Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsYes—Beverage Digest’s 2023 U.S. carbonated-soft-drink data put Dr Pepper just ahead of Pepsi-Cola for second place by sales volume. The reported shares were 8.34% for Dr Pepper and 8.31% for Pepsi. That is a narrow sales ranking, not a survey showing which soda Americans say they like best.
What “second favorite” means in the ranking
The headline’s “favorite” is shorthand for sales performance. Beverage Digest’s all-channel U.S. comparison ranks brands by carbonated-soft-drink volume; it does not measure stated consumer preference. In the 2023 data, Dr Pepper edged Pepsi-Cola by 0.03 percentage points, a difference small enough that both brands are often rounded to 8.3%.
Volume share and dollar share are different measures: a brand can gain more revenue share because of prices or product mix without selling a greater share of total beverage volume. The 2023 second-place comparison is specifically about volume.
How Dr Pepper, Pepsi and Coca-Cola compared in 2023
| Brand | Reported U.S. volume share | What the figure means |
|---|---|---|
| Coca-Cola | 19.2% | Clear No. 1 in the 2023 comparison |
| Dr Pepper | 8.34% | Just ahead of Pepsi-Cola |
| Pepsi-Cola | 8.31% | 0.03 percentage points behind Dr Pepper |
The precise Dr Pepper and Pepsi-Cola shares were reported contemporaneously by Fortune; CNN Newsource reported Beverage Digest’s figures rounded to about 8.3% for each, with Coca-Cola at 19.2%. These are brand-level shares, not comparisons of Coca-Cola’s or PepsiCo’s entire product portfolios.
#1 Best Overall
Did Dr Pepper stay ahead of Pepsi?
A later comparison reported by AS USA in May 2025, citing Beverage Digest figures, listed Dr Pepper at 8.3%, Sprite at 8.03% and Pepsi at 7.97%. In that reported comparison, Sprite had also moved ahead of Pepsi.
Those later figures should be treated as secondary reporting, not as a currently verified primary brand table. Beverage Digest’s 2025 all-channel summary describes its operating-year coverage and measurement approach, but the accessible summary does not display the brand-level table. The 2023 ranking is therefore a dated result, not proof of the latest precise all-channel order.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Why Dr Pepper gained ground
Coverage has pointed to several possible contributors, rather than establishing a single cause. CNN Newsource quoted Beverage Digest editor Duane Stanford saying, “Dr Pepper has been gaining, [Pepsi] has been declining, and they’re meeting in the middle.” Reporting cited Dr Pepper’s flavor experiments, national marketing and digital presence, including TikTok, as possible strengths. Pepsi’s emphasis on zero-sugar lines and its wider food portfolio were discussed as context, not proof that these factors caused the brands’ sales trends.
Product identity and marketing
Dr Pepper’s history predates both Coca-Cola and Pepsi: CNN Newsource says it was founded in Waco, Texas, in 1885. The brand promotes a distinctive blend of 23 flavors. BeverageDaily reported seven consecutive years of Dr Pepper dollar-share growth beginning in 2017, a separate measure from the 2023 volume-share ranking. It also described extensions such as Strawberries & Cream, Dr Pepper & Cream and the limited-time Creamy Coconut flavor in 2024, alongside a focused digital media strategy.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
A Dr Pepper spokesperson told BeverageDaily that the brand’s success was enabled by “its original 23 flavor recipe that has defined its unique, indulgent taste.” That is the company’s explanation of its appeal, not an independent finding about why consumers bought more.
Perception is not the same as sales
In FutureBrand Consumer Index results described by BeverageDaily, Dr Pepper ranked 41st and Pepsi 43rd among 100 consumer brands. FutureBrand strategy head Lynne Field said consumers saw Dr Pepper as having a more promising future, keeping up to date better and being more distinctive. That index concerns brand perception; it does not establish the volume ranking or explain it.
Rank #4
How to read the numbers
- Check the year. The close Dr Pepper–Pepsi result of 8.34% to 8.31% applies to 2023.
- Check the measure. Volume share tracks sales volume; dollar share tracks sales value, and neither is a poll of favorite brands.
- Check the channels. Beverage Digest describes its all-channel estimates as including measured and unmeasured channels such as packaged retail, fountain and vending. Retail-only reports may cover a narrower market.
- Check whether the comparison is by brand or company. Dr Pepper is a single soda brand; parent-company portfolios include other beverages, and PepsiCo also has a major food business.
For broader category context, Beverage Digest reported that U.S. carbonated soft-drink dollars rose 3.1% while volume fell 0.7% in 2025. Those are category-wide figures, not Dr Pepper-specific results, and they do not establish which brand led the latest all-channel ranking.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
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.
