13 Best Protein Bars to Try in 2025
Your search for the best protein bars could be for a whole host of reasons. Perhaps you’re looking for a healthier alternative to your favorite candy bar — something you can stash in your office desk drawer and tuck into at a moment’s notice. Or maybe getting your protein in after a workout is proving tricky due to a busy lifestyle. Whatever the reason, this guide to the best protein bars can help.
The USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans say adding variety to your daily protein sources is key to a healthy, balanced diet. This means that manufacturers have to do more than just pack their products with protein. In order to be worthy of a place among the best protein bars, a product should balance flavor, texture and nutritional diversity.
Thankfully, while there are some on the market that still lack in those departments, there are plenty more that don’t. In other words, there’s absolutely no reason nowadays to put up with anything less than the very best protein bars.
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The 13 Best Tasting Protein Bars for On-the-Go Energy
1. RXBAR
Known for their composition of simple, real food ingredients, every Rx Bar brings the same protein-packed base of egg whites. Each also uses dates for sweetness plus a textural medley of almonds, cashews, peanuts and pecans for a satisfying crunch. Rx Bars are some of the best protein bars at Costco, so you can easily snag yourself a few the next time you do your weekly shop.
Now, we should point out that a bite from one of these bars is sure to get stuck in your teeth. That’s just how it goes, and it’s the same with most on this list of the best protein bars. But we’re sure you’ll forgive Rx on that point, especially given that the flavors list yields some of the best tasting protein bars on the market.
Think nut butter and oats, strawberry, coconut chocolate, vanilla almond, chocolate sea salt and more besides. Each delivers 12 grams of protein, 7 grams of fat and 25 total carbs.
2. David Protein
With the promise of more protein and fewer calories, David was launched in 2024 by the founder of Rx Bar. With a dazzling list of flavors including red velvet, fudge brownie, salted peanut butter, cinnamon roll and more, what really cements David’s reputation as a producer of the best protein bars is the fact that each and every one has a whopping 28 grams of protein.
Additionally, they contain absolutely zero sugar, a gluten-free ingredients list and just 150 calories. Impressive!
3. Quest Nutrition
Designed to aid an on-the-go lifestyle with plenty of protein and a flavors list that delivers what it promises, Quest is more than deserving of a spot on this guide to the best protein bars. A long list of flavors includes perennial favorites like chocolate peanut butter, double chocolate chunk and oatmeal chocolate chip.
The list goes on, but what they all have in common — and what makes them some of the best protein bars on the market — is an impressive 20 grams of protein. Each also has just 180 calories, and since most of the 24 grams of carbs come from fiber, you’ll stay full for longer.
4. KIND Snacks
While you may already be familiar with Kind Bars, you may not know that the brand also produces some of the market’s best protein bars. That’s right, taking the same nutty makeup as the brand’s flagship bars — aka plenty of peanuts and almonds — Kind Protein delivers on-the-go snackers an impressive 12 grams of protein.
These bars also come with 250 calories, 18 grams of fat and 17 grams of total carbs, so you’ll want to be mindful of how they impact your daily macros. But if you favor a more natural approach to nutrition while still getting your hit of protein, these may just be the best protein bars for you.
5. Exo
Need something sustainable for your daily nutrition routine? Exo makes some of the best protein bars thanks to production methods that are as good for you as they are for the planet.
The brand draws protein from Acheta powder, which packs about 40% more potassium than traditional whey. Acheta is ground cricket, but don’t let that stop you — the bars taste great. People with shellfish allergies should note that insect proteins can cause similar reactions.
Flavor options include chocolate fudge brownie, peanut butter chocolate chip and cookie dough. Each bar provides 14 grams of protein, roughly 160 calories, 7 grams of fat and 22 grams of total carbs.
6. Aloha
Aloha bars pull their protein from pumpkin seeds, which are also packed with goodies like healthy fats, magnesium, manganese, iron, zinc and copper. This makes them some of the best protein bars for vegans who want to maximize their nutritional intake with minimal fuss. Every bar is non-GMO and each gets its sweetness from monk fruit and tapioca syrup — as opposed to sweeteners like stevia.
While these are some of the best protein bars available, it’s worth knowing that each contains 230 calories and 26 grams of total carbs. However, each also has 14 grams of protein with just 10 grams of fat.
7. IQBAR
Those following a keto diet are likely looking for the best protein bars with minimal carb content. If that sounds like you, allow us to introduce you to the IQ Bar. Each has just 10 grams of total carbs, with 180 calories, 15 grams of fat and 12 grams of protein. But what we really love is that these bars are also vegan (drawing protein from peas) and paleo-friendly.
