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 (I fall into that camp). 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.
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In our initial taste test, conducted 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, vibrantly flavorful, and molded into fun shapes. The top ranked gummies from that taste test are still on this list, but in our most recent gummy candy taste test we looked for some niche entries. We tasted plant-based gummy candy, low sugar gummy candy, and 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.
What we ended up with is a much more complete list of the best gummy candies, which, I think, includes something for everyone. That said, 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.
Best Low Carb
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 your 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, this is the best low sugar gummies from that brand that we tried.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walgreens
5.5/10
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Best Interactive
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.
6.5/10
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Best Peach Rings
Before you yell at me, Haribo Peaches are not peach rings. So, I could not consider them in the title for the best peach rings. I could have sworn they made peach rings, but they don’t. Must be a Mandela effect. Anyway, out of the peach rings I did try, 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.
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
7/10
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Best Vegan(ish) Gummy
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.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walgreens
7/10
Sporks
Best Shapes
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. Greg wasn’t sold. “I don’t want to spell a word,” he said. I get it. He doesn’t want to work while he’s enjoying a gummy. But isn’t it fun that you could spell a word with your sweet treat if you wanted to? I like options and I like activities—as long as they end in me eating gummy candies.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
7.5/10
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Best Orchard Fruit Flavor
“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.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
8/10
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Best Variety of Flavors
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.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
8/10
Sporks
Best Take on a Classic
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.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
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8.5/10
Sporks
Best Sour Gummy Candy
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.
8.5/10
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Best Tropical Fruit Flavor
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.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
8.5/10
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Best Worms, Runner-Up
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.
Credit: Ryan Martin / CVS
8.5/10
Sporks
Best Grown-Up Flavor
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.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
9/10
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Best Gummy Worms
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.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Target
9.5/10
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Best Mini Gummies
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.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
9.5/10
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Best of the Best
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.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
10/10
Sporks
There are candy brands that have been in the gummy game for over a century. Some have been making other sweet confections over time that didn't have chewy qualities but inevitably felt compelled to take the classic flavors that had mass appeal and switch up the recipe a bit to go in a softer direction.
What we love about gummy candies is that there is a lot of creative and artistic potential with the medium. It's easily shaped to resemble a variety of objects and animals like worms, bears, slices of watermelon, fish, hot dogs, cola bottles, or planets. When it comes to fruity flavors, you can find everything that grows under the sun. You can delight in spice-tinged gummies courtesy of Tajín. We also sampled some that were inspired by wine and cider. And we can't forget about sour gummies. We have a serious soft spot for those, and there are plenty available. We tried a variety, and here's our assessment of how they ranked.
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