14 Best Protein Bars in 2024, According to Dietitians and Editors

Best Budget

• Pros: Relatively affordable, nice texture
• Cons: Contains sugar substitutes

As its name suggests, Power Crunch’s Protein Wafer Bars have a unique texture compared to others on our list. According to multiple Amazon reviewers, they’re crispy and have a delightful snap when you bite into them. “They are my go-to emergency snack, and they don’t taste like chalk,” says SELF’s editorial assistant. In addition to looking and tasting like a cookie, they cost a little less than a lot of other bars from bigger brands do.

• Protein source: Whey protein | Protein per serving: 13 grams | Fiber per serving: 1 gram | Dietary preferences: N/A | Flavors: Chocolate coconut, chocolate mint, French vanilla crème, lemon meringue, peanut butter crème, peanut butter fudge, red velvet, salted caramel, s’mores, strawberry crème

Best for Recovery

• Pros: Good mix of protein and carbs, distinct recipe and texture
• Cons: Some Amazon reviewers find them hard to chew

If you eat Skippy straight from the jar, this one’s for you: Honey Stinger’s Nut and Seed Bars have a nut butter core and a caramel coating that’s rolled in oats and seeds (which are also a great source of healthy fats like omega-3s). You get a nice crunch, followed by a delicious, gooey middle. They’re one of Jones’s top picks because of their combined protein and carbohydrate content, which helps provide “steady energy levels” after working out, she explains. Plus, she adds that you don’t have to worry about them melting, since they don’t contain chocolate: “They hold up well [if] stored in your car in the summer.” (Or if they wind up at the bottom of your tote and stay there for a week or two—just speaking from experience.)

• Protein source: Whey protein | Protein per serving: 14 grams | Fiber per serving: 1 gram | Dietary preferences: Gluten-free, kosher, vegetarian | Flavors: Almond pumpkin seed, peanut sunflower seed

Best Texture, Crunchy

• Pros: Delicious taste, crisp texture, high protein content
• Cons: Contains sugar substitutes

Barebells’s bars are another SELF staffer fave for their high protein content: The hazelnut and nougat flavor featured here contains 20 grams. The brand makes bars with whey- and plant-based protein sources (both of which feature a complete protein profile, meaning they contain the nine essential amino acids your body needs), so you can find an option that suits your preferences. And, if you’re suffering from texture fatigue, most of Barebells’s flavors have a crispy-crunchy coating that should liven up your bites. (There are also a few soft bar options for anyone who prefers chewiness.)

• Protein source: Whey protein | Protein per serving: 20 grams | Fiber per serving: 3 grams | Dietary preferences: N/A | Flavors: Caramel cashew, choco hazelnut, chocolate dough, cookies and cream, creamy crisp, hazelnut and nougat, salty peanut, white chocolate almond

Best Texture, Chewy

• Pros: Nice, soft texture; good mix of protein and carbs
• Cons: Pricey, requires refrigeration for longer-term storage

One SELF contributor calls these not only “incredibly satisfying” (they contain a nice amount of carbs) but flat-out “the best tasting protein bars.” At 16 grams of protein each, they’re a solid option for active people who need a nutrient-packed snack. One thing to keep in mind if you’re stocking up: They stay freshest in the refrigerator, although you can keep them at room temperature for about a week.

• Protein source: Peanut butter, milk, egg, rice protein | Protein per serving: 16 grams | Fiber per serving: 4 grams | Dietary preferences: Gluten-free, kosher | Flavors: Almond butter, chocolate chip cookie dough, chocolate hazelnut crisp, chocolate mint, coconut peanut butter, dark chocolate almond, dark chocolate chip peanut butter, peanut butter, pumpkin pie, salted caramel

Best Vegan Protein Bar

• Pros: Entirely plant-based ingredients
• Cons: Reviewers report some quality inconsistencies between different flavors

Aloha’s line comes highly recommended by Jones and multiple SELF staff members. In addition to its complete protein profile (thanks to multiple plant-based sources) and vegan-friendly recipe, Aloha wins points for taste and texture—Jones says her faves are the chocolate mint and chocolate espresso flavors. SELF’s associate wellness director says Aloha checks her essential protein bar boxes: They’re moist, chewy, and have “no weird aftertaste.”

• Protein source: Brown rice protein, pumpkin seed protein | Protein per serving: 14 grams | Fiber per serving: 10 grams | Dietary preferences: Gluten-free, kosher, vegan | Flavors: Chocolate caramel pecan, chocolate chip cookie dough, chocolate espresso, chocolate fudge brownie, chocolate mint, coconut chocolate almond, lemon cashew, maple sea salt, peanut butter cup, peppermint white chocolate, pumpkin spice, raspberry white chocolate, vanilla almond crunch

Simplest Ingredients

• Pros: Smooth texture, straightforward labeling and ingredients
• Cons: Quality isn’t consistent across all flavors

SELF’s director of health conditions says she was pleasantly surprised by the consistency of RX Bars the first time she tried them: ”I found them easier to eat [than other protein bars], since they didn't crumble everywhere and weren't that hard to chew.” She also appreciates that the packaging clearly lists all ingredients (usually under 10 total) and that their taste lines up with what’s stated on the wrapper.

