Which is healthier, Quest or RXBAR?

It depends on what healthy means to you. RXBAR scores significantly higher on ingredient quality. 10 of 12 flavors earn an A grade, they use whole food ingredients like egg whites, dates, and nuts, and contain zero artificial sweeteners. Quest bars score B or C, use sucralose and erythritol in every flavor, but deliver 20g protein at 3.8g net carbs. If ingredient quality is your priority, RXBAR wins clearly. If protein efficiency or keto macros matter more, Quest wins.

Which has more protein, Quest or RXBAR?

Quest bars average 19.9g protein per bar. RXBARs average 12.5g. Quest also wins on protein efficiency: 10.9g per 100 calories versus 5.9g for RXBAR. If protein is the primary goal, Quest is the more efficient choice.

Do Quest bars have artificial sweeteners?

Yes. All 16 Quest flavors we scored contain sucralose and erythritol. These sweeteners let Quest hit 1g sugar and 3.8g net carbs per bar without using natural sugars, but they also push ingredient quality scores down to the B/C range.

Do RXBAR bars have artificial sweeteners?

No. Zero of the 12 RXBAR flavors we scored contain sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, or saccharin. RXBARs are sweetened by dates, which is why they average 14g of sugar per bar. That sugar is naturally occurring from the dates, not added refined sugar.

Are Quest bars keto friendly?

Yes. All 16 Quest flavors average 3.8g net carbs and hit 5g or fewer. RXBARs average 19.8g net carbs and do not qualify for keto. Quest is one of the most consistently keto-friendly bars on the market.

Which Quest flavor is the best?

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip scores highest among Quest flavors at 6.2 on ingredient quality and earns a B grade. It uses oats and stevia in addition to the standard erythritol, which helps the score. Double Chocolate Chunk has the lowest net carbs at 3g if keto is the priority.

Which RXBAR flavor is the best?

Coconut Chocolate scores highest at 10.3 and earns an A grade. Chocolate Sea Salt is a close second at 10.2. Both use simple whole food ingredient lists: dates, egg whites, nuts, and real cocoa. Vanilla Almond and Blueberry are also strong picks at 10.0 and 9.9 respectively.

Quest vs RXBAR: Which Is Actually Healthier?

Name: Know Your Bar Protein Bar Ingredient Quality Database
Creator: Know Your Bar
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Quest vs RXBAR at a glance

Quest

Flavors scored 16

Grade range B-C

Avg ingredient score 3.9

Avg protein 19.9g

Avg calories 182

Avg sugar 1.2g

Avg net carbs 3.8g

Artificial sweeteners All 16 flavors

vs

RXBAR

Flavors scored 12

Grade range A-B

Avg ingredient score 9.2

Avg protein 12.5g

Avg calories 213

Avg sugar 14.2g

Avg net carbs 19.8g

Artificial sweeteners None

What makes these two bars different

Quest and RXBAR are built on different philosophies. Quest engineers its macros: high protein, very low sugar, and minimal net carbs by using artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols. That lets them hit 20g protein at under 200 calories with 3.8g net carbs. The trade-off is ingredient quality, which sits in the B/C range across all 16 flavors.

RXBAR goes the other direction. Dates, egg whites, and nuts are the core of most flavors. No artificial sweeteners, no sugar alcohols. The result is an average ingredient score of 9.2 and 10 out of 12 flavors earning an A. The trade-off is macros. Dates carry natural sugar, which is why RXBARs average 14g sugar and 19.8g net carbs. Protein averages 12.5g, which is 37% less per bar than Quest.

Quest

Quest achieves low sugar and high protein by using sucralose and erythritol as sweeteners, plus polydextrose as a prebiotic fiber. This lets them hit 20g protein and 3.8g net carbs in 182 calories without natural sugars. The ingredient quality score of 3.9 reflects that sweetener dependence along with the use of isolated protein fractions rather than whole food protein sources. They score B or C, not A. That is a meaningful gap from RXBAR on ingredient quality, but it is a deliberate engineering choice, not an oversight.

