The 8 Best Protein Bars, Approved By Dietitians and Tested By Editors

Artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols can be a double-edged sword: While they allow you to tamp down on added sugar content, they don’t sit well with everyone’s digestive system. If you prefer to bypass these, consider Transparent Labs’ Grass-Fed Protein+ Bars.

Keatley calls these a “premium choice,” pointing out their 16-gram protein content and quality ingredients. The bars feature a short ingredients list, including peanut butter, dates, whey protein, and coconut oil. They also have just 5 grams of added sugar for a sweet flavor that’s not overwhelming.

The bars come in several dessert-inspired flavors and have a good, slightly chewy texture. The only major drawback is the price: At $3.33 per bar, these are the most expensive options on our list.

Read More: Best Protein Powders, Tested by Us

The NOVOS Bar is the first bar developed with the idea of longevity in mind, promising to provide a more complete profile of nutrition rather than a short-term energy boost for workouts. In order to chase this goal, they’ve stocked their Longevity Bars with more than 20 superfoods, 21 essential vitamins and minerals, and clinically relevant doses of additional nutrients believed to increase your life expectancy like taurine and astaxanthin, as well as functional mushrooms.

Once out of the wrapper, the bars don’t look like anything special, no matter what flavor you’ve gone with. In fact, they look pretty dull, but to be honest, I don’t need my protein bar to appear appetizing; I just need it to get the job done. There are no artificial sweeteners, and the sugar content is kept low using honey, stevia, and sweet potato. I was pleasantly surprised by the taste and feel of the bar, the flavors are pretty subtle, yet enjoyable, and it breaks apart easily in your mouth.

I liked that I didn’t feel particularly heavy after eating one of these bars, a side effect that some other products can have. I also appreciate that it sources its protein from a blend of pea and brown rice, which helps maintain low methionine levels, aligning with the recommendations of longevity research. All in all, I have been impressed by the bar’s ability to give me a protein boost and fill me up, now here’s hoping I snag a few more years as well.

IQBars are a favorite of Men’s Health Fitness and Commerce Editor Charles Thorp, who appreciates the subtle salty-sweet flavor of the brand’s Chocolate Sea Salt variety. These bars pack 12 grams of protein into a relatively small container, with 8 grams of fiber to support blood sugar balance.

IQBars are sweetened with stevia plant extract and have no added sugar. Combine that with the 2 grams of net carbs, and these are a solid choice for fans of keto or other low-carb diets. IQBar also touts its “brain nutrients,” which include magnesium, lion’s mane, MCTs, and flavonoids to support brain function. Whether these bars will make you more intelligent is debatable, but they’re definitely a smart choice for an on-the-go snack.

The only downside of IQBars is that they’re on the smaller side. But when you factor in the delicious taste, clean ingredients, and health-supporting nutrients, they’re worth adding to your cart.

A lot of protein bars have nuts, making this a tricky category for people with food allergies to navigate. 88 Acres’ bars are nut-free and vegan, relying on pumpkin seeds to deliver the protein.

“88 Acres is a good option for those with nut allergies, especially since so many protein bars do contain nuts and nut butters,” Asche says. These bars have a nice, chewy texture and come in a range of flavors, from banana bread to several chocolate varieties. They also have short ingredients lists and are low in added sugar.

The only major downside of these bars is the cost. At $3.20 per bar, 88 Acres is the second-most expensive option on our list. Still, if you want a nutritious bar without the nuts, it’s a solid choice.

While some protein bars make you work to figure out what’s in them, RxBar clearly states the ingredients, including the amounts, on the front of all of its packaging. The brand’s popular Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter contains 3 tablespoons of oats, 14 peanuts, two egg whites, and 2 tablespoons of honey, a fact that the company makes more than clear.

“RxBars are a solid option for those who prefer whole food ingredients, as they use egg whites for protein and have no artificial additives,” Keatley says. The whole food ingredients also help break up that classic (and sometimes unpalatable) protein bar texture.

These bars don’t have the highest protein count you’ll find, but they get the job done—especially if you’re just looking for a snack. They’re also incredibly popular, which can make it hard to find certain flavors. So, stock up when you come across one you like.

Carbs and protein are important after workouts to replenish glycogen stores and support muscle repair. One’s Peanut Butter Cup protein bar offers both.

“One bars offer 20 grams of protein with only one gram of sugar, making them a great post-workout option,” says Keatley. This bar also has 25 grams of carbs to get those glycogen stores back up. The texture isn’t bad—it’s soft, with nuts inside to break things up—and One does a nice job of making you feel like you’re having a treat without the added sugar.

One has a huge range of flavors, although the fruity options can taste a little more artificial than the others. For a quick refueling after a workout, though, this hits the spot.

Texture can be a tricky thing to get right with protein bars, and plenty of brands miss the mark. Barbells isn’t one of them. The company’s Creamy Crisp protein bars contain crunchy puffs and chocolate for a texture that feels like you’re diving into a favorite candy bar. But these bars have no added sugar, making it even easier to love them.

Keatley also praises the bars’ “good protein-to-calorie ratio” (20 grams of protein to 200 calories), along with its delicious dessert-like flavors. These bars are also GMO-free and come in a generous size, making them a good option when you want to snack on something a little more hearty.

Barebells uses sugar alcohols as a sweetener, so be aware that this may not be the best choice if you have a sensitive stomach. But between the large size and solid protein count, this bar is a great one to put in regular rotation.

Many protein bars can help tide you over between meals or provide a quick refueling. But for those times when it’ll be a while until you can squeeze in a real meal, the MET-Rx Big 100 Colossal Protein Super Cookie Crunch is worth considering.

“MET-Rx Big 100 bars deliver higher calorie content and around 30 grams of protein per bar, making them a good meal replacement option,” Keatley says. He also points out that these are good for muscle building, given their 32 grams of protein per bar.

MET-Rx’s bar has a nice texture that’s not overly dense, and the flavor is something you’ll crave in the future. Be aware that the added sugar content is high at 24 grams, but it’s tempered by 14 grams of fat and some fiber.