Aspartame is without a doubt the most common artificial sweetener on the market today, and as such, finding a tasty diet soda without aspartame can be a real struggle. So we decided to do the work so that you don’t have to.
Here’s a list of the best and most popular diet drinks without aspartame on the market in 2021:
#1 – BAI BUBBLES SODA
Bai is a company that focuses on creating great tasting beverages with minimal additives. Founded in 2009 by Ben Weiss, their product line contains a wide selection of different flavoured low calorie diet drinks. All drinks are aspartame free and instead contain a sugar alcohol called Erythritol, as well as Stevia to provide the sweetness. While not completely free of calories, the drinks do boast a rather negligible 5 kcal per serving.
In addition, Bai uses ingredients such as coffeefruit which helps ensure that many remote and relatively poor regions are given greater economic opportunities, creating a better future for the hardworking farmers. Using coffeefruit in their drinks also helps to reduce botanical waste and helps to strengthen the land. Our top choice for an aspartame free soda!
Lose yourself in the crazy flavours such as:
- Bogotá Blackberry Lime
- Bolivia Black Cherry
- Gimbi Pink Grapefruit
- Jamaica Blood Orange
- Lambari Watermelon Lime
- Peru Pineapple
- Waikiki Coconut Lime
And grab yourself one of the top rated choices from Amazon:
Of course Bai has even more to offer, but you’re interested in diet soda alternatives, so that’s where we’ll stop. You can check out their other products at their website DrinkBai.
#2 – VIRGIL’S ZERO SODAS
The handcrafted approach
Virgil’s is America’s top selling natural craft soda brand. Their uniqueness is immediately apparent with retro style glass bottles instead of cans and plastic bottles most of their competitors use. Though their diet line does feature cans as well.
Virgil’s Zero Sodas is a specific product line where drinks contain no artificial sweeteners, no GMO, no HFCS, no carbs, no calories, and no caffeine. Sweetness is achieved by using a blend of natural sweeteners Stevia, Erythritol, and Monk Fruit.
Virgil is also proud to claim that their soda’s are officially Keto approved. So if that’s your concern, worry no more!
Among the zero calorie flavours, you’ll find choices like:
Availability of their products can fluctuate, so if you’re struggling to find your favourite flavour, send them a message at their website Virgils, and they’ll tell you where to get it.
#3 – ZEVIA PRODUCT LINE
Founded by Derek Newman, Jessica Newman, and Ian Eisenberg, Zevia is an L.A based company focused on producing low calorie, artificial sweetener free drinks – which includes aspartame free diet drinks. They were one of the first to start using Stevia as an alternative sweetener, even before it was approved by the government.
Zevia products are also non-GMO certified, Kosher, Vegan friendly and Gluten free. A great choice when you’re looking for that quick can of diet pop without aspartame.
In 2019, Zevia also became the official sponsor of the CrossFit Games, further solidifying their stance in the fight against excessive sugar consumption.
These days, Zevia boasts a wide selection of products to choose from, most notably the 14 different flavours of soda:
- Black Cherry
- Caffeine Free Cola
- Cherry Cola
- Cola
- Cream Soda
- Dr. Zevia
- Ginger Ale
- Ginger Root Beer
- Grape
- Grapefruit Citrus
- Lemon Lime Twist
- Mountain Zevia
- Orange
- Strawberry
Truly, no taste bud can remain indifferent to such a selection.
Among their Soda line, Zevia also offers energy drinks, non-alcholic mixers, and organic tea. All sugar and artificial sweetener free.
#4 – HANSEN’S DIET SODA LINE
Following the company’s initial success in the 1930’s supplying juices to film studios, Hansen’s Soda line was established in the 1970’s, and modernized in 2008. Their diet drinks use sucralose and acesulfame potassium for sweetness.
Being proud of their Californian heritage, they claim to have the boldest, most unconventional and original of tastes.