Instead of the usual stick-to-your-teeth texture, IQBars are somewhat crumbly. They also come in novel flavors like matcha chai, and for those who want to squeeze every bit of fuel out of their food, the ingredient list features ingredients like curcumin and lion’s mane mushroom.
8. GoMacro
Delivering some of the best protein bars for vegan and gluten-free eaters, GoMacro has a stand-out list of flavors to choose from. Think white chocolate and macadamia nuts, oatmeal chocolate chip, peanut butter chocolate chip, salted caramel and chocolate chip, plus way more besides.
Buy one, and you can expect to get between 10 and 12 grams of protein, depending on the flavor. And since each is non-GMO, certified organic and made with soy-free plant-based protein, you can also expect to feel good about buying one of the best protein bars for the planet.
9. Gatorade
If you prefer to combine your protein fix with your daily sweet treat, Gatorade has some of the best protein bars to satisfy your cravings. Each has an incredible 20 grams of protein and just 10 grams of fat. However, each is also loaded with sugar. In fact, in terms of calories, you can expect between 340 and 360 per bar. What’s more, each contains between 39-42 total carbs.
However, while these aren’t necessarily the healthiest protein bars on the market, if you’re on the way to a full-on gym session and don’t have time to throw together your usual smoothie, they may just be what you need.
10. Perfect Bar
If the name is anything to go by, it’s really no surprise that we’ve included this in our guide to the best protein bars. But do they live up to their name? In a nutshell, yes. Especially the dark chocolate chip peanut butter flavor. A composition of 20 powdered superfoods includes carrot and tomato, plus plenty of vitamins and minerals.
The best part? Enjoy a chewy, candy-bar-like treat with a delicious Reese's flavor. You won't even taste the hidden healthy ingredients — just great protein. On that note, you can expect 15 grams of protein. Just know that each bar also comes with 330 calories, 20 grams of fat and 24 grams of total carbs.
11. Send
If you have a big day ahead, this is one of the best protein bars to help you “send it.” Each bar is both gluten- and dairy-free, drawing sweetness from dates and nutrition from real ingredients like almonds, cashews, seeds and spices like turmeric and cinnamon.
It's hard not to savor a Send bar, loaded with 8-10 grams of pea protein, the natural goodness of reishi and cordyceps mushrooms, and essential nutrients from spinach and cacao, all wrapped in irresistible flavors.
12. Barebells
Anybody planning a heavy gym session before starting work would do well to throw a Barebells bar in with their sneakers. These high-protein snacks contain no less than 20 grams of the good stuff. They also contain just 200 calories — modest compared to others on this list of the best protein bars — along with 7 grams of fat and 20 grams of total carbs.
In terms of texture, while they are chewy on the inside, their outer chocolate coating provides an irresistible crunch. Go for the Cookies and Cream flavor, and you’ll find that the coating features pieces of what Barebells calls “crunchy cookie crispies.”
13. Mush
Known for its single servings of overnight oats, Mush is also the name behind some of the best protein bars on the market. They share a similar, whole foods-based ingredients list with the brand’s signature overnight oats, including — you guessed it — oats. Other ingredients include nuts, coconut oil, honey and dates, all without so much as a milligram of artificial sweetener.
A trio of available flavors include peanut butter chocolate chip, double chocolate chip and maple cinnamon. Whichever you choose, you can expect 15 grams of protein, between 15 and 27 grams of total carbs, 15 grams of fat and between 270 and 290 calories. Just note that you’ll need to keep them in the fridge.
What Is the Best Protein Bar?
Wondering what the best protein bar is? That depends on your goals. If maximizing protein tops your list, pick David — each bar delivers 28 grams and still feels like a treat. Watching calories as closely as macros? Barebells offers 20 grams for only 200 calories. Eco-minded snackers can try Exo’s cricket-protein bars, which supply 14 grams while shrinking environmental impact.
If you’re gluten-free, vegan or both, consider buying yourself a Macro Bar from GoMacro. Containing between 10 and 12 grams of protein depending on your flavor choice, each is also non-GMO, certified organic and made with soy-free plant-based protein.
Finally, if choice of flavors is paramount to your protein regimen, Rx Bars come in a tempting 10 different flavors. What’s more, they contain 12 grams of protein and are available at Costco, making it easy to snag a week’s worth of post-gym protein with the rest of your grocery shop.
Hopefully this guide to the best protein bars has helped you narrow down the seemingly endless list of choices. As we said before, there’s absolutely no need nowadays to sacrifice flavor and texture just to get your daily dose of the good stuff. Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, have a sweet tooth or simply like variety in your life, the best protein bars on the market offer something for every palate and preference.
For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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