--- title: "Chief vs Jack Link's Beef Jerky: Honest Comparison | Chief" description: "Chief is a clean organic grass-fed whole-cut beef bar with no added sugar, soy or smoke flavour. Jack Link's is a cheaper mass-market marinated jerky with added" lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Compare", "item": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/au/compare" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Chief vs Jack Link's: An Honest Beef Snack Comparison", "item": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/au/compare/chief-vs-jack-links-beef-jerky" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is Chief or Jack Link's the better beef snack?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It depends on what you value. Chief is the cleaner, more protein-dense snack: organic grass-fed beef with no added sugar, no soy and no smoke flavour, at about 45 grams of protein per 100 grams. Jack Link's is a cheaper, marinated jerky with added sugar and soy, sold in every supermarket. Choose clean ingredients and sourcing, or price and availability." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which one has more protein?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Chief, per 100 grams, at about 45 grams against Jack Link's 34 grams. Per serve they are close, over 18 grams in Chief's 40g bar and about 17 grams in Jack Link's 50g bag. Chief is more protein-dense and carries far less carbohydrate." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which one is cheaper?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Jack Link's. A 50g bag is about $5.00 at Woolworths, roughly $10.00 per 100 grams against Chief's $13.95. Per gram of protein they are close. Jack Link's is a touch cheaper, about $0.29 against $0.31. It is the cheaper snack and the cheaper way to get protein grams." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Jack Link's have added sugar?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Sugar sits high in its seasoning, and the jerky carries about 24 grams of carbohydrate per 100 grams, because a sweet marinade is part of how it is made. Chief's bar has no added sugar and is very low in carbohydrate. If you are watching sugar, that is a clear difference." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is Chief's beef better quality?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Chief states more about its beef. It is organic, grass-fed and grass-finished Australian beef, free from added hormones, Bovaer, mRNA and glyphosate. Jack Link's is 100 percent beef made in New Zealand, but it does not claim grass-fed or organic. Both are real beef; Chief tells you more about how it was raised." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is Jack Link's unhealthy?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No, it is not junk. It is 100 percent beef, high in protein and low in fat. It is just a marinated, sweetened jerky, so it carries added sugar, soy and smoke flavour that a clean whole-cut bar does not. Like any jerky, it is also salty, so treat it as a snack in moderation." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do they suit vegans?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Both are beef, so neither suits vegans or vegetarians. Note that Jack Link's also contains soy, which is worth knowing if you have a soy allergy. If you want a plant-based savoury snack, check its label the same way, for added sugar, seed oils and fillers." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/au/compare/chief-vs-jack-links-beef-jerky#article", "headline": "Chief vs Jack Link's: An Honest Beef Snack Comparison", "description": "Chief is a clean organic grass-fed whole-cut beef bar with no added sugar, soy or smoke flavour. Jack Link's is a cheaper mass-market marinated jerky with added sugar, soy protein and smoke flavour, sold in every supermarket. Honest comparison.", "image": "https://wearechief.com/cdn/shop/files/f58df285f31026366fa15051b2bf6c7be05a7457_600x.png?v=1765526408", "inLanguage": "en-AU", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Chief Nutrition", "@id": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/#organization" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/#organization" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/#website" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/au/compare/chief-vs-jack-links-beef-jerky#webpage" }, "mentions": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Chief Nutrition", "alternateName": "Chief" }, { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Jack