Ultimate 2026 Comparison: Transparent Labs vs Barebells Protein Bars

Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.

After my colleague Jenn Vibert tried Transparent Labs Protein Bar+, I wanted to try them myself. I wanted to see if my feedback matched hers and how they stack up against other bars. This also gives a sense of how Transparent Labs Protein Bar Vs Barebell compares.

I put both bars through their paces in my favorite ways to eat them (plain, baked, or microwaved). I also noted when to eat them (pre- or post-workout, as a snack). Transparent Labs Protein Bar Vs Barebell.

I’ll share who I think each protein bar is right for, and reasons you might want to steer clear.

Verdict: I wouldn’t buy Transparent Labs Protein Bar Vs Barebell, given their relatively low protein content. Barebells Protein Bars were the clear winners for content, texture, taste, and versatility, so I’ll keep them in rotation.

Key Takeaways

Honest Review Guarantee from FeastGood: Our testing team purchases each product 100% independently and uses the product for several weeks up to several months before writing a review. Learn more about our review process here.

• Transparent Labs “protein” bars would be better marketed as “energy bars” or “meal replacement bars” as they supply fewer calories from protein than from any other macronutrient; Barebells bars rank among the highest protein percentage.

• Transparent Labs protein bars are a good choice for bulking, or anyone looking to maximize calorie density (hiking/camping/endurance sports); Barebells bars are much better in a cutting phase.

• Transparent Labs protein bars focus on whole food “clean” ingredients vs. several artificial sweeteners and texture-enhancing ingredients in Barebells protein bars making Transparent Labs bars better for people with sensitive stomachs.

Transparent Labs Grass-fed Whole Foods Protein Bar+: Overall Rating: 3.1/5

*I added four categories to my review criteria for both bars, pulling down my rating of Transparent Labs Protein Bar+ to 3.1 out of 5, compared to Jen’s original rating of 4.3.  

Just like I do with my clients, I encourage you to consider which features are most important to you and make your own rating.  Just add up your score per category, and divide by the number of categories.  You can change or add categories to get the ones that are most relevant for you.

Overview

• Flavor: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip
• Protein: 15g
• Carbs: 22g
• Sugar: 11g (5g added sugars) – all sugars from “natural” whole-food sources (honey and dates)
• Fats: 15g
• Calories: 270
• Protein Percentage: 22%

Features

• Whole food ingredients: for some clients this is an important principle in and of itself, and some people report higher satiety and/or better digestion when they focus on whole food ingredients.

• Contains grass-fed whey protein isolate: again, depending on your principles, grass-fed protein sources can matter.

• Gluten-free: this is a great feature for anyone with a gluten sensitivity or complete intolerance like Celiac disease. 

• No artificial flavors, colors, or texture enhancers: this can reduce the risk of digestive discomfort.

Drawbacks

• Low protein percentage: at FeastGood, we consider a protein percentage of less than 25% (fewer than 25% of the total calories coming from protein) to be “unacceptable” for a protein bar – the Transparent Labs “Protein” Bar+ would be more accurately marketed as an energy bar.

• Allergy alert: Despite being gluten-free, the Transparent Labs Protein Bar+ contains four of the most common allergens: peanuts, milk, tree nuts (almonds), and egg (egg white protein), which makes it a poor choice for anyone with these allergies.

• Poor availability: Transparent Labs bars are not yet available for purchase in-store anywhere in Canada, and even in the U.S. they are limited to select retailers such as The Vitamin Shoppe, Nutrition Depot and Sprouts Farmers Market.  Your best bet is to order online, which means extra time for shipping, and possible shipping costs depending on your location.

Best For

• Competitive athletes who need to ensure no banned substances, since all of Transparent Labs’ products are covered by third-party testing.

• Individuals who need to maximize calorie density, such as ultra endurance athletes, outdoor enthusiasts (hikers/campers/mountain climbers) or athletes in a bulking phase.

• Individuals who need to avoid soy, gluten and artificial ingredients.

Who is Transparent Labs?

Transparent Labs intentionally picked its name to highlight its commitment to “transparent” labels, with a focus on “clean” ingredients.  No hiding behind proprietary formulas commonly seen on other supplement brands; Transparent Labs lists 100% of its ingredients. Transparent Labs wants you to know and have confidence in what you’re putting in your body to achieve your health and fitness goals.

