guilt-Free Chocolate Bar: Pure Protein Bar
- Best For Vegans: HEALTH WARRIOR Chia Bars
- Best With Limited Ingredients: Kind Protein Bar
- On-The-Go Breakfast: Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- Best For Keto Diet: Perfect Keto Chocolate Bar
- Low-Sugar: RXBAR Real Food Protein Bar
Top 9 Best Protein Bars | ||
---|---|---|
Best For Sweet Teeth | CLIF BUILDER'S ProteinOur Rating: 9.6/10 | Read Our Review |
Quick Energy Boost | Stoka BarOur Rating: 9.4/10 | Read Our Review |
Best Meal Replacement | thinkThin High Protein BarOur Rating: 9.2/10 | Read Our Review |
Guilt-Free Chocolate Bar | Pure Protein BarOur Rating: 9.2/10 | Read Our Review |
Best For Vegans | HEALTH WARRIOR Chia BarsOur Rating: 9.2/10 | Read Our Review |
Best With Limited Ingredients | Kind Protein BarOur Rating: 9/10 | Read Our Review |
On-The-Go Breakfast | Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie DoughOur Rating: 8.8/10 | Read Our Review |
Best For Keto Diet | Perfect Keto Chocolate BarOur Rating: 8.6/10 | Read Our Review |
Low-Sugar | RXBAR Real Food Protein BarOur Rating: 8.4/10 | Read Our Review |
Best For Sweet Teeth: CLIF BUILDER'S Protein
Provides a lot of energy: 270 calories, 20g of protein, and 30g of carbs
Taste great, especially to sweet teeth
Contains many common ingredients causing allergies
CLIF BUILDER'S Protein has an irresistible attraction to sweet teeth as it contains 22g of sugar. A massive amount of protein and carbs gives you the energy and essential amino acids you need to build up muscles.
The bar has a great taste and is made with non-GMO ingredient sources and low- glycemic-index foods for prolonged levels of energy.
However, CLIF BUILDER'S Protein bar has several ingredients that can cause allergies, such as soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and milk.
CLIF BUILDER'S Protein Specifications | |
Protein | 20g |
Carb | 30g (6g of net carb) |
Fiber | 2g |
Sugar | 22g |
Ingredients | Soy, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat |
CLIF BUILDER'S Protein bar is a great choice for bodybuilders to build up muscles.
Quick Energy Boost: Stoka Bar
A large amount of net carb, fiber, and calories.
0g of added sugar
Keto and paleo friendly
Taste great
No drawback
Stoka Bar has 17g of carbs that provides you a lot of energy, in which there are 6g of fiber to reduce your hunger immediately. The total calories are 250, so the bar is a perfect choice when you are about to take part in intense activities both mentally and physically.
The bar is low in net carb but high calorie, so it is friendly to Keto and Paleo diet.
Stoka Bar contains no added sugar but 7g of sugar alcohol that makes the bar still sweet and healthy. You also have to aware that milk and nuts in the bar’s ingredients might lead to some allergies.
Stoka Bar Specifications | |
Protein | 9g |
Carb | 17g (4g of net carb) |
Fiber | 6g |
Sugar | 7g of sugar alcohol & 0g of added sugar |
Ingredients | milk and nuts |
Stoka Bar is a tasty, healthy, and high-calorie protein bar for a quick energy boost.
Best Meal Replacement: thinkThin High Protein Bar
Suitable for vegans and Kosher followers
A lot of protein and total carbs.
No added sugar
A lot of sugar alcohol
Lack of essential fiber
As the name has said, thinkThin High Protein Bar has a lot of protein and carbs, keeping you full of energy all the session long.
The bar is made with 100% plant-based ingredients, so it's suitable for vegans and Kosher followers.
However, there's too much sugar alcohol, which is not so bad for your health but can make you gassy, and too little fiber in thinkThin High Protein Bar.
thinkThin High Protein Bar Specifications | |
Protein | 20g |
Carb | 23g (2g of net carb) |
Fiber | 1g |
Sugar | 20g of sugar alcohol & 0g of added sugar |
Ingredients | Peanut, milk, soy |
thinkThin High Protein Bar is the best meal replacement for vegans and Kosher followers.
Guilt-Free Chocolate Bar: Pure Protein Bar
Has a large amount of protein and carb that provides a lot of energy
Has a small amount of fat
Low sugar
Has a small amount of essential fiber
Contains Peanut, Milk, and Soy
Pure Protein Bar has 20g of protein, which is a quite large amount of protein compared to other protein bars. It has been scientifically proven that a high protein intake amount increases your satisfaction after the meal, hence makes you consume less food. Protein also helps you control blood sugar level and build muscles. So, a high protein diet is suitable for those who want to build up muscles or to lose weight in short-term
A bar of Pure Protein provides you with 19g of carbs, including 8g of net carb - a large amount of carb that is suitable for those having a high activity level, sleep and stress issues, wanting to gain weight or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
The protein bar has an average amount of sugar alcohol and added sugar. It also has a small amount of fat. However, the fiber amount is also low that might be not sufficient for daily need.