Link's" } ], "datePublished": "2026-07-20T05:57:56.139Z", "dateModified": "2026-08-26T05:46:47.282Z" } ] --- [![Chief Nutrition](/assets/chief-logo-fUVXozRx.png)](/) [Home](/) [Products](/products) [Ingredients](/ingredients)[Health Topics](/health-topics)[Guides](/guides)[Trust and Proof](/trust)[About](/about)[FAQs](/faqs) [Visit Chief Store](https://wearechief.com) # Chief vs Jack Link's: An Honest Beef Snack Comparison Start with what is in each snack. Chief is clean organic grass-fed beef, slow dried, with no added sugar, no soy and no smoke flavour, and more protein-dense at about 45g per 100g. Jack Link's is a marinated mass-market jerky: 100 percent beef, but its seasoning brings sugar, soy protein, yeast extract, natural flavours and smoke flavour, and it is not grass-fed or organic. That cheaper, seasoned build is why it costs less and sits in every supermarket. Note the soy if you have an allergy. Pick clean ingredients against price and availability. ## At a glance Start with what is in each snack, because that is the real difference. Chief is a clean whole-cut beef bar: organic, grass-fed and grass-finished, slow dried, with no added sugar, no soy and no smoke flavour, and more protein-dense at about 45 grams of protein per 100 grams. Jack Link's Original is a marinated, smoked jerky. It is 100 percent beef and high in protein, at about 34 grams per 100 grams, but its seasoning carries added sugar, soy protein, yeast extract and smoke flavour, and it is not stated as grass-fed or organic. That mass-market seasoned build is what makes it cheaper per 100 grams and puts it in every supermarket and servo. So the split is honest and simple. Chief for the clean ingredients and the sourcing spelled out; Jack Link's for the cheaper, widely available beef snack, if you do not mind the added sugar and soy. ### Chief - • clean ingredients, no added sugar, no soy, no smoke flavour - • organic grass-fed grass-finished beef, stated on the label - • more protein per 100g, about 45g against 34g Per 45 g bar Chief Jack Link's Type Whole-cut beef bar, brisket and topside, slow dried Marinated beef jerky, smoked Beef Organic, grass-fed and grass-finished Australian beef 100% beef; not stated grass-fed or organic Protein per 100g about 45g about 34g Protein per serve over 18g per 40g bar about 17g per 50g bag Carbohydrate per 100g very low; no added sugar about 24g, reflecting the sugar in the marinade Added sugar None; salt, vinegar and paprika Yes; sugar is high in the seasoning Soy No soy Contains soy protein Other additives No preservatives or artificial additives; no smoke flavour Yeast extract, natural flavours, smoke flavour Curing and sourcing extras Slow dried, no added curing agent; no Bovaer, mRNA or glyphosate Marinated and smoked; made in New Zealand Pack and price 12 x 40g, $66.95 AUD 50g bag, about $5.00 AUD at Woolworths Price per 100g about $13.95 about $10.00 Price per gram of protein about $0.31 about $0.29 Suitable for vegans No, it is beef No, it is beef ## The cost, measured fairly All prices are AUD, read on 6 July 2026. Jack Link's price is a Woolworths snapshot, about $5.00 for a 50g bag. It varies by retailer. Chief is $66.95 for twelve 40g bars, direct from its site. Because the serves differ, the fair comparison is per 100 grams and per gram of protein. Per 100 grams of snack, Jack Link's is cheaper, about $10.00 against Chief's $13.95. Per gram of protein the two are close. Jack Link's is a touch cheaper, about $0.29 against $0.31. So on price, Jack Link's wins. It is the cheaper way to get protein grams. What the extra buys with Chief is the cleaner label and the organic grass-fed sourcing, not more protein for your dollar. Decide which of those matters more to you. ## Where Chief is the better choice ### You want a clean ingredient list This is the heart of it. Chief's bar is beef, salt, vinegar and paprika. That is close to the whole list. Jack Link's Original is 100 percent beef too, but its seasoning brings added sugar, soy protein, yeast extract, natural flavours and smoke flavour. None of those are alarming on their own, but they are the difference between a clean whole-cut bar and a marinated, sweetened jerky. If you read labels and want the short one, Chief has it. ### You want no added sugar Chief's bar has no added sugar. It is a savoury salt and vinegar flavour, so its carbohydrate is very low. Jack Link's Original carries about 24 grams of carbohydrate per 100 grams. Sugar sits high in its seasoning, because a sweet marinade is part of how the jerky is made. If you are watching sugar, that is a real gap between the two. ### You want organic, grass-fed