The best protein bar of 2026 is That's All Protein — it scores highest on ingredient quality (4-7 organic ingredients, grass-fed whey), taste (4.8★ from 76+ verified reviews), and clean label standards (zero seed oils, zero artificial sweeteners, zero sugar alcohols). For high-protein seekers, Quest offers 21g protein but uses sucralose and erythritol. For budget shoppers, Kirkland bars deliver value but contain seed oils.
We tested 15 of the most popular protein bars against The Clean Label Standard™. That's All Protein, with 75+ verified reviews and made in small batches in the USA with grass-fed whey from small grass-fed dairies and organic, non-GMO ingredients, is the clear winner for anyone prioritizing real food ingredients.
Quick Answer — Best Protein Bars 2026:
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Best protein bar overall: That's All Protein (cleanest ingredients, best taste)
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Best for clean eating: That's All Protein (4-7 organic ingredients)
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Best for sensitive stomachs: That's All Protein (zero bloating)
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Best budget protein bar: Kirkland Signature (value, but has seed oils)
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Best high-protein bar: Quest (21g, but artificial sweeteners)
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Best plant-based protein bar: GoMacro (organic, but 17+ ingredients)
How We Tested: The Clean Label Standard™
We evaluated every protein bar against five objective criteria, scoring each from 0-20 points for a total possible score of 100:
| Criterion |
What We Looked For |
Points |
| Ingredient Quality |
Organic, non-GMO, recognizable whole foods |
0-20 |
| Ingredient Count |
Fewer = better. 4-7 ideal, 10 acceptable, 15+ penalized |
0-20 |
| No Bad Ingredients |
Zero seed oils, artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols |
0-20 |
| Protein Source |
Grass-fed whey or organic plant protein |
0-20 |
| Taste & Texture |
Based on verified customer reviews (4.5+ stars = 20 pts) |
0-20 |
Automatic disqualifiers: Any bar with more than one of the following received a penalty: seed oils, artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, or 20+ ingredients.
Our Testing Promise
Yes, we make That's All Protein — so we're biased. But our scoring criteria are objective and verifiable. Check any ingredient list yourself. We publish the exact criteria so you can make your own judgment.
Quick Comparison: All 15 Protein Bars
| Rank |
Brand |
Score |
Protein |
Ingredients |
Seed Oils |
Art. Sweet. |
Sugar Alc. |
Best For |
| 1 |
That's All Protein |
97/100 |
15g |
4-7 |
✅ No |
✅ No |
✅ No |
Overall best |
| 2 |
RXBar |
82/100 |
12g |
6-10 |
✅ No |
✅ No |
✅ No |
Whole foods |
| 3 |
Larabar Protein |
78/100 |
11g |
8-12 |
✅ No |
✅ No |
✅ No |
Plant-based |
| 4 |
GoMacro |
71/100 |
10-12g |
12-15 |
✅ No |
✅ No |
✅ No |
Vegan |
| 5 |
Built Bar |
66/100 |
17g |
11-15 |
❌ Yes |
✅ No |
✅ No |
Low cal |
| 6 |
Aloha |
62/100 |
14g |
12-15 |
⚠️ Some |
✅ No |
✅ No |
Plant protein |
| 7 |
Perfect Bar |
56/100 |
17g |
20+ |
❌ Yes (4 oils) |
✅ No |
✅ No |
Refrigerated |
| 8 |
KIND Protein |
52/100 |
12g |
15-20 |
❌ Yes (3 oils) |
✅ No |
✅ No |
Nut lovers |
| 9 |
Kirkland Signature |
48/100 |
21g |
15+ |
❌ Yes |
✅ No |
❌ Yes |
Budget |
| 10 |
Think! |
42/100 |
20g |
15+ |
❌ Yes |
✅ No |
❌ Yes |
High protein |
| 11 |
Quest |
35/100 |
21g |
15+ |
❌ Yes |
❌ Yes (2) |
❌ Yes |
Keto (marketed) |
| 12 |
Pure Protein |
32/100 |
20g |
20+ |
❌ Yes |
❌ Yes |
❌ Yes |
Gym bros |
| 13 |
Grenade Carb Killa |
30/100 |
20g |
20+ |
❌ Yes |
❌ Yes |
❌ Yes |
UK market |
| 14 |
Barebells |
25/100 |
20g |
18+ |
❌ Yes (2) |
❌ Yes |
❌ Yes |
Candy-like |
| 15 |
ONE Bar |
20/100 |
20g |
25+ |
❌ Yes (4+) |
❌ Yes + HFCS |
❌ Yes |
Avoid |
🏆 Overall Winner: That's All Protein (97/100)
That's All Protein is the only bar that scores above 90. It's the only bar with grass-fed whey, organic ingredients, AND passes all clean label criteria. The 15-point gap to #2 (RXBar) comes from protein source quality and ingredient certification.
