Energy drinks are great, but they could be better.
Healthier ingredients and lower calories go a long way in getting energy drinks to be more mainstream than they already are.
That’s Why Uptime Energy Drink uses cane sugar instead of regular sugar. And if that substitution isn’t enough for you, there’s always Uptime Sugar-Free for the truly health-conscious.
You probably want to know my opinion on Uptime Energy Drinks and if they’re worth considering the next time you see one.
In short, Uptime Energy, especially the sugar-free version, is a good energy drink option if you want to switch things up, having no sodium content and a reasonable amount of caffeine.
For a more detailed look, read on for my full review of Uptime Energy Drink—from its ingredients, sugar and caffeine content, and how it compares to other energy drinks.
Uptime Energy Nutrition Facts
First up, a quick table comparing the nutritional value of Uptime Energy (Original and Sugar-Free) with some competitors.
| Value (Standard Serving) | Uptime Cane Sugar (12 fl.oz) | Uptime Sugar-Free (12 fl.oz) | Celsius (12fl.oz) | Red Bull (12fl.oz) | Monster (16fl.oz) |
| Energy | 150 Calories | 5 Calories | 10 Calories | 160 Calories | 240 Calories |
| Protein | 0g | 0g | 0g | <1g | 2.28g |
| Carbohydrate (Of which Sugars) | 38g (37g) | 1g (0g) | 2g (0g) | 40g (39g) | 60g (55g) |
| Sodium | 0 | 0 | 10mg | 150mg | 370mg |
| Caffeine | 142mg | 142mg | 200mg | 114mg | 160mg |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | – | – | – | 0.54mg | 3.5mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | – | – | – | 36mg | 51.5mg |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) | – | – | 10mg | 5.6mg | – |
| Vitamin B6 | – | – | 2mg | 7.9mg | 10.7mg |
| Vitamin B12 | – | – | 6μg | 7.2μg | 13µg |
| Vitamin C | 9mg | 9mg | – | – | – |
| Calcium | 115mg | 115mg | – | – | – |
How Many Calories Are In Uptime Energy Drinks
At 12 fl.oz, an original bottle of Uptime Energy has 150 calories, while the Sugar-Free version only has just 5 calories.
With 150 calories, Uptime Energy Drink seems pretty on par with other energy drinks of a similar volume (for reference, a 12 fl.oz of Red Bull has 160 Calories).
As a reminder, the recommended daily calorific limit for healthy young adults ranges from 2000 to 2400 calories for women and 2400 to 3000 calories for men.
While 150 calories seem small, it will slowly add up over the course of a week, so be careful with how many Uptime Energy Drinks you have, especially if you’re watching your weight.
If you live an active lifestyle, you’ll have no trouble at all burning off those extra calories.
On the other hand, if exercise isn’t your jam, Uptime Energy Sugar-Free might be more suitable for you as it only has 5 calories, a lot less than its cane-sugared counterpart.
If you happen to be diet-savvy, I’ve written an article on the best energy drinks for a diet, where you can find more specific information on the subject.
Uptime Energy Drink Ingredients
I’ve listed the ingredients for both Sugar Cane and Sugar-Free versions of Uptime Energy below. The only notable difference between the two energy drink versions is that Uptime Sugar-Free switches out sugar cane for sucralose.
Uptime Original Sugar-Cane
- Filtered Carbonated Water
- Cane Sugar
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Calcium Citrate
- Natural Caffeine
- Potassium Benzoate (Preservative)
- Potassium Sorbate (Preservative)
- L-Theanine
- Panax Ginseng Root Extract
- Angelica Root Extract
- Ascorbic Acid
- Coenzyme Q10
Uptime Sugar-Free
- Filtered Carbonated Water
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Calcium Citrate
- Natural Caffeine
- Potassium Benzoate (Preservative)
- Potassium Sorbate (Preservative)
- Sucralose
- L-Theanine
- Panax Ginseng Root Extract
- Angelica Root Extract
- Ascorbic Acid
- Coenzyme Q10
Now, let’s take a look at the more interesting ingredients found in both versions:
Notable Ingredients
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is an amino acid that is most commonly sourced from green and black tea leaves.
It can be helpful in assisting with memory and thinking skills, as well as providing relief from anxiety and stress.
It may also induce a state of relaxation, although it seems debatable if you end up feeling relaxed after having an energy drink.
Coenzyme Q10
CoQ10 is a naturally produced antioxidant that your cells use for growth and maintenance. It has a bunch of potentially beneficial effects such as:
- Lowering blood pressure
- Improve symptoms of heart conditions
- Preventing migraines
Panax Ginseng and Angelica Root Extracts
Panax Ginseng Extract in Uptime Energy has a bunch of benefits that complement the caffeine content in energy drinks, such as improving memory and thinking skills, amongst other things.
Angelica Root Extract is potentially helpful for counteracting indigestion, though the plant doesn’t offer much that could potentially assist in the functions of an energy drink.
That aside, we don’t quite know how much of each of the above ingredients are actually present in Uptime Energy Drinks, so take their benefits with a pinch of salt.
For more information on energy drink ingredients, check out the article I’ve written on energy drink ingredients and what they do. You’ll definitely find it helpful.
Is Cane Sugar Healthier?
While the cane sugar present in Uptime Energy Drinks definitely sounds healthier, the end product being put inside the drink is still the same good old sucrose (regular sugar).
Just like regular sugar, raw cane sugar is made up of sucrose and can contribute to weight gain and disease development if consumed in excess.
Healthline
So fair warning, cane sugar isn’t necessarily a healthier substitute for regular sugar, as it has the same nutritional impact on you.
Does Uptime Energy Have Sugar?
