What's the lowest carb seltzer? A guide to zero-carb sparkling waters and hard seltzers

November 5, 2025 •

4 min read

The global hard seltzer market size was valued at over $14 billion in 2023, driven by a growing demand for low-calorie and low-sugar alcoholic beverages. Whether for low-carb diets, managing sugar intake, or simply seeking a lighter beverage, finding out what's the lowest carb seltzer is a common question.

Quick Summary

This guide reveals the seltzers with the lowest carbohydrate content, distinguishing between non-alcoholic and alcoholic options. Learn which brands offer zero-carb choices, how to read nutrition labels, and factors influencing carb count.

Key Points

Absolute Lowest Carb: Non-alcoholic sparkling water and seltzer brands like LaCroix, Bubly, and Waterloo contain 0g of carbs and are the absolute lowest carb seltzer option available.
Zero-Carb Hard Seltzers Exist: For alcoholic options, some brands like San Juan Seltzer, Cutwater Vodka Sodas, and Viva Tequila Seltzer specifically market and provide 0g carb products.
Unflavored is Often Safest: Unflavored or 'Pure' hard seltzers, like White Claw Pure, are typically zero-carb, whereas their flavored counterparts may contain 2-3g of carbs.
Read the Label: The carb count in hard seltzers can vary by flavor, so it is crucial to check the nutrition facts on the label to ensure it aligns with your dietary needs.
DIY Seltzer for Control: Making your own seltzer at home using a carbonation machine and natural flavorings is the best way to ensure a zero-carb, custom beverage.
Watch for Sweeteners: Be mindful of brands that use artificial sweeteners, which some people on low-carb diets prefer to avoid due to potential health implications.

Navigating the Seltzer Aisle: Hard vs. Non-Alcoholic

To determine the lowest carb seltzer, you must first distinguish between non-alcoholic sparkling water and hard seltzer, as their nutritional profiles differ significantly. Non-alcoholic flavored seltzers are almost universally a zero-carb beverage, while hard seltzers can vary depending on their fermentation process and flavorings.

Non-Alcoholic Seltzers: The Absolute Zero-Carb Standard

For those seeking a guaranteed zero-carb option, plain or flavored non-alcoholic seltzer water is the top choice. These beverages are simply carbonated water infused with natural essences for flavor, containing no sugar, calories, or carbohydrates.

Bubly: A PepsiCo brand known for its wide variety of fruit flavors. Nutrition labels confirm 0g carbs, 0g sugar, and 0 calories.
LaCroix: A pioneer in the flavored sparkling water space, LaCroix also provides a zero-carb experience across its flavor lineup.
Waterloo: This brand prides itself on using only natural flavors and offers a vast selection of zero-calorie, zero-carb, and zero-sodium sparkling waters.
Perrier: The classic sparkling mineral water, whether plain or flavored with lemon or lime, contains 0g of carbs.

The Lowest Carb Hard Seltzers

For those who prefer a spiked seltzer, there are excellent options that achieve zero or near-zero carb counts. The key is to look for brands that ferment a pure, sugar-free base, rather than those adding sugary fruit juices.

San Juan Seltzer: This Pacific Northwest brand produces hard seltzers with 0g of sugar and 0g of carbs.
Cutwater Spirits Vodka Sodas: The vodka soda line from Cutwater Spirits boasts 0g of carbs.
Viva Tequila Seltzer: These tequila-based seltzers have 0g of carbs and sugar, with just 88 calories per can.
Take Five Hard Seltzer: This brand offers hard seltzers with zero carbs and zero sugar, though availability may be limited to certain regions.
DRTY Hard Seltzer: Another zero-carb hard seltzer brand, available in the UK.
White Claw Pure: For a widely available option, the unflavored 'Pure' version of White Claw contains 0g of carbs, while their flavored seltzers contain 2g.
Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer: Another organic option that often has zero carbs, depending on the flavor.

Deciphering Seltzer Labels for Carb Content

When choosing a seltzer, especially an alcoholic one, it's crucial to read the label carefully, as not all seltzers are created equal. Even major brands can vary their carb content between products.

