I tried 5 different protein sodas. One stood out for having the best flavor and highest protein content.

Sep 01, 2026 11:02 PM - 2 hours ago 3

Line up of cherry macromolecule sodas from Popz, Clean Simple Eats, Premier Protein, Proda, and Barebells

I tried sparkling cherry drinks from Summit Popz, Clean Simple Eats, Premier Protein, Proda, and Barebells to find my favourite macromolecule soda. Carmen Varner

There are truthful galore protein products connected the market.

What was erstwhile relegated to protein powders has transformed into a immense industry, pinch everything from protein-infused cookies and pancake mix, and now, soda.

Protein soda is fundamentally a sparkling, sweetened beverage pinch added macromolecule — but which ones are really worthy drinking?

I visited 4 market stores successful San Diego County and yet recovered 5 cherry macromolecule drinks from Summit Popz, Clean Simple Eats, Premier Protein, Proda, and Barebells to review.

For each, the macromolecule root is whey macromolecule isolate, a by-product of cheesemaking that's fundamentally highly filtered, protein-rich whey pinch little lactose and fat than emblematic whey.

In position of criteria, I was looking for thing flavorful and enticing to drink, pinch a adjacent magnitude of carbonation. I besides factored successful costs and nutritional value, including calories, sugar, and protein.

Here's really they classed from my slightest favourite to my apical pick.

5. Clean Simple Eats cherry-lime clear macromolecule soda

Can of Clean Simple Eats cherry macromolecule soda adjacent to solid of soda, pinkish liquid

Cherry-lime clear macromolecule soda from Clean Simple Eats wasn't my apical pick. Carmen Varner

Cost: $3.49 for 1 12-ounce can

Calories: 60 calories

Protein: 10 grams

Added sugar: 0 grams

The cherry-lime clear macromolecule soda by Clean Simple Eats had a milky aroma from the get-go, apt owed to the grass-fed whey macromolecule isolate.

There was a touch of cherry-lime flavor, but the milkiness made this sensation much for illustration a cherry pick soda to me. Cherry really overpowered the drink.

My main rumor pinch this was that it had a chopped whey-protein sensation that made maine keenly alert I was so drinking thing meant to beryllium a macromolecule beverage.

I tin admit the macromolecule and the no-added-sugar — it uses stevia-leaf extract arsenic a sweetener — but I wouldn't sip this again because of the flavor.

For me, location are different options pinch akin nutritional contented that are much enjoyable.

4. Barebells sweet-cherry macromolecule soda

Can of Barebells cherry macromolecule soda adjacent to solid of soda, pinkish liquid

Barebells makes macromolecule bars and beverages. Carmen Varner

Cost: $3.49 for 1 12-ounce can

Calories: 50 calories

Protein: 10 grams

Added sugar: 0 grams

This Barebells beverage is the outlier of the group because it contains 200 milligrams of caffeine, and the different don't incorporate any.

This cherry macromolecule soda smelled and tasted for illustration a liquid Jolly Rancher. It's the astir candy-like of each the drinks I tried and is sweetened pinch sucralose (a zero-calorie artificial sweetener) arsenic the sweetener. I didn't really prime up cherry flavoring, mostly a wide sweet, fruity candy flavor.

I suppose this would beryllium bully if you want thing arsenic acold removed from a macromolecule soda arsenic possible. To me, it conscionable tasted for illustration an energy drink. In a way, the overt sweetness covered immoderate lingering whey macromolecule isolate flavor.

The consequence is acold excessively cloying for my taste, but I for illustration the candy sensation to the chopped whey flavoring of Clean Simple Eats. I wouldn't want to portion this Barebells action again, either, but I could spot personification pinch a saccharine bony (and a caffeine craving) loving it.

3. Summit Popz macromolecule cherry-limeade sparkling beverage

Can of Popz cherry macromolecule soda from Aldi adjacent to solid of soda, beige liquid

I picked up the Summit Popz macromolecule beverage astatine my section Aldi. Carmen Varner

Cost: $1.99 for 1 12-ounce can

Calories: 70 calories

Protein: 15 grams

Added sugar: 0 grams

I emotion Aldi's wide selection of products, truthful I wasn't amazed to spot it offers its ain return connected macromolecule drinks done its backstage label, Summit Popz.

