For many, the quest for the best diet soda ends with finding a drink that closely mimics its full-sugar counterpart, without the tell-tale artificial sweetener aftertaste. Whether you're watching your calorie intake or simply prefer the taste of diet sodas, the goal is the same: a satisfying and flavorful experience. This comprehensive review dives into the world of diet orange sodas, and other diet sodas, identifying the top contenders based on extensive taste tests conducted by both diet soda enthusiasts and skeptics.
What Makes a Great Diet Soda?
Ideally, the best diet soda tastes exactly like its non-diet counterpart (except for Diet Coke, which is doing its own thing). It shouldn’t blatantly taste like aspartame or any other artificial sweetener.
Diet Orange Soda Showdown
The best orange soda is bright, citrusy, and refreshing. It’s fun and nostalgic. It can be enjoyed on its own or poured over ice cream or mixed into a cocktail. And, of course, it’s Kel’s favorite beverage. It’s also underrated. In our orange soda taste tests, we were looking for orange sodas that are bright, tangy, and sweet. They don’t have to taste like fresh orange juice (in fact, they shouldn’t) but they should taste like they’ve heard of an orange. They should taste citrusy. We looked for good, fizzy carbonation.
Crush Orange: Crush Orange soda is so much better than every other orange soda we tried, I honestly couldn’t believe it. The first thing you notice when you open the bottle is that this soda is sensationally fragrant. I want a Crush candle in my apartment. And luckily, the taste lives up to the aroma. It’s super carbonated and tastes almost like there’s real orange juice in it. Don’t worry though, it’s still soda that contains 0% juice. Go buy this and remind yourself why orange soda rules. This is the best orange soda out there.
Diet Sunkist: Diet Sunkist tastes like regular Sunkist. Maybe even better than regular Sunkist? I can’t believe I actually like this, but I do. It tastes good! It’s citrusy and fresh. There’s no weird chemical-y taste. It tastes just like the best orange soda. If you want a diet soda but don’t want a diet soda, grab a bottle of Diet Sunkist, pour it over ice, and think about how right I am while you drink it. It continues to be the best diet soda around. Sunkist Zero Sugar gave off a slight orange aroma that was too light a taste and came off a bit underwhelming. The flavor also faded fast on the tongue and left a synthetic-feeling coating, despite the inclusion of natural flavors in the ingredients. That said, Sunkist Zero Sugar seems refreshing. If offered to me, I might accept one on a hot afternoon.
Read also: The Ultimate Guide to Male Diet Supplements
Cactus Cooler: I am shocked that I had never heard of Cactus Cooler (a somewhat regional, Southern California and Southwestern orange soda) before our initial orange soda taste test. If you’re not familiar with this soda, it’s orange and pineapple flavored. I love the addition of the pineapple, which really complements the orange. It’s much more subtle than the other orange sodas we tried, but that doesn’t mean it’s not one of the best orange sodas on the market. If you’re looking to mix it up when it comes to your orange soda, grab a bottle of Cactus Cooler!
Jarritos Mandarin: Mandarin ranked on our list of the best Jarritos flavors for a reason: It’s one of the best orange sodas out there. It tastes very artificial but in a great way. It’s like candy. I also liked that this was based on a specific type of orange. It’s not just orange. It’s mandarin. It makes it feel fancier for some reason-and the glass bottle doesn’t hurt. If you’re at a taco stand or food truck, you’ll definitely want to grab a Mandarin Jarritos.
Shasta Orange: I don’t think enough people are drinking Shasta brand sodas. We loved their canned cola and their cream soda, and they also make some of the best orange soda we tried. It tastes very fresh. I think this would be so incredible mixed with alcohol. If you can have rum with Coke, why can’t you have orange soda and tequila? Plus, it’s cheap! Who doesn’t love an affordable option? Orange soda Margaritas, anyone? Sign me up!
Teddy’s Orange Cream Soda: It turns out it’s tough to make a great orange cream soda. A few that we tried only tasted like sweet vanilla. Others tasted like generic orange soda-no cream in sight. But not this orange cream soda from Teddy’s (a Washington-based soda company that boasts Teddy Roosevelt as a mascot). It has that old school orange phosphate flavor. It’s like something you’d get from a soda fountain. And I love the spritzy carbonation, it helps amp up the flavor and accentuate the acidity. If you’re looking for the best orange cream soda, trust old Theodore.
Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa (Blood Orange): I pay taxes. I have kids. I go to the dermatologist (okay, I mean to, at least). But sipping this blood orange soda really made me feel like a grown-up. It’s zesty and spritzy and tart and tangy. It tastes like it was made with fresh blood orange juice. It tastes European. And it comes in a big, beautiful glass bottle that you can plonk right on a dining table without downgrading the decor. And, yes, we tried Sanpellegrino’s blood orange soda, too, and this one was better.
Read also: Meal replacement guide for women
Fanta Orange: I’m not saying Fanta commercials made me gay, but I’m not saying they didn’t make me gay. I hadn’t had a Fanta in forever, so I was worried the Fanta women would be better than Fanta orange soda. Thank goodness, Fanta lives up to their commercials! It is super crisp, sweet, and tasty. It tastes like it contains absolutely no juice, but it has a great artificial orange flavor. I do, in fact, want a Fanta!
Poppi Orange: This prebiotic orange soda may not taste exactly like a classic orange soda, but it’s a decent approximation. And it tastes more like orange soda than the other prebiotic or probiotic sodas we tried. It tastes a bit like carbonated orange juice from concentrate. It’s sweet, for sure, but not overly sweet. The Poppi I tested contained four grams of sugar and 4% juice. As someone who never drinks sugar, including juices, it hit differently than the other sodas, with clear but not overwhelming real-sugar sweetness.
Beyond Orange: Exploring Other Diet Soda Categories
While orange soda holds a special place for many, the world of diet soda is vast and varied. Here's a look at some of the best options in other popular categories:
Cola
- Diet Coke: Diet Coke lovers (our own editor-in-chief Justine Sterling is one of them) are so loyal and so scary. Personally, I think Diet Coke tastes disgusting, but I have to include it on this list of the best tasting diet soda because I know if I don’t Diet Coke lovers will burn down my apartment building. That being said, I respect and relate to how much Diet Coke people love Diet Coke because it is how I feel about regular Coke. We both love soda and we stand together in solidarity. Need to hear about it from a Diet Coke drinker? Justine has this to say: “While Diet Coke might not taste anything like regular Coke, it’s crisp and zippy and so refreshing. It’s like extremely flavorful cola-flavored seltzer. The flavor is crisp, refreshing, and vaguely lemony, which is unsurprising considering regular Coke's probable inclusion of citrus as one of its flavors (the exact recipe is still a trade secret). While I'm not a fan of regular Coke, Diet Coke works for me. It's a very inoffensive beverage, avoiding extremes. This makes it a good mixer and the type of drink that makes sense with breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even after dinner if caffeine isn't an issue.
- Coke Zero: Coke Zero was released in 2005 as a healthier option for regular Coca-Cola drinkers, particularly for young male consumers who perceived Diet Coke as too feminine. Coke Zero was actually nicknamed "Bloke Coke" in the U.K. in 2006, highlighting the drink's gender-focused marketing. Coke Zero definitely approximates the flavor of Coke more than Diet Coke does; that more intense lemon base is obvious, both in aroma and flavor. If you're a devoted drinker of regular Coke who's looking for a sugar-free switch, you might find this easier on the palate than Diet Coke just because of that similarity to the original. I admit Coke Zero actually grew on me the longer I sipped it. Dare I say that lemony tinge actually feels more refreshing than Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper?
- Cherry Pepsi Zero: Something to know about me is that I hate Pepsi. I always have. Even this perfect commercial couldn’t convince me to make the switch from Coke to Pepsi. I will always be a Coca-Cola loyalist. All that being said, I do like Cherry Pepsi Zero. If they can make someone who hates Pepsi and diet sodas like a diet Pepsi, I can tell you they have a pretty good product on their hands and one of the best diet sodas. The aroma and flavor of Pepsi Zero gave off more Coke than Dr. Pepper vibes. That is, there was a definite tinge of lemony citrus to Pepsi Zero rather than the cherry notes that Dr. Pepper has. Pepsi Zero brought its own thing to the table, though, with a flavor only describable as "lemon toffee caramel" with a sweet, lingering aftertaste. I can see how it has a legion of fans.
Ginger Ale & Ginger Beer
- Reed’s Zero Sugar Ginger Ale: Ginger ale really relies on sugar, so finding the best diet ginger ale was tough. But Reed’s is crisp, clean, and sweet. It definitely tastes a bit like artificial sweetener, but if you’re accustomed to that flavor, then you might not even notice.
- Reed’s Zero Sugar Extra Ginger Beer: This diet ginger beer smells so spicy and gingery. Honestly, don’t get too close or it will tickle your nose and you will sneeze. It tastes extremely gingery, too. While it’s not as balanced between spicy and sweet as a regular ginger beer (hard to do that without real sugar), it’s an excellent approximation of regular ginger beer. It tastes fresh and, amazingly, it tastes homemade-a real craft brew.