• Protein source: Egg whites | Protein per serving: 12 grams | Fiber per serving: 5 grams | Dietary preferences: Dairy-free, gluten-free | Flavors: Blueberry, chocolate sea salt, chocolate chip, coconut chocolate, mint chocolate, mixed berry, peanut butter, peanut butter chocolate, strawberry, vanilla almond

Best Real Sugar Option

• Pros: Tastes like a cookie, vegan
• Cons: Other flavors contain sugar substitutes

“I would die (maybe literally) without these,” our associate wellness director says. “I hate fake sweeteners and don’t always want a date-sweetened thing—they just taste like a chewy PB cookie.” She notes that some of Raw Rev’s protein bars are made with monkfruit, but the brand's peanut butter flavors don't contain any sugar substitutes at all, which is hard to come by in a protein bar.

• Protein source: Peanuts, pea protein, brown rice protein, hemp protein, flax protein | Protein per serving: 13 grams | Fiber per serving: 3 grams | Dietary preferences: Gluten-free, kosher, vegan | Flavors: Brownie batter, chocolate chip cookie dough, creamy peanut butter, crunchy peanut butter, mixed nuts and caramel, peanut butter dark chocolate

Most Like a Candy Bar

• Pros: Sweet and tasty, no sugar substitutes
• Cons: May be a little dry for some

Craving a sweet treat but in need of a protein pick- me-up? “These are like protein-packed adult Rice Krispie bars—so so good,” the vice president and content lead of Condé Nast Health says, alluding to both their looks and texture. They’re crispy-crunchy, made with real sugar, and about as fun to eat as a protein bar can be.

• Protein source: Whey protein | Protein per serving: 15 grams | Fiber per serving: 5 grams | Dietary preferences: Gluten-free, kosher | Flavors: Birthday cake, blueberries and cream, chocolate chip, coconut, Madagascar vanilla, snickerdoodle, strawberries and cream

Best Flavor Options

• Pros: High protein content
• Cons: Contains sugar substitutes

One SELF writer says these bars are some of her favorites, and it’s easy to get why. They contain plenty of protein and come in a whopping 14 flavors that you won’t find from most other brands (hello, fruity cereal). The cinnamon roll variety is a particular hit among Amazon reviewers—one even said it tastes just like the real thing.

• Protein source: Whey protein | Protein per serving: 20 grams | Fiber per serving: 5 grams | Dietary preferences: Gluten-free | Flavors: Birthday cake, blueberry cobbler, chocolate chip cookie dough, cinnamon roll, cookies and crème, fruity cereal, lemon cake, maple glazed doughnut, marshmallow hot cocoa, peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter cup, peanut butter pie, pumpkin pie, s’mores

Best Snack

• Pros: Vegan, pleasantly soft texture
• Cons: Lowest protein content on this list, contains sugar substitutes

Jones recommends Orgain’s bars for people with moderate activity levels because they contain 10 grams of complete plant-based protein per serving, which can help support post-workout recovery but isn’t enough for highly active people. They’re also a great choice for anyone who wants a lighter snack to enjoy between meals: “These are pretty compact, and they have a soft, chewy texture,” says Jones.

• Protein source: Brown rice protein, pea protein, chia seed protein | Protein per serving: 10 grams | Fiber per serving: 1 gram | Dietary preferences: Gluten-free, kosher, vegan | Flavors: Chocolate brownie, chocolate chip cookie dough, chocolate coconut

Best Meat Stick

Pros: Great alternative to sweet bars, not too salty

Cons: Not vegan or vegetarian-friendly, pricey

If you eat animal-based proteins and want some savory options in the mix, don’t count out the humble meat stick. Kelly LeVeque, CN, a clinical nutritionist, tells SELF that jerky is a great alternative to protein bars, and Pescavore’s Ahi Tuna Jerky Strip is our current favorite. After testing dozens of meat snacks for this year’s Pantry Awards, this one came out on top for its just-right level of seasoning. Plus, for those wary of snacking on something fishy, our tester noted that its aroma is nice and subtle.

• Protein source: Ahi tuna | Protein per serving: 15 grams | Fiber per serving: 0 grams | Dietary preferences: Dairy-free, gluten-free, pescatarian | Flavors: Caribbean jerk, island teriyaki, smokey poke

Best Chocolate-Based Bar

• Pros: Sweet taste and good texture, satiating (according to SELF testers)
• Cons: Contains sugar substitutes

Calling all chocolate lovers! Fulfil’s, well, filling protein bars won a SELF Pantry Award last year for their solid nutrient content and, of course, delicious taste. All of the brand’s flavor combos involve chocolate in some way, so they’re a great option if you’re looking to add some extra protein to your routine and make your sweet tooth happy at the same time.

• Protein source: Collagen, whey protein | Protein per serving: 15 grams | Fiber per serving: 0 grams | Dietary preferences: Gluten-free | Flavors: Chocolate peanut butter, chocolate peanut and caramel, chocolate salted caramel