Justine Sterling
Ariana Losch
What’s the best gummy candy? It depends on who you ask. Some folks like their gummies to be soft and tender, others think the best gummy candies are tough and chewy. Some want sour gummy candy, others want it to taste like pure fruit. And then there are the vegans who need their gummy candies to be gelatin-free. As long as you think gummy is yummy, then we found the best gummy candy for you.
What kind of gummy candy did we taste for this ranking?
In our initial taste test, conducted all the way back in 2022, we were simply looking for the best gummy candy in the most traditional sense. We looked for gummies that weren’t too soft, were vibrantly flavorful, and came in fun shapes. The top ranked gummies from that taste test are still on this list, but our criteria have certainly evolved to look for more niche entries. We tasted plant-based gummy candy, low sugar gummy candy, Swedish gummy candy, and so much more. We searched for the best peach rings (which we found) as well as the best gummy sharks (which we did not find). We also included the best sour gummy candy from our best sour candy ranking.
In short, what do we look for in the best gummy candy?
- Bold fruit flavors: Bright, memorable, juicy flavors. Nothing too artificial or saccharine.
- A spectrum of textures: Your perfect chew could be someone else’s textural nightmare, but it’s our job to set aside our particular tastes and find something for everyone.
- Fun shapes: Gummies should have a little whimsy, don’t you think?
And by the way: Our search for the best gummy candy is never truly over. If you think we left out a category or you have a favorite gummy we simply must try, please leave us a note in the comments. We read them—seriously. Here’s the best gummy candy you can buy.
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- Smart Sweets Cola Gummies
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If you’re looking for the best keto gummies that truly fit into the keto lifestyle, you’re not going to find them here. But these low carb, low sugar gummies will work if you’re not a super strict keto keeper. With just 3g sugar and 100 calories (plus 13g fiber) per each 50g bag, these aren’t quite “healthy” but you can chow down on an entire bag without scarfing down an entire week’s worth of sugar. That said, these are definitely not a dupe for other candies on this list. If you’re really craving sweet, sweet gummy candy, this isn’t going to scratch that itch. But if you’re more interested in a textural experience (these are very firm, very sticky-chewy gummies), then these will satisfy—I finished off a bag in traffic. Out of all the Smart Sweets flavors I tried, these taste the most like actual candy. They taste like a memory of Haribo Happy-Cola—herbal, sweet, faintly root beer-y. If you’ve been curious about Smart Sweets, these are the best low sugar gummies we’ve tried from that particular brand. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Walgreens
- eFrutti Gummi Pizza
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It may not win on flavor alone, but this product is too cute and too fun to pass up. You still get the translucent gummy satisfaction in the form of the toppings, but everything is undercut by a vanilla-tinged, opaque “crust,” which is verging on taffy. It’s hard to discern what kinds of toppings the little multi-colored gummies on the pizza are supposed to represent—but that’s fun, too. It’s nice to maintain a little mystery in life. Plus, the pizza is cut into five slices so you can actually eat it like a tiny pizza. Adorable. If you’re looking for the best gummy candy based on aesthetics alone, this is the choice for you. —Justine Sterling
- Albanese Lower Sugar Gummi Worms
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These aren’t just the best low sugar gummies we tried—they’re our favorite low sugar candy overall. These gummy worms have the brand’s signature plush, bouncy chew that we love in their regular gummies (more on those below). They use allulose to boost the sweetness, but the flavors are pretty tart to begin with (green apple, blue raspberry lemonade, etc.), which keeps the fake sugar aftertaste to a minimum. —Ariana Losch
- Favorite Day Peach Rings Gummi Candies
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Out of the peach rings I tried (Haribo Peaches are not technically peach rings), Target came out on top with the store’s Favorite Day Peach Rings. They’re sweet and actually peachy. They have a nice chew but aren’t too firm. They’re what you think of when you think of peach rings. After tasting a few different brands, I can honestly tell you not all peach rings taste the same, and these are the best peach rings out there. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Katjes Plant-Based Gummies Rainbow Gummy Candy
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There’s no animal gelatin in these plant-based gummies. But they still have that classic, gummy candy texture, which is pretty impressive. I’m not going to pretend these are wholesome and homemade—they still include things like dextrose and carnauba wax—but they’re colored with plant- and algae-derived colors. And those colors are gorgeous—the unicorn heads and rainbows have a vibrant rainbow ombre effect. And the flavor is good, too! It’s a lot like Welch’s fruit snacks—really, really fruity but with a gummy candy texture. Note: I say these are vegan “ish” because they are made on equipment that processes products made with milk, so there might be trace amounts of dairy. We’re still on the hunt for the best vegan gummies that are truly vegan, but these come close. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Walgreens
- Issei Mochi Gummies Strawberry
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Holding a handful of these mochi gummies feels like holding specks of cloud in your palm. They taste that way, too—delicate and softly chewy, with a strawberry flavor that’s light as rain. This is very different from your typical gummy candy, but if you want a treat that isn’t too sweet and you don’t mind mixing up your textures a bit, Issei deserves your attention. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Haribo Alphabet Letters
