Which brands make the best-tasting protein bars and snacks? Quest? Barebells? David? Prime Bites? Or someone else? After reviewing dozens of protein bars and protein-based snacks from many different companies, I’ve put together a tier list ranking the brands that taste best and the worst.
Well, at least for me.
You can find many of my protein treat tier lists, reviews, and more here.
Protein Brand Tier List
1. Pure Protein
Want a protein candy bar? No? Then turn away, because Pure Protein makes the best-tasting protein bars that taste like actual candy bars. So much so that I often find myself eating several in one sitting without realizing it. I know, it’s bad, but even their oldest line of bars is an absolute hit. They didn’t stop there, either; they eventually introduced cereal-based flavors, snack cake copycats, the Ammmaze line, and more.
Pure Protein bars are chunky, thick, sweet, and best replicate the experience of eating a candy bar. Don’t like that? Oh well, I do!
These are, hands down, the best!
2. Barebells
This was a particularly challenging brand to rank because it’s so closely related to a few others!
On one hand, I’ve had better tasting individual protein products from other companies, on the other, Barebells not only sells a few different product lineups like their regular bars and Soft line, but their flavor profiles are also expansive, and honestly, for the most part, I haven’t had a single terrible Barebells bar, except for their Vegan line, which was a disaster (my review can be found here). I’ll always find something I’m in the mood for, and you know what? I’ll be covered. I’ll find something I like. I don’t have to worry.
What also gets to me is their composition. Other protein bars seemed to have even copied it, but Barebells has done it the best so far! Barebells have literally everything in one bite, at least, with their regular protein bar line. Crispy, crunchy, soft, thick, chewy, and chunky! Many of their flavors even feature a more marshmallow-like center, resulting in an amazing mouthfeel seldom found elsewhere! Flavor-wise? Authetic, on the sweeter side, yet you can still find subtler flavors. These are, overall, highly desirable premium bars for a reason!
So, I can not only find a tasty flavor I will love and enjoy, but also an amazing eating experience!
3. Quest
Quest has improved drastically throughout the years. Their original lineup is the most generic “first edition” protein bars I’ve ever tried, and despite Quest still selling them, for some reason, I don’t mind grabbing one. Or two… or three. It’s almost frustrating because when I look objectively at many of their original bars, I see, taste, and feel “artificial chewy goo wrapped into a bar.”
They didn’t stop there with that original lineup, which was key to my eventual love for them. They’ve come out with Dipped, Crispy Hero, Overload, Bakeshop, and generally updated versions throughout time. In fact, they make one of my favorite bars of all time: the Blueberry Cobbler Crispy Hero. Then right behind that one, their Overload flavors go absolutely crazy with flavors and overall eating experience!
4. Prime Bites
These don’t even have the best-tasting product; it honestly comes down to the texture — and for reference, I’m talking about their brownies. They’re so darn chunky, thick, and a pleasant eating experience that will make you hastily grab “just one more.” Flavor-wise, they can taste mildly artificial at times, but it’s easy to forget that when you’re literally eating one of the biggest brownies ever!
And I didn’t even mention that they also have a newer Muffin line and have since introduced even more flavors into their expansive range of regular brownie-based protein bar treats, either.
They haven’t perfected the dessert lineup, however, in due time, I suspect they will!
5. Legendary
A rival to Prime Bites, Legendary creates a variety of dessert-based protein treats that come alive. Interestingly, I find many of Legendary’s products to be better-tasting and more authentic, though it’s hard to beat those giant Prime Bites monster brownies. Nonetheless, their pastries are a must-try, particularly their Sweet Rolls and Pop-Tart copycats, which I often crave daily (though I avoid their mediocre donuts).
What pastry are you craving?
6. Alani
These are candy bars if I’ve ever had one. While each bar has a similar makeup (yet different enough to enjoy), you cannot deny the fact that most of their bars genuinely taste like they were made with real sugar and authetic flavors. In fact, some were too sweet, yet they still managed to reveal real, bold, nuanced flavors through the combination of all the tastes and mixins they incorporated.
7. Anabar
At the time of this writing, they don’t have many products, but I have found them to be actually as advertised: yup, these are just like candy bars! So much so, they are one of the most authentically sugary-tasting bars on the market; however, that shows in their deplorable macros.
