Red Bull is a famous energy drink brand created and owned by the Austrian company Red Bull GmbH, with a market share of 43% as of 2020. Founded in 1987 by Dietrich Mateschitz and Chaleo Yoovidhya, Red Bull quickly rose to prominence with its unique marketing strategies and revitalizing products. In this article, we discuss the top Red Bull Competitors and Alternatives.
Red Bull is a global powerhouse in the energy drink market, known for its bold and distinctive branding. The company’s signature beverage is packed with caffeine, taurine, and B vitamins, providing a quick energy boost for consumers. Red Bull’s slogan, “Gives You Wings,” reflects its brand value and mission to energize and inspire individuals to push their limits.
Renowned for its energizing effects, Red Bull has cemented its status in the energy drink market by aligning with thrilling sports and adventurous lifestyles. Through the sponsorship of adrenaline-pumping activities like motorsports, snowboarding, and skydiving, along with hosting signature marketing platforms like the Red Bull Air Race and Red Bull Crashed Ice, the brand has appeal to an expansive global market, celebrating a lifestyle of passion, adventure, and daring experiences.
- Product Type: Energy drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 1984
- Founders: Dietrich Mateschitz and Chaleo Yoovidhya
- Headquarters: Austria
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Dietrich Mateschitz
Table of Contents
The top Red Bull competitors are
1. Monster Beverage
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 1935
- Founders: Hubert Hansen and his sons
- Headquarters: Corona, California, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Rodney Sacks
Monster Beverage is one of Red Bull’s most direct competitors in the energy drink market. It was launched in 2002 and is often considered the closest rival to Red Bull. The brand differentiates itself with a distinctively strong flavor and high caffeine content, targeting a demographic that places a premium on performance and energy.
2. Rockstar Energy Drink
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2001
- Founders: Russell Weiner
- Headquarters: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Russell Weiner
Rockstar Energy Drink is a global brand recognized for its impactful marketing and consumer engagement activities. Incorporated in 2001, this American energy drink was developed to improve performance and recovery for athletes, rock stars, and those leading active lifestyles. It provides a sizable amount of energy through its comprehensive list of ingredients, including vitamins B6 and B12.
3. Bang Energy
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2012
- Founders: Jack Owoc
- Headquarters: Weston, Florida, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Jack Owoc
Bang Energy prides itself on being a potent brain and body fuel. Bang is unique among the energy drinks segment due to its distinct positioning towards health and fitness enthusiasts. It’s fortified with creatine, amino acids, and B vitamins, making it a popular option for gym-goers and people looking for sustainable energy.
4. Reign Energy Drink
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2019
- Founders: Monster Beverage Corporation
- Headquarters: Corona, California, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Rodney Sacks
Reign Energy Drink targets those with active lifestyles and fitness enthusiasts. Beyond delivering an energizing boost through the usual caffeine and B vitamins, Reign offers a range of body fuel-focused, fruit-flavored drinks with added ingredients such as CoQ10 for heart health, Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) for muscle development, and electrolytes for hydration.
5. NOS Energy Drink
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2005
- Founders: Fuze Beverage
- Headquarters: Corona, California, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Rodney Sacks
NOS Energy Drink gains its name and branding from the Nitrous Oxide systems used in race cars. This brand, owned by Monster Beverage, offers an energy drink heavy on caffeine and sugar content, scoring points with the high-performance and sports-crazy crowd who desire fast and high-energy boosts.
6. Full Throttle
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2004
- Founders: The Coca-Cola Company
- Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: James Quincey
Full Throttle Energy Drink is a straightforward, no-nonsense option in the competitive energy drinks market. Owned by the Coca-Cola Company, Full Throttle offers a simple but effective formula of caffeine and sugar to help consumers efficiently power through their day or night.
7. Amp Energy Drink
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2001
- Founders: PepsiCo
- Headquarters: Harrison, New York, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Ramon Laguarta
Amp Energy Drink is a brand that originates from PepsiCo. Known for its energizing effects and unique flavor profiles, Amp offers the beverage industry an extensive range of variants, including its original flavor alongside cherry, grape, and tropical punch, appealing to consumers who seek variety and taste in their energy beverage selection.
