Been on the lookout for the best energy drinks out there?
Congratulations, for your search ends here!
Join me as I present the best energy drinks you can find on the market and discuss how each energy drinks differ from one another through analyzing the key ingredients.
I’ll also be unveiling the criteria you should consider before buying one, which of course includes price, and I’ve written an article on where to find cheap energy drinks, which you may find useful.
Without further ado, let’s dive right into it.
What Are Energy Drinks?
Let’s get started with the basics. Energy drinks contain stimulant compounds such as caffeine and sugar to boost your energy levels, enhance physical performance and improve cognitive functions.
According to ScienceDirect, energy drinks can also cause mental and physical stimulation, which is why they serve as great pick-me-ups.
You can find energy drinks in two versions, either in regular cans as a liquid or in a powdered form, such as the instantly-recognizable G Fuel.
As for which type of energy drink you might prefer, it basically boils down to personal preference, so have a look at the article on the best energy drinks for you, so you can get the most out of your energy drinks.
What To Consider Before Buying Energy Drinks
Caffeine Content
An energy drink won’t be as great without that spurge of energy you get from their caffeine content, which usually ranges between 50mg to 300mg per serving.
Caffeine, if consumed moderately, can stimulate your brain and nervous system. This improves your alertness, keeping you more awake, as the stimulation releases dopamine and adrenaline throughout your body.
Aside from helping you feel more alert, it can also enhance your physical performance. The field performance of 18 soccer players improved after consuming caffeinated energy drinks, based on this 2014 study.
To add on, a dose of caffeine, especially during tiring or cognitively demanding situations, can act as a mood booster. You’ll feel more energized and motivated right after once it improves your cognitive performance.
But of course, too much of a good thing can be harmful if you’re not mindful of your own caffeine metabolism.
It’s also a good idea to use the FDA‘s recommended daily caffeine intake of 400mg for healthy adults as guidance. Going crazy on the caffeine can lead to side effects such as:
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Dehydration
- Insomnia
- Rapid heart rate
Thus, it’s important to choose energy drinks that not only can satisfy your needs but also fit your caffeine tolerance.
Sugar Content
Sugar helps make energy drinks taste great, which is why many energy drinks use a heft amount of it. Also, the glucose from sugar is a great source of energy for our brains.
While it’s perfectly alright to indulge in some sweetness craving, regularly consuming too much sugar can be detrimental to your health.
For guidance, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a daily sugar intake of 25g for women and 36g for men. Going over the limit may cause you some serious health issues such as:
- Acne
- Tooth decay
- Weight gain
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
Thankfully, there are plenty of energy drinks that are low in sugar or are completely sugar-free. These healthy alternatives can definitely save you in the long run.
Price
Never underestimate the power of the pricetag because who doesn’t love a product that comes with a good deal?
If you’re new to this energy drink gig, you’ll easily get sold on the marketing tactics used by some energy drinks brands out there.
Some brands have a high price because they claim that their special blend of formula or additional ingredients has way more benefits.
Fortunately, there are cheaper alternatives out there that will suit your diet plan. So don’t worry, you don’t have to get a hole in your wallet to afford energy drinks.
If you’re interested in getting your hands on some great bargains, check out my article on cheap energy drinks, you may find it useful.
Is One Energy Drink A Day OK?
Yes, having one can of energy drink a day is okay as long as it contains the right amount of caffeine and sugar for your body.
Whether you need it during a workout session or simply day-to-day activities like studying or gaming, energy drinks can help keep you energized and increase your endurance and strength.
To add on, the caffeine in energy drinks can maintain your vigilance and psychomotor performance, which is useful when you’re sleep-deprived but still need to be alert and awake.
If you didn’t already know, most energy drinks contain B-vitamins that can be beneficial for you if you’re feeling down and need a quick mood fix. The vitamins help to regulate your mood and other brain functions.
As long as you’re healthy and only stick to a moderate amount, I don’t see the harm in grabbing a can of energy drink a day as it offers you plenty of benefits to get you through the day.
For more information on energy drinks, feel free to watch the interesting video below:
Which Energy Drink Is The Most Effective?
It’s rather hard to determine which energy drink is the most effective as everyone reacts differently to it, largely dependent on your own caffeine metabolism as well.