In the protein brand lineup, these are on the sweeter side, and the big takeaway, at least to me, is that they nailed the sugar candy bar taste wonderfully, too much at times, which occasionally overwhelmed their flavors. Unfortunately, the big downside is that they aren’t the most fun to eat; instead, they favor more boring, bland compositions and textures.
8. think!
Just good, nothing crazy protein bars from a brand with too many flavors and spinoffs to count. While I’ve only had their High Protein and Delight’s protein line, I found both to have authetic flavors, fulfilling and thick consistencies, and to be overall satisfying. They don’t try anything wacky, and it pays off; these feel like what you’d want if you’re looking for a solid protein bar.
9. Aloha
These look so organic, yet they taste so authetic! The flavors are tasty, and combined with “real” sugar, nothing tastes fake or weird. However, their texture and composition are a bit different — this part feels processed, as they are quite chewy, dense, and tough. It’s like they compressed down an organic protein bar! Still, if you can leave that aside, you’ll find these are mildly to moderately sweet, with bold, pronounced, and accurate flavors that make up for the bars as a whole.
10. JUNKLESS
Simply put, these are just good protein bars ever so slightly plagued by a protein bar aftertaste. It also doesn’t help that JUNKLESS only has a few flavors (at the time of this writing, at least).
That aside, these are again, solid, nothing-too-crazy bars. A soft protein filling, some embedded bits in most of them that provide contrast, mild-to moderate sugar levels, reasonably thick, and well, they just do everything well enough, just don’t expect something as crazy as brands like Barebells. Otherwise, they’re good protein bars that are worth trying.
11. Melō
Like BUILT Puff but better. Imagine you combined a marshmallow with a protein filling — that would be the composition of these. The eating experience of these, simply put, is great. They’re thick and chunky, exceptionally soft, and I just love that pliable texture! In this regard, they’re all uniform in texture–no extra bits or anything fancy here.
In terms of taste, they’re fairly sweet and sport their advertised flavors nearly perfectly. That, combined with its filling, results in extra creaminess rarely found in other protein bars.
My biggest gripe, really, is the uniform texture and less nuanced flavors. Yes, the texture is great, but there are no embedded contrasting pieces, nor any differentiating flavors in any of these bars — everything is uniform.
12. Misfits
I didn’t think a vegan bar could be this good! If I had to compare it to anything here, it definitely gives Barebells vibes–just the vibes, though. These are less dense and even more so, significantly less sweet, with a noticeable protein powder flavor that plagues all the flavors. This ultimately results in duller-tasting bars, though; again, like Barebells, these have multiple compositional layers, which at least make the eating experience fulfilling.
13. Robert Irvine’s FITCRUNCH
These are the knockoffs of Barebells. They’re similar in appearance and composition; unfortunately, the artificiality of their bars stands out more. That aside, they’re still good protein bars, and in fact, FITCRUNCH has a ton of other products in its lineup, such as Wafers, Loaded Cookie, and Delights. And the caveat with those, at least to me, is that in general, none of them are as good as they’re advertised–you’ve been warned!
Why get a FITCRUNCH-anything when you can have a Barebells bar?
14. Nick’s / N!CK’S
I want to love N!CK’s. Not only do they have my favorite ice cream, but their bars are really good, too. They all tend to have authetic tastes and even a decent eating experience. Unfortunately, it’s plagued by its lack of sweetness. You can have a genuinely tasty protein bar with no artificial, gunky taste, but if it’s not sweet enough, what’s the point?
Further, at the time of this writing, their lineup is very limited in the protein bar space. A few flavors are good enough, but I’d like to see them expand their lineup and improve on what they already have (hint: more sugar!).
15. ONE
So many flavors, yet here they are. Bad bars? Not by any means.
What drags them down here is not only that most are mildly sweet, but also that the eating experience is lackluster. I get it, though, if you’re a boring person and want a uniformly chewy bar with authetic light tastes, this is for you. Unfortunately, I love sweetness, and I adore it when bars have a lot going on.
If anything, I give these the “I never had a protein bar, I’m scared to try one, what’s safe” award.
16. BUILT Puff
They’re good, all of their flavors, in fact. And heck, if you love marshmallows–which I do–you’ll definitely enjoy these… to a degree.