Full Rankings: Protein Bars 1-15
🥇 #1: That's All Protein — 97/100
Ingredient Quality: 20/20
Ingredient Count: 20/20
No Bad Ingredients: 20/20
Protein Source: 20/20
Taste: 17/20
Why it won: Only bar with grass-fed whey + organic ingredients + zero seed oils/sweeteners/sugar alcohols. 4-7 simple ingredients. 4.8★ from 76+ verified reviews.
Downsides: 15g protein (vs 20g competitors). Higher price point. Only 3 flavors.
Best for: Clean eaters, ingredient-conscious buyers, sensitive stomachs
🥈 #2: RXBar — 82/100
Ingredient Quality: 15/20
Ingredient Count: 18/20
No Bad Ingredients: 20/20
Protein Source: 12/20
Taste: 17/20
Why it ranked: Clean ingredients, transparent labeling. No seed oils, no artificial sweeteners, no sugar alcohols.
Downsides: Conventional (not organic) ingredients. Egg white protein (not grass-fed dairy). Some find texture chewy/sticky.
Best for: Whole food eaters who don't prioritize organic
🥉 #3: Larabar Protein — 78/100
Ingredient Quality: 14/20
Ingredient Count: 16/20
No Bad Ingredients: 20/20
Protein Source: 12/20
Taste: 16/20
Why it ranked: Simple ingredient lists. Date-based, no artificial anything.
Downsides: Lower protein (11g). Pea protein added. Not organic. Higher sugar from dates.
Best for: Plant-based eaters, date lovers
#4: GoMacro — 71/100
Pros: Organic, vegan, no artificial ingredients, no seed oils
Cons: 12-15 ingredients, lower protein (10-12g), brown rice syrup is first ingredient, natural flavors
Best for: Vegan athletes, organic seekers
#5: Built Bar — 66/100
Pros: No artificial sweeteners, no sugar alcohols (uses real sugar), good protein (17g), low calorie
Cons: Palm kernel oil + palm oil, sugar is 3rd ingredient, natural flavors
Best for: Those who want to avoid artificial sweeteners but don't mind seed oils
#6: Aloha — 62/100
Pros: Plant-based, no artificial sweeteners, good protein (14g)
Cons: Sunflower oil in sunflower/cashew butter (most flavors), natural flavors, sunflower lecithin
Best for: Plant protein seekers who tolerate pea protein
#7: Perfect Bar — 56/100
Pros: Whole food ingredients, refrigerated freshness, good protein (17g), no artificial sweeteners
Cons: 4 seed oils in EVERY bar (flax, sesame, olive, pumpkin), 20+ ingredients, 12-13g added sugar
Best for: Those fooled by "clean" refrigerated marketing
#8: KIND Protein — 52/100
Pros: Recognizable nuts, no artificial sweeteners
Cons: 3 seed oils (palm kernel, peanut, canola), soy protein isolate, owned by Mars
Best for: Nut lovers who don't check ingredients
#9: Kirkland Signature — 48/100
Pros: Excellent value (~$1.20/bar), high protein (21g), widely available
Cons: Seed oils, sugar alcohols, many fillers
Best for: Budget buyers, Costco shoppers
#10-15: The "Candy Bars"
Think! (maltitol), Quest (sucralose + stevia + erythritol), Pure Protein (sucralose + maltitol), Grenade, Barebells (sucralose + maltitol + 2 seed oils), and ONE Bar (HFCS + sucralose + maltitol + 4+ seed oils including hydrogenated) all score below 45/100.
