Which energy drink has the least calories?

January 5, 2026 •

4 min read

Many traditional energy drinks can pack hundreds of calories, but not all are created equal. Whether for weight management or overall health, understanding which energy drink has the least calories is key to making a smarter choice. This article dives into the best low and zero-calorie options available today.

Quick Summary

This article uncovers the energy drinks with the fewest calories, including popular zero-calorie varieties and low-calorie options. It provides a detailed comparison table and explores healthier, natural alternatives for a sustained energy boost.

Key Points

Zero-Calorie Options Exist: Brands like Mati Unsweetened, Red Bull Zero, Bang, and Zevia offer energy without any calories.
Extremely Low-Calorie Drinks (5-10 Calories) are Common: Gorgie, Juvee, Guayaki Unsweetened, Monster Zero Ultra, and Celsius are all popular low-calorie choices.
Canned Drinks Use Artificial Sweeteners: Zero and low-calorie energy drinks typically replace sugar with artificial or plant-based sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame, or stevia.
Natural Alternatives Offer Health Benefits: Beverages like green tea, matcha, coconut water, and chia seed water provide energy with additional nutrients and fewer additives.
Comparison is Key to Choosing Wisely: A quick glance at the calories can prevent consuming excess sugar, but it is important to check the full nutritional panel for caffeine and other ingredients.
Original Energy Drinks are High in Calories: Popular versions like Monster and Red Bull often contain hundreds of calories and grams of sugar, providing an unhealthy contrast to the low-calorie alternatives.

Top Zero-Calorie Energy Drinks

For those aiming for absolutely no calories, several mainstream and niche brands offer completely sugar-free options. These beverages rely on artificial or natural non-caloric sweeteners to provide flavor without the added energy from sugar.

Mati Sparkling Organic Energy Drinks (Unsweetened): This brand is an excellent choice, with its unsweetened varieties clocking in at zero calories per 12-ounce can. Derived from brewed guayusa tea, it provides a clean energy boost.
Red Bull Zero: As the name suggests, Red Bull Zero offers the functional benefits of the original without any calories. It uses a combination of non-caloric sweeteners and provides the same signature energy blend of caffeine, taurine, and B-group vitamins.
Bang Energy: Known for its high caffeine content and BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids), Bang Energy is also a zero-calorie, zero-sugar option, making it popular with fitness enthusiasts.
Zevia Energy: This brand stands out for its use of stevia, a natural plant-based sweetener, to create zero-calorie energy drinks with a variety of classic and unique flavors.

Leading Low-Calorie Energy Drinks (Under 20 Calories)

If a touch of sweetness is preferred and a few calories are not a concern, these options offer very low-calorie counts while still delivering an energy boost.

Gorgie Energy Drink: Marketed as a healthier alternative, Gorgie contains only 5 calories per 12-ounce can and uses stevia for sweetness instead of artificial options like sucralose. It also includes green tea caffeine and functional ingredients like biotin.
Juvee Energy Drinks: With just 5 calories and zero sugar per can, Juvee is another viable choice. It also contains L-theanine and other ingredients aimed at improving mood and focus.
Guayaki Unsweetened Yerba Mate: This natural energy source provides a gentler lift with just 5 calories in its unsweetened variant, containing yerba mate for a smooth, clean energy effect.
Monster Energy Zero Ultra: One of Monster's most popular sugar-free versions, this drink contains just 10 calories and a full dose of their energy blend.
Celsius Live Fit: With 10 calories per can, Celsius is often cited as a healthier option, incorporating ingredients like green tea extract, ginger, and guarana.
Alani Nu Energy Drink: Another popular low-calorie option for those seeking a flavorful lift, Alani Nu contains just 5 or 10 calories per can, depending on the source and flavor. It relies on artificial sweeteners but is sugar-free.

Comparing Energy Drink Calories: Low-Cal vs. Full-Sugar

To put these low-calorie options into perspective, here's a comparison with their full-sugar counterparts, highlighting the significant calorie difference.


Brand	Serving Size	Calories (Low/Zero)	Calories (Original)	Notes
Red Bull	16 oz	20 (Sugarfree)	220	Zero-calorie options also available.
Monster	16 oz	10 (Zero Ultra)	298	Many sugar-free flavors exist.
Rockstar	16 oz	Varies by zero-sugar flavor	267	Most original formulas are very high in sugar.
Celsius	12 oz	10	N/A (low-calorie only)	Known for being low-calorie/sugar-free.
Bang	16 oz	0	N/A (zero-calorie only)	Focus on zero-calorie, zero-sugar.

