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Top 11 at a Glance
All 11 picks are from the Diablo Sugar Free range and on sale at our US store. Nine are from our Sugar Free range. The other two are No Added Sugar: no sugars are added, and the sugars they do show occur naturally in ingredients such as milk.
- Best gummy classic: Diablo SF Cola Bottles 75g, 0.2g sugars per 100g
- Best fruity gummy: Diablo SF Gummy Bears 75g, 0.1g sugars per 100g
- Best hard candy: Diablo SF Strawberry & Cream Sweets 75g, 0.5g sugars per 100g
- Best citrus pick: Diablo SF Lemon & Cream Sweets 75g, bright lemon with a creamy finish
- Best for coffee lovers: Diablo SF Cappuccino & Cream Sweets 75g, rich, grown up flavor
- Best chocolate bar: Diablo No Added Sugar Milk Chocolate 85g, 6.7g naturally occurring sugars per 100g
- Best cookie: Diablo SF Chocolate Chip Cookies 130g
- Best spread: Diablo No Added Sugar Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread 350g
Two of ours to start with:
The picks run from gummies and cream hard candy to toffees, chocolate, cookies and a spread. Each card gives the sugars per 100 g from our product records for that pack.
This guide is written for adults watching their sugar intake, anyone who reads the Nutrition Facts panel before buying and parents doing the family grocery run. Retailers and trade buyers: see our wholesale page.
What Is Sugar Free Candy?
Sugar free candy is confectionery with less than 0.5 g of sugars per reference amount and per labeled serving, the condition FDA rules set for the claim. In place of sucrose (table sugar), manufacturers use permitted sweeteners such as sugar alcohols (polyols: isomalt, maltitol, sorbitol and erythritol among them) and steviol glycosides to replicate the sweetness and body of regular candy.
Under FDA rules (21 CFR 101.60), three label claims are worth separating:
| Label Claim | What It Means | What to Check on the Panel |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar Free (SF) | Less than 0.5 g of sugars per reference amount and per labeled serving, and no ingredient that is a sugar or is generally understood to contain sugars (such as fruit juice) unless the pack flags it with an asterisk statement like "adds a trivial amount of sugar" | The Total Sugars line, and Sugar Alcohol where it is declared |
| No Added Sugar (NAS) | No sugars or sugar-containing ingredients added during processing. Any sugars on the panel occur naturally in ingredients such as milk | The Total Sugars figure, which is not zero |
| Reduced Sugar | At least 25% less sugar than a named reference food. It can still be a high sugar food | Total Sugars per serving, not the percentage on the front |
SF and NAS are two distinct claims with two distinct legal definitions. The Nutrition Facts panel carries the actual figures for the product in your hand.
Why Choose Sugar Free Candy in 2026?
Shoppers start at different lines of the label:
For People Managing Their Sugar Intake
Regular candy is built on sucrose. Ours uses sugar alcohols instead, which are absorbed slowly. The FDA permits sugar alcohols such as maltitol as sugar substitutes. In the studies reviewed by the European Food Safety Authority, foods made with sugar alcohols such as maltitol produced a lower and slower blood glucose rise than the same foods made with sugar (EFSA Journal, 2011). That is a finding about the ingredient, not a promise about any product or any one person's response.
If you are managing diabetes or any other medical condition and considering changes to your diet, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian for personalized advice. They can help you understand how different sweeteners and food choices fit into your own plan.
Products labeled Sugar Free (SF) carry less than 0.5 g of sugars per serving. Products labeled No Added Sugar (NAS) have no sugars added, and any sugars on the panel occur naturally in ingredients such as milk. Always check the Total Sugars line on the Nutrition Facts panel, and the Sugar Alcohol line where it is declared. Individual responses to different sweeteners vary. Ask your healthcare team for guidance specific to your situation.
For Calorie and Carbohydrate Counting
Sugar carries 4 calories per gram. Sugar alcohols are slightly lower in calories than sugar, according to the FDA, so the calorie figure on candy sweetened with them is usually lower than a regular equivalent. Anyone counting carbohydrates on a ketogenic or low carb plan works from the panel: Total Carbohydrate, Total Sugars and, where declared, Sugar Alcohol.