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These gummies and I have been through a lot together. They’re my go-to. They’re essentially just the same goo Haribo uses to make their Goldbears shaped into letters. And that’s great. They have the perfect amount of resistance, all of those classically delicious flavors, and a bevy of shapes for you to enjoy. Isn’t it fun that you can spell a word with your sweet treat? I like options and I like activities—as long as they end in me eating gummy candies. If you feel the same, then this is the best gummy candy for you. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- Haribo Goldbears Wild Berry
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“There’s too much Haribo on this list,” said no one, ever. I’m kidding. You’re going to get really sick of seeing this brand by the time you get to the end of this ranking. But what am I supposed to do? Enjoy th\ vibrantly tart and tangy flavors in this bag and not include it here because of what, optics? I won’t say this is the best bag of Haribo you can buy, but it does the world of berries justice. If you prefer tart to sweet, these are some of the best gummies to pick up. —Ariana Losch
- Hi-Chew Gummies Sour
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Are these gummy cubes from Hi-Chew not just Turkish delights? (That’s not a rhetorical question; I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never had a Turkish delight, so I don’t know what they should taste like.) Regardless, these sturdy gummy squares are a supremely satisfying shape. Like biting into ice, only sticky. Hi-Chew uses fruit concentrates for their flavors, which creates this mellow sweetness and richer fruit flavor. My one critique is that these are supposed to be sour… and they’re barely sour. But I can live with that, since they’re just oh-so-fruity. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Walgreens
- Trolli Sour Brite Abominable Snowmen
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Trolli’s Abominable Snowmen are the best gummies you can buy for a little holiday pick-me-up this year. These dangly-limbed, big-bellied little freaks are pretty adorkable. We love how weird they look and how yummy they taste, frosted in sour dust and sporting fun flavor hybrids like strawberry-lime and blue-raspberry guava. They’re bold and unique. Good job, Trolli. You brought the whimsy. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Juicy Drop’s Mystery Cubes
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I love peelable candy. It combines all of my favorite things: delayed gratification, food science ingenuity, childhood whimsy, and a challenge. And it’s time I updated our favorite peelable candy ranking, because when I tried Juicy Drop’s new Mystery Cubes a month ago, I couldn’t deny how perfect they were. You have to bite into each gelatin cube to find an adorable tiny animal gummy inside, so perfectly crafted, each one looks like a mini sculpture. And they taste great, too. Soft, bright, and fruity. The whole Sporked team delighted in these little guys. You will, too. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Haribo Happy Cherries
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“It’s a great fake cherry—not a medicine cherry,” one taster commented. Others agreed, praising Haribo Happy Cherries’ real fruit-forward flavor. Personally, I appreciate the shape, which gives you so much to play with when you’re eating. You have the stems to nibble at, as well as the round, pillowy cherries—they’re big enough so you can take bits and bites if you want, but not so big that you can’t take one down in one go. Hot tip: Combine these with Haribo Happy-Cola (#3 on this list) for one of the best gummy candy combos ever. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- Albanese World’s Best Gummi Bears
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I know a lot of you will disagree with me when I say this, but Albanese World’s Best Gummi Bears aren’t the world’s best—but they’re pretty darn good. They come in 12 different flavors and colors, including a gorgeous shade of teal that I will be using as a reference for shower tile if anyone ever asks for my opinion on the matter. They have a nice firm bite and good flavor saturation. Plus, they come in some unexpected flavors like mango and pink grapefruit along with classic hits like blue raspberry, green apple, and cherry. If you like a softer gummy bear and a lot of flavor options, these are the best gummy candies for you. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
- Live Savers Gummies
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I remember when Lifesavers Gummies first hit the market. They were a revelation. That you could take a hard candy and transform it into a toothsome gummy was amazing to me. And upon trying them again during our taste test, I was struck once more by their genius. We tried other gummy candy adaptations, such as Skittles and Starburst, but these were the only ones that really got it right. They have that perfectly satisfying squish, that same zesty tang of the classic hard candy, and, as Greg put it, “the fun factor.” You can put the rings on your fingers and eat them off. And that’s a good time. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
- Lifesavers Gummies Sours
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These came in at the top of our best sour candy ranking, thanks to their extreme sourness and super squishy texture. They’re absolutely coated in sour sugar and that sourness lasts and lasts as you chew and chew. Managing editor Gwynedd Stuart particularly liked the assortment of flavors: Tangy Cherry, Watermelon, Orange Strawberry, and Black Raspberry. If you’re looking for that saliva-inducing sourness along with a soft squish, this is the best sour gummy candy we’ve tried. —Justine Sterling
- Trader Joe’s Sweet & Deliciously Fruity Gummy Candies
