Supermarket’s 28p own-brand Diet Coke hailed just ‘as good’ as real thing

If you’re a Diet Coke fan, I have no doubt that you take your allegiance to the fizzy drink very seriously.

So the idea of swapping out the OG version for a supermarket own-brand cola might feel like a personal attack.

But often these versions are much cheaper than the real thing, and in this day and age we can’t sniff at a good saving. With that in mind, we decided to put them to the test to see if we could cut the cost when it comes to our carbonated addiction.

We tried five different supermarket own-brand Diet Colas, and while none of them were better than the original, a bargain retailer had a surprising gem that was on par.

Keep on reading to find out which drinks we liked and which didn’t go down as well, starting with the least enjoyable and ending with the top scorer…

Tesco Diet Cola, £2.60 for eight pack, or 49p for 2L bottle

Sorry, Tesco, but your Diet Cola has nothing on the real thing. I could instantly tell it wasn’t an actual Diet Coke – it just tastes fake. I don’t think I’d be able to make it through an entire can…

Reviewed by Kristina Beanland, lifestyle editor

Rating: 2/5

Asda Diet Cola, 49p for 2L bottle 

This will probably sound a bit odd, but Asda’s Diet Cola tastes thinner than the other drinks in this taste test. Almost like it’s been watered down a little bit? It’s notably less artificially sweet than the Tesco one, but certainly not the best of the bunch.

Reviewed by Courtney Pochin, specialist food writer

Rating: 2.5/5

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Aldi Diet Vive, £1.69 for six pack (28p a can) 

As a Diet Coke superfan, it would take a lot for me to give up my favourite drink, but I might be willing (on occasion) to swap it for Aldi’s very good version.

It’s really hard to distinguish between the two, and in a blind taste test of both, it took a while to work out which was which. The difference is so subtle, it just comes down to a little less fizz in the Diet Vive.

Reviewed by Kristina Beanland

Rating: 4.5/5

Sainsbury’s Diet Cola, 49p for 2L bottle 

For 49p, this one from Sainsbury’s is a solid option if you’re looking to save money. It’s not anywhere near as crisp and fizzy as Diet Coke, but it’s got a good flavour and doesn’t taste too sweet.

Reviewed by Courtney Pochin, specialist food writer

Rating: 3/5

Lidl Freeway Diet Cola, 49p for 2L bottle or £1.79 for a six-pack of cans

Lidl came out on top in our full fat Coca-Cola taste test recently, but the retailer has just missed out on the top spot in this one.

The Freeway Diet Cola doesn’t have as much fizz and actually tastes a bit flat, which is a shame as the drink itself is pretty nice with just the right level of sweetness – I’d definitely have another one.

Reviewed by Courtney Pochin, specialist food writer

Rating: 4/5

This article was first published on June 8, 2025.

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