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Oct 20, 2023

The Best Dairy

If you’re looking for a candy bar, buy a candy bar. But if want dairy-free

If you’re looking for a candy bar, buy a candy bar. But if want dairy-free protein bars that you might enjoy eating, you’ve come to the right place! We sampled dozens of brands, and discovered that each has pros and cons, whether it be for taste, texture, ingredients, or nutrition. But the ones we selected below stand out as the best dairy-free protein bars overall.

There are other posts out there for the best vegan protein bars, but they don't include all of the dairy-free options. Not to mention, I think some of the writers didn't actually taste the bars. We gathered all of the bars we could find locally, and ordered even more. I had a budget, so bars priced at over $4 per bar in my local stores didn't make the cut. Because, let's face it, most of us aren't going to pay that much for a single protein bar. At least not yet. We also limited our taste test to bars containing 10 grams of protein or more. With all of that in mind, below is our unbiased guide to the best dairy-free protein bars.

Allergen Notes: All items listed below are dairy-free by ingredients. Almost all are gluten-free, too. We’ve noted any top allergens contained in these dairy-free protein bars. But ingredients are subject to change at any time, and all products are at some degree of risk for allergen cross contamination, whether they have a "may contain" statement or not. Always read the label before consuming any food, and make sure you are familiar with this may contain information.

Nutrition Notes: The nutrition information is from a sample flavor. The ratios usually vary by flavor, and companies do reformulate sometimes. Be sure to read the packaging for the most recent information for the flavor you are purchasing.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links to retailers that we buy from, too. We might receive a commission if you make purchases through these links. These commissions do not direct our content, but do help to support the maintenance of our site. We appreciate your support!

The name says it all. For protein bars, these are a treat! They strike a nice balance between taste, texture, and nutrition, and come in a range of sweet flavors. Since Good! doesn't use alternative sweeteners, their bars don't have a funny aftertaste. Yet, each bar is relatively low in sugar, especially considering the size and the fact that one can satisfy a dessert craving. They’re also on the higher side of protein and fiber, making them quite fulfilling overall. In terms of texture, they’re soft and chewy, but not too chewy. They have a slight powdery finish, but aren't dry. And to top it off, each variety is coated with a thin layer of icing that matches the flavor. They’re definitely protein bars, but unlike many other brands, we looked forward to eating these again.

This is real food, plain and simple. You get good density for your buck, and the protein is from allergy-friendly pumpkin seeds. There are no protein powders or isolates in 88 Acres bars whatsoever, and they use just a modest amount of natural sugars. But most importantly, these bars have pleasant flavors that offer depth, but aren't overly sweet. These are solid snacks, not desserts. The texture is soft, but quite chewy and generously filled with chopped pumpkin seeds throughout.

If you’re looking for solid nutrition in a packaged snack, then Laird might be your answer. Their bars boast all nine essential amino acids, adaptogenic mushrooms, no sugar alcohols, a solid ratio of macronutrients, and a relatively high dose of natural seaweed-derived calcium (algal calcium has been shown to have absorption more than 1.5 times higher than calcium carbonate). They are snacks, both in size and taste, but are on the sweet side. The overall flavors are pleasant with a slight monk fruit aftertaste. The texture is soft, chewy, and smooth overall, but with a few large crisps in each bite.

For those of us who aren't allergic to eggs, RXBars are a great protein bar option. They’re a bit like Larabars with protein powder added, but more flavorful, in our opinions. We like their very simple ingredient list, lack of sweeteners and other additives, and the fact that they just taste like real food. They’re sweet, but in a snackable, dried fruit kind of way. The texture has bits of nuts in it, and is quite chewy. We would actually love it if they were able to cut the chewiness a little, but that might take away from the taste. If you confuse eggs with dairy, you aren't alone! See this post: Are Eggs Dairy?

If you really want that candy bar experience, these are the best dairy-free protein bars we can recommend. They have a thick, sweet chocolate coating over a crispy, crunchy middle that isn't chewy or dry. It's pleasing and can easily satisfy as a dessert on the go. That all said, this sweet experience does mean no alternative sweeteners and a higher sugar count.

Think jerky, only thicker and softer, and you’ll get the idea of Epic Bars. They are free of sugars, additives, protein powders, and any funny business in general. Their nutrition is pure and snack-friendly, with a range of meaty bases. Our one complaint is these bars can be a little too flavorful. They use a heavy hand with the seasoning, so be prepared for a wallop of spices.

I can see why these are so popular. Most of the low sugar bars we tried were, in a word, terrible. But Aloha has managed to craft a sweet protein bar that's fairly well balanced in flavor, with just the a hint of monk fruit in the aftertaste. They’re definitely protein bars, but in a pinch, can satisfy sugar cravings. They make the bars somewhat thin and wide, which I think is a good move for many reasons. It makes the bar a bit more fulfilling and easier to eat, since the texture is soft, chewy, and just a tiny bit sticky. A couple flavors are chocolate-coated, so you also get more coating per bite with the flat format.

If you like eating peanut butter by the spoonful and are tired of overly sweet bars, then these might be the best dairy-free protein bars for you. Each variety is dense with nut butter, infused with dried vegetables (no you can't taste them!), and has just a mildly sweet flavor. They’re rather hefty, with a thick, soft, and dry texture that left me in need of a little water. I do feel like the flavors could be a little better balanced, but overall, these are definitely satiating bars.

Truth be told, we weren't wowed by any sugar-free bars, but ONE Plant was a top contender in the no added sugar category. It isn't chewy, which can be good, but it is a little dry in the middle. However, it has a thin coating of chocolate or icing that masks some of the dryness. In terms of flavor, it was was surprisingly sweet and didn't seem to have anything off-putting in the aftertaste. As a nearly sugar-free snack, we wouldn't pass it up. But use caution. The primary ONE line does contain milk, and looks similar to the ONE Plant bars.

These aren't just RXBars with oats added. In addition to the breakfast-worthy addition, the A.M. bars are sweetened with honey and coconut sugar instead of dates. They’re still on the chewy side, but are somehow a little more flavorful. They tasted more "normal" than most dairy-free protein bars we tried, and were quite satisfying. We just thought the sugars were a smidge higher than they needed to be, and the ingredients could be simplified a bit more. It was close between these and Over Easy Bars, but RXBar just edged them out in overall taste.

Do you still have questions? We anticipated a few, and have some quick answers for you!

We tried a few dairy-free protein bars with 20 grams of protein, which is currently the highest in the U.S. market. None made our top 10 for the best dairy-free protein bars, but ProBar was close. It is substantial, with a big, thick, crispy treat meets protein bar texture. The flavor was just a bit off balance, with an underwhelming core and an overly sweet chocolate coating. We did think ProBar just edged out Clif Builders Bars. We preferred the taste of ProBar Protein Bars, and they were lower in sugar. The low sugar, very high protein bars we tried weren't palatable to us, and some were above our price point.

Unfortunately, most collagen bars also contain dairy. We managed to get one collagen bar, Bulletproof, but it just wasn't pleasant for us.

Keep in mind, our tasting was limited to dairy-free protein bars with at least 10 grams of protein, that we could readily buy, that cost less than $4 per bar. We didn't have easy access to every bar. It's also possible we tried your favorite bar and didn't love it. Every product has fans, otherwise they wouldn't be on the market! Feel free to share your favorite below and why.

Do you need something specific that isn't covered here? See our Complete Dairy-Free Protein Bar Guide!

As mentioned, everyone's taste buds are not the same! See details on all of the other dairy-free protein bars we sampled, in addition to other options in our complete guide. It includes over 50 brands!