Best Fruit Snacks: 15 Brands, Tasted and Reviewed

They’re a snack, a treat, and a juicy refreshment all in one. They are, of course, none other than fruit snacks! These little bites are beloved by kids and adults alike as just the thing to satisfy a sweet tooth, without indulging in a big pile of candy or other confection. 

We are putting our own taste buds to the test, chomping and chewing our way through 15 of the top fruit snack brands and varieties. After considering all of the characteristics of each, we came up with the best fruit snacks in 8 different categories, all the way from the Best Organic Fruit Snacks to the Best Fruit Snacks for Kids! 

Get your lunchboxes ready, we’re diving into a taste and review of all of the best fruit snacks. 

What Are Fruit Snacks?

There are several different fruit snacks out there on the market. Some are the classic, fruit-flavored gummy-style bites, which, let's be honest, are not much different than a pouch of gummy bear candy. Others however, are fruit leather style, which may be sheets of compressed fruit puree. There are also fruit bars, fruit rolls, and dried fruit snacks to try! 

The common thread between all of these different products? A fruit snack is a fruit-flavored, and often fruit-juice or puree based bite that while derived from fresh fruit itself, is processed in a way that renders it shelf stable and portable!

Ranking the Best Brands of Fruit Snacks

The Test Subjects

We loaded up our shopping baskets with as many major fruit snack brands and varieties we could get our sticky hands on, coming away with the following: 

• 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Fruit Strips
• Annie's Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks-Summer Strawberry
• Arizona Green Tea Fruit Snacks
• Bear Fruit Rolls
• Black Forest Stretch Island Fruit Strips
• Chum Fruit Bites-Peach
• Earth & Co S.O.S. Tangram Whole Fruit Snack
• Eat the Change Organic Cosmic Carrot Chews
• Mott's Fruit Flavored Snacks
• Solely Organic Whole Fruit Gummies
• Stretch Island Fruit Leather
• Welch's Fruit n' Yogurt Snacks-Blueberry Acai
• Welch's Fruit Snacks
• Welch's Juicefuls Juicy Fruit Snacks-Tropical Splash
• You Love Fruit Peel & Eat Fruit Leather

The Methodology

We categorized our fruit snack harvest into 8 main types and set forth to select our favorite representation of each of the following: 

• Best Classic Fruit Snacks
• Best Organic Fruit Snacks
• Best 100% Fruit Snacks
• Best Fruit + Veggie Snacks
• Best Budget Fruit Snacks
• Best Premium Fruit Snacks
• Best Filled Fruit Snacks
• Best Fruit Snacks for Kids

The Taste Test

Our tasting panel sampled each fruit snack variety, making notes of the flavor, texture, and overall experience of each. To avoid palate fatigue due to the high-sugar content of these particular test subjects, we conducted two rounds of taste testing, with the products in a different order each time. 

The Criteria

Throughout the testing and evaluations, each of our fruit snack subjects was given a score in the following 5 areas of review: 

1. Taste & Texture: how each fruit snack tastes in terms of fruit flavor and sweetness, as well as texture--particularly issues of gumminess, stickiness, and how easy it is to chew.
2. Nutrition Content: looking specifically at sugar content, calorie content, vitamin/mineral content, and the overall quality of ingredients. 
3. Unique Characteristics: unique flavors, special factors, or any other noteworthy point that sets one fruit snack variety apart from its competitors. 
4. Value: price per ounce. 
5. Production & Packaging: including packaging convenience and portability, as well as where and how each fruit snack variety is produced. 

From these categorical grades we calculated an overall average score. Our highest scorers in each grouping was deemed the winner! 

Best Classic Fruit Snacks:

Mott's Fruit Flavored Snacks

Size: Box of (10) 0.8-ounce pouches

Flavor: Assorted Fruit

Here is how Mott's Fruit Flavored Snacks scored in each of our criteria categories:

• Taste & Texture: 4.3 / 5.0
• Nutrition Content: 4.2 / 5.0
• Unique Characteristics: 4.2 / 5.0
• Value: 4.8 / 5.0
• Production & Packaging: 4.3 / 5.0
• Overall Score: 4.3 / 5.0

Fruit snacks hold a nostalgic place in the hearts of many, with fond memories of opening the lunch box or brown paper bag to find out--yesss!--a packet of fruit snacks was indeed tucked in with the sandwich. 

