Sparkling water—including flavored and unflavored seltzer, club soda, and mineral water—is a carbonated water beverage that can be a refreshing alternative to regular water. For those that have difficulty meeting their hydration goals from plain water alone, sparkling water can be an appealing option to help boost your intake. Typically containing little or no added sugar, sparkling water is also a great substitute for sugar sweetened drinks like soda when you are craving a bubbly beverage.
Each type of sparkling water varies in its contents, with some containing added natural sugars or artificial sweeteners, natural and artificial flavorings, sodium, and caffeine, so be sure to check the ingredient list to ensure it meets your dietary preferences. When selecting our top list of sparking waters, we considered type, ingredients, amount of sugar, and flavor.
Reviewed & Approved
Spindrift Sparkling Water is our top pick because it’s made with just carbonated water and real squeezed fruit. If you consume sparkling water regularly, you may want to consider investing in SodaStream Fizzi for a more environmentally sustainable option.
Here, the best sparkling waters:
Spindrift sparkling water tops our list with its simple ingredients, containing just carbonated water and real squeezed fruit, and its delicious flavor offerings. Our favorite flavor is Raspberry Lime, but they offer a range of delicious flavors from a refreshing Cucumber to a slightly sweet Pineapple. What makes Spindrift so unique and special is that it’s flavored with fruit instead of natural flavors, which can come from a wide variety of ingredients you might not be excited about. As a result, their sparkling waters taste like real fruit, without a hint of anything artificial.
Best Overall
Spindrift Sparkling Water Raspberry Lime
Flavored with real fruit
Delicious flavor offerings
Non-Gmo and gluten-free certified
Less carbonated than other varieties
When you open up a can of Spindrift, you’ll see the beverage is colorful, not clear—that’s from the real fruit added! If you’re looking for a super fresh tasting and minimally processed sparkling water, Spindrift is a great choice. The flavor is fruity and slightly sour, similar to how it might taste if you added a splash of juice to plain seltzer.
Price at time of publication: $7 for a pack of 8
Key Specs:Serving size: 12 ounces (1 can) | Calories per serving: 5 | Sugar: 1 gram | Flavor Varieties Include: Lemon, raspberry lime, grapefruit, half tea & half lemon, lime, pineapple, pink lemonade, mango orange, cucumber
Leave it to Target to supply high-quality goods at an affordable price point. You can purchase an 8-pack of Target brand’s Good & Gather sparkling water for significantly less than comparable products.
Best Budget
Good & Gather Sparkling Water
Inexpensive
Unique flavor combinations
0 grams of sugar
Uses natural flavoring, not fresh fruit
Can only purchase at Target
You’ll find appealing sparkling water flavors such as grapefruit, strawberry mango, mixed berry, and cranberry citrus. Like most flavored sparkling waters, Target’s is best served chilled.
Price at time of publication: $4 for a pack of 8
Key Specs:Serving size: 12 ounces (1 can) | Calories per serving: 0 | Sugar: 0 grams | Flavor Varieties Include: Strawberry Mango, Watermelon Lime, Tropical Cherry, Cranberry Citrus, Ginger Peach
When you’re craving something seriously carbonated, reach for Hal’s seltzer water. Hal’s is one of the most bubbly and fizzy sparkling waters we’ve tried, and it won’t go flat as you’re sipping on your beverage.
Best Tasting
Hal’s New York Seltzer Water
Contains filtered carbonated water
High carbonation for extra fizzy water
Can purchase larger 20-ounce bottles
Plastic bottles are less environmentally-friendly
Uses natural flavoring, not fresh fruit
You can purchase Hal’s seltzer water plain, but they also offer nine flavors, ranging from black cherry to lemon to vanilla cream. The water comes in two convenient sizes: big 20-ounce bottles or smaller 16-ounce cans.
Price at time of publication: $40 for a pack of 24
Key Specs:Serving size: 20 ounces (1 bottle) | Calories per serving: 0 | Sugar: 0 grams | Flavor Varieties Include: Blackberry, Watermelon, Vanilla Cream, Lime, Grapefruit
For those who crave a highly flavored sparkling drink, we recommend reaching for Waterloo sparkling water. Made with premium natural flavors, Waterloo’s flavors are bright, pronounced, and delicious.
Best Flavored
Waterloo Sparkling Fruit Flavored Water
Very sweet without added sugar
Contains naturally-extracted fruit essences
Strong flavor may not be suitable for all
Waterloo uses natural flavors derived from fruit to flavor their sparkling water. The naturally-extracted fruit essences and oils create an authentic fruit flavor that is truly crave-worthy.
Price at time of publication: $13 for a pack of 24
Key Specs:Serving size: 12 ounces (1 can) | Calories per serving: 0 | Sugar: 0 grams | Flavor Varieties Include: Grapefruit, Lime, Pineapple, Black Cherry, Grape, Peach, Watermelon, Strawberry
San Pellegrino is our top choice for mineral sparkling water with its gentle bubbles and subtle mineral taste. It’s light, refreshing, and their classic green glass bottle looks sophisticated on your table. But what makes mineral water different from regular sparkling water?
