Many of us have become pretty protein-obsessed recently, and like the best protein powders, bars have increased in variety and popularity. Offering an easy way to boost your intake of this key macronutrient, protein bars are great for busy schedules.
“Protein is important for keeping your body on top form,” Holland and Barrett nutritionist Emily Foster told The Independent. “It builds new cells, repairs old ones, fuels muscle growth and even provides energy. Whether you're smashing workouts, bouncing back from surgery or just aiming to stay strong and healthy, protein has your back.”
But not all protein bars are that healthy, despite their branding. Fitness coach and TV show host, Joe Wicks, attracted attention after creating a satirical “killer” protein bar for his Channel 4 documentary Joe Wicks: Licensed to Kill where he exposed how ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are disguised as health products by using 96 legal ingredients.
Sports nutritionist and author of The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition, Anita Bean agrees we should pay attention to what’s on the label. “Not all protein bars are created equal,” she says. “So it’s worth looking beyond the headline protein figure and paying attention to the ingredient list.”
She generally encourages people to get most of their protein from whole foods such as dairy products, eggs, fish, lean meat, soy foods, beans and lentils, adding: “In general, I favour bars made with recognisable ingredients and minimal unnecessary additives, and view them as an occasional convenience food rather than an everyday essential.”
With all that in mind, keep reading for a list of the best protein bars recommended by a nutritionist, and taste-tested by me.
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The best protein bars for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Pip & Nut dark chocolate peanut protein bar, 15-pack: £14.75, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for fibre – Bio & Me fibre + protein bar, 3-pack: £2.95, Hollandandbarrett.com
- Best organic – BodyMe lemon turmeric, 12-pack: £32, Bodyme.co.uk
- Best low-sugar protein bar – Form chocolate peanut protein bar, 12-pack: £29, Healf.com
- Best wholefood protein bar – Nakd caramel protein bar, 16-pack: £20.16, Hollandandbarrett.com
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Pip & Nut dark chocolate peanut protein bar, 15-pack
Rating: 5/5
Best: protein bar overall
Why we love it
- Delicious taste
- Plant-based ingredients
- B-Corp company
Take note
- If you're not a peanut butter fan, skip these
Crafted from peanuts, nut butter, oats and seeds, Pip and Nut bars offer 10g of plant-based protein per bar. If you’ve had a bad experience with chalky, bland protein bars before, these will completely change your opinion of the snack – they are that tasty. The peanut butter is soft and has a hint of salt, while the soya protein crispies add that sought-after crunch. Don’t expect a super rich dark chocolate taste, but Pip & Nut is part of Tony Chocolonely’s traceable Open Chain which has a mission to end exploitation in cocoa. If you’re not a peanut butter fan, however, this isn’t the bar for you.
I asked an expert to give us some insight into this bar’s all-important ingredients list. “Although soy protein is used to increase the protein content, the focus on nuts and other familiar ingredients gives this option a more food-based feel than many traditional protein bars,” says Bean.
Key specifications
Buy now £14.75, Amazon.co.uk
Bio & Me fibre + protein bar, 3-pack
Rating: 4.5/5
Best: bar for protein and fibre
Why we love it
- Small ingredient list
- High fibre (7.6g per bar)
Take note
- A little dry
If you’re looking for a gut health-oriented protein bar, this one from Bio & Me contains 10 different plant ingredients. The ingredients list includes oats, nuts, seeds, dates and seaweed, to add 19g of fibre (per 100g), as well as a boost of protein.
“While each ingredient is present in relatively small amounts, together they contribute to the bar’s fibre and plant diversity, which are important for supporting a healthy gut microbiome,” says Bean. “Providing protein from soya alongside a range of plant foods, they offer a more rounded nutritional profile than many conventional protein bars.”
The cocoa bars were my favourite for their rich chocolate flavour and lovely crunch. While they are a little dry, they are light and easy to eat.
Key specifications
Buy now £2.95, Hollandandbarrett.com
BodyMe lemon turmeric, 12-pack
Rating: 4.5/5
Best: organic protein bar
Why we love it
- Made from organic whole foods
- Range of interesting flavours
Take note
- Expensive
“Made with organic plant-based ingredients and free from artificial sweeteners, this is one of the more minimally-processed protein bars available,” says Bean. “A good choice if you’re looking for a convenient protein snack with a short, recognisable ingredient list.”
I’m impressed that BodyMe has made a protein bar with an organic ingredients list (bar the sea salt). With flavours like chia vanilla, cacao mint, and lemon turmeric, the bars are just as adventurous (if not more) taste-wise as competitors. The lemon turmeric, while not the most appetising in appearance, has a warming turmeric and bright lemon taste and a soft texture. Packed-full of wholefood components, the bar has an impressive 16g of protein and only contains naturally-occurring sugar.
Key ingredients
Buy now £32, Bodyme.co.uk
Form chocolate peanut protein bar, 12-pack
Rating: 4.5/5
Best: low-sugar protein bar
Why we love it
- Low sugar and carb
- High fibre (12g per bar)
- Aesthetic packaging
Take note
- A little dry
B-Corp certified From is best known for its plant-based protein powders, but the protein bars are getting some attention now too. The most stylish bar by far, I tested the Form chocolate peanut protein bar – which provides 15g of plant-based protein (pea and pumpkin seed proteins) and comes recommended by Bean. “Although they contain a small number of additional ingredients to enhance texture and flavour, they are a convenient plant based option for those looking to boost their protein intake on the go,” the expert noted.