Seeing as they’ve been in the business of fruit and fruit products since 1842, you can bet that these fruit snacks from Mott’s are about as classic as it gets. Each little pouch is a variety pack of fun fruit shapes such as pineapples, strawberries, apples, and even tiny bunches of grapes! The different fruit shapes even actually taste different from one another, which adds a lot to the overall experience if you ask us. 

There are no synthetic colors or artificial flavors in these fruit snacks, instead they are flavored with pear juice, apple juice, and even a bit of carrot juice concentrate. And, each little 1-pouch serving of Mott's Fruit Flavored Snacks provides 60% your DV of vitamin C!

Unfortunately, despite the real fruit juice and vitamin C content, these fruit snacks are one of those options that is barely better than eating candy. The first three ingredients are corn syrup, sugar, and modified corn starch--in other words: sugar, sugar, and more sugar. 

We also found these fruit snacks to be super sticky and chewy, with a texture that is very gummy and gets stuck between your teeth as you chew. And also, the nutrition panel has the infamous bold sentence: “contains bioengineered food ingredients”, so keep that in mind if you prefer to keep your diet GMO free. 

Pros:

• Have a super classic, fruit snack appeal--just like you remember! 
• Each pouch contains a variety of distinguishable fruit shapes. 
• Each fruit shape has its own fun flavor. 
• No artificial flavors or colors. 
• Made from real fruit juice concentrates.
• Provides 60% DV of vitamin C. 

Cons:

• Contains a ton of refined sugar ingredients. 
• Texture is very sticky and gummy, rather unpleasant to chew. 
• Contains GMO ingredients. 

Best Organic Fruit Snacks:

Solely Organic Whole Fruit Gummies

Size: Box of (5) 0.7-ounce pouches

Flavor: Mango & Guava

Here is how Solely Organic Whole Fruit Gummies scored in each of our criteria categories:

• Taste & Texture: 4.1 / 5.0
• Nutrition Content: 5.0 / 5.0
• Unique Characteristics: 4.7 / 5.0
• Value: 4.5 / 5.0
• Production & Packaging: 4.6 / 5.0
• Overall Score: 4.6 / 5.0

In stark contrast to the super sweet fruit snacks that won our “Best Classic” category, these Organic Whole Fruit Gummies from Solely feature the lowest sugar content of all of the fruit snacks we tested, with just 6 grams per serving! This is made even sweeter by the fact that all of this sugar is naturally occurring in the fruit itself, with no added sugars anywhere to be seen.

The lack of added sugars result in a more fruity tasting fruit snack that truly allows the flavors of mango and guava to shine through. Our tasting panel also appreciated the petite size and tender texture of these fruit snacks, which overall are softer and much less sticky than many of the other gummies we tried. 

The back of the package features a very short list of just 3 organic ingredients: mango, guava, and additional vitamin C. The inclusion of this additional vitamin delivers 360% your DV of the stuff per serving! And of course, these fruit snacks are certified USDA organic and non-GMO project verified. 

On the downside, the real fruit in these fruit snacks can come across a bit sour if you’re used to sweeter gummy-style snacks. And sadly, they were not at all appetizing looking. They have a strange pillow shape and very dark brown coloring that on first glance, leaves them looking like a handful of dog-training treats.

Pros:

• Just 6 grams of naturally occurring sugar per serving--the lowest across the board! 
• Tropical flavors of mango and guava shine through perfectly. 
• Fruit bites have a nice petite size. 
• Texture is soft and not at all sticky. 
• Made from just 3 organic ingredients. 
• Provides 360% DV of vitamin C per serving. 
• USDA organic and non-GMO. 

Cons:

• Flavor has a bit of tang due to the low sugar content. 
• Not visually appealing in terms of shape and color, overall pretty odd looking fruit snacks. 