sourcing Chief states its beef is organic, grass-fed and grass-finished Australian beef, free from added hormones, Bovaer feed, mRNA and glyphosate. Jack Link's is 100 percent beef, made in New Zealand, but it does not claim grass-fed or organic sourcing. Chief spells out where its beef comes from and how it was raised; Jack Link's leaves that unsaid. ### You want more protein per 100 grams Both are high in protein, but Chief is more protein-dense. Its bar runs about 45 grams of protein per 100 grams against Jack Link's 34 grams. Per serve the two are close, over 18 grams in Chief's 40g bar and about 17 grams in Jack Link's 50g bag. But gram for gram of snack, Chief packs in more protein and less carbohydrate. ## Where Jack Link's is the better choice ### You want the lower price Jack Link's is cheaper, clearly so. A 50g bag is about $5.00 at Woolworths, which works out to about $10.00 per 100 grams against Chief's $13.95. Per gram of protein the two are close. Jack Link's is even a touch cheaper, about $0.29 against $0.31. If the price on the shelf is what decides it, Jack Link's wins that. It is also the cheaper way to get your protein grams. ### You want it in every supermarket Jack Link's is everywhere. It is in Woolworths, Coles, servos and corner shops across the country, so you can grab it on the go without thinking about it. Chief is more of a premium buy, direct from its site or from selected stockists. For a beef snack you can pick up anywhere, right now, Jack Link's has the reach. ### You want a familiar, low-fat jerky Jack Link's is a known quantity: a low-fat, high-protein, smoky jerky that a lot of people already like the taste of. It is 100 percent beef, not a formed or filled product, and at about 3 grams of fat per 100 grams it is lean. For a familiar jerky flavour, and if the added sugar and soy do not bother you, it does that job well. ## Which one is right for you You want the cleanest ingredient list Chief, no added sugar, soy or smoke flavour You want organic, grass-fed sourcing Chief You want the most protein per 100g Chief, about 45g against 34g You want no added sugar Chief You want the lowest price per 100g Jack Link's, about $10.00 You want it in every supermarket Jack Link's You want the cheapest protein grams Jack Link's, marginally, at about $0.29 a gram ## Two very different beef snacks These are not really the same product. Chief is a clean, whole-cut bar, made to a premium standard: organic grass-fed beef, slow dried, no added sugar, soy or smoke flavour. Jack Link's is a mainstream marinated jerky, cheap and everywhere, that leans on a sweet, smoky seasoning to get its flavour. Jack Link's is not junk; it is 100 percent beef and high in protein. It is just built to a different brief. One is about the cleanest possible ingredient list and sourcing; the other is about price and reach. Match the one that fits what you are after. ## Before you buy A beef snack does not suit everyone. Both are beef, so neither suits vegetarians or vegans. Jack Link's also contains soy, which matters if you have a soy allergy. Both are jerky-style, dried and salty, so keep an eye on sodium if you need to. Jack Link's carries added sugar; Chief does not. They are whole-food-style snacks but still concentrated, so enjoy them in a sensible amount. If you are managing a health condition or your sodium, check the label and your healthcare provider first. ## Common questions ## Is Chief or Jack Link's the better beef snack? ## Which one has more protein? ## Which one is cheaper? ## Does Jack Link's have added sugar? ## Is Chief's beef better quality? ## Is Jack Link's unhealthy? ## Do they suit vegans? ## A note on why we wrote this Chief makes one of these products, so read this with that in mind. Chief's figures come from Chief's own product data. Jack Link's come from its official Australian nutrition data and a Woolworths retail listing, read on 6 July 2026. Serve sizes differ, a 40g bar against a 50g bag, so the fair comparison is per 100g and per gram of protein. Jack Link's price is a Woolworths snapshot and varies by retailer. Check both before you buy. ## Related reading - [Chief Knowledge Centre](https://knowledge.wearechief.com) - [Beef Bars and Sticks](https://knowledge.wearechief.com/beef-bars-and-sticks) - [Beef bars and sticks: what to look for](https://knowledge.wearechief.com/beef-bars-and-sticks/beef-bars-and-sticks-what-to-look-for) - [Biltong versus jerky](https://knowledge.wearechief.com/biltong-and-air-dried-steak/biltong-vs-jerky) Chief Nutrition AI Knowledge Centre Real food. 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