The Best Vegan Protein Bars: Tested and Tasty
Publushed by:
Lorraine PinnixLast updated:
March 3, 2022
BEST OVERALL
GoMacro Macro Bar
Non-GMO
Delicious
Gluten-free
CHECK LATEST PRICE
RUNNER UP
Aloha Plant Based
Low in sugar
Low-carb
Paleo
CHECK LATEST PRICE
BEST FOR BUDGET
NuGo Chocolate Pretzel
Healthy contents
Cheap
Best for traveling
CHECK LATEST PRICE
Energy bars have become a staple for active Americans, and the days of dry and tasteless products have thankfully come and gone. However, finding plant-based and vegan protein bar brands that actually deliver something worthy of our tastebuds is a whole new challenge.
What’s in a vegan protein bar? A vegan protein bar can include all kinds of ingredients like nuts and nut butter, plant-based protein powder, almond milk, chia seeds, dried fruit, and oats. As it doesn’t contain any animal products, they’re usually better for your GI tract and without any of the guilt.
If you’re all about that plant-based life but still want a convenient and healthy snack while you’re on the trails, there are some great options out there. We’ve reviewed them all, the good and bad, to come up with an ultimate list of the best-tasting vegan protein bars that you’ll truly enjoy.
Vegan protein bars have come a long way, and today, they’re enjoyable, nutritious, and convenient. If you’re looking for the best vegan protein bar to snack on when you’re in need of a boost, we’ve rated our five favorites so you can see what they’re all about.
Best Overall: GoMacro Macro Bar
Short summary
The organic blueberry and creamy cashew butter Macro Bar from GoMacrois a plant-based protein bar that features 280 calories and 11g of protein in every serve. The 12 pack of bars features 2.3oz bars, all of the same flavor, and promises to be one of the better-tasting protein bars on the market.
GoMacro’s Macro Bar is delicious cashew butter and blueberry sensation, designed to give you everything you need in a compact, convenient package. With a plant-based protein content of 10g in each bar and other goodness like fiber and healthy fats, you’ll feel satisfied after each one.
Customers were thrilled to find that these bars actually tasted delicious as well, which makes them a standout.
As the best vegan soy-free protein bar, you can ensure you’re only getting clean ingredients. According to GoMacro, their bars aren’t just soy-free but also certified organic, non-GMO, kosher, C.L.E.A.N, R.A.W, and gluten-free.
However, if you’re looking for the best zero sugar vegan protein bar you won’t find it here, as it has about 11g of added sugars in its ingredient list.
These bars are easy on the stomach, which people loved, and it’s an easy snack to take on the trails or a long bike ride. The small size of 2.3oz makes them compact enough to fit in your pocket and you’ll get around 280 calories from each one.
If you’re looking for a truly vegan, organic protein bar and want to enjoy the taste as well, GoMacro’s Macro Bar is our favorite find.
Quick Facts
- Quantity: 12
- Flavors: Blueberry and cashew butter
- Protein Content: 10g
Pros
- The flavor of this, and the rest of the range from GoMacro, is delicious and unlike other protein bars you’ve tried in the past.
- There’s nothing nasty in this and it meets a range of certifications so you’re guaranteed to get something good.
- Those who had eaten it found no GI upset, unlike dairy-based protein bars that can cause stomach issues.
- With 280 calories per serve, it's the perfect meal replacement that can help you boost your daily intake if you need it.
- The price per count is slightly cheaper than other vegan protein bars, with further savings for the more you buy in bulk.
Cons
- This isn’t a low sugar vegan protein bar, so if you’re watching your added sugar intake, it won’t be a good fit.
- The ingredients show a few grams less protein when compared to other highly rated vegan options.
Runner-Up: Aloha Plant Based
Short summary
Aloha’s 12 pack of plant-based protein bars offer three different flavors to try. Each bar weighs 1.9oz and features between 220 and 260 calories, with each of them being low carb, low sugar, paleo-friendly, organic, and plant-based.
The best vegan high protein bars on our list come from Aloha and their 12 pack of bars, featuring three different flavors in each. These bars contain a whopping 14g of protein in each and you’re looking for a way to boost your daily protein intake, they can help.
The nutritional profile states that they have between 220 and 260 calories in each bar, depending on the flavor, so it’s a quick way to get some calories as well.
Although there were three flavors on offer in this 12-pack, the presence of chocolate in each of them means the variety didn’t seem as noticeable.
However, they’re a lot lower in sugar than other bars and come with a stack of other certifications, including being low carb, paleo, and organic, so you don’t have to second guess what you’re eating. They’re packaged in a smaller size than most, at around 1.9oz per bar, but still loaded with all of the stuff that you need for plant-based protein on the go.
Aloha makes it easy to see what’s contained in their bars, including nutritional information for vitamin D, iron, and calcium, plus the rest. They cost a little more than most when you look at the price per bar, but there’s no skimping on quality.
