Popular Jell-O Flavors, Ranked Worst To Best

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Jell-O is perhaps one of the most iconic snack and dessert foods of all time. For many, it's been a huge part of our childhood memories. While some of the happy consumers of the product are kids, there seem to be just as many adults who can't get enough of the jiggly goodness. It's clear that many people turn to Jell-O to feel a sense of nostalgia for their childhood, to suck down vodka-laced shots, to use it as an addition to legacy poke cake and pie recipes handed down from their grandmothers, and to bring the family together with the sensory play of Jell-O Jigglers (via KraftHeinz). 

No matter what your reason for loving this product is, you're sure to have your favorite flavor. And if you don't, this list just may help you find the perfect match. Surprisingly, Jell-O has dozens of flavors, both traditional and new. Some are made with sugar, some are sugar-free, and some flavors are brand collabs with other popular products on the market (like Kool-Aid, for example). We'll help you sort out which are worth the money, and which should stay on the store shelf.

Jell-O cups are one of the most iconic childhood snacks for many people When Jell-O and Kool-Aid decided to do a collab, it was a pretty exciting time. How could you go wrong with combining one of the most popular snack foods and one of the most popular drinks on the market? Well, we figured out the answer to that. Unfortunately, this product didn't hit high marks with consumers and the jiggly manufacturers have a big old flop on their hands here.

Several customers on Amazon complained that this product didn't hold up at room temperature and began to melt and get soupy. Unfortunately, that didn't work out so well for those who wanted to take their Jell-O cups on the go, which is kind of the whole point of the product design. For some customers, the product didn't even gel in the refrigerator, leaving them disappointed with a liquidy mess upon opening. Some said the flavor was good, however, so at least there's that.

What could possibly go wrong with mango-flavored Jell-O? While some customers were satisfied, many weren't impressed. With this dessert, you may be left wishing that the mango flavoring was more pronounced and less bland. One unhappy customer gave the product 2 stars out of 5 saying, "Did not have any Mango flavor," and another said, "Wish it was more full flavored like the others," (via Amazon). Some customers wound up mixing this flavor with pineapple in order to get the tropical essence they really wanted. Others doctored it up with cut-up fruit like oranges and bananas.

At the end of the day, this Jell-O couldn't please most as a stand-alone dessert and that's why we had to rank it lower on our list. It's clear that Jell-O customers expect a certain intensity of flavor with their gelatin desserts and the ones that can't deliver won't get repeat customers. Not to worry though. There are many other flavors to choose from!

Sugar free black cherry Jell-O promises to be a sweet and light treat with zero sugar and only 10 calories per serving. It has a deep red color profile that comes from red and blue food coloring. While it looks pretty and has no sugar and few calories, is it able to deliver on flavor?

Unfortunately for some, this wasn't their dessert of choice. One unhappy Amazon customer summed up his experience by saying, "Had a noticeable "chemical" aroma when boiling water was introduced. the resultant flavor was slightly different and the color slightly darker. After several days of consumption, I noticed a soreness developing in my mouth (chemical burn?) which cleared up when I stopped eating the product. " And he wasn't the only customer to suggest the flavor tasted strange. Another customer said, "Usually I like Jello products, this flavor was difficult to eat," via Amazon. Since you may have a hard time getting past the strong taste, we had to rank this flavor as one of our least favorite of the Jell-O brand products.

Simply Good Strawberry is the brand's take on a healthier, more natural version of traditional Jell-O. The label states it's made without any artificial dyes or preservatives and is flavored with real strawberry juice. Interestingly, it appears from the ingredient list that the soft ruby color comes from a blend of vegetable juice and turmeric. For customers who have been hoping for a more natural version of Jell-O that isn't overly processed and chemical-laden, it's been a dream come true. One happy mom commented, "Several members of our family are very allergic to red food coloring. We have missed strawberry Jell-O and we were so excited when we discovered Jell-O Simply Strawberry. It tastes and feels exactly like the regular Jell-O" (via Walmart).

While this product was a win for some, others didn't love this product so much. Unfortunately, you may run into trouble with the way this Jell-O gels, or rather, doesn't gel enough. It seemed that some couldn't commit to the natural version for these reasons and would be going back to the original strawberry flavor.

Raspberry Jell-O is a gorgeous jewel-toned gelatin sold in a bright pink box. While this may be one of the prettiest of the brand's offerings, it wasn't the biggest win with customers. When it came down to flavor, many thought the flavor was overly sweet. One Amazon reviewer stated simply, "Too sweet."

And that wasn't the only knock on the taste. Other common negative feedback had to do with the lackluster taste and high prices. "It's too small for the price ... flavour is not strong. Very expensive ... not worth at all" (via Amazon). Another customer wanted the sweet notes to be dialed way down, "This product was ok. The flavour was too sweet and artificial for me but others with a stronger sweet tooth might like it," they said on Influenster. Further, several remarked they were unsatisfied with the firmness and left comments such as "Not as flavorful as expected. Did not hold shape well" and "Personally I prefer a bit of a stiffer jelly," according to Amazon.

Grape Jell-O is next on our list and has amassed some loyal followers over the years. For some online reviewers, this flavor is the definition of nostalgia and childhood joy. Some claim they'll never buy another Jell-O flavor ever again and they're loyally committed (via Amazon). Many have stated it's the best flavor for adult parties and one Amazon reviewer backed it by saying, "Made with vodka and Chambord, these Jell-O shots were a great hit with everyone that was at the tailgate." Other positive reviewers left comments about their favorite childhood memories of making special cakes and desserts with this Jell-O flavor. In that sense, this flavor has stood the test of time for many.

