The best cream soda is a shot of nostalgia straight to the dome. Whether you say cream soda or creme soda like a fancy boy, this classic carbonated bev is a sweet delight. Even though most of us didn’t grow up in an era when we’d ride our Schwinn Stingrays down to the sodie fountain for a drink and a pocketful of penny candy, cream soda can make you feel like you did. It’s like childhood in a bottle, minus the trauma.
Our previous ranking of the best cream soda brands focused on the classic stuff, but for this taste test we wanted to broaden our horizons a bit. Now you can find the best orange cream soda and the best red cream soda on this list (spoiler: It isn’t Big Red). We judged them on their faithfulness to the classic cream soda profile—we want to taste actual vanilla in there, but we also want some nuance, too. Cream soda shouldn’t just be sweet; it should be fizzy and round and not so cloying that you can’t down a whole bottle or can of the stuff. If you’re looking for depth of flavor and that classic creamy-minus-the-actual-cream taste and mouthfeel, you’re going to find something great on this list of the best tasting cream soda.
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- A&W Zero Sugar Cream Soda
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Since sugar is such a big part of the cream soda flavor profile, finding a palatable sugar-free version isn’t easy. But we did it. Because we care. If you’re a diet soda guy, A&W makes the best diet cream soda at the grocery store. Unlike a lot of other diet cream soda, this stuff has actual depth and dimension. As my colleague Justine Sterling put it, “It actually tastes like cream soda rather than diet cotton candy soda.” It’s rare that a diet soda isn’t immediately recognizable as a diet soda, but A&W pulls it off, and that makes it the best diet cream soda we tried.
Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs
- Kroger Big K Red Cream Soda
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I know Big Red has a big fanbase, especially in Texas, but it’s not the best red cream soda we tried in our taste test. It’s good, but if you have a Kroger (or a Kroger-owned grocery store) in your area, try this Big K Red Cream Soda. It tastes almost exactly like Big Red—sweet and syrupy with a more bubble gum-adjacent flavor profile than the rest of the best cream soda on this list—but it’s a little more fizzy, and that extra fizz goes a long way when it comes to cutting the thick, sugary flavor. If you grew up on Big Red, you might like its lack of fizz, but it just wasn’t bubbly enough for our taste testers (we tried it from a plastic 20 ounce bottle). Big K nails the flavor but makes a soda that’s more drinkable overall.
Credit: Liv Averett / Kroger
- Teddy’s Orange Cream Soda
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Teddy’s Orange Cream Soda is delicious, but I also recognize that even the best orange cream soda is a bit of a departure from the classic cream soda flavor profile, so it ranks a little lower on our list. That said, this stuff perfectly balances its two flavor components. You get orange and cream in pretty much equal measure, but that deep vanilla creaminess shaves the edges off the orange soda flavor. If you’ve ever wanted to drink a carbonated creamsicle, this is your jam.
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- IBC Cream Soda
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Some people (like me) prefer a dryer cream soda. If you’re in that camp, see #3 on our list. But if you’re looking for the best cream soda that really brings that decadent, sugary sweetness, look no further than IBC Cream Soda. It’s made with cane sugar, and that clean sweetness really complements the pure vanilla flavor. This cream soda has a good, strong flavor and a single sip will put you in a good mood. Even if your preferences are more in line with mine, this is a nice once-in-a-while treat.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Shasta Creme Soda
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I tend to think of Shasta as a budget soda brand, but this cream soda has a really rich, toasty, almost caramel-y flavor that makes it taste way more expensive. Even though the head dissipates pretty quickly when you pour this soda into a glass, the powerful vanilla flavor contributes some ice cream-style creaminess to the experience. If you’re looking for the best cream soda to make an ice cream float with, try this one with a scoop of something creative. I’m going with a tart, tangy sherbet.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- New York Seltzer Vanilla Cream Soda
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If this list of the best cream soda were based strictly on my personal preferences, New York Seltzer’s Vanilla Cream Soda would probably be in the top spot, and not just because I have fond childhood memories of the brand. It has a milder flavor than a lot of the other cream sodas we tried, which I can see turning off people who are looking for a bold soda taste, and it’s not as cloyingly sweet either, which I personally love. But what makes this one extra refreshing is that it contains small bubbles and highly active carbonation. This soda really dances on your tongue—and it comes in a small, adorable bottle. If you’re not super attached to a super sweet cream soda experience, you can’t miss with this one.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Faygo Vanilla Creme Soda
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Faygo is leaning into vintage vibes with its throwback packaging, and it’s a pretty good look, albeit less friendly to a Juggalo aesthetic. Anyway, if ICP’s fandom gave you the impression that this wasn’t a classy soda brand, it’s time to reevaluate! Beyond the downright beautiful bottle, Faygo Vanilla Creme soda has the richest vanilla flavor of all the cream sodas we tried. I also think there’s something highly appealing about a clear cream soda. Faygo makes the best cream soda if you like a very vanilla-forward flavor.
Credit: Liv Averett / Soda Pop Shop
- Boylan Creme Soda
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Boylan is one of our favorite soda brands—their black cherry soda made a strong showing in our first annual Burp Bracket. Boylan totally nails that delicate alchemy of vanilla flavor and fizz. It even smells delicious from the moment you crack open the lid. The secret could be the real cane sugar Boylan uses in its sodas, which gives it a crisp, natural flavor. I’m doing my best to explain it, but suffice it to say, this soda just tastes exactly the way it’s supposed to. It’s the best cream soda we tried in two separate taste tests.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Best Diet Cream Soda
Best Red Cream Soda
Best Orange Cream Soda
Best Sweet Cream Soda
Best Caramel Flavor
Best Fizz
Best Vanilla Flavor
Best of the Best
Other products we tried: Diet Dr. Brown’s Cream Soda, Great Value Diet Cream Soda, Jones Cream Soda, Dad’s Cream Soda, Virgil’s Zero Sugar Cream Soda, A&W Cream Soda, Diet Shasta Cream Soda, Sprecher Cream Soda
