The Best No-Sugar-Added Snacks You Can Buy Right Now
Nature's Turn
The Best No-Sugar-Added Snacks You Can Buy Right Now
The shelves are full of snacks claiming to be sugar-free, low-sugar, or no-sugar-added — but those three labels mean completely different things, and most brands are counting on you not knowing the difference. If you are looking for the best no sugar added snacks you can actually buy right now, this guide cuts through the noise: 18 real picks across every snack category, what the sugar content actually is, where to get them, and what makes each one worth buying. No filler picks, no sponsored rankings — just a practical shopping list.
Sugar-Free vs. No Added Sugar: The FDA Label Difference You Need to Know
Before you buy anything, you need to know this distinction. The FDA defines these terms differently, and food brands exploit the confusion constantly.
"Sugar-Free" means the product contains less than 0.5 grams of total sugar per serving — including naturally occurring sugars. A sugar-free product may still contain sugar alcohols (erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol) or artificial sweeteners (sucralose, aspartame) that have their own effects on blood sugar, digestion, and cravings.
"No Added Sugar" means no sugar or sugar-containing ingredient (like honey, corn syrup, fruit juice concentrate, or dextrose) was added during processing or packaging. The product can still contain natural sugars from fruit, dairy, or other whole ingredients. A bag of plain freeze-dried strawberries has no added sugar but does contain naturally occurring fruit sugar — which behaves very differently in your body than refined cane sugar because it comes packaged with fiber.
For most people focused on real food and metabolic health, no added sugar is the more meaningful standard. Sugar-free products often substitute artificial sweeteners that drive cravings and gut disruption. No added sugar products keep natural sweetness from whole foods intact.
For a deeper breakdown of what the no added sugar label means and how to spot misleading claims, see Why Freeze-Dried Fruit Has No Added Sugar (And Why That Matters).
If you are managing blood sugar specifically — including for diabetes or prediabetes — the distinction matters even more. See our guide to Healthy Snacks for Diabetics: The Low-Glycemic Guide for picks calibrated to glycemic impact.
Hidden Sugar Names: 15+ Ways Added Sugar Appears on Labels
Even after you know the FDA definitions, food companies have dozens of ways to sneak added sugar into ingredient lists without using the word "sugar." If you see any of these on a label, added sugar is in the product:
- High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
- Corn syrup / corn syrup solids
- Dextrose
- Maltodextrin
- Fructose
- Glucose syrup
- Sucrose
- Maltose
- Evaporated cane juice
- Cane sugar / cane crystals
- Brown rice syrup
- Agave nectar / agave syrup
- Honey (in processed foods, it behaves like added sugar)
- Fruit juice concentrate
- Maple syrup (in packaged snacks)
- Molasses
- Coconut sugar
- Date syrup / date sugar
The trick food brands use: split the added sugar across three or four of these names so that none of them appear high on the ingredient list. If you see two or more of these names on the same label, the total added sugar is likely significant even if each individual form looks minor.
The 18 Best No-Sugar-Added Snacks You Can Buy Right Now
These picks span every snack category — fruit, bars, crackers, jerky, yogurt, chocolate, nuts, and more. Each one has been selected because it genuinely has no added sugar (verified against ingredient lists), is widely available, and tastes good enough that you will actually eat it.
Fruit Snacks
1. Nature's Turn Freeze-Dried Fruit
What it is: Single-ingredient freeze-dried fruit — strawberries, mango, pineapple, mixed berry, and more — with nothing added. The freeze-drying process removes moisture while preserving the natural flavor and nutritional profile of real fruit.
Added sugar: 0g. The only sugar is naturally occurring fruit sugar, packaged with fiber exactly as it appears in whole fruit.
Why it made the list: It is the cleanest fruit snack on the market in terms of ingredients. One ingredient. That's it. The texture is light and crunchy — genuinely satisfying in a way that most healthy snacks are not. It also solves the biggest practical problem with fresh fruit: no refrigeration, no prep, no bruising, shelf-stable for months. Easy to keep at a desk, in a gym bag, or in a lunchbox. Flavor concentration from freeze-drying means the strawberry actually tastes intensely like strawberry, not like a watered-down approximation.
Where to buy: Nature's Turn freeze-dried fruit snacks direct, or find them on Amazon.
2. That's It. Fruit Bars
What it is: Chewy fruit bars made from two ingredients: two whole fruits pressed together. No added sweetener, no binders, no preservatives.
Added sugar: 0g. Naturally occurring fruit sugars only.
Why it made the list: Genuinely portable and satisfying in a chewy-bar format when you want something that eats more like a snack bar than loose fruit. Apple + strawberry and apple + mango are the most widely available. The ingredient list is two items, which is nearly impossible to beat in the bar category.
Where to buy: Whole Foods, Target, Amazon.
