Protein bars are a convenient, grab-and-go snack, perfect for busy days or a quick boost after a workout. But let’s be real—not all protein bars are created equal. Some taste like cardboard, others are packed with more sugar than actual protein, and a few might leave you wondering if you just ate a candy bar in disguise. With so many brands flooding the market, how do you know which ones are actually worth your money? Don’t worry—we’ve done the taste-testing (so you don’t have to). Keep reading to find out which protein bars truly deliver on both nutrition and flavor!
Along with a brief description of each bar and its features, we also created a ranking system based on the following criteria that will give the bar a score out of ten.
Taste: /10
Ratio of Calories to Grams of Protein: /10
Ingredients: /10
10.) No Cow: Blueberry Cobbler
This is the worst protein bar. No questions asked. This had bad flavor, bad texture, and bad taste. The only upside of these bars is that they have 20 grams of protein and are vegan if that is something that is important to you. However, according to The Guardian, “A wide range of No Cow protein bars are contaminated with lead and toxic “forever chemicals”, so it is best to stay away from these protein bars at all costs.
Taste: 1/10
Ingredients: 3/10
Ratio: 9/10
OVERALL SCORE: 4.5/10
9.) Cliff Bar: Chocolate Chip
Though Cliff Bars have been a staple in lunchboxes for years, they are actually one of the worst protein bar choices you can make. With 17 grams of sugar to only 10 grams of protein, you might as well just eat a chocolate chip cookie. Though the ingredients are organic, the amount of added sugars brings this to the bottom of the list. Though the flavor is pretty good, there are a lot of much better options.
Taste: 7/10
Ingredients: 6/10
Ratio: 2/10
OVERALL SCORE: 5/10
8.) Power Crunch: Chocolate Mint 
Even though this bar has upsides of a much better texture than other grainy protein bars, with only 13 grams of protein, and 7 grams of saturated fat, this is not the ideal protein bar. These protein bars are known for their delicious taste rather than their good macros or ingredients, so it depends on what is most important to you. If delicious taste is your priority, this is a fantastic option as this bar has an excellent wafer-like texture and comes in a variety of tasty flavors.
Taste: 9/10
Ingredients: 5/10
Ratio: 4/10
OVERALL SCORE: 6/10
7.) Fit Crunch: Mint Chocolate Chip
This bar is very tasty and has a great texture. However, the lengthy list of ingredients that we are unable to pronounce is concerning. Compared to the other bars on this list, this one definitely ranks as having some of the worst ingredients. But, this is a trade-off that some do not mind considering the excellent flavor of this bar.
Taste: 9.5/10
Ingredients: 3/10
Ratio: 5/10
OVERALL SCORE: 6/10
6.) Tru Bars: Oh Oh Cookie Dough
Tru Bars seem to be relatively hit or miss depending on the person. Their texture is extremely chewy, which can be nauseating for some (Sousa). As for the flavors, they claim to satisfy “your cookie-dough cravings with delicious and good-for-you plant-fueled ingredients.” While this bar does have pretty exceptional ingredients, we would definitely not agree that it will satisfy your cookie-dough cravings.
Taste: 6/10
Ingredients: 8/10
Ratio: 5/10
OVERALL SCORE: 6.5/10
5.) Rx Bars:
These are definitely a good choice if you are more health conscious, due to their all-natural and extremely limited list of ingredients (usually cashews, dates, egg whites, etc.). However, they are a lot less appealing taste-wise. The texture of these bars is also extremely chewy and sticky which does gross some people out. With 190 claories and 12 grams of protein, this is an alright ratio considering the exceptional list of ingredients. Still, we are unsure of if the taste of these is worth the amount of protein.
Taste: 5/10
Ingredients: 9.5/10
Ratio: 5/10
OVERALL SCORE: 6.5/10
4.) Pure Protein:
This is your typical protein bar. It has an okay protein bar taste and they have the typical not-so-great ingredients that can be found in protein bars such as sugar alcohols and low-quality fats. Though there are a lot of better options in terms of ingredients, this is an okay choice with 21 grams of protein and only 180 calories. It does taste a little dry, so I would not recommend this bar for the taste.
Taste: 6.5/10
Ingredients: 5/10
Ratio: 9/10
OVERALL SCORE: 7/10
3.) Barebells Bars; 
Though these bars have been described by some as “dense” they have been described by others as “delicious”. Not only are they delicious but they also have great macros! With 20 grams of protein and 200 calories, these are a great substitute for when you are craving something sweet but also want to get some protein in. The downside of these bars is once again- the ingredients. As like many of the other bars of these list, these bars achieve their delicious taste and low sugar content through questionable sugar alcohols. If you are okay with not so great ingredients but want a delicious treat, this is the bar for you!
Taste: 8/10
Ingredients: 5/10
Ratio: 8.5/10
OVERALL SCORE: 7/10
2.) IQ Bars
These bars are a great combination of clean ingredients and good macros! You can easily pronounce all of the ingredients and the main source of protein in this is clean plant protein which can be a lot better for a better option. With 170 calories and 12 grams of protein, this might not have the best ratio on this list but for the great ingredient list the tradeoff is worth it. The taste of these might not be like the candy bar Built and Barebell bars, it is still pretty delicious for being so healthy!
Taste: 7/10
Ingredients: 9/10
Ratio: 6/10
OVERALL SCORE: 7.5/10
1.) Built Bars: Fudge Brownie
These are some top-tier protein bars! With only 140 calories and 17 grams of protein, these have great macros and with a marshmallow/ candy bar texture they are a different texture from the typical dry and crumbly protein bar. This texture might not be for everyone so if you are not a fan of marshmallows this might not be the bar for you. Be warned this bar does have a lot of artificial ingredients and gut-inflammatory oils like palm kernel oil, which is why it is not higher on this list.
Taste: 8.5/10
Ingredients: 5/10
Ratio: 9.5/10
OVERALL SCORE: 7.5/10
Overall, Built Bars came out on top! Even with our rankings, you should pick the protein bar that works best for you!
