Which is the lowest calorie soft drink?

November 28, 2025 •

4 min read

For those monitoring their caloric intake, the good news is that many major beverage companies now offer popular soft drinks with zero calories, providing a clear answer to the question of which is the lowest calorie soft drink. These are made possible through the use of artificial or natural non-caloric sweeteners.

Quick Summary

Zero-calorie diet and sugar-free sodas are the lowest-calorie soft drinks available. Other healthier alternatives include naturally flavored sparkling water, prebiotic sodas, and kombucha for minimal calories and additional health benefits.

Key Points

Zero-Calorie Soft Drinks: Brands like Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Diet Pepsi, and Sprite Zero are the lowest calorie options, containing virtually zero calories due to non-nutritive sweeteners.
Artificial Sweeteners: These drinks use sweeteners such as aspartame or Ace-K, which provide sweetness without being metabolized for energy, resulting in no caloric intake.
Natural Sweetener Alternatives: Brands like Zevia and Humm offer zero-calorie soft drinks sweetened with stevia or allulose, providing an option for those who prefer more natural ingredients.
Flavor from Real Fruit: Sparkling water brands like Spindrift and AHA use a splash of real fruit juice or natural essences for flavor, resulting in very low calorie counts and no artificial sweeteners.
Gut-Healthy Options: Prebiotic sodas (e.g., Poppi, OLIPOP) and kombucha (e.g., Humm) combine low calorie counts with added prebiotics or probiotics for digestive health benefits.
Healthier is not Always Zero-Calorie: While zero-calorie is the lowest, alternatives made with real fruit or natural ingredients may offer more nutritional value and a cleaner label, even if they contain a few calories.
Impact on Cravings: Some research suggests that artificial sweeteners might increase cravings for sweet foods, so individual responses may vary when switching to diet soft drinks.

The Zero-Calorie Champions

When searching for the lowest calorie soft drink, most people are thinking of traditional sodas. In this category, the winners are universally the 'diet' or 'zero sugar' versions offered by major brands. Products such as Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Pepsi, and Diet Dr. Pepper contain virtually no calories per 12-ounce can.

These drinks are sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners like aspartame, acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), or stevia extract, which provide sweetness without adding calories or sugar. This makes them a straightforward substitute for their full-sugar counterparts, which typically contain over 140 calories per serving. For many, switching from a single daily regular soda to a zero-calorie version can save hundreds of calories per week, significantly impacting overall weight management goals.

Are Zero-Calorie Drinks Truly Calorie-Free?

In the US, regulations allow foods and drinks with fewer than five calories per serving to be labeled as 'zero-calorie'. For diet sodas, the amount of calories from their artificial sweeteners is so negligible that it rounds down to zero. The sweeteners themselves are not metabolized by the body in the same way as sugar, meaning they do not provide usable energy. For example, the artificial sweetener aspartame is broken down into components that are then processed by the body, but the total energy derived is considered non-significant in typical serving sizes.

Healthier Alternatives to Traditional Soft Drinks

For those who prefer to avoid artificial sweeteners or seek additional health benefits, several low-calorie and zero-calorie alternatives are available. These options provide flavor and carbonation with fewer ingredients and more natural sources.

Flavored Sparkling Water: Brands like AHA, Bubly, LaCroix, and Spindrift offer a wide variety of flavors with zero calories and no added sweeteners, relying solely on natural essences or a splash of real fruit juice for flavor. Spindrift, for instance, uses real fruit juice, resulting in very low calorie counts (5-20 calories per can).
Kombucha: This fermented tea contains probiotics, which may support gut health. While some kombucha brands contain sugar, zero-sugar options are available, such as Humm Zero Sugar Kombucha. Its unique tangy flavor is a refreshing departure from standard sodas and often contains minimal calories, if any.
Prebiotic Sodas: Brands like OLIPOP and Poppi combine fizz with prebiotic fibers or apple cider vinegar to promote gut health. These products use sweeteners like stevia and fruit juice, keeping calories low (around 25-50 calories per can) while offering a more complex flavor profile than standard diet sodas.

Comparison of Low-Calorie Soft Drinks

To help you compare, here is a table highlighting the differences between popular choices. Data is based on standard 12-ounce (355ml) servings where applicable.


