Is Chief or The Jerky Co biltong better?

It depends on what you want. Chief is 100% organic, grass-fed, gluten-free and soy-free, seasoned with coconut aminos. The Jerky Co is 98% beef with a spice blend that contains gluten and may contain soy, and it is not stated organic, but it is cheaper, slightly higher in protein and lower in sugar, with a moist texture. If you want organic sourcing or you need gluten-free, choose Chief. If price and the nutrition panel decide it, The Jerky Co.

Which one is cheaper?

The Jerky Co. It works out at roughly $10 to $12 a 100 grams against Chief's roughly $15 to $21, with its 1kg and 2kg bags the best value. Chief is the dearer of the two.

Which has more protein and less sugar?

The Jerky Co, on both. It has 49.7 grams of protein and under a gram of sugar a 100 grams, against Chief's roughly 45 grams of protein and about 2.7 grams of sugar. The gaps are small but real, and they favour The Jerky Co.

Are both grass-fed and Australian?

Both are Australian beef. Chief's is 100% organic, grass-fed and grass-finished. The Jerky Co's is MSA-grade Western Australian beef described as generally grass fed, but not organic. So both are grass-fed, and Chief adds the organic certification.

What is the difference in texture?

Chief's biltong is dry and shelf-stable, good for travel and lasting about 12 months. The Jerky Co's is a moist, fresh style, softer to eat, with a shorter 2-month shelf life. It comes down to whether you prefer a dry, portable snack or a moist, tender one.

Do they suit vegetarians or vegans?

No. Both are beef, so neither suits vegans or vegetarians. Biltong is also salty by nature, so if you are watching your sodium, keep it to a serve rather than a whole bag.

Chief vs The Jerky Co Biltong: An Honest Comparison

Q: Which one is gluten-free?

Chief. Its biltong is gluten-free and soy-free, seasoned with coconut aminos. The Jerky Co's biltong contains gluten and wheat in its spice blend, and may contain traces of soy, so it is not suitable for coeliacs or anyone avoiding gluten.

The real difference is what is in the biltong. Chief is 100% organic, grass-fed and grass-finished beef seasoned with coconut aminos, so it is gluten-free and soy-free. The Jerky Co is 98% beef, but its spice blend contains gluten and wheat and may contain soy, and it is not stated organic or grass-fed. That leaner recipe is part of why it is cheaper and shows more protein per 100 grams. Pick clean organic ingredients against price, protein and a moist texture.

At a glance

Start with what is in the biltong, because that is where these two really differ. Chief's is 100% organic, grass-fed and grass-finished beef, seasoned with a coconut aminos brine, so it is gluten-free and soy-free. The Jerky Co is 98% beef, moist and tender from MSA-grade Western Australian beef, but its spice blend contains gluten and wheat, it may contain traces of soy, and it is not stated organic or grass-fed. That is the honest reason its label looks strong at a lower price: conventional beef and a wheat-based spice cost less than certified organic beef and coconut aminos. Its numbers are genuinely good, with 49.7 grams of protein and under a gram of sugar a 100 grams, and it is cheaper, about $10 to $12 a 100 grams against Chief's roughly $15 to $21. Chief adds a 12-month shelf life and single-serve bags. If price, protein and a moist texture decide it, The Jerky Co takes them. If you want organic certified sourcing, or you need gluten-free or soy-free, Chief is the one.

Chief

•100% organic, grass-fed and grass-finished beef, seasoned with coconut aminos
•a gluten-free and soy-free recipe, where The Jerky Co has gluten and may have soy
•a shelf-stable, single-serve snack that travels well

Per 45 g bar	Chief	The Jerky Co.
Type	Air-dried biltong, dry and shelf-stable	Air-dried biltong, moist fresh style
Protein	13.6g per 30g, about 45g per 100g	49.7g per 100g
Sugar	0.8g per 30g, about 2.7g per 100g	Under 1g per 100g
Beef content	93% organic grass-fed beef	98% MSA-grade beef
Sourcing	100% organic, grass-fed and grass-finished Australian beef	MSA-grade Western Australian beef, described as generally grass fed, not organic
Ingredients	Beef, coconut aminos, vinegar, salt, spices	Beef (98%), biltong spice (contains gluten and wheat), vinegar, worcestershire sauce
Allergens	Gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, nut-free	Contains gluten and wheat; may contain traces of soy
Preservatives	None	None
Shelf life	About 12 months	About 2 months, best kept cool
Pack sizes	30g and 90g bags	250g, 500g, 1kg and 2kg, sliced or whole
Price per 100g	about $15 to $21 depending on pack	about $10 to $12 depending on pack
Suitable for vegans	No, it is beef	No, it is beef

The cost and the numbers, in full

All prices are AUD, read from each brand's own site on 6 July 2026. On price, The Jerky Co is cheaper, about $10 to $12 a 100 grams against Chief's roughly $15 to $21. It undercuts Chief further in its 1kg and 2kg bags. On the nutrition panel it also edges ahead. It has 49.7 grams of protein and under a gram of sugar a 100 grams, from 98% beef. Chief's has roughly 45 grams of protein and 2.7 grams of sugar, from 93% beef.