A 12 fl.oz bottle of Uptime Energy has 37g of sugar sourced from sugar cane, while its Sugar-Free version doesn’t contain any sugar at all.
Considering that the AHA recommends a max daily added sugar intake of 25g for women and 36g for men, Uptime Energy Original has a bit too much sugar for both sexes.
That said, sugar isn’t always the big bad boogeyman it’s made out to be. In fact, a little sugar won’t ruin your health and can provide a small boost in energy and mood.
Of course, consistently having too much sugar is very unhealthy and can lead to some nasty health problems down the road, such as:
- Weight Gain
- Type II Diabetes
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Acne
- Increased risk of depression
Too much sugar in a short period can also lead to the dreaded sugar crash, so I would recommend you go for Uptime Sugar-Free or other sugar-free options if you really want to avoid that.
Does Uptime Energy Have Artificial Sweeteners?
While Original Uptime doesn’t have artificial sweeteners, the sugar-free version does contain sucralose, which is an artificial zero-calorie sweetener.
While Uptime Sugar-Free is overall the healthier version of the energy drink, it still has artificial sweeteners, which, while not actively detrimental to your health, is still a pretty unknown factor.
While artificial sweeteners have been approved by health authorities, going for a drink with lower sugar content or naturally sweetened might be the healthiest choice you can make.
How Much Caffeine Does Uptime Energy Drink Have?
Each 12 fl. oz bottle of Uptime Energy has 142mg of natural caffeine.
142mg of caffeine per 12 fl. oz is pretty average for an energy drink, so the amount won’t affect you too much even if you happen to be caffeine-sensitive.
For myself, I personally prefer to have between 50 to 100mg of caffeine per serving, which is just the right amount to give me the necessary boost, but not too much that I get overwhelmed by the effects.
Of course, that all depends on your caffeine metabolism and how often you consume caffeinated beverages, so your mileage may vary regarding the caffeine in Uptime Energy Drinks.
As a reminder, the FDA approves a caffeine intake limit of no more than 400mg per day. Any more than that might lead to side effects such as:
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Headaches
- Stomachaches
- Dizziness
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
Uptime Energy Drinks also have a warning label regarding caffeine, as shown above, so be sure to avoid the drink if you happen to fall into any of the categories.
Uptime Energy Flavors
The Sugar Cane version of Uptime Energy only has 3 flavors, while the sugar-free version has 5, so if you’re not into fruity flavors or have rather niche tastes, Uptime sadly doesn’t have you covered.
Original Sugar-Cane
- Original Citrus
- Blood Orange
- White Peach Lemonade
Sugar-Free
- Original Citrus
- Blood Orange
- White Peach Lemonade
- Mango Pineapple
- Blueberry Pomegranate
What Does Uptime Taste Like?
Uptime Energy has a very light taste, almost like a 7Up or Sprite, and goes down quite smoothly with only a medium to light carbonation and a refreshing fruity aftertaste.
You also don’t feel the sugar as heavily as most other energy drinks, so it doesn’t have that sickly sweet taste that some energy drinks seem to have.
While you could have this at room temperature, I’d definitely suggest chilling it before cracking one open, as it does go better with that carbonated feel.
Overall, I find it a very refreshing drink, and its fruity flavors are definitely enjoyable, albeit a little limited.
Uptime Energy Price
At 12 fl. oz per bottle, A 12-pack of Uptime Energy Drink can run you up to $30 excluding shipping.
Uptime Energy Drinks are some of the priciest energy drinks I’ve seen in a while, coming up to about $2.50 per 12 fl. oz bottle.
For context, a 12-pack of 8.4 fl. oz Red Bull is about $19, while a 12-pack of 12 fl. oz Celsius is around $21.
A lot of the added cost is possibly due to Uptime Energy Drinks being packaged in a resealable aluminium bottle, which, while incredibly convenient, doesn’t do much for your wallet in the long run.
So ultimately, you’re going to have to make the decision on whether Uptime Energy Drinks are worth their high price. It’s definitely a shame that it isn’t that accessible for you if you’re running a modest budget.
Uptime Energy Review (8 out of 10)
All in all, I have to give Uptime Energy Drinks, both the Sugar-Cane and Sugar-Free version, an 8 out of 10 total.
It’s definitely one of the better energy drinks I’ve had in recent memory, with a great taste and a surprisingly refreshing finish.
However, it is lacking in a few areas.
Uptime Energy Drinks don’t have the B-Vitamins that most other energy drinks have, and the cane sugar content is still really high for its overall volume.
Additionally, its high price of about $2.50 per 12 fl. oz bottle doesn’t quite justify everything the drink offers, so even though it’s an exceptionally refreshing energy drink, the price is definitely a huge turn-off.
All in all, it’s a great energy drink if you’re willing to fork out the money for it, and definitely something you should try if you happen to find Uptime Energy Drinks when they’re on sale.
Want another opinion? Give the review video below a watch. It has some interesting history on Uptime Energy Drinks, as well as a taste test for most of the flavors.
Uptime Energy Alternatives
Uptime is a good energy drink, but here’s a selection of similar canned energy drinks you might enjoy:
While you’re at it, why not have a look at powdered energy drinks? They’re usually more cost-effective, and you can adjust the formula to what best suits you:
REIZE (10 out of 10)
If Uptime doesn’t sound all that great to you, how about trying REIZE instead?
REIZE is a convenient powdered energy drink that comes in a portable 4g sachet. With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, REIZE is completely sugar-free and has only 11 calories per serving.
REIZE also contains a smart blend of taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins. It’s the perfect energy drink mix, giving you the energy boost you need to get through your day.
Best of all? REIZE ships straight to your door for only about $1 per drink.
That’s definitely great value for money.
Try REIZE today, and I’m sure you’ll also find it a better alternative to Uptime Energy Drink.