Energy drinks are definitely becoming a popular choice as we often have them whether we’re working, studying, gaming, or just need a quick wake-up boost. Unfortunately, it also takes up a large portion of our expenses if we have them every day.
With new brands being introduced into the market, it can be difficult to narrow down to some effective yet affordably-priced energy drinks.
One of the cheapest energy drinks you can get is Guru, an organic drink you can purchase in packs of 24 for just around $49. Other affordable options include Celsius ($24 per 12-pack) and Bang (around $24 for a 24-pack).
So, how can you spot some cheap but good quality energy drinks?
In short, the price doesn’t always reflect the quality, thus you can still find some cheap energy drinks without compromising too much on their effectiveness and benefits. To get the cheapest energy drinks, be sure to know your own limits and preferences when it comes to the ingredients in energy drinks and the amount you’re willing to spend.
For a more detailed discussion, read on for tips on getting cheap energy drinks as well as a list of recommendations.
What To Consider Before Getting An Energy Drink
Caffeine Content
Similar to coffee, tea, and colas, energy drinks are not functional without caffeine. Caffeine is the main ingredient in energy drinks that stimulates the brain and central nervous system, keeping you awake and alert.
Aside from its effect on your alertness, caffeine can also benefit your physical and mental performance, improving your endurance and cognitive functions.
Having said that, everyone has a particular metabolism for caffeine, which influences the amount of tolerance they have to caffeine. So, depending on the frequency in which you drink caffeine and how sensitive you are to the stimulant, your caffeine tolerance can be greater or lower than certain individuals.
As such, energy drinks are formulated with varying levels of caffeine, ranging from 50mg to 300mg per serving, allowing you to choose the right brand that suits your caffeine tolerance.
Of course, while caffeine is definitely beneficial, it’s important to keep in mind that the FDA recommends a daily caffeine limit of 400mg for healthy adults. Any more than that, and you might end up with adverse effects such as:
- Rapid heart rhythm
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Insomnia
- Dehydration
- Dizziness
- Headaches
Therefore, be sure to select the energy drink with the caffeine content that suits your caffeine metabolism and try not to double down on caffeinated beverages in general too.
Sugar
As sugar is mainly used to improve the taste and flavor of food products, it shouldn’t be a surprise to find lots of it in energy drinks too.
Now, while sugar does make energy drinks tasty, and it can supply you with a temporary boost, shoving tons of sugar into your system is never a good idea.
An excessive intake of sugar can lead to some serious health problems in the future. For recommendation, the AHA suggests an everyday sugar intake limit of 36g and 25g for men and women respectively.
A diet fairly high in sugar could eventually lead to health issues such as:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Weight gain
- Aging skin
Besides, high consumption of sugar will also cause you to experience a sugar crash, which leaves you sluggish due to the spike and fall in your glucose levels.
With that being said, sugar-free energy drinks are becoming quite prevalent nowadays, with even well-known brands like Red Bull and Monster offering sugar-free variations.
It’s completely alright to have some sugar every now and then but be sure to moderate your overall sugar intake and avoid consistently drinking sugary energy drinks as well.
Price
Choosing an energy drink can save lots of money in the long run.
Now, the general perception of purchasing an item is that the more expensive it is, the better quality it will be. In some cases, this isn’t true, and it also applies to energy drinks.
Some energy drinks can be expensive but they might not be what you need, whereas others are affordable though they may not contain the ingredients you’re looking for.
To put it another way, it all comes down to selecting wise choices that won’t consume the majority of your expenditures in the long run. If you use energy drinks on a regular basis, you should look for a brand that costs between $1.50 and $3 a bottle so that you don’t spend an excessive amount of money in a single month.
Of course, if you want to save more money, you can opt for ordering in bulk online, as you’ll be able to get special discounts and deals if you look around enough.
What Is The Average Cost Of An Energy Drink?
The average cost of an energy drink can range from $2.50 to $5 for a 16 fl.oz can.
With that being said, there’s actually a number of factors that go into the overall price of an energy drink, including its ingredients, production costs, general population demand, and delivery charges.
Why Are Energy Drinks Expensive?
Energy drinks are expensive due to a variety of reasons such as shipping fees as well as advertising and production costs.
Of course, the prices of energy drinks are not the same everywhere, as there are certain sites and places where you can purchase them in bulk for cheaper prices. However, you need to take the delivery charges and waiting time into account if you’re ordering them online.
For an in-depth breakdown of the prices of energy drinks, check out my article on the cost of energy drinks to find out where your money goes when you purchase an energy drink.
Is One Energy Drink A Day OK?
Having one energy drink a day is completely okay, but if you can, try not to have it consistently.
Limiting your energy drink intake to one can per day is completely alright and might even benefit your overall health, particularly if the energy drink you regularly consume has high caffeine content.
