The future is here, and it is jacked up on B vitamins, red dye, and taurine. These are the best energy drinks to get from tired to wired. Energy drinks have become a staple for those needing a quick boost, whether for a workout, a long workday, or a late-night study session. With the market exploding into a nearly $23-billion industry in the U.S. alone, the variety of options can be overwhelming. This article dives into the top 11 energy drinks of 2025, highlighting their benefits, drawbacks, test scenarios, and a buying guide to help you choose the best one for your needs.
Top 11 Energy Drinks for 2025
1. C4 Energy Midnight Cherry
With flavors like Frozen Bombsicle and Mango Foxtrot in C4’s arsenal, concerns of this “NSF-certified” drink tasting like saccharine gloop are valid, but the Midnight Cherry was a pleasant surprise. An intense cherry flavor¡ªimagine a Dr. Brown’s dialed up to 11¡ªhits on the frontend, and only a mild trace of diet flavor lingers in the aftertaste. Marketing be damned, you could add this to the rotation at a Taco Bell and no one would know (or care) about its alleged postgains powers. Notes: Halfway through the can I got happy feet and swapped my Aeron chair for the walking pad. Two miles and 35 minutes later I was still zooming, so I took my dog for a 2-mile run and felt like a million bucks at the end. I crushed a gas station salad for lunch and felt like a Healthy Person for one of the first times in my life.
- Pros: Intense cherry flavor, minimal aftertaste, strong energy boost (200 mg caffeine).
- Cons: Contains artificial sweeteners, may be too intense for some.
2. Zevia Energy
Along with its low calorie count, one 11-ounce drink has a powerful 120 milligrams of caffeine derived from green tea leaves. What makes this zero-calorie drink so healthy is that it does not come with artificial flavors and preservatives. Instead, it is sweetened with Stevia leaf extract. With no fat, calories, sugar or carbs, it’s also one of the best keto energy drinks for those seeking a boost from a healthier natural energy drink.
- Pros: Zero calories, no artificial flavors, keto-friendly.
- Cons: Stevia taste may not appeal to all, moderate caffeine content.
3. Guayaki Yerba Mate
Guayaki Yerba Mate is a South American drinks company that sells healthy energy drinks based on the traditional yerba mate drink. Yerba mate, a caffeinated tea native to Indigenous South America, may support weight loss and reduce inflammation, making this one of the healthiest energy drinks to go for if you’re following a weight loss plan. With a few fruity flavors available, there’s something for every taste.
- Pros: Natural caffeine source, potential weight loss benefits, variety of flavors.
- Cons: Earthy taste may not suit everyone, higher price point.
Buy Guayaki Yerba Mate on Amazon
4. Remedy Kombucha Kick
Kombucha, a fermented tea, has become an extremely popular healthy drink thanks to its gut and immune-boosting properties. Now you can hop on this top food trend in the form of an energy drink thanks to Remedy Kombucha Kick. Made with plant-based sweeteners, it’s also low in calories and features a unique tangy acidity from brewed kombucha. Each can comes with 80 milligrams of caffeine derived from organic raw kombucha, green tea and green coffee beans. While this is one of the lower levels of caffeine on this list of the healthiest energy drinks, it’s a top pick for anyone searching for healthy energy drinks without caffeine in large quantities.
- Pros: Low caffeine, gut health benefits, low calories.
- Cons: Tangy flavor may not appeal to all, lower energy boost.
Buy Remedy Kombucha Kick on Amazon
5. Throne Sport Coffee
Throne Sport Coffee is a ready-to-drink iced coffee that combines natural caffeine, natural flavors, and natural sweeteners with B vitamins, electrolytes, and BCAAs. Each 11-fluid ounce can provides between 100 and 110 calories, 20 grams of protein, one gram of sugar and 175 milligrams of caffeine. It’s a nice way to get in some good-for-you nutrients, including protein and some stimulants (a.k.a. caffeine) too.
- Pros: High protein, natural ingredients, balanced caffeine.
- Cons: Coffee flavor may not suit non-coffee drinkers, higher calorie count.
Buy Throne Sport Coffee on Amazon
6. Red Bull White Peach
If you’re partial to a Red Bull, you’ll love this white peach edition, new for summer 2025. Our testers couldn’t get enough of its fruity flavour and floral, citrusy notes. Their only gripe was the bubbles – they would have preferred something less fizzy to down mid-session. Aside from 80mg of caffeine (equivalent to a single espresso shot), it contains sugar, water and taurine, an amino acid that’s linked to reduced muscle fatigue and enhanced energy.
- Pros: Pleasant fruity flavor, moderate caffeine, widely available.
- Cons: High carbonation, contains sugar and taurine.
Buy Red Bull White Peach on Amazon
7. Alani Nu
If you’re searching for a healthiest energy drink without added sugars, Alani Nu’s zero-sugar beverages are a great pick. Nutritionists share the best low-sugar energy drinks, all with 200 mg or less of caffeine, for a boost to your stamina from top brands like Alani Nu.
- Pros: Zero sugar, variety of flavors, 200 mg caffeine.
- Cons: Artificial sweeteners, may cause jitters for sensitive individuals.
8. Proper Wild Energy Shots
Shots? No, not that kind¡ªenergy shots! Instead of jitter-inducing Five Hour Energy shots, Proper Wild Clean Energy Shots contain no artificial colors or sweeteners. Additionally, these little shots contain no added sugars, with all 9 grams of sugar derived solely from fruit juices. According to Proper Wild’s website, these little shots contain 15 times more L-Theanine than a cup of green tea, aiding in stress and anxiety control while also stimulating and promoting focus and alertness when combined with naturally occurring caffeine.
- Pros: Natural sugars, high L-Theanine, portable shot format.
- Cons: Small serving size, higher cost per ounce.
Buy Proper Wild Energy Shots on Amazon
9. Mati Sparkling Organic Energy Drinks
Best guayusa tea-based energy drink: Mati Sparkling Organic Energy Drinks (Unsweetened). Unlike most other energy beverages, natural energy drinks don’t contain ingredients such as artificial sweeteners or synthetic colorings, which some people prefer to leave out of their diets.
- Pros: Organic, unsweetened, natural caffeine from guayusa.
- Cons: Limited flavor options, may taste too mild for some.