This is a list of the top soda brands ranked from the best to the least popular brands of all time. This information has been carefully gathered from many different polls, and every soda has been carefully placed in their ranking. Their ranked position is based off of their total average position from various polls.
1. Coca-Cola (Coke)
Coca-Cola’s coke is the number one soda brand of all time, being the number one pick in literally every single poll. It is the most sought after flavor in sodas when it comes to trying to replicate its taste. The flavor is the best for most individuals, with even some interpreting the “classic” in Coca-Cola’s coke to mean the best and only original that is set apart from the rest.
On May the 8th, in 1886, the first ever coke was invented by a pharmacist at a pharmaceutical, by the name of Dr. John Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia.
Since the creation of this brand of soda, coke has expanded into other revivaling popular flavors like Coca-Cola vanilla, cherry, and lime. All of them have been extremely successful, with each subtype able to give the same taste of the original coke, along with an irresistible aftertaste of the respective sub flavors.
These coke flavors along with the classic coke have had a long revivaling competition with many other soda companies, but still comes out as a classical favorite, being seen as the original soda over the rest.
Many individuals think that Mexican coke is the absolute best, which has been the dominating soda in Mexico from Coca-Cola. The reason that individuals seek this flavor the most, is because of its usage of cane sugar in its main ingredients as a sweetener, instead of high fructose corn syrup. Mexican coke comes in a glass bottle, and is seen by some as being superior to American coke.
2. Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper is seen as the second best soda flavor of all time. Instead of trying to replicate the taste of coca-cola classic, dr pepper has a distinctly different flavor than coca-cola altogether. The flavor is so unique, that it seems to be even more difficult to replicate than coke.
There is believed to be 23 flavors total in Dr Pepper, which are:
- Amaretto
- Almond
- Blackberry
- Black Licorice
- Carrot
- Clove
- Cherry
- Caramel
- Cola
- Ginger
- Juniper
- Lemon
- Molasses
- Nutmeg
- Orange
- Prune
- Plum
- Pepper
- Root Beer
- Rum
- Raspberry
- Tomato
- Vanilla
Whatever the ingredients are, it has definitely caught the attention of Coca-Cola, which has been successfully sued in the past by Dr Pepper for trademark infringement. Coca-Cola had created a soda beverage named “Peppo” at the time. They were sued, and lost the case to Dr Pepper, changing the name of the beverage to “Mr. Pibb”. It has a very close taste to the original Dr Pepper.
Dr Pepper was created in 1885 by a man named Charles Alderton (a pharmacist) in Waco, Texas.
Dr Pepper has successfully held its spot over the course of time as the second best all-time soda, without having to make many different variations. The taste of Dr Pepper is definitely a Dr Pepper taste that many love.
Dr Pepper has made a successful subtype to this popular drink, Diet Dr Pepper.
3. Sprite
Sprite is a Coca-Cola brand with a lemon and lime flavoring. It has competed with 7-Up, but has become the traditional clear soda drink to have over its competitor, 7-Up. Many still hold Sprite as the number one lemon and lime drink in its class, even being considered better overall than Sierra Mist.
Sprite was invented in 1956 by the Coca-Cola company in response to the rise in popularity of the rivaling 7-Up. They were successfully able to make a more flavorful, sweeter drink than their competitors.
Sprite has also successful subtypes, which are Sprite Zero, cranberry, cherry, and vanilla flavors. The other flavors are ginger, grape, orange, and tropical flavor.
Sprite is also seen by many as a refreshing thirst quencher after a hard workout, which remains to be the image to this very day.
4. Pepsi
Pepsi is another brand of soda that has managed to create a unique flavor in its soda, with a more powerful, distinctive, memorable aftertaste than any other brand of soda on the market. It has held its ground with just one flavor, Pepsi, over the course of time.
It was invented by a man named Caleb Bradham in 1893.
Coca-Cola has seen them as a top competitor to compete with, and vice-versa. Both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have built advertising campaigns to specifically target one another in an attempt to come out as the overall best soda manufacturer.
They have both managed to keep their audience entertained through their witty video advertisements. A clip of PepsiCo marketing their Pepsi vs. Coca-Cola’s coke can also be seen, as well as a clip of Coca-Cola advertising in rivalry to PepsiCo’s Pepsi.
Other companies like Sodastream have acknowledged this rivalry by creating an ad showing these two company’s rivalry. Sodastream was bought by PepsiCo in 2018.
Many individuals also prefer Pepsi over Coke as shown through a facebook post. Many however, still prefer Coke over Pepsi. Both have their personal reasons why.
5. Coke Zero
Coke Zero (Coke Zero Sugar) became the successor to the Diet Coke that was originally invented in 1986. Coke Zero was invented in 2006 by the Coca-Cola company. It became the leading diet coke drink out of all sodas, giving it an all-time best ranking in sodas.
With the exposure of sugars and calories in soft drinks, Coca-Cola’s answer was Coke Zero. Coca-Cola was successfully able to recreate a soda drink that tasted very close to the original Coke, that had no sugar or calories in it. It is one of the most popular diet cokes on the market for women.
It is highly preferred over Diet Coke, because it more closely resembles the original classic Coca-Cola taste.
