10 Best Gluten Free Protein Bars

Whether you’re an athlete, a busy student, or simply need a quick afternoon bite, many people are looking for tasty yet nutritious protein bars.   

Unfortunately, many snack bars on the market are laden with sugar, artificial sweeteners or flavors, and iffy ingredients. 

The list dwindles even further if you have dietary restrictions, like being gluten-free.

That’s why we’ve come up with a list of the top ten best gluten-free protein bars that also happen to be delicious and made with healthy ingredients.

With these convenient bars at your disposal, you’ll never be caught snack-free and “hangry” again.  

Best-Tasting: GoMacro Bars

One of the best-tasting gluten-free snack bar options is GoMacro. 

GoMacro Bars are Certified Gluten-Free, as well as organic, vegan, kosher, and non-GMO. 

Two standout bars in terms of taste are their Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip protein bar and the Lemon + Lemon, both of which contain:

• 11g of protein (Organic Sprouted Brown Rice Protein, Organic Pea Protein)
• 12g of added sugar (Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Maple Sugar)
• 2g of fiber per bar

GoMacro bars are on the higher end of the added sugar we’d like to see, so keep that in mind when choosing these bars as a snack.

Simplest Ingredients: RXBAR

RXBARs are a healthy, gluten-free, dairy-free protein bar option with just a handful of minimally processed and natural ingredients. 

While you might recognize their simple packaging that boasts their ingredients on the front with a cheeky “No B.S.” tagline, the bars also contain a few extra ingredients that can be viewed on the back.

Some RXBAR fan favorites are Peanut Butter and Chocolate Sea Salt, which contain: 

• 12g of protein (Egg Whites)
• 0g of added sugar (with 13-15g total sugar from dates)
• 5g of fiber

Keep in mind that while RXBARS do not use gluten-containing ingredients—for example, they use gluten-free oats—the bars are not Certified Gluten-Free because they are made in a facility that also produces wheat-containing products.

Highest Protein: No Cow

No Cow bars are high in plant-based protein—21 grams per bar!—and low in sugar and carbohydrates.

If you’re following a dairy-free keto diet, No Cow bars might be the right fit for you, especially the tasty Dipped Chocolate Salted Caramel or Sprinkled Donut bars. 

The vegan protein in these gluten-free bars comes from a combination of brown rice and pea protein, adding up to:

• 20-21g of protein (Brown Rice Protein, Pea Protein)
• 1g of added sugar (Stevia, Monkfruit, and 6g of Erythritol) 
• 5g of fiber

Best Plant Protein: Simply Protein

With three flavors—Dark Chocolate Almond, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and Lemon Almond—Simply Protein bars are gluten-free and high in plant-based protein. 

Each bar contains:

• 12g of protein (Soy Protein Isolate, Almonds)
• 2g of added sugar (Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips; Sugar Alcohol Glycerin)
• 7g of fiber

Best Refrigerated Protein: Perfect Bar

Like GoMacro, Perfect Bars are a tasty protein bar that is a bit higher on the sugar side. 

The original Perfect Bar is the Peanut Butter flavor, with other favorites being Salted Caramel and Chocolate Chip Cookie dough. 

The Peanut Butter Perfect Bar contains:

• 17g of protein (Peanut Butter, Non-Fat Dry Milk, Dried Whole Egg Powder, Rice Protein)
• 13g of added sugar (Honey or Maple Syrup)
• 3g of fiber 

Keep in mind that Perfect Bars are not dairy-free and require refrigeration, so they are not as convenient as other gluten-free protein bars.

Best for Vegans: Mezcla

A unique plant-based protein bar, Mezcla has interesting flavor combinations that are not seen elsewhere, like Peruvian Cocoa Peanut Butter and Japanese Matcha Vanilla. 

These crispy bars are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and non-GMO, containing:

• 10g of protein (Pea Protein, Quinoa Crisps, Pumpkin Seeds)
• 7g of added sugar (White Chocolate, Tapioca Syrup)
• 2g of fiber

Best for Gut Health: Truth Bar

Truth Bars contain both probiotic bacteria and prebiotics—particular types of fiber that act as food for healthy gut bacteria to consume and thrive. 

Truth Bars are gluten-free, keto-friendly, low-sugar, non-GMO, and contain plant-based omega-3 fatty acids from chia seeds. 

The top Truth Bar flavors are Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch and Dark Chocolate Toasted Marshmallow, containing: 

• 8-9g of protein (Whey Protein Isolate)
• 2g of added sugar (Dark Chocolate plus Stevia, Erythritol, and Glycerin)
• 8-11g of fiber

Best Alternative Protein: Exo Bars

Another prebiotic snack bar, Exo Bars are disrupting the protein bar industry by using a unique and sustainable source of protein—crickets.

