The Ultimate Ranking Of Gluten-Free Bread Brands

Since the 1940s, people across the world have been on gluten-free diets, whether as an attempt to decrease gluten sensitivity or as a way to combat Celiac disease. Now, over 80 years later, the gluten-free food industry is stronger than ever. In 2013, companies made over $10.5 billion on gluten-free products, and now, according to the FDA, over 3 million people in America have Celiac disease. At grocery stores, many famous brands, like Frito-Lay, are labeling their products with a big "GF" designation on the back, while other brands, like Oreo, are making gluten-free versions of their most popular products.

Some folks may view being gluten-free as a "fashionable diet," but for the millions of people who have no choice but to be gluten-free, they've found themselves in the middle of a flourishing Celiac-friendly industry. Even fast food and fast casual dining establishments have started to embrace gluten-free accommodations. Burger chain Shake Shack offers a gluten-free bun, while Jersey Mikes carries Udi's sub sandwich buns for their subs. Additionally, Panera Bread has a "gluten-conscious diets" section of their menu.

One of the most sought-after gluten-free products is bread. In fact, no gluten-filled food is more popular, except for pizza. Now, in 2023, there are dozens of gluten-free breads available in grocery stores across the country and online through e-commerce. For this list, we've looked at every major manufacturer of gluten-free bread and weighed the pros and cons of each. From names like Udi's to Eban's to Trader Joe's, here is our ultimate ranking of gluten-free bread brands.

Glutino's slogan says it all: "Forever Gluten Free." They are one of the many brands on this list that is dedicated to only producing gluten-free items. From pretzel twists to chocolate wafers to table crackers down to English muffins, Glutino has figured out how to make beloved snacks accessible for those with Celiac Disease. Unfortunately, Glutino hasn't been able to perfect their taste. Many of their products are dry and taste inferior to their gluten-filled counterparts. Their take on Oreo cookies was, at one point, admirable. But, after Oreo launched their own gluten-free version, Glutino no longer had a horse in the race.

The company's bread suffers a similar fate, too. Not only is it rather dry, it lacks the character of a pre-made loaf. Of course, there is some fun in baking your own product rather than pulling a loaf off of the shelf, but Glutino has failed to make a bread mix that's better than other brands. On top of that, one box of mix costs $12.99 a piece, a woefully high price for barely a pound of ingredients that makes just one loaf of bread. You can get better gluten-free bread mix products for a much cheaper price. If Glutino is the only available option, it'll get the job done. But that's about all we could say about it.

One of the lesser known brands on this list, Little Northern Bakehouse has made a good name for itself with a great batch of bread products. They are most known for their "Wide Slice Loaves," but they also offer bagels, artisan pizza crusts, and buns. Notably, they make products that cater to folks who are gluten-free and vegan, which can make finding accessible bread a tall task. One reviewer on Amazon claims that the taste of Little Northern Bakehouse's white bread is so good that her non-gluten-free husband loves the bread, while another reviewer wrote that the bread "is almost like having a gluten-rich equivalent. Closest I've come."

For their Wide Slice Loaves, you have the option of getting Sweet Hawaiian, Whole Grain, or White, and each flavor offers a colorful palette of sweet and savory tastes. Many of the brands on this list do not offer such a diverse group of options, but what brings Little Northern Bakehouse down is its price point. At the time of this writing, on Amazon, you can get an 8-pack for $80.79, totally to a little over $10 per loaf, one of the higher costs on this list. 62% of the ratings on Amazon are five-star, though only 101 customers have rated the product.

Katz makes some of the best processed gluten-free food that money can buy. Their selection of donuts, Heavenly Creme Cakes (their version of a Twinkie), apple pie, and English muffins are second-to-none. Katz only makes gluten-free products, so you can rest assured that what you buy from them will satisfy your taste buds to the fullest extent. This is the last of the mid-tier gluten-free breads, and definitely the best of the bunch, both for taste and price.

Katz makes six different types of bread: White, Sliced Challah, Whole Grain, Everything, Oat, and Egg Free. Each loaf costs $7.29 a unit, which is comparable to Kinnikinnick. What sets Katz apart from them, however, is the taste. It's no surprise that the company that makes the best freezer-aisle gluten-free donut also makes a darn good loaf of bread. As of right now, you can only get Katz's bread on the company's website or on Amazon. On the latter, you can buy loaves as singles or in packs of three for $21. From the former, a case of six loaves is available for $40.68, equating to under $7 a loaf. 

One reviewer on Amazon noted that Katz's bread is "the best gluten-free bread in taste," while another customer lauded that the bread's "thickness was perfect and didn't fall apart in the sandwich." What's working best for Katz is their bread's composition. The slices resemble regular bread, even though the taste doesn't mirror it as well as that of other brands.

Unlike other brands on this list, Schär really leans into their reputation as a bakery. Not only do they make really good white bread, they also make other carb-heavy products that emphasize the company's ability to make rich gluten-free food. Schär makes ciabatta rolls, baguettes, bagels, crispbread, crostini, pizza crust, and table crackers.

Their bread comes in six flavors: Artisan Baker 10 Grains & Seeds, Multigrain, White, Deli Style, and Deli Style Seeded. What makes Schär stand out is they don't just use the same rice flour recipe as everyone else. No, they've instituted their own formula, one that's a mixture of sourdough, millet, and quinoa. Though the texture of the crust can sometimes be a tad rubbery, the taste more than makes up for it, resembling that of bakery bread greatly.

With over 1,600 ratings on Amazon, 72% of them are 5-star, the highest number from any entry on this list so far. One reviewer lauded the bread's "great taste and texture," while another customer wrote that it's "the only GF [bread] that I have found that I like. It tastes like my mother's homemade bread." Available in nearly every Walmart in the country, Schär is one of the more accessible gluten-free bread brands on the market today. As an added bonus, they've got a pretty great taste, too.

Out of all of the gluten-free brands across the board, Udi's is likely the most recognizable one and for good reason. Udi's makes high-quality and affordable bread products for gluten-free folks, and there's a reason they are in so many stores. The taste is delectable, though the products are made with egg and will alienate any consumers who are egg-free along with being gluten-free.

Along with selling frozen pizza, French dinner rolls, French baguettes, hamburger and hotdog buns, Udi's offers seven types of sandwich bread: Hearty Sprouted Grains, Hearty 7 Seeds & Grains, Delicious Soft White, Cinnamon Raisin, Omega Flax & Fiber, Millet-Chia, and Delicious Whole Grain. One loaf costs $4.92 at Walmart and $5.99 at Target at the time of this writing, making Udi's one of the most cost-effective brands you can buy.

A downside to Udi's is the size of their bread slices and the fact that the bread is sold frozen. They are one of the smallest, if not the absolute smallest, loaves on the market, and thawing the bread out can sometimes dampen the texture. Nonetheless, Udi's makes some of the best bread across the board. On Amazon, one reviewer called the bread "excellent," while another customer said that Udi's is better than the other brands they've purchased.