If you have a high caffeine tolerance, Bang Energy does a pretty good job for an energy drink with 300mg of caffeine, making it one of the strongest energy drinks available on the market.
While it’s easy to think that high caffeine equals more energy, you may be surprised at how effective energy drinks with a moderate amount of caffeine can be.
Some energy drinks with a moderate amount of caffeine include Celsius Energy and C4 Energy, which you could look into for more information on if they work.
But, if you must have high caffeinated energy drinks, it’s best to always stay within the recommended guidelines of no more than 400mg of caffeine a day.
Remember, moderation is key.
Best Energy Drink On The Market
| Energy Drink Brand | Volume | Caffeine | Sugar |
| Red Bull | 8.4 fl.oz | 80mg | 27g |
| Monster | 16 fl.oz | 160mg | 54g |
| Reign | 16 fl.oz | 300mg | 0g |
| Celsius | 16 fl.oz | 200mg | 0g |
| Mountain Dew AMP Energy | 16 fl.oz | 142mg | 58g |
| Rockstar | 16 fl.oz | 160mg | 24g |
| 3D Energy | 16 fl.oz | 200mg | 0g |
| Bang | 16 fl.oz | 300mg | 0g |
| Zipfizz | Customizable | 100mg | 0g |
| REIZE (10 out of 10) | Customizable | 50mg | 0g |
In no particular order, here are some of the best energy drinks you can find in the market today:
Red Bull
Caffeine Content: 80mg
Sugar Content: 27mg
Price: Around $1.50
A classic an energy drinks as you can get, you’ve definitely heard of Red Bull.
I think Red Bull is a good energy drink, especially if you have a low caffeine metabolism, as it only contains 80mg of caffeine, which is equivalent to a regular cup of coffee.
To add on, it has a wide range of flavors to choose from, all of which are worth trying out.
The only downside is that Red Bull has quite the sugar content, so be sure to limit your intake to avoid over-consuming sugar.
For an in-depth analysis of Red Bull, check out my Red Bull review article for more information.
Monster
Caffeine content: 160mg
Sugar content: 54g
Price: Around $2
Another famous energy drink is Monster Energy which can be easily recognizable by its striking green claw logo.
While Monster Energy leans towards the high caffeine spectrum with its 160mg of caffeine, it contains beneficial ingredients, such as B-vitamins, Inositol, and Panax ginseng extract, which prolongs the energy boost.
Monster also offers a variety of flavors, so much so that you’ll have a field trip looking at its extensive range of flavors and series.
Just like Red Bull, it’s best to have Monster Energy in moderation by sticking to only one can a day to keep your daily sugar intake in check.
If you’re interested to know more about Monster, check out my Monster Energy review article. You’ll definitely learn a thing or two about Monster.
Reign
Caffeine Content: 300mg
Sugar Content: 0g
Price: Around $1.60
Reign Energy Drink works great if you need an energy boost before a workout session, and it’s also pretty affordable, which is a bonus.
Being a sugar-free energy drink with 300mg of caffeine, I’d say it’s more suitable for those who do extensive sports regularly. Reign Energy is pure energy minus the sugar crash, which makes it ideal for your workouts.
The B-vitamins and amino acids like BCAAs that can be found in a single can of Reign help improve your exercise performance.
That said, if you’re not doing high-intensity training every day or can’t handle that much caffeine in a single serving, I would recommend going for an energy drink that’s lighter instead, like Red Bull.
Want to know my personal take on Reign, take a look at my Reign Energy review article for more information.
Celsius
Caffeine Content: 200mg
Sugar Content: 0g
Price: Around $2, varies according to flavour
What you may notice about Celsius is its variety, offering you four series to choose from:
- Originals
- Naturals
- On-The-Go
- Heat
There’s about 200mg to 300mg of caffeine present in each series, and they all contain zero sugar.
On top of that, Celsius Energy is also packed with the proprietary Meta plus Blend, which consists of ingredients like taurine, ginger, and green tea extract.
Another good thing about Celsius Energy is that you’ll surely get a smooth energy boost and increased alertness, all thanks to its beneficial vitamins and minerals.
That said, if you have a lower caffeine tolerance, this energy drink may not be suitable for you. If you’d like a more detailed review of Celsius, I have just that here.
