24 of the Best Energy Drinks, Ranked

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24. Rockstar (160mg)

Rockstar’s original formula delivers an overly sweet citrus flavor with a pronounced chemical aftertaste. Its syrupy 64g sugar load per 16oz can creates a heavy mouthfeel despite solid carbonation. The 160mg caffeine provides a quick jolt but leads to a brutal crash, and nutritionally, it’s essentially soda with caffeine. While the iconic black-star packaging has nostalgic appeal and the brand offers wide flavor variety, the dated formula earns it the bottom spot.

23. Full Throttle (160mg)

Full Throttle Original offers a nostalgic, sweet citrus soda taste with perfect carbonation and a creamy mouthfeel. However, its 55g of sugar and 230 calories per can make it a nutritional disaster, and the 160mg caffeine delivers only a mediocre boost. The bold black can hints at retro coolness, but with minimal flavor variety and zero innovation, it’s more sugar bomb than performance fuel.

22. NOS (160mg)

NOS Original delivers a smooth, light fruit-citrus flavor with crisp carbonation that goes down easily. Though its 160mg caffeine provides a decent focus boost, it’s nutritionally poor—loaded with high-fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes (Yellow 5/6). The motorsport-inspired silver/blue packaging is iconic, but limited flavor options and outdated ingredients hold it back.

21. Mountain Dew Kickstart (90-92mg)

Kickstart blends soda fizz with 5% real fruit juice, that vaguely tastes like childhood fruit punch—sweet, effervescent, and lightly tart—it’s not great. The mix of sugar and artificial sweeteners creates a faint aftertaste. Bizarre flavors (that aren’t anything like Mountain Dew) leave you dissatisfied.

20. Huel Energy+ (200mg)

Huel packs 27 vitamins/minerals and electrolytes into its formula, making it nutritionally unmatched. Sadly you can taste those multivitamins and while some flavors are better than others, it just doesn’t work well in my opinion. The 200mg caffeine delivers a strong boost but I always crashed hard in the afternoon. While well-carbonated and cleanly packaged, its “multivitamin drink” approach feels redundant (just take a multivitamin?) and wasn’t terribly appetizing.

19. Monster Energy (160mg)

Monster’s flagship drink bursts with sweet, intense citrus flavor but leans medicinal for some. High carbonation complements its 160mg caffeine kick, though sugar crashes are common. With 54g sugar and artificial additives, it’s nutritionally weak. Iconic branding and massive flavor variety impress, but it’s ultimately a sugar-laden relic.

18. Bawls Guarana (63-102mg)

Bawls Original is the “Sprite of energy drinks” IMO—clean, crisp, and inoffensive. Caffeine from guarana berries provides slow-absorbing, jitter-free energy, though it’s a bit on the syrupy side. Nutritionally basic (HFCS, guarana extract), its true strength is the iconic cobalt bottle and retro appeal, but wild price fluctuations between its offerings hurt value. It has the best classic soda flavors of any energy drink and they’re all good: root beer, ginger, and cherry cola to name a few.

17. Starbucks Iced Energy (160mg)

Starbucks’ Watermelon Twist is thirst-quenching but less punchy than competitors, with a noticeable sucralose aftertaste. Decent carbonation and 160mg green-coffee caffeine provide a solid boost (plus ginseng/B-vitamins), though a minor crash follows. Tasty flavors but not good enough to manage a higher spot on the list.

16. Aspire Healthy Energy (80mg)

Aspire’s Strawberry Watermelon (the first flavor I tried) offers mild, natural flavors with a slight sucralose aftertaste and light carbonation. Its 80mg green-tea caffeine delivers smooth, crash-free energy, and ingredients (guarana, taurine, B-vitamins) are solid for a calorie-free drink. Clean packaging with an organic “A” logo reinforces its health-forward vibe, though flavors can taste watered down.

15. Huxley (90mg)

Huxley carves a unique niche as a purpose-driven, outdoors-focused energy drink. With only 90mg of caffeine sourced from cascara (coffee fruit) and L-theanine for smooth energy, it delivers a gentle, crash-free lift—perfect for hikers or road-trippers avoiding jitters. The plant-based formula uses organic cane sugar and real fruit juices (7–8g total sugar), avoiding artificial sweeteners while staying vegan and low-calorie (35–40 calories). Flavors like Strawberry Sequoia and Mango Mesa are subtle and refreshingly light, though a faint herbal aftertaste (likely from cascara/L-theanine) lingers. Light carbonation and electrolyte support make it hydrating for active use, while its environmental ethos (1% for the Planet, National Parks partnerships) resonates deeply. Downsides? The muted flavors won’t satisfy sugar-bomb seekers, and the caffeine dose is modest compared to heavy-hitters. But for clean, sustainable energy on the trail? It’s a standout. See our full taste test and review here.

14. G FUEL (140-300mg)

G FUEL strikes a rare balance: flavors are sweet but not cloying, with great carbonation and mouthfeel. Though a sucralose aftertaste lingers, it’s among the best-tasting sugar-free options. Energy effects are reliable with the 140mg varieties but see a heavy crash with flavors like Peach Rings at 300mg of caffeine. Obviously everyone’s tolerance is difference but something to keep in mind when selecting a flavor. The brand resinates with gamers and actually has decent nutritional value.

