Top Sugar-Free Energy Drinks
Do you need an energy boost, but you don’t want extra calories or a sugar crash? Are you looking for the best sugar-free energy drinks? It doesn’t matter if you are looking for a pre-workout energy shot or an afternoon pick me up, we’ve got you covered with this complete comparison of energy drink brands and their sugar-free options.
Having a sugar-free option is important to consumers. According to Statista, in November 2020, regular Red Bull and original Monster Energy accounted for 39.6% of the US market share of all energy drinks. However, Red Bull Sugar-Free and Monster Energy Zero Ultra made the top five list and account for 11.7% of the market share.
Both Red Bull Sugar-Free and Monster Energy Zero Ultra contain several chemical ingredients, artificial flavors, and preservatives.
Head-to-Head Comparison
The best healthy energy drink provides natural energy from caffeine without being over-processed or containing excessive calories. With so many energy drinks on the market, finding the right one for your lifestyle takes some investigation.
Along with caffeine, energy drinks include many different ingredients from proposed energy-boosting amino acids and herbs to preservatives and sweeteners. This comparison focuses on sugar-free energy drink options. We will compare the amount of caffeine, the calories, and the cost per serving. We obtained all prices on Amazon.com.
We will also note the number of ingredients, highlight either pros or cons of some ingredients, and review taste. We’ve divided the products by natural flavoring and natural and artificial flavoring.
Natural Flavors
- A Cup of Coffee (12 ounces) Folger’s Classic Roast
- Caffeine: 120-160 mg
- Calories: less than 5
- Cost: $0.05 per serving
- Number of Ingredients: 1
- Notes: Sugar, sweeteners, and cream improve the taste but add calories.
- Taste: Bitter and strong. It is said to be an acquired taste.
- Hint Kick with Caffeine Water (16 oz)
- Caffeine: 60 mg
- Calories: 0
- Cost: $1.50
- Number of Ingredients: 3
- Notes: Only contains water, natural flavors, and caffeine from coffee beans.
- Taste: Amazon reviewers say the flavoring is very light.
- The Original Teacher Power (Energy Drink) – Strawberry Lemonade (16 oz)
- Caffeine: 100 or 50 mg depending on if you use a full or a half scoop of our energy drink mix.
- Calories: 0
- Cost: $0.40 per serving
- Number of Ingredients: 14
- Notes: Contains more than 100% of the daily recommended intake of four B Vitamins to aid the digestion and metabolization of turning consumed food into energy.
- Taste: Tart with just the right amount of sweetness. Strawberry-Lemonade was one reviewer’s favorite Teacher Power Energy Drink flavor. She said, “It reminds me of Crystal light lemonade.” Find her full review of all three Teacher Power flavors here.
- Rockstar Pure Zero Energy Drinks (16 oz)
- Caffeine: 240 mg
- Calories: 20
- Cost: $1.39
- Number of Ingredients: 22
- Notes: In addition to taurine, B vitamins, and inositol, Rockstar adds an herbal blend of milk thistle, panax ginseng, guarana seed, and ginkgo biloba.
- Taste: PepsiCo acquired Rockstar in 2020. On March 17, 2021, an Amazon reviewer reports PepsiCo switched a preservative in the ingredients, and now it “tastes like a disgusting slosh of barely carbonated chemicals.”
- Zoa Zero Sugar Energy Drink – Super Berry (16 oz)
- Caffeine: 160 mg
- Calories: 15
- Cost: $2.50
- Number of Ingredients: 32
- Notes: Zoa tries to pack vitamins, amino acids, and herbal blends into this one drink to not only support energy and focus but to support immunity and hydration, too. The caffeine comes from natural sources including green tea extract.
- The amino acid blend is different from other popular energy drink brands and includes amino acids often targeted for sports nutrition: L-leucine, L-valine, L-isoleucine, L-glutamine, L-arginine, and L-citrulline.
- Taste: Amazon reviewers who regularly use energy drinks find Zoa energy drinks drinkable. However, they say the taste doesn’t make up for the steep price.
Natural and Artificial Flavors
- 5-Hour Energy (1.93 oz)
- Caffeine: Regular Strength has 200 mg, and Extra Strength has 230 mg.
- Calories: 0
- Cost: $2.41 per serving
- Number of Ingredients: 20
- Notes: 5-Hour Energy contains numerous chemicals including six amino acids that are part of their energy blend: Taurine, glucuronic acid, malic acid, L-Tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine, and Citicoline.
- 5-Hour Energy contains high amounts of Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 with over 20,000% of the recommended daily intake. An Amazon reviewer said this was the cheapest way to get her prescribed Vitamin B12 shot.
- Taste: One reviewer says the 1.93-ounce shot seeks to cover up the bitter chemicals with natural and artificial flavors and artificial sweeteners. However, it has a “strange artificial aftertaste.”
- Monster Energy Zero Ultra (16 oz)
- Caffeine: 150 mg
- Calories: 10
- Cost: $1.42 per serving
- Number of Ingredients: 20
- Notes: Along with taurine, L-carnitine, and a B Vitamin mix, Monster adds panax ginseng extract and inositol to its energy-boosting compounds.
- Taste: A full review of all of Monster Energy’s Ultra brand line can be found here. For most flavors, the reviewer thought the drinks were not too sweet but had a slight aftertaste.
- Red Bull Sugar-Free (8.4 oz)
- Caffeine: 80 mg
- Calories: 5
- Cost: $1.42 per serving
- Number of Ingredients: 17
- Notes: Contains the sweetener aspartame. Uses taurine, B Vitamins, and inositol in its energy-boosting mix.
- Taste: Many reviewers on Influenster like it better than the original Red Bull because it isn’t as sweet.
Best Sugar-Free Energy Drink on the Market
For the low cost, simple formula, and great taste, Teacher Power Energy Drink is one of the best available options on the market. For a full review of all three flavors see our blog post.
Teacher Power is dedicated to powering teachers. We know teaching is a work of the heart. We are grateful for teachers and their dedication to empowering students in the classroom and in life.
Teacher Power, however, does not discriminate. Anyone anywhere can benefit from our simple energizing formula of caffeine and B vitamins. Our powder mix comes in a recyclable #2 tub that contains a measuring scoop for your convenience.
Every day is different, and your needs change with the day. Our simple mix allows you to get the right boost you need with a half scoop or a full scoop. You can mix it up at any time or in any place.
Why not give Teacher Power Energy Drink a try? You can order Teacher Power Energy Drink on our website or on Amazon.com. Discover the power in you with Teacher Power Energy Drink!
Article by Miss Jae
The content of Teacher Power’s website is for information only, not advice or guarantee of outcome. Information is gathered and shared from reputable sources; however, Teacher Power is not responsible for errors or omissions in reporting or explanation. No individuals, including those taking Teacher Power products, should use the information, resources or tools contained within to self-diagnosis or self-treat any health-related condition. Teacher Power gives no assurance or warranty regarding the accuracy, timeliness or applicability of the content.
Sources:
“Caffeine Chart.” Center for Science in the Public Interest. 2021. https://cspinet.org/eating-healthy/ingredients-of-concern/caffeine-chart