Wrapped up in minimalist matte packaging, the chocolate peanut protein bar is something to be desired. It's very chocolatey so it feels more like a dessert than a protein snack. With the crunchy peanut pieces and crack of the smooth chocolate topping, the texture is satisfying but a little dry. If you’re looking for a low-sugar, low-carb plant based option, this one ticks both boxes with just 1g and 7g per bar respectively.
Key specifications
Buy now £26.1, Healf.com
Nakd caramel protein bar, 16-pack
Rating: 4.5/5
Best: wholefoods protein bar
Why we love it
- Only contains wholefoods
- Good taste and texture
Take note
- Less protein than other bars
Like the name suggests, these bars contain simple wholefoods like dates, peanuts, almonds and cocoa which Bean says gives “a nutritional profile that is closer to a whole-food snack than a traditional protein bar.” She adds: “Although they contain less protein than some of the other bars featured here, they offer a straightforward and minimally processed option.”
I enjoyed snacking on the caramel bar which is a gooey bar with plenty of crunch. There’s a warm flavour from the dates and delicious peanut taste – and the recognisable ingredients are a big win.
Key specifcations
Buy now £20.16, Hollandandbarrett.com
Pulsin chocolate and orange bar, 18-pack
Rating: 4/5
Best: low-carb protein bar
Why we love it
- Low carb
- Great taste
Take note
- Dry texture
Nutritionist Anita Bean recommends the Pulsin protein bars as “their combination of protein and fibre can help make them a satisfying snack, particularly for those following a vegan or plant-based diet.”
I tested the chocolate and orange bar, which has 13g of plant-based protein and rich flavour that’s not artificial-tasting at all. The peanuts and chocolate chips add a great crunch, but overall I found the texture to be on the drier side. Where the bar excels is for those following a ketogenic diet as they include MCT oil which can help your body make ketones – an energy source for your brain if you’re not eating carbs.
Key specifications
Buy now £38.88, Hollandandbarrett.com
Kind protein dark chocolate nut bar, 12-pack
Rating: 4/5
Best: nutty protein bar
Why we love it
- Simple ingredient list
- Decent fibre content (3g per bar)
- Satisfying texture
Take note
- Includes palm kernel oil
The ever-popular Kind is known for its nut-forward offerings, which are recommended by Bean as their “recognisable ingredient list makes them a satisfying, less-processed alternative to many conventional protein bars.”
Containing 12g of protein, the Kind protein dark chocolate nut bar is deliciously crunchy and satisfying with its blend of peanuts, almonds and dark chocolate. The dark chocolate is quite sweet so if you’re not a fan of bitter chocolate, don’t let that put you off. The bar is also pretty high in fibre which is a big tick, and while soy protein isolate is used there’s no chalky texture here.
Key specifications
Buy now £29.89, Amazon.co.uk
Trek protein flapjacks cocoa oat, 16-pack
Rating: 3.5/5
Best: protein bar for hiking
Why we love it
- Higher carb is great for fuelling and recovery
- Decent fibre content (2g per bar)
Take note
- Higher in sugar than other bars in this list
- Contains palm oil
“With a base of oats, dates and pea protein, Trek bars rely more on whole-food ingredients than many mainstream protein bars,” says Bean as she recommends the bar. “They provide a convenient source of protein and energy for busy, active lifestyles.”
If you like snacking on flapjacks, swapping to this one from Trek gives you 9g of protein per bar and they are still tasty. The carbs from the oats would work well for those needing an energy boost on long hikes or runs. For me the bar is a little too sweet, and it does contain more sugar than other bars (28g compared to 17g in Kind’s for example) which is worth noting.
Key specifications
Buy now £19.19, Hollandandbarrett.com
Veloforte cocoa & stem ginger high protein crunch bar, 14-pack
Rating: 4/5
Best: high protein bar
Why we love it
- High protein
- Satiating
- 5g collagen
Take note
- Contains bovine collagen so not suitable for vegetarians or vegans
If you’re after a bar that’s high in protein without filler ingredients, Veloforte’s crunch bar is one of the best. It comes recommended by Bean for its high-protein content, who notes: “The inclusion of collagen helps raise the overall protein content, although collagen is not a complete protein and the bars are not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.”
My favourite is the cocoa and stem ginger flavour as I enjoyed the lovely heat provided by the ginger. The ingredient list is also jam-packed with healthy ingredients, including almond paste, dates and ginger, and I found the bar very satiating. My only criticism is the texture from the soy protein crisps isn’t as crunchy as described – it tastes a little stale.
Key specifications
Buy now £37.99, Amazon.co.uk
What is the best protein bar?
All of these protein bars are recommended by a nutritionist, so they are great options to choose over those with artificial (and often unrecognisable) ingredients. My tests proved that plant-based doesn’t mean bland as so many of these bars taste great. I’d praise BodyMe’s flavour range, Form’s chocolate peanut protein bar for crunch and Nakd caramel protein bar for texture. For those also prioritising fibre, Bio & Me’s fibre + protein bar is a great option, but I couldn’t get enough of Pip & Nut dark chocolate peanut protein bar which won me over with its taste.
How I tested
As much as I would like to, I don’t have a lab handy to assess every protein bar that crosses my desk. What I do have is expert nutritionists on speed dial and a palate that has more than a decade of protein bar-tasting experience under its belt. I’ve used these attributes to assess the protein bars below based on:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Alice Reynolds is a writer at IndyBest. She’s passionate about fitness, particularly running, the gym and Pilates, so enjoys choosing protein bars over other snacks to fuel her workouts. When it come to reviewing each, she considered each product in real-world testing environment and consulted nutritionist Anita Bean for expert recommendations. Alice has previously tested the best creatine supplements and found the best activewear brands for women.
Want more inspiration? Read our review of the best vegan protein powders
