We Found the Best Protein Bars for On-the-Go Snacking

We love a quick and easy snack—and it doesn’t get much simpler than throwing a protein bar in your bag before heading out the door. The best protein bars do more than just hold you over until your next meal: They actually taste great (nothing chalky or too chewy, please) and have a solid amount of protein to keep you full.

We consulted registered dietitians with sports-nutrition expertise to find protein bars that are delicious and satiating, so you can focus on your health and workout goals (and not your empty, rumbling stomach).

• Best Overall: Promix Protein Puff Bars
• Runner-Up: Think! Protein Bars
• Best Texture: Barebells High Protein Bars
• Best Vegan: Aloha Organic Plant Based Protein Bars
• Best Chocolate-Based: Fulfil Protein Bars
• Best Savory: Pescavore Ahi Tuna Jerky Strip

Sweet, savory—there’s something for everyone.

• Sweet and tasty
• No sugar substitutes
• Fun, nostalgic texture

• On the pricey side
• May be a little too dry for some

Craving a sweet treat, but in need of a more substantial pick-me-up? “These are like protein-packed adult Rice Krispies bars—so, so good,” one SELF staffer says, referring to their look and texture. Other SELF team members agree: The snickerdoodle flavor in particular was a hit with almost every single editor (although we were also partial to matcha).

We love that they’re crispy-crunchy, made with real sugar, and about as fun to eat as a protein bar can be. Bonus: They don’t have a funky aftertaste and they’re truly craveable—we were fighting over the last few in the box before we knew it.

• High protein content
• Great taste
• Satisfying chewy texture

• Contains sugar substitutes

I’ve been a huge fan of Think! bars for years—they have a dense, chewy texture that I find super satisfying. (It also means these bars are less likely to fall apart at the bottom of my purse or gym bag—another big win, in my book.) My favorite flavor is a toss-up between white chocolate and lemon; both are just sweet enough to feel like a real treat after a workout or on a busy afternoon.

One SELF Pantry Awards tester, who described herself as “not a huge fan” of most protein bars, loved Think!’s mint chocolate flavor. She says these bars were “super convenient” and perfect “for a quick hunger fix while traveling or as part of a breakfast.”

They taste great and are actually satisfying—if you consider yourself a protein bar skeptic, they just might make a believer out of you too.

• Tastes delicious
• Crispy outside, chewy center
• High protein content

• Contains sugar substitutes

Barebells’s bars are another SELF staffer fave for their high protein content: The hazelnut and nougat flavor featured here contains 20 grams. The brand makes bars with whey- and plant-based protein sources (both of which feature a complete protein profile, meaning they contain the nine essential amino acids your body needs), so you can find a recipe that suits your preferences.

If you’re suffering from texture fatigue, most of Barebells’s flavors have a crispy coating that should liven up your bites. They also feature a dense, chewy middle, which I find majorly delicious. My favorite flavor is key lime pie (stay with me now): It has a bright, citrusy, curd-like layer; a sweet, crust-like layer; and a crunchy exterior—it totally tastes like the real thing.

• Not too sweet
• Tons of flavors to choose from
• Won’t crumble in your bag
• No unpleasant aftertaste
• Some bars also have a lot of fiber

• Some flavors contain monk fruit, which may not be for everyone

Aloha’s line comes highly recommended by Kelly Jones, MS, RD, CSSD, a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics and owner of Kelly Jones Nutrition, and multiple SELF staffers. In addition to its complete protein profile (thanks to multiple plant-based sources) and vegan-friendly recipe, Aloha wins points for taste and texture—Jones says her faves are the chocolate mint and chocolate espresso flavors.

I’m here to vouch for the vanilla almond crunch variety, which is not too sweet and features almonds as the first ingredient. SELF’s associate wellness director says Aloha checks her essential protein bar boxes too: They’re moist, chewy, and have “no weird aftertaste.”

One thing to note: Unlike a few of our other picks, Aloha bars also have an impressive amount of fiber (some flavors have 10 grams per bar).

• Sweet taste
• Good texture
• Satiating, according to SELF testers

• Contains sugar substitutes

Calling all chocolate lovers! Fulfil’s, well, filling protein bars won a SELF Pantry Award last year for their solid nutrient content and, of course, delicious taste. “With 15 grams of protein, these were a great in-between snack that kept me satiated and energized until my next meal,” one of our testers said. “I’m happy to have them in my pantry now for when I need a snack.”

All of the brand’s flavor combos involve chocolate in some way, so they’re a great option if you’re looking to add some extra protein to your day and make your sweet tooth happy at the same time.

• Great alternative to sweet bars
• Not too salty

• Pricey

If you eat animal-based proteins and want some savory options in the mix, don’t count out the humble meat stick. Kelly LeVeque, CN, a clinical nutritionist, tells SELF that jerky is a great alternative to protein bars, and Pescavore’s Ahi Tuna Jerky Strip is our current favorite.

After testing dozens of meat snacks during SELF’s Pantry Awards, we gave this one a top spot for its just-right level of seasoning. Plus, for those wary of snacking on something fishy, our tester noted that its aroma is nice and subtle.

