Olipop is a functional soda brand intended to replicate the flavor of traditional soft drinks. The brand offers a diverse flavor profile across its soda drinks, which feature a mix of prebiotics, botanical herbs, and adaptogens.
The brand’s lineup centers on carbonated drinks available as single cans, variety packs, and subscription options. Flavors are said to be inspired by classic sodas and fruit-based drinks, which also offer compatibility across vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO.
In this review, we explore the brand’s formulation choices and how clearly it explains the digestive health claims surrounding them. The review also explores flavor variety, ingredient transparency, and user experience associated with the brand’s offerings.
About Olipop
Founded by David and Ben, the brand positions itself as an alternative to conventional soda, built around the idea that familiar flavors can coexist with improved nutritional composition. Its core philosophy centers on reducing excess sugar intake while increasing nutrients, particularly dietary fiber, without relying on artificial additives.
The brand’s product range covers canned drinks offered as single-flavor packs, variety packs, and pantry-ready formats. Its flavor range features soda-inspired classics such as Vintage Cola, Orange Cream, Classic Root Beer, Ginger Ale, and Cream Soda, alongside unique options like Strawberry Vanilla, Cherry Cola, Crisp Apple, and Watermelon Lime.
Olipop also provides variety packs such as Classic Soda, Fruity Fun, and the Favorites group multiple flavors to offer compatibility with different taste preferences rather than functional distinctions.
Top 3 Bestseller Flavors
Vintage Cola
As per its official website, Vintage Cola flavor features 40 calories, 9g of dietary fiber, and 50mg of caffeine sourced from green tea. The formulation emphasizes digestive support and reduced sugar intake through the inclusion of a proprietary prebiotic fiber blend, plant-derived sweeteners, and botanical extracts.
The formulation contains the OLISMART blend, which pairs ingredients like cassava root fiber, chicory root inulin, and Jerusalem artichoke inulin. Such fibers are classified as non-digestible carbohydrates that resist enzymatic breakdown in the upper gastrointestinal tract and reach the colon intact, where good gut bacteria can use them.
Cassava root syrup and apple juice concentrate provide limited carbohydrate-based sweetness while maintaining a low sugar content. Green tea–derived caffeine in the formula may contribute to alertness without substantially increasing stimulant load.
Crisp Apple
Crisp Apple flavor from the brand aims to replicate the sensory profile of sparkling apple cider while maintaining a sweet apple flavor. It contains botanical extracts like nopal cactus, marshmallow root, calendula flower, and kudzu root. These fibers can be resistant to digestion in the upper area of the gastrointestinal tract and reach the colon intact, where they work as food for beneficial gut bacteria. Lemon juice concentrate in the formula further supports acidity and flavor brightness. Stevia leaf extract is used to enhance sweetness intensity without materially increasing caloric or glycemic load.
Ginger Ale
Ginger Ale includes juices from quince, apple, lime, and ginger, which together shape the flavor profile while contributing naturally occurring organic acids, polyphenols, and trace carbohydrates.
Botanical extracts such as nopal cactus, marshmallow root, calendula flower, and kudzu root are also included. Ginger juice provides gingerols and related phenolic compounds that contribute to the drink’s characteristic flavor. These compounds interact with sensory receptors in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, influencing taste perception and oral warmth. Himalayan pink salt supplies sodium and trace minerals, which affect electrolyte balance and enhance flavor by modulating salivary response.
Olipop Advantages
Strong Retail Presence
As of 2025, Olipop’s products are reported to be available in close to 50,000 retail locations across the United States, reflecting significant growth from its early limited distribution. Major national chains carrying Olipop include Target, Walmart, Whole Foods Market, and Kroger, along with regional grocers such as Publix, Sprouts, and Safeway. This level of penetration indicates the brand’s ability to meet the operational, quality control, and volume requirements of large-scale retailers.
Placement in conventional soda aisles and organized beverage sections positions Olipop directly alongside traditional carbonated soft drinks, supporting routine discovery and repeat purchasing rather than niche or specialty-only consumption.
