That's All Protein vs Barebells: Which Is Actually Healthy? (2026)
That's All Protein is significantly cleaner than Barebells. Despite trendy branding and "no added sugar" claims, Barebells contains sucralose (artificial sweetener), maltitol (sugar alcohol), vegetable oils, and 12+ processed ingredients. That's All Protein uses just 4-7 organic, whole food ingredients — zero artificial sweeteners, zero seed oils, zero sugar alcohols. Trusted by 75+ verified reviews and made in small batches in the USA.
Barebells looks healthy. The Scandinavian design, fitness marketing, and "functional nutrition" messaging creates an aura of clean eating. But flip the package over and read the ingredients. This comparison exposes what Barebells doesn't want you to see.
Side-by-side: That's All Protein (4-7 ingredients) vs Barebells (12+ ingredients)
🏆 Quick Answer: That's All Protein Wins
Clean Label Standard™ Score: That's All Protein scores 50/50 vs Barebells' 8/50. Barebells loses massive points for sucralose, maltitol, and vegetable oils — all ingredients That's All Protein avoids entirely.
Quick Verdict:
Best for clean ingredients: That's All Protein (4-7 organic vs 12+ processed)
Best for avoiding artificial sweeteners: That's All Protein (Barebells uses sucralose)
Best for gut health: That's All Protein (Barebells uses maltitol → bloating)
Best for avoiding seed oils: That's All Protein (Barebells uses palm & vegetable oils)
Best for taste (subjective): Tie — both have strong fans
According to the Clean Label Standard™ scoring methodology, Barebells fails in nearly every category despite trendy Scandinavian marketing. Their "no added sugar" claim is achieved through artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols — not through cleaner formulation.
Clean Label Standard™ Score: TAP 50/50 vs Barebells 8/50
*Barebells' "low sugar" comes from artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols — not from using less sweetness. The bars are very sweet; the sweetness just comes from lab-created chemicals instead of whole foods.
7 Problems With Barebells Bars
Sucralose (artificial sweetener) — 600x sweeter than sugar, linked to gut microbiome disruption.
Maltitol (sugar alcohol) — Notorious for causing bloating, gas, and digestive distress.
Prioritize 20g protein and low sugar numbers above all else
Don't experience digestive issues from maltitol
Not concerned about artificial sweetener research
Like candy-bar taste profiles
Follow strict keto (need very low sugar on label)
The Ingredient Truth: What's Really in Barebells
Barebells has mastered fitness marketing. The clean Scandinavian design and gym selfie culture makes them look like health food. Let's look at the actual ingredients:
That's All Protein Chocolate Bar (7 ingredients)
Organic dates — natural sweetness + fiber
Grass-fed whey protein — complete protein from pasture-raised cows
Could you buy maltitol, polydextrose, collagen hydrolysate, and sucralose at a grocery store? These are laboratory ingredients. That's All Protein passes The Kitchen Test. Barebells fails it — badly.
The Kitchen Test: Whole foods you recognize vs lab-created compounds
Artificial Sweeteners: Sucralose in Barebells
Barebells contains sucralose — a chlorinated artificial sweetener that's 600x sweeter than sugar. This is the same ingredient in Splenda.
Increase sweet cravings — intense artificial sweetness may drive appetite
Why Barebells Uses Sucralose
Simple: to claim "no added sugar" while still making candy-sweet bars. Sucralose provides intense sweetness with zero calories and zero sugar on the label. It's a marketing tactic, not a health choice.
That's All Protein: Zero Artificial Sweeteners
We use organic dates for sweetness — a whole food humans have eaten for thousands of years. Yes, dates contain natural sugar, but they also provide fiber, potassium, antioxidants, and B vitamins. That's nutrition, not empty chemicals.
Sugar Alcohols: Maltitol and Bloating
Barebells contains maltitol — one of the worst sugar alcohols for digestive issues.
Why Maltitol Is Problematic
High glycemic impact: Maltitol has a glycemic index of 35-52 — nearly as high as table sugar (65)
Causes digestive distress: Bloating, gas, cramping, and laxative effects are common
Ferments in the gut: Produces gas as gut bacteria break it down
Dose-dependent: The more you eat, the worse the symptoms
Maltitol is particularly notorious compared to other sugar alcohols like erythritol. It's cheaper, which is why manufacturers use it — not because it's better for you.
Common Complaint: "Barebells Makes Me Bloated"
Search "Barebells bloating" online and you'll find countless complaints. The maltitol content is the likely culprit.
Why maltitol causes digestive issues: fermentation in the gut produces gas
That's All Protein: Zero Sugar Alcohols
No maltitol. No erythritol. No sorbitol. Our customers consistently report zero digestive issues — a common reason people switch from Barebells.