Best 100% Fruit Snacks:

Bear Fruit Rolls

Size: Box of (5) 0.7-ounce packs

Flavor: Apple-Pear Strawberry

Here is how Bear Fruit Rolls scored in each of our criteria categories:

• Taste & Texture: 4.4 / 5.0
• Nutrition Content: 4.4 / 5.0
• Unique Characteristics: 4.6 / 5.0
• Value: 4.3 / 5.0
• Production & Packaging: 4.7 / 5.0
• Overall Score: 4.4 / 5.0

The fact that these Bear Fruit Rolls contain nothing but fresh fruit and real fruit juice extracts make these some pretty healthy fruit snacks! Unlike many other fruit snack varieties, these fruit snacks can confidently claim that they are 100% fruit, with no added sugar, color, flavor, or additives.  

The mix of juicy apples, sweet pears, nutrient dense strawberries, and vibrant black carrots result in an overall mellow fruit flavor that is nice and sweet without risking a sugar crash. And, since the rolls are made of real fruit puree, one serving provides a bit of dietary fiber--2 full grams! 

This fruit snack option is certified vegan and non-GMO project verified. And, kids and kids at heart will love the fact that each individually wrapped packet of 2 fruit rolls comes with its own collectible trading card, making them as fun as they are tasty!

For all the real fruit content, the micronutrient content is surprisingly minimal, as one serving of these fruit rolls offers just 2% DV of iron and 2% DV of potassium. 

The rolls are also smaller than the outer box leads you to believe, and we found them to be actually pretty difficult to unroll without breakage, which doesn’t affect their taste of course but definitely takes a bit from the overall experience and might be frustrating for kids. 

Pros:

• Made from 100% fruit! 
• No added sugars, colors, flavors, or preservatives. 
• Mixture of multiple fruit purees results in a nice, crowd-pleasing flavor. 
• Provides 2 grams of fiber per serving. 
• Vegan and non-GMO. 
• Each pouch features fun collectible cards for kids.  

Cons:

• Vitamin/mineral content is disappointingly low. 
• Rolls are on the smaller side. 
• Unrolling the fruit rolls without breaking them is a major challenge. 

Best Fruit + Veggie Snacks:

Eat the Change Organic Cosmic Carrot Chews

Size: Box of (5) 0.7-ounce pouches

Flavor: Orange Mango Moonbeam

Here is how Eat the Change Organic Cosmic Carrot Chews scored in each of our criteria categories:

• Taste & Texture: 4.4 / 5.0
• Nutrition Content: 4.8 / 5.0
• Unique Characteristics: 5.0 / 5.0
• Value: 4.7 / 5.0
• Production & Packaging: 4.8 / 5.0
• Overall Score: 4.8 / 5.0

While the term “vegetable snack” doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as nicely as "fruit snack" does, several fruit snack makers have figured out that tossing some vegetal goodness into the mix results in greater nutrient benefit than fruit alone. The folks at Eat the Change are taking this concept to new heights with their Cosmic Carrot Chews. 

Each and every pouch of snack bites contains 1 whole serving of carrots, yet thanks to the inclusion of apple juice, also tastes as sweet and tasty as any other fruit-based gummies! Not at all a bad way to get your daily dose of veggies in. 

All of those carrots means you’re getting a megadose of vitamin A with these–110% your DV. 

They’re also certified USDA organic and packed in an outer carton that is made from 100% recycled materials. Plus, there's a scannable QR code on the box if you’d like to learn more about Eat the Change’s mission, full product line, and in their words--their “planet-based commitments”. 

Unfortunately, our stellar dreams were just a bit crushed when we opened our first packet of Cosmic Carrot Chews, because oh man, are they ugly looking. The haphazardly-sized bites are not near as carrot-y orange as we were expecting, rather, are muddy red-brown, oddly shaped, shriveled looking carrot lumps.

As such, these fruit snacks might be a tough sell for kids (or anyone for that matter) who are more used to traditional looking fruit snacks. 

Pros:

• 1 serving of real carrots in each pouch. 
• Flavor is sweet and tasty, not at all vegetable-y. 
• Each serving provides 110% your DV of vitamin A. 
• USDA organic. 
• Outer box is made from completely recycled materials. 
• Scannable QR code takes you to more info about Eat the Change products and environmentalism. 