8. Xyience Xenergy
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2004
- Founders: Russel Pike
- Headquarters: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Area Served: United States
Xyience Xenergy is an energy drink explicitly targeting fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious consumers. It differentiates itself by being sugar-free and zero calories while providing an effective energy boost through caffeine and vitamins. Xyience’s distinct position in the market allows it to meet specific consumer demand for healthier energy drinks.
9. Celsius Energy Drink
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2004
- Founders: Jan Hall and Steve Haley
- Headquarters: Boca Raton, Florida, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: John Fieldly
Celsius Energy Drink positions itself on the healthier side of the energy drink market. What stands out about Celsius is its use of green tea extract, guarana, and ginger root in their recipe. This clinically proven brand promotes its drink as fitness-friendly, aimed to increase metabolism and burn body fat.
10. Rip It Energy Drink
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2004
- Founders: National Beverage Corp.
- Headquarters: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
- Area Served: United States
- Current CEO: Nick A. Caporella
Rip It Energy Drink is an affordable and practical brand in the energy drink market. Established in 2004, Rip It offers various flavors packed with vitamins and energy-boosting ingredients. It’s noted for its affordability without sacrificing taste or energy provision, making it a popular choice among budget-conscious consumers.
11. Relentless Energy Drink
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2006
- Founders: Coca-Cola Company
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: James Quincey
Relentless Energy Drink is a brand that originated in the UK and now enjoys popularity across assorted global markets. Launched by Coca-Cola in 2006, Relentless emphasizes bold yet balanced flavors. The brand is famous within the music industry and extreme sports circles, mainly through its involvement in numerous company sponsorship deals.
12. Lucozade Energy
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 1927
- Founders: William Owen and Thomas Allinson
- Headquarters: Stockley Park, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
- Area Served: Worldwide
Lucozade Energy is an original energy drink that has a long history. Initially launched as a glucose-based, medicinal health drink in the late 1920s, Lucozade rebranded as an everyday energy drink to provide an active uplift for those who need it. It enjoys strong popularity in the UK and is known for its unique, fruity flavors like orange and apple.
13. XS Energy Drink
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2001
- Founders: Amway
- Headquarters: Ada, Michigan, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Milind Pant
XS Energy Drink, owned by Amway Global, is widely known for its extensive variety of flavors. This brand boasts sugar-free formulas and includes an array of B vitamins for energy production. XS stands out because of its diverse flavor profile, with over 15 flavors ranging from tropical to classic energy drink recipes.
14. Guru Energy Drink
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 1999
- Founders: Ray Jolicoeur and Lisa Colnett
- Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Carl Goyette
Guru Energy Drink is a brand that prides itself on creating healthier, organic energy drinks. Born in Canada, Guru uses all-natural, plant-based organic ingredients such as green tea and guarana while avoiding synthetic flavors and additives. The brand has carved a niche among health-conscious consumers seeking natural energy boosts.
15. Coca-Cola Company
- Product Type: Beverages
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 1892
- Founders: Asa Griggs Candler
- Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: James Quincey
The Coca-Cola Company is a global beverage titan that produces not just Coca-Cola but also a broad range of beverages that compete with Red Bull, such as Powerade and Relentless Energy. On the energy drink front, their most recent addition is “Coca-Cola Energy,” which comes with and without sugar, extending its sales reach into the wide energy drinks consumer market.
16. PepsiCo
- Product Type: Beverages
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 1965
- Founders: Donald M. Kendall and Herman W. Lay
- Headquarters: Harrison, New York, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Ramon Laguarta
PepsiCo is another beverage powerhouse that is a notable competitor to Red Bull. With a well-diversified drink portfolio, PepsiCo’s leading contender in the energy drink sector is Amp Energy. Moreover, PepsiCo’s venture into the stimulating beverage market with Mountain Dew Kickstart also demonstrates its integral role in the growth of this market.
17. 5-hour Energy
- Product Type: Energy Shot
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2003
- Founders: Manoj Bhargava
- Headquarters: Farmington Hills, Michigan, United States
- Area Served: United States
- Current CEO: Manoj Bhargava
5-hour Energy is an energy shot that offers a compact, quick, and convenient alternative to conventional energy drinks. This brand emphasizes effectiveness and convenience. The 5-hour Energy shot is known for its ability to provide alertness and increased energy for hours, positioned perfectly for on-the-go consumers seeking an immediate energy pick-up.