For Families
Diablo's Gummy Bears and Cola Bottles are the obvious place to start a family bag, at 0.1g and 0.2g of sugars per 100g. What belongs in a particular child's diet is a parent's call, and each US product page carries the ingredient list and the Nutrition Facts panel to make it on.
For Fitness Enthusiasts
Anyone tracking macros needs the panel figures. Candy made without added sugar still carries calories and carbohydrate, and both are printed on the panel, which is what makes it straightforward to log. A 21.5g serving of our Chocolate Chip Cookies carries 99 calories, which makes the arithmetic simple.
How We Selected the Top 11
Our selection criteria for the best sugar free candy available to US shoppers in 2026 are built around what actually matters to real consumers:
- Taste and texture: does it genuinely replicate the sugar-filled original in flavor and mouthfeel?
- Sweetener: which sweetener does it use, and is it declared clearly on the pack?
- Nutritional profile: calories, carbohydrate and sugars per 100g, checked against our certificate of analysis data
- Pack facts: halal and kosher status taken from our certificate records, never guessed from the ingredient list
- US availability: is it on sale at our US store today? Four picks from our UK edition are not, so this edition lists 11
- Range diversity: gummies, hard candy, toffees, chocolate, cookies and spreads are all represented
Every product in this list is available directly from Diablo Sugar Free at our US store, where you'll also find multi-pack options and a wholesale page for trade buyers.
Top 11 Best Sugar Free Candy Picks (2026)
Diablo SF Cola Bottles 75g
Best Gummy Classic
The cola bottle is a candy-shop classic, and our sugar free version nails it. That unmistakable tangy-sweet cola flavor arrives in a properly chewy gummy. Sugars are just 0.2g per 100g.
Maltitol does the sweetening, and gelatin gives the chew.
Diablo SF Gummy Bears 75g
Chewy Classic
Gummy bears are the candy aisle default, and ours come in at 0.1g of sugars per 100g.
The texture is soft and springy, and maltitol carries the sweetness.
Diablo SF Gummy Drops 75g
Great for Sharing
If you can't settle on just one flavor, the Gummy Drops solve that problem beautifully. This assorted bag brings several fruity flavors together, ideal for sharing, for an office candy bowl or for those moments when only variety will do. Like the bears, they carry 0.1g of sugars per 100g and are set with gelatin.
Diablo SF Strawberry & Cream Sweets 75g
Signature Flavor
A signature flavor in the Diablo range. The Strawberry & Cream candies deliver a fruity, clean strawberry note balanced by a smooth creamy finish.
Isomalt leads the ingredient list and gives them their hard, glassy set, with 6 percent cream for the finish. Sugars are 0.5g per 100g.
Diablo SF Lemon & Cream Sweets 75g
Bright Citrus
The Lemon & Cream candies deliver a bright, zesty citrus hit balanced by a smooth, creamy finish. Lighter and more palate-cleansing than the chocolate lines.
Isomalt leads the ingredient list. Sugars are 0.5g per 100g.
Diablo SF Mint & Cream Sweets 75g
Everyday Mint
Mint candy does two jobs: it satisfies a sweet craving and leaves your mouth feeling fresh. Diablo's Mint & Cream candies deliver a cooling, smooth mintiness with a creamy finish, all without added sugar. Sugars are 0.4g per 100g, and the sweetness comes from sugar alcohols and a little acesulfame K.
Diablo SF Cappuccino & Cream Sweets 75g
For Grown-Up Palates
The Cappuccino & Cream candies are the grown-up flavor in the Diablo range: creamy, roasted and deeply satisfying. They suit adults who prefer coffee notes over fruit. If you'd normally reach for a mid-morning coffee, these deliver a similar flavor hit in a pocket-sized format. Sugars are 0.5g per 100g.
Real coffee is in the recipe, which is why these are made for adults.
Diablo SF Fruit Flavored Toffees 75g
Halal Certified
Toffees hold a special place in British confectionery heritage, and Diablo's sugar free fruit-flavored version doesn't disappoint. One bag brings a selection of fruity flavors, and the texture is properly chewy. Sugars are 0.2g per 100g.