Note that: Pure Protein Bar contains Peanut, Milk, and Soy - three of the most common foods that cause allergies.
Pure Protein Bar Specifications | |
Protein | 20g |
Carb | 19g (8g of net carb) |
Fiber | 1g |
Sugar | 8g of sugar alcohol & 2g of added sugar |
Ingredients | Peanut, Milk, Soy, Almond, Chocolate |
Pure Protein Bar is a high-protein and high-carb chocolate bar for those having a high activity level.
Best For Vegans: HEALTH WARRIOR Chia Bars
Large amount of net carb
Suitable for vegans and Kosher followers
No gluten, no soy, no dairy, and no GMO
Low in calorie
Very small in size
HEALTH WARRIOR Chia Bar is 100% made with plant-based ingredients, like chia seeds, oats, nuts. It contains no gluten, no soy, no dairy, and no GMO, so it wouldn’t make you allergic.
The bar is very healthy as it has less sugar than a banana, more fiber than a cup of kale, and as many omega-3 as 2 oz. of salmon.
It contains little of protein and calories but a high amount of fiber, so it can keep you full without many calories intake.
HEALTH WARRIOR Chia Bar is also Kosher certified.
HEALTH WARRIOR Chia Bars Specifications | |
Protein | 3g |
Carb | 14g (6g of net carb) |
Fiber | 5g |
Sugar | 0g of sugar alcohol & 3g of added sugar |
Ingredients | chia seeds, oats, nuts |
HEALTH WARRIOR Chia Bar is a nutritious and healthy choice for vegans.
Best With Limited Ingredients: Kind Protein Bar
Gluten-free, Non-GMO, 0g Trans Fat, Low glycemic index, and low sodium
Kosher friendly
large amount of added sugar
Another choice for Kosher followers, Kind Protein Bar is made with limited ingredients. It is a good source of protein and fiber, which contains made with rich dark chocolate and crunchy whole nuts. The bar is Gluten-free, Non-GMO, 0g Trans Fat, Low glycemic index, and low sodium.
However, a big drawback is that Kind Protein Bar contains a large amount of sugar that might not be so good for your health.
Kind Protein Bar Specifications | |
Protein | 12g |
Carb | 17g (4g of net carb) |
Fiber | 5g |
Sugar | 2g of sugar alcohol & 6g of added sugar |
Ingredients | Peanuts, almonds, soy protein isolate, honey, palm kernel oil, chicory root fiber, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, soy lecithin. |
Kind Protein Bar is a good breakfast choice for Kosher followers.
On-The-Go Breakfast: Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Keto-friendly: Has a large amount of protein but a small amount of net carb
Gluten-Free
A lot of fiber that can cause digestion issues
The Quest bar contains a large amount of protein but also a small amount of net carb, which makes the bar is really suitable for those following keto diet to lose weight.
It also contains a lot of fiber that can make you full easily. However, too much fiber might cause digestion issues.
Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is quite a tolerant food. There is only milk in its ingredients that is likely to make you have allergies. Plus, the protein bar is Gluten-Free (a big source of allergies) certified.
Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Specifications | |
Protein | 21g |
Carb | 21g (3g of net carb) |
Fiber | 14g |
Sugar | 3g of sugar alcohol & 1g of added sugar |
Ingredients | Milk, almonds |
Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough has a large amount of protein and fiber, which is great for on-the-go breakfast
Best For Keto Diet: Perfect Keto Chocolate Bar
Has a small amount of net carb and a large amount of fiber - perfect for Keto diet
Contains very little sugar both sugar alcohol and added sugar
Taste is not great
Perfect Keto Chocolate Bar has a low level of net carb, a medium amount of protein, and a large amount of fiber, which is perfect for Keto diet followers.
However, I don't recommend you follow the Keto diet for a long time because carbs are really important for your brain. Cutting carbs for a long time might be really risky.
Perfect Keto Chocolate Bar is also a healthy choice as it contains very little sugar. However, it still very sweet.
Aware that Perfect Keto Chocolate Bar has coconut oil in its ingredients if you are allergic to coconut products.
Perfect Keto Chocolate Bar Specifications | |
Protein | 10g |
Carb | 12g (2g of net carb) |
Fiber | 9g |
Sugar | 0g of sugar alcohol & 1g of added sugar |
Ingredients | Almond, Cacao, Coconut oil, Sea Salt |
Perfect Keto Chocolate Bar is a sweet but low-sugar protein bar for Keto followers.
Low-Sugar: RXBAR Real Food Protein Bar
No added sugar, gluten free, dairy free, no soy, and kosher.
A lot of calories
Very chewy
High price
RXBAR Real Food Protein Bar is for Jewish and who following Kosher diet. It is 100% made with real food and 100% Kosher certified - dairy free, no soy, no artificial flavors, no preservatives, no fillers, non-GMO.
The protein bar also contains 0g of added sugar, 5g of fiber, a medium amount of protein and net carb. Plus, it is gluten-free. You also don't have to worry about allergies since the bar is made with all tolerant ingredients.
All make RXBAR Bar best choice for your health.
