Best Clean Nut-Free Gluten-Free Protein Bars

Cleanest Ingredients Protein Bars that are Gluten Free and Peanuts Free
Ranking of cleanest ingredients protein bars filtered by: Gluten Free, Peanuts Free
Protein Bar Nerd Logo
By Protein Bar Nerd
October 17, 2025

Rankings Overview

  1. 1. Rise Bar
    Almond Honey

    Three ingredients—almonds, honey, and whey isolate—deliver 18g of complete protein with no gums, sugar alcohols, or artificial sweeteners.

  2. 2. RXBAR
    Coconut Chocolate

    Whole-food protein bar that pulls its 12g protein from egg whites and its sweetness from dates rather than sugar alcohols, all in an honest coconut‑chocolate bite.

  3. 3. 88 Acres
    Chocolate Cherry

    Nut‑ and soy‑free bar that skips sugar alcohols yet still delivers 12g of seed‑based protein and about 30% daily value of iron under a dark‑chocolate‑and‑cherry flavor.

  4. 4. Protein Puck
    Daily Bliss

    It’s one of the few vegan bars that skips protein isolates entirely—7g comes naturally from almonds, oats, and seeds—so it eats like a chewy cookie, not a lab project.

  5. 5. Over Easy
    Apple Cinnamon

    Breakfast, not candy: Over Easy Apple Cinnamon pairs cage-free egg-white protein with oats, apples, and honey, skipping sugar alcohols for a bar that genuinely eats like oatmeal on the go.

  6. 6. Prima
    Salted Caramel

    A rare, animal‑based bar: Prima pairs grass‑fed collagen with dairy and uses beef tallow for satiety, while leaning on honey—not sugar alcohols—for sweetness.

  7. 7. GoMacro
    Granola + Coconut MacroBar

    GoMacro’s Granola + Coconut MacroBar stands out as a granola-first, real-coconut bar (organic, vegan, and free of sugar alcohols or whey) that trades big protein for quick, satisfying energy.

  8. 8. Exo
    Blueberry Vanilla (Classic)

    A clean, fruit-and-nut bar powered by cricket flour, it delivers 10g of complete, sustainable protein without artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols.

  9. 9. TREK
    Peanut Power

    A peanut-date energy bar first and a protein bar second, TREK’s Peanut Power pairs 10.7g of complete soy protein with zero sugar alcohols and a crunchy soy-crisp bite.

  10. 10. Yes
    Black Sesame Sea Salt

    Savory-leaning bar, Yes Black Sesame Sea Salt pairs a furikake-inspired sesame-and-nori profile with whole nuts and seeds—no protein isolates or sugar alcohols—for steady, fat-forward energy.

Compare Best Clean Nut-Free Gluten-Free Protein Bars

BarAdditivesProteinCarbsFatCaloriesSugarIngredients
Rise Bar
Almond Honey
0182116280173
RXBAR
Coconut Chocolate
012238200148
88 Acres
Chocolate Cherry
01217172701013
Protein Puck
Daily Bliss
072014220912
Over Easy
Apple Cinnamon
0827102201010
Prima
Salted Caramel
0161613230149
GoMacro
Granola + Coconut MacroBar
063211250710
Exo
Blueberry Vanilla (Classic)
01023162601412
TREK
Peanut Power
0112662062214
Yes
Black Sesame Sea Salt
051317220716

Under the Microscope

1.

Rise Bar

Almond Honey

Rise Bar Almond Honey protein bar product photo
Product image of Rise Bar Almond Honey protein bar
18g
Protein
16g
Fat
21g
Carbs
17g
Sugar
280
Calories
Allergens:Milk, Tree Nuts
Diet:Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:3

What's in the Almond Honey Rise Bar bar?

Rise Bar Almond Honey keeps the label disarmingly simple: almonds, honey, and whey protein isolate. The whey isolate (a filtered milk protein) drives a sturdy 18g of complete protein, while almonds bring most of the fat and their own mild nuttiness.