Healthier Energy Alternatives Beyond the Can

While low-calorie canned energy drinks can be a good substitute for sugary sodas, other natural alternatives can provide energy with added health benefits.

Green Tea and Matcha: Green tea contains caffeine but also L-theanine, which promotes a calmer, more sustained energy boost. Matcha, a powdered form of green tea, offers an even higher concentration of these benefits.
Coconut Water: For post-workout hydration, coconut water is rich in electrolytes like potassium and magnesium, providing natural energy without the heavy sugar load.
Chia Seed Water: When mixed with water, chia seeds create a gel-like consistency that aids in hydration and offers a slow-release of sustained energy, fiber, and omega-3s.
Coffee: Black coffee provides a straightforward caffeine kick with virtually zero calories, and its effects on the brain, liver, and heart are well-studied. You can easily control the sugar and milk content to keep it low-calorie.

What to Consider When Choosing a Low-Calorie Energy Drink

When picking a drink, calorie count isn't the only factor to weigh. Other elements like caffeine content, ingredients, and sweeteners also play a significant role.

Caffeine Levels: Always check the caffeine amount, as it can vary dramatically between brands and even within different products from the same brand.
Sweeteners: Zero-calorie options often use artificial sweeteners like sucralose or natural ones like stevia. Some people experience digestive issues with certain sweeteners, so it's wise to read labels.
Functional Ingredients: Beyond caffeine, some drinks include ingredients like B-vitamins, amino acids (e.g., taurine), or herbal extracts. While these are often touted for energy and performance, the evidence supporting some claims is less robust than others.
Hidden Calories: Be mindful of seemingly low-calorie drinks that might still contain a few grams of sugar or sugar alcohols, which can contribute to the final calorie count. Always check the nutrition facts panel.

Conclusion

Navigating the world of energy drinks doesn't have to mean sacrificing health for energy. Zero-calorie options like Mati Unsweetened and Red Bull Zero provide a guilt-free boost using non-caloric sweeteners, while brands like Celsius and Juvee offer a similarly low-calorie profile. For the most natural approach, alternatives such as green tea or coconut water offer hydration and energy without artificial additives. The right choice ultimately depends on your specific needs, but armed with a careful comparison, you can find the perfect low-calorie pick-me-up. For further research on beverage health, consult trusted sources like the Harvard School of Public Health's nutrition resource, available here.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are several brands that offer zero-calorie energy drinks. Options like Mati Sparkling Organic Energy (Unsweetened), Red Bull Zero, Bang, and Zevia are all formulated to contain zero calories.

No, zero-calorie energy drinks typically do not contain sugar. Instead, they use non-caloric sweeteners, which can be artificial (like sucralose in Red Bull Zero) or natural (like stevia in Zevia), to achieve a sweet taste.

A standard 16-ounce Monster Energy drink contains approximately 298 calories, while a 16-ounce Red Bull Energy drink has around 220 calories. This is significantly higher than their zero-calorie and low-calorie counterparts.

Low-calorie energy drinks are often considered a healthier option than their full-sugar counterparts because they eliminate the empty calories from added sugar. However, they still contain high levels of caffeine and can use artificial ingredients, so natural alternatives are often a more nutritious choice.

Natural energy-boosting alternatives include green tea, matcha tea, coconut water, and chia seed water. These options provide sustained energy and hydration without the artificial additives or sugar found in many conventional energy drinks.

Many low and zero-calorie energy drinks, such as Red Bull Zero and Monster Zero Ultra, use artificial sweeteners to provide flavor without the calories. Some brands, like Zevia and Gorgie, use natural, plant-based sweeteners like stevia.

The caffeine content varies widely by brand. For example, a 12-ounce can of Gorgie contains 150 mg of caffeine, while a 12-ounce can of Zevia Energy has 120 mg. Always check the nutrition label for the specific caffeine amount.

Yes, Celsius Live Fit is a very low-calorie energy drink, with most cans containing just 10 calories. It is known for its sugar-free formula and includes ingredients like green tea extract and ginger.