3. Bare Baked Crunchy Coconut Chips
What it is: Toasted coconut chips, one ingredient, no added sugar. Light, crispy, and genuinely snack-worthy in a way that raw coconut is not.
Added sugar: 0g. Natural coconut sugars only (~1g total per serving).
Why it made the list: Fills the crunchy sweet snack craving without any added sugar or oil. Also unusually satisfying for how light it is — the natural fat in coconut provides staying power most fruit snacks lack.
Where to buy: Target, Amazon, Whole Foods.
Bars
4. RXBar (Original Flavors)
What it is: Protein bars built on egg whites, dates, and nuts — no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners. The original chocolate sea salt, blueberry, and mixed berry flavors all qualify.
Added sugar: 0g added. Naturally occurring sugar from dates (~13-15g total per bar).
Why it made the list: The bar category is saturated with products claiming to be healthy while hiding 20+ grams of added sugar. RXBars list every ingredient on the front of the package and deliver legitimate protein (12g) from real food. Dates provide natural sweetness with fiber attached, which slows the sugar hit significantly.
Where to buy: Costco, Target, most grocery stores, Amazon.
5. Larabar (Original Fruit and Nut Bars)
What it is: Bars made from dates and nuts (and sometimes dried fruit or spices), nothing else. The original line has 2-9 ingredients depending on flavor.
Added sugar: 0g added. Natural date sugars (~18-23g total depending on flavor).
Why it made the list: Longest-standing no-added-sugar bar on the market. Apple pie, cashew cookie, and chocolate chip cookie dough flavors deliver genuine dessert satisfaction from real ingredients. Note: total sugar is on the higher side because of date content — this is whole-food sugar, not refined, but it's worth knowing if you are managing blood glucose closely.
Where to buy: Virtually everywhere — Walmart, Target, grocery stores nationwide.
Crackers and Savory Snacks
6. Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers
What it is: Grain-free crackers made from almond flour, tapioca, and seeds. The original and farmhouse cheddar varieties have no added sugar.
Added sugar: 0g.
Why it made the list: Most crackers have added sugar hiding in the ingredient list (look for maltodextrin or dextrose). Simple Mills does not. The almond flour base means you also get protein and fat, making these genuinely satisfying paired with nut butter, cheese, or on their own.
Where to buy: Target, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Amazon.
7. Mary's Gone Crackers Super Seed Crackers
What it is: Gluten-free crackers made from brown rice, seeds, and quinoa. Dense, crunchy, and genuinely filling.
Added sugar: 0g.
Why it made the list: One of the few crackers that actually functions as a snack by itself rather than just a delivery vehicle — the seed-heavy composition means 2g of fiber and 3g of protein per serving, which is unusually nutritious for a cracker. Works especially well with avocado or hummus.
Where to buy: Whole Foods, Sprouts, Amazon.
Jerky and Meat Snacks
8. Epic Provisions Bar (Bison or Beef)
What it is: Meat and fruit bars made from grass-fed bison or beef with no added sugar. The bison bacon cranberry bar and beef apple bacon bar both qualify (verify current formulas — some flavors contain honey).
Added sugar: 0g on qualifying varieties.
Why it made the list: Jerky is one of the sneakiest sugar categories — most brands use brown sugar, honey, or teriyaki marinade that loads the product with 6-12g of added sugar per serving. Epic delivers protein-first snacking without the sugar hit. High satiety, portable, genuinely filling.
Where to buy: Whole Foods, REI, Target, Amazon.
9. Chomps Beef Jerky Sticks
What it is: Grass-fed beef or venison meat sticks with no added sugar. Original, jalapeño, and Italian seasonings all qualify.
Added sugar: 0g.
Why it made the list: The cleanest shelf-stable protein snack in this format. 10g of protein per stick, no sugar, no MSG, no nitrates. Keeps you full for hours in a way that fruit-based snacks cannot. Essential for low sugar healthy snacks that need to bridge a real hunger gap.
Where to buy: Whole Foods, Costco, Amazon.
Yogurt
10. Siggi's Plain Whole Milk Yogurt
What it is: Icelandic-style skyr (thick strained yogurt) made from whole milk. The plain variety has no added sugar.
Added sugar: 0g. Contains naturally occurring dairy sugars (lactose), approximately 5g per serving.
Why it made the list: Flavored yogurt is one of the highest-sugar packaged foods in the grocery store — many cups contain 20-28g of added sugar, rivaling a candy bar. Plain Siggi's delivers 17g of protein, a thick satisfying texture, and genuine dairy flavor without any added sweetener. Pair it with freeze-dried fruit for natural sweetness without added sugar. See Nature's Turn freeze-dried fruit snacks for the easiest topping.
Where to buy: Most major grocery stores, Target, Whole Foods.