RXBAR

RXBAR's classic ingredient list is genuinely simple: egg whites, dates, nuts, and not much else. That is why 10 of 12 flavors earn an A. The two B-grade flavors are the newer high-protein line, which adds pea protein and agave nectar. The cost of the whole-food approach is macros. Dates are high in natural sugar, which is why RXBARs average 14g sugar and 19.8g net carbs. That is fine if you are not tracking net carbs, but it rules them out for keto entirely.

The numbers, head to head

Every metric that matters, side by side. No curated selection.

Metric	Quest (avg)	RXBAR (avg)
Ingredient score	3.9	9.2
Grade	B / C	A (10 of 12)
Protein per bar	19.9g	12.5g
Calories per bar	182	213
Protein per 100 cal	10.9g	5.9g
Sugar per bar	1.2g	14.2g
Net carbs	3.8g	19.8g
Fiber per bar	12.1g	4.7g
Artificial sweeteners	All 16 flavors	None
Sugar alcohols	All 16 flavors	None
Keto friendly	All 16 flavors	0 of 12
Whole food ingredients	No	Yes (most)
Flavors in lineup	16	12

Ingredient quality grade distribution

How each brand's full lineup breaks down by ingredient quality grade. Every flavor, not a curated selection.

Quest - 16 flavors

B

C

9 – B 7 – C

RXBAR - 12 flavors

A

B

10 – A 2 – B

Best flavor from each brand by ingredient quality

Quest

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip

Score 6.2 · Grade B

High protein Stevia sweetened Erythritol Sucralose

Buy on Amazon

RXBAR

Coconut Chocolate

Score 10.3 · Grade A

Whole food ingredients No artificial sweeteners Egg white protein

Buy on Amazon

The right bar for your goal

Neither brand wins outright. It depends on what you are optimizing for.

Buy Quest if:

You are tracking macros and want the most protein per calorie
You are on keto and need to stay under 5g net carbs
Artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols are not a concern for you
You want more flavor variety (16 options vs 12)
You are lifting and protein is the priority above all else

Buy RXBAR if:

Ingredient quality matters more than hitting a specific protein target
You want to avoid artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols entirely
You prefer whole food ingredients over engineered formulas
You are not on keto and 14g of natural sugar from dates works for you
You want a bar that reads like a recipe, not a supplement label

All flavors ranked by ingredient quality

Every flavor scored. Tap any row to expand the full ingredient list.