13. Jocko Go (95mg)

Jocko Go flavors (e.g., Mango Passion Fruit) start strong but end with a harsh monk-fruit aftertaste. Its 95mg caffeine—paired with amino acids and B-vitamins—creates a well-rounded, crash-free boost, great for workouts without making your heart explode. Military-inspired branding and premium ingredients justify the price, yet the aftertaste and limited flavor range prevent a higher rank.

12. Bang (300mg)

Bang’s flavors are candy-like and bold, backed by snappy carbonation. Its massive 300mg caffeine dose (with BCAAs/creatine) delivers an unmatched jolt—ideal for workouts if you’re not overly sensitive to caffeine (300mg is extremely high). However, the artificial sweeteners (sucralose/Ace-K) leave a chemical aftertaste. Great variety, though.

11. Key Energy (80mg)

Key’s recent formula change has eliminated much of the aftertaste, making Grapefruit Peach a standout with its natural citrus zing and smooth carbonation. The update bumped it up to #11 on our list. With 80mg of green tea–sourced caffeine, it delivers steady energy without jitters or a crash, while added pre-ketones (Avela) may offer metabolic benefits. Personally, I didn’t notice any distinct ketone “boost,” but the unique profile and improved taste make this one worth trying.

10. Ghost (200mg)

Ghost’s offers unique and fun candy-like flavors. Sugar-free with 200mg natural caffeine, it energizes smoothly (thanks to added theanine/tyrosine). Modern packaging and candy-inspired collabs (e.g., Sour Patch) showcase innovation, but the sucralose aftertaste and “gimmicky” nootropics hold it back. I frequently get heartburn after about half a can of this stuff.

9. C4 (200mg)

C4 flavors (like Jolly Rancher Green Apple) are vibrant and true to candy inspiration, with moderate carbonation. Though sucralose leaves a mouth-coating aftertaste and flavor fatigue sets in, the 200mg caffeine kicks hard. As an NSF-certified sports supplement with trademarked ingredients, it’s gym-ready, but the minor crash and overwhelming sweetness cap its rank.

8. Reign (300mg)

Reign’s Melon Mania explodes with candy-like sweetness and crisp fizz. Its 300mg natural caffeine is brutally effective for workouts or all-nighters, and sugar-free BCAAs/electrolytes add functional benefits. Performance-focused branding and constant flavor innovation (e.g., White Gummy Bear) impress, but the artificial aftertaste holds it back from ranking higher.

7. Red Bull (80mg)

Red Bull’s original flavor is refreshing but slightly medicinal, with balanced carbonation. The 80mg caffeine (in an 8.4oz can) provides a reliable, crash-free lift, and B-vitamins round out its straightforward energy blend. Iconic packaging and 17+ flavor (we ranked ALL of them here) options cement its legacy, though larger sizes feel lacking compared to rivals.

6. Gorilla Mind (200mg)

Gorilla Mind hits hard with a big energy kick and zero crash, but its flavors suffer from overwhelming sweetness and a fake-sugar aftertaste. Flavors are intense and it’s easy to succumb to palate-fatigue. While effective, the intense flavors and aftertaste leave this one at the bottom of our top-tier list.

5. Ardor (100mg)

Ardor keeps it simple: unsweetened, natural flavors like Mexican Lime (zesty, not sugary–there’s no sugar) shine. The 100mg caffeine offers a clean, crash-free lift, and the no-nonsense approach extends to its uncluttered ingredient list. It’s a refreshingly honest option for purists.

4. Lucky Energy (200mg)

Lucky Energy has it plastered all over its can: no aftertaste. And you know what? It’s true. Despite using Sucralose as a sweetener, they have somehow managed to make that unpleasant side effect disappear as if by magic. Nutritionally there isn’t a ton going on, containing taurine, beta alanine (plays a role in muscle endurance), and mace root extract. The flavors are solid if not a little intense but ranks high for palatable energy drinks that we’d come back to.

3. Positive Energy (160mg)

Positive Energy nails near-perfect sweetness with stevia/monk fruit, leaving only a faint aftertaste. Flavors like Poppn’ Orange (creamsicle) and Melon Mania (watermelon candy) are spot-on, and 160mg green-tea caffeine + electrolytes ensure no crash. Clean ingredients and functional potassium make it a standout—only Crankin’ Colada needs tweaking in our opinion.

2. Alani Nu (200mg)

Alani Nu’s Cosmic Stardust is a revelation: berry-forward, not overly sweet, with negligible sucralose aftertaste. The 200mg caffeine delivers a potent yet crash-free kick, and sugar-free nutrition aligns with modern wellness. Sleek packaging and broad flavor variety cement its status as the best-tasting option—just shy of #1.

1. Clean Cause (160mg)

Clean Cause achieves perfection: clean, refreshing, and naturally sweetened with zero aftertaste. Its 160mg caffeine (from yerba mate/green tea) provides lasting, jitter-free energy, and organic ingredients set a nutritional gold standard. Non-carbonated yet never syrupy, it’s backed by a mission—50% of net profits support addiction recovery. With a wide variety of innovative flavors (Lemonade and Tea is one of our favorites) and unmatched taste, it’s the undisputed champion despite not being carbonated (they do offer a carbonated variety, however).

Final Thoughts

Whether you prioritize taste, energy, or nutrition, this ranking balances all factors. Clean Cause and Alani Nu lead the pack, but Jocko Go, BAWLS, Ardor, Lucky, and Gorilla Mind offer strong alternatives for specific needs.

If you found this useful, let us know in the comments and remember, caffeine can be dangerous at high doses, so drink wisely!