This cricket-based protein is called Acheta Protein, and consumers say it does not taste like crickets—it actually has a nutty, earthy flavor similar to cashews. 

While Exo Bars are not vegan protein bars, they are dairy-free and gluten-free, containing:

• 14g of protein (Acheta Cricket Protein, Pea Protein)
• 2g of added sugar (Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips; Allulose)
• 2g of fiber

Best for Keto: Perfect Keto Bars

Another one of our favorite brands is Perfect Keto, which provides us with healthy, zero-sugar collagen protein bars in addition to dozens of other keto-friendly and gluten-free products. 

With six flavors, including Banana Bread, Cinnamon Roll, and Almond Butter Brownie, all Perfect Keto protein bars contain:

• 11g of protein (Grass-Fed Bovine Collagen)
• 0g of added sugar (Stevia)
• 9g of fiber

Best Savory Protein: Epic Meat Bars

Last but not least, remember that protein bars don’t have to be sweet—savory bars like Epic Meat Bars are great options for gluten-free people on paleo, Whole30, or keto diets. 

These jerky-style bars are packed with protein with high-quality meat like bison, venison, chicken, and beef. 

Epic is also the only bar on this list with an EOV (Ecological Outcome Verified) Certification, which assesses key indicators of ecosystem health, including soil health, biodiversity, and water and mineral cycles. 

Two top-rated Epic Bars are the Chicken BBQ and Beef Jalapeno, which contain:

• 11g of protein (differs based on the bar; Epic uses grass-fed, pasture-raised, or humanely sourced chicken, beef, venison, and bison.)
• 0-1g of added sugar
• 2g of fiber

All About Protein Bars: The Basics

While “protein bar” isn’t a regulated phrase, it typically describes a pre-packaged, ready-to-eat bar high in protein.

Protein bars are most often designed to be consumed as a snack but could potentially be eaten as a meal replacement if high enough in calories and protein.

Other terms for protein bars include snack bars, nutrition bars, or energy bars, but “protein bars” will always contain protein. 

In addition to being high in protein, these bars come in wide varieties, including gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based or vegan, nut-free, keto, or low-carb.

A common way to add protein to bars is with protein powder sourced from brown rice, egg white, hemp, whey, or pea protein. 

In recent years, snack bars have gotten even more creative, using savory animal protein sources like cricket and grass-fed beef. 

What is Gluten-Free?

Gluten is a protein in certain grains, including wheat, barley, rye, and a wheat-rye hybrid called triticale.

People may be gluten-free for many reasons, most commonly because they have celiac disease—an autoimmune response to gluten—or are gluten-intolerant, which can cause both digestive and non-digestive symptoms. 

As gluten is a component of wheat, people with a wheat allergy may also consume gluten-free foods. 

According to the Food and Drug Administration, gluten-free foods must contain fewer than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten.

However, gluten-free labeling is optional, which is why some food brands go a step further and receive a certification.

The “certified gluten-free” symbol on a food package means the manufacturer has followed strict steps to prevent gluten cross-contamination and that a third party has independently tested the food for gluten.

This is the primary difference between “certified gluten-free” and gluten-free labeling, as the FDA does not require manufacturers to test for gluten in food products.

What to Look For in Gluten-Free Snack Bars

In addition to looking for a gluten-free label—ideally “certified gluten-free”—there are other aspects to consider, including:

• Protein content: A protein bar should ideally contain 10-25g of protein, with a minimum of 8g to be considered moderate in protein.
• Sugar: You should aim for no more than 8-12g of added sugar per bar—and the lower, the better. Many snack bars now utilize non-nutritive sweeteners, like monk fruit, stevia, and sugar alcohols like erythritol. 
• Fiber: Gluten-free fiber bars will increase satiety from the bar, keeping you full for longer and supporting digestive health. 
• Taste: This is a personal preference, so look for flavor combinations you think you’d enjoy. While protein bars used to be solely sweet flavors, now there are many savory bars on the market that you can try. 

FAQs About Gluten-Free Protein Bars

Key Takeaways

• Many people require gluten-free food—and convenient protein snack bars are no exception. 
• Some nutritional values to look for when buying a protein bar are sugar, protein, and fiber content, as well as Certified Gluten-Free labels and taste preferences. 
• Ten brands with tasty and nutritious gluten-free protein bar options are GoMacro, RXBAR, No Cow, Simply Protein, Mezcla, Truth Bar, Exo Bar, Perfect Keto, and Epic.