Quest 16 flavors · B-C grades

Flavor	Grade	Score	Protein	Cal	Sugar
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Top Pick Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	B	6.2	20g	180	1g
Protein 20g Calories 180 Sugar 1g Fiber 14g Net Carbs 5g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Oats, Unsweetened Chocolate, Erythritol, Glycerin. Contains Less Than 2% Of: Cocoa Butter, Sea Salt, Natural Flavors, Cinnamon, Lecithin, Stevia High protein Stevia sweetened Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
Double Chocolate Chunk Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	B	5.2	20g	170	1g
Protein 20g Calories 170 Sugar 1g Fiber 12g Net Carbs 3g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Erythritol, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Glycerin, Cocoa Butter. Contains Less Than 2%: Natural Flavors, Sodium Caseinate, Sea Salt, Lecithin High protein Lowest net carbs Erythritol Buy on Amazon
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	B	5.0	21g	190	1g
Protein 21g Calories 190 Sugar 1g Fiber 12g Net Carbs 4g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Unsweetened Chocolate, Erythritol, Cocoa Butter, Glycerin. Contains Less Than 2%: Natural Flavors, Salt, Lecithin, Stevia Sweetener, Sucralose Highest protein (Quest) Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
Chocolate Peanut Butter Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	B	4.7	20g	190	1g
Protein 20g Calories 190 Sugar 1g Fiber 11g Net Carbs 4g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Peanuts, Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Water, Erythritol, Unsweetened Chocolate, Glycerin. Contains Less Than 2%: Cocoa Butter, Sodium Caseinate, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Stevia Sweetener, Lecithin Real peanuts Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
Chocolate Brownie Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	B	4.6	20g	170	1g
Protein 20g Calories 170 Sugar 1g Fiber 15g Net Carbs 4g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Erythritol, Glycerin. Contains Less Than 2%: Natural Flavors, Salt, Stevia Sweetener, Lecithin, Sucralose High fiber (15g) Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
Dipped Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	B	4.5	18g	180	1g
Protein 18g Calories 180 Sugar 1g Fiber 8g Net Carbs 3g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Erythritol, Palm Kernel Oil, Unsweetened Chocolate, Sodium Caseinate, Cocoa Processed With Alkali. Contains Less Than 2%: Glycerin, Cocoa Butter, Sea Salt, Natural Flavors, Lecithin, Stevia Sweetener, Sucralose Palm kernel oil Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
Mint Chocolate Chunk Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	B	4.2	20g	180	1g
Protein 20g Calories 180 Sugar 1g Fiber 14g Net Carbs 4g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Water, Almonds, Cocoa Butter, Erythritol, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Glycerin, Natural Flavors. Contains Less Than 2%: Soluble Corn Fiber, Sodium Caseinate, Palm Kernel Oil, Sea Salt, Lecithin, Stevia Sweetener, Sucralose Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
S'Mores Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	B	4.2	21g	190	1g
Protein 21g Calories 190 Sugar 1g Fiber 12g Net Carbs 4g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Erythritol, Unsweetened Chocolate, Glycerin. Contains Less Than 2%: Natural Flavors, Soluble Corn Fiber, Cocoa Butter, Palm Kernel Oil and/or Palm Oil, Salt, Cinnamon, Lecithin, Stevia Sweetener, Sucralose Highest protein (Quest) Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
Blueberry Muffin Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	B	4.0	20g	180	2g
Protein 20g Calories 180 Sugar 2g Fiber 13g Net Carbs 4g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Erythritol, Cocoa Butter, Glycerin, Dried Blueberries. Contains Less Than 2%: Natural Flavors, Soluble Corn Fiber, Palm Kernel Oil, Salt, Cinnamon, Baking Soda, Sodium Caseinate, Lecithin, Stevia Sweetener, Sucralose Dried blueberries Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
Cookies and Cream Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	C	3.7	21g	190	1g
Protein 21g Calories 190 Sugar 1g Fiber 13g Net Carbs 4g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Cocoa Butter, Erythritol, Glycerin, Soluble Corn Fiber, Natural Flavors. Contains Less Than 2%: Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Palm Kernel Oil, Sea Salt, Sodium Caseinate, Lecithin, Stevia Sweetener, Sucralose Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
Strawberry Shortcake Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	C	3.4	20g	200	2g
Protein 20g Calories 200 Sugar 2g Fiber 10g Net Carbs 3g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Erythritol, Palm Kernel Oil, Sodium Caseinate, Cocoa Butter, Glycerin. Contains Less Than 2%: Natural Flavors, Strawberries, Salt, Lecithin, Stevia Sweetener, Sucralose Palm kernel oil Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
Apple Pie Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	C	3.0	20g	170	2g
Protein 20g Calories 170 Sugar 2g Fiber 13g Net Carbs 4g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Erythritol, Dried Apple (Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride), Glycerin, Soluble Corn Fiber. Contains Less Than 2%: Natural Flavors, Palm Kernel Oil, Salt, Lecithin, Stevia Sweetener, Sucralose Dried apple Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
White Chocolate Raspberry Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	C	3.0	20g	180	1g
Protein 20g Calories 180 Sugar 1g Fiber 13g Net Carbs 4g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Erythritol, Palm Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Raspberries, Sodium Caseinate. Contains Less Than 2%: Natural Flavors, Salt, Lecithin, Stevia Sweetener, Sucralose Real raspberries Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
Dipped Cookies and Cream Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	C	2.9	18g	180	1g
Protein 18g Calories 180 Sugar 1g Fiber 8g Net Carbs 3g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Palm Kernel Oil, Erythritol, Water, Sodium Caseinate, Cocoa Butter, Glycerin. Contains Less Than 2%: Soluble Corn Fiber, Natural Flavors, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Sea Salt, Lecithin, Stevia Sweetener, Sucralose Palm kernel oil Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
Lemon Cake Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	C	2.0	20g	180	1g
Protein 20g Calories 180 Sugar 1g Fiber 13g Net Carbs 4g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Erythritol, Palm Kernel Oil, Glycerin. Contains Less Than 2%: Lemon Powder, Sodium Caseinate, Natural Flavors, Soluble Corn Fiber, Salt, Lecithin, Stevia Sweetener, Sucralose Palm kernel oil Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon
Birthday Cake Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	C	1.7	20g	180	1g
Protein 20g Calories 180 Sugar 1g Fiber 12g Net Carbs 4g Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Polydextrose (Prebiotic Fiber), Water, Erythritol, Almonds, Palm Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Sodium Caseinate, Natural Flavors. Contains Less Than 2%: Sea Salt, Gum Arabic, Spirulina Extract (Color), Red Cabbage Extract (Color), Stevia Sweetener, Sucralose Palm kernel oil Erythritol Sucralose Buy on Amazon