Hansen’s diet soda line comes with a selection of 8 different aspartame free soda flavours:
- Black Cherry
- Cherry Vanilla
- Creamy Root Beer
- Ginger Ale
- Kiwi Strawberry
- Original Cola
- Pomegranate
- Tangerine Lime
#5 – DIET SHASTA SODA LINE
Another company known for their diet drinks without aspartame, is Shasta. Produced by Shasta Beverages, a company that has been around since 1889, Shasta Diet sodas come in a wide variety of 11 flavours and are sweetened by sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
Their soda line is Kosher certified and Gluten free. The caffeine content varies depending on the flavour, so make sure you check the product description before purchasing.
Among the flavours you’ll find hits like:
- Cola
- Creme Soda
- Black Cherry
- Dr. Shasta
- Strawberry
- Twist Lemon Lime
- Root Beer
- Grapefruit
- Orange
- Grape
- Ginger Ale
For more purchasing options of Shasta’s diet soda without aspartame, check out the official store on their website Shasta, as well as a retail store locator to find a place near you.
#6 – DIET RITE
Originally released and produced by the RC Cola company in 1958 as a dietetic product and later marketed as a healthy beverage for the general market in 1962, it’s currently owned and produced by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. It contains no aspartame and instead uses a mix of sucralose and acesulfame potassium as it’s sweeteners. It also contains no caffeine or sodium.
Diet Rite’s aspartame free diet soda currently comes in 5 flavours:
- Cola
- Cherry Cola
- Red Raspberry
- Tangerine
- White Grape
Unfortunately, availability of Diet Rite has wavered in recent years, so if you do find a place that sells all flavours, do let us know in the comments section!
#7 – GREEN COLA
Green Cola was developed in 2012 by a Greek company called Green Cola Hellas. It’s been branded as the cola drink that tastes like other colas but without all the bad stuff.
The beverage contains no artificial additives or sugar, and is sweetened only with Stevia. The product has limited global availability, however Amazon does offer shipping to some parts of the world. It comes in various packages, from cans to plastic or glass bottles.
In addition to the flagship product, the company also offers extra juice flavours which contain a percentage of natural juice. Due to the natural sugars present, these drinks do however have a small caloric content.
#8 – RC DIET COLA
RC Cola was created in 1905 in Columbus, Georgia by Claud A. Hatcher, who would lead to create and lead the company. The same company that eventually developed Diet Rite, and is currently also owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc.
The name RC Cola stands for Royal Crown Cola, and was coined in 1934 when the formula was first improved. As the brand gained popularity, the consumers abbreviated it to RC Cola.
Their long standing diet version of the drink uses Sucralose for sweetness.
RC Cola products can be found all over the world in many different retail outlets. If you know of a good place where to get the diet version, let us know in the comments section!
#9 – *Removed
Previously held by Diet Pepsi, we have removed them from the list because as of 2019, Diet Pepsi once again contains Aspartame.
Pepsi has had a rather confusing love/hate relationship with the additive, so do let us know if the circumstances happen to change yet again. We know a lot of you were big fans of their aspartame free diet soda, so maybe they’ll switch things around yet again.
#10 – *Removed
Previously held by Diet Coke with Splenda, we’ve removed them from the list as they seem to have discontinued the product as of 2020. You may still find leftover supplies in some areas if you look, but seems like no more will be made.
Hopefully this list has helped you find your next favourite diet soda without aspartame in the mix!
If you think we’ve missed some products, please let us know in the comment section and we’ll look into adding any qualifying products to this article. If you’re looking for more aspartame free products, check out our list of the best chewing gum without aspartame.
