Pure Protein, known for budget-friendly protein bars and shakes, really shines with the brand’s Cheddar Cheesy Crackers. Available in two flavors, these crackers break into our top spot mostly due to their taste and texture. These crunchy snacks taste as close to the real thing, Cheez-Its, as you can hope for, while keeping the calorie count low and the price affordable.

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At less than $2 per bag, Pure Protein Cheddar Cheesy Crackers provide 10 grams of protein and just 130 calories per bag. With only 9 grams of carbohydrates, it provides more protein than carbs, earning the snack a 5 out of 5 for its formulation. Still, this protein snack is a bit more processed than some may appreciate. 

“The ingredients list is pretty long,” explains GGR editorial team member Bojana Galic, CNC. “But on the bright side, Pure Protein is transparent in the protein source they use—milk protein isolate.” Bojana rates the transparency at 4 out of 5.

The whole GGR editorial team tested out these cheese crackers, too, and all were in agreement—they are pretty good. “This was definitely among our team’s favorite protein snacks,” recalls Bojana. “The crackers were crunchy and crispy, and the flavor was incredibly similar to a Cheez-It.” The whole team rates these crackers at 5 out of 5 on taste.

The texture also gets a 5 out of 5, although Bojana adds, “These crackers are a little thicker than your typical Cheez-It.” They’re still just as crunchy, if not more so, however.

Obviously, this won’t appease people with more of a sweet tooth, but for people who like savory snacks, Pure Protein Cheddar Cheesy Crackers can provide a nice protein boost with an added, enjoyable crunch.

For a more sweet protein snack, try out Naked Nutrition Protein Cookies, which are made with minimal ingredients and have the soft, chewy consistency of a real cookie.

For a filling protein bar with sizable counts of protein, healthy fats, and carbs, we like Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Protein+ Bars. This chewy, gluten-free protein bar provides 15 grams of protein per serving without any artificial sweeteners, coloring, or preservatives.

Although 15 grams of protein is decent for a protein bar, it does have a lot of carbohydrates, as well: 23 grams to be exact, 10 grams of which come from added sugars. The sugars come from natural ingredients, like peanut butter and honey, but it is notable to point out for any snackers looking for a more keto-friendly alternative. As such, these protein bars get a 3.5 out of 5 for their formulation.

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At the time of this writing, Transparent Labs has expanded the brand’s protein bar taste roster to five flavors, but GGR senior director of content Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, tested the original Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip bar and rates the taste at 4 out of 5. “They don’t have a protein taste like other bars do, which I really enjoy since I find it hard to stomach protein bars,” says Kate. She loved that the chocolate chips used were real, too, and the taste was very clean overall.

Texture also gets a 4 out of 5 from Kate, who explains, “Although the bars are soft and chewy, they can be a little dry. The chocolate bits are a delight, though.” She also notes that even though she’s not a huge fan of protein bars in general, she could see herself having these in stock for days when she’s rushing out the door and in need of a quick protein fix.

At over $3 per bar, these are a pricier protein bar than some competitors. Transparent Labs does provide a subscribe-and-save service, though, which can save you $4 on a pack of 12 (with free shipping included).

If the price is a bit much, try out Barebells Protein Bars, which are under $3 per bar and one of the best-tasting protein bars our team has tried. 

When it comes to protein snacks, quite a few may have some filler ingredients to help with flavor, texture, or consistency. If you’re looking to avoid excessive fillers and junk, Legion Protein Crispy Treats can be a solid choice thanks to their naturally sweetened and flavored makeup and with minimal ingredients overall.

We have yet to try out these crispy treats ourselves (they’re in the mail right now), but they rate highly amongst online customers with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. More impressive, too, is that nearly two-thirds of the ratings are 5 stars.

Legion Protein Crispy Treats look and taste (according to many reviews) like the Rice Krispy Treats you may have had when you were young—or had just last week, I won’t judge. To maintain the soft chewiness of these treats, Legion uses a four-protein blend that’s composed of whey hydrolysate, whey concentrate, milk protein isolate, and casein protein. Legion claims this blend can provide 15 grams of protein while also optimizing the snack for taste, texture, and shelf life.

And while these soft bars are made with minimal ingredients, the carbohydrates do outweigh the protein content by about 12 grams. Accordingly, the formulation gets a 3.5 out of 5 from our team.

