Sparkling water
Best Flavored Sparkling Water Brands
Flavored sparkling water is the fastest-growing beverage category in the U.S. Most are zero-sugar, zero-calorie purified water with natural flavors and CO2 — but how the flavor reads (subtle vs bold) and what's in the can (sweeteners vs none) varies a lot.
Subtle, hint-of-fruit
- LaCroix — the category icon; lightest flavor profile
- Polar Seltzer — long-standing East Coast favorite, similar restraint
- Bubly Burst — slightly more flavor than original bubly
Bright, true-to-fruit
- Waterloo — Austin, TX brand with notably authentic fruit character
- Spindrift — uses real fruit juice (so slight calories and sweetness)
- bubly — PepsiCo brand with more obvious fruit than LaCroix
Sweetened (not technically sparkling water)
Sparkling Ice and several "vitamin sparkling" brands use sucralose for sweetness. They taste closer to diet soda than to plain sparkling water and should be evaluated as a different category.
Frequently asked questions
Are flavored sparkling waters healthy?
Plain unsweetened versions are essentially water — zero calories, no sugar. Watch labels for added sweeteners, sodium and 'natural flavors' you don't want.
Is Spindrift different from LaCroix?
Yes — Spindrift uses real fruit juice, so it has slight calories and stronger flavor. LaCroix uses natural flavors only.
Instant PDF. Every major brand ranked by pH, minerals, source and taste.
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