11. Two Good Greek Yogurt
What it is: Low-sugar Greek yogurt that contains only 2g of total sugar per serving, achieved through a slow-straining process that removes most of the lactose. No artificial sweeteners.
Added sugar: 0g added. 2g total (naturally occurring).
Why it made the list: The only flavored yogurt on this list because it genuinely achieves flavor without added sugar — through real fruit inclusions and the straining process rather than sweetener substitution. A rare find in a category full of misleading labels. 12g of protein per cup.
Where to buy: Nationwide grocery stores, Target, Walmart.
Chocolate
12. Lily's Dark Chocolate Bars (No Added Sugar Line)
What it is: Dark chocolate bars sweetened with stevia and erythritol instead of added sugar. Available in 55%, 70%, and 85% cacao varieties plus several flavored options.
Added sugar: 0g. Note: contains sugar alcohols (erythritol), which do not count as added sugar under FDA definitions and have minimal glycemic impact, though some people experience digestive sensitivity at higher amounts.
Why it made the list: The most widely available no-added-sugar chocolate that tastes like actual chocolate, not a health compromise. The 70% dark bar is particularly good. Worth understanding the sugar alcohol tradeoff — fine for most people in normal servings, but read our Why Freeze-Dried Fruit Has No Added Sugar (And Why That Matters) guide if you want the full picture.
Where to buy: Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Amazon.
13. Hu Simple Dark Chocolate Bar
What it is: Paleo-certified dark chocolate sweetened only with organic coconut sugar. No refined sugar, no cane sugar, no sugar alcohols, no artificial sweeteners.
Added sugar: Technically contains coconut sugar (~6g per serving), which the FDA may classify as added sugar. Listed here because it contains no refined sugar, zero artificial sweeteners, and delivers a premium real-food chocolate experience. Read labels to decide if this fits your personal standard.
Why it made the list: For people who want to avoid refined and artificial sweeteners entirely, Hu is the cleanest premium chocolate available. The ingredient list is short: cacao, coconut sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla. That's it.
Where to buy: Whole Foods, Sprouts, Amazon.
Nuts and Seeds
14. Blue Diamond Natural Almonds (Plain)
What it is: Raw or dry-roasted almonds with no added ingredients. The "natural" variety is the key — most other Blue Diamond flavors contain added sugar or dextrose.
Added sugar: 0g.
Why it made the list: The most reliable no-added-sugar shelf-stable snack in existence. 6g of protein and 4g of fiber per ounce, genuinely portable, and pairs with almost anything. The trap is the flavored varieties — always check the label, because "lightly salted" and "sea salt" are fine while "honey roasted" and "dark chocolate" varieties add sugar.
Where to buy: Everywhere.
15. Justin's Classic Almond Butter Packets
What it is: Single-serve almond butter squeeze packets with no added sugar. The classic almond butter variety qualifies — the honey almond butter does not.
Added sugar: 0g.
Why it made the list: Individual packets solve the biggest problem with nut butter as a snack: portability. These work on apples, on crackers, on a spoon, or squeezed directly into your mouth at 3pm. 7g of protein per packet, genuinely satisfying fat content, and zero sugar.
Where to buy: Target, most grocery stores, Amazon, sold individually at coffee shops.
Packaged Snacks and Chips
16. Lesser Evil Organic Popcorn (Himalayan Pink Salt)
What it is: Air-popped organic popcorn with coconut oil and pink salt. One of the few bagged popcorns with no added sugar and no artificial anything.
Added sugar: 0g.
Why it made the list: Most popcorn brands use dextrose or sugar in seasoning blends even on "savory" flavors. Lesser Evil keeps it simple. High fiber for a chip-category snack, satisfying crunch, and light enough that it does not feel like a heavy snack choice.
Where to buy: Whole Foods, Thrive Market, Amazon.
17. Rhythm Superfoods Kale Chips
What it is: Raw kale chips seasoned with cashew-based coatings. The original and zesty nacho varieties have no added sugar.
Added sugar: 0g.
Why it made the list: Kale chips have a reputation for being a joyless health compromise. The Rhythm Superfoods version actually tastes good — the cashew-based coating adds richness that makes them craveable. 3g of protein per serving. Best eaten fresh from a just-opened bag before they soften.
Where to buy: Whole Foods, Sprouts, Amazon.
18. Safe + Fair Grain-Free Granola (Cinnamon Almond)
What it is: Nut-and-seed-based granola sweetened only with monk fruit. Completely free of added sugar, grain-free, and allergen-friendly.
Added sugar: 0g. Sweetened with monk fruit, which has no glycemic impact.
Why it made the list: Granola is one of the most aggressively misleading food categories — most bags are 8-12g of added sugar per serving, marketed as a health food. Safe + Fair is a genuine exception. Works as a standalone snack, a yogurt topping (excellent with Nature's Turn freeze-dried fruit snacks and plain Greek yogurt), or eaten by the handful.