They need more sweetness to take them to the next level. By relying on their inner, nearly uniform textures, they do become boring to eat. Coupled, again, with the lesser sweet tones, I find myself asking, “I can get something better.” In a sense, it’s weird; they are so unique compared to other bars, yet they fall short of varying their own and making them exciting after a few bites.
17. Walmart Bettergoods
A candy bar in crispy form!
Genuinely, these are some of the sweetest protein bars I’ve ever had, easily rivaling your traditional candy treats like Reese’s, Snickers, etc. They also rock an authetic sugary taste, though, with a subtle protein-bar aftertaste — but that’s quickly overshadowed by how sweet these are! In fact, that’s one of their downsides: the sugariness overtakes the flavors they advertise, which may or may not be a good thing depending on your sweet tooth.
Compositionally, they aren’t like a Rice Krispies treat; the texture and mouthfeel are a bit different, and they don’t taste as cheap. Essentially, they feel like a more premium Rice Krispies bar.
Some downsides are that, at the time of this writing, only three flavors are available. Additionally, each bar is mostly uniform and doesn’t have any crazy mixins that add contrast or a fun eating factor. Most importantly, the macros could be better, especially their protein-to-calorie ratio.
Regardless, if you’re looking for protein bars that taste like an overindulgence on sugar, I would suggest giving these a go!
18. Clif (LUNA and Zbar)
Well, this is awkward. I’m making an exception here because Clif has so many different types of bars. Heck, are these even protein bars, or are they energy bars? Are they just a variation or spinoff of Clif’s original ones? I’m not sure, but here they are. So far, I’ve only had the LUNA and Zbars.
Regarding the LUNA bars: These are your middle-of-the-road oat bars with added protein. They don’t taste or feel cheap; they’re just kind of standard. See those oaty bars on the store shelf? These are likely not much different than them. Notably, nothing organic or earthy tasting here. The taste is fine, the composition is standard, and well, there’s nothing too exciting here… except the Blueberry Bliss flavor, you need to get that one!
The Zbar (both regular and protein) is mostly like the LUNA bars, as they tend to be oat-based, while some feel crisper and are based not just on oats but a combination of oats and rice, too. The more important distinction is that overall, these are kid-friendly and more versatile. That is, a bit sweeter, perhaps even a cheaper feeling, and something if you want more sugar. I say cheaper, though, it’s not in a bad way, it’s just a bar that will please all ages, especially the fact that LUNA bars are exclusively made of oats instead.
19. Magic Spoon
This is for their cereal-based protein treats. You may or may not classify these as “protein bars” per se, but either way, the macros are protein-leaning, and it does say “Protein” on the box, so…
These are, more or less, premium, adult-tasting Rice Krispies treats. They’re thicker, and the mouthfeel and eating experience feel more premium. They’re not quite as sweet, though, and, notably, each of their flavors has an artificial, slightly bitter aftertaste that detracts from their already mild-moderate sweetness and more toned-down flavors.
I’d have liked to see these treats be sweeter to bring out the flavors, because as they are right now, they’re about average or slightly below on this list. On the other hand, if you love rice-based cereal treats or Rice Krispies bars in general, you should give these a go.
20. Ghost
Ghost protein bars are still new, so I’m hesitant.
Long story short, though, unfortunately, these all have more or less the same texture: yeah, kind of boring, although the flavors are decently represented, but (yes, another caveat) there is a light protein-bar taste to each that does hamper the flavor to a degree. They’re all moderately sweet.
Essentially, kind of your average bar. Notably, the “wafer” filling is quite unique, with a mouthfeel reminiscent of a chewy protein filling and wafer — somewhat like an airy, less dense marzipan.
21. JiMMYBAR
If you want to go for some combination of a decent oat and protein bar, give these a try; otherwise, in my opinion, I’d go for a more traditional, better-tasting protein bar (or dedicated oat bar)–many other protein bar brands have sweeter, more pronounced flavors that are more worthy in my opinion.
Essentially, these are what I described earlier: premium oat-protein-combo bars with interesting takes, such as infusing caffeine into many of their flavors.
22. MOSH
These are very middle-of-the-road protein bars. They are on the thinner side, with a lightly chewy taste, embedded crispie bits that provide an equally mild crunch, and authetic flavors and average sweetness levels to match. These, in my opinion, are a good starting point for beginners who don’t want anything too crazy or fancy yet want just enough to be satisfied and perhaps explore the better brands for more interesting combinations and flavors.