Mountain Dew AMP Energy
Caffeine Content: 142mg
Sugar Content: 54g
Price: Around $2.50
Enjoy the taste of Mountain Dew but wish it gives you more energy? AMP Energy may be for you, as it contains only 142mg of caffeine, which is enough to give you a smooth boost to keep you going throughout the day.
Alongside its moderate amount of caffeine, AMP Energy also has beneficial ingredients such as orange juice, taurine, and guarana extract, which can improve your performance.
However, a single can contains up to 58g of sugar, which is quite a hefty amount, so you might want to avoid having it every day. It’s always best to only consume AMP Energy when you really need that energy boost.
In terms of effectiveness, AMP Energy definitely does its job well and is something worth trying, especially if you’re a fan of the original Mountain Dew.
Take a look at my Mountain AMP Energy review article for a more detailed analysis of this energy drink.
Rockstar Energy
Caffeine Content: 160mg
Sugar Content: 24g
Price: Around $2
With 160mg of caffeine, Rockstar Energy Drinks are set to supply you with an energy boost for better and longer performance.
Although it has the same amount of caffeine as Monster, it contains a much healthier sugar limit which is 24g of sugar.
With the wide range of flavors and series that Rockstar Energy offers, you’ll definitely find yourself wanting to try all of them.
Interested to know more about Rockstar? Check out my Rockstar Energy review article for more specific details about Rockstar.
3D Energy
Caffeine Content: 200mg
Sugar Content: 0g
Price: Around $2
If you have a high caffeine tolerance, 3D Energy will give you an explosive energy boost with its 200mg of caffeine content.
All that caffeine also comes together with a blend of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that can benefit your performance.
Also, you won’t have to worry about the unnecessary crash as it’s completely sugar-free.
3D Energy is definitely the energy drink for you if you’re looking for something more powerful than Monster minus the extra sugar.
For a more in-depth look at 3D Energy, check out my review article on 3D Energy for more details.
Bang Energy Drink
Caffeine Content: 300mg
Sugar Content: 0g
Price: Around $2.50
Going higher in the caffeine department now with Bang Energy Drink, which contains a whopping 300mg of caffeine.
Having a can of Bang will give you long-lasting spurge of energy without any sugar crash as it contains zero sugar.
It also has healthy ingredients like BCAAs and COQ10 that helps to enhance your exercise and mental performance.
That said, it’s not surprising that Bang is a little costly than the other brands listed due to its additional ingredients but it’s definitely worth the try.
Take a look at my Bang Energy review article for more information on Bang Energy Drink and if it’s suitable for you.
Zipfizz Energy
Caffeine Content: 100mg
Sugar Content: 0g
Price: Around $2.50
In terms of convenience, I think powdered energy drinks did it right. And if you’re new to it, I’ve got you covered.
Zipfizz is a powdered energy drink that comes in a tube and contains a modest amount of 100mg of caffeine and zero sugar. All you need to do is mix it with 250ml of water, and you’re good to go.
It also has beneficial ingredients like grape seed extract, potassium, and chromium, which can increase your energy levels and performance, not to mention, it comes with a wide range of fruity flavors too.
But I must admit that Zipfizz is quite pricey, so if you’re sold on powdered energy drinks but don’t want to squeeze your wallet, read on.
For a more detailed analysis of Zipfizz, take a look at the Zipfizz Energy review article I’ve written previously.
REIZE (10 out of 10)
You know I had to save the best for last…
In my opinion, REIZE is the best energy drink you can find on the market as it ticks all the boxes for value, efficiency, and convenience.
For starters, REIZE is a powdered energy drink that comes in lightweight 4g sachets, making it exceptionally convenient to carry around with you.
To enjoy it, all you need to do is pour in the contents of a sachet and mix with 250ml of your liquid of choice (be it juice or water).
It comes with a sensible 50mg of caffeine, zero sugar, and only 11 calories per serving, which makes it a great energy drink for your diet, or if you want to cut down on caffeine, sugar, and carbs in general.
To add on, REIZE is packed with a blend of beneficial ingredients such as taurine, ginseng, and B-vitamins, which is the right amount for a perfect energy boost without the crash afterward.
Best of all, REIZE ships straight to your doorstep for only about $1 per drink, which is pretty great value for money.
So, try REIZE today, and you might agree that it’s the smarter and more preferable option than the other brands.