Transparent Labs is a Utah-based U.S. supplement company that has built a strong reputation for ensuring all of its products are third-party tested (with public Certificates of Analysis for every batch available), with clinically effective doses of active ingredients in its formulations.

Overview of Transparent Labs Grass-fed Whole Foods Protein Bar+

I liked the simple, basic design of the Transparent Labs Protein Bar+ box and the individually-wrapped bars themselves.  Like most of its products, there is a focus on a mostly white package with familiar blue and black font for a consistent experience across the brand:

That said, you cannot “judge a book by its cover” and I had to set the aesthetically good first impressions aside.  Before even opening the box, I was underwhelmed with Transparent Labs’ nutrition label: each 60-gram bar provides a whopping 270 calories (4.5 calories per gram).  

With 15 grams of fat (135 calories, or 50% of the total) and only 15 grams of protein (60 calories, or 22% of the total), it would be much better described as a “fat bar” (or energy bar, like I said above) than a protein bar.

Here at FeastGood we often rate and rank protein bars according to “protein per calorie.”  That is the number of grams of protein divided by the number of calories in the bar.  For the TL bar, this is 0.06.  A good score is at least 0.1, meaning at least 20 grams of protein for every 200 calories.  

Numbers aside, it was time to test out the bar as part of my regular routine.  I knew I’d have to do some extra planning to accommodate for the high fat content of this bar (fewer grams of fat available to allot to my other meals and snacks).

Transparent Labs Grass-fed Whole Foods Protein Bar+ Review: My Experience

How to Eat

“As is”

I opened the first bar and was greeted with a somewhat unappealing “lump.”  The bars don’t match the more traditional “candy bar shape” of my other protein bars, and that is likely on purpose to show that they are NOT trying to be a candy bar.

The bar was delivered in the summertime, and the dairy-free chocolate chips did not seem to travel well as they had melted into amorphous blobs, leaving a chocolate residue on the inside of the foil wrapper:

The bars are basically a compressed brick of peanut butter, almond butter, and gluten-free oats stirred together with honey and dates for sweetness, and grass-fed whey protein powder and egg white protein powder added for the “protein “bar of the bar, with coconut oil for healthy fats – see the ingredients here:

The ingredients of the dairy-free chocolate chips are not disclosed, but they seemed like chocolate-flavored coconut oil or coconut butter which would explain why they didn’t hold up well to the heat.

As you’d expect, the overall texture was dense, thick and chewy.  It wasn’t necessarily unappealing, but I definitely felt like I needed a drink to wash it down.  Whether this is good or bad would come down to personal preference.

Baked

One of my favorite protein bar “hacks” is to bake them in the AirFryer to transform the protein bar into a freshly-baked brownie or cookie-type experience.  I cut the bar into small pieces and bake them in a small baking pan for just 2 minutes at 350F (165C):

You can see that there isn’t much difference between the “before” photo in the baking pan and the “after” photo on the plate, but the pieces did get a bit crispier around the edges which improved the texture, in my opinion.  These warm, crispy chunks would be delicious on top of protein ice cream or even regular ice cream (great if you’re bulking).  

If I have the luxury of using an AirFryer compared to eating the TL bar on the go, I’ll definitely go the baked route.

Microwaved

When I don’t have the luxury of an AirFryer, I still often warm up protein bars in the microwave (this is my go-to choice at my office building which does have a microwave in the office kitchen).  I similarly cut the bar into small chunks to ensure quick and even heating, and heat on high for 20-30 seconds:

I wasn’t surprised that the dairy-free chocolate chips completely melted into liquid, since they seem to be coconut-oil based.  The rest of the bar got a bit softer, but you have to eat them quickly because if you allow them to cool after microwaving they end up harder than the original bar.

When to Eat

Pre-Workout Fuel

Based on the high fat content in the TL bars, I do NOT recommend them as pre-workout fuel for a typical workout, since the fat content will make digestion too slow for the bar to provide ready energy in time for your workout.  

That said, they are a good choice as part of a fueling strategy before and during endurance events or activities that require sustained energy (90+ minutes).  You’d want to eat them as (or as part of) a meal about 90 minutes prior to the event/activity, as well as throughout the event to provide a steady, slow-digesting source of energy.

Post-Workout Recovery

Similar to my comments on pre-workout, I do NOT recommend them immediately post-workout because the fat content will slow the ability to replenish your body’s glycogen (stored carbohydrate) and amino acid (building blocks of protein) levels.