18. Starbucks Refreshers
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2012
- Founders: Starbucks Corporation
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Kevin Johnson
Starbucks Refreshers have successfully blended the world of coffee with energy drinks. These beverages utilize green coffee extract for a natural energy boost, with fruit flavors for a fresh, light taste. This branding allows the product to appeal to coffee drinkers and those seeking a revitalizing energy boost.
19. Powerade
- Product Type: Sports Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 1988
- Founders: The Coca-Cola Company
- Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: James Quincey.
Powerade is a product of The Coca-Cola Company and is a prominent competitor in the sports drink market. Rather than being sold as an energy drink, Powerade focuses on hydration and electrolyte replacement, catering to athletes and those involved in high-intensity activities. It provides an energy boost while aiming to improve sports performance and recovery.
20. Gatorade
- Product Type: Sports Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 1965
- Founders: Robert Cade, Dana Shires, Harry James Free, and Alejandro de Quesada
- Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Brett O’Brien
Gatorade, owned by PepsiCo, is another leading brand in the sports drink segment. Like Powerade, Gatorade aims to hydrate and replenish lost electrolytes and is often consumed for its sports performance-enhancing properties. The drink offers carbohydrates for fueling muscles and electrolytes to help with rehydration, making it a popular choice among athletes and active individuals.
21. Bawls Guarana
- Product Type: Soda
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 1996
- Founders: Hoby Buppert
- Headquarters: Twinsburg, Ohio, United States
- Area Served: United States
Bawls Guarana is an energy drink with a unique and distinctive flavor profile, primarily focusing on using guarana to boost its energy. Guarana, a natural source of caffeine, sets this brand apart from others in the market, offering an honest and non-synthetic alternative to consumers who prefer a more organic energy source.
22. Liquid Death
- Product Type: Water
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2019
- Founders: Mike Cessario
- Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States
- Area Served: United States
- Current CEO: Mike Cessario
Liquid Death is a water brand with an unapologetically edgy and bold marketing strategy. The canned water company launched its first sparkling water-based energy drink called “Liquid Death ENERGY.” Made with natural caffeine from green coffee beans and zero added sugar, the brand aims to attract health-conscious consumers looking for a unique addition to their energy drink options.
23. Zevia
- Product Type: Soda
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2007
- Founders: Derek Newman, Jessica Newman, and Ian Eisenberg
- Headquarters: Culver City, California, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Paddy Spence
Zevia is a brand that produces a wide range of beverages, including a line of energy drinks. These drinks are sugar-free and sweetened with stevia, a natural, lower-calorie sweetener. Zevia’s energy line is plant-based, and along with being an alternative to traditional sugar-laden energy drinks, it appeals to health-conscious and eco-friendly consumers.
24. Venom Energy Drink
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2002
- Founders: Dr Pepper Snapple Group
- Headquarters: Plano, Texas, United States
- Area Served: United States
Venom Energy Drink is another fierce contender in the energy drink market. Manufactured by Keurig Dr Pepper, this brand offers a powerful and affordable energy boost through a carefully formulated taurine, guarana, and B vitamins blend. With distinctive flavors like Black Mamba and Death Adder, Venom aims to provide consumers with a potent drink while staying cost-effective.
25. Keurig Dr Pepper
- Product Type: Beverages
- Industry: Beverage
- Founded Date: 2018
- Founders: Keurig Green Mountain and Dr Pepper Snapple Group
- Headquarters: Burlington, Massachusetts, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Bob Gamgort
Keurig Dr. Pepper is a beverage manufacturer with a significant market share and poses competition for Red Bull through its brands like Venom Energy and Adrenaline Shoc. Additionally, the company’s broader beverage portfolio, which spans from coffee to sparkling water, demonstrates its range of options for consumers looking for a quick pick-me-up.
26. Aspen Extreme
- Product Type: Energy Drink
- Industry: Beverage
- Founders: Aspen Extreme
- Headquarters: Aspen, Colorado, United States
- Area Served: United States
Aspen Extreme is a newcomer to the energy drink market, focusing on providing an energy boost with a more natural and eco-friendly approach. The brand is currently developing its lineup of energy beverages using locally sourced and environmentally friendly ingredients, targeting consumers who value sustainability and natural alternatives to conventional energy drinks.
These were all Red Bull’s competitors. If you know any other competitors, please write in the comments below.
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