They are halal certified, and the pack states that they may contain gluten.
Diablo No Added Sugar Milk Chocolate 85g
Best Chocolate
Diablo's No Added Sugar Milk Chocolate is a proper milk chocolate bar, smooth and creamy, with 6.7g of sugars per 100g. It contains naturally occurring sugars, with the milk powder among the sources; none are added. Maltitol does the sweetening. The bar is halal certified and kosher certified by the International Kosher Council.
One of the most versatile products in the Diablo range: good on its own, broken up over oatmeal or used in no added sugar baking. The product page carries the full Nutrition Facts panel, saturated fat included.
Diablo SF Chocolate Chip Cookies 130g
Best Cookie Pick
A chocolate chip cookie with your afternoon coffee is a ritual worth keeping, and Diablo's Sugar Free Chocolate Chip Cookies make it possible without added sugar. Crisp, satisfying and packed with chocolate chips, these cookies carry 0.2g of sugars per 100g.
A 21.5g serving carries 99 calories, from 462 calories per 100g. A good fit for afternoon snacking and for anyone who finds a whole bar of chocolate too rich. The product page carries the full Nutrition Facts panel, saturated fat included.
Diablo No Added Sugar Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread 350g
Best Spread
A bold inclusion in a candy roundup, but the Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread earns its place. It delivers that creamy, chocolatey hazelnut flavor for toast, pancakes and waffles, without added sugar. It carries 494 calories and 8.6g of sugars per 100g. It contains naturally occurring sugars from ingredients such as the milk powder and whey; none are added.
At 350g, it is genuinely versatile: use it as a spread, a dip, a baking ingredient or a drizzle over no added sugar desserts. The product page carries the full Nutrition Facts panel, saturated fat included.
Full Comparison Table: Top 11 at a Glance
| # | Product (Official Name) | Category | Sweetener | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diablo SF Cola Bottles 75g | Gummy | Polyol-sweetened | Gummy fans, reducing sugar | |
| 2 | Diablo SF Gummy Bears 75g | Gummy | Polyol-sweetened | Gummy bear fans, sharing | |
| 3 | Diablo SF Gummy Drops 75g | Gummy | Polyol-sweetened | Sharing, variety | |
| 4 | Diablo SF Strawberry & Cream Sweets 75g | Hard Candy | Polyol-sweetened | Adults, watching sugar intake | |
| 5 | Diablo SF Lemon & Cream Sweets 75g | Hard Candy | Polyol-sweetened | Citrus fans | |
| 6 | Diablo SF Mint & Cream Sweets 75g | Hard Candy | Polyol-sweetened | Professionals, fresh breath | |
| 7 | Diablo SF Cappuccino & Cream Sweets 75g | Hard Candy | Polyol-sweetened | Coffee lovers | |
| 8 | Diablo SF Fruit Flavored Toffees 75g | Toffee | Polyol-sweetened | Toffee fans, Halal | |
| 9 | Diablo NAS Milk Chocolate 85g | Chocolate | Polyol-sweetened | Chocolate lovers | |
| 10 | Diablo SF Chocolate Chip Cookies 130g | Cookie | Polyol-sweetened | Cookie lovers | |
| 11 | Diablo NAS Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread 350g | Spread | Polyol-sweetened | Baking, toast |
Ratings are our own editorial view, based on taste, texture and range. SF = Sugar Free (less than 0.5 g sugars per serving). NAS = No Added Sugar (contains naturally occurring sugars).
Understanding Sweeteners: What Makes This Candy Sugar Free?
One of the most common questions about sugar free candy concerns the sweeteners used. Here are the main sweeteners in sugar free confectionery and what each label has to declare. Diablo uses isomalt, maltitol, sorbitol, steviol glycosides and acesulfame K. The table below covers the main ones, with xylitol and erythritol for comparison.
Sugar Alcohols (Polyols): The Foundation of Sugar Free Candy
Every pick in this guide is sweetened with sugar alcohols, which European labels call polyols. Some occur naturally in fruits and vegetables, and they are absorbed slowly. The FDA permits sugar alcohols such as maltitol as sugar substitutes and notes they are slightly lower in calories than sugar. The specific one varies by product, so check the ingredient list. Our guide to sugar alcohols covers the whole family.