Core flavors such as Vintage Cola, Crisp Apple, and Ginger Ale are consistently stocked across these retail channels, including single flavor packs and assorted variety packs. The wide availability of these formulations helps maintain brand recognition and flavor consistency across different store formats, from refrigerated sets to shelf-stable soda sections.
Low-Sugar Soda Alternative Branding
The brand’s drinks, such as Ginger Ale, Vintage Cola, and Crisp Apple, are formulated to contain approximately 2-5 grams of sugar per twelve-ounce can. The quantified reduction is a central element of the brand’s positioning as a lower sugar soda-style beverage.
To support this profile, Olipop relies on a defined ingredient structure rather than heavy sugar replacement. Sweetness is achieved through a combination of fruit-derived ingredients and non-caloric sweeteners such as stevia, with monk fruit used in select formulations.
Texture and mouthfeel are supported by plant-based fibers, including sources such as chicory root and cassava, which contribute around 9 grams of dietary fiber per can. This fiber content allows the drinks to maintain body and carbonation balance while also aligning with interest in prebiotic ingredients.
This formulation strategy is applied consistently across flavors designed to replicate familiar soda experiences. Vintage Cola is built to mirror a classic cola profile, using fruit derived components, cassava-based ingredients, and fiber to deliver sweetness and depth with minimal sugar.
Crisp Apple presents an apple-based soda profile with a slightly higher sugar level within the brand’s low range, paired with the same fiber structure to maintain balance. Ginger Ale follows a comparable model, offering a restrained ginger flavor with carbonation, low sugar, and a fiber supported mouthfeel.
Olipop Limitation
Minimal Sustainability Disclosure
Olipop communications focus on broad initiatives such as life cycle assessments, emissions awareness, and the use of aluminum cans, yet they do not consistently provide granular, verifiable metrics that would allow a full assessment of environmental impact.
Details such as facility-level footprints, quantified emissions reduction progress over time, or independently verified packaging sourcing standards are not clearly disclosed, which constrains evaluation beyond general commitments.
While the brand notes domestic sourcing priorities, supply chain surveys, and alignment with B Corp principles, much of this information remains confidential. Ingredient disclosures for components such as cassava fiber, chicory root inulin, and Jerusalem artichoke inulin describe functional and nutritional roles, but do not include data on farming methods, water use, soil health, or third-party environmental certifications.
This pattern applies across Olipop’s product range, including Classic Root Beer, Orange Squeeze, Strawberry Vanilla, Ginger Lemon, Banana Cream, and Vintage Cola. Sustainability messaging remains secondary to taste, nutrition, and prebiotic function, and while aluminum packaging is promoted for its recyclability, variant-specific lifecycle data or sourcing verification is not provided.
Pros
- The brand’s offerings feature OLISmart, a patented blend of prebiotic fibers from cassava root and chicory root inulin, which support gut health.
- Maintains a non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and paleo-friendly positioning.
- Emphasizes commitment to sustainability through B Corp certification and ethical supply chain management.
Cons
- Emphasizes research partnerships and historical evidence without specifying independent clinical trial outcomes for the safety/efficacy claims of products.
- The sweetness profile of the brand’s offerings may taste slightly off.
Olipop Alternatives
Poppi
Poppi functions as a modern soda brand within the functional drinks category, while Olipop enters the same functional drinks space with more emphasis on digestive health science and microbiome awareness.
Founded by Allison Ellsworth, Poppi’s identity is built around enjoyment, familiarity, and everyday balance rather than restriction. The brand emphasizes reduced sugar and calories alongside ingredients associated with gut health awareness.
Olipop, by contrast, presents itself as a functional soda more explicitly informed by digestive health research, placing microbiome science, fiber intake, and academic collaboration at the center of its value proposition.
Poppi’s product range consists exclusively of canned carbonated beverages, organized around flavor variety rather than functional differentiation. Some core flavor options provided by the brand include the Root Beer, Cream Soda, Classic Cola, Doc Pop, Orange, Orange Cream, Cherry Cola, Cherry Limeade, and Lemon Lime. The brand also offers other flavor options such as Ginger Lime, Ginger Fizz, Strawberry Lemon, Wild Berry, Raspberry Rose, Grape, Watermelon, and Alpine Blast.
