If you ever doubt that America is a soda country through and through, just watch a staunch Coca-Cola fan get asked if Pepsi's all right. America loves its bubbly, and the most beloved soft drinks prove it. From mainstay Coca-Cola to controversial favorite Dr. Pepper, we're breaking down the most popular sodas in the United States.
The Best-Selling Sodas in America Right Now
Coca-Cola leads Brand Finance's 2026 rankings, followed by Pepsi at No. 2. Dr Pepper ranks No. 7 and Sprite No. 9, based on global brand value rather than sales.
| Soda Brands | 2026 Value in Millions | 2025 Value in Millions |
| Coca-Cola | $46,084 | $46,327 |
| Pepsi | $16,810 | $22,547 |
| Dr. Pepper | $6,078 | $5,524 |
| Sprite | $5,008 | $4,160 |
- Coca-Cola Classic — The Coca-Cola Company. The original cola, known for its distinctive caramel flavor and long-standing popularity.
- Pepsi — PepsiCo. A cola known for its sweeter, citrus-forward flavor profile.
- Dr Pepper — Keurig Dr Pepper. A distinctive blend of 23 flavors gives this soda its signature taste.
- Sprite — The Coca-Cola Company. A caffeine-free lemon-lime soda known for its crisp, citrus taste.
- Mountain Dew — PepsiCo. A bold, citrus-flavored soda with a distinctive, high-caffeine profile.
- Fanta — The Coca-Cola Company. A fruit-flavored soda brand best known in the U.S. for its orange variety.
- 7UP — Keurig Dr Pepper (U.S). A Lemon-lime soda.
- Canada Dry — Keurig Dr Pepper (U.S). Best known for its ginger ale
How the Soda Rankings Have Shifted
According to CaffeineInformer.com, as of 2013, the top eight best-selling brands of soda in the U.S. have been the same for several years. Remarkably, all eight are made by the three beverage companies with the highest market share, as reported by Statista. This market dominance is exemplified by Beverage Digest's own CSD sales percentages.
| Top 8 Sodas | CSD % | Beverage Company | Company Market Share % |
| 1. Coca Cola (Coke) | 17.4% | The Coca-Cola Company | 42.4% |
| 2. Diet Coke | 9% | The Coca-Cola Company | 42.4% |
| 3. Pepsi-Cola | 8.9% | PepsiCo | 27.7% |
| 4. Mountain Dew | 6.9% | PepsiCo | 27.7% |
| 5. Dr. Pepper | 6.7% | Dr. Pepper Snapple | 16.9% |
| 6. Sprite | 5.9% | The Coca-Cola Company | 42.4% |
| 7. Diet Pepsi | 4.5% | PepsiCo | 27.7% |
| 8. Diet Mountain Dew | 2.1% | PepsiCo | 27.7% |
According to Beverage Digest, Coca-Cola is by far the best-selling soda in the United States. In 2013, they reported that Coca-Cola accounted for over 17% of the carbonated soft drink (CSD) sales in the country, which is almost double that of its closest competitor.
What Does It Mean?
The soda industry is one of the many things that was hit incredibly hard by the global pandemic, and while they're slowly recovering from the healthy living wave that came in its wake, they don't quite measure up to pre-pandemic levels.
Yet, as early as 2014, ABC News reported that soda sales were declining. Since then, U.S. soda consumption has continued to fall, while diet soda sales grew by an estimated 11.8% in 2025.
However, Coca-Cola still dominates with American audiences, with there being a substantial value gap between them and their next closest competitor, Pepsi.
Fun Facts That Are Shaking Up a Storm
Grab your favorite soft drinks, because we've got some fizzy fun facts to pair with them.
- One big shake-up in the top sodas list in the U.S. occurred in 2010, when Diet Coke inched past Pepsi-Cola to become the second best-selling brand, according to USA Today.
- While The Coca-Cola Company occupied the top two spots in 2013, it has only three sodas in the top eight, while PepsiCo has four.
- Even though they didn't own the top two selling CSD beverages in 2013, PepsiCo's earnings significantly outpace The Coca-Cola Company's. In that same year, PepsiCo reported $66.4 billion in revenue, while the Coca-Cola Company reported $46.9 billion.
- Dr Pepper Snapple Group, the company that later became part of Keurig Dr Pepper, reported $16.6 billion in net sales in 2025.
- Caffeine Informer suggests that since three diet sodas occupy positions within the top eight soft drinks, sugar-free beverages are on the rise.
- Despite the decline in popularity, prominent soda brands still hold a major part of America's market share. According to Beverage Digest's 2022 data, as reported in CNN Business, Coca-Cola had 40%, PepsiCo had 29%, and Keurig Dr. Pepper had 25%.
America's Favorite Pastime Is Drinking Soda
There's a ton of things that Americans love. Big cars, thrill rides, and drinking something bubbly at every meal. And while the most popular soda, Coca-Cola, still reigns supreme, there's always an up-and-comer ready to shake up a storm. Who knows, maybe this year will be the one where someone finally takes the crown from good ole Coca-Cola.