While there were a good number of positive reviews on Influenster, there were a couple of disappointed tasters. One customer said, "I would improve the aftertaste of it has somewhat about chalky taste." Another stated, "If you like to have the flavour more strong, I would suggest you to get 2 or more packs and add less water." It's good to know you can get ultra-creative in the kitchen with this flavor, but it seems like the taste of this on its own might be a little bit lacking.

Lime Jell-O is another classic flavor offered by the brand. While it seemed to get higher marks than its sugar-free sibling, some customers didn't love the taste. Many of those who posted on Amazon's product review page claimed the gelatin tasted more like medicine than dessert. Others thought it simply tasted too synthetic, gross, or wouldn't gel properly.

However, for every bad review written, there were 15 good ones to counter it. Some flavor loyalists loved the vibrant color and how the flavor easily masked the taste of liquor when making their favorite alcohol-spiked gelatin. Others loved the lightness and freshness and how festively colorful it was for holidays like Christmas and St. Patty's Day. One Walmart reviewer even said it helps when her kiddo is feeling under the weather: "This is my son's favorite jello flavor for me to make for him. When he is sick I keep this in stock at my house to make for him and it allows him to stay hydrated." Although it wasn't a total win, we love that there are so many ways to use this product — from livening up festivities to soothing a troubled tummy.

It's almost hard to believe that Sugar-Free Lemon Jell-O could rank higher than the regular sugar version, but indeed it did. This might be due to the fact that it has the same lemony freshness and tartness as the regular version without the high sugar content. Surprisingly, it didn't have an overly artificial flavor or the weird aftertaste that can happen with artificial sweeteners. Some thought it tasted just like their favorite lemon candy and it was a must-have for taming those intense sweet cravings. One creative customer discovered it's the perfect addition for their lemon chicken (via Walmart).

Some customers were miffed about the prices being much higher than comparable generic versions or competing brands that essentially tasted the same. However, this seemed to be the only major complaint echoing through the product reviews pages. For this reason, we found this flavor was a competitive contender against other Jell-O flavors.

Strawberry Banana Jell-O is a ruby jewel-toned gelatin that looks almost as pretty as it sounds. Strawberry and banana is a classic combination, and this Jell-O does a pretty good job at delivering the taste you expect. This variety has some major high points including its delicious, sweet flavor that doesn't taste overly synthetic or artificial. The strawberry notes are right on point. Because this flavor can be eaten on its own or paired with other delicious recipes, like poke cake, strawberry shortcake, and even to thicken fruit smoothies, we ranked it higher on our list.

However, one of the major downsides of this flavor that some Amazon customers note is its lack of availability. It's not widely available in many grocery stores and can be hard for customers to find. Unfortunately, those who had to buy this product online were disappointed by the price. If you have to buy online, be sure to check quantity and box sizes so you're not unpleasantly surprised by what comes in the mail.

Cherry is another one of those classic flavors that just reminds people of their childhoods. It's also a flavor you can get super creative with in the kitchen. Additionally, this flavor is good enough to be eaten as a stand-alone treat, as reported by Amazon customers.

High marks for this product included the bright and juicy flavor of the ruby red gelatin. In addition to the flavor, the smell seems to be another big hit. When mixing the gelatin with the hot water during the cooking process, it apparently makes the whole house smell like a Jolly Rancher. There were very few comments from people who disliked this variety of Jell-O, except for those who knocked the product due to its ultra-bright artificial food coloring, and one reviewer who complained that it was not kosher or halal. But these were few and far between, and most of the reviews of this product are raves.

Peach Jell-O is another favored but hard-to-find flavor. However, some seem to be getting their hands on this delectable dessert and using it for more than just jigglers. This is a favored flavor for Jell-O shots and other alcoholic drinks. One reviewer on Influenster wrote, "if I have time, I'll make Jell-O shots. During summer those shots can be pretty refreshing!"

While the college crowd is flocking to the flavor for its perfect pairing with vodka, some moms are using it to gel their peach pie fillings (via Amazon). Another active woman said she loves to use it in her peach smoothies after her morning workout. The only negative point customers seemed to suggest was the difficulty in being able to find the product anywhere, even online. Fortunately, Amazon solved that problem and is a reliable place to buy this Jell-O flavor. If this is one of your favorites, be sure to stock up as many other customers tend to do.

The second-place contender on our list is Sugar-Free Strawberry Jell-O. It may come as a bit of a surprise that second place went to a sugar-free version of the gelatin, but there are many reasons to love this product. For one thing, this flavor is incredibly easy to find in most grocery stores. There doesn't seem to be a lack of availability, which for many has been a challenge with other flavors. Secondly, the strawberry flavor itself is juicy, sweet, and not too mild. One reviewer on Influenster wrote, "Ok seriously it tastes better than the actual original Jell-O I swear like I really enjoy it more I recommend it just because the taste is the same and it's overall better for you."

And this customer wasn't the only one. Others suggested they couldn't tell the difference between this version and the regular sugar version (via Target). They love that they can eat this product guilt-free and that it reminds them of childhood. For those who simply can't have sugar in their diets, this product has been the perfect treat and snack. However, for some, the sugar-free version wasn't quite as good as the regular version because it had a bit of a sugar-free aftertaste. For all these reasons, we've placed Sugar-Free Strawberry Jell-O in our number two spot.