Low-sugar candy
SmartSweets Alternatives
Both are the low-sugar answer to a candy craving. Only one of them counts toward your protein for the day.
SmartSweets set out to fix candy, and did: a bag lands around 3g of sugar where a conventional gummy bear bag is closer to 30g. If your only goal is a sweet without the sugar, they're a good product and they're on shelves everywhere.
The gap is nutritional. A bag of low-sugar candy is still candy — it doesn't move your protein total. Kuma is built around 20g protein per pouch (10 gummies), so the same chewy-sweet moment does double duty as your afternoon protein.
Try Kuma — 20g protein, 0g sugar
Why people look for SmartSweets alternatives
SmartSweets: the strengths
- Huge sugar reduction versus conventional candy.
- Real candy variety — peach rings, sour blasts, gummy bears, fish.
- Stocked in grocery, Target, and Amazon.
SmartSweets: the gaps
- Negligible protein — it's a candy replacement, not nutrition.
- Several SKUs are gelatin-based, so vegan isn't a given.
- High fiber and sweetener load can upset some stomachs on a full bag.
SmartSweets vs Kuma, line by line
| Category | SmartSweets | Kuma | Better fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein per serving | SmartSweets: 0–1g | Kuma: 20g | Better fit: Kuma |
| Sugar per serving | SmartSweets: ~3g | Kuma: 0g added | Better fit: Kuma |
| Sweetener system | SmartSweets: Allulose, stevia, soluble fiber | Kuma: Monk fruit, allulose, erythritol | Better fit: Depends |
| Vegan / gelatin-free | SmartSweets: Varies — several SKUs use gelatin | Kuma: 100% vegan, pectin-based | Better fit: Kuma |
| What it's for | SmartSweets: Candy craving, fewer grams of sugar | Kuma: Craving plus a protein serving | Better fit: Kuma |
| Price per serving | SmartSweets: ~$1.60–$2.50 per bag | Kuma: $4.17–$8.75 | Better fit: SmartSweets |
| Flavor variety | SmartSweets: Many shapes and flavors | Kuma: One flavor — Berry Fusion | Better fit: SmartSweets |
Figures for SmartSweets reflect publicly available label information as of July 2026 and vary by product and retailer. Kuma figures are per 10-gummy pouch. Always check the current label.
Why Kuma is the closest upgrade
- 20g protein per pouch (10 gummies) instead of a bag that's nutritionally a rounding error.
- 0g added sugar, same as the reason you left regular candy.
- Vegan and gelatin-free across the board — no per-SKU label check.
- Portioned into single pouches, so one serving is the obvious stopping point.
When to stick with SmartSweets
Stay with SmartSweets if you want candy variety — sour, peachy, a different shape every week — and you're already hitting your protein elsewhere. Kuma is one berry flavor doing a nutritional job.
Frequently asked questions
No meaningful amount — SmartSweets is low-sugar candy, typically 0–1g of protein per bag. For a chewy sweet that also counts toward protein, a protein gummy is the alternative.
It depends on the SKU — several use gelatin, while others are pectin-based. Check the individual bag. Kuma is pectin-based and vegan across the line.
Kuma has 0g added sugar; SmartSweets lands around 3g per bag. Both are dramatic reductions from conventional candy — the bigger difference is the 20g of protein.
Any sweetener system can bother a sensitive stomach if you eat a lot at once — Kuma uses monk fruit, allulose, and erythritol. A pouch is a single 10-gummy serving, which is a much smaller load than working through a full candy bag.
Keep comparing
Bear with us — this part is easy
20g of plant protein per pouch, 0g added sugar, and a berry flavor you'll actually look forward to. Start a subscription and save up to 63% — 12 pouches for $49.99 on your first delivery.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.