Check the serving size: Nutritional information can be misleading if you don't account for the full serving. For example, some values might be listed per 100ml instead of per can.
Scrutinize the ingredients: Some brands use real fruit juice, which contains natural sugar and therefore carbs. Seltzers that list 'natural flavors' often derive their taste from fruit essences, not juice, keeping the carb count at zero.
Distinguish between hard and soft seltzer: The alcohol fermentation process is where hard seltzers get their main caloric content. While the sugar is fermented out, some residual carbs may remain, especially if flavoring is added later.
Beware of added sweeteners: For those on a strict keto or low-carb diet, be aware that some seltzers use artificial sweeteners, which can impact blood sugar or gut health for some individuals.

Comparison of Popular Seltzer Options


Brand	Type	Carbs (per 12oz)	Calories (per 12oz)	Noteworthy	Availability
LaCroix	Non-Alcoholic	0g	0	Widely available, zero-carb standard	Widespread
Bubly	Non-Alcoholic	0g	0	Wide flavor range, zero-carb	Widespread
San Juan Seltzer	Hard Seltzer	0g	~85	0g sugar, 0g carbs	Regional (US)
Cutwater Vodka Soda	Hard Seltzer	0g	~99	0g sugar, made with vodka	National (US)
White Claw Pure	Hard Seltzer	0g	100	Unflavored option, 0g carbs	Widespread
Truly Hard Seltzer	Hard Seltzer	2-3g	100	Most flavors are low-carb	Widespread
White Claw (Flavored)	Hard Seltzer	2g	100	Popular flavors are low-carb	Widespread

Making Your Own Zero-Carb Seltzer

For those who want complete control over their ingredients and carb count, making seltzer at home is a great option. A soda maker allows you to carbonate water and add your own flavorings, like fruit zest, a splash of sugar-free essence, or a small amount of freshly squeezed citrus. This DIY approach ensures you can achieve the lowest possible carb count while still enjoying a flavorful and refreshing beverage.

Conclusion: Finding Your Low-Carb Seltzer

In summary, the lowest carb seltzer options are plain or flavored, non-alcoholic sparkling waters like LaCroix, Bubly, and Waterloo, which contain zero carbohydrates. For those seeking an alcoholic option, several brands now produce true zero-carb hard seltzers by fermenting a clean base without added sugars, such as San Juan Seltzer and Cutwater Vodka Soda. Reading labels is key to ensuring you're choosing a product that meets your dietary needs, as even popular low-carb brands can vary slightly depending on the flavor. With a growing market of low-carb and keto-friendly beverages, you can easily find a refreshing seltzer that fits your lifestyle without compromising on flavor.

For more in-depth nutritional information on popular seltzer brands, visit CalorieKing.com, an authoritative source for food and beverage data.

Frequently Asked Questions

The hard seltzers with the absolute fewest carbs are those with 0g of carbs. Brands like San Juan Seltzer, Cutwater Vodka Sodas, and Viva Tequila Seltzer are known for their zero-carb offerings.

Unflavored seltzer water and sparkling mineral water are always carb-free. Most flavored, non-alcoholic sparkling water brands also contain 0g of carbs because they use natural essences for flavor rather than sugar.

Yes, seltzer is generally an excellent choice for a keto diet. Zero-carb options are best, and many low-carb hard seltzers can be consumed in moderation while staying in ketosis.

The carb count in hard seltzers depends on how they are made. Some brands add fruit juices or sugary flavorings after fermentation, which increases the carbohydrate content. Zero-carb options ferment the sugar out completely and use carb-free flavorings.

For non-alcoholic sparkling waters, no. Brands like LaCroix, Bubly, and Waterloo use natural fruit essences for flavor, which adds no sugar or carbohydrates to the drink.

Some Truly flavors contain 3g of carbs per can, while standard flavored White Claw seltzers contain 2g. However, White Claw Pure is a 0g carb option. For the lowest carb choice, White Claw Pure is the best bet between the two.

Yes, several brands offer hard seltzers with both zero sugar and zero carbs. San Juan Seltzer, Viva Tequila Seltzer, and Cutwater Vodka Sodas are examples of brands that provide this option.