They are a better choice as a snack or meal (or part of a meal) away from your workout window, as I discuss below.

Snack

Away from the immediate pre- and post-workout windows, Transparent Labs Protein Bars make a good whole foods-based choice, especially if you’re on the go and cannot sit down for a bowl of oatmeal with nuts, honey, and Greek yogurt (which would give you a similar ingredient list and macronutrient profile).

On this basis, I recommend them as a convenient and portable snack option when you’re working, traveling, hiking, or otherwise out and about, although they might be too high in calories/fat to fit into everyone’s overall daily plan.

Meal Replacement

My comments on using the TL bar as a meal replacement are similar to my comments about a snack, but they lack any vegetable-based ingredients to ensure you are getting the micronutrients you need.  It would also depend on whether your average meal needs more calories (especially from protein) to ensure you are on track to hit your daily targets.

In a pinch, I’d recommend pairing a TL bar with some fresh vegetables like a salad or veggie sticks and an additional low-fat protein source like a can of tuna to create an overall balanced meal.

Highlights: What I Liked About Transparent Labs Grass-fed Whole Foods Protein Bar+

Third-party Tested

Because I’m a competitive athlete in a sport where I am subject to drug-testing, I really appreciate that Transparent Labs is third-party tested so that I don’t have to worry about the risk of banned substances that would disqualify me from competition.  This also gives me confidence to recommend this product to my clients who are competitive athletes.

Whole Food Ingredients

I did enjoy the fact that I was eating “real” food that was satisfying.  This is less important to me in terms of my personal priorities, but as a coach, I like having solid recommendations for my clients who have this preference.

Taste

While the texture was “so-so” from my perspective, the taste was undeniably good.

Packaging

The clean, simple design of the box and the individual bars was appealing to me.

Drawbacks: What I Didn’t Like About Transparent Labs Grass-fed Whole Foods Protein Bar+

Macronutrient ratio

As I’ve mentioned multiple times, the Transparent Labs bar isn’t really a “protein bar” at all.  If they could find a way to add more grass-fed whey protein powder and/or egg white protein powder into the bar and reduce the amount of coconut oil, honey and almond or peanut butter, but still have a decent taste and texture, they’d have a better macronutrient profile to match my goals (maintaining, not gaining).

Calorie density

My current average intake is only around 2,000 – 2,200 calories, and it didn’t seem “worth it” to have nearly 15% of my daily calories coming from one 60-gram bar, especially since it used up more than 25% of my daily fat target.

Availability

The fact that I can only get Transparent Labs bars online from a U.S.-based site meant I had to face foreign exchange, international shipping, and customs and duties fees, plus the shipping time.  Compared to walking down to my local corner store for many other brands of protein bars, including Barebells, this was a huge drawback.

Barebells Protein Bars: Overall Rating: 4.0/5

*I added four categories on top of some of our more “standard” criteria for ranking protein bars.

In case you didn’t read this part above in the TL rating: I encourage you to consider which features are most important to you and make your own rating.  Just add up your score per category, and divide by the number of categories.  You can change or add categories to get the ones that are most relevant for you.

Overview

• Flavor: Cookies & Cream
• Protein: 20g
• Carbs: 20g
• Sugar: 1g (5g sugar alcohols)
• Fats: 8g
• Calories: 210
• Protein Percentage: 38%

Features

• Excellent protein content: we consider a protein percentage of at least 35% (35% or more of the total calories coming from protein) to be excellent; ALL of the Barebells flavors deliver on this.

• Great taste: this is a matter of personal preference, but Barebells bars deliver a macro-friendly “candy bar experience” that can make it easier for many clients to make the switch to start including more high-protein foods in their diet.

• Versatile: the bar’s macronutrient profile makes it perfect for pre- and post-workout or as an “any time” snack.

• Widely available: you can get Barebells bars just about anywhere: online, at supplement stores, major retailers like Walmart and Target, pharmacies, convenience stores and gas stations which makes them a convenient go-to option even if you forgot to pack one in your bag.

Drawbacks

• Artificial flavors and sweeteners, sugar alcohols, and texture-enhancing/thickening agents: Barebells bars are sweetened with sugar alcohols (maltitol) and sucralose, plus they contain ingredients like sunflower lecithin and glycerin as texture agents – this can cause digestive discomfort for people who are sensitive to these ingredients.