Product	Calorie Count	Sweetener Type	Key Features
Diet Coke	0	Artificial (Aspartame, Ace-K)	Classic cola taste, no sugar
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar	0	Artificial (Aspartame, Ace-K)	Tastes closer to original Coca-Cola, no sugar
Diet Pepsi	0	Artificial (Aspartame, Ace-K)	Classic cola taste, no sugar
Sprite Zero	0	Artificial (Aspartame, Ace-K)	Crisp lemon-lime flavor, no sugar, caffeine-free
Zevia Soda	0	Natural (Stevia Extract)	Zero calories, zero sugar, wide variety of flavors
Humm Zero Sugar Kombucha	0	Natural (Allulose)	Zero sugar, includes probiotics for gut health
Spindrift Sparkling Water	5-20	Natural (Real Fruit Juice)	Made with real fruit, no artificial sweeteners
Poppi Prebiotic Soda	25-35	Natural (Stevia, Juice)	Includes prebiotics and apple cider vinegar, low sugar

Making the Best Choice for Your Health

While zero-calorie soft drinks are technically the lowest-calorie option, the choice of what to drink depends on your overall health goals. If your primary objective is simply to reduce sugar and calories, diet sodas are an effective and easy switch. However, it's worth considering the potential downsides. Some studies suggest a link between artificial sweeteners and altered gut microbiomes, though more research is needed. Some evidence also suggests that diet soda can increase cravings for other sweet foods.

For those who want to improve their overall nutritional intake, opting for sparkling water flavored with real fruit or a prebiotic soda can be a better choice. These options often contain fewer, more recognizable ingredients and can provide additional health benefits like improved gut health. For example, a zero-calorie drink from Dash is infused with real, 'wonky' fruit and contains no sweeteners or calories. Ultimately, the healthiest and lowest-calorie beverage is plain water, but for those seeking a more flavorful, fizzy experience, there are many excellent low-calorie soft drink options to explore.

Conclusion: Navigating the Lowest Calorie Landscape

In conclusion, the absolute lowest calorie soft drinks are the zero-calorie varieties from major brands like Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Diet Pepsi, and Sprite Zero. These rely on non-caloric artificial sweeteners to achieve their sweet taste. However, the market for healthy alternatives has expanded significantly, with options like Zevia (using stevia), Humm (kombucha with allulose), and Spindrift (real fruit juice) providing zero or very low-calorie beverages with cleaner ingredient lists. Your personal preference, health objectives, and willingness to embrace a different flavor profile will determine which option is best for you. For weight management, swapping a regular sugary drink for a zero-calorie option is a beneficial step, but exploring natural alternatives can offer broader wellness advantages.

Learn more about the components of zero-calorie drinks and potential health impacts at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Both Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar are effectively zero-calorie and sugar-free options. The primary difference is the flavor profile, as Coca-Cola Zero Sugar is formulated to taste more like the original Coca-Cola, while Diet Coke has a lighter taste.

Artificial sweeteners have been deemed safe for consumption by major health organizations, though research is ongoing regarding potential long-term effects. Concerns around impact on gut health and other factors have been raised, but the evidence is not conclusive.

Substituting high-calorie, sugary soft drinks with zero-calorie versions can help reduce overall calorie intake, which may support weight loss efforts. However, some studies suggest that artificial sweeteners may affect appetite and cravings.

If you want to avoid artificial sweeteners entirely, your best option is flavored sparkling water from brands like Spindrift or AHA. These use natural fruit essences or a splash of real fruit juice for flavor, keeping calories to a minimum.

In most cases, the difference is primarily marketing and flavor. Both types use artificial sweeteners to eliminate sugar and calories. Coca-Cola, for example, formulated 'Coke Zero Sugar' to taste more like its classic version, while 'Diet Coke' has a distinct, lighter flavor profile.

Drinking zero-calorie soda in moderation is generally considered safe for most people. However, for optimum health, it's best not to rely on any type of soda as your primary beverage. Hydrating with plain water, herbal teas, or other naturally low-calorie options is recommended.

Prebiotic sodas like Poppi and OLIPOP contain low-calorie sweeteners and added ingredients like fiber, which can support gut health. While they are a healthier alternative to sugary soft drinks, their overall health benefits are still being studied and should be considered as part of a balanced diet.