Honey binds the bar and supplies familiar sweetness, so the carbs skew quick rather than slow.

With zero additives—no gums, emulsifiers, or sugar alcohols—the flavor reads like real almonds and honey, not a flavor lab, though that clean approach does come with higher sugar and calories than engineered low-sugar bars.

Protein
18
15
Fat
16
9
Carbs
21
20
Sugar
17
4
Calories
280
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Reviewers love the honest almond‑nougat chew, the three‑ingredient label with no aftertaste, and the clean 18g of whey isolate that feels recovery‑friendly.

Main criticism: The trade-off is real: 280 calories and 17g of honey sugar, occasional texture variability, a protein drop from 20g to 18g, and it’s a no-go for dairy or nut avoiders.

Bottom Line

Best for active days and post‑workout recovery when you want real‑food ingredients and quick energy without artificial sweeteners. Less ideal if you’re minimizing added sugar, avoiding dairy or tree nuts, or chasing maximum protein per calorie.

2.

RXBAR

Coconut Chocolate

RXBAR Coconut Chocolate protein bar product photo
Product image of RXBAR Coconut Chocolate protein bar
12g
Protein
8g
Fat
23g
Carbs
14g
Sugar
200
Calories
Allergens:Eggs, Tree Nuts, Coconuts
Diet:Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:8

What's in the Coconut Chocolate RXBAR bar?

RXBAR Coconut Chocolate keeps the ingredient deck to eight familiar foods: egg whites for protein; dates to bind and sweeten; almonds, cashews, coconut, and real chocolate for flavor, plus sea salt and natural flavors.

That simple recipe explains the macros—12g of high‑quality egg‑white protein, 23g carbs led by fruit instead of syrups, and 8g fat from nuts, coconut, and the cocoa butter naturally present in chocolate.

At 200 calories, it lands squarely in snack territory, and the sweetness is higher than many bars because it leans on dates and chocolate rather than sugar alcohols. Coconut and chocolate do the heavy lifting, while the nuts keep it satisfyingly dense.

Protein
12
15
Fat
8
9
Carbs
23
20
Sugar
14
4
Calories
200
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Fans love the real‑food formula—egg whites and dates, no artificial sweeteners—and a coconut‑chocolate flavor that feels like an honest treat with steady, satisfying energy.

Main criticism: The dense, sticky chew and a modest 12g protein turn off folks who want a soft cookie‑like bite or a 20g gym bar.

Bottom Line

Great for dairy‑free protein seekers who want a real‑food bar as a post‑workout bridge or afternoon snack, and who don’t mind a dense, chewy texture.

3.

88 Acres

Chocolate Cherry

88 Acres Chocolate Cherry protein bar product photo
Product image of 88 Acres Chocolate Cherry protein bar
12g
Protein
17g
Fat
17g
Carbs
10g
Sugar
270
Calories
Allergens:None
Diet:Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:13

What's in the Chocolate Cherry 88 Acres bar?

88 Acres Chocolate Cherry leans into plant protein, getting its 12 grams from pumpkin and sunflower seeds instead of isolates. The chocolate‑cherry profile is built from tart dried cherries and dark chocolate, rounded with vanilla and sea salt.

Sweetness comes from familiar sources—maple syrup, brown rice syrup, and the cane sugar in the chocolate—no sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners. With 0 additives (no emulsifiers or fillers) and about 30 percent daily value of iron from seeds and cocoa, it reads more like food than a formula.

It’s also substantial at 270 calories and 17 grams of fat, so it behaves like a mini meal, not a quick nibble.

Protein
12
15
Fat
17
9
Carbs
17
20
Sugar
10
4
Calories
270
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Trusted by allergy‑aware shoppers and food editors, it wins on real‑food sweetness, no sugar alcohols, and a satisfyingly ‘holds‑you‑over’ bite.