23. Mezcla
They couldn’t do their primary job: make it taste like actual ingredients rather than extracts, mainly because this brand is often found in those organic, more expensive stores.
Okay, maybe I’m harsh. Basically, these crispy rice-like, plant-based protein bars could be better, and honestly, you can find tastier ones on the market. They have a lot of unique flavors and, for the most part, taste what they convey, but are held back by a subtle artificial bitterness that tastes like extract mimicking the advertised flavors.
If you absolutely need a plant-based protein bar or are head over heels for Rice Krispies treats, I could see these appealing to you. Otherwise, while they aren’t horrible protein bars, they just fall short compared to most other brands.
24. David
Very similar to MOSH bars but worse. They are literally what you dream of when you think “protein bar” and have never had one before. They’re all unsweet; the compositions are noticeably “generic protein bar,” and, from all that, both the taste (which, in and of itself, doesn’t come across as artificial) and the mouthfeel remain unexciting.
Like the MOSH bars, though, these might be a good starting point for a beginner or someone craving a bar that’s least offensive.
25. IQBAR
I just don’t want an extra organic-feeling oat bar, and that’s exactly what these are. They’re still okay, but as a personal preference, when I want a protein bar, I want something that hits me with sweetness and has a texture with a lot of nuance. These lean heavily towards a heavily organic, oat-bar-based side with some protein macros thrown in; flavors are subtle, the chewy, oaty texture is similar across all of them, and, well, they just aren’t my jam. Give me a “normal” protein bar, please!
26. Dave’s Killer Bread
This is based on their Amped-Up Organic Protein Bars, which have few flavors, as Dave’s has relied on bread to carry its name.
So, imagine the most “real foods” oat bar you could taste–this is that! These are hunky, oaty-tasting bars with little to no flavor or sweetness, instead relying on an organic taste and feel to carry them. They’re exceptionally tough to chew through because of it, making the whole experience worse. But hey, if you’re into super-organic foods with no flavor, these might be up your alley; otherwise, those seeking a regular protein bar will be sorely disappointed.
Dave, stick to bread.
27. Hormbles Chormbles
I love candy bars, yet these are candy bars. Authetic all the way around, from composition to flavor. Unfortunately, they’re paper-thin and due to their embedded rice bits, on the crunchier side. This results in a crunch and a sense of unfulfillment that I personally don’t enjoy.
Basically, eating these feels boring. I would rather just get a protein bar with more girth and substance.
28. Balanced Tiger
Imagine the most generic protein bar, mix it with a light assortment of organic-like ingredients, and forget to add enough sugar and moisture-inducing ingredients. That’s not even the only issue — these bars are very small and on the thinner side. Combining these issues yields generic-tasting, unfulfilling protein bars that are not substantial enough even to consider.
Also, despite advertising themselves as a mushroom-based bar, just don’t expect that here. I didn’t get any mushroom vibes from these, but perhaps I did get the supposed “health benefits” they advertise.
29. No Cow
And the first iteration of a passable protein bar goes to… No Cow!
… that’s the review!
First, the texture. It’s the most plain, passable composition ever. It’s not horrible, it’s just boring. They look like a Quest bar, but these are softer and, notably, drier than almost any protein bar I’ve had. They look and have the mouthfeel of a first-timer’s attempt at a protein bar.
Coupled with this generic mouthfeel is the taste. They all have a strong protein bar flavor — not sweetener-like, more like a dull protein bar flavor that destroys most of the taste the bars are supposed to have. Not to mention, the lack of sweetness does not help whatsoever. What you get overall, then, is, as I said before, some of the most generic, boring, and dull-feeling and tasting bars around.
The only positives are the protein-to-calorie ratio and the fiber content.
30. Lenny & Larry’s
This is based on their Cookie-fied protein bars.
Long story short, these taste like someone’s first try at making a fancy protein bar. Artificial and dry composition? Check. Weird, unfulfilling tastes and flavors? Yup. An attempt to add some nice-looking mixins to make you feel better about yourself after you wasted money on them? Lenny & Larry’s delivers!
Don’t be mistaken. These look good on the package, and they show a lot of promise; unfortunately, they just don’t deliver. Lenny & Larry’s should stick to their other foods and avoid the protein bar business altogether.