That said, consistently having a can of energy drink each day isn’t good for you, as it could lead to a number of health problems in the long run unless you have a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
Still, I’d recommend spacing your daily energy drink intake out and limiting your consumption to around three days a week. If you feel like you need an extra boost on days when you are not having energy drinks, you can go for coffee, tea, or water for a quick jolt of energy.
Why Is A Monster Energy Drink So Expensive?
A can of Monster Energy Drink is so expensive due to a number of reasons, such as production costs, branding, and marketing fees.
A 16 fl.oz can of Monster costs around $3.20, excluding shipping.
That said, depending on where you buy your personal can of Monster and the flavor you choose, the prices might vary a little.
Now, Monster Energy can be pretty expensive for a few reasons like:
Branding
Monster is a well-established brand, and like most branded products, you’re actually paying more for the brand.
Shipping Costs
It’s not cheap to ship so many bulky cans at one go, and these packs of energy drinks usually go through a ‘middle man‘ (the distributor) before reaching the shelves of your local stores.
As such, a fraction of the money you pay for each can of Monster goes into the overall salary of the middle man.
Marketing
As you might have noticed, Monster has grown more well-known due to sponsoring a number of sporting events such as snowboarding, car racing, and esports. Sponsorships still require a lot of payment by the sponsor, thus the overall cost of Monster includes this as well.
In any case, there are actually way more reasons Monster Energy is expensive, but if you’re looking for some energy drinks that won’t burn a hole in your wallet, you can find some great options in my article on the best energy drinks for your pocket.
The Best Cheap Energy Drinks
| Energy Drinks | Caffeine Content | Sugar Content | Calories |
| Guru (Guru Lite) | 100mg (100mg) | 21g (3g) | 80 calories (20 calories) |
| Celsius | 200mg | 0g | 10 calories |
| Bang | 300mg | 0g | 0 calories |
| REIZE | 50mg | 0g | 11 calories |
Guru Energy
Marketed as an energy drink for the health-conscious, Guru is packed with natural ingredients and a sensible amount of caffeine for a simulation-based performance without overwhelming side effects.
An 8.4 fl.oz can of Guru Energy contains 100mg of caffeine, 21g of sugar, and 80 calories, together with a bunch of organic ingredients like Echinacea flower and green tea extract.
Now, while the Original drink might be good, Guru Lite, their sugar-free flavor offers the same benefits and caffeine content with only 20 calories in each serving.
Plus, the price of Guru Energy is quite cheap, as one single can only cost around $2, which is amazing value for money considering its overall natural caffeine content and nutrients.
For a detailed discussion on what exactly goes into Guru Energy, feel free to check out my article on the caffeine and ingredients in Guru for a further explanation on what they do.
Celsius
Made with health in mind, Celsius is a natural energy drink fortified with plenty of vitamins and nutrients for a sharper performance with an extra edge.
A 12 fl.oz can of Celsius is completely sugar-free and has 200mg of caffeine, with a number of vitamins, minerals, and organic ingredients like ginger and green tea extract.
Plus, Celsius offers an extensive selection of flavors that contain varying levels of caffeine and nutrients.
As for the price of Celsius Energy, one 12 fl.oz can cost around $2, which is pretty cheap for an energy drink, considering it can supply you with quite a boost.
For an in-depth look into how well Celsius works like an energy drink, check out my review on Celsius Energy Drink for my thoughts and a brief breakdown of the drink.
Bang Energy
While Bang is deeply rooted as a pre-workout that helps improve your exercise performance, it provides you with an effective boost that can sustain you for many hours.
A 16 fl.oz can of Bang Energy Drink is sugar-free and has 300mg of caffeine, along with plenty of energy-boosting ingredients like BCAAs, CoQ10, and vitamin C, which is generally rare in energy drinks.
Bang also offers a wide selection of flavors, which is a big bonus, especially if you like switching between flavors every now and then.
Plus, the price for a single can of Bang is pretty reasonable, ranging from $2.50 to $3.00 per serving, especially since it has a high caffeine content and a number of nutrients.
If you want to find out how to get the best prices for Bang Energy Drinks, check out the article I’ve written on where to buy Bang and the best deals online for some great tips.
REIZE (10 Out Of 10)
Still, finding the other energy drinks to be expensive? Then let me introduce you to the cheapest energy drink you can find out there: REIZE.
REIZE is a powdered energy drink that comes in light and convenient 4g sachets, making it easy for you to bring it around without worrying about the extra weight.
REIZE is also packed with a smart blend of beneficial ingredients like taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins that provide you with an energy-boosting effect to keep you going throughout the day.
Plus, REIZE is sugar-free and has only 50mg of caffeine, along with a small amount of 11 calories in each serving.
With REIZE, you don’t have to worry about unnecessary calories or caffeine. The best part is that REIZE delivers to your doorstep for only $1 per sachet, which is amazing value for money.
Give REIZE a try, and you might agree that it’s the cheapest energy drink out there.