If you’d like a little variety with low sugar but still want to enjoy one of the best tasting vegan protein bar options, we recommend this 12-pack of Aloha’s Plant-Based Protein Bars.
Quick Facts
- Quantity: 12
- Flavors: Coconut Chocolate Almond, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and Chocolate Fudge Brownie
- Protein Content: 14g
Pros
- You get three different flavors in every box so you can try a few before deciding on your favorite.
- With 14g of protein in each bar, these are some of the highest protein content we’ve found.
- There isn’t as much added sugar as other plant-based protein bars, with the bar flavor with the highest count containing just 5g.
- The small size and high calorie count make them a smart choice for traveling or exercising.
- It's easy to see exactly what is in these bars and their complete nutritional profile, which other brands don't always offer.
Cons
- Having a mixture of flavors can be helpful, but as all of them are chocolate based, they can taste quite similar once you get used to them.
- These bars aren’t as sweet as others which might not make them as enjoyable if you have a sweet tooth.
- When looking at price per bar, these are the most expensive option that we’ve reviewed, and also one of the smallest.
Alternative: NuGo Chocolate Pretzel
Short summary
NuGo’s Dark Chocolate Pretzels are a vegan-friendly, high-protein snack that you can enjoy on the go. Each packet of dark chocolate pretzels features 200 calories and 14g of protein and is made with no artificial ingredients or sweeteners.
If you’re a fan of pretzels and chocolate, but loathe the traditional protein bar taste, you’ll love everything about NuGo’s Dark Chocolate Pretzels. This 12-pack of cashew butter chocolate-coated pretzels is delicious, nutritious, and easy to snack on, no matter where you are.
They’re non-GMO, gluten-free, but not certified organic, which could be a letdown for those following the all-natural way of eating. However, their affordability makes them appealing, especially considering everything that they contain.
Thanks to their lightweight of 1.7oz a pack, we’d rate these as the best vegan protein bar for traveling, as they fit easily in your pocket.
Although small, they have an impressive 14g of protein in each packet and feature no artificial sweeteners or ingredients so you can be sure you’re eating whole foods.
However, if you choose the other pretzel flavors, the protein content can go down to around 10g and with an even higher sugar content, so these pretzels are our favorite pick.
NuGo’s Dark Chocolate Pretzels are gluten-free as well, for anyone with this dietary requirement, and only feature 200 calories in each serve which is great if you’re also watching your weight.
If you hate the taste of protein bars but still want a plant-based protein-rich snack to enjoy on the run, NuGo has everything you need with their Dark Chocolate Pretzels.
Quick Facts
- Quantity: 12
- Flavors: Chocolate
- Protein Content: 14g
Pros
- The flavor of these chocolate-coated pretzels is delicious and many people enjoy them as a dessert or treat at the end of the day.
- There are no nasty ingredients, including palm oil, so it’s all about clean and healthy contents.
- If you’re counting calories, you’ll be pleased to know that these are a lot lower in them than other vegan bars.
- You’ll get 12g of protein in each packet, even though the pretzels aren’t that big at all.
- Cost wise, these are on the cheaper end of the scale, but still, come with all of the benefits that protein bars offer.
Cons
- There’s 14g of added sugar in each packet which could be too much for some people and their daily intake.
- If you’re looking for organic protein bars, these won’t do, as there’s nothing on their packaging that indicates they’re organic.
- With 200 calories per serving, it’s not as calorie rich as other protein bars, which could be a problem for people trying to gain weight.
Alternative: Garden of Life Protein Bar
Short summary
Garden of Life’s Sport Plant-Based Performance Protein Bar is designed for athletes and fitness enthusiasts and features 20g of protein in each bar and 280 calories per serving.
The Sport Performance Protein Bar from Garden of Life is a must-have for fitness fanatics and it comes in a handy pack of 12 for bigger savings.
This plant-based protein bar is more powerful than you realize with a whopping 20g of protein in each one and 280 calories, giving you everything you need for a full meal replacement that will keep you fueled up.
According to their loyal customers, Garden of Life recently changed the formula to these bars, and people agree that the new one has a chalky texture. Although they’re still tasty, this could be a turn-off if you loved their old bars.
This aside, the Sport Performance Bar features loads of great ingredients including organic US-grown peas, brown rice, and organic tapioca fiber. You’ll get 10g of soluble fiber in each serving as well, so you’re fueling your body with more than just protein when you try these bars.
Garden of Life’s Sport Performance Protein Bar comes in a 12 pack and is an affordable alternative when you look at the price per bar.
The sugar content is a lot lower than others, at around 7g of added sugar in each peanut butter bar, and they’re non-GMO and certified organic for those who care about where their food comes from. If you prefer the traditional protein bar taste but with a vegan twist, Garden of Life’s Protein Bars are the way to go.