We will be plain about this: on price and on the label numbers, The Jerky Co is the stronger buy. Chief's case is not the nutrition panel. It is the organic, certified grass-fed and grass-finished sourcing, the gluten-free and soy-free recipe, the 12-month shelf life and the single-serve bags. Which set of strengths matters more is your call.

Where Chief is the better choice

You need gluten-free or soy-free

This is Chief's clearest advantage. Chief's biltong is gluten-free and soy-free, seasoned with coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. The Jerky Co's biltong is not: its spice blend contains gluten and wheat, and it may contain traces of soy from the worcestershire sauce. If you are coeliac, gluten-avoidant or soy-sensitive, Chief is the safe choice and The Jerky Co is not.

You want organic, certified grass-fed sourcing

Chief's beef is 100% organic, grass-fed and grass-finished. The Jerky Co uses MSA-grade Western Australian beef that it describes as generally grass fed, but it is not organic and does not state grass-finished. Both are quality Australian beef; where you want the organic certification and a stated grass-finished standard, Chief goes further.

You want a shelf-stable, single-serve snack

Chief's biltong is dry and shelf-stable, lasting about 12 months, and it comes in 30g single-serve bags that suit a lunchbox, a pocket or a hike. The Jerky Co's biltong is a moist, fresh style with about a 2-month shelf life, sold in 250g bags and larger. For a snack that travels and keeps, or a small single serve, Chief is the one built for it.

Where The Jerky Co. is the better choice

You want the lower price

The Jerky Co is cheaper, roughly $10 to $12 a 100 grams against Chief's $15 to $21, and its bigger 1kg and 2kg bags are the cheapest per gram. Part of that gap is the recipe, since conventional beef and a wheat-based spice cost less than certified organic beef and coconut aminos. On cost it wins outright, which is part of why it is such a popular bulk buy.

You want higher protein and lower sugar

On the numbers, The Jerky Co edges Chief. It has 49.7 grams of protein a 100 grams against Chief's roughly 45, under a gram of sugar against Chief's roughly 2.7 and 98% beef against 93%. The gaps are small but real, and every one runs in The Jerky Co's favour. Read the nutrition panel on its own and it is the stronger label.

You want a moist texture or bulk bags

The Jerky Co makes a moist, tender biltong, dried from the outside in so the centre stays soft, from MSA-grade beef graded for eating quality. It also sells big bags, up to 2kg, sliced or in whole pieces. A softer fresher biltong, or a bulk buy for a household or a trip, is where it has Chief covered.

Which one is right for you

You need gluten-free or soy-free biltongChief, it is gluten-free and soy-free; The Jerky Co contains gluten and wheat

You want organic, certified grass-fed and grass-finished beefChief

You want a shelf-stable, single-serve snackChief, dry with a 12-month shelf life and 30g bags

You want the lowest price per 100 gramsThe Jerky Co, about $10 to $12 a 100 grams

You want the highest protein and lowest sugarThe Jerky Co, 49.7g protein and under 1g sugar a 100 grams

You want a moist texture or a bulk bagThe Jerky Co, moist style in bags up to 2kg

The allergen difference that decides it for some

For some buyers this comparison is settled by one line on the label. Chief's biltong is gluten-free and soy-free, because it uses coconut aminos rather than soy sauce. The Jerky Co's biltong contains gluten and wheat in its spice blend, and may contain traces of soy. If you are coeliac or you avoid gluten or soy, Chief is safe and The Jerky Co is not, whatever the price and protein numbers say. If you have no such need, this difference will not matter to you.

Before you buy

Biltong does not suit everyone. It is beef, so it is not for vegans, vegetarians or anyone with a beef allergy. The Jerky Co's biltong contains gluten and wheat and may contain soy, so check the label if you have those allergies. Chief's biltong is seasoned with coconut aminos, so anyone with a coconut allergy should check that. Both are salty by nature, so if you are watching your sodium, keep it to a serve rather than a whole bag. Biltong is a clean, high-protein snack, but it is still a snack, not a meal.

Common questions

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. The Jerky Co's come from thejerkyco.com.au, read on 6 July 2026. Both are traditional biltong; the page notes where they differ, including allergens. Prices change, so check both sites before you buy.