At over $3 per bar, this is one of the more expensive protein snacks on our list. However, Legion does undergo independent testing for these treats, and the accompanying certificates of analysis are easy to find on the brand’s website. As such, we rate these snacks at 5 out of 5 for their third-party testing and transparency, making the price more stomachable to athletes and health-conscious snackers.

If you’re a fan of protein bars, check out Legion Protein Bars, which also use natural ingredients, making for another clean protein snack.

Many protein snacks don’t have as much protein as typical protein powders, but if you’re  looking for a quick snack that packs a lot of protein, you should consider some of the best protein shakes, notably Jocko Molk Protein Shakes. Available in four different flavors, Jocko Molk packs 30 grams of protein in a 12-ounce shake with minimal carbohydrates and fats earning it a 5-out-of-5 rating for formulation.

We had multiple testers try out different flavors of Jocko Molk, notably Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, and Anthony O, Reilly, CPT, CNC. While Anthony thought the Banana Cream shake was OK, Kate really enjoyed the Sweet Coffee Cream, rating the taste at 5 out of 5. 

“I’ve been drinking Jocko Molk instead of a second cup of coffee each morning,” says Kate. “It’s been helping me get more protein earlier in the day.”

Jocko Molk Protein Shakes have a thin consistency…maybe too thin, according to our testers. Anthony and Kate both rate the texture at 3.5 out of 5. “The first ingredient in this shake is water, and you can definitely tell,” adds Anthony. “It’s quite thin and, in my opinion, the thinness kind of dilutes the flavor.”

These protein shakes go for $3.75 per bottle when purchased from the Jocko Fuel website. Still, the label is pretty transparent, and Jocko tests for banned substances, making it worth the price for some, particularly athletes—although Jocko doesn’t have a certification from such labs as NSF or Informed Choice.

For a vegan-friendly protein shake, try Ripple Vegan Protein Shakes, packed with 20 grams of pea protein.

For a low-calorie bar that tastes more like a candy bar than a protein bar, it’s amazing that BUILT Puff Protein Bars pack in 15 to 17 grams of protein in each serving, depending on the flavor. BUILT Puff Bars have solid protein while only being around 150 calories, oftentimes less.

The taste is surprisingly good for most bars, too, as GGR director of content Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, attests. “I cannot explain how good these are for just a protein snack,” says Nicole, rating the overall taste at 4.5 out of 5. “My favorites are Coconut, which tastes straight-up like an Almond Joy, as well as Cookies and Cream, which has Oreo-flavored cookie chunks in the hard outer shell.” Some flavors tasted a bit more artificial than others, according to Nicole, but overall, she was impressed.

For a candy bar, the texture is also unique—it’s basically a hard chocolate shell with marshmallow fluff on the inside. Nicole rates the texture at 4 out of 5 and says, “I quite like the texture of these, but others who dislike marshmallows may not. I also noticed that certain flavors flatten out over time, even if stored in the fridge. They taste the same, but it can be tough to get them out of the wrapper when that happens.”

One callout Nicole has with BUILT Puff Bars is that they’re not entirely transparent with their protein source, labeling it as a “protein blend” of partially hydrolyzed whey protein isolate and collagen. Collagen doesn’t contain all nine essential amino acids that other protein sources have, so it’s not considered a complete protein.

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With collagen added in this protein blend, we’re not sure how much of the 15 or more grams of protein you’re getting are from collagen or whey, so we’d love to get more transparency from BUILT down the road. For now, the brand gets a 2.5 out of 5 for its transparency and third-party testing, of which it has none. Still, it’s a tasty treat with decent protein and lower carb contents than other bars.

Not a fan of marshmallows? Check out Quest Nutrition Protein Bars, which have a chewy texture more like your typical protein bar.

One of the easiest sources of protein—so long as you’re not following a vegetarian or vegan diet—is animal protein like beef, pork, and poultry. A nice benefit is that, depending on your cut of meat, these proteins can also be low in other macronutrients, making them an ideal candidate for low-carb diets or keto lifestyles. Our best low-carb protein snack is 1st Phorm Protein Sticks—jerky sticks that provide 18 grams of protein with 2 to 3 grams of carbs across most flavors.

