Here are the 10 best nonalcoholic seltzers our editor swears by.
Let’s get this out of the way right up front — this isn’t sponsored content, there’s no commission or affiliate link, and nobody suggested I write this seltzer list.
I genuinely consume an unreasonable amount of canned seltzer, and after trying pretty much every flavor I can find on grocery store shelves, there is a very clear winner and runner-up.
In order to keep this list from getting too unwieldy, I’m only comparing canned seltzers or sparkling water products. There’s plenty of good stuff in bottles, too. This should also be obvious, but we’re not talking about hard seltzers here — everything is nonalcoholic.
Everything on this list is something that I think has staying power. That is, it doesn’t just taste good on the first sip or only one can, but is the kind of flavor that is worth buying the entire package for (since that’s how these are mostly sold). I’ve bought and drank packs of most everything on this list multiple times, some on a near-weekly basis.
Before you start ragging on me, let me be clear that this isn’t meant to be exhaustive — I’m just covering what I’ve actually found and consumed. If you don’t see your favorite on here, maybe I haven’t seen it in stores (or maybe you just have inferior taste, who knows!). I see online that Waterloo has a Ginger Citrus Twist flavor, which sounds extremely me. But having never seen this in the wild, I can’t fairly rate it.
If you’re reading this and work for a seltzer maker and think I’ve shorted you, let’s talk. I will absolutely revise this list if I try something new that blows into my Top 10.
With that all said, here’s the list. And yes, these are absolutely ranked in order, with #1 being the best.
10. La Croix Peach-Pear
Once the king of the category, La Croix has arguably been muscled out of the top spot by a glut of sparkling water vendors, including Coke and Pepsi products (AHA and Bubly). Regardless of their actual market share today, they still occupy considerable place at my grocery store and have for years, leading me to try probably every flavor within reach. Peach-Pear is one of the best, a cross-flavored drink that doesn’t lose itself in the mix.
9. Waterloo Strawberry
Looking at Waterloo’s website makes me sad. I see so many flavors that sound appealing, but the reality is they haven’t muscled into the market enough for me to experience most of them (though you can order online, of course). Strawberry is one flavor I’ve found consistently, and theirs is not too sweet or obviously artificial and also avoids overpowering the bubbly water itself. For that, it lands on the list.
8. La Croix Beach Plum
The best of La Croix’s mixed flavors is undoubtedly Beach Plum. It annoys me that their marketing describes it as “naturally essenced” — what?? But I’m willing to overlook that because this tastes so refreshing.
7. La Croix Tangerine
Fight me — this is La Croix’s best flavor. And like the brand in general, it’s still overrated. That isn’t to say it’s bad; I do still love this seltzy boy. But given that the brand name is practically synonymous with the format, you’d hope one of their bevvies would break the Top 5. They just don’t.
6. Polar Black Cherry
Polar makes some worthy seltzers. It’s the brand I grew up with most — really the only one on here — and has some nostalgic value for me. But I rarely if ever see Polar flavors in cans, leading to some of its underrepresentation on the list. The other reason — they often lack a sufficient “bite,” which is part of the hallmark of a decent seltzer. That’s also why La Croix is lower in my rankings.
5. AHA Lime + Watermelon
AHA’s seltzers can sometimes be a little heavy-handed, and this one comes close to tipping in the wrong direction. It offers two well-matched flavors, however, that are precisely the sort of light and cool combo you want from a bubble water.
4. Spindrift Mango Orange
Spindrift! Man, this company does a lot of things right. One of them is not its general availability. Spindrift is hard to find, and this is another area where I’m admittedly less experienced. Still, I’ve managed to nab some Mango Orange cans, and they’re exactly what you’d hope they would be. Grocers, if you’re reading this, give the people more Spindrift.
3. AHA Peach + Honey
A solid drink I’ll gladly reach for twice in a day, AHA’s Peach + Honey flavor is among the top-tier canned seltzers out there. Just the right amount of flavor to perk you up without overdoing it. This is a Coca-Cola product, FWIW.
2. Bubly Lime
I can’t get over how good Bubly’s plain Lime seltzer tastes. It’s honestly as if Sprite decided to perform acoustic and drop all the background noise, which is funny because this is a Pepsi product. I’ll pair it with spicy food or just crush it in the middle of the afternoon. Until I get sick of it, this is staying stocked in my home at all times.
1. Bubly Grapefruit
Listen, I’m not a “Pepsi guy.” If you told me I’d be putting a Pepsi product at the top of this list, I might laugh. But the reality is that Bubly’s Grapefruit flavor is flawless, and that’s really saying something, because there’s plenty of competition for this flavor. None of it comes close to the balance this achieves, providing a satisfying taste with no lingering sour or off notes (an issue with some competitors). You could probably pour this in a glass and convince me you’d made seltzer at home and squeezed just a little fresh grapefruit juice into it and I would believe you. It’s that good.
And after all, soda is really just a carbonated drink with way too much junk added, so why not expect a producer like Pepsi to be at the top?