Quick Facts
- Quantity: 12
- Flavors: Chocolate, Peanut butter
- Protein Content: 20g
Pros
- You’ll enjoy a whopping 20g of protein in each of these bars, which is far more than the competition.
- There’s 7g of added sugar in each bar which means they’re fairly low in sugar when compared to other brands.
- The ingredients are all organic and non-GMO so there's no second-guessing about the quality of what you're eating.
- These bars are also high in fiber for people looking to incorporate more of this into their everyday diet.
- For a 12 pack of high protein vegan bars, they’re exceptionally priced, and a lot cheaper than the competition.
Cons
- The taste of these bars is more like a traditional protein bar and some people have commented that they have a chalky texture.
- Garden of Life recently changed the formula to these bars so if you’re used to their old ones, you will find these quite different.
- There are a lot of ingredients in these protein bars so you should take the time to read through them all carefully before purchasing.
Alternative: No Cow Protein Bar
Short summary
No Cow’s Protein Bars are vegan, dairy-free, naturally sweetened, paleo, kosher, non-GMO snacks that deliver 22g of protein in every serving. With 17 different flavors and 12 bars in each package, you can get easy access to a huge dose of protein.
No Cow Protein Bars have become a fan favorite in the vegan energy bar market and offer fun flavors like Mint Cacao Chip and Birthday Cake. What customers love most about these bars was how filling they got after eating just one, making them perfect for an energy boost as you work out.
They rely on pea and brown rice protein for this feeling of fullness and also contain vitamin D, iron, and calcium for a balanced snack.
This is the best clean vegan organic protein bar that features zero added sugar, and still manages to have an impressive range of flavors to choose from.
Each bar has just 200 calories which is great if you’re watching your weight but still manages to pack 22g of plant-based protein in every server.
For all of the good it offers, the taste isn’t as nice as others, but if you’re just trying to get a quick boost of protein, you won’t mind so much. It does feature natural sweeteners which could be a turn-off for some, and if you’re a fan of their original recipe you’ll notice how different the new formula tastes.
However, the No Cow Protein Bar range is affordable, versatile, and incredibly high in protein, without any of the guilt or upset from dairy products.
Quick Facts
- Quantity: 12
- Flavors: Maple, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Birthday Cake and more
- Protein Content: 22g
Pros
- These bars are some of the most filling on the market and if you're hoping to get satisfied with one serving, they can deliver.
- If you’re watching your calories and sugar intake, you’ll be pleased to no there’s no added sugar in these.
- With a major selection of flavors to choose from you can try a few until you find your favorite.
- The price per serving when you buy in the bulk 12 pack makes them one of the more affordable vegan protein bars.
- You’ll get a massive 22g of protein in every bar which is almost double what we’ve seen in others.
Cons
- This is another brand that seems to have changed its formula, so if you were in love with the original No Cow bars, this is worth noting.
- As they have natural sweeteners, you'll note how this tastes different from genuine sugar, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your preference.
- The new formula means the bar is flakier and it messier, so not as dense as the original.
Vegan Protein Bars FAQs
The reliable protein bar can be there for you when you need a boost of energy or to ensure you’re getting enough protein throughout the day, and just because they’re vegan, doesn’t mean they have to be bland.
Our favorite finds prove that plant-based can be amazing, so consider adding some of these to your hiking backpack today.
Are Vegan Protein Bars Good For You?
A vegan protein bar will contain a number of healthy ingredients including nuts, seeds, and fruit, but can also have contents like added sugar and sweeteners.
You should assess the ingredient list of a protein bar or any vegan product before consuming it to get a better idea of what’s inside and how healthy it is.
Are Protein Bars Good For Weight Loss?
Protein bars can be helpful for losing weight if they’re used correctly, but not eaten as a regular meal replacement or in favor of fresh, whole foods.
Every brand of protein bar has a different nutritional profile so this must be assessed to see if the levels of fat, protein, fiber, and other ingredients are truly healthy.
How Do I Make Sure I Get Enough Protein As A Vegan?
A vegan diet can sometimes be lacking in protein, so it’s important to include as many nuts, legumes, pulses, grains, and vegetables into your diet.
Many vegans find it beneficial to use a plant-based protein powder to ensure they’re getting enough in their diet, either by drinking it or mixing it into other meals.
Will Protein Bars Make You Gain Weight?
Protein bars usually have a lot of energy in a serving and are considered a calorie-dense food. If you’re trying to eat more calories in a day but without having to eat large amounts of food, they can help you do that, but should still be part of a balanced diet.
Conclusion
A trusty protein bar can be there for you when you need a boost of energy or to ensure you’re getting enough protein throughout the day, and just because they’re vegan, doesn’t mean they have to be bland.
Our favorite finds prove that plant-based can be amazing, so consider adding some of these to your hiking backpack today.
BEST OVERALL
