Kirkland Protein Bars Vs Quest Protein Bars: Which Is Better?

If you're a health-conscious person simply looking to get the best bang for your buck and get stumped every time you enter the grocery store because the options are endless, you're not alone. When it comes to healthy options such as protein bars, it can be especially confusing to separate the ones that are actually good for you versus the bars that are simply clever marketing ploys full of added sugar and artificial additives no one told you about. 

Some of the strongest contenders in this space are two brands: Quest and Costco's in-house brand, Kirkland. While both are promising, you've probably wondered which one is worth your money, what are the overall pros and cons of each, and what you need to know before making your purchase. Here's some info the could help you choose between the two brands so that the next time you're adding a protein bar into your shopping cart, you know what you're signing up for!

What about basic nutrition and primary ingredients? While Kirkland protein bars have tapioca starch, cashews, and artificial sweeteners such as erythritol coupled with stevia, their Quest counterparts have corn fiber, almonds, sucralose, and stevia. Blogger Wendy Jane compared the chocolate chip cookie dough flavors of the bars. Quest is slightly higher in terms of calories (200 versus 190). However, there isn't a substantial difference in terms of nutrition. Both contain 21 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar, and similar amounts of fat and fiber. Other flavors may have slight nutritional differences.

However, users on Reddit have voiced their opinions on opting for corn fiber versus tapioca starch. A Reddit user wrote, "The tastes are similar but they have a different type of fiber. Kirkland has tapioca starch and Quest has soluble corn fiber. My internet research tells me it's questionable whether tapioca starch is digested by the body or not. It seems pretty clear that soluble corn fiber is not digested. So I somewhat trust Quest bars more." Additionally, it's also worth mentioning that Kirkland just has four flavors available while Quest has more than 20 options to pick from.

According to Wendy Jane, "If you have had Quest, the Kirkland is pretty close. It's not overly sweet and tastes entirely different from other protein bars. However, I prefer the flavor of the Kirkland protein bars. Many people say that Quest bars have a distinct 'Quest' essence and I do agree. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but it's there." She also mentioned price as being a major factor and said that overall, Kirkland bars turn out to be cheaper at $1 for each bar versus Quest which is priced at a little over $2.

A few Reddit users also offered their views on the topic. One of them mentioned how discovering the Kirkland protein bars was a significant moment: "They taste on par with Quest Bars, too (a little softer, actually) ... Personally, this is a damn game changer. I love [Quest] bars, but I have to eat them so sparingly because they just aren't cost effective." Ultimately, it comes down to your personal tastes, and cost concerns. If you're looking to save money, the Kirkland has the advantage, but if you want variety, Quest is the best.