• Allergy alert: most flavors of Barebells protein bars contain milk and soy, and sometimes peanuts and/or tree nuts (like cashews), and they are manufactured in facilities that also process other allergens, meaning they may contain eggs, sesame and other nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, or walnuts).

Best For

• People who want a convenient, macro-friendly snack any time of day, including pre- or post-workout.

• Individuals who are looking to swap a candy bar for a more macro-friendly alternative without sacrificing the taste and texture of a candy bar. 

“These taste like candy bars!  They take care of my sweet cravings while packing some protein.” – Customer review

• Individuals who are not sensitive to artificial ingredients in their protein bars, and are open to using artificial sweeteners as a way of managing carbohydrate intake.

Who is Barebells?

Barebells is a Swedish “functional food brand” owned by the Swedish company Vitamin Well Group.  Given that I’ve got a self-professed sweet tooth and love high-protein baking to replace my favorite traditional baked goods with more macro-friendly options, I’m totally on board with their mission “to prove to the world that protein products don’t have to taste bland.”  

I got a chuckle out of the fact that Google called them “soft-core” protein bars, but it turns out that just means “a style of snack bar featuring a light, fluffy protein dough exterior wrapped around a gooey, flower center…these bars offer a dessert-like, multi-texture experience while maintaining high protein and low sugar content.”  This describes Barebells protein bars “to a tee” (perfectly).

Vitamin Well Group started out to create products that both tasted good AND delivered functionality (good nutrition).  They started with beverages, and then branched into various brands such as Barebells for protein bars, snacks and drinks (including Protein Soda, which I had not heard of before, but am now keen to try – hopefully you’ll see my review here soon!). 

Overview of Barebells Protein Bars

Since I couldn’t find an Oatmeal Chocolate Chip flavor to compare with the TL bar, I opted for four flavors of Barebells bars that seemed like they would be the most similar: Cookies & Cream, Creamy Crisp, Caramel Cashew, and Chocolate Dough:

Right away, I was way more impressed with the Barebells nutrition labels, with all four bars offering 20 grams of protein per 55-gram bar, and the total calorie count for each bar at 210 calories (3.8 calories per gram), delivering a lower calorie density and higher protein percentage (38% of total calories)  than the TL bars.  Each bar also had only 7-8 grams of fat (63-72 calories, or 30-34% of the total).  

This means that Barebells are “true” protein bars, with protein delivering more calories than any other single macro.  The number of grams of protein divided by the number of calories in the bar is 0.095, which is on par with our “good” score of 0.1, meaning 20 grams of protein for every 200 calories.

I knew I wasn’t going to have to make special adjustments at other meals to accommodate the higher fat content of these bars the way I did with the TL bars, so it was easy to incorporate them into my routine without extra planning.

Barebells Protein Bar Review: My Experience

How to Eat

“As is”

Based on my preferences, right away the Barebells bars are more appealing because they look like traditional candy bars, both in terms of shape and for their chocolaty coating. And, as per Google’s description, several flavors have extra “crunchy bits” to provide visual and textural interest – note the “enticing” (to me) cookie bits on top of this Cookies & Cream bar:

The multi-texture experience was pleasing (to me) and felt similar to eating a Snickers bar, with a mixture of crunchy and soft/gooey textures.  It’s a good experience straight out of the package in terms of taste and texture.

Baked

Even though the base texture of the Barebells bar was good, I still wanted to test it out in the AirFryer.  I cut the bar into small pieces and baked them in a small baking pan for 2 minutes at 350F (165C):

You can see in the “before” photo in the baking pan that there are cookie bits throughout the bar, and not just on the top.  The “after” photo on the plate shows that the bar got more golden in color, and the pieces “puffed up” a bit with a softer, chewier texture like a fresh-baked cookie.  Yum!

So, while the base texture is good, baking makes it even better.  Just like the TL bars, these soft, warm chunks are great with any kind of ice cream, or on top of yogurt or oatmeal.  I’ve even thrown them into a bowl of popcorn!

To me, the AirFryer elevates the experience and I’ll bake Barebells protein bars any time I’m at home.