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With 18 grams of protein and minimal carbohydrates, 1st Phorm Protein Sticks earn a 5 out of 5 for the formulation. The nutrition label and ingredients list is pretty transparent, as well, although there aren’t any apparent certifications or third-party testing notes, so these savory snacks get a 4.5-out-of-5 score for transparency.

Certified nutrition coach Bojana Galic tried out the Original flavor and rated it a 4.5 out of 5 on taste. “They remind me of your usual beef jerky stick,” she says (although I should note that some flavors are not only beef, but beef and pork). “They’re not overly salty, which I also like. I can totally see myself eating these as a snack or with a bowl of soup.”

I had the Jalapeno Heat flavor, as well, and was impressed with the flavor. I’m not a fan of heat for heat’s sake, but these protein sticks had a slow build to them with a nice sense of spice. Bojana and I give the texture of these jerky sticks a 5 out of 5, too. Bojana adds, “The mouthfeel of these protein sticks is solid, exactly like your typical jerky stick.”

That said, these are one of the pricier snacks on our list with one stick costing you $3. They’re also only sold in 15-packs, making it hard to adjust for your household. Compared to other jerky sticks, this isn’t too unusual of a price, so it earns a 3 out of 5 for its cost per serving.

If you’d like a bit more variety in your animal protein, try out EPIC Bars, with a range of flavors that each feature different meats, spices, and flavors.

The best-tasting protein snack goes to Magic Spoon, although we have to emphasize that this is particularly for the available Fruity Cereal flavor. Our entire team enjoyed the flavor of the Fruity Cereal; GGR editorial member Bojana Galic, NASM-CNC, explains, “We all love it. The flavor tastes just like Froot Loops, although the texture is a little softer.” We rate the taste here a near-perfect 4.75 out of 5.

Again, I stress that the Fruity Cereal is the one we’re talking about here for taste, as our team tried other flavors of this protein cereal and were less impressed. The Frosted flavor was a bit bland, and Cocoa was underwhelming, to say the least. However, Fruity Cereal had the entire team reminiscing about Toucan Sam.

As said before, the texture of Magic Spoon Cereal is a bit softer than your traditional breakfast cereal, so Bojana rates Magic Spoon’s mouthfeel at 4 out of 5. “The texture doesn’t bother me much at all, but I do prefer the crunchiness of standard cereal,” says Bojana. “Still, for the protein benefit, I’d sooner opt for these over your typical cereal.”

Magic Spoon typically has a bit more carbohydrates than protein content, so it only earns a 3.5 out of 5 for its formulation. That said, it’s a pretty transparent label with a gluten-free certification and stamp as well as disclosures stating their protein is a casein and whey blend. So, it earns a 4.5 out of 5 for its transparency.

For more of a hint of sweetness, try out Special K Protein Cereal, with 10 grams of protein in a single serving and a light, refreshing sweetness.

Looking for a savory snack? Take a gander at the best protein chips, in our opinion, Quest Nutrition Tortilla-Style Protein Chips. These protein chips pack in a high amount of protein per serving while providing bold flavors and taste, as well.

Another solid reason we appreciate Quest Protein Chips is the formulation, which earns a solid 5 out of 5 from our trials. These chips contain roughly 5 grams of carbs along with up to 20 grams of protein in one serving. The label is also fairly transparent and the chips are certified gluten-free.

These chips earn a respectable 3.75 out of 5 for their taste, too, as the flavors are bold but not long-tasting. The team tried out the Salsa Verde offering, and Bojana Galic, NASM-CNC recalls, “I don’t think these are the absolute best chips I’ve ever had, but they’re not terrible, either. Our whole team loved the seasoning on these, but once that flavor fades, they’re so-so. The flavor doesn’t last long, either.”

Once the flavor is gone, you’re left with the texture of the chips, which earns a middle-of-the-road 3 out of 5. GGR editorial member and nutrition coach Nicole Davis describes the texture to be “very similar to a Doritos chip, but thinner, almost like it was baked or air-fried instead of fried in oil.”

Bojana adds, “They’re thinner than your typical chip. I wish they had a bit more crunch.”

That said, these are a flavorful chip, and the price per bag is pretty affordable for a protein snack at just over $2 a bag.

Looking for a bit more crunch? Made from chicken, WILDE Protein Chips have quite a bit of protein and crunch rolled up into one savory snack.

