Waay Sparkling Protein Review: The No-Sucralose Pick That Won on Taste
Protein: 10g clear whey (some flavors add collagen)
Can size: 12 oz
Sugar: 0g · Calories: 45
Sweeteners: Stevia and monk fruit, no sucralose
Caffeine: None
Price: ~$39.99 per 12-pack on Amazon, ~$2.99 single cans in stores (~3 g protein per dollar)
Flavors: Grapefruit, Lemon Raspberry, Orange
What Waay Is Actually Selling
Waay debuted at Whole Foods in October 2025 and spread to Target, Sprouts, and Amazon. Its differentiator is subtraction: no sucralose (the category default), no caffeine, no dessert cosplay. The flavors are citrus with real bitterness left in, which turns out to be smart chemistry, because bitterness masks the saccharine tail that stevia leaves behind.
It worked on the record: Sporked tested 18 protein sodas in May 2026 and named Waay Grapefruit the best of all of them at 8 out of 10, with Lemon Raspberry and Orange also placing. The praise was honest rather than glowing, "the least offensive protein soda we tried," which in this category is a genuine title belt.
The Case Against
Ten grams. That is the whole case. At $3.33 a can from Amazon you are paying about 33 cents per gram of protein, the worst ratio on our list and five times what protein powder costs per gram. Waay works as a better-for-you soda swap with a protein garnish. It does not work as your protein plan. If you want the numbers to make sense, a 25g Bucked Up or a scoop of clear whey at home (our DIY recipe) beats it easily.
Who Should Buy It
Pros
- Sporked's #1 protein soda of 18 tested (Grapefruit)
- No sucralose, no caffeine, 45 calories
- Citrus flavors that don't pretend to be candy
- Easy to find: Target, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Amazon
Cons
- 10g protein, weakest grams-per-dollar here
- Stevia aftertaste reduced, not eliminated, per reviews
- Small flavor lineup so far
Verdict: The pick for sucralose haters and LaCroix graduates. Buy it as a soda upgrade, not a protein source. Head to head against its closest rival: Barebells vs Waay.