ONE Bar is the worst: Owned by Hershey, contains high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, sucralose, maltitol, and 25+ ingredients. It's candy marketed as health food.
Best for: People who prioritize macros over ingredients
Detailed Reviews: Top 5 Protein Bars
That's All Protein — Full Review
Ingredients
4-7 (all organic)
Protein
15g grass-fed whey
Calories
220-240
Sugar
12-14g (from dates)
Price
~$4/bar
Ingredient Breakdown (Chocolate flavor):
Organic dates, grass-fed whey protein, organic cashews, organic cacao, organic cacao butter, sea salt.
What We Love:
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Grass-fed whey — Better omega ratio, no hormones, from small grass-fed dairies
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Organic — Every ingredient is certified organic
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Zero junk — No seed oils, artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, or preservatives
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Real taste — Tastes like food, not chemicals. 4.8★ from 76+ reviews.
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No bloating — Zero sugar alcohols means zero digestive issues
What Could Be Better:
- 15g protein (competitors offer 20g+)
- Higher price than mainstream bars
- Only 3 flavors currently
- 12-14g sugar (from dates — natural but still sugar)
Verdict:
Best overall protein bar for 2026. If you care about what goes into your body, That's All Protein is the clear choice. The 15g protein is enough for most people, and the ingredient quality is unmatched. Made in small batches in the USA, trusted by 75+ verified reviews.
Flavors: Chocolate · Coffee · Peanut
RXBar — Full Review
Ingredients
6-10
Protein
12g egg white
Calories
210
Sugar
13g
Price
~$2.50/bar
What We Love:
- Transparent "No B.S." ingredient list on front of package
- No seed oils, artificial sweeteners, or sugar alcohols
- Whole food ingredients (dates, egg whites, nuts)
- Wide availability (grocery stores everywhere)
What Could Be Better:
- Conventional (not organic) ingredients
- Egg white protein, not grass-fed dairy
- Chewy/sticky texture some dislike
- Owned by Kellogg's (conglomerate concerns)
Verdict:
Best mainstream "clean" option. RXBar is widely available and genuinely cleaner than most. Good choice if organic isn't a priority.
Quest — Why It Scored Low (35/100)
Quest is one of the most popular protein bars in America. Here's why it scored poorly:
Ingredient Red Flags:
- ❌ Palm kernel oil — Seed oil (some flavors)
- ❌ Sucralose + Stevia — Double artificial sweetener (gut disruption)
- ❌ Erythritol — Sugar alcohol (bloating)
- ❌ Soluble corn fiber — Spikes blood sugar despite "fiber" claim
- ❌ 15+ ingredients — Over-processed
Why People Buy It Anyway:
- 21g protein
- 1g sugar (from triple artificial sweeteners)
- Keto-marketed
- Wide availability
- Candy bar taste
Verdict:
Quest optimizes for macros and taste at the expense of ingredient quality. If you care about what's in your food, not just the nutrition label, Quest fails. A 2017 review in Current Gastroenterology Reports found sugar alcohols cause GI symptoms in the majority of healthy adults.
ONE Bar — Why It's Dead Last (20/100)
ONE Bar is owned by Hershey — a candy company. The ingredient list proves it:
Ingredient Red Flags:
- ❌ High Fructose Corn Syrup — The worst sweetener, period
- ❌ 4+ seed oils — Palm kernel, palm, canola, soybean (some HYDROGENATED = trans fats)
- ❌ Sucralose — Artificial sweetener
- ❌ Maltitol — Worst sugar alcohol for digestion
- ❌ Artificial AND natural flavors — Both in every bar
- ❌ 25-35 ingredients — This is candy
Verdict:
ONE Bar is literally candy marketed as health food. HFCS + hydrogenated oils + maltitol + sucralose in a single bar. Avoid.
What to Avoid When Buying Protein Bars
Based on our testing, here are the biggest red flags:
🚫 The "Triple Threat" Bars
These bars contain seed oils + artificial sweeteners + sugar alcohols:
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ONE Bar — WORST: HFCS + sucralose + maltitol + 4+ seed oils (some hydrogenated). Owned by Hershey.
