Energy drinks are among the most popular beverages worldwide, offering quick boosts of energy and focus. Two of the best-known names in this category are Celsius and Red Bull. While both are designed to help you feel more energized, they differ in caffeine content, sugar levels, ingredients, nutrition, and even flavors.
Here’s a detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you understand the differences.
Caffeine Content
Caffeine is the key stimulant in most energy drinks, and the amount can vary greatly.
- Celsius: A standard 12 fl oz can contains 200 mg of caffeine. Some Celsius Essentials flavors go higher, with 270 mg per can. The caffeine is sourced from ingredients like green tea extract, guarana, and yerba mate.
- Red Bull: A standard 8.4 fl oz can has about 75–80 mg of caffeine. Red Bull’s caffeine source as simply added caffeine, as opposed toCelsius which explicitly mentions plant-based extracts as its source.
This difference makes Celsius significantly stronger in terms of caffeine per serving, while Red Bull offers a lighter option.
Sugar Content
Sugar plays a big role in taste and calories.
- Celsius: All flavors are sugar-free. They use sweeteners such as sucralose, stevia, and erythritol.
- Red Bull: The original version contains about 27 g of sugar in one 8.4 fl oz can.
This makes the two drinks very different in terms of calorie and sugar intake.
Ingredients
The ingredient profile highlights how each drink is formulated.
- Celsius: Includes green tea extract, guarana seed extract, ginger root, taurine, B-vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, and chromium. These additions give Celsius a “fitness-oriented” reputation.
- Red Bull: Contains caffeine, taurine, B-vitamins, glucuronolactone, and sugar (or sweeteners in sugar-free versions). The formula is more traditional and widely recognized.
Both drinks share common elements like caffeine, taurine, and B-vitamins, but Celsius also incorporates plant-based extracts.
Flavors
Taste and variety are important when choosing an energy drink, and both brands approach this differently.
- Celsius: Offers a wide range of fruit-inspired flavors such as Orange, Peach Mango Green Tea, Sparkling Watermelon, Tropical Vibe (Starfruit & Pineapple), Arctic Vibe (Frozen Berry), and Fuji Apple Pear. Most are sparkling, but some non-carbonated options are available too.
- Red Bull: Known for its original flavor, often described as sweet and slightly tangy. In addition, Red Bull has a line of flavor editions such as Blue (Blueberry), Yellow (Tropical), Green (Dragon Fruit), Red (Watermelon), and Coconut Berry.
Nutrition Facts (Per Can)
Here’s how Celsius and Red Bull compare nutritionally:
| Feature | Celsius (12 fl oz) | Red Bull (8.4 fl oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | 200 mg (Essentials: 270 mg) | 75–80 mg |
| Sugar | 0 g | 27 g (classic) / 0 g (sugar-free) |
| Calories | 10–15 kcal | ~110 kcal (classic) |
| Key Nutrients | Vitamin C, B-vitamins, calcium, chromium | B-vitamins, taurine |
| Sweeteners | Sucralose, stevia, erythritol | Sugar or artificial sweeteners |
Final Thoughts
Both Celsius and Red Bull provide energy, but they do so in different ways.
- Celsius offers higher caffeine levels, no sugar, and a broad variety of fruity flavors with added plant extracts.
- Red Bull delivers a lower caffeine dose, a sweeter taste in its original version, and a mix of classic and seasonal flavor editions.
The choice ultimately depends on individual preferences, caffeine tolerance, and lifestyle. Some may enjoy the wide variety and sugar-free approach of Celsius, while others may stick with the familiar taste and global presence of Red Bull.
FAQs: Celsius vs Red Bull
1. How much caffeine is in Celsius compared to Red Bull?
- Celsius (12 fl oz): 200 mg
- Celsius Essentials (16 fl oz): 270 mg
- Red Bull (8.4 fl oz): 80 mg
- Red Bull (12 fl oz): 114 mg
- Red Bull (20 fl oz): 198 mg
2. Does Celsius have sugar?
While Celsius is sugar-free, it is important to note the specific sweeteners used. Many Celsius products are sweetened with sucralose. However, Celsius also offers a line of products “Sweetened with Stevia” that use stevia and erythritol as sweeteners. It’s best to check the label of each individual Celsius product for the most accurate information on its specific sweeteners.
3. What are the calories in each drink?
- Celsius (12 fl oz): ~10 calories
- Red Bull (8.4 fl oz): ~117 calories (classic), 0 calories (sugar-free)
4. What ingredients are unique to Celsius?
Celsius includes green tea extract (EGCG), guarana seed extract, ginger root, vitamin C, calcium, and chromium in addition to caffeine, taurine, and B-vitamins.
5. What ingredients are unique to Red Bull?
Red Bull includes glucuronolactone and sugar (in classic versions), along with caffeine, taurine, and B-vitamins.
6. Which drink has more flavors?
- Celsius: Offers fruit-inspired flavors such as Orange, Sparkling Watermelon, Tropical Vibe (Starfruit & Pineapple), Arctic Vibe (Frozen Berry), Fuji Apple Pear, and more.
- Red Bull: Has its Original flavor plus editions like Blue (Blueberry), Yellow (Tropical), Green (Dragon Fruit), Red (Watermelon), and Coconut Berry.
7. Are both drinks carbonated?
- Celsius: Mostly sparkling (carbonated), but some non-carbonated versions exist.
- Red Bull: Yes, it is carbonated.
8. Can I drink Celsius or Red Bull daily?
Both contain caffeine. Health guidelines suggest limiting intake to ≤400 mg of caffeine per day for most healthy adults. Celsius (200–270 mg) is a larger portion of this limit compared to one Red Bull (80 mg).
9. Which drink is stronger in effect?
Celsius has more caffeine per can, and it also contains stimulants like guarana and green tea extract. Red Bull has less caffeine per serving, but effects depend on your tolerance.
10. Do Celsius and Red Bull have sugar-free options?
- Celsius: Always sugar-free.
- Red Bull: Yes, available in Sugarfree and Zero editions.
11. Do both contain taurine?
Yes. Both Celsius and Red Bull contain taurine.
12. Where are these drinks made?
- Celsius: Produced by Celsius Holdings, Inc., based in the U.S.
- Red Bull: Produced by Red Bull GmbH, based in Austria.
13. Are they considered pre-workout drinks?
- Celsius: Marketed as a “fitness drink” and often used before workouts.
- Red Bull: Marketed as a general energy drink, not specifically for workouts.