RXBAR Real Food Protein Bar Specifications | |
Protein | 12g |
Carb | 22g (4g of net carb) |
Fiber | 5g |
Sugar | 13g of sugar alcohol & 0g of added sugar |
Ingredients | Egg whites, pecans, cashews, almonds, peanuts, dates, cocoa, chocolate |
RXBAR Real Food Protein Bar is a very healthy and nutritious snack for Kosher followers.
Essential Nutrients In A Typical Protein Bar
Protein
Protein is crucial for the human body. It takes part in the action of forming, maintaining, and replacing cells. It is also one of three main sources of energy for everyday life activities and metabolism activities inside the body.
Lack of protein results in fatigue, sleepless, difficulty concentrating, and even life-threatening symptoms.
Redundancy of protein leads to a high level of ammonia that is harmful to your livers, a high level of saturated fat that is harmful to your heart. Too much protein also causes neurological impairment, obesity, and kidney stones.
Maintaining a right amount of protein absorbed every day is important. A 60-kg person needs about 60 grams of protein a day. Athletes, seniors, pregnant women, and those are injured need about 25% more protein.
Carbohyrate (Carb)
Carb is the most important energy source to the human body, along with other two main energy sources - protein and lipid. It is also crucial for brain functions.
There are three main types of carbs that are important to the human body: Sugar, Starches, and Fiber. A typical adult should absorb about 135 grams of carb every day. Diabetics should eat less carb and pregnant women should ear more carb.
Fiber
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that our bodies cannot digest. As a result, fiber can move through the stomach, to the small and large intestine, and finally, move out the body while remaining relatively intact.
This process helps move food through the digestive system, promoting digestion, preventing constipation. Moreover, water-soluble fibers help reduce sugar levels and lower blood cholesterol.
Recommended fiber need is about 20g per day. Eating a sufficient amount of fiber reduces the risk of developing various diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, diverticular, and constipation. Eating too much fiber causes flatulence, bloating, poor absorption of some minerals, but absolutely not dangerous.
Sugar
Sugar is not a healthy nutrient. It does provide us with energy and appetite, however, sugar promotes the aging process, slows down brain activities, and causes stress. So, reduce sugar in your diet.
In protein bars, there is also sugar alcohol, which is from fruits and herbs. Despite having alcohol in its name, sugar alcohol contains no ethanol (it's not alcohol). Not like man-made sugar, there are very few health problems related to sugar alcohol.
How To Choose The Best Protein Bars?
First, evaluate how much protein/carbs and other nutrients you need.
If you want a simple snack that doesn't have so many calories, a protein bar high in fiber, and low in protein and carbs would be the choice.
If you want to build muscles, you'll need a lot of protein and carbs.
If you are following a low carb diet, you should choose a bar that contains a large amount of protein but a small amount of net carb.
Then, you will want to make sure that the ingredients of the protein bar don't make you allergic. Common foods that lead to allergies are milk, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts.
Finally, it's about taste. Some might like sweet, some might like coconut, and some might like chocolate taste, it depends on you.
Best Protein Bar Brands
Quest nutrition
Quest nutrition is an American protein bar brand. They have served delicious and nutritious protein bars since 2010 and now have become one of the most popular brands in the industry.
When it comes to Quest nutrition, you are assured of "food that tastes as good as it is good for you with zero compromises".
thinkThin
Since founded in 1999, thinkThin has always known for its healthiness, protein-richness, and delicious taste.
They have a wide range of products, from High Protein Bar for bodybuilders to Fiber-rich Protein Bar for mid-day snacks.
thinkThin is the choice for your health.
Clif builder’s
Clif has a long inspiring history as the company was founded in 1990 on a 175-mile bike ride. Their main products are quality protein bars for bodybuilders and athletics.
If you need a lot of protein and carbs for post-workout snacks, Clif builder is the protein bar brand for you.
FAQs
Do protein bars help you lose weight?
Eating a protein bar between meals increases your satisfaction and decreases your appetite. So overall, you'll consume less food as well as calorie intake, which results in weight loss.
You can use protein bar as meals replacement, however, don't do this for a long period of time. Nothing better than good-balance meals.
Is it OK to eat protein bars everyday?
Protein bars are easy to eat on the go. You can eat one every day as a snack after working out. However, don't replace whole food meals with them every day, which might lead you to stomach issues.
Is it bad to eat protein without working out?
The protein intake firstly will help to repair and rebuild torn muscles, then the excess protein will create fat by turning into glucose. So if you don't work out, you shouldn't consume too many protein bars, just use it as a small snack maximum several times a week.
Can I eat protein bar at night?
There is no bad time for consuming protein. However, if the protein bar contains a large amount of net carbs and added sugar, you should not eat it at night or you’ll get fat quickly.
Can you gain weight with protein bars?
Protein bars can help you lose or gain weight. To gain weight, simply add one or two protein bars in your daily meals.
How often should you eat a protein bar?
I would recommend eating whole food meals. Try not to eat too many protein bars, one every day would be the maximum.
When should you eat a protein bar?
The best time is after workouts. And there is no bad time for consuming protein.
Summary
Above are my full review of the best protein bars. Hope the information in this article will help you find the suitable protein bar!