Which sodas don’t have caffeine? Most of them. Sprite, 7UP, Starry, Fanta, Crush, Fresca, Squirt, ginger ale (Canada Dry, Schweppes, Vernors), most root beers (A&W, Mug, IBC), most cream sodas, and most fruit and craft sodas, including Reckon, are caffeine-free. The ones that do have caffeine are mainly colas, Dr Pepper, Mountain Dew, regular Barq’s, and a few citrus sodas. Recipes change, so the label always wins.
The plain list: sodas without caffeine
These are caffeine-free in their standard U.S. versions, based on the brands’ published ingredient lists. Diet and “zero” versions usually match their regular version, but not always. Check the can.
| Soda | Type | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Sprite | Lemon-lime | None |
| 7UP | Lemon-lime | None |
| Starry (formerly Sierra Mist) | Lemon-lime | None |
| Fanta (Orange, Grape, Strawberry, Pineapple) | Fruit | None |
| Crush (Orange, Grape, Strawberry) | Fruit | None |
| Fresca | Grapefruit | None |
| Squirt | Grapefruit | None |
| Canada Dry Ginger Ale | Ginger ale | None |
| Schweppes Ginger Ale | Ginger ale | None |
| Vernors | Ginger ale | None |
| A&W Root Beer | Root beer | None |
| Mug Root Beer | Root beer | None |
| IBC Root Beer | Root beer | None |
| Barq’s Diet Root Beer | Root beer | None (regular Barq’s has caffeine) |
| A&W Cream Soda | Cream soda | None |
| Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola / Caffeine-Free Diet Coke | Cola | None (labeled versions only) |
| Caffeine-Free Pepsi | Cola | None (labeled version only) |
| Sanpellegrino sparkling fruit drinks | Fruit | None |
| Reckon Cherry and Apricot | Tart craft soda | None |
Sodas that do have caffeine
Worth knowing, because a few of these surprise people.
- Colas: Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Pepsi, Pepsi Zero, most store-brand colas.
- Dr Pepper and Pibb Xtra.
- Mountain Dew, Mello Yello, Sun Drop.
- Regular Barq’s Root Beer (the one root beer people get wrong).
- Sunkist Orange in the U.S. (most other orange sodas don’t).
- Big Red and Cheerwine.
- Some prebiotic colas, which add caffeine from green tea. Read the label on any “cola” or “Dr” flavor from a newer brand.
Quick rules of thumb
- If it’s a cola, “Dr,” or “Dew” flavor, assume caffeine unless the can says “caffeine-free.”
- If it’s lemon-lime, ginger ale, cream soda, or fruit, assume no caffeine, then confirm on the label.
- Root beer is usually caffeine-free, except regular Barq’s.
- Craft and small-batch sodas vary. Reckon lists it plainly: no caffeine.
Why people look for caffeine-free soda
- Evenings. You want something fizzy after dinner without a late-day jolt.
- Sensitivity. Caffeine hits some people harder than others, and skipping it is easier than timing it.
- Family tables. A soda everyone can drink, kids included.
- You just don’t want it. Not every fizzy drink needs to double as a stimulant.
(If you’re cutting caffeine for a specific health reason, your doctor is the right call. We’re just here for the soda.)
The catch: caffeine-free often means sugar-heavy
A lot of caffeine-free sodas lean on sweetness to carry the flavor, so you trade a caffeine jolt for a sugar one. A standard cola runs about 39g of sugar per 12oz, and plenty of fruit sodas sit right there with it.
So the better question isn’t just “is it caffeine-free?” It’s “is it caffeine-free and not painfully sweet?”
Where Reckon fits
Reckon is a tart craft soda built for exactly this gap: caffeine-free, brightened with tart cherry and apricot flavor, sweetened with invert sugar, and not too sweet. Cherry is 90 calories and 15g of sugar; Apricot is 80 and 12g, less than half a typical cola, with a crisp, dry finish instead of a syrupy one. No caffeine, no artificial colors or sweeteners, no jolt. Every fact is on the Reckon facts page.
How to enjoy it
Cold, straight from the can, especially in the evening when you want flavor without the buzz. It also shines over ice with a squeeze of lime, and pairs well with rich or salty food, where the tart finish resets your palate between bites. (More pour ideas in our guide to serving craft soda.)
Caffeine-free doesn’t have to mean flavorless or cloying. Try both flavors and see. It’s Gonna Be OK.
Frequently asked questions
What sodas don’t have caffeine?
Sprite, 7UP, Starry, Fanta, Crush, Fresca, Squirt, Canada Dry and Schweppes ginger ale, Vernors, A&W, Mug and IBC root beer, most cream sodas, Sanpellegrino sparkling fruit drinks, and Reckon are all caffeine-free. Coca-Cola and Pepsi also sell labeled caffeine-free versions.
Does root beer have caffeine?
Most root beer is caffeine-free, including A&W, Mug, and IBC. The main exception is regular Barq’s, which contains caffeine; Diet Barq’s does not.
Does Reckon have caffeine?
No. Both Reckon flavors, Cherry and Apricot, are caffeine-free. Tart cherry and apricot flavor, a dry finish, and nothing that keeps you up.
Does caffeine-free mean less sugar?
No. Caffeine and sugar are separate decisions, and many caffeine-free sodas are just as sweet as cola. Reckon keeps both in check: no caffeine, and 15g of sugar in Cherry / 12g in Apricot per 12oz can, less than half the sugar of a typical cola.