These protein bars are sure to have the best taste and aid in your muscle growth by pumping you with protein and other nutrients that are vital for maximum gains.
Protein bars are designed to serve as a convenient source of nutrition with the best taste for athletes, gym-goers, and everyday people to keep nutrition at the top of the list and aid in muscle growth, whether they use either vegan or whey. If you’ve ever walked through the isle at a store, boxes upon boxes of protein bars line the shelves and the choices become so overwhelming, you just give up. And we don’t blame you. That’s why we provided this list of the best protein bars for your bodybuilding goals for 2022.
Don’t let an overly saturated market keep you from seeing great gains and while many companies claim their protein bars can serve as solid meal replacements, it is important to remember that many bars are loaded with sugar and other additives that you just don’t need from a bar. This list has some of the best bars, vegan and non-vegan, on the market today to make your life a little easier when it comes to choosing the right protein bar.
Check out our list of the Best Protein Bars as you aim to continue your health hunt to aid in your overall growth, performance, and wellness for the best protein bar. We seek to make your life easier by providing you with a solid list to start to narrow down your search as you look for nothing but the best for your fitness, health, and wellness goals.
Best Protein Bar For 2022
Best Protein Bar Overall
Your protein bar should reflect your nutritional needs, as well as your fitness needs. A good all-around protein bar will work to offer real ingredients, quality benefits, and only the best results for you.
Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars
| Calories | 280 |
| Protein | 16g |
| Carbs | 24g |
| Fat | 14g |
| Sugar | 19g |
| Flavors | Chocolate Coffee, Chocolate Chip |
Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars are delicious and nutritious for all of those health and fitness needs. A 2:1:1 ratio of carbs, protein, and fats ensures you have plenty of fuel to power those workouts and daily activities. Made with real food ingredients, there are no artificial sweeteners, colorings, or preservatives to ruin the quality of this bar. Great flavors and quality care ensure all of your needs are taken care of with these protein bars.
Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars have a 2:1:1 ratio of carbs, protein, and fat to deliver great macros along with great taste.
Pros
- Great ratio of macronutrients
- Made with real food ingredients
- From a reputable company in Transparent Labs
Cons
- Only available on their website
- Tend to be a bit dry
Price: $29.99/12 Bars
Best Post-Workout Protein Bar
For those of us looking to enhance our post-workout routine, a quality protein bar is exactly what we need to see the best results. Packed with protein and added ingredients, this will ensure a positive post-workout experience.
Jacked Factory Authentic Bar
| Calories | 280 |
| Protein | 15g |
| Carbs | 27g |
| Fat | 14g |
| Sugar | 20g |
| Flavors | Birthday Cake, Peanut Butter Candy, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Coconut Cashew, Kitchen Sink, Mint Chocolate Chip |
Jacked Factory Authentic Bar is a great protein bar with authentic ingredients, taste, and results. This decadent high protein bar is made with real ingredients and whey protein isolate for that clean, filtered protein to help with muscle growth and recovery. With no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, this protein bar is exactly what you need to round out a great dietary routine. No gut wrenching fibers and awesome flavors are matched by honesty and transparency with this amazing protein bar.
Jacked Factory Authentic Bars are made with authentic ingredients with great taste and results. No artificial sweeteners make these bars great for muscle growth and recovery.
Pros
- High in protein and uses whey isolate
- No artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols
- Made with real ingredients
- Great flavors
Cons
- Comparable to less expensive bars
Price: $29.99/12 Bars
Best Protein Bar For Muscle & Performance
For those looking to boost strength and overall performance, a protein bar with top tier ingredients can do just that. With ingredients designed to aid in muscle growth and your overall performance goals, you can hit success much faster.
Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars
| Calories | 280 |
| Protein | 16g |
| Carbs | 24g |
| Fat | 14g |
| Sugar | 19g |
| Flavors | Chocolate Coffee, Chocolate Chip |
Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars are delicious and nutritious for all of those health and fitness needs. A 2:1:1 ratio of carbs, protein, and fats ensures you have plenty of fuel to power those workouts and daily activities. Made with real food ingredients, there are no artificial sweeteners, colorings, or preservatives to ruin the quality of this bar. Great flavors and quality care ensure all of your needs are taken care of with these protein bars.
Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars have a 2:1:1 ratio of carbs, protein, and fat to deliver great macros along with great taste.