Main criticism: It’s a splurge with a chewy, seedy texture that some find more trail mix than brownie.

Bottom Line

Best for nut- and dairy‑free eaters who want a real‑food bar that actually keeps you full—afternoons at the desk, long errands, or trail snacks—rather than a low‑calorie, 20‑gram protein hit.

Other Flavors

4.

Protein Puck

Daily Bliss

Protein Puck Daily Bliss protein bar product photo
Product image of Protein Puck Daily Bliss protein bar
7g
Protein
14g
Fat
20g
Carbs
9g
Sugar
220
Calories
Allergens:Tree Nuts, Coconuts
Diet:Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:12

What's in the Daily Bliss Protein Puck bar?

Protein Puck’s Daily Bliss reads like a real-food snack: almond butter, gluten-free oats, seeds, dark chocolate, and coconut. All 7g of protein come naturally from those whole foods—no isolates or concentrates—so the texture is chewy and the ingredient list stays short with zero additives.

Fat runs higher thanks to nuts, seeds, coconut, and cocoa butter, which helps it satisfy between meals. Carbs sit mid-range, split between whole-grain oats and a touch of sweetness from agave syrup and the cane sugar that’s part of dark chocolate.

Flavor-wise, almond butter and dark chocolate do the talking, with coconut adding a toasty finish.

Protein
7
15
Fat
14
9
Carbs
20
20
Sugar
9
4
Calories
220
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Taste and texture steal the show—soft, cookie-like, not overly sweet—with real, pantry-familiar ingredients that many say keep them full.

Main criticism: Protein is modest at 7g and there’s added sugar, with some reports of too-firm batches and a higher price point.

Bottom Line

Best for a vegan, gluten‑free snack that feels substantial without being a protein bomb—great with coffee, on flights, or as a light breakfast. Not ideal if you need 20g+ of protein from a single bar.

5.

Over Easy

Apple Cinnamon

Over Easy Apple Cinnamon protein bar product photo
Product image of Over Easy Apple Cinnamon protein bar
8g
Protein
10g
Fat
27g
Carbs
10g
Sugar
220
Calories
Allergens:Eggs, Tree Nuts
Diet:Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:10

What's in the Apple Cinnamon Over Easy bar?

Over Easy’s Apple Cinnamon Protein Bar reads like breakfast you can toss in your bag: gluten-free oats, almonds and almond butter, honey, dried apples, and cage-free egg whites, warmed with cinnamon and a bit of vanilla.

It’s a carb-forward, whole-grain bar with nut fats for staying power and egg-white protein that rides lighter than whey. Sweetness comes from honey and apples, not artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols.

The ingredient list stays short and kitchen-familiar, with just a touch of tapioca fiber, a refined soluble fiber from cassava, to keep the bar soft.

Protein
8
15
Fat
10
9
Carbs
27
20
Sugar
10
4
Calories
220
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: It actually tastes like homemade baked oatmeal—soft, gently spiced, and convincingly “real food,” with no sugar-alcohol aftertaste.

Main criticism: With 8g of protein and an oat-forward, soft-chewy texture, it can underwhelm lifters and low-carb shoppers expecting a candy-bar-smooth heavyweight.

Bottom Line

Best for on‑the‑go breakfast or pre‑activity fuel when you want gentle sweetness, gluten‑free oats, and dairy‑free protein from egg whites. Not built for keto or for anyone chasing 20‑gram protein macros.

6.

Prima

Salted Caramel

Prima Salted Caramel protein bar product photo
Product image of Prima Salted Caramel protein bar
16g
Protein
13g
Fat
16g
Carbs
14g
Sugar
230
Calories
Allergens:Milk, Coconuts
Diet:Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:9

What's in the Salted Caramel Prima bar?