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I saw these Trader Joe’s gummies and assumed they would be duds. I thought they would be waxy and that they would just taste like glorified fruit snacks. Shame on me. Tsk, tsk. Because these are some of the best gummy candies I’ve ever had—especially from Trader Joe’s. These fruit-shaped gummies taste like real, honest-to-god, actual fruit. The pineapple is tangy and tropical. The grapefruit is zesty. The blueberry tastes like dried blueberries. The mango is subtly sweet. And the watermelon tastes like melon—-okay, it tastes like honeydew, but it’s still melon. Seriously, if you shop at Trader Joe’s, you need to pick up a bag. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Haribo Rainbow Worms
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These gummies are less earthworms (like traditional gummy worms) and more glow worms or grubs. They’re smaller and thicker with little faces (which I love). It’s nice to meet your food sometimes. Each worm is made up of three different flavor segments—a big swing. But they all work together. The flavors are bold and tropical—and very much different from your classic gummy worms. The texture is dense—in a good way. Make sure to warm up your jaw before you dive into a bag of these. If you’re looking for a different kind of gummy worm, these are the best gummy worms for you. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / CVS
- Haribo Peaches
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You know them, you probably love them, and you, like me, might even be haunted by the person on this Reddit forum who said “they feel like eating tongues.” I’ll never un-taste that, my dude. Still: If you want gummy candy that mimics the burst of a juicy ripe peach you get biting into the real thing, Haribo Peaches are the way to go, full stop. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Sockerbit Sweet Mix
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If you can get your hands on a Sockerbit candy mix (I’ve been seeing them all over World Market recently), do yourself a favor and buy it. This artisanal Swedish candy brand has been expanding from their storefront in New York since its inception in 2010. This bag offers a real texture spectrum inside, from dense, waxier candies to more squishy, lightly sweet and tangy gummy eggs. I adore the gummy worms, too—they have a sweet lemonade flavor that’s so bright and juicy. I could go on, but you should really just experience it for yourself. —Ariana Losch
- Haribo Happy-Cola Gummi Candy
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Though these are a recent obsession of mine, I was surprised by how many of my colleagues agreed that they belong at the top of our best gummy candy ranking. They don’t taste like a kid’s candy—well, not like a kid from any time past the 1950s. They have a grown-up flavor, almost like root beer or a digestif. They’re a touch herbal and have a nice, bright acidity. They’re the more sophisticated gummy of the bunch. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
- Favorite Day Gummi Worms
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These Target brand gummy worms are softer than our top pick, but that’s okay. Actually, that’s what you want out of a worm. You want a toothsome gummy—something that has some resistance but is still soft enough that you can easily chomp through the lithe, wriggly body. Plus, they have that bumpy, segmented texture that makes for an even more mouth-pleasing experience. These worms are super flavorful and, according to Greg, the blue sections in particular are “impeccable.” Eat these worms solo or use them in your favorite dirt cup recipe. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Target
- Trader Joe’s Organic Beary Tiny Gummies
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Are you living that miniature life? Do you like things cute and itsy-bitsy? Then, behold, the best gummy candy for you and your petite predilections. These gummy bears might be tiny (beary tiny, in fact) but they are mighty in flavor. Each baby bear is bursting with tropical flavor—it’s hard not to just scarf them down by the handful. The flavors are totally unique. I’ve never had a gummy before that tasted like guava! Some people don’t like gummies on their ice cream. I do. In particular, I like mini gummy bears. And, now, I like these mini gummy bears. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Haribo Goldbears
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Are you at all surprised that the original gummy candy is the best gummy candy Haribo Goldbears embody the perfect gummy and there’s just no arguing with it (although, I’m sure I’ll see some attempts in the comments). Yes, they are firm. These require time to chew but you’re rewarded with long lasting flavor. And, notably, each color of bear has a definite and distinct flavor. Everyone has their favorites—I love a clear bear, personally—but each one brings something to the table. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
Best Low Carb
Best Interactive
Best Low Sugar Gummies
Best Peach Rings
Best Vegan(ish) Gummy
Best Mochi Gummies
Best Shapes
Best Berry Mix
Best Gummy Cubes
Best Limited Time
Best Peelable Gummies
Best Orchard Fruit Flavor
Best Variety of Flavors
Best Take on a Classic
Best Sour Gummy Candy
Best Tropical Fruit Flavor
Best Worms, Runner-Up
Best Peach Flavor
Best Swedish Candy
Best Grown-Up Flavor
Best Gummy Worms
Best Mini Gummies
Best of the Best
Other gummy candies we tried:
Trader Joe’s Tangy Turtles, Lily’s Peach Rings, Albanese Gummi Peach Rings, Great Value Peach Rings Chewy Candy, Smart Sweets Peach Rings, Smart Sweets Sourmelon Bites, Smart Sweets Sweet Fish, Smart Sweets Sour Blast Buddies, Favorite Day Gummi Sharks, Lily’s Sour Gummy Worms, 7 Select Gummi Peach Rings, 7 Select Gummi Blue Sharks, Skittles Gummies, Swedish Fish, Hi-Chew, Starburst Gummies, Jolly Rancher Gummies, Krabby Patties Gummies, Dots Fruit Gumdrops, Haribo Frogs, Jujy Fruits, Smart Way Strawberries Gummi Candy, Smarties Raspberry n’ Cream Squashies, Tandy Stress Heads Sour Flavors, Tandy Focus Fish Ginseng Berry Flavor, Issei Sour Watermelon Mochi Gummies, Better Sour Pomegranate Apricot Plum Sour Gummy Candy
Jordan Myrick
Gwynedd Stuart