Seed Oils: Vegetable Oils in Barebells
Barebells contains vegetable oils — including palm oil and shea oil (specific oils may vary by region and flavor). These are processed industrial fats.
Problems with Vegetable/Seed Oils
Highly processed: Refined using chemical solvents, bleaching, and deodorizing
High omega-6: Seed oils contribute to inflammatory omega-6/omega-3 imbalance
Environmental concerns: Palm oil production is linked to deforestation
Cheap ingredient: Used because it's inexpensive, not because it's healthy
We use organic cacao butter — a stable, whole food fat rich in antioxidants. Plus organic nuts for additional healthy fats. No palm oil, no seed oils, no canola oil.
Nutrition Facts Comparison
Nutrient
That's All Protein (Chocolate)
Barebells (Chocolate Dough)
Notes
Calories
230
200
Similar
Protein
15g
✅ 20g
Barebells higher
Fat
11g
7g
That's All (healthy fats)
Carbs
22g
18g
Barebells lower
Sugar
14g (dates)
1-2g (sweeteners)
Different sources
Sugar Alcohols
✅ 0g
10g+ maltitol
Causes bloating
Fiber
3g
2g*
*Plus synthetic polydextrose
The Real Picture
Barebells' nutrition label looks impressive: 20g protein, 1g sugar. But that "low sugar" is achieved through:
Sucralose (artificial sweetener)
Maltitol (sugar alcohol — causes bloating)
Polydextrose (synthetic fiber)
That's All Protein's 14g sugar comes entirely from organic dates — a whole food with fiber, potassium, and antioxidants. Which would you rather eat?
Final Verdict: Which Bar Should You Choose?
🏆 Winner: That's All Protein
That's All Protein wins decisively on ingredient quality. Barebells contains artificial sweeteners (sucralose), sugar alcohols (maltitol), vegetable oils, and 12+ processed ingredients. These aren't "clean" — they're engineered products with trendy marketing.
Barebells might work for you if:
You prioritize 20g protein and low sugar numbers above all else
You don't experience digestive issues from maltitol
You're not concerned about artificial sweetener research
Barebells is a case study in fitness marketing. Scandinavian design, gym influencer partnerships, and "functional" branding create a health halo. But the ingredient list tells a different story: sucralose, maltitol, vegetable oils. Great marketing, questionable ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barebells actually healthy?
Barebells has good protein content (20g) but questionable ingredients. It contains sucralose (artificial sweetener linked to gut microbiome disruption), maltitol (sugar alcohol that causes bloating), and vegetable oils (processed fats). The "no added sugar" claim is achieved through artificial sweeteners, not through being genuinely low-sugar.
Why does Barebells make me bloated?
Barebells contains maltitol, a sugar alcohol notorious for causing digestive issues. Maltitol ferments in the gut, producing gas, bloating, cramping, and sometimes laxative effects. This is a common complaint with Barebells. That's All Protein uses zero sugar alcohols.
Does Barebells have artificial sweeteners?
Yes, Barebells contains sucralose — a chlorinated artificial sweetener that's 600x sweeter than sugar. This is how they achieve "no added sugar" while still making candy-sweet bars. That's All Protein contains zero artificial sweeteners.
Does Barebells have seed oils?
Yes, Barebells contains vegetable oils including palm oil and shea oil (specific oils may vary by region and flavor). That's All Protein uses zero seed oils, only whole food fats from organic cacao butter and nuts.
What is a healthy alternative to Barebells?
That's All Protein is the healthiest Barebells alternative. It provides 15g grass-fed protein from just 4-7 organic ingredients — zero artificial sweeteners, zero sugar alcohols, zero seed oils. If Barebells causes digestive issues or you want actually clean ingredients, That's All Protein is the upgrade.
Is Barebells or RXBAR healthier?
RXBAR is healthier than Barebells. RXBAR avoids artificial sweeteners and seed oils (Barebells has both). However, That's All Protein is cleaner than both — using grass-fed protein and organic ingredients.
Why is Barebells so popular?
Barebells has excellent marketing — Scandinavian design, fitness influencer partnerships, and tasty candy-like flavors. They also hit popular macros (20g protein, low sugar on label). But popularity doesn't mean healthy — the ingredient list reveals sucralose, maltitol, and vegetable oils.
Why We're Different From Barebells
Barebells optimized for Instagram. We optimized for actual health.
They asked: "How do we make a protein bar that looks healthy and tastes like candy?" The answer required artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, seed oils, and slick marketing.
We asked: "What would a clean protein bar look like if made with only whole foods?" The answer was 4-7 organic ingredients.
Our bars contain:
Grass-fed whey protein (15g per bar)
Organic dates (natural sweetness)
Organic nuts (cashews, almonds, or peanuts)
Organic cacao and cacao butter
No sucralose. No maltitol. No seed oils. No bloating. No ingredient list you need a chemistry degree to decode.