Prima’s Salted Caramel takes an animal‑based route: grass‑fed collagen peptides plus a grass‑fed dairy protein concentrate deliver 16g of protein and a soft, nougaty chew. The fat—13g—comes mostly from grass‑fed beef tallow (rendered beef fat) and coconut, which set the structure and help you stay full.

Carbs land at 16g, with 14g of sugar from organic raw honey and coconut nectar—minimally processed syrups that bring quick energy and real caramel warmth. A touch of agave inulin adds prebiotic fiber, while cacao nibs, vanilla, and sea salt do the flavor lifting.

Big picture: short, recognizable ingredients, richer fats, and zero sugar alcohols.

Protein
16
15
Fat
13
9
Carbs
16
20
Sugar
14
4
Calories
230
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Fans rave about the short, real‑food ingredient list, the soft fudge‑like texture, and how surprisingly satisfied they feel—without the sugar‑alcohol bloat.

Main criticism: The tallow‑rich build can taste oily or beefy to some, and skeptics balk at the 14g of sugar, 13g of mostly saturated fat, and the unclear split between collagen and dairy protein.

Bottom Line

Choose it if you want a real‑food, satiating snack with no sugar alcohols and you’re fine with 14g of sugar from honey—great as an afternoon hold‑you‑over or pre‑hike fuel. Skip it if you avoid saturated fat, steer vegetarian/vegan, or need a very high protein‑to‑calorie ratio.

Other Flavors

7.

GoMacro

Granola + Coconut MacroBar

GoMacro Granola + Coconut MacroBar protein bar product photo
Product image of GoMacro Granola + Coconut MacroBar protein bar
6g
Protein
11g
Fat
32g
Carbs
7g
Sugar
250
Calories
Allergens:Tree Nuts, Coconuts
Diet:Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:10

What's in the Granola + Coconut MacroBar GoMacro bar?

Call it an oat-and-nut energy bar with a plant-protein assist. The protein comes from an organic blend of sprouted brown rice and pea, but at 6g it plays backup while higher carbs and nut-and-coconut fats set the pace.

Real unsweetened coconut tops gluten-free oats and puffed brown rice for granola crunch, with walnuts plus almond and sunflower seed butters adding toasty richness. Brown rice syrup and a touch of coconut sugar bind it into a satisfyingly chewy bar.

The ingredient list is short and organic-leaning with no additives like emulsifiers, artificial flavors, or sugar alcohols.

Protein
6
15
Fat
11
9
Carbs
32
20
Sugar
7
4
Calories
250
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Fans love the real-coconut chew and short, recognizable ingredients (no whey, no sugar alcohols), and many with sensitive stomachs say it sits comfortably.

Main criticism: With only 6g of protein and a dense, taffy-like chew, it can feel pricey and too syrupy for some guts, and coconut skeptics or crisp-texture devotees won't be swayed.

Bottom Line

Best for plant‑based, gluten‑free snackers who want quick fuel before a walk, hike, or commute and prefer bars without whey or sugar alcohols. Less ideal if you’re chasing a high‑protein or low‑carb bar.

8.

Exo

Blueberry Vanilla (Classic)

Exo Blueberry Vanilla (Classic) protein bar product photo
Product image of Exo Blueberry Vanilla (Classic) protein bar
10g
Protein
16g
Fat
23g
Carbs
14g
Sugar
260
Calories
Allergens:Tree Nuts, Coconuts
Diet:Paleo, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:12

What's in the Blueberry Vanilla (Classic) Exo bar?

Meet Exo’s Blueberry Vanilla, a fruit-and-nut bar that leans on cricket flour for its protein and real blueberries with vanilla for flavor. It reads more like trail mix than a gym shake: modest protein, a higher-fat backbone from almonds, coconut, and flax, and sweetness from fruit plus a touch of honey.

The ingredient list is short and recognizable, with no additives like emulsifiers or sugar alcohols; the most refined element is fruit-derived apple juice concentrate used to sweeten the berries. At 260 calories, it’s built for steady, stick-with-you energy rather than a quick spike.

