The short version: prebiotic sodas (like Olipop and Poppi) add functional ingredients — usually fiber and prebiotics — and are marketed around digestion. Craft sodas like Reckon are about flavor and real ingredients first, with no functional claims. Same shelf, different goals. Here’s how to tell them apart and pick.
What is prebiotic soda?
Prebiotic soda is a newer category built around added ingredients — typically plant fibers and prebiotics — marketed to support digestion. Brands like Olipop and Poppi led the wave, and it’s been one of the biggest beverage trends of the last couple of years. They’re usually low in sugar and lean on the functional angle as the main selling point. We’ve written full side-by-side breakdowns of Reckon vs. Olipop and Reckon vs. Poppi if you want the detail.
What is craft soda?
Craft soda is the older idea: small-batch soda made with real ingredients and a point of view, where flavor is the whole pitch. No functional promises — just soda made well. Reckon is a tart craft soda from an old-world recipe, brightened with tart cherry and apricot flavor (deep cherry and sun-ripe apricot), caffeine-free, and not too sweet.
The real difference: intent
It comes down to what the drink is for.
- Prebiotic soda is sold on function — the fiber, the gut angle, the wellness positioning.
- Craft soda is sold on taste — the flavor, the balance, the finish.
We’re firmly in the second camp. Reckon makes no functional promises and skips the health lecture. It’s a good, honest fizz, and that’s the entire point.
Sugar and taste, side by side
A quick, factual comparison — not a verdict:
| Prebiotic soda | Reckon (craft) | Typical cola | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar / 12oz | ~2–5g | 12–15g | ~39g |
| Sweetener | Low-sugar; some use stevia | Real sugar, used sparingly | HFCS or cane sugar |
| Main selling point | Function (fiber/prebiotics) | Flavor (tart, dry, fruit-flavored) | Sweetness |
| Taste | Varies by brand and flavor | Tart, crisp, dry finish | Sweet-forward |
Reckon isn’t the lowest-sugar option on the shelf and doesn’t try to be — it’s about being not too sweet while still tasting like real soda. The sweetener we use is invert sugar, which is just table sugar split into glucose and fructose.
Which should you buy?
- Want the functional angle? A prebiotic soda is built for that.
- Want flavor first — tart, not too sweet, no health pitch? That’s craft soda, and it’s what we make.
Plenty of people keep both in the fridge, honestly. But if you’re here for taste over trend, start with the variety pack — six cherry, six apricot. Not too sweet, on purpose. It’s Gonna Be OK.
Frequently asked questions
Is craft soda the same as prebiotic soda?
No. Prebiotic soda is built around added functional ingredients, usually plant fiber and prebiotics, and is marketed around digestion. Craft soda is small-batch soda made for flavor, with no functional claims attached.
How much sugar is in Reckon compared to prebiotic soda?
Reckon Cherry has 15g of sugar and 90 calories per 12oz can; Reckon Apricot has 12g and 80 calories. Most prebiotic sodas run about 2 to 5g per can, and a typical cola runs about 39g.