Quest vs Barebells: Which Protein Bar Wins?
Quest and Barebells are the two best-known "high-protein, low-sugar" bars on the shelf, but they take different routes to get there — Quest leans on fiber and sucralose, Barebells on a candy-bar texture with a longer ingredient list. Here is how they actually compare on the numbers.
The verdict
These two grade almost identically on the Labelgrade (Quest 83 vs Barebells 83) — the decision comes down to the specific trade-offs below.
Side by side
| Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar | Barebells Caramel Cashew Protein Bar | |
|---|---|---|
| Labelgrade | B+ 83/100 | B+ 83/100 |
| Protein (per bar) | 21 g | 20 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 35 g | 36.4 g |
| Calories (per bar) | 200 | 200 |
| Sugar | 1 g | 1 g |
| Sodium | 200 mg | 80 mg |
| Fiber | 14 g | 3 g |
| Ingredient list length | 12 items | 19 items |
Bold/highlighted = the better figure on that row. Protein per 100 g normalizes for different serving sizes. All data from USDA FoodData Central.
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Where each one wins
- Quest leads on protein — 21 g vs 20 g per bar.
- Barebells is lower in sodium — 80 mg vs 200 mg.
- Quest has the shorter ingredient list — 12 vs 19 items.
How they're scored
Both products are graded on the identical v3 Labelgrade formula (see methodology): protein density 23% + ingredient quality 21% + saturated fat 18% + sodium 15% + sugar 15% + fiber 8%. Nothing here is hand-weighted to favor one product. Want to compare different items? Use the interactive Compare tool. Last refreshed 2026-06-03.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has more protein, Quest or Barebells?
Both land around 20 g per bar — see the table for the exact figures. Quest has historically edged slightly higher on protein and fiber; Barebells wins on taste for most people. On a pure macro basis they are close enough that ingredient quality and flavor preference are the deciders.
Which is better for keto or low-carb?
Quest is the more keto-oriented bar (higher fiber, very low net carbs, sucralose-sweetened). Barebells is low-sugar but slightly higher in net carbs. For a strict keto macro, Quest usually fits more cleanly — see our keto bar ranking for the full low-carb list.