6. Fanta
Fanta has become an undeniably all-time favorite fruit soda beverage within the list of best sodas. It has completely dominated the fruit soda drinks category with many different flavors:
- Fanta Orange
- Fanta Strawberry
- Fanta Pineapple
- Fanta Pina Colada
- Fanta Grape
- Fanta Peach
- Fanta Dragon Fruit
- Fanta Berry
- Fanta Fruit Punch
There are even subtypes to these flavors, which come as zero sugar. Of all these flavors, the best for most individuals is the Fanta Orange. The strong fruit flavors in the soda beverages and the large variety, has earned Fanta soda an all-time best soda ranking worldwide. There are other variations of around the world.
Fanta was invented by Coca-Cola in Germany by a man named Max Keith. It was due to America blocking trades with Germany in the 1940s. This led Germany’s Max Keith into venturing into other fruit ingredients to continue to supply the country with their love of soda.
7. A&W Root Beer, Barq’s Root Beer, and Cream Soda
The A&W Root Beer and Barq’s Root Beer are the absolute best root beer flavors for soda. They have a strong flavor from the beginning to the end, with a powerful brief crisp aftertaste of the root beer that fills the entire back palate of the mouth. When an individual loves root beer, it sticks with them as their favorite for years to come.
Going with either brands of soda for root beer from A&W or Barq’s, is neither a bad option. Of the two, A&W has become the most popular for making root beer floats.
Cream soda is at its best when it comes from A&W. They absolutely dominate the cream soda market. The flavor of the cream soda’s aftertaste is just so lingering and amazing, filled hints of cream vanilla.
Barq’s Root Beer was invented by Edward Charles Edmond Barq Sr. around the year 1900, and is owned by Coca-Cola. A&W Root Beer was invented by Roy W. Allen around 1919 when he sold his first drink. A&W stands for the last names of the two individuals selling this soda, who later partnered together to form the restaurant chain that serves the best root beer ever in America, Roy W. Allen and Frank Wright.
Later, diet versions of both of these sodas were created from Barq’s Root Beer and A&W’s Root Beer.
8. 7-Up
7-Up is the first lemon lime soda ever created, and the oldest longest lasting initial lemon and lime soda brand. Though the flavor of 7-Up is said to be less powerful than its rival, Sprite, it is still enjoyed by many as a personal favorite.
The soda has stayed alive as a beverage, through some of the funniest commercials, and as necessary ingredients in many recipes. These 7-Up recipes range from desserts to poultry, making many of these dishes taste better than the originals. 7-Up cakes is one of the most popular recipes.
7-Up was invented by Charles Leiper Grigg in 1929 before it met its fierce competition from the Coca-Cola company’s Sprite. 7-Up is owned by Dr Pepper.
9. Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew flavor is a fruit citrus flavored soda with a light green yellow color to its appearance. Its look made it easily distinguishable from other soda brands. Also it’s flavor isn’t the same as 7-Up or Sprite. This has created loyal fans to the Mountain Dew cause, who are always eager to try new flavors of the brand.
Mountain Dew was invented by Barney Hartman and Ally Hartman in the 1940s. Mountain Dew is owned by PepsiCo.
10. Canada Dry Ginger Ale
Canada Dry’s ginger ale is the leading ginger ale soda brand in the world. Anyone who drinks ginger ale soda, is usually drinking the Canada Dry’s brand. This beverage originally started out as a beverage to relieve stomach ailments. It was used and combined with fruit juices and sugar, and sold by pharmacists.
John James McLaughlin was the pharmacist who invented the Canada Dry Ginger Ale in 1904. Dr Pepper owns the rights to the beverage.
Besides its amazing flavor, ginger ale has been used to relieve stomach digestion, but also has been used for the common sickness, including nausea relief.
11. Diet Coke
Diet Coke is a product of Coca-Cola that has been satisfying in flavor to some individuals. It doesn’t taste like the original coke, but it does have a flavor that individuals either really love, or just don’t like. The aspartame combined with the amino acids give it a unique sweetening flavor that isn’t sugar.
Despite its different taste, it has remained good enough to make the top all-time soda flavors, that has been in a selection in fountain drink dispensers for years and years.
Before the release of Diet Coke, Coca-Cola had Tab as a soda diet drink for awhile, which was invented in 1963. It’s only real competition at the time was Diet Rite soda from RC Cola, which was the first actual known diet coke at the time It was invented in 1958. Coca-Cola developed Tab to compete with the Diet Rite cola.
Though Diet Coke was successful, the flavor still remained to be an acquired taste to many, yet still enjoyed. Later, the Coke Zero was invented by the Coca-Cola company with similar tastes to the classic coke. Diet Coke was invented in 1982, many years after the Tab soda’s release.
12. Welch’s Grape Soda
Welch has always produced some of the best grape beverages of all-time. Their grape juice is just so addictive. Their grape soda should be no surprise as a great soda beverage to anyone.
Though Welch offers other flavors like pineapple, strawberry, orange, berry, and fruit punch for sodas, their best has been their grape soda. It deserves a spot in the all-time best soda flavors.
Though the soda was discontinued in 2011, it was brought back by the company later to purchase again due to the upset of the loyal buyers of the grape soda. It was their favorite grape soda after all.
Welch’s grape soda was invented in 1974.