Some people who have a sweet tooth may prefer a cookie with a bit of extra protein. For these particular tendencies, we recommend Naked Nutrition Protein Cookies. These protein cookies taste good, pack a bit of extra protein, and use minimal ingredients, making them a great protein snack for those who prefer a sweeter treat.

GGR editorial member Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, tested out Naked Nutrition’s cookies and found them pleasant, although it took some time to win her over. “I set the bar too high initially,” she says, “so, when I came back to them later, I found them tasting pretty good for a healthier cookie option.”

Nicole tried the Chocolate Chip cookies and rates the taste at 4 out of 5. “They’re a little nutty and taste a bit healthy,” she adds, “But they aren’t overly sweet and they don’t have any artificial taste to them, either.”

She adds that she was mostly impressed with the texture of the cookie, which earns  a 4.5-out-of-5 rating. “These have a very good texture,” Nicole explains. “The cookies are soft and chewy, and the chocolate chips used are real and melt in your mouth. It’s a nice touch.”

As far as formulation goes, there are quite a lot of carbohydrates within each cookie compared to the 10 grams of protein. Therefore, it only gets a 3 out of 5 for its formulation. Still, if you’re not too worried about your carbohydrate intake, these can be a tasty treat with a nice bit of protein—more than you’d find in other cookies, for sure. Plus, at about $2.50 per cookie, it’s not a bad price, either.

If you’d like something more savory to snack on, try Pure Protein Cheddar Cheesy Crackers, which have a surprising amount of crunch for a protein snack, and have a cheesy flavor reminiscent of actual Cheez-Its.

If you’re looking for a vegan-friendly snack to have that features plant-based ingredients, look no further than Oats Overnight. While there is a bit of prep time behind these snacks, they pack a solid 20 grams of protein per serving and come in over 30 fun flavors, although not every flavor is completely plant-based.

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If you’ve never made overnight oats before, it involves taking oats, fruit, and other toppings with milk (or water) and letting the snack thicken up overnight in the refrigerator. Oats Overnight makes it easy by providing pre-mixed oats and flavors. All you have to do is mix it with your favorite milk or milk alternative, and let it set overnight (or, at least 4 hours, according to the brand).

Unlike many snacks using milk or whey protein to enrich their snacks, Oats Overnight sources its protein from pea protein isolate, keeping these oatmeal snacks predominantly vegan-friendly. Flavors like Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Banana Bread—along with 10 others—are completely vegan-friendly, as well.

“I tried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough,” says GGR editorial member Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, “And after letting it set overnight, I loved it.”

As an Olympian and competitive weightlifter, I’ve had these oatmeal packets while traveling and competing in foreign countries, often provided by our team’s sports dietitian (thanks Meagan!). I’ve had flavors like Banana Bread and Fruity Cereal, and have found the flavors to be pretty enjoyable. So, I rate the taste at 4 out of 5.

The texture is nice, although a lot of it relies on the liquid of choice. Depending on the country I was in, sometimes water was the best liquid I could use; it’s fine with water, but you’re certain to have the best consistency with milk or almond milk. As such, I rate the texture a 4 out of 5.

Although one packet provides 20 grams of protein, the carbohydrates are pretty steep, as well, providing over 30 grams of carbs, depending on the flavor. Because of this, we rate the formulation at 3.5 out of 5. Regardless, this can be a great snack for plant-based eaters wanting a bit of extra protein.

Don’t have time to prep overnight oats? Grab a yogurt cup, particularly :ratio Protein Yogurt, which packs 25 grams of protein into a single cup.

If you’re wanting a snack but don’t want a ton of sugar, we recommend Quest Nutrition Protein Cookies. While the carbohydrate content varies from flavor to flavor, each cookie features 15 grams of protein and only 1 gram of sugar—none of which are added sugars.

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Because the carb-to-protein ration is a little high, we rate the formulation at 3.5 out of 5. Certified nutrition coach Bojana Galic explains, “Most flavors have more carbs than protein, but it’s only by a few grams.”

In testing, Bojana liked the flavor of the Chocolate Chip Quest Cookie, so she rates the taste at 4 out of 5. “What I like about these protein cookies is that they’re soft and chewy—my go-to preference,” adds Bojana. “I also thought they weren’t overly sweet and definitely had a nice chocolate chip taste.” 