Pros
- Great ratio of macronutrients
- Made with real food ingredients
- From a reputable company in Transparent Labs
Cons
- Only available on their website
- Tend to be a bit dry
Price: $29.99/12 Bars
Best Whey Isolate Protein Bar
Protein sources can come from many different places but whey isolate is a premium source great for those who want majority protein. A bar made with whey isolate can ensure great protein intake while also aiding in things like muscle growth and weight loss.
Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars
| Calories | 280 |
| Protein | 16g |
| Carbs | 24g |
| Fat | 14g |
| Sugar | 19g |
| Flavors | Chocolate Coffee, Chocolate Chip |
Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars are delicious and nutritious for all of those health and fitness needs. A 2:1:1 ratio of carbs, protein, and fats ensures you have plenty of fuel to power those workouts and daily activities. Made with real food ingredients, there are no artificial sweeteners, colorings, or preservatives to ruin the quality of this bar. Great flavors and quality care ensure all of your needs are taken care of with these protein bars.
Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars have a 2:1:1 ratio of carbs, protein, and fat to deliver great macros along with great taste.
Pros
- Great ratio of macronutrients
- Made with real food ingredients
- From a reputable company in Transparent Labs
Cons
- Only available on their website
- Tend to be a bit dry
Price: $29.99/12 Bars
Best Protein Bar For Energy & Metabolism Support
A protein bar should be easy on your stomach and allow for quick energy. Designed for convenience, you should be able to use a protein bar for all your goals so you maximize all sources of fuel.
GNC Total Lean Layered Protein Bar
| Calories | 190 |
| Protein | 16g |
| Carbs | 14g |
| Fat | 8g |
| Sugar | 5g |
| Flavors | Whipped Chocolate Mousse, Girl Scouts Coconut Caramel |
GNC Total Lean Layered Protein Bar is a great protein bar to satisfy hunger and provide for lean, high quality protein support for muscle growth. Being gluten-free, and with great flavors, you can enjoy this bar and get all of the benefits without the guilt. At 190 calories per bar and with 16g protein, 8g fat, and 14g carbs, this provides a perfect ratio for all of these macronutrients for your diet. Made with a protein blend of whey concentrate and isolate, as well as other ingredients to fuel muscle growth, repair damaged muscle, and aid in other bodily functions, this meal replacement bar is perfect for a pre-workout boost or a post-workout recovery protein packed snack while also being great tasting to boost your protein intake and help lose weight.
GNC Total Lean Layered Protein Bar is perfect for satisfying hunger and providing lean muscle support. A protein blend of whey isolate and concentrate is perfect for muscle growth and repair.
Pros
- Great ingredients
- 190 calories and 16 grams of protein
- Delicious flavors
Cons
- It does contain sucralose and maltodextrin
- High amount of sugar adds to the taste but may not be compatible with certain diets
Price: $11.99/5 bars
Check out our individual review for GNC Total Lean Layered Protein Bar here!
Best Protein Bar For Tackling Cravings
Protein bars should keep you full to pump you with nutrients and eliminate cravings. By getting rid of cravings you are well on your way to less snacking and weight loss.
Quest Nutrition Protein Bar
| Calories | 210 |
| Protein | 20g |
| Carbs | 22g |
| Fat | 10g |
| Sugar | 1g |
| Flavors | Birthday Cake, Blueberry Muffin, Caramel Chocolate Chunk, Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Hazelnut, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Sprinkled Doughnut, Cinnamon Roll, Cookies & Cream, Double Chocolate Chunk, Lemon Cake, Maple Waffle Protein, Mint Chocolate Chunk, Mocha Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Brownie Smash, S’mores, White Chocolate Raspberry |
Quest Nutrition protein bars are made with complete, dairy-based proteins to provide your body with 9 essential amino acids to help with muscle growth. With a lot of flavors to choose from, each bar is a sweet treat with less than 2g of sugar in each bar to satisfy cravings to keep you full longer. With up to 21g of protein and 16g of fiber per bar, net carbs round out to 4-6g giving you a really great ratio of all of those macronutrients you need for fuel, growth, and recovery along with your diet needs. With a solid protein blend and not a lot of ingredients, this bar comes out to be a great option for those looking to satisfy cravings while also seeing gains from a protein packed snack with clean ingredients to provide energy and build muscle.
Quest Nutrition Protein Bar is a complete, dairy-based protein bar perfect for muscle growth. Nine essential amino acids and 21g protein will fuel growth, recovery, and performance.