Every pack in this guide carries the line "Excessive consumption may produce laxative effects".
Isomalt: The Hard Candy Specialist
Isomalt is a sugar alcohol made from beet sugar, listed in Europe as E953. It is extremely stable at high temperatures, which is what makes it the standard choice for hard candy, and it heads the ingredient list on our Strawberry, Lemon, Mint and Cappuccino & Cream candies. Clean, consistent sweetness with minimal aftertaste and a published glycemic index of around 2. More in our explainer on what isomalt is.
Stevia: The Plant Derived Option
Stevia sweeteners are steviol glycosides extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, listed in Europe as E960 and carrying a glycemic index of zero. In the US, high purity steviol glycosides are GRAS (generally recognized as safe); whole leaf stevia is not permitted in food. They are intensely sweet, so very little is needed: on our gummies they are used in tiny amounts alongside other sweeteners.
| Sweetener | GI Score | Type | European E Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stevia | 0 | High intensity, plant derived | E960 | Intensely sweet, so used in tiny amounts |
| Isomalt | ~2 | Sugar alcohol | E953 | Heat stable, which is why it is used in hard candy |
| Erythritol | 0 to 1 | Sugar alcohol | E968 | Largely absorbed and excreted unchanged |
| Xylitol | 7 to 13 | Sugar alcohol | E967 | About as sweet as sugar. Toxic to dogs, so store out of reach of pets |
| Maltitol | ~35 | Sugar alcohol | E965 | A lower and slower blood glucose rise than sugar in the studies EFSA reviewed (2011) |
| Sucrose (Table Sugar) | 65 | Sugar | Not a sweetener additive | 4 calories per gram; sugar alcohols carry fewer |
Sources: FDA; EFSA Journal 2011; Mayo Clinic; European E numbers as listed on our packs. GI values are published reference figures and vary by individual. Always check individual product labels for the specific sweetener used.
Reading a Sugar Free Label: What Each Line Means
This section is for general information purposes only. Always talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before making changes to your diet, particularly if you are managing a medical condition. Individual blood glucose responses vary considerably between people.
Products labeled Sugar Free (SF) carry less than 0.5 g of sugars per serving and are sweetened with sugar alcohols or other sweeteners instead of sucrose. Products labeled No Added Sugar (NAS) have no sugars added, though naturally occurring sugars from ingredients may be present, so always check the Nutrition Facts panel.
Different sweeteners carry different published glycemic index figures, and the ingredient list tells you which one a product uses. On maltitol, the European Food Safety Authority's review found a lower and slower blood glucose rise than sugar. That is ingredient science, and it says nothing about how any one person will respond to any one product.
If you are managing diabetes or any other medical condition, speak with your healthcare team about your diet. They can advise on portion sizes and how different sweeteners fit into your own plan.
Sugar Free Products
Less than 0.5 g of sugars per serving under FDA rules. Check the Total Sugars line on the panel for each product, and Sugar Alcohol where it is declared.
No Added Sugar Products
No sugars added during processing. May contain naturally occurring sugars from ingredients such as milk. Check the Total Sugars figure per serving.
Glycemic Index
Published GI figures vary between sugar alcohols, and the ingredient list names the one in use. Your doctor or dietitian can advise on what any of it means for you.
The Sugar Alcohol Note
Every pack in this guide carries the line "Excessive consumption may produce laxative effects".
Every product in this guide has a US Nutrition Facts panel and a full ingredient list on its US product page. Always check the individual product label: the Total Sugars line and the Sugar Alcohol line, where it is declared, answer most questions.
Sugar Free Candy and Kids: What Parents Ask
We do not rate any product for a child. That call is the parent's. These are the facts on the pack that the question usually turns on:
- Portion sizes: our packs carry the note that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects.
- Small pieces: our cream candies and toffees carry a note that they are not recommended for children under 3 because of the risk of choking.
- Colors: the ingredient list names every color used, so that is the place to check.
- Made with sweeteners instead of sugar: these products contain no added sugar, and the sweetness comes mainly from sugar alcohols, which are not sugars. The Total Sugars line on the panel gives the figure.
