# Protein Bars Ranked: Nutrition Comparison of 20+ Brands
Not all protein bars are created equal. Some pack 20g of protein for 190 calories while others deliver the same protein with 350 calories and 20g of sugar — essentially candy bars with a protein label. We ranked 20+ popular brands by the only metric that matters for weight loss: protein per calorie.
How We Ranked These Bars
Each bar was scored on:
- Protein-per-calorie ratio (higher is better)
- Sugar content (lower is better)
- Fiber content (higher is better)
- Ingredient quality (fewer artificial ingredients is better)
All nutrition data is per bar at standard serving size.
Tier 1: Best Protein Bars (Top Picks)
These bars deliver the highest protein density with the lowest calorie cost.
1. Quest Bar
- Calories: 190 | Protein: 21g | Fat: 8g | Carbs: 21g | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 1g
- Protein ratio: 11.1g per 100 calories
- The gold standard for protein bars. The 14g fiber keeps you full, and 1g sugar means no blood sugar spike. Best flavors: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Birthday Cake.
2. Built Bar
- Calories: 130 | Protein: 17g | Fat: 3g | Carbs: 15g | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g
- Protein ratio: 13.1g per 100 calories
- Lowest calorie option with excellent protein density. Covered in real chocolate. Texture is more like a truffle than a typical bar.
3. ONE Bar
- Calories: 220 | Protein: 20g | Fat: 8g | Carbs: 23g | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 1g
- Protein ratio: 9.1g per 100 calories
- Tastes like actual candy. ONE Birthday Cake consistently wins blind taste tests. Higher calories than Quest but superior flavor for many people.
4. Barebells
- Calories: 200 | Protein: 20g | Fat: 8g | Carbs: 18g | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 1g
- Protein ratio: 10g per 100 calories
- Swedish brand with premium texture and taste. No added sugar. Salty Peanut and Caramel Cashew are standouts.
5. Think! (ThinkThin) High Protein Bar
- Calories: 230 | Protein: 20g | Fat: 8g | Carbs: 24g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0g
- Protein ratio: 8.7g per 100 calories
- Zero sugar and 20g protein, but low fiber means less satiety. Good for those who prioritize sugar content above all else.
Tier 2: Good Protein Bars (Solid Choices)
6. RXBAR
- Calories: 210 | Protein: 12g | Fat: 9g | Carbs: 23g | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 13g
- Protein ratio: 5.7g per 100 calories
- Clean ingredient list (egg whites, nuts, dates). Higher sugar from dates but all-natural. Best for whole-food purists.
7. KIND Protein Bar
- Calories: 250 | Protein: 12g | Fat: 17g | Carbs: 17g | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g
- Protein ratio: 4.8g per 100 calories
- More of a nut bar with added protein. High fat from almonds. Tastes great but calorie-dense for the protein you get.
8. Pure Protein Bar
- Calories: 200 | Protein: 20g | Fat: 5g | Carbs: 17g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g
- Protein ratio: 10g per 100 calories
- Budget-friendly ($1-1.50/bar). Slightly chalky texture but hard to beat on value. Available everywhere.
9. Kirkland Signature Protein Bar
- Calories: 190 | Protein: 21g | Fat: 7g | Carbs: 23g | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 1g
- Protein ratio: 11.1g per 100 calories
- Costco's Quest Bar clone at half the price. Nearly identical macros. If you have a Costco membership, this is the best value in protein bars.
10. Legion Protein Bar
- Calories: 220 | Protein: 20g | Fat: 10g | Carbs: 24g | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 3g
- Protein ratio: 9.1g per 100 calories
- All-natural ingredients, no artificial sweeteners. Higher price point but premium quality.
Tier 3: Average Protein Bars (Occasional Use)
11. Clif Builder's Bar
- Calories: 280 | Protein: 20g | Fat: 10g | Carbs: 30g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 18g
- Protein ratio: 7.1g per 100 calories
- 18g sugar is concerning. Tastes great but essentially a candy bar with protein powder. Better options exist.
12. Nature Valley Protein Bar
- Calories: 190 | Protein: 10g | Fat: 12g | Carbs: 15g | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g
- Protein ratio: 5.3g per 100 calories
- Only 10g protein doesn't justify the "protein bar" label. Fine as a snack bar, not a protein source.
13. Luna Protein Bar
- Calories: 170 | Protein: 12g | Fat: 5g | Carbs: 21g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g
- Protein ratio: 7.1g per 100 calories
- Lower calorie but high sugar and moderate protein. Decent taste.
14. Gatorade Whey Protein Bar
- Calories: 350 | Protein: 20g | Fat: 14g | Carbs: 42g | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 28g
- Protein ratio: 5.7g per 100 calories
- 28g sugar and 350 calories make this one of the worst options. Avoid for weight loss.
Tier 4: Avoid for Weight Loss
15. Clif Bar (Original)
- Calories: 250 | Protein: 10g | Fat: 5g | Carbs: 44g | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 21g
- Protein ratio: 4.0g per 100 calories
- Not a protein bar — it's an energy bar designed for endurance athletes. 21g sugar and only 10g protein.
16. Larabar
- Calories: 220 | Protein: 6g | Fat: 12g | Carbs: 25g | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 17g
- Protein ratio: 2.7g per 100 calories
- Made from dates and nuts. Clean ingredients but terrible protein density. It's a fruit-and-nut bar, not a protein bar.
17. NutriGrain Bar
- Calories: 130 | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Carbs: 25g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g
- Protein ratio: 1.5g per 100 calories
- 2g protein and 12g sugar. This is a dessert, not a snack.
18. Special K Protein Bar
- Calories: 180 | Protein: 12g | Fat: 6g | Carbs: 19g | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g
- Protein ratio: 6.7g per 100 calories
- Middle of the road. Better options available at the same price point.
Quick Comparison Table
| Bar | Calories | Protein | Sugar | Protein/100cal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built Bar | 130 | 17g | 4g | 13.1g |
| Quest | 190 | 21g | 1g | 11.1g |
| Kirkland | 190 | 21g | 1g | 11.1g |
| Pure Protein | 200 | 20g | 2g | 10.0g |
| Barebells | 200 | 20g | 1g | 10.0g |
| ONE Bar | 220 | 20g | 1g | 9.1g |
| Legion | 220 | 20g | 3g | 9.1g |
| Think! | 230 | 20g | 0g | 8.7g |
| Clif Builder's | 280 | 20g | 18g | 7.1g |
| RXBAR | 210 | 12g | 13g | 5.7g |
How to Choose the Right Protein Bar
For Weight Loss
Choose bars with 190-220 calories, 20g+ protein, and under 5g sugar. Quest, Built Bar, Kirkland, and Barebells are your best bets.
For Clean Ingredients
RXBAR, Legion, and Larabar use minimal, whole-food ingredients. RXBAR and Legion are the best combination of clean ingredients AND high protein.
For Taste
ONE Bar and Barebells consistently win taste competitions. Built Bar's chocolate coating makes it feel like a treat.
For Budget
Kirkland ($1.00/bar) and Pure Protein ($1.25/bar) deliver premium macros at budget prices.
Use our Macro Calculator to see where a protein bar fits into your daily targets, and track everything with Nutrify for automatic calorie and macro logging.
