Per 12 fl oz can, Dr Pepper has 41 mg of caffeine, Coca-Cola 34 mg and Pepsi 38 mg. Sugar is 39 g, 39 g and 41 g, and calories are 150, 140 and 150. On nutrition it is close to a three-way tie. The real difference is taste: Coke and Pepsi are colas, Dr Pepper is not. Figures are from each maker's label, checked October 5, 2026.
Dr Pepper vs Coke vs Pepsi: the numbers side by side
Here is how the three classic full-sugar versions stack up per 12 fl oz can, straight from the Dr Pepper, Coca-Cola and Pepsi product facts.
| Per 12 fl oz can | Dr Pepper | Coca-Cola | Pepsi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | 41 mg | 34 mg | 38 mg |
| Calories | 150 | 140 | 150 |
| Sugar | 39 g | 39 g | 41 g |
| Category | Pepper soda | Cola | Cola |
| First sold | 1885, Waco | 1886, Atlanta | 1893, New Bern, NC |
| Made by (US) | Keurig Dr Pepper | The Coca-Cola Company | PepsiCo |
A few honest takeaways from that table:
- Caffeine: Dr Pepper edges out the other two, but all three are modest. For reference, the FDA lists caffeine as safe in cola-type drinks at up to 0.02 percent, which works out to about 71 mg in a 12 oz can, and none of the three comes close. Every Dr Pepper variety's caffeine is in how much caffeine is in Dr Pepper.
- Sugar: Dr Pepper and Coke tie at 39 g, and Pepsi is 2 g higher. So Dr Pepper is not more sugary than Coke, even if it tastes richer.
- Calories: a 10-calorie spread across all three. The full sugar and calorie story is in Dr Pepper calories, sugar, and nutrition.
Dr Pepper is also not owned by either rival. In the US it is made by Keurig Dr Pepper, a separate public company; the full ownership story, including why you sometimes see Coke or Pepsi bottlers delivering it, is in who owns Dr Pepper.
Dr Pepper vs Coke taste: this is where they split
The numbers are close. The flavor is not.
Dr Pepper is not a cola. That is the single most important thing to understand here. It is built on a proprietary blend marketed as 23 flavors, not on the cola template, which is exactly why Dr Pepper is its own category rather than a Coke or Pepsi rival in the strict sense. Tasters describe dark cherry, a nutty almond or amaretto note, and warm baking spice (nutmeg, clove, a gingerbread quality). It is rich and complex rather than crisp.
Coca-Cola is the vanilla-forward cola. Coke leans on that smooth vanilla backbone with the classic cola bite. It is the reference point most people mean when they say "cola."
Pepsi is the sweeter, brighter cola. Pepsi has 2 g more sugar per can than Coke, and its label lists citric acid, which goes some way to explaining the extra citrus lift people notice up front. That difference is real enough that people have strong sides in the cola debate.
So Coke vs Pepsi is genuinely a contest, two interpretations of the same idea. Dr Pepper is not really in that contest at all, because it is a different kind of drink: related shelf, different drink.
Is Dr Pepper better than Coke?
For many fans, yes, and here is why. The appeal is rarely the clean citrus-and-vanilla cola taste. It is the layered, slightly old-fashioned soda-fountain flavor that only Dr Pepper has. Because it is its own thing, nothing substitutes for it, so once you are a Dr Pepper person, a cola just feels like a different (and arguably less interesting) drink. That is subjective, of course. If you love a crisp cola, Coke or Pepsi is the right pick, and that is completely fair.
What is not subjective: the nutrition is close enough across all three that taste should drive the choice, not the calorie or sugar count.
If you want to run your own taste test, grab a 12 pack of Dr Pepper cans and put it head to head with a Coke and a Pepsi. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.) The difference is obvious in one sip.
Is Dr Pepper more popular than Coke or Pepsi?
More popular than Pepsi, not Coke. In June 2024, Beverage Digest's market share data showed Dr Pepper passing Pepsi for the first time to become the No. 2 carbonated soft drink in the US, with an 8.3% share, while Coca-Cola stayed No. 1 at about 19%, as its editor told NPR. It is also the oldest of the three: Dr Pepper was being sold in Waco in 1885, per the Dr Pepper Museum, a year before Coca-Cola's first glass in Atlanta in May 1886 (Coca-Cola) and eight years before Pepsi's creation in New Bern in 1893 (NCpedia).
Beyond the big three
One more point in Dr Pepper's favor: the range. The brand has stretched its core idea into a whole lineup, from Dr Pepper Cherry and Cream Soda to the Real Sugar and Zero Sugar versions. You can see the full set in all Dr Pepper flavors, and for a ranked rundown, see the best Dr Pepper flavors. The colas have line extensions too, but Dr Pepper's variety leans into a flavor that was distinctive to begin with.
Frequently asked questions
Which has the most sugar, Dr Pepper, Coke, or Pepsi?
Pepsi, by a little. Per 12 oz can it is 39 g for Dr Pepper, 39 g for Coca-Cola, and 41 g for Pepsi.
Is Dr Pepper sweeter than Coke?
Not by the label. Both have exactly 39 g of sugar per 12 oz can. Dr Pepper can taste sweeter because its cherry, vanilla and spice notes read as dessert-like, while Coke's cola bite cuts the sweetness.
Does Dr Pepper taste like Coke?
No. Coke is a cola, built on vanilla, citrus and spice, with a crisp bite. Dr Pepper tastes darker and fruitier, with cherry, almond and warm spice notes. People who like one often find the other surprisingly different. Why it gets its own category is explained in is Dr Pepper a cola.
Is Dr Pepper better for you than Coke?
Not meaningfully. Per can, Dr Pepper has 10 more calories and 7 mg more caffeine than Coke and the same 39 g of sugar, so neither is the healthier pick. The sugar is the part that matters, covered in is Dr Pepper bad for you.
Is Dr Pepper better than Coke?
That is a matter of taste. Many fans prefer Dr Pepper because its cherry-and-spice flavor is unique and nothing else matches it, but if you want a classic cola taste, Coke or Pepsi is the better choice.
The bottom line
On paper Dr Pepper, Coke, and Pepsi are close: Dr Pepper has a touch more caffeine (41 mg vs 34 and 38), the same sugar as Coke, and all three sit within 10 calories of each other. The real decision is flavor. Coke and Pepsi are two versions of a cola, while Dr Pepper is its own pepper-soda category with a cherry, almond, and warm-spice profile nothing else replicates. For its fans, Dr Pepper wins every time, but if you want a crisp cola, the other two are fair picks. Either way, the best test is a side-by-side taste of your own.