It's branded a "sparkling beverage" alternatively than a soda, but I included it successful this ranking because it met my criteria: It has added macromolecule and is carbonated and sweetened.

It had a clearer cherry-and-lime spirit that made it look much authentic to its label, and wasn't excessively saccharine contempt the usage of sucralose.

I admit the price, too, arsenic it was the astir affordable of the 5 I tried. However, it can't rank higher because the carbonation felt severely lacking. It's almost for illustration I opened a soda, near it successful the fridge for a fewer hours, and came backmost to it.

Perhaps I conscionable sewage a dud of a can, but I felt this needed considerably much effervescence for it to unrecorded up to the "sparkling" portion of its name.

I would, however, get it again based connected value and macromolecule content, which thief boost the wide rating.

2. Proda cherry-lime macromolecule soda

Can of Proda cherry macromolecule soda adjacent to solid of soda, pinkish liquid

The tin of Proda cherry-lime macromolecule soda costs maine little than $4. Carmen Varner

Cost: $3.49 for 1 12-ounce can

Calories: 40 calories

Protein: 10 grams

Added sugar: 0 grams

Proda's Soda cherry-lime macromolecule soda had the astir authentic soda-like consciousness retired of thing truthful far. It besides had a refreshing cherry-lime flavor, truthful it delivers connected some of its names.

It uses stevia and monk consequence to connection sweetness without being cloying, which seems to beryllium a winning combination. There was a touch of whey flavor, but it was somewhat balanced pinch the cherry lime flavoring.

It has the fewest calories of each beverages, but the existent item was the spirit and carbonation. This was pleasant to drink, and I enjoyed it good beyond the first mates of sips.

It would beryllium enjoyable arsenic a soda alternative pinch a repast aliases conscionable arsenic an day pick-me-up. I did announcement this portion had a mild whey aftertaste, but the galore pros outweighed this flimsy con.

It delightfully delivered a operation of soda carbonation, cherry-lime flavors, and macromolecule content.

1. Premier Protein black-cherry sparkling macromolecule soda

Can of Premier Protein cherry macromolecule soda adjacent to solid of soda, beige liquid

The Premier Protein soda I tried uses cane sweetener arsenic a sweetener. Carmen Varner

Cost: About $2.24 for a 12-ounce can

Calories: 90 calories

Protein: 15 grams

Added sugar: 3 grams

At the clip of purchase, I only recovered the Premier Protein soda disposable successful packs of 4 for $8.94. The value per tin was somewhat higher than Aldi's but still considerably cheaper than everything other connected this list.

This was the only soda pinch cane sweetener listed arsenic an ingredient, which brings 3 grams of added sugar. I deliberation this helped mellow the spirit without making it ultra-sweet, which I find replacement sweeteners often do. Premier Protein besides uses stevia extract, which seemed balanced by the sugar.

This is the highest-calorie action connected the database and is tied pinch Summit Popz for the portion pinch the astir protein, astatine 15 grams. Impressively, some incorporate much macromolecule than a ½-cup serving of cottage food (14 grams).

It didn't person arsenic evident a macromolecule taste; instead, the cherry-lime spirit came to the forefront. I could discern some flavors, which gave this portion a fruity, uplifting taste.

Final verdict: Premier Protein's soda was my apical pick, but there's a portion present for everyone

Group of macromolecule soda cans lying connected achromatic surface

There's thing to for illustration astir each portion I tried from Summit Popz, Clean Simple Eats, Premier Protein, Proda, and Barebells. Carmen Varner

Ultimately, Premier Protein's black-cherry sparkling macromolecule soda was the portion I enjoyed astir and would beryllium astir apt to repurchase.

The tasty flavor, coagulated carbonation, balanced sweetness, affordable price, and precocious macromolecule contented put it solidly astatine the apical of my ranking.

However, it's the highest-calorie portion I tasted and the only soda connected this database pinch added sugars. If a low-sugar, low-calorie diet is simply a privilege for you and your nutrition goals, you whitethorn for illustration 1 of the others connected this list.

After all, everyone's sensation buds are different — and each portion connected this database has its pros and cons.

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Carmen Varner is simply a contributing writer for Business Insider. 

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