Cons:

• These chews are pretty off-putting looking, not that appetizing! 
• Might be tough to convince kids to give these a shot based on appearances. 

Best Budget Fruit Snacks:

Arizona Green Tea Fruit Snacks

Size: Box of(10) 0.9-ounce bags

Flavor: Mixed Fruit

Here is how Arizona Green Tea Fruit Snacks scored in each of our criteria categories:

• Taste & Texture: 4.8 / 5.0
• Nutrition Content: 3.8 / 5.0
• Unique Characteristics: 4.5 / 5.0 
• Value: 5.0 / 5.0
• Production & Packaging: 4.5 / 5.0
• Overall Score: 4.5 / 5.0

Where many of the other fruit snacks we tested had a pretty empty feeling box--and left our wallets significantly emptier as well--we were pleased to find this box of Arizona Green Tea Fruit Snacks to defy the norm. It is loaded with 10 individual pouches, and completely reasonably priced to boot! We shelled out $3.19 for this box of 10, which works out to just $0.35 per serving. 

As a new product from this family owned and operated US-based company, we weren’t sure what to expect. But Arizona maintains its reputation for refreshment with this mixture of “zen” flavored fruit snacks: apple, mandarin, and plum blueberry. The fruit flavors are fairly indistinct but are sweet and fruity.

Yes you can actually taste the real green tea extract, which provides a pleasantly floral yet bitter counterpoint to all of the sweetness--a great way to get a hit of green tea if you’re not in the mood to brew your own!

We also found the individual pouches to be among the most inviting looking, with gold-trimmed lettering and details on a field of pale spring green. Such details make these fruit snacks feel a bit more “grown up” than many of the other options we tested. 

We definitely had a few complaints about these fruit snacks however. First off, the shapes of the gummies themselves are weirdly undefined. Are they fruit? Are they cans of tea? Are they the Arizona logo? We’re kind of at a loss but can definitely tell they’re supposed to be something. 

It’s also important to note that these fruit snacks have the highest proportion of added sugars, with 12 grams per serving and one glance over the ingredients panel informs you of why. There are so many different types of added sugars in these fruit snacks from glucose syrup to dextrose, as well as modified corn starch and plain ol’ sugar. 

Pros:

• One of the best buys we found, with each 10-pouch box costing just $3.19. 
• From a family owned and operated company. 
• Features a mixture of unique flavors such as mandarin and plum-blueberry. 
• Contains real green tea extract which provides a complementary flavor profile. 
• Snack pouches are grown up and attractive looking with gold details and inviting print.

Cons:

• Fruit snacks are strange, nebulous shapes. 
• Has the highest amount of added sugars, with 12 grams per serving. 
• Contains a laundry list of different sugar-based ingredients. 

Best Premium Fruit Snacks:

Black Forest Stretch Island Fruit Strips

Size: Set of (2)0.5-ounce strips

Flavor: Apricot & Apple

Here is how Black Forest Stretch Island Fruit Strips scored in each of our criteria categories:

• Taste & Texture: 5.0 / 5.0
• Nutrition Content: 4.5 / 5.0
• Unique Characteristics: 4.7 / 5.0
• Value: 3.9 / 5.0
• Production & Packaging: 4.8 / 5.0
• Overall Score: 4.6 / 5.0

If you prioritize flavor and quality above all else--and are willing to spend a bit of extra cash to meet such demands--it doesn’t get any better than Black Forest Stretch Island Fruit Strips!

These fruit leather style snacks come in a multitude of flavor options, but we chose one each of their apricot and apple flavored varieties for our evaluations. Both flavors tasted perfectly sweet and fruity, although the texture of the apricot strip was admittedly a bit tougher and less moist & tender than the apple flavor. 

Despite these differences though, these fruit snacks were the taste-based favorite among our tasting panel. They are free from added sugar and are the lowest calorie fruit snacks to boot-with just 45 calories per serving! The ingredients list features just a few real fruit purees (apple, apricot, and pear) plus a dash of lemon juice for just the right amount of tang.