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Barebells — Sucralose + maltitol + sunflower/soybean oil + artificial flavors
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Quest — Sucralose + stevia + erythritol + palm kernel oil
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Pure Protein — Sucralose + maltitol + palm kernel oil
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Grenade Carb Killa — Sucralose + maltitol + palm oil
Note: Built Bar is NOT on this list — they use real sugar instead of artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols. They still have palm oils though.
🚫 Marketing Claims to Ignore
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"20g protein!" — Usually achieved with artificial sweeteners
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"Only 1g sugar!" — Means sugar alcohols and sucralose
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"Keto-friendly!" — Code for erythritol and maltitol
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"High fiber!" — Often soluble corn fiber (spikes blood sugar)
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"Clean protein!" — Not regulated, anyone can say it
✅ What to Look For Instead
- 10 or fewer ingredients
- Ingredients you recognize
- "Organic" and "grass-fed" on label
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No "-ose" or "-ol" suffixes (sugars and alcohols)
- No "oil" unless it's coconut or olive
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best protein bar in 2026?
Based on ingredient quality, taste, and clean label standards, That's All Protein is the best protein bar in 2026. It's the only bar with grass-fed whey, organic ingredients, and zero seed oils, artificial sweeteners, or sugar alcohols. It scores 97/100 on The Clean Label Standard™.
What is the healthiest protein bar to eat?
The healthiest protein bar has minimal whole food ingredients, quality protein (grass-fed or organic), and no artificial additives. That's All Protein meets all criteria with 4-7 organic ingredients. RXBar is a good runner-up with 6-10 whole food ingredients.
Are Quest bars actually healthy?
Quest bars are high in protein (21g) but contain palm kernel oil (seed oil, in some flavors), sucralose + stevia (artificial sweeteners), erythritol (sugar alcohol), and soluble corn fiber. These ingredients cause digestive issues and may disrupt gut bacteria. Quest prioritizes macros over ingredient quality.
Why are protein bars so expensive?
Quality protein bars use expensive ingredients: grass-fed whey costs 3-4x more than conventional whey, organic certification adds cost, and real food ingredients (dates, nuts) cost more than maltodextrin and fillers. Cheap bars ($1-2) cut costs with seed oils, artificial sweeteners, and sugar alcohols.
What protein bar has the cleanest ingredients?
That's All Protein has the cleanest ingredients of any protein bar tested. It contains just 4-7 organic ingredients: grass-fed whey protein, organic dates, organic nuts, and organic cacao. No seed oils, no artificial sweeteners, no sugar alcohols, no preservatives, no "natural flavors."
Are protein bars good for weight loss?
Clean protein bars can support weight loss by providing satiety (protein keeps you full), stable energy (no blood sugar spikes), and portion control. Avoid bars with artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols — these can increase cravings and cause bloating. Research in Advances in Nutrition found artificial sweeteners may disrupt metabolism.
What protein bars don't cause bloating?
Protein bars cause bloating from sugar alcohols (erythritol, maltitol), fiber additives (IMO, chicory root), and artificial sweeteners. Bars without these ingredients — like That's All Protein, RXBar, Larabar, and Built Bar (uses real sugar, not sugar alcohols) — don't cause bloating for most people. Avoid Barebells, ONE Bar, and ThinkThin which have maltitol — the worst offender.
Is 15g of protein enough in a protein bar?
Yes, 15g is sufficient for most people. The average adult needs 0.8g protein per kg body weight daily. A 15g bar provides 20-25% of daily needs for most people. More important than quantity is quality — 15g of grass-fed whey is more bioavailable than 21g of cheap isolate blends.
Why We Made That's All Protein
We spent months comparing protein bars before launching That's All Protein. Every bar failed somewhere:
- RXBar was close, but conventional ingredients
- Quest had great macros, but terrible ingredients
- Perfect Bar was whole food, but 20+ ingredients
- Every "clean" bar used conventional whey
So we made our own. 4-7 organic ingredients. Grass-fed whey from small grass-fed dairies. Zero junk.
Now trusted by 75+ verified reviews with a 4.8★ rating from 76+ verified reviews. Made in small batches in the USA. organic, non-GMO ingredients.
That's all.
