Sprite vs Mountain Dew
Sodas & Soft Drinks comparison: specs, VersusAnything Score, key differences and a clear recommendation.
Sprite and Mountain Dew are two of the most cross-shopped sodas right now, and the gap between them is narrower in some rows and wider in others than the marketing suggests. Sprite is the world's leading lemon-lime soda, caffeine-free and clear, making it the go-to for people who want fizz without the cola. Mountain Dew is a citrus soda with more sugar and caffeine than any cola, which is exactly why gamers and late-night drivers reach for it.
Quick verdict
Sprite scores 62 to Mountain Dew's 8 on our category weighting, making it the stronger overall pick for anyone avoiding caffeine or who prefers citrus to cola. Mountain Dew remains the right call for people who want the biggest sugar-and-caffeine kick from a soda.
VersusAnything Score
Scores are calculated from measurable specifications normalised within the sodas & soft drinks category and weighted by the factors above. Text-only rows (such as chipset or operating system) are explained but not scored. How the score works.
Side-by-side overview
Sprite
Sprite is the world's leading lemon-lime soda, caffeine-free and clear, making it the go-to for people who want fizz without the cola.
Best for anyone avoiding caffeine or who prefers citrus to cola
Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew is a citrus soda with more sugar and caffeine than any cola, which is exactly why gamers and late-night drivers reach for it.
Best for people who want the biggest sugar-and-caffeine kick from a soda
Key differences
- Sugar (12 oz): Sprite 38 g vs Mountain Dew 46 g — Sprite is better here
- Caffeine (12 oz): Sprite 0 mg vs Mountain Dew 54 mg — a preference, not a scored win
- Flavour profile: Sprite Crisp lemon-lime vs Mountain Dew Intense sweet citrus — a preference, not a scored win
- Zero-sugar version: Sprite Sprite Zero Sugar vs Mountain Dew Mountain Dew Zero Sugar, Diet Mountain Dew — a preference, not a scored win
- Launched: Sprite 1961 vs Mountain Dew 1940 — a preference, not a scored win
Specification comparison table
| Specification | Sprite | Mountain Dew |
|---|---|---|
| Calories (12 oz) | 140 kcal | 170 kcal |
| Sugar (12 oz) | 38 g | 46 g |
| Caffeine (12 oz) | 0 mg | 54 mg |
| Sodium (12 oz) | 65 mg | 60 mg |
| Flavour profile | Crisp lemon-lime | Intense sweet citrus |
| Zero-sugar version | Sprite Zero Sugar | Mountain Dew Zero Sugar, Diet Mountain Dew |
| Launched | 1961 | 1940 |
| Parent company | The Coca-Cola Company | PepsiCo |
Overall: Sprite vs Mountain Dew Score: Sprite 62 · Mountain Dew 8
Sprite is better on calories (12 oz) at 140 kcal against 170 kcal, a 30 kcal difference; lower is better because calories per can add up fast for daily drinkers. On sugar (12 oz), Sprite keeps it to 38 g while Mountain Dew lists 46 g. That 8 g edge counts since sugar per can is the number health guidelines care about most. Sprite: 0 mg. Mountain Dew: 54 mg. Neither is scored, but caffeine is a plus for some drinkers and a minus for others. On sodium (12 oz), Mountain Dew keeps it to 60 mg while Sprite lists 65 mg. That 5 mg edge counts since sodium matters if you watch blood pressure.
For flavour profile, Sprite uses Crisp lemon-lime whereas Mountain Dew goes with Intense sweet citrus. This is a preference rather than a scored win: flavour is the real reason most people pick a side. For zero-sugar version, Sprite uses Sprite Zero Sugar whereas Mountain Dew goes with Mountain Dew Zero Sugar, Diet Mountain Dew. This is a preference rather than a scored win: a zero-sugar twin lets you keep the taste and drop the calories. The two differ on launched (1961 against 1940), and heritage explains the brand loyalty. The two differ on parent company (The Coca-Cola Company against PepsiCo), and ownership decides which drinks you find together in a restaurant.
Pros and cons
Sprite
Pros
- Caffeine-free
- World's top lemon-lime soda
- Clear, crisp taste
- Better calories (12 oz) (140 kcal)
- Better sugar (12 oz) (38 g)
Cons
- Weaker sodium (12 oz) (65 mg)
Mountain Dew
Pros
- Highest caffeine of mainstream sodas
- Bold citrus flavour
- Huge range of limited editions
- Better calories (12 oz) (170 kcal)
- Better sugar (12 oz) (46 g)
Cons
- Weaker sodium (12 oz) (60 mg)
Which one should you buy?
Choose Sprite for…
Anyone avoiding caffeine or who prefers citrus to cola. It stands out for caffeine-free, world's top lemon-lime soda, clear, crisp taste.
Choose Mountain Dew for…
People who want the biggest sugar-and-caffeine kick from a soda. It stands out for highest caffeine of mainstream sodas, bold citrus flavour, huge range of limited editions.
Final verdict
On the VersusAnything Score, Sprite finishes ahead, 62 to 8. It is the better buy for anyone avoiding caffeine or who prefers citrus to cola; for people who want the biggest sugar-and-caffeine kick from a soda, Mountain Dew still makes more sense. The VersusAnything Score is a transparent starting point, not a command; weight the rows you care about and the right answer for you may differ.
Compare with another soda
Frequently asked questions
Is Sprite better than Mountain Dew?
On the VersusAnything Score, Sprite finishes ahead 62 to 8. That makes Sprite the better overall pick for anyone avoiding caffeine or who prefers citrus to cola, while Mountain Dew is still the right choice for people who want the biggest sugar-and-caffeine kick from a soda.
What is the biggest difference between Sprite and Mountain Dew?
The largest gap is sugar (12 oz): Sprite lists 38 g while Mountain Dew lists 46 g. Sugar per can is the number health guidelines care about most.
Who should choose Mountain Dew over Sprite?
Mountain Dew is the better fit for people who want the biggest sugar-and-caffeine kick from a soda. Its strongest points are highest caffeine of mainstream sodas, bold citrus flavour, huge range of limited editions.
Sources
- Sprite: The Coca-Cola Company official (manufacturer)
- Mountain Dew: PepsiCo official (manufacturer)
Specifications last verified: 2026-10-01. Prices are launch or official list prices in US dollars unless stated. See our sources and data policy.