We also love that each strip is in its own little sleeve, making it perfect for on the go snacking. We can easily see these being eaten on a hike or during a bike ride--a la granola bar--except fruit based and nut free!

As mentioned above, you’ll definitely be paying for these added features though, as each little strip costs nearly a buck. This works out to $1.98 per ounce, which is about twice as much as the average we calculated during our evaluations. 

Also, for all of the natural ingredients and real fruit purees in these Stretch Island Fruit Strips, we were surprised not to see a better nutrition profile here. Just 2% your DV of potassium per serving here! 

Pros:

• Are fruit-leather style snacks as opposed to more traditional gummy bites. 
• Come in many different flavor options!
• Apricot and apple flavors both won high marks according to our tasting panel. 
• Made of real fruit purees, juices, and natural flavors--no added sugar. 
• Just 45 calories per serving. 
• Each strip is packed individually, making it perfect for taking on the go. 

Cons:

• Very expensive, at $1.98 per ounce. 
• Not as many vitamins/minerals as one might expect from a fruit-puree based snack. 

Best Filled Fruit Snacks:

Welch's Juicefuls Juicy Fruit Snacks

Size: Box of (6) 1-ounce pouches

Flavor: Island Splash

Here is how Welch's Juicefuls Juicy Fruit Snacks scored in each of our criteria categories:

• Taste & Texture: 5.0 / 5.0
• Nutrition Content: 4.0 / 5.0
• Unique Characteristics: 4.5 / 5.0
• Value: 4.8 / 5.0
• Production & Packaging: 4.3 / 5.0
• Overall Score: 4.5 / 5.0

For something a little off the beaten path, give filled fruit snacks a try! They feature all of that gummy fruitiness you’re craving, with an extra juicy, fluid filled center. Welch’s Juicefuls have mastered the art of this particular combo, and their Island Splash flavored fruit snacks scored super high marks during our taste test. 

The fruits used to make the puree for these fruit snacks include everything but the kitchen sink: grape, peach, pear, banana, mango, kiwi, passion fruit, strawberry, grapefruit, and pineapple! The result is a decidedly tropical flavor profile and when paired with the juicy filled center, makes for an extremely crave-worthy soft texture. 

The fruit snacks themselves are in a variety of fun, different fruit shapes and we also love that the folks at Welch’s decide to add just a bit of oil into their recipe, with just a touch of coconut oil. This keeps the fruit snacks from gluing themselves together into one giant fruit snack, and adds to their tender consistency.

Each serving of these Juicefuls provides you with 25% your DV each of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. And, the outer carton these fruit snacks are packed in is made from 100% recycled paperboard! 

For as many things as we love about these fruit snacks, we unfortunately have a laundry list of grievances with them as well. First off, this is one fruit snack option that is hardly better than eating candy as they take the cake in both calorie and sugar contents, with 90 calories and 13 grams of sugars per serving. 

It’s also important to note that these fruit snacks contain gelatin, which is an animal product, so these treats are a no go for any vegans or plant-based eaters. And, the differently shaped fruit snacks were shamefully un-evenly dispersed between the packets! The first pouch we opened seemed reasonably diverse but subsequent packets tended to feature mostly one type of fruit snack as opposed to a mixture. 

Pros:

• Features a little burst of juice inside of each fruit snack!
• Contains fruit puree from a wide range of different fruits. 
• Flavor profile is uniquely tropical.
• Inclusion of coconut oil keeps these fruit snacks soft and separated. 
• Each serving provides 25% DV of 3 different vitamins. 
• Box is made from recycled materials.

Cons:

• Very high calories--90 per serving. 
• Highest sugar content, with 13 grams per serving. 
• Contains gelatin, rendering it unfriendly for plant based diets.
• Different fruit snacks are not dispersed evenly between the pouches. 