Microwaved

Since I don’t always get to work at home, I tried out the Barebells in the microwave as well.  I again cut the bar into small chunks to ensure quick and even heating, and microwaved on high for 20 (not 30) seconds (I didn’t want to overdo it):

This is the Chocolate Dough flavor, and you can see that while it got “melty,” the pieces remained intact unlike the complete puddles I had with the dairy-free chocolate chips in the TL bar.  It made the bar soft, warm and extra-gooey, so I’d recommend eating the pieces with a fork, or ensuring you have lots of napkins.  

For some people, the microwaved texture might actually be too gooey.  And, like the TL bars, if the microwaved pieces are allowed to cool, they get hard.

I still like the decadence of a warm, melty chocolate snack, so I’d choose to microwave the bar over eating it “cold” out of the package.  Baking the bar in my AirFryer is my first choice.

On the other hand, I’ve got a friend who goes the other way: she puts soft protein bars in the freezer (especially Built bars which have a very gooey center in the base case) to make them cold and firm before eating.  

Try it out, and “you do you, boo!”

When to Eat

Pre-Workout Fuel

The balanced macronutrient profile of Barebells bars make them a solid choice for a convenient pre-workout snack, as long as you’re not sensitive to sugar alcohols.  The exertion of a workout could amplify any digestive discomfort you might feel if you’re sensitive to these ingredients.

If there’s a risk you’re going to have tummy troubles, I’d save them for post-workout or away from your workout entirely.

Post-Workout Recovery

The relatively low fat (and fiber) content of Barebells bars also makes them a good choice for post-workout because they’ll be digested relatively quickly, optimizing recovery.  In fact, since sugar helps bring cortisol levels down after a workout, you could even add a piece of fruit like a banana, or save the bar for a snack later in the day when you want to minimize your sugar intake.

Snack

Barebells protein bars shine for a macro-friendly snack option when your sweet tooth has a craving.  I consider a snack or dessert option to be the very best time to have a Barebells protein bar.

Meal Replacement

Barebells protein bars are too low in calories and lacking micronutrients to replace a meal.  Consider them as a snack, and focus on building your meals with whole-food sources – check out our meal plans for inspiration. 

Highlights: What I Liked About Barebells Protein Bars

Taste

Hands down, Barebells protein bars are some of the best-tasting protein bars around.  They rank with my top picks of Quest Nutrition Bars, Oh Yeah One!, and Grenade Protein Bars.

Texture

The multi-texture experience of Barebells protein bars made them extra enjoyable and delicious, and that was only amplified when I baked them in my trusty AirFryer (a trick I 10/10 recommend).

Availability

I love that I can just walk down the block and grab a Barebells bar from the corner store if I’m in a “protein pinch,” or grab one from the gas station when hunger strikes during a road trip.  Their penetration of the market gives them a leg up on the competition in this regard.

Drawbacks: What I Didn’t Like About Barebells Protein Bar

Sugar Alcohols

While I’m not personally sensitive to sugar alcohols at the moment (I realize that this can change over time), I’m still disappointed that I won’t feel comfortable recommending these bars to my clients who do have these sensitivities.

Allergens

Again, I don’t have allergies (other than kiwi fruit, which has yet to show up in a protein bar or protein powder), but I do wish that Barebells steered clear of soy, especially since they are so many alternatives, whether it’s to replace soy protein powder or using sunflower lecithin to replace soy lecithin.  I also think it would be worth investing in manufacturing facilities that would allow them to avoid the risk of cross-contamination with peanuts/tree nuts – then anyone with a nut allergy could consume these bars with confidence.

Final Thoughts

Everywhere that it mattered for me (protein percentage, taste, texture, and availability), Barebells protein bars came out on top of Transparent Labs Protein Bar+. 

Other Protein Bar Reviews and Articles

• 10 Best Low-Fiber Protein Bars (As Rated by Dietitians)
• 10 Best Protein Bars Under 100 Calories, Per Nutritionist
• 12 Best Protein Bars Under 200 Calories
• 12 Best Protein Bars WITHOUT Sugar Alcohols, Per Nutrition Coach
• Are Protein Bars Good For Breakfast? (6 Things To Consider)
• I Tried Every Protein Bar At Trader Joe’s To Find The Best
• Is Eating 3 Protein Bars A Day Bad? (A Dietitian Answers)
• Is It Okay To Eat Protein Bars Every Day? (4 Things To Know)
• Protein Bars With The Most Protein (We Examined 200+ Bars)