While these bars didn’t make it into the winners’ circle, they still come highly recommended by experts and reviewers.

• High protein content
• Has more carbs to aid recovery

• Some reviewers notice an aftertaste

Jones tells SELF that she always has these high-protein bars from Clif in her pantry because they “offer 20 grams of complete plant protein to repair muscle, as well as carbohydrates to help replenish energy stores after a workout.” She adds that the chocolate peanut butter flavor is her favorite—we’re hungry just thinking about it.

• Not too pricey
• Nice texture

• Contains sugar substitutes

As its name suggests, Power Crunch’s Protein Wafer Bars have a unique texture compared to others on our list—they’re crispy and have a delightful snap when you bite into them.

“They are my go-to emergency snack, and they don’t taste like chalk,” one SELF tester says. In addition to looking and tasting like a cookie, they cost a little less than a lot of our other picks do (another win).

• Good mix of protein and carbs
• Distinct recipe and texture

• Some Amazon reviewers find them hard to chew

If you eat Skippy straight from the jar, this one’s for you: Honey Stinger’s Nut and Seed Bars have a nut butter core and a caramel coating that’s rolled in oats and seeds (which are also a great source of healthy fats like omega-3s). You get a nice crunch, followed by a delicious, gooey middle.

They’re one of Jones’s top picks because of their combined protein and carbohydrate content, which helps provide “steady energy levels” after working out, she says. Plus, she adds that you don’t have to worry about them melting, since they don’t contain chocolate: “They hold up well [if] stored in your car in the summer.” (Or if they wind up at the bottom of your tote and stay there for a week or two—just speaking from experience.)

• Nice, soft texture
• Good mix of protein and carbs

• Pricey
• Requires refrigeration for longer-term storage

One SELF tester calls these not only “incredibly satisfying” (they contain a nice amount of carbs) but flat-out “the best tasting protein bars.” At 16 grams of protein each, they’re a solid option for active people who need a more substantial midday snack.

One thing to keep in mind if you’re stocking up: They stay freshest in the refrigerator, although you can keep them at room temperature for about a week.

• Smooth texture
• Straightforward labeling and ingredients

• Date-based recipe may not be for everyone

One SELF tester says she was pleasantly surprised by the consistency of RX Bars the first time she tried them: ”I found them easier to eat [than other protein bars], since they didn’t crumble everywhere and weren’t that hard to chew.” She also appreciates that the packaging clearly lists all ingredients (usually under 10 total) and that their taste lines up with what’s stated on the wrapper.

• High protein content

• Contains sugar substitutes

Another SELF tester has long been a fan of One Protein bars: They contain plenty of protein and come in flavors that you won’t find from most other brands (hello, fruity cereal). The cinnamon roll variety is a particular hit among Amazon reviewers—one even said it tastes just like the real thing.

• Vegan
• Pleasantly soft texture

• Lowest protein content on this list
• Contains sugar substitutes

Jones recommends Orgain’s bars for people with moderate activity levels because they contain 10 grams of complete plant-based protein per serving—which can help support post-workout recovery but isn’t enough for highly active people.

They’re also a great choice for anyone who wants a lighter snack to enjoy between meals: “These are pretty compact, and they have a soft, chewy texture,” she says.

• Organic ingredients
• Contains carbs and fats for added energy

• Contains sugar substitutes

These tasty, chewy bars pack a lot of goodness into a tiny package, with 12 grams of protein and three grams of fiber per bar. They’re loved by vegans for their wide variety of delicious flavor combinations (we see you, salted caramel chocolate chip) and their texture, which feels a lot like a classic granola bar thanks to the addition of ingredients like oats, chocolate chips, dried fruit, and nut butter.

• High protein content
• Nice texture

• Contains sugar substitutes

A bar with 28 grams of protein that doesn’t taste like sawdust and feel like a brick? We’re listening.

These bars from David manage to pack a combination of whey, collagen, and egg white protein into only 150 calories, meaning 75% of the calories in this bar come from protein. Impressive!

The recipe doesn’t feature much in terms of carbs or fats, so this isn’t the best bar if you’re looking for more of a meal replacement or recovery snack with a more even balance of macronutrients. But with flavors like fudge brownie and cake batter and a soft, doughy texture, these are a yummy way to get more protein in your diet fast.

• High fiber content
• Dipped in dessert-like chocolate or frosting

• Contains sugar substitutes

These bars really said, “We can build muscle and make your microbiome happy at the same time, thank you very much.” They’re chock-full of fiber, with 14 (!) grams coming from soluble corn. On top of that, you get 20 grams of vegan protein, six grams of net carbs, and drool-worthy flavors like cinnamon roll and key lime pie.

We tapped registered dietitians and snack-savvy SELF staffers for their picks with the best ingredients, nutritional profiles, and flavors. We’ve tried dozens of protein bars, so we can speak to the taste, texture, and how filling they are firsthand.

With reporting from Sara Coughlin

Related:

• The 12 Best Protein Powders of 2025, According to Experts
• The Best Nutritionist-Approved Blenders for Smoothies, Salsas, and More
• Our Favorite Vegan Protein Powders to Keep You Full and Fueled All Day Long

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