Best Fruit Snacks for Kids:

Earth & Co S.O.S. Tangram Whole Fruit Snack

Size: Box of (5) 0.7-ounce packs

Flavor: Raspberry & Strawberry

Here is how Earth & Co S.O.S. Tangram Whole Fruit Snack scored in each of our criteria categories:

• Taste & Texture: 4.7 / 5.0
• Nutrition Content: 4.6 / 5.0
• Unique Characteristics: 4.8 / 5.0
• Value: 4.1 / 5.0
• Production & Packaging: 5.0 / 5.0
• Overall Score: 4.7 / 5.0

Hopefully we’ve convinced you by now that fruit snacks are acceptable (and encouraged!) snack for folks of all ages, but the fact does remain, that there are plenty of fruit snack options out there specifically intended for kids. 

This Whole Fruit Snack from the folks at Earth & Co strikes just the right balance between flavor and quality, plus plenty of the fun stuff too! Made from apple pulp, raspberry puree, and strawberry puree, you can feel good about the main ingredients being whole fruit-focused as opposed to loaded with refined sugars and juices. There are no preservatives nor artificial flavors in these fruit snacks and each serving provides 280% DV of vitamin C. 

Now on to the good stuff. This fruit snack isn’t just a snack, it’s a puzzle as well! The fruit-leather style snack is cleverly cut into shapes that when arranged, form a tangram puzzle. In addition, each pouch comes with a collecting card that educates little ones about wildlife and endangered species–in our case, Steve the shark! 

In accordance with this level of environmental focus, all of the packaging is 100% recyclable and the outer carton bears a Forest Stewardship Council logo indicating that it is made with materials that support responsible forestry. 

On the downside, you better have a good indication that the kids in your life will love these fruit snacks as much as we do, because otherwise it’s a pretty expensive gamble! Each box of just 3 fruit-snack puzzles costs almost $6.50, which works out to $1.84 per ounce. 

Also, while we love the concept of this “play with your food” idea, we can also see eager kids carelessly sticking fruit snack puzzle to whatever table or desk happens to be in front of them--no matter the state of cleanliness. We wish the packet opened up into a sheet on which little fruit snack lovers could work on their tangram before eating!

Pros:

• Main ingredients are whole fruits: apple pulp, raspberry puree, and strawberry puree. 
• No preservatives or artificial flavors. 
• Provides 280% DV vitamin C per serving. 
• Fruit snack doubles as a fun puzzle kids can build before eating!
• Each packet comes with a fun & educational collector card. 
• Packed in 100% recyclable and responsibly sourced materials.  

Cons:

• At the high end of the price charts, with each fruit snack packet costing over $2.00!
• Concept of sticking the “puzzle” pieces to a surface before eating is fun but needs some further development in order to be more hygienic. 

Best Fruit Snacks FAQs

Are Fruit Snacks Actually Good For You?

Sadly, many fruit snacks can’t be considered as “good for you”. Despite their oftentimes impressive vitamin content and fruit-derived ingredients, fruit snacks more than likely fall into the "treat" category and will simply never be as good for you as a piece of fresh fruit!

What are the Best Healthy Fruit Snacks?

That said, there are many fruit snack options that are healthier than others and it all boils down to that infamous ingredients label. You’ll want to look for options with limited ingredient lists that feature a combination of real fruit puree and natural fruit juice and are free from refined sugars like high fructose corn syrup or glucose syrup. 

Puree-based snacks have the added benefit of dietary fiber, which helps the body to metabolize all of that sugar more slowly. 

Are Fruit Snacks Gluten Free?

Yes! All of the fruit snack varieties we tested and evaluated were completely gluten free. However, it always pays to double check with your particular brand to ensure that no cross-contamination issues are afoot. 

Final Thoughts on the Best Fruit Snacks

If you're anything like us, you're probably rather surprised at just how many different fruit snacks there are out there! No longer is this snack category limited to that tiny pouch of gummy bites you remember, but it has since come to include fruit leathers, soft bites of dried whole fruit, and even some fruit + veggie snacks sprinkled in.

Unfortunately, not all fruit snacks are all that good for you! Many classic-style fruit snacks are composed mostly of refined sugars and offer very little fruit content at all. For some other healthy snacks that satisfy those fruit cravings try these Chocolate Covered Blueberries or our Fresh Watermelon Fruit Salad!