– Aspartame-Research
The idea that formaldehyde is not dangerous is absolutely the Dumbest thing that this website publishes. First, if you have witnessed Formaldehyde poisoning, you can not in any way say it is safe. Friends of mine purchased a Trailer that was constructed by Materials from China. Similar to the ones that were donated to the Katrina victims. Well it took a few months, but both my friend and his Partner became extremely ill. When admitted to the Hospital, it was discovered that it was Formaldehyde poisoning. The only thing that they had done was the Purchase of the new Trailer. It was founded to contain deadly amounts of Formaldehyde. The trailer was removed as Toxic waste. Another Friend worked for the Luan company in Wyalusing, Pa. Needless to say their Preventative measures to protect Employees and their families from Formaldehyde poisoning sucked. He died from Brain Cancer. His body had extremely high concentrations of Formaldehyde. The last one was a Customer of mine who was Misdiagnosed with MS. She did not have MS. What she suffered from was Environmental allergies. Specifically, Formaldehyde. They were building a new home which they were using Products again from China, high concentrations of Formaldehyde. She was partially Paralysed. After 8 years, they finally determined that she did not have MS, but Formaldehyde poisoning. She would get better, then if she would go shopping, she would collapse from the Formaldehyde in the environment in the Malls or stores. Thru different methods, she was able to recover but would always have a sensitivity to Formaldehyde. Copied from a Website:What are the dangers of formaldehyde exposure in clothing?
Exposure to formaldehyde in clothes poses serious health effects for us. It can cause several formaldehyde side effects ranging from short-term effects like allergic or irritant reactions to the long-term impacts like permanent lung damage and cancer. The major factor of the idiots the Present that ingesting Aspartame is safe is proven false by Scientists that say it is not. Formaldehyde is used in so many products that Allergies and Poisoning leaves the venue of being safe to the Venue of being deadly. Formaldehyde, Methanol, Formic acid are all deadly chemicals. They also introduce it to food products. Formaldehyde has been used for decades to embalm dead bodies for open casket burials. It is a preservation fluid that replaces the blood, it is a recognized cancer causing agent (carcinogen) by the National Cancer Institute, and oh, by the way, it is in most of the products you buy and use around your home, even the materials your home was built with! So if Aspartame breaks down to Formaldehyde, How can it be safe? The thing that this site misses that because we have so much if it around in things we eat, drink, breathe, bath, live in, that nothing is safe when you get too much of it. We know that the Company, that makes Aspartame is also the same one that makes Roundup, a weed killer. The only difference is Aspartame is a Human killer.
Even drinking too much water can kill you.
There’s is more methanol and thus formaldehyde in a few apples than you can get from drinking a few cans of diet soda and the aspartame it contains.
If you’re truly afraid of methanol and formaldehyde, I do suggest you start campaigning against the consumption of apples, otherwise you’re simply a hypocrite.
I have been drinking diet rite for 40 years. I would buy 10 2-liters each week from my local “Kroger”. I moved to Montrose, Colorado and the store “City Market” who is affiliated with Kroger tells me they can’t get them. Does anyone know why??
Well it has disappeared in the Chicago area the last month or so, at least at Wal Mart. Jewel (Safeway owned) and Food 4 Less (Kroger owned). Sounds like at least in some area is it not being produced. Grr…
It has disappeared (in cans) in Texas in the last month. This weekend I was at a couple of groceries, and neither had any Diet Rite, in cans or in 2 liter bottles. To whom should we complain? Dr. Pepper Snapple?
When I drink too much aspartame my body aches. My joints and my muscles hurt so bad so I want to try a drink without aspartame.
me also…been drinking lots of Diet 7-UP…brain damage is a risk!
The only non-aspartame diet drink in my local grocer is Zevia, bleh, Stevia tastes so medicinal to my pallet.
I don’t really buy the idea that aspartame is poison, at worst it’s probably just as bad as sugar, just in different ways, like maybe you’re trading rotten teeth and diabetes for a slightly higher risk of brain cancer in the future. Either way, aspartame has recently started triggering headaches for me, so I am forced to find an alternative.
Mainly I just hate how sugar always seems to make my throat all nasty feeling, if it didn’t do that I’d just drink normal pop.
I prefer Diet Rite Cola and have since it was introduced in the ’50s. We have it at our house, and when company comes over, we serve it to them. Many hadn’t ever tasted it before and they remark how good it is. They switch from Diet Coke to Diet Rite.