Similarly, Olipop also focuses entirely on canned carbonated drinks, but structures its lineup more clearly around traditional soda drinks. These include flavor options such as Vintage Cola, Classic Root Beer, Classic Grape, Cream Soda, Orange Cream, Strawberry Vanilla, Ginger Ale, Cherry Cola, Orange Squeeze, Watermelon Lime, Banana Cream, and Tropical Punch.
Accessibility reflects other positioning differences between the brands. Poppi emphasizes widespread availability across major United States retailers, direct-to-consumer sales, and simple purchasing formats such as single-flavor packs and variety packs. Olipop also maintains broad retail distribution but places greater emphasis on its direct-to-consumer channel and its Endless Olipop subscription, which offers recurring deliveries, discounts, early flavor access, free shipping, and flexible order management.
Poppi and Olipop occupy overlapping but distinct positions within the functional soda landscape. The brand Poppi differentiates itself through flavor breadth, soda nostalgia, and mass market accessibility. Olipop differentiates through higher fiber formulations, microbiome-focused research partnerships, and a more explicit digestive focus narrative.
Culture Pop
Culture Pop positions itself as a probiotic soda brand built around simplicity, ingredient restraint, and live culture inclusion rather than layered functional complexity. The brand emphasizes that its soda drinks are formulated without refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, stevia, or fermentation. Its identity centers on a straightforward formulation, influenced by New England roots and the founder’s prior experience co-founding Nantucket Nectars.
The brand’s portfolio remains focused on shelf-stable canned probiotic sodas, available in single-flavor packs, sampler packs, and curated variety packs. Some core flavors in the brand’s soda range include the Orange Mango, Grape, Black Cherry, Strawberry, Watermelon, Wild Berries, Lemon Lime, Ginger Lemon, and Pink Grapefruit. Variety packs are organized by taste profile rather than functional benefit, reinforcing flavor exploration over nutritional segmentation.
In terms of formulation, the brand uses organic fruit juice as its sole sweetener and includes a single live probiotic strain, Bacillus subtilis DE111, sourced from Deerland. The spore-forming, non-GMO probiotic is selected for stability across temperature and pH ranges, enabling shelf stability without refrigeration.
As per its official website, Culture Pop offerings are not fermented, contain no tea or live yeast cultures, and avoid the acidity and trace alcohol sometimes associated with kombucha.
Founded by Ben Goodwin and David Lester, Olipop frames its development around translating academic and clinical insights into accessible soda drinks. The brand’s identity is more oriented to digestive-health science and microbiome-focused nutrition. Olipop offerings also do not contain live probiotic cultures and are not fermented, instead positioning fiber as the primary functional mechanism supporting digestive health.
The Olipop product range also consists entirely of canned carbonated beverages, offered as individual flavors, themed variety packs, seasonal releases, pantry-ready bulk formats, and digital gift cards. Core flavors include Vintage Cola, Classic Root Beer, Classic Grape, Cream Soda, Orange Cream, Cherry Cola, Cherry Vanilla, Strawberry Vanilla, Lemon Lime, Ginger Ale, Ginger Lemon, and Orange Squeeze. It also offers other flavor options such as Watermelon Lime, Banana Cream, Peaches and Cream, Doctor Goodwin, Tropical Punch, and Ridge Rush, alongside rotating seasonal options such as Pineapple Paradise and Crisp Apple.
From a sustainability standpoint, Olipop differentiates itself as a Public Benefit Corporation and is also a Certified B Corporation. It highlights environmental and social accountability through sourcing practices, emissions monitoring, recyclable packaging, and a customer-directed nonprofit giving model supporting food security, nutrition access, regenerative agriculture, and public-health education initiatives.
Both Culture Pop and Olipop occupy distinct positions within the functional soda landscape. Culture Pop delivers a flavor-focused, probiotic soda option built on ingredient simplicity, organic fruit juice sweetness, and minimal scientific framing. Meanwhile, Olipop delivers a fiber-based soda alternative grounded in microbiome research partnerships, formulation complexity, and a science-led digestive-health narrative.
How Did We Evaluate?
