We sell bars. You should read what follows with that in mind. But the honest answer is that for most purposes a shake is the better tool, and there are specific situations where it isn't.
Where shakes win
Per gram of protein, powder is cheaper — usually by a wide margin. It's also faster to digest, which matters if you're eating close to training, and far easier to scale: you want 45 grams instead of 20, you add another scoop.
If you're at home, or you have a kitchen at work, or you don't mind carrying a shaker, powder is the rational choice and we're not going to pretend otherwise.
Where bars win
Bars win on logistics, and only on logistics. No bottle to clean, no water needed, no powder explosion in your bag, nothing that goes bad if you forget about it for a week. You can keep one in a desk drawer for a month.
They're also more satiating for most people. Chewing something does more for hunger than drinking it, which is why a bar tends to hold better between meals than an equivalent shake.
The actual answer
Use powder as your default. Keep bars for the situations where powder isn't practical — travel, long workdays, anywhere without a sink. Trying to run your entire protein intake through bars gets expensive fast, and we'd rather tell you that than sell you a 12-pack you don't need.
Fuel for the next one
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