What Soda Has Little Sugar? Finding Healthier Alternatives

January 10, 2026 •

4 min read

According to the CDC, a typical 12-ounce can of regular soda can contain over 35 grams of added sugar, exceeding the daily recommended limit for most adults. For those looking to cut back on their sugar intake, the question, "what soda has little sugar?" is increasingly relevant, and the good news is that many healthier, delicious options now exist.

Quick Summary

This guide examines a variety of low-sugar and sugar-free sodas, including brands sweetened with stevia and those using real fruit juice, to help you find satisfying alternatives. It reviews popular options like Zevia, Olipop, Poppi, and sparkling waters, comparing ingredients and nutritional content. The article also provides practical tips for transitioning away from high-sugar soft drinks.

Key Points

Zero-Sugar Options: Brands like Zevia and Humm offer zero-calorie, zero-sugar sodas using natural sweeteners like stevia or allulose.
Prebiotic Sodas: Functional beverages such as Olipop and Poppi contain low amounts of sugar, often from fruit juice, and include added fiber for gut health.
Sparkling Water Alternatives: Spindrift and other sparkling waters flavored with real fruit juice or essence provide fizz with minimal to no sugar or added sweeteners.
Gradual Transition: To cut down on sugar, try mixing your soda with club soda or transitioning to naturally flavored sparkling waters to reset your palate.
Kombucha and DIY Infusions: Exploring fermented teas like kombucha or creating your own fruit and herb-infused water provides control over sweetness and offers additional health benefits.
Comparison Shopping: The best choice depends on your preference for sweeteners, flavor intensity, and nutritional benefits, so compare brands to find the right fit for your taste and health goals.

Navigating the Low-Sugar Soda Aisle

For many, giving up the satisfying fizz of soda is a challenge. Fortunately, the beverage market has expanded far beyond traditional diet sodas, offering an array of low-sugar options that use a variety of sweeteners. These alternatives range from zero-calorie, naturally-sweetened options to prebiotic sodas designed for gut health. Understanding the different types of sweeteners and ingredients is key to making an informed choice that aligns with your health goals.

Zero-Sugar Sodas with Natural Sweeteners

Some brands offer a direct swap for traditional soda flavors, but without the calories or sugar. These products typically use natural, plant-derived sweeteners like stevia, which provide sweetness without affecting blood sugar levels. They are a good choice for those who are keto-friendly, diabetic, or simply want to eliminate sugar from their diet entirely.

Zevia: This brand is known for its wide variety of zero-calorie, zero-sugar sodas, all sweetened with stevia leaf extract. Zevia offers classic flavors like cola, root beer, and ginger ale, along with unique fruity options. As a plant-based, gluten-free option, it's a popular choice for many.
Humm Probiotic Soda: These sodas are zero-calorie and sugar-free, sweetened with allulose and fortified with live probiotics to support gut health. They offer flavors like Berry Cream and Lemon Lime for a balanced, guilt-free treat.
Other Store Brands: Many natural and organic grocery stores, like Whole Foods, now carry their own zero-calorie, stevia-sweetened soda brands as a budget-friendly option for similar flavors.

Prebiotic Sodas with Low Added Sugar

Prebiotic sodas have gained popularity by blending low sugar content with functional ingredients that support digestive health, such as fiber and apple cider vinegar. The sweetness in these drinks often comes from a combination of fruit juice and natural sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit, resulting in a less intensely sweet flavor profile than traditional soda.

Olipop: This prebiotic soda contains only 2 to 5 grams of added sugar per can, along with 9 grams of prebiotic fiber. It is known for its vintage and fruity flavors, making it a gut-friendly alternative to regular soft drinks.
Poppi: With around 5 grams of sugar per can, Poppi is another prebiotic soda option that uses a touch of apple cider vinegar. Its blend of fruit juice and stevia offers a pleasant, slightly tart sweetness.
SunSip by Health-Ade: Combining real fruit juice concentrate with monk fruit, SunSip provides a lighter, less sugary taste while also including prebiotics and vitamins.

Sparkling Water with Real Fruit Juice

For those who find stevia's aftertaste unappealing, sparkling waters with a splash of real fruit juice offer minimal sugar and a clean, crisp flavor. These beverages are designed to highlight the fruit's natural essence rather than artificial sweetness, providing a refreshing bubbly experience with very little sugar.