- Ask the people who know your child: if a pediatrician, dietitian or dentist is already advising on their diet, that advice takes precedence over anything on this page.
Where to Buy Diablo Sugar Free Candy in the US
Order direct from our US store. Every pick in this guide links to its US product page, where the Nutrition Facts panel and the full ingredient list sit next to the add to cart button. The four picks from our UK edition that are not on the US store are left out of this guide, so everything above is ready to order.
Retailers, health food stores, gyms and distributors who would like to stock Diablo Sugar Free can reach our trade team through the wholesale page. Visit diablosugarfree.com/wholesale to inquire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on taste, texture, sugars per 100g and range, our top US picks for 2026 are all from the Diablo Sugar Free range. They include the Diablo SF Cola Bottles 75g (best gummy, 0.2g sugars per 100g), the Diablo SF Strawberry & Cream Sweets 75g (best hard candy) and the Diablo SF Lemon & Cream Sweets 75g. The Diablo No Added Sugar Milk Chocolate 85g is the best chocolate. All are available at our US store.
Sugar Free (SF) means less than 0.5 g of sugars per serving under FDA rules. No Added Sugar (NAS) means no sugars were added, and any sugars on the panel occur naturally in ingredients such as milk. Both are legally defined claims about sugars, and neither says anything about calories or portion size. Check the specific sweetener used and the Total Sugars line on the Nutrition Facts panel. If you are managing diabetes or any other medical condition, talk to your healthcare team for personalized dietary guidance before making changes to your diet.
Yes. Sugar alcohols are slightly lower in calories than sugar, according to the FDA, so the calorie figure is usually lower than the regular equivalent, but it is not zero. A 21.5g serving of Diablo SF Chocolate Chip Cookies carries 99 calories, from 462 calories per 100g. Always check the Nutrition Facts panel for the per serving figures.
Diablo uses sugar alcohols (polyols) across the SF and NAS ranges: maltitol in the gummies, chocolate, cookies and spread; isomalt in the cream candies and toffees, often alongside maltitol. Some products add steviol glycosides or acesulfame K. Every pack in this guide carries the statement "Excessive consumption may produce laxative effects." Check the individual product label for the exact sweetener composition.
The usual net carb arithmetic subtracts sugar alcohols from total carbohydrate. On our No Added Sugar Milk Chocolate, 58 g of carbohydrate per 100 g minus 49.87 g of polyols (sugar alcohols) gives 8.13 g. Maltitol is partly digested, so treat that figure as an estimate that runs low, not an exact number. If you are managing strict ketosis for a medical reason, take the label to your healthcare team.
Every product in this guide is on sale at our US store, and each pick links to its US product page. For wholesale and trade inquiries, visit the Diablo wholesale page.
Four things, all printed on the pack: the sweetener the ingredient list names, the Total Sugars figure, the sugar alcohol note and any age statement. Our cream candies and toffees, for example, are not recommended for children under 3 because of the risk of choking. Whether a particular product belongs in a particular child's diet is a parent's decision, alongside their pediatrician or dietitian.
References & Sources
- US Food and Drug Administration. Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food. fda.gov.
- 21 CFR 101.60. Nutrient content claims for the calorie content of foods (sugar free, no added sugar, reduced sugar). ecfr.gov.
- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies. Scientific opinion on health claims for sugar replacers, including maltitol. EFSA Journal 2011;9(4):2076. doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2011.2076.
- Mayo Clinic. Artificial Sweeteners and Other Sugar Substitutes. mayoclinic.org. Updated 2025.
- Diablo Sugar Free. Product COA Nutritional Data. Internal verified source. Certificate of Analysis documents for all referenced SKUs.
Ready to Find Your New Favorite Sugar Free Candy?
The Diablo Sugar Free picks in this guide are on sale at our US store now, from SF Cola Bottles to no added sugar chocolate. A full Nutrition Facts panel on every product page. Genuine flavor, made with sweeteners instead of sugar.
Shop Diablo Sugar Free →Multi-packs available · Wholesale inquiries welcome · Packs carry the note that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects