There is no universally healthiest soda. If your main goal is to cut sugar and calories, choose a zero-sugar option; if you prefer fruit ingredients and no added sweetener, expect some calories and naturally occurring juice sugars. These five are label-based choices—not a medical ranking—and availability and recipes can vary, so check the package you buy.
How to judge a soda’s nutrition
For a practical comparison, start with sugar and calories per serving, then consider caffeine and the sweetener or ingredients you prefer. The World Health Organization recommends keeping free sugars below 10% of daily energy; for a person consuming about 2,000 calories, that is 50 g, or roughly 12 level teaspoons. It says reducing intake below 5% may provide additional health benefits. WHO counts sugars in fruit juice and juice concentrate as free sugars, even when no sugar has been added. WHO’s healthy-diet guidance explains the distinction.
On U.S. Nutrition Facts labels, added sugars are a useful but narrower comparison. The FDA says the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend getting less than 10% of calories from added sugars; the label’s Daily Value is 50 g on a 2,000-calorie diet. A “no added sugar” claim does not mean a drink has no total or free sugars. The FDA’s label guidance describes how to read the figure.
For context, Coca-Cola lists 39 g of sugar and 140 calories in a 12 oz Coca-Cola. A single serving can therefore use a substantial share of the WHO’s 50 g reference point. The figure is for the company’s stated serving, not every bottle size or product. Coca-Cola’s ingredient and nutrition FAQ provides that information.
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Five lower-sugar supermarket soda options
The choices below prioritize low or no sugar, while making differences in caffeine, sweeteners, and fruit ingredients clear. Nutrition figures are for the specific serving and product details cited; check your current package, since flavor, package size, formula, and local availability may differ.
| Soda | What the cited label or source reports | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Diet Coke | 0 calories and 0 g sugar per 12 oz; 46 mg caffeine per 12 oz, according to Coca-Cola’s U.S. product page. | Contains aspartame and phenylalanine. A caffeine-free choice for some people may be preferable. |
| Coca-Cola Zero Sugar | 0 calories and 0 g sugar per 12 oz; 34 mg caffeine per 12 oz, according to Coca-Cola’s U.S. product page. | Uses non-sugar sweeteners. The nutrition figures make it a lower-sugar choice, not evidence of added health benefits. |
| Diet Pepsi | 0 calories and 0 g sugar per 12 fl oz; 35 mg sodium, according to PepsiCo’s U.S. product page. | Ingredients include aspartame and acesulfame potassium. Confirm the current package label for the flavor and size you choose. |
| Zevia Zero Sugar Soda | CSPI describes it as calorie-free and sweetened with stevia extract, and reports 17 flavors. | CSPI’s article does not provide detailed nutrition facts for every flavor. Check the label and whether your store carries the variety you want. |
| Spindrift Soda | CSPI reports 30–40 calories from fruit juices, purées, and extracts, with no added sugar or other sweeteners. | It is not sugar-free: fruit-derived sugars count as free sugars under WHO’s definition. It is a different kind of choice from a zero-calorie cola. |
The cola nutrition details come from Coca-Cola’s Diet Coke page, Coca-Cola’s Coca-Cola Zero Sugar page, and PepsiCo’s Diet Pepsi page. Zevia and Spindrift figures are reported in CSPI Nutrition Action’s July/August 2025 article, “The best drink is a no-brainer (water!). But here are 10 healthy picks.”
Rank #2
- Savor the IZZE flavor with this 24-pack Variety Pack that includes tangy Blackberry, sunny Clementine, crisp Apple and refreshing Grapefruit – you get six 8.4 FL OZ cans of each flavor, all fizzed to perfection
- IZZE is an exciting combination of 60% real fruit juice mixed with a splash of bubbly sparkling water – it's non-GMO, has no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners and comes in at 70 calories per can
- Uplifting and fizzed to perfection, IZZE Sparkling Juice beverage blend drinks are the ideal way to pop the pressures of your day – so go ahead, sit down and take some time to relax while enjoying the big, bold flavor
- With a range of delicious flavors – from pomegranate to peach, mango and more – finding a favorite is easy, but you’ll surely want to pick more than one or mix it up and choose a variety pack
- Fun and full of real juice, IZZE was born from a desire to make a refreshing drink that would be sophisticated, but still satisfying – IZZE Sparkling Juice beverage blends are the perfect way to brighten up your days and elevate your get-togethers
How to choose among them
- For the lowest listed sugar and calories: The three colas above report zero sugar and zero calories for their stated 12 oz servings. That can help if your immediate goal is to replace a full-sugar soda, but it does not establish that non-sugar sweeteners make a drink healthier overall.
- For stevia instead of the sweeteners listed for the colas: Zevia is the candidate here sweetened with stevia extract. Read the exact flavor’s label because the cited source does not give detailed facts for every variety.
- For a fruit-based soda without added sweetener: Spindrift Soda provides that option, with calories and fruit-derived sugars rather than zero calories and zero sugar.
- If caffeine matters: Compare the product-specific figures rather than assuming colas are equivalent. Diet Coke’s cited amount is higher than the figures for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Diet Pepsi.
- If you want fizz without sweetener: Unsweetened flavored sparkling water is a useful alternative, but it is not soda. CSPI names LaCroix, Bubly, Polar, AHA, Nixie, and Waterloo as calorie-free carbonated waters with natural flavors and no sweeteners.
Check the serving and label before buying
- Match serving sizes. The cola figures above are per 12 oz or 12 fl oz serving. If a bottle contains more than one serving, the full container can contain more than the listed amount.
- Look at both added and total sugars. Juice can contribute total sugar even when a drink has no added sugar. WHO counts sugars naturally present in fruit juice and concentrate as free sugars.
- Check the ingredient list for sweeteners. Aspartame, acesulfame potassium, stevia, and no sweetener are not interchangeable preferences; choose according to what you want to drink.
- Use calories as one measure, not the whole verdict. They distinguish these zero-calorie colas from fruit-based soda, but do not by themselves determine whether a product is healthy for an individual.
- Verify the product in hand. Manufacturer pages describe their own products, while nutrition details and store inventory can change by flavor, package, and location.
What “healthiest” can—and cannot—mean here
There is no universal authoritative ranking of the healthiest sodas in these sources, and the product-label figures are not head-to-head clinical evidence. A reasonable supermarket choice depends on what you are trying to reduce or avoid: free sugars, calories, caffeine, or a particular sweetener. If you want to reduce sugar most directly, a zero-sugar soda is a different proposition from a fruit-juice soda, even when the latter has no added sugar.
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- SAMPLER RESTOCK: The ultimate variety pack size for discovering favorites, quick pantry replenishment, and setting up a seamless recurring delivery.
- ICONIC SODA VIBES: Delivers obsession-worthy taste and all the classic soda feels you crave, making it a staple for your weekly grocery list.
- PREBIOTIC FORMULA: Expertly formulated with prebiotics derived from agave inulin and cassava root fiber.
- 5G SUGAR & 35 CALORIES: Features 5 grams of sugar and 35 calories or less per can, making it easy to compare against traditional soda assortments. A refreshing beverage assortment that doubles as the ultimate drink mixer, perfect for casual hosting or satisfying everyday cravings without overthinking it.
Rank #4
- MEET ZEVIA SODA: The zero sugar soda that's naturally sweetened with stevia, a plant-based sweetener that delivers incredible taste without the ingredients you’re afraid to google. Because who says you can't have it all?
- 4 CANS OF EACH: Orange, Black Cherry, Ginger Ale, Grape, Creamy Root Beer, Vanilla Cola
- BETTER-FOR-YOU SODA: All Zevia zero sugar, zero calorie drinks are Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, vegan, and kosher with zero artificial sweeteners or added color. Just simple, delicious soda. No sugar coating needed.
- CLEARLY DELICIOUS: To the surprise of many, every Zevia soda is clear. Artificial colors don’t taste like anything and aren’t needed to make an amazing soda. So when choosing between diet soda alternatives, the choice is, well, clear.
- DRINK DIFFERENTLY: Zevia is serving up zero sugar soda with a purpose — to make the world a little sweeter by eliminating sugar from diets all across the country without a single plastic bottle in sight. How refreshing.
Rank #3
- ULTIMATE FLAVOR VARIETY: Includes twelve 12 fl oz cans featuring 2x Lemon Lime, 2x Grape, 2x Orange Cream, 2x Cherry Cola, 2x Wild Berry, 2x Doc Pop. A major flavor experience that makes an easy addition to your daily beverage cart.
- SAMPLER RESTOCK: The ultimate variety pack size for discovering favorites, quick pantry replenishment, and setting up a seamless recurring delivery.
- ICONIC SODA VIBES: Delivers obsession-worthy taste and all the classic soda feels you crave, making it a staple for your weekly grocery list.
- PREBIOTIC FORMULA: Expertly formulated with prebiotics derived from agave inulin and cassava root fiber.
- 5G SUGAR & 35 CALORIES: Features 5 grams of sugar and 35 calories or less per can, making it easy to compare against traditional soda assortments. A refreshing beverage assortment that doubles as the ultimate drink mixer, perfect for casual hosting or satisfying everyday cravings without overthinking it.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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