RXBAR 12 flavors · A-B grades

Flavor	Grade	Score	Protein	Cal	Sugar
Coconut Chocolate Top Pick Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	A	10.3	12g	200	14g
Protein 12g Calories 200 Sugar 14g Fiber 5g Net Carbs 18g Ingredients: Dates, Egg Whites, Almonds, Cashews, Chocolate, Coconut, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt Whole food ingredients No artificial sweeteners Egg white protein Buy on Amazon
Chocolate Sea Salt Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	A	10.2	12g	200	14g
Protein 12g Calories 200 Sugar 14g Fiber 5g Net Carbs 18g Ingredients: Dates, Egg Whites, Cashews, Almonds, Chocolate, Cocoa, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt Whole food ingredients No artificial sweeteners Egg white protein Buy on Amazon
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter tap for ingredients	A	10.0	10g	230	11g
Protein 10g Calories 230 Sugar 11g Fiber 4g Net Carbs 24g Ingredients: Oats, Honey, Peanut Butter (Peanuts), Egg Whites, Peanuts, Pumpkin Seeds, Brown Rice, Chocolate, Avocado and/or High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Coconut Sugar, Oat Fiber, Cocoa, Sea Salt, Natural Flavors Whole food ingredients Real peanut butter Higher calorie
Vanilla Almond Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	A	10.0	12g	190	16g
Protein 12g Calories 190 Sugar 16g Fiber 5g Net Carbs 19g Ingredients: Dates, Egg Whites, Almonds, Cashews, Vanilla Bean, Sea Salt, Natural Flavors Whole food ingredients Real vanilla bean No artificial sweeteners Buy on Amazon
Strawberry Strudel Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	A	9.9	12g	190	14g
Protein 12g Calories 190 Sugar 14g Fiber 6g Net Carbs 18g Ingredients: Dates, Egg Whites, Almonds, Cashews, Strawberries, Natural Flavors Real strawberries Whole food ingredients No artificial sweeteners Buy on Amazon
Blueberry Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	A	9.9	12g	180	15g
Protein 12g Calories 180 Sugar 15g Fiber 6g Net Carbs 18g Ingredients: Dates, Egg Whites, Almonds, Cashews, Blueberries, Natural Flavors Real blueberries Whole food ingredients No artificial sweeteners Buy on Amazon
Blueberry Cashew Butter Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	A	9.7	10g	220	11g
Protein 10g Calories 220 Sugar 11g Fiber 5g Net Carbs 24g Ingredients: Oats, Honey, Egg Whites, Cashew Butter (Cashews), Almonds, Blueberries, Pumpkin Seeds, Brown Rice, Avocado and/or High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Coconut Sugar, Oat Fiber, Sea Salt, Lemon, Natural Flavors Whole food ingredients Real cashew butter Higher calorie Buy on Amazon
Peanut Butter Chocolate Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	A	9.7	12g	210	14g
Protein 12g Calories 210 Sugar 14g Fiber 4g Net Carbs 19g Ingredients: Dates, Peanuts, Egg Whites, Chocolate, Peanut Flour (Peanuts), Natural Flavors, Cocoa, Sea Salt Real peanuts Whole food ingredients No artificial sweeteners Buy on Amazon
Peanut Butter Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	A	9.1	12g	190	17g
Protein 12g Calories 190 Sugar 17g Fiber 4g Net Carbs 20g Ingredients: Dates, Peanuts, Egg Whites, Peanut Flour (Peanuts), Sea Salt, Natural Flavors Real peanuts Whole food ingredients No artificial sweeteners Buy on Amazon
Honey Cinnamon Peanut Butter Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	A	8.8	10g	220	12g
Protein 10g Calories 220 Sugar 12g Fiber 4g Net Carbs 25g Ingredients: Oats, Honey, Peanut Butter (Peanuts), Egg Whites, Peanuts, Pumpkin Seeds, Brown Rice, Avocado and/or High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Coconut Sugar, Oat Fiber, Sea Salt, Cinnamon, Natural Flavors Real peanut butter Whole food ingredients Higher calorie Buy on Amazon
Strawberry Peanut Butter Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	B	6.5	18g	260	16g
Protein 18g Calories 260 Sugar 16g Fiber 4g Net Carbs 17g Ingredients: Peanut Butter (Peanuts), Agave Nectar, Pea Protein, Peanuts, Strawberries, Natural Flavors Higher protein (18g) Real peanut butter Pea protein isolate Agave nectar Buy on Amazon
Vanilla Peanut Butter Buy on Amazon tap for ingredients	B	6.5	18g	270	16g
Protein 18g Calories 270 Sugar 16g Fiber 4g Net Carbs 17g Ingredients: Peanut Butter (Peanuts), Agave Nectar, Pea Protein, Peanuts, Vanilla Beans, Natural Flavors Higher protein (18g) Real vanilla beans Pea protein isolate Agave nectar Buy on Amazon

