Ginger Ale vs Cola: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Ginger ale has 34 calories and cola has 42 calories per 100g. Both beverages contain 0 g of protein, making them equal in that aspect.

Ginger ale and cola are widely consumed soft drinks that offer different flavors and nutritional values. This comparison highlights their calorie content, sugar levels, and other nutritional components to help you make informed choices.

What Is the Difference Between Ginger Ale and Cola?

Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger and sweeteners. It is often enjoyed as a refreshing beverage or mixer. Cola is a sweetened carbonated beverage flavored with cola nuts and other ingredients. It is known for its distinct flavor and is commonly consumed worldwide.

Ginger Ale vs Cola: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of ginger ale and cola, focusing on their nutritional content per 100g.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Ginger ale	Cola (regular)
Calories	34 kcal	42 kcal
Protein	0 g	0 g
Carbs	8.8 g	10.4 g
Sugar	8.8 g	9.9 g
Fat	0 g	0 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	7 mg	3 mg

Which Is Better, Ginger Ale or Cola?

For weight loss: Ginger ale has 34 calories, while cola contains 42 calories, making ginger ale the lower-calorie option.

For muscle and protein: Both ginger ale and cola contain 0 g of protein, so neither beverage is beneficial for protein intake.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Ginger ale has 8.8 g of carbs and 8.8 g of sugar, while cola has 10.4 g of carbs and 9.9 g of sugar, making ginger ale the lower-sugar choice.

How to Track Ginger ale and Cola Accurately

Portion sizes and macronutrient content can be easily misjudged when consuming carbonated beverages. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use, not medical advice. They are based on verified nutritional data per 100g. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which beverage has more protein?

Both ginger ale and cola contain 0 g of protein per 100g, so neither has more protein.

Which beverage has fewer calories?

Ginger ale has 34 calories per 100g, while cola has 42 calories per 100g, making ginger ale the lower-calorie option.

What is the sugar content in ginger ale?

Ginger ale contains 8.8 g of sugar per 100g.

What is the sugar content in cola?

Cola contains 9.9 g of sugar per 100g.

How many carbs are in ginger ale?

Ginger ale has 8.8 g of carbs per 100g.

How many carbs are in cola?

Cola has 10.4 g of carbs per 100g.

Key Takeaways

• Ginger ale has 34 calories per 100g.
• Cola has 42 calories per 100g.
• Both beverages contain 0 g of protein.
• Ginger ale has 8.8 g of sugar per 100g.
• Cola has 9.9 g of sugar per 100g.
• Ginger ale contains 8.8 g of carbs per 100g, while cola contains 10.4 g.