Pros
- There are a multitude of flavors to choose from
- Ratio of macronutrients is perfect
- High in protein and one of the best tasting bars
- Little sugar
Cons
- May be hard to digest for some
- Does contain sucralose as well
Price: $24.99/12 Bars
Best Natural Protein Bar
A natural protein bar is what we want because it doesn’t contain anything artificial. To maintain our health and essential needs, a natural bar can certainly be right for you.
RXBar
| Calories | 210 |
| Protein | 12g |
| Carbs | 23g |
| Fat | 9g |
| Sugar | 13g |
| Flavors | Coconut Chocolate, Maple Sea Salt, Chocolate Chip (Plant-Based), Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Blueberry, Chocolate Sea Salt, Banana Chocolate Walnut, Mixed Berry, Mint Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter (Plant-Based), Chocolate Raspberry, Vanilla Almond |
RXBar is a great protein bar made with real and simple ingredients. With 9 ingredients or less, this bar is packed with high-quality protein with plenty of fiber perfect for an addition to breakfast, a midday snack, or anytime near a workout. Great flavors and texture ensure you never grow bored of the taste and that this protein bar can work for those performance and lifestyle goals with ease.
RXBar is a protein bar made with real and simple ingredients with high-quality protein and great flavors.
Pros
- Real, simple ingredients
- Plenty of protein
- Good amount of fiber
- Great for any time of day
Cons
- Can be a bit chewy for some
Price: $18.89/12 Bars
Best Non-Dairy Protein Bar
For those looking for a plant-based protein bar, a non-dairy option will still deliver quality plant-based protein without leaving you with that dairy discomfort or sensitivity.
No Cow High Protein Bars
| Calories | 200 |
| Protein | 22g |
| Carbs | 25g |
| Fat | 5g |
| Sugar | 1g |
| Flavors | Maple, S’mores, Cookies N’ Cream, Birthday Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Sticky Cinnamon Roll, Chunky Peanut Butter, Lemon Meringue Pie, Mint Cacao Chip, Blueberry Cobbler, Vanilla Caramel, Raspberry Truffle, Chocolate Coconut, Carrot Cake, Pumpkin Pie |
No Cow High Protein Bars are packed with protein great for those looking for a plant-based option. Providing clean fuel, you will find this bar to be great for your daily routine. With 4 net carbs, this bar is keto friendly and with 1g of sugar you get all the taste without the guilt. An impressive plant-based protein bar, this is vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and soy-free. Great flavors and packed with protein, this is solid for those in need of something without dairy.
No Cow High Protein Bars are plant-based and protein packed to fuel your workouts and lifestyle without the guilt of a sugary bar.
Pros
- Plant-based option
- Packed with 21g of protein
- Low sugar bars
Cons
- Chalkier texture than most bars
Price: $24.98/12 Bars
Benefits Of Protein Bars: Whey Protein Isolate, Pea Protein, Or Other Protein Sources
Protein bars have great benefits to your growth and recovery while also aiming to keep you full. Benefits of protein bars include:
- Packed with protein: Provide enough protein content to offer growth and keep you full while still allowing for proper digestion (1). This will also aid in muscle building and maintenance and workout recovery from protein like vegan sources, whey protein isolate, or others (2).
- Full of fiber: Keep you full longer and moving regularly which is an important piece for your body to properly function and keep weight off (3).
- Short on sugar (if any at all): Be careful of added sugar and other sweeteners that ruin the health benefits of a good bar and ruin all of your dietary work thus far, especially for certain diets, like those who are vegan.
- Inexpensive and convenient: Don’t break the bank for a protein bar that will only provide some benefits and really look for one that will give you everything you need (and deserve) from a bar.
How Much Are These Protein Bars?
Finding the right protein bars can be challenging. Those more premium bars will cost more money so knowing how much may help make your decision a little easier. We’ve broken down our list so you can see the overall price as you compare amongst our Best Protein Bars list.
