I'm a Personal Trainer: These 3 Costco Protein Buys Are Actually Worth the Bulk Price
Protein bars can give you some extra fuel while strengthening your muscles, and you can save some money if you buy them in bulk at Costco.
However, some of them are better than others. That’s why MoneyLion spoke with Duncan Forbes, a sports performance specialist and ACSM personal trainer certified instructor.
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He shared his favorite protein bars and explained what to look for before adding any protein bar to your shopping cart.
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1. RXBAR Protein Bars, Variety Pack (14-Count)
Price: $20.99 ($1.50 per bar)
Forbes touted the RXBAR Protein Bar as his favorite pick. Although each RXBAR Protein Bar only has 12 grams of protein, those grams come from dates. That’s Duncan’s preferred protein source.
“As an unprocessed whole food, their natural sugars are tightly bound in dietary fiber, ensuring slow digestion, and a steady, sustained release of energy,” Forbes said.
2. Kirkland Signature Protein Bar, Variety Pack (20-Count)
Price: $26.49 ($1.33 per bar)
This Kirkland protein bar variety pack offers 10 chocolate chip cookie dough and 10 brownie bars. It’s gluten-free and has 21 grams of protein. This bar uses stevia as its sweetener, which Forbes approves.
“It’s a natural, zero-calorie plant extract with a glycemic index of zero,” Forbes said. “[Stevia] provides clean sweetness without triggering blood sugar or insulin spikes.”
3. IQBAR
Price: $18.59 ($1.03 per bar)
The IQBAR offers plant-based protein and uses stevia as its sweetener. It has 12 grams of protein, and you will get 18 bars in this variety pack.
The Protein Bar Tier List
These were the top three bars Forbes recommended, but he also provided us with a tier list so you can see how they compare with other brands.
Rank (Worst to Best) | Bar Brand | Sweetener | > 18g Protein? | Est. Total Ingredients |
1. Worst | Pure Protein | Sucralose (Splenda) and Maltitol | Yes (20 to 21g) | ~22 to 25 ingredients |
2. Moderate | Kirkland Chewy | Traditional Sugars & Syrups | No (10g) | ~18 to 20 ingredients |
3. Moderate / Good | Kirkland Protein Bars (Chunk / Cookies) | Erythritol | Yes (21g) | ~13 to 15 ingredients |
4. Better | IQBAR Kirkland Protein Bars (Brownie / Dough) | Stevia | No (12g) Yes (21g) | ~15 to 17 ingredients ~13 to 15 ingredients |
5. Best | RXBAR | Dates (Whole Fruit) | No (12g) | 5 to 6 ingredients |
Forbes used 18 grams of protein as a benchmark because he said that equals three medium-sized eggs. Sucralose is his least favorite sweetener since it is artificial. He also said that studies link daily consumption to “an altered gut microbiome and decreased glucose tolerance.” He also warned that Maltitol is “notorious for causing severe bloating and gastric distress.”
“Protein content often gets the spotlight, but a bar's sweetener profile dictates how it impacts your digestion, metabolism, and energy levels,” Forbes explained. He also noted that bars often need more ingredients to reach higher protein amounts, which can result in artificial sweetening.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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