Real Consumer Feedback
To evaluate Olipop, we looked at the verified reviews of the brand’s core offerings on Amazon. The Favorites Variety Pack holds a 4.1 out of 5 rating from over 4,200+ reviews, with many customers appreciating the perceived digestive support, with some reporting reduced bloating or improved stomach comfort.
Flavor reactions appear mixed, as some consumers strongly favor options like root beer, strawberry vanilla, lemon ginger, and cherry. At the same time, others describe some flavors as too sweet, unusual, or requiring time to adjust.
Carbonation levels are another recurring point of disagreement, with some reviewers finding the fizz lighter and easier on the stomach.
Individual offerings from the brand, such as Cream Soda, maintain a 4.4 out of 5 rating based on more than 3,400+ reviews. Many users described the Cream Soda variant as refreshing, smooth, and versatile. Positive feedback often indicated that flavors did not taste overtly like probiotics and felt lighter than regular soda. However, value remains a consistent concern across reviews, as a notable portion of customers describe Olipop soda drinks as expensive for everyday consumption.
Across products, recurring patterns suggest that Olipop appeals most to consumers seeking a lower sugar soda alternative with functional benefits, while taste preferences and pricing strongly influence satisfaction.
Brand Reputation
To evaluate Olipop, we looked at its background and presence across independent review forums, focusing on rating consistency, review volume, and recurring customer feedback themes.
On ThingTesting, the brand holds a 4.3 out of 5 rating based on 2,636+ reviews. Across reviews, positive sentiment centers on flavor variety, nostalgic soda profiles, and perceived digestive support.
Popular flavors such as Vintage Cola, Root Beer, Strawberry Vanilla, Orange Cream, and Ginger Lemon are mentioned repeatedly. However, critical feedback appears consistently, especially around stevia or artificial sweetener aftertaste, uneven carbonation, sweetness levels, and mixed reactions to certain flavors.
TenereTeam reflects a similar but slightly stronger rating profile, showing a 4.5 out of 5 score based on 2,100+ ratings. Many appreciated the brand’s drinks for their lower sugar content, unique flavors, and gut health positioning. The most common drawbacks cited include a higher price compared to traditional soda, inconsistent carbonation, and potential digestive side effects for some consumers.
The brand’s credibility is shaped by strong visibility across multiple review platforms, high review volume, and consistent patterns in both praise and criticism. Such data reflects broad consumer interest and repeat engagement, alongside clear acknowledgment of taste variability, price sensitivity, and digestive tolerance differences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The brand’s soda offerings, such as Crisp Apple or Vintage Cola, feature around 2–5g of sugar and 30–50 calories per can, which may slow sugar absorption. Effects on the blood glucose levels might vary, so individual monitoring is advised.
Yes, the Vintage Cola, Cherry Cola, and Doctor Goodwin flavors provide 50mg of caffeine per 12-oz can, and Ridge Rush contains 60mg per can. However, other flavor options, including Root Beer, Cream Soda, Strawberry Vanilla, and Ginger Lemon, contain no caffeine.
No. The brand claims not to use artificial sweeteners. Flavors are sweetened with cassava root syrup, apple juice concentrate, allulose syrup, fruit juices, and stevia leaf extract. The makers exclude the use of synthetic sweeteners such as aspartame or acesulfame-potassium.
Conclusion
Olipop positions its soda drinks to support gut health, emphasizing its OLISmart formulation, which brings together prebiotic fibers, botanicals, and familiar soda-style flavors. The brand’s offerings are positioned to contain less sugar than traditional soda drinks, while also meeting non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and paleo-friendly standards.
However, the functional narrative relies mainly on ingredient-level research and historical use. Independent clinical trials or peer-reviewed research do not evaluate efficacy/safety outcomes of the brand’s functional benefit claims. Digestive benefits are also described broadly, with limited guidance if you have difficulty adjusting to higher prebiotic fiber intake. It is also important to consume the brand’s drinks in moderation.
- About the Author
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Alisha Matthew has been a practicing nutritionist since 2016. She holds a master’s degree in nutrition from the University of IOWA. She is a staunch believer in improving the human health index by educating people about nutrition and the importance of nutrition in leading a healthy and happy life. Her long-term goal is to keep educating people on general health and keep herself updated with the latest trends in the field of health.