Best Mineral
San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water
Contains naturally occurring minerals
Versatile - you can add your own fresh fruit for natural flavoring
Plastic bottles are less environmentally-friendly
More expensive than other varieties
According to the FDA, which regulates bottled water, mineral water must contain at least “250 parts per million (ppm) ’total dissolved solids,’ originating from a geologically and physically protected underground water source.” So, mineral water must have naturally occurring minerals, like sodium, magnesium, and calcium, when it comes out of the earth.
Price at time of publication: $20 for a pack of 12
Key Specs: Serving size: 33.8 ounces (1 bottle) | Calories per serving: 0 | Sugar: 0 grams | Flavor Varieties Include: None
Are you feeling a little uninspired with the usual lemon, lime, and raspberry sparkling water flavors? Try Aura Bora, a sparkling water with unique flavors.
Best Unique Flavors
Aura Bora Sparkling Water
Unique flavor combinations
Made with real herb, flower and fruit extracts
Difficult to find in store
Some of the flavor options you get from Aura Bora include Cactus Rose, Basil Berry, and Lemongrass Coconut. Aura Bora uses extracts from real herbs, flowers, and fruits to add delicious and extraordinary flavors to their sparkling waters.
| Price at time of publication: $33 for a pack of 12
Key Specs:Serving size: 12 ounces (1 can) | Calories per serving: 0 | Sugar: 0 grams | Flavor Varieties Include: Cactus Rose, Lavender Cucumber, Peppermint Watermelon, Basil Berry, Lemongrass Coconut
La Croix has become a popular brand, making its name for its thirst-quenching, bubbly sparkling water. Their assortment of naturally flavored and unique varieties make this a great pick. Plus, it’s super convenient and found across many stores.
Best Variety
La Croix Sparkling Water
No added sugar, sodium or artificial ingredients
Unique flavors
Conveniently found in many stores
More subtle flavor may not be suitable for all
This product contains 0 calories with no added sugars, sodium or artificial ingredients. Try out a variety product and find which ones you like best!
Key Specs:Serving size: 12 ounces (1 can) | Calories per serving: 0 | Sugar: 0 grams | Flavor Varieties Include: Tangerine, Apricot, Coconut, Peach-pear, Passionfruit, Mango and more
How We Selected
When choosing the best sparking water, we looked at a variety of products with majority minimal to 0 grams added sugar and natural flavors. In addition, we chose products based on taste, price, and convenience.
What to Look for in a Sparkling Water
Flavor
Some sparkling waters are flavorless, while others have additives for flavor. A vast majority of sparkling water companies use “natural flavors” to flavor their beverages. Natural flavors are any substance with plant or animal origins, and their main function in food or drinks is to add flavor, not provide any nutritional value.
Natural flavors are considered safe for consumption but are derived through some level of processing. If you’re keen to limit the amount of processed ingredients in your diet, choose plain sparkling water, mineral water, or one flavored with real fruit (like Spindrift).
Type
There are different types of sparkling water, including seltzer water, sparkling water, and mineral water. Depending on your ideal bubby beverage situation, you may have preferences toward one or the other. Mineral water is naturally carbonated from a spring and therefore has more gentle, lighter bubbles and a slight mineral or salty flavor. Sparkling water and seltzer water are artificially carbonated, so they generally have more robust bubbles and a neutral water flavor.
Consumption Recommendations
Most sparkling waters, especially flavored ones, taste best when served chilled, so be sure to stick your cans or bottles in the fridge before consuming.
Frequently Asked Questions
In general, it is safe to drink sparkling water every day. However, a recent study showed that some sparkling water brands had detectable levels of certain chemicals classified as PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances). These chemicals are produced by humans during manufacturing in various industries. They are sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” because they take a very long time to break down in the environment and in the human body. PFAS are important because some research links them to health issues, like high cholesterol, infant birth weight, and certain cancers.
All four types of carbonated water have a similar nutrient profile, as they all contain zero calories. Mineral water, which comes from underground water reservoirs, does provide important minerals like sodium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. So, it might have a leg up on the other options. However, it shouldn’t be the sole source of these nutrients as there are only small amounts of them.
Acid reflux is an uncomfortable condition that happens when the valve that connects the esophagus and stomach is weakened, allowing stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus. Acid reflux often feels like a painful burning sensation in the back of the throat or chest.
In general, consuming moderate amounts of sparkling water does not appear to be a dental health concern. However, sparkling water does contain carbonic acid from the carbonation process, making it more acidic than regular water. For comparison, regular water has a neutral pH of 7, while plain carbonated water is typically around 5.5. Sparkling waters with citrus flavorings and those that contain citric acid are generally more acidic, with pH levels around 3. The more acidic the beverage, the more potential for tooth erosion over time with repeated exposure.