Bottom line

The Quest vs RXBAR decision comes down to one question: do you care more about what is in the bar or what macros the bar delivers? Quest engineers macros. RXBAR sources ingredients. Both are legitimate choices depending on your goals, and neither is obviously wrong for the person it is designed for.

If you are counting net carbs, need 20g protein per bar, or are on keto, Quest wins on almost every macro metric. If you are avoiding artificial sweeteners, prefer whole food ingredients, and do not need the bar to double as a protein supplement, RXBAR is the better choice. The ingredient quality difference (9.2 vs 3.9) is substantial. That gap reflects real differences in what you are eating.

Our Top Bar Pick

RXBAR Coconut Chocolate

When the choice is between engineered macros and actual food, we pick actual food. RXBAR Coconut Chocolate scores 10.3 and earns an A with an 8-ingredient list: dates, egg whites, almonds, cashews, chocolate, coconut, natural flavors, sea salt. You can read it in 10 seconds and recognize every item on it. If you need 20g protein in under 200 calories with minimal carbs, Quest Oatmeal Chocolate Chip is the call instead. But as a bar we would eat daily, it is the Coconut Chocolate.

Buy on Amazon

Our Brand Pick

RXBAR

We pick RXBAR as the better brand. The 2.3x higher average ingredient score (9.2 vs 3.9) reflects a fundamentally different approach to what goes into a bar. Dates, egg whites, and nuts are things your body knows what to do with. Sucralose, erythritol, and polydextrose are not terrible, but they are engineering solutions, not food. If your goal is protein efficiency or keto macros, Quest is the rational choice. But if you are asking which brand we trust more as a food company, it is RXBAR by a clear margin.

Know Your Bar

Explore all 1,000+ bars

Filter by protein, sugar, fiber, calories, or specific ingredients. Every bar scored A-F by ingredient quality. No sponsored picks.

A-grade bars only Keto friendly No artificial sweeteners

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Full Quest Review

All 16 flavors scored with full ingredient breakdowns, macro data, and grade distribution.

Full RXBAR Review

All 12 flavors scored with full ingredient breakdowns, macro data, and grade distribution.

No Artificial Sweeteners Guide

The best protein bars with zero sucralose, acesulfame K, or aspartame. RXBAR is a standout. Quest is not.

Quest vs RXBAR

Quest vs RXBAR at a glance

What makes these two bars different

The numbers, head to head

Ingredient quality grade distribution

Best flavor from each brand by ingredient quality

The right bar for your goal

All flavors ranked by ingredient quality

Bottom line

Frequently asked questions about Quest vs RXBAR