Cream Soda
- A&W Zero Sugar Cream Soda: Cream soda essentially just tastes like sugar. So, finding the best diet cream soda was a toughie. While others we tried were certainly sweet, A&W Zero Sugar Cream Soda has more depth and dimension. It actually tastes like cream soda, rather than diet cotton candy soda. It’s easy drinking and not immediately identifiable as being a diet soda. And, as we know, not tasting like diet soda is one of the main characteristics of being one of the best diet sodas.
Grapefruit Soda
- Squirt Zero Sugar: When it comes to the best diet grapefruit soda, Squirt takes the title. Yes, Fresca is good. There is no denying it. We stock it in the fridges at the office. But Squirt Zero Sugar is zestier, tangier, and more grapefruit soda-y than Fresca. It has tiny, prickly bubbles. It’s cloudy, giving the impression that it’s actually made with juice. And it’s extremely refreshing. It’s definitely the best tasting zero sugar soda if you like your sodas tart and fruity. Fresca poured out a bit cloudy, just as you'd expect from a drink made with concentrated grapefruit juice. In terms of flavor, Fresca more than lived up to its name, which means "fresh" in several languages, including Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese: It was incredibly refreshing and tasty, and I had to stop myself from chugging. It was sweeter than Sprite Zero, though more natural tasting, with a pleasant hint of tartness from the grapefruit. It's caffeine-free, too.
Dr. Pepper
- Dr Pepper Zero: As I mentioned before, I am a Dr Pepper person. It is my go-to soda. I drink Dr Pepper multiple times a week. I love it so, so much. People swear that Diet Dr Pepper tastes almost exactly like Dr Pepper and I could kind of see where they were coming from, but then Dr Pepper Zero changed all that. Dr Pepper Zero really tastes almost like the real deal. It even beat out regular Dr Pepper flavors in our Dr Pepper taste test! This is the best diet soda for any soda lovers out there that want to cut down on sugar without sacrificing taste. With this test, it's clear that Zero is just what its name implies - a zero sugar alternative that would probably work beautifully in recipes like the Dr. Pepper pickles drink. However, I'm so used to Diet Dr. Pepper that Dr. Pepper Zero was a bit intense.
- Diet Dr. Pepper: Diet Dr Pepper has a cult following. Many people consider it the best diet soda that has ever been made. It does taste like Dr Pepper. You can taste all 23 flavors! It’s hard to taste exactly the same as Dr Pepper because Dr Pepper is perfect and doesn’t need to be altered in any way. Changing it automatically makes it worse. If you couldn’t tell, I love Dr Pepper. That said, there is a better sugar-free Dr Pepper on this list. Despite Dr. Pepper Zero's masterful impersonation of the regular Doctor, Diet Dr. Pepper came out as the overall winner. While part of this assessment is inevitably driven by my own experience with the cola, I went into this experiment ready to displace Diet Dr. Pepper from its top position among my preferences. That didn't happen. I did, however, discover the words to express why Diet Dr. While the cherry aroma of Diet Dr. Pepper is far stronger than that of Dr. Pepper Zero, when the flavor kicks in, something wild happens: Diet Dr. Pepper takes a step back. It's still got the signature cherry base, but a lighter take on it. On the other hand, Zero was just too sweet and strongly flavored for an "anytime" drink, which is exactly what Diet Dr. Pepper is.
Mountain Dew
- Diet Mountain Dew: I find that there are two kinds of soda drinkers: brown soda drinkers and clear soda drinkers. I am a brown soda drinker. Coke, Dr Pepper, and root beer are my go-to drinks. I didn’t even try Mountain Dew until I was, like, 25. And this taste test was my first time trying Diet Mountain Dew. I have to give it to them: Diet Mountain Dew is some of the best tasting diet soda out there! If you’re a gamer looking to suck down less sugar, have one of these. The strong yellowish-green color that's vaguely reminiscent of Hi-C Ecto Cooler from the 1980s, was a bit of a shock. Once it was poured into a glass, the soda gave off no discernible aroma. I found it not particularly sweet, just vaguely orangey and limey; the flavor faded quickly on my tongue like it never happened. I was left wondering what the point was, and I wouldn't personally add Diet Mountain Dew to my own soda rotation because it did not excite my taste buds in any way.