| Category | Product | Price | Why We Love It |
| Best Protein Bar Overall | Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars | Price: $29.99
Per Box Of 12: $2.49 |
Made with real food and a great balance of macronutrients. |
| Best Post-Workout Protein Bar | Jacked Factory Authentic Bars | Price: $29.99
Per Box Of 12: $2.49 |
High in protein and made with real food ingredients. |
| Best Protein Bar For Muscle & Performance | Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars | Price: $29.99
Per Box Of 12: $2.49 |
Made with real food and a great balance of macronutrients. |
| Best Whey Isolate Protein Bar | Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars | Price: $29.99
Per Box Of 12: $2.49 |
Made with real food and a great balance of macronutrients. |
| Best Protein Bar For Energy Metabolism & Support | GNC Total Lean Layered Protein Bar | Price: $11.99
Per Box Of 5: $2.39 |
Great ingredients and flavors with nice nutritional value. |
| Best Protein Bar For Tackling Cravings | Quest Nutrition Protein Bar | Price: $24.99
Per Box Of 12: $2.08 |
High in protein and little sugar while balancing other macros nicely. |
| Best Natural Protein Bar | RXBar | Price: $18.89
Per Box Of 12: $1.57 |
Good amount of protein and fiber with real and simple ingredients. |
| Best Non-Dairy Protein Bar | No Cow High Protein Bars | Price: $24.98
Per Box Of 12: $2.08 |
Great plant-based option that is high in protein and low in sugar. |
What To Consider Before Buying
Before buying your protein bar, there are some important factors to consider so you get the best product possible.
Calories
Protein bars should reflect your lifestyle and goals and should not be particularly high in calories. While some may be higher than you would like, if the added benefits outweigh this, consider strategically putting it in your routine to not hurt your gains.
Protein
It is called a protein bar for a reason and your protein source matters. You want to make sure your bar as ample amounts of protein to keep you full and aid in muscle growth and has as much protein as you would get in a meal. The right bar will have a great balance of macronutrients with a priority put on protein, regardless of source be it plant-based or whey protein isolate, for example.
Sugar
It is important that you enjoy your protein bar, however, if a company just adds sugar then it takes the point away from a protein bar. While you want to enjoy it, it shouldn’t just be a candy bar replacement with added sugar.
Added Ingredients
Made with whole food ingredients, your protein bar should have those added ingredients that work well for all your gains. Fiber and other digestive enzymes are also helpful to absorb these nutrients and not cause any discomfort. Not all protein bars will have this, but it is good to consider for the best tasting protein bars.
How We Choose
When choosing this list of the best protein bars, we wanted to focus on three things: reputability of the company, taste and effectiveness, and price. Each company should be working for you and the name of the brand matters. We look at those trusted companies who work tirelessly to product the best protein bars around. We also know your bar should taste good and be effective for keeping you full and working on producing more gains. These bars have both of those covered and you shouldn’t settle for anything less. We also know people look for vegan and non-vegan sources and we take that into consideration as well. Lastly, price matters. We know it can be expensive to find a good bar and these above are perfect for all your goals while still being affordable options.
FAQ Section
What is the best protein bar?
Transparent Labs UNCUT High Protein Energy Bars. These are delicious and nutritious for all of those health and fitness needs. A 2:1:1 ratio of carbs, protein, and fats ensures you have plenty of fuel to power those workouts and daily activities.
What makes a protein bar great?
Protein bars should offer the right balance of macronutrients with the highest amount being protein, either vegan sources or whey. Often times, protein bars will have a lot of fat and carbs that don’t match the amount of protein. They should also taste good and be effective in their goal of providing you with the best nutrients and ingredients so you progress with your goals.
Can protein bars be used as meal replacements?
Protein bars can be used as meal replacements but sparingly. It is always best to eat a whole food meal so you don’t miss out on any nutrients, or even looking to products designed for meal replacements is a great place to start as well.
When is it best to eat a protein bar?
Protein bars are great for many occasions. For your pre-workout or post-workout fuel, protein bars can really prove to be worth your while. On busy days, taking a protein bar on the go is a great option when looking to stay on your diet and eliminate the desire to snack.
On the whole, are protein bars healthy?
That is a tough question as it really depends on the bar. Protein bars can be healthy if they have the right balance of macronutrients and don’t contain artificial flavors, sweeteners, or sugar alcohols. Doing your research is the best way to determine if the bar of your choosing is a healthy option for you, as well as if it fits your dietary needs, for example those who are vegan.
Wrap Up
Protein bars should work for your benefit and your benefit only. While they should taste good, they should also provide for overall quality health benefits and it is possible to have both. These protein bars listed above are really great sources of protein, vegan and not, that taste good and will give you that boost to fuel a workout, recover from tough training, or offer a healthy snack during the day as you power through to the end.
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References
- Paddon-Jones, D.; et al. (2008). “Protein, weight management, and satiety”. (source)
- Pasiakos, S.; et al. (2015). “The effects of protein supplements on muscle mass, strength, and aerobic and anaerobic power in healthy adults: a systematic review”. (source)
- Clark, M.; et al. (2013). “The effect of fiber on satiety and food intake: a systematic review”. (source)