Protein
10
15
Fat
16
9
Carbs
23
20
Sugar
14
4
Calories
260
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Fans rave about the blueberry-forward taste, short and familiar ingredient list, steady, filling energy, and the feel-good sustainability of cricket protein.

Main criticism: The knocks are a higher price, a chewy texture some find sticky or dense, modest 10g protein, and the simple reality that insect protein is a non-starter for some (and not for vegans or vegetarians).

Bottom Line

Choose this if you want a clean, fruit‑and‑nut snack with a modest, high‑quality protein boost and you’re open to insect protein. It fits paleo and gluten‑free patterns and works best for hikes, travel, and between‑meeting energy rather than a post‑workout 20g hit.

Other Flavors

9.

TREK

Peanut Power

TREK Peanut Power protein bar product photo
Product image of TREK Peanut Power protein bar
11g
Protein
6g
Fat
26g
Carbs
22g
Sugar
206
Calories
Allergens:Peanuts, Soybeans
Diet:Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:14

What's in the Peanut Power TREK bar?

Peanut Power reads like a fruit-and-nut bar that drafted soy for backup. Dates and raisins supply the base, peanut butter and roasted peanuts steer the flavor, and gluten-free oats add a bit of chew.

The protein comes from soy protein crunchies—puffed soy bound with a little tapioca starch—plus a touch of soy flour, which keeps the texture snappy rather than pasty. Grape and apple juice concentrates act as the glue, with simple rice and tapioca starch helping it hold together.

The net effect is fast, fruit-leaning carbs, moderate soy protein, mostly peanut-derived fats, and a vegan, gluten-free label.

Protein
11
15
Fat
6
9
Carbs
26
20
Sugar
22
4
Calories
206
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: People love the peanut-forward flavor and soy-crisp crunch, and they trust the simple, sugar-alcohol-free ingredient list that eats like real food.

Main criticism: The macro trade-off is the sticking point—about 11 grams of protein for 206 calories and 22 grams of sugar, with occasional notes about dryness and price.

Bottom Line

slump—without the aftertaste of sweeteners. Skip it if you’re avoiding peanuts or soy, or chasing ultra‑high protein with very low sugar.

Other Flavors

10.

Yes

Black Sesame Sea Salt

Yes Black Sesame Sea Salt protein bar product photo
Product image of Yes Black Sesame Sea Salt protein bar
5g
Protein
17g
Fat
13g
Carbs
7g
Sugar
220
Calories
Allergens:Tree Nuts, Coconuts, Sesame
Diet:Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:16

What's in the Black Sesame Sea Salt Yes bar?

Black Sesame Sea Salt reads like something from your own pantry: almonds, cashews, sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, a pinch of sea salt, and a Japanese-style furikake blend of sesame and nori.

Sweetness comes from maple syrup and coconut nectar—traditional syrups used more as binders than candy—so you get 7 grams of added sugar without sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners.

The protein is entirely plant-based and comes from whole foods, and the macros reflect that: 5 grams of protein, 17 grams of fat, and 13 grams of carbs in a 220‑calorie bar.

It’s a short, minimally processed list with zero emulsifiers or lab-made sweeteners, built for steady, satisfying energy more than post-workout repair.

Protein
5
15
Fat
17
9
Carbs
13
20
Sugar
7
4
Calories
220
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Reviewers praise its real-food taste and clean, sugar‑alcohol‑free ingredients, noting that the toasty, savory chew keeps them surprisingly full.

Main criticism: Skeptics call out the 220 calories for just 5 grams of protein, and some find the soft texture and sesame‑and‑nori flavor polarizing when they expected dessert.

Bottom Line

Best for sesame lovers and real‑food snackers who want a vegan, paleo, gluten‑free bar to keep them steady on afternoons, flights, or hikes. Not ideal if you’re chasing a 20‑gram post‑gym protein hit.