12 Flavored Water Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

Whether you're new to the flavored water lifestyle or you've been sipping infused H20 for years, there's no denying that flavored water (especially of the sparkling variety) has been taking the nation by storm.

Drinking plenty of water is an incredibly important — and often overlooked — way to stay healthy. Luckily, flavored water seems to be encouraging consumers to enhance their hydration with fun flavors, minus the numerous negative health impacts of sugary sodas (via Healthline). As flavored waters continue to dominate the beverage aisle at the grocery store, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the different choices out there. In fact, it seems like every few months, there's a new cleverly packaged water brand boasting a unique ingredient formula and an array of supposed health benefits.

No matter what, there's one thing that's most important when it comes to choosing the best sorts of flavored water — the flavor! We're here to help you navigate some of the many trendy water brands out there, and tell you which of the most prominent ones offer the best tasting products. These are popular flavored water brands, ranked from worst to best.

Hint has been around since 2004 and has steadily gained notoriety in recent years. The fruit-infused water brand was born out of founder Kara Goldin's dissatisfaction with the copious amounts of sugar and added preservatives in many flavored waters. Since its inception, the company has ventured beyond water and now sells personal care products like sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and deodorant.

Offering both still and sparkling waters, Hint is certainly not lacking in variety and options of flavors. They've got the classics like strawberry-kiwi, blackberry, and lemon, among others. The watermelon flavor is pleasantly sweet and refreshing, and complementary combinations like mango-grapefruit do an excellent job of pairing sweet with sour. In general, though, Hint water's taste borders on the line of too subtle and isn't as satisfying as some other popular flavored water brands.

A review by Mr. Water Geek noted that Hint is true to the name, offering only the tiniest hint of flavor. "If you are expecting regular flavored water that's bursting with sweetness – you will be very disappointed," they wrote.

Now, here's a flavored water brand that you may not have heard about unless you're really up on flavored water news. As the largest food and beverage company in the world, it isn't surprising that Nestle offers up non-carbonated flavored water among its many other products. Nestle Splash uses natural fruit flavors, skipping artificial flavor additives and further boasting zero calories or sugars.

Nestle Splash currently has only six flavors on offer — pineapple mango, wild berry, lemon, strawberry melon, acai grape, and mandarin orange. While we appreciate the ultra-low calorie count of Nestle Splash, the truth is that these flavors fall in the middle of the quality range. They're not particularly unique or exciting, but they will certainly do the trick if you're thirsty.

One reviewer on Influenster said: "Nestle flavored water is pretty good, though I still prefer some alternatives. It has a somewhat lighter flavor than some other flavored bottled waters do, which might be preferred by some." Generally speaking, this is a good neutral option when you're browsing the aisles at the supermarket and you find yourself craving a slightly more exciting option than just plain water. But there are some bolder varieties still out there, too.

If you're looking for non-carbonated flavored water, Propel is one of the better options out there. The brand's products are metaphorically bursting with electrolytes and vitamins, and with no added calories to boot. Reviews of the brand on Influenster are pretty glowing, too, with plenty of loyal customers praising the subtle yet sweet taste of its varied flavors. Propel has pretty well covered the basis of popular fruit flavors, such as black cherry, strawberry, peach, and lemon.

Since the main differentiator of Propel is the high amount of electrolytes contained in a bottle, its products may be more tempting for fitness buffs looking to replenish themselves after a workout, rather than the typical flavored water drinker focused on taste. It's also a great substitute for Gatorade fans wanting to cut down on calories.

But for those who prefer their flavored water sans sweeteners, it may be preferable to steer clear of Propel. All of the brand's drinks are sweetened with sucralose, and its Propel Vitamin Boost contains organic cane sugar, according to their website.

Coca-Cola, long a stalwart of sugary sodas like its flagship Coke, finally burst onto the sparkling water scene with AHA in 2019. As its biggest brand launch in recent years, the beverage giant set out to "appeal to existing sparkling water drinkers and recruit new fans through inclusive and inviting marketing," according to its website.

So, how has that inclusive marketing fared? The beverage's branding is bold, for sure, and certainly seems to be targeted to a youthful audience. Trey Veal, who oversaw the packaging design for AHA, noted that the brand's name connotes a feeling of surprise (via The Coca-Cola Company). So, the creative team was able to have some fun with the design, which is bright, playful, and hard to miss.

AHA has certainly infiltrated the flavored water market, serving up eight unique flavor pairings without sweeteners, calories, or any sodium. Select varieties even have some caffeine added to mix, which may be a plus when you're feeling a bit sleepy and not in the mood for a full cup of coffee.

The Washington Post noted that the strong aroma of AHA's flavors can be a bit aggressive, making the drink taste more like candy than water. If you are in the mood for a strong and sweet taste, though, the blueberry pomegranate flavor is a particularly winning combination.

LaCroix is just about the most famous flavored water in many American markets. The sparkling water brand has skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years, splashing onto the sparkling water scene at a time when Americans were largely ditching soda and looking for a healthier alternative, according to Vox. But the Wisconsin-based brand has actually been around since the 1980s and was purchased by National Beverage Corp in 1996. Social media marketing seemed to do wonders for boosting LaCroix's reputation over the years, with #LiveLaCroix garnering a lot of buzz on Instagram from millennials and younger generations in recent years.

LaCroix's naturally essenced carbonated water is housed in some pretty flashy packaging that is sure to attract attention, but clever marketing can only do so much. When it comes to taste, LaCroix seals the deal with remarkably refreshing drinks and tons of unique flavors. From classics like mango and berry to more daring choices like Pamplemousse (that's grapefruit, for those of you who don't speak French) and Beach Plum, their products stand out from the crowd.

There's an added bonus here, too, at least if you're looking to mix things up — LaCroix drinks make for great mocktails. Fashion yourself a sangria, margarita, or mojito with the flavorful fizzy water, and we bet you'll understand all of the hype!

Now here's a flavored water brand that actually lives up to the hype! Spindrift is one of the most sought-after seltzers in the market, and understandably so. The company touts itself as making the first sparkling water made with just squeezed fruit. They knock the widespread use of "natural flavors" in most beverages because, let's face it, nobody knows exactly what that means. Spindrift's philosophy is that fruit-flavored water should be made from, well, fruit.

When you pick up a Spindrift seltzer, that process will become pretty clear. The first clue will likely be the vibrant color of the drink. The next giveaway is that the flavors in the can are natural, bold, and delicious. In short, their drinks taste like actual fruit, though pared down to flavored water levels. The use of real fruit does mean that there are a few calories involved — about 15 per can. Yet, as Vox notes, we shouldn't be so quick to turn up our noses at flavored water with a calorie count. After all, fruit has calories, so a flavored drink should be able to have some too.

Spindrift's flavor choices are top-notch, with mostly single flavor options (though the raspberry lime is a particularly wonderful combination). The strawberry seltzer is incredible, and the brand's lemon is a pretty popular choice as well. While a daring fusion or unique flavor can be interesting, sometimes it's best to settle down with the simple stuff, which is what Spindrift does so well.