What is it about sodas that make us love them so? Is it how the bubbles trip over our tongue when we take that first sip? The intensity of the flavor? Could it be the devil-may-care feeling we get from enjoying something we know isn’t good for us but doing it anyway? Whatever it is, our love affair with fizzy drinks continues unabated.

The first soda most of us reach for is either a Pepsi or a Coca-Cola, but what if a cola doesn’t really suit your mood? You’re in luck. There are loads of alternative soft drink flavors to tempt your taste buds. How about a fruit flavor? Or a traditional soda fountain drink? We’ve got you covered with our list of the best sodas ranked — not including the Big Two.

So grab your favorite glass, load up on the ice, and get ready to pop the tops off the top 10 best soda brand flavors. These will satisfy your thirst for an alternative to your everyday beverage.

1. Jarritos Pineapple 12.5oz Btl

BEST MEXICAN SODA

You’ve likely seen this trending on social media. Is it the bright colors? Or the funky bottles? Who cares? Jarritos sodas taste great, and pineapple is the best flavor of the bunch. Jarritos uses real cane sugar and natural pineapple flavors to craft an exceptional soda experience. Lightly carbonated, it’s the perfect drink to enjoy with tacos or any summer meal. 

$1.39

2. Vernors Ginger Soda 2L Btl

BEST GINGER ALE

When you want a soda with more bite, there’s Vernors Ginger Soda. Crafted with a fierce kick of ginger, this dry ginger ale has been a Michigan staple since 1866. It’s the perfect alternative when you want more eye-popping zing in your beverage. It’s also excellent with a scoop of ice cream or a shot of vodka for a more grown-up drink.

$3.49

3. Poppi Prebiotic Soda Orange 12oz Can

BEST SODA WITH HEALTH BENEFITS

OK, we admit it. We don’t always want our treats to be unhealthy. That’s where Poppi Soda comes in. This soft drink is crafted using juicy orange flavor and natural prebiotics from unfiltered apple cider. These ingredients can help boost your immune system and support improved gut health with no artificial flavors or sweeteners. But don’t drink it because it’s healthy. Drink Poppi because it tastes good.  

$2.99

4. Boylan Cream Soda 12oz Bottle

BEST SODA FOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE

Experience the pleasures of a simpler time with Boylan Cream Soda. This delicious beverage tastes like it was poured by your local soda Mom & Pop shop rather than a commercial bottler. Its complex flavor combines hints of vanilla extract, coffee, and chocolate with light carbonation for a uniquely refreshing take on a classic creme soda. Enjoy it on a Friday night date with your favorite guy or gal.

$1.99

5. Sprite Cherry 20oz Btl

BEST CHERRY FLAVOR SODA

There’s no questioning the lemon-lime taste, but even that had to be a new idea at some point. So, there’s nothing to stop Sprite from adding another flavor to their popular soda and creating an ultimate caffeine-free soft drink flavor combo. Sprite Cherry takes your favorite Coca-Cola Freestyle flavor combo of lemon-lime and black cherry and combines it, creating something truly spectacular and unique.

$2.59

6. Fanta Grape 20oz Btl

BEST PURPLE SODA

When you hear the name Fanta, you may automatically think about orange soda. And that’s a shame because they produce a wide array of sodas. Fanta Grape soda combines the best parts of your favorite grape candy into a delicious effervescent beverage using 100% natural flavors. It’s a good-times, good vibes beverage that everyone can enjoy.

$2.59

7. Mountain Dew Major Melon 20oz Btl

BEST FRUIT AND SODA BLEND

Sometimes, you look for a drink that breaks the beverage mold. Enter Major Melon, a combination of Mountain Dew’s classic citrus flavor and watermelon's bright, refreshing taste. You'll get an energizing charge from Major Melon's invigorating flavor and energy drink levels of caffeine. Do the Dew, now with more melon.

$2.59

8. Dr Pepper 20oz Btl

BEST UNDEFINED SODA FLAVOR

Alright, we admit it. We can’t quite figure out what Dr Pepper tastes like. Its flavor has been an ongoing debate among passionate fans for years. Is it a cherry soda? Is it a flavored root beer? Some combination of exotic flavors? Does it really matter? Dr Pepper is deliciously sweet and is one of the best sodas to drink on a hot summer’s day. 

$2.49

9. Barq's Root Beer 20oz Btl

BEST TRADITIONAL SODA

Great root beer flavor, unleashed! Since 1898, people have been enjoying the simple classic taste of Barq’s Root Beer. Take a sip, and you’ll understand why. It tastes as clean and delicious as when it was first created. Refreshing on its own or as a root beer float, Barq’s is a premium soda that stays close to its roots. 

$2.59

10. San Pellegrino Aranciata Rossa Blood Orange 11.15oz

BEST LIGHT-TASTING SODA

Not every soda needs to overwhelm your taste buds. Sometimes you want a drink where the flavor is an accompaniment to the carbonated fizz, not the leading player. In that case, you will enjoy San Pellegrino. Aranciata Rossa (Blood Orange) is an elegantly sweet, soft, and well-balanced citrus beverage similar to a seltzer. It’s the perfect light summertime refreshment.

$2.29

FAQ

What is the best soda to drink?

If you were to ask a group of people what the best soda in the world is, it’s unlikely you will get a consensus. So we’ll leave that distinction up to your personal taste.In our opinion, some of our favorite sodas are naturally flavored using fruit juices. Jarritos Pineapple and San Pellegrino Aranciata Rossa Blood Orange are delectable but don’t overwhelm with an overly sugary taste. 

Another consideration is a soda’s sweetener. Many people prefer drinks that don’t use high fructose corn syrup because that significantly increases the amount of sugar and carbohydrates. While soda can’t be considered a low-calorie treat by any stretch of the imagination, those flavored with natural cane sugars are seen as a healthier alternative. If you’re looking to taste test a soda that uses 100% cane sugar, give Boylan Cream Soda a try. 

Sodas should be a source of pleasure, an indulgent break in your routine. The best sodas make your day feel special just by taking a sip. Go on. Treat yourself to your favorite today.

What is the most unpopular soda?

Americans will spend upwards of $388 billion on soft drinks by 2025. That’s a lot of bubbles. While sodas are a popular beverage choice, they aren’t all created equal. Of the more than 70 soft drink brands on the market, the least popular was – are you ready for it – Diet Coke. 

We’ll let you decide whether that’s fair or not.  

What is the oldest soda?

That depends on how you define soda. Water was first carbonated by an Englishman named Dr. Joseph Priestley in 1767, but he didn’t sell the product commercially. The first sodas on the market came in 1783 when Johann Jacob Schweppe began selling carbonated mineral waters. People loved their fizzy water, and Schweppe eventually expanded his product range to include the products we know today. Still, his original product didn’t have any of the tastes we recognize as soda flavors on the grocery store shelves. 

In 1866, when James Vernon returned from the Civil War to discover his attempt at brewing ginger beer was somewhat successful, Vernors Ginger Soda was born. The release of Vernors onto the marketplace resulted in a boom in soft drink development production. Hires Root Beer came on the market in 1876, followed by Dr Pepper in 1885, Coca-Cola in 1886, and finally Pepsi in 1893.