Some people may prefer more of a crunch in their protein cookies, but this suited Bojana just fine, rating the texture at 4 out of 5. GGR director of content Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, tried out the cookies, as well, and while the taste felt artificial to her, she also appreciated the texture. “These cookies are soft, and the crunch of the chocolate chips really comes through,” she says.

Quest Nutrition uses sugar alcohols in many of their protein-enriched snacks to sweeten each profile and keep the sugar counts low. While this can be fine for some people, sugar alcohols do tend to cause digestive issues like bloating, according to studies¹. Bojana notes that, in her personal experience, this typically occurs when she has a Quest Bar or Cookie. So, if you know you don’t handle sugar alcohols well, these snacks may best be avoided.

Not worried about sugar content? Check out Lenny and Larry’s The Complete Cookie, which has several great-tasting flavors, although the carbs and sugar content are a bit higher.

If you’re looking for a chewy, fluffy snack that can satisfy your protein needs, Lenny and Larry’s has you covered with The Complete Cookie. Multiple people on our team have had these cookies over the years and love a ton of the available flavors, rating the taste at 4.5 out of 5. 

Bojana Galic, NASM-CNC, says, “I’ve had several in the past, but Lemon Poppy Seed is easily my favorite.” While I humbly disagree on this point—the best flavor is Snickerdoodle, hands down—I do agree with her other sentiment regarding taste: “They certainly don’t taste like your average protein cookie; they’re far less chalky.”

Compared to other protein cookies on this list, Lenny and Larry’s stands apart for multiple reasons. For one, the ingredients are completely plant-based and are certified non-GMO and vegan. Being that they have these certifications, The Complete Cookie gets a 4.5 out of 5 for label transparency.

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Another reason these cookies are different is that the protein content is actually less than most other protein cookies. Each cookie has 16 grams of protein, but a serving size is only half of a cookie. So, you’re getting 8 grams of protein with over 30 grams of carbohydrates. This ratio is way off, so the formulation only gets a 1 out of 5, according to our methodology. When you have these cookies, keep the serving size in mind to prevent oversnacking, too. 

Lenny and Larry’s cookies have phenomenal texture, which Bojana rates a perfect 5 out of 5. “To me, these genuinely have the same texture as a regular cookie,” she says. “I know some people find them a bit crumbly, but that can just depend on how long the cookie has been on the shelf at the store.” In my experience, the crumbly nature of the cookie reminds me of Crumbl Cookies.

Although the protein is minimal in this snack, each cookie is around $2, making each half-cookie serving just $1. This makes it one of the least expensive snacks on our list. However, if you’re wanting a bit more protein in your snack, you may want to keep looking at other options.

For a vegan-friendly snack in bar form, check out GoMacro Bars, which is one of the best-tasting vegan protein bars we’ve tested.

For the best high-protein yogurt, our team recommends :ratio Protein Yogurt. There are plenty of reasons why we like this yogurt, but mostly, it’s an affordable snack that tastes great across multiple flavors, and it packs 25 grams of protein into each yogurt cup.

I tested these yogurt cups and had three flavors: Blueberry, Strawberry, and Key Lime. Since then, :ratio has expanded its flavor lineup to nine flavors, overall. I rate the taste at 5 out of 5, although I do pose a warning. These yogurt cups are sweetened with sucralose, and that artificial flavor can come through in some flavors. If you’re OK with that, then get the Blueberry yogurt; it’s the bee’s knees.

The texture gets a 4.5 out of 5, as well. I didn’t mind the texture at all, but felt it was a bit thicker and drier than your typical yogurt cup. This was probably due to the protein content in the yogurt, but it certainly wasn’t an issue for me.

With 25 grams of protein and only 8 grams of carbohydrates in each serving, this has a solid formulation for a protein snack, earning it a 5 out of 5 for the category. The sugar content is low, as well, with only 3 grams of total sugars and zero added sugars.

One complaint I had from :ratio when I first tested it out was that the items were only available through WalMart, which isn’t a nearby store for me. Since then, however, they’ve expanded the brand’s availability, so I can find them at stores much closer to my abode. With that convenience, you can be sure I’ll be snacking on these yogurt cups in the near future.

For a zero-sugar option, try out Dannon Light and Fit Zero-Sugar Yogurt. This low-calorie treat has no sugar and comes in six different flavors.