Spindrift: A favorite for its simple, real-ingredient approach, Spindrift sparkling water is made with just sparkling water and real fruit juice. Many flavors have 0 to 7 grams of sugar and 0 added sugars per 12-ounce can, and some don't use any added sweeteners at all.
San Pellegrino Ciao! This line of sparkling drinks uses a minimal amount of fruit juice, resulting in 0 or 1 gram of sugar per can. It provides a subtle fruit flavor without any intense sweetness.
Making Your Own: For maximum control over sweetness, you can add a small splash of your favorite 100% fruit juice to plain sparkling water. This allows for a customizable, low-sugar drink that uses only natural flavors.

Comparison of Low-Sugar Soda and Drink Alternatives


Feature	Zevia Zero Sugar Soda	Olipop Prebiotic Soda	Spindrift Sparkling Water	Traditional Regular Soda (e.g., Coke)
Sugar Content	0 grams (stevia)	2-5 grams (from juice)	0-7 grams (from juice)	39+ grams (added sugar)
Calories	0 calories	35-50 calories	5-40 calories	140+ calories
Key Ingredient	Stevia Leaf Extract	Prebiotic Fiber	Real Fruit Juice	High Fructose Corn Syrup
Sweetness Level	Often very sweet	Moderately sweet, less intense	Light and subtle	Very sweet
Gut Benefits?	No	Yes, contains prebiotics	No	No

Making the Transition to Lower Sugar Drinks

Switching from sugary soda to healthier alternatives takes time and patience. A stepwise approach often works best for changing long-standing habits. The following strategies can help you make a smooth transition.

Start with flavored sparkling water. Brands like Bubly and LaCroix are calorie-free and sugar-free, offering a flavor essence without any sweeteners. This is an excellent starting point for weaning your taste buds off intense sweetness.
Mix and dilute. For a less drastic change, try mixing your regular, sugary soda with an equal part of plain club soda. You can then gradually increase the ratio of club soda over time until you are used to a less sweet taste.
Infuse your water. Create your own refreshing and sugar-free beverage by infusing still or sparkling water with fresh fruits and herbs. Slices of lemon, lime, cucumber, and sprigs of mint are popular combinations.
Explore fermented options. Kombucha is a fermented tea that provides fizz and a more complex, tangy flavor profile than traditional soda. It contains probiotics, but be sure to check the label for sugar content, as it can vary by brand. Humm also offers a zero-sugar version.

Conclusion

For those asking "what soda has little sugar?", the market now offers a wealth of satisfying answers that go far beyond standard diet sodas. Zero-sugar sodas like Zevia use natural sweeteners for a guilt-free classic experience, while prebiotic sodas from Olipop and Poppi offer a functional twist with added fiber. For the purest flavor, sparkling waters with a splash of real fruit juice from Spindrift provide a crisp, low-sugar alternative. By exploring these options and gradually adjusting your taste preferences, you can successfully transition away from high-sugar soft drinks while still enjoying a delicious, fizzy beverage. The best option depends on your preference for sweetness, ingredients, and potential health benefits, but all provide a healthier path than reaching for a regular sugary soda.

Frequently Asked Questions

While major brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi have zero-sugar variants (Coke Zero, Pepsi Zero), these typically contain artificial sweeteners. For minimal to no sugar and no artificial sweeteners, healthier brands like Zevia and Spindrift are better options.

Yes, Zevia is a zero-calorie, zero-sugar soda. It is sweetened with stevia leaf extract, a plant-derived sweetener, and contains no artificial sweeteners or added colors.

Yes, Olipop is considered a low-sugar soda. It contains 2 to 5 grams of added sugar per can, significantly less than traditional sodas, and also includes prebiotic fiber for gut health.

Yes, sparkling waters with a splash of real fruit juice, like Spindrift, are excellent low-sugar options. They contain minimal sugar from the fruit juice itself and no artificial sweeteners.

Diet and zero-sugar sodas both contain no sugar but may use different artificial sweeteners. Some people perceive a taste difference, with zero-sugar versions sometimes tasting more like the original. Diet sodas have been around longer, while zero-sugar variants are a more recent trend.

Yes, you can make your own by using a soda stream or mixing club soda with flavorings. You can add a splash of 100% fruit juice, use a natural water enhancer like Stur, or infuse water with fruits and herbs.

Prebiotic sodas contain added fibers that are meant to support gut health. While they are a healthier alternative to regular soda, some experts are skeptical about their effectiveness as a primary source of fiber. They are still a better choice than sugary drinks, especially for those looking to reduce sugar intake.