Cream Cheese vs Butter: which is healthier?

Per 100g, Cream Cheese has 343 calories, 5.8g protein, 0g fiber, and 33.5g fat, while Butter has 720 calories, 0.85g protein, 0g fiber, and 81.1g fat. Cream Cheese wins on both fronts here, with fewer calories and more protein per 100g.

Which has more calories, Cream Cheese or Butter?

Per 100g, Cream Cheese has 343 calories and Butter has 720 calories, a difference of 377 calories. In practical terms, 100g (343 calories) of cream cheese compares with 1 tablespoon (102 calories) of butter.

Which has more protein, Cream Cheese or Butter?

Cream Cheese leads on protein with 5.8g per 100g; the gap is 5.0g per 100g (Cream Cheese 5.8g vs Butter 0.85g). If you are tracking protein targets, that difference compounds quickly across a full day of meals.

Which is better for a low-carb diet, Cream Cheese or Butter?

Butter has 0.1g of carbs per 100g compared to 4.6g in Cream Cheese, making Butter the easier fit for low-carb or keto plans. Fiber is 0g vs 0g per 100g, which also affects net carbs.

Can I substitute Cream Cheese for Butter?

Often, yes. Swapping butter for cream cheese shifts your meal by about 377 calories and 5.0g of protein per 100g, so adjust portions if you are logging macros. Texture and cooking behavior differ more than nutrition in many recipes, so test the swap in small batches first.

Cream Cheese

Butter

All Comparisons

Cream Cheese vs Butter

Cream Cheese

Wins in 4 of 6 categories

Compare Cream Cheese and Butter calories, protein, and nutrition. See which fits your diet goals.

Verdict (USDA data)

Per 100g, Cream Cheese has 343 calories vs Butter's 720. Cream Cheese has more protein (5.8g vs 0.85g) and less fat (33.5g vs 81.1g).

Sources: Cream Cheese (FDC 2346385) · Butter (FDC 173430)

Nutrition Comparison (per 100g)

Nutrient	Cream Cheese		Butter
Calories	343	vs	720
Protein	5.8g	vs	0.85g
Carbs	4.6g	vs	0.1g
Fat	33.5g	vs	81.1g
Fiber	0g	vs	0g
Sodium	368mg	vs	11mg

Winner determined by: fewer calories, more protein, more fiber, less fat, less sodium

Source: USDA FoodData Central. Cream Cheese: FDC 2346385 · Butter: FDC 173430.

When to Choose Each

Choose Cream Cheese when:

You're cutting calories (343 vs 720 per 100g)
You need more protein (5.8g vs 0.85g per 100g)

See full Cream Cheese nutrition

Choose Butter when:

A typical portion is 1 tablespoon (102 calories)
Butter fits the dishes you already cook

See full Butter nutrition

Frequently Asked Questions

Track Your Food with AI

Snap a photo and instantly get calories for Cream Cheese, Butter, and thousands more foods.

Last updated: 2026-01-30

← Back to all comparisons

More dairy →Cream Cheese →Butter →