Root Beer
- Diet Stewart’s Root Beer: Diet A&W Root Beer used to be in this spot, but after our most recent root beer tasting, Diet Stewart’s Root Beer took its place as the best diet root beer. It doesn’t taste like fake sweetener at all. It’s sweet (but really not too sweet at all) and spiced. It tastes like cinnamon and nutmeg and, of course, sassafras root. I love the tiny little bubbles. And it’s just so refreshing. It is begging to be paired with a sloppy sub straight from the deli. If you haven’t had this root beer and you like root beer, then I demand you try it ASAP.
- A&W Zero Sugar Root Beer: In the battle between A&W and Barq's root beers, Barq's tends to win for palates that prefer a sharp, heavy bite to their root beer, while A&W excels for those who like a creamy, milder flavor. I didn't realize A&W has a milder flavor profile until I tried my first sip and wondered who forgot to add the root beer to the drink. As I continued to sip, the beverage's creamy notes grew on me despite the initially disappointing lack of deep, dark rootiness. Though it's a more toned-down root beer, the flavor lingered a while on the palate after drinking it, and the aftertaste was pleasant enough. That said, this root beer could feel a little too dessert-like in the middle of the day for me and wouldn't be my personal choice as a grab-it-anytime drink, but it has its merits.
Lemon-Lime Soda
- Sprite Zero Sugar: I forget Sprite exists all the time. Then, once in a blue moon, I feel sick and crave Sprite. Sprite doesn’t deserve that treatment from me. It’s not medicine. It’s delicious! Sprite Zero Sugar also deserves more respect from me because it tastes good. Well, good for a diet soda. I don’t think this would convert a diet soda hater, but it certainly isn’t bad. Whether you have a stomach ache or you’re craving something citrusy, Sprite Zero Sugar can definitely scratch that itch. Sprite Zero had a fairly strong lemon-lime scent and a moderately sweet flavor that hit neither overwhelmingly strong nor disappointingly weak. The flavor faded fast on the tongue but left a little zing of lemon that was nice. I can see this being very refreshing on a hot day, and there's no caffeine, so it's good any time. Plus, like the regular version, Sprite Zero's tasty, mild flavor would make it a good mixer.
Black Cherry Soda
- Diet Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry Soda: This diet version of Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry soda is unbelievably good. It has an intense candied black cherry flavor. It’s not medicinal at all. It’s vibrant and sweet and creamy-though it actually finished dry, which helps make it taste like a real craft soda. It would be incredible in an ice cream float. I’d never had the pleasure of tasting this diet soda before our most recent diet soda taste test, and I am so pleased to have it in my life. This is some of the best tasting zero sugar soda I’ve ever had.
Prebiotic Sodas
- Poppi: Conventional diet sodas don't typically make health claims beyond their heavy "no sugar" marketing, but Poppi is a new, different breed of soda. With its inclusion of prebiotic fiber, apple cider vinegar, five grams or less of sugar, and 25 or fewer calories, Poppi brands itself as a healthier soda that "safe" for consumers to love. As someone who never drinks sugar, including juices, it hit differently than the other sodas, with clear but not overwhelming real-sugar sweetness. The strawberry element gave nice bubblegum-lemonade vibes, but the apple cider vinegar was a bit too noticeable for my tastes.
- Olipop Strawberry Vanilla: Like Poppi, Olipop is a relatively new prebiotic soda with a notable quantity of dietary fiber and less sugar than conventional sodas. When poured,the Olipop Strawberry Vanilla featured an attractive pink color, almost like rosé wine. The strawberry aroma was appealing and the flavor sweet and lightly decadent. Like Poppi, the real sugar took my taste buds to new places that they enjoyed, and there was no unpleasant lingering aftertaste.
Zero Sugar vs. Diet: What's the Difference?
Then there's the question of "zero" versus "diet" sodas: What's the difference between Diet Coke and Coke Zero?
Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar is a sugar-free version of the regular product, while Diet Dr. Pepper is a calorie-free purveyor of regular Dr. Pepper's flavor profile. So was the difference between the two a "no calories versus no sugar" marketing thing?
Read also: Chlorine Brand Comparison
Methodology
In the process of choosing the diet sodas for this taste test, I wanted both brands that are marketed based on a flavoring (such as Sunkist) and sodas such as Diet Coke, which retain a proprietary flavor profile. The final 15 were picked for being either common diet soda drinks (e.g. the Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, and Pepsi offerings), sugar-free versions in a flavor niche (e.g. root beer). When it comes to ranking, I was the sole taste-tester, and the sodas were all consumed cold from a glass with no ice. The majority of the sodas fell into the same price range, so cost was only a consideration for ranking in cases where a beverage was significantly more expensive than the others - namely, the two prebiotic sodas.