The short answer: Olipop is a prebiotic soda — roughly 35–50 calories, 2–5 grams of sugar, and 6–9 grams of added fiber per can. Reckon is a tart craft soda: a barley malt base, an old-world recipe, 80–90 calories, and no added fiber. One is a functional beverage. The other is just soda, made carefully.
Two different ideas of what soda should be
Olipop’s whole premise is that soda should do something for you. Every can is built around plant fiber and a "prebiotic" positioning, sweetened lightly — many flavors use plant-derived sweeteners like stevia — so the sugar number stays very low.
Reckon’s premise is different: soda should taste like something. We start with tart flavor — cherry or apricot — and build a soda around it using a barley malt base and real sugar. No fiber, no functional claims, no promises about your insides. If you want a supplement, there are better places to get one. If you want a soda that isn’t cloying, that’s us.
Side by side
| Reckon | Olipop | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Tart craft soda | Prebiotic soda |
| Calories (12oz) | 80 (Apricot) / 90 (Cherry) | ~35–50 |
| Sugar | 12–15g (real sugar, less than half a typical cola) | 2–5g added sugar |
| Added fiber | None | 6–9g |
| Sweeteners | Real sugar only — no artificial or high-intensity sweeteners | Includes plant-based sweeteners like stevia in many flavors |
| Caffeine | None | Varies by flavor (colas contain some) |
| Colors | Black carrot (Cherry), beta-carotene (Apricot) | Varies by flavor |
| Price (12-pack, direct) | $35.99 | $35.99 (at time of writing) |
| Made | Small-batch tart craft soda | Larger-scale national brand |
Olipop numbers are from their published nutrition info and site pricing as of July 2026; check their label for specifics by flavor.
The sugar question, honestly
Yes — Reckon has more sugar than Olipop. That’s on purpose. We use real sugar because it carries fruit flavor the way high-intensity sweeteners don’t, and we stop at less than half the sugar of a typical cola. Cherry is 90 calories and 15 grams of sugar; Apricot is 80 calories and 12 grams. We’d rather be a smaller, honest indulgence than a sweeter-tasting math problem.
Taste: tart fruit flavor vs. low-sugar nostalgia
Olipop’s flavors mostly reinterpret classic soda — root beer, cola, cream soda — at a fraction of the sugar. Reckon goes the other direction: bright, genuinely tart fruit flavor. Our Cherry leads with tart cherry flavor; Apricot is sun-ripe apricot flavor with a clean, dry finish. If "not too sweet" is what you’re after, tartness — not just less sugar — is what gets you there.
Which one should you buy?
Buy Olipop if you want the lowest possible sugar number and you like the functional-beverage approach.
Buy Reckon if you want a caffeine-free soda that leads with tart fruit flavor, made in small batches with no artificial sweeteners — a soda that’s just a soda. Start with the Variety 12-pack (6 Cherry + 6 Apricot) and see which side you land on.
One note for label readers: Reckon’s old-world recipe includes barley malt extract, so it contains wheat and is not gluten-free.
FAQ
Is Reckon a prebiotic soda?
No. Reckon is a tart craft soda with no added fiber and no functional ingredients — a barley malt base, real sugar, carbonated water, natural flavors, and colors from black carrot and beta-carotene.
Is Reckon less sweet than Olipop?
Reckon has more sugar but tastes noticeably less sweet than most sodas because it’s genuinely tart. Sweetness is about balance, not just grams. Not too sweet. On purpose.
Curious how the whole category shakes out? Read our craft soda vs. prebiotic soda guide or the 2026 guide to sodas that aren’t too sweet. It’s Gonna Be OK.