Where to buy: Whole Foods, Amazon, safeandfairfoods.com.
How to Spot Sugar-Free Packaged Snacks That Actually Qualify
Walking a grocery store aisle and reading every label takes time you don't have. Here is a faster framework for evaluating any packaged snack in under 30 seconds:
- Check "Added Sugars" on the Nutrition Facts panel — the FDA now requires this as its own line item below Total Sugars. If it reads 0g, you are good on added sugar regardless of what the front of the package says.
- Scan the ingredient list for the 18 hidden sugar names above — if any appear in the first five ingredients, added sugar content is likely significant.
- Be skeptical of "reduced sugar" claims — this only means 25% less than the original version. The original may have been extremely high, making "reduced sugar" still unacceptably sweet by your standards.
- Treat "natural sweeteners" as added sugar — agave, coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, and date syrup are all added sugars under FDA rules. "Natural" does not mean absent glycemic impact.
- Look for the serving size first — some products appear low in added sugar per serving because the serving size is unrealistically small (7 crackers, 1 cookie, 10 chips). Calculate based on what you will actually eat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between "no added sugar" and "unsweetened"?
"No added sugar" means no sugar or sugar-containing ingredient was added during processing — but the product may still taste sweet from natural sources. "Unsweetened" typically means no sweetener of any kind was used, including naturally sweet ingredients like fruit. An unsweetened almond milk, for example, has no fruit added for sweetness. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably on labels, which is part of why checking the Nutrition Facts panel for the "Added Sugars" line is always more reliable than reading the front-of-package claim.
Are no added sugar snacks okay for diabetics?
No added sugar is a meaningful standard for blood sugar management, but it is not the whole picture. Total carbohydrates, fiber content, and glycemic index all affect blood glucose response. A snack can have 0g of added sugar and still cause a significant blood sugar spike if it is high in refined starch (like many "no added sugar" cookies made with white flour). For a list of snacks calibrated specifically to glycemic impact, see Healthy Snacks for Diabetics: The Low-Glycemic Guide.
How do I find no added sugar fruit snacks that kids will actually eat?
The key is texture. Most kids reject "healthy" fruit snacks because they have a waxy, artificial-tasting chew that nothing about the product earns. Freeze-dried fruit has a genuinely satisfying crunch and concentrated natural fruit flavor that tends to win with kids who reject other healthy options — because it actually tastes intensely like the fruit it is, not like a fruit-flavored chemical approximation. Nature's Turn single-serve bags are sized for lunchboxes and work well for school snacks. See Nature's Turn freeze-dried fruit snacks for current variety options.
What no-sugar-added snacks are best for weight loss?
The highest-satiety no-added-sugar snacks are the ones with the most protein and fiber relative to calories. On this list: Chomps meat sticks (10g protein, 0g sugar), plain Greek yogurt (17g protein, 0g added sugar), almonds (6g protein + 4g fiber per ounce), and Justin's almond butter packets (7g protein). These snacks suppress hunger for 2-3 hours in a way that fruit-only snacks do not. Freeze-dried fruit works best paired with one of these protein sources rather than as a standalone if hunger management is the goal.
Are protein bars usually no added sugar?
Almost never. The bar category is one of the worst for hidden added sugar — most popular protein bars contain 8-20g of added sugar, disguised under names like brown rice syrup, tapioca syrup, or glucose syrup. The exceptions on this list — RXBar and Larabar — use dates as their sweetener, which the FDA classifies as added sugar even though it behaves differently in the body due to fiber content. If zero added sugar by FDA definition is your strict requirement, the only fully compliant bars are those with no sweeteners at all, including no dates.
What are the best no added sugar snacks to keep at work?
Prioritize shelf-stable options that do not require refrigeration or prep. The best desk snacks from this list: Nature's Turn freeze-dried fruit (shelf-stable for months, no mess, no prep), Blue Diamond natural almonds, Justin's almond butter single-serve packets, Chomps meat sticks, Simple Mills crackers, and Larabars. Keep a small supply in a drawer rather than a communal kitchen — food in sight gets eaten faster and by more people than intended.
The Bottom Line
The best no sugar added snacks are not a compromise. The 18 picks on this list prove that across every category — fruit, bars, crackers, jerky, yogurt, chocolate, nuts — you can find options that taste genuinely good, satisfy actual hunger, and do not hide added sugar under 18 different names on an ingredient list.
Start with the label. Find the "Added Sugars" line on the Nutrition Facts panel. Scan the ingredient list for the names above. And stop trusting front-of-package claims that exist entirely to sell you something without informing you of anything.
The snacks are out there. Now you know exactly what to look for — and what to look past.