White Claw vs Truly: Which Hard Seltzer Has Fewer Carbs?

White Claw vs Truly compared on carbs, calories, sugar, and alcohol. Which hard seltzer is more keto-friendly? A side-by-side breakdown of both.

Priya Sharma
Priya Sharma

Nutrition Writer · July 14, 2026 · 2 min read

White Claw vs Truly: Which Hard Seltzer Has Fewer Carbs?

White Claw and Truly are essentially tied for keto: a 12 oz White Claw has about 2g of carbs and 100 calories, and a 12 oz Truly has about 1–2g of carbs and 100 calories. Truly edges it slightly on sugar, but the difference is small enough that either fits a low-carb or keto day. Here's the side-by-side.

White Claw vs Truly at a glance

Per 12 oz can White Claw Truly
Carbs ~2g ~1–2g
Sugar ~2g ~1g
Calories 100 100
Alcohol (ABV) 5% 5%
Keto-friendly? ✅ Yes ✅ Yes

The verdict

For carbs and calories, it's basically a coin flip — both land around 1–2g of carbs and 100 calories per can, and both are well within a keto budget. If you want the technically-lowest sugar, Truly has a slight edge (about 1g vs 2g). If you prefer the flavor lineup or availability of White Claw, the 1g difference won't move your macros.

What actually matters on keto isn't which of these two you pick — it's that you choose a hard seltzer over beer (12–15g of carbs) or a juice/soda mixed drink (20–30g+). Both White Claw and Truly are among the most keto-friendly ready-to-drink options on the shelf.

Why hard seltzers are keto-friendly

Hard seltzers are made from fermented sugar or a malt/spirit base, then carbonated and lightly flavored, so they carry very few residual carbs — usually 1–3g per can. Compare that to:

  • Beer: 12–15g per 12 oz (light beers 3–7g)
  • Wine: 3–4g per 5 oz (dry) up to 14g+ (sweet)
  • Margarita: 24–36g

That low carb count is why seltzers became the default keto drink. Just remember the alcohol itself still pauses fat-burning while your body processes it, and it hits faster on keto — so moderation beats math.

Beyond White Claw and Truly

If you want the absolute lowest, several brands come in around 1g or less — check the full ranking of low-carb hard seltzers. For other options, see the low-carb alcohol guide, best low-carb beers, and keto cocktails.

However you drink, the simplest way to keep it keto is to track it. CarbMeNot logs the carbs in seltzers, beer, cocktails, and mixers — snap a photo or scan the can — free on iOS and Android. Check any drink first with the free Is It Keto? tool.

Frequently asked questions

Which has fewer carbs, White Claw or Truly?
They're nearly identical. A 12 oz White Claw has about 2g of carbs and 100 calories, while a 12 oz Truly has about 1–2g of carbs and 100 calories. Truly edges it slightly on sugar (about 1g vs 2g), but both are low enough to fit a keto or low-carb day comfortably.
Is White Claw keto-friendly?
Yes. At about 2g of carbs and 100 calories per 12 oz can, White Claw fits easily within a typical keto budget of 20–50g net carbs a day. The alcohol itself still pauses fat-burning while it's processed, so drink in moderation.
Is Truly keto-friendly?
Yes. Truly Hard Seltzer has about 1–2g of carbs and 100 calories per 12 oz, making it one of the more keto-friendly canned drinks. As with any alcohol, moderation matters more than the carb count.
How many carbs are in a White Claw vs a Truly?
White Claw is about 2g of carbs per 12 oz can; Truly is about 1–2g per 12 oz can. Both are dramatically lower than beer (12–15g) or a mixed drink with juice or soda.
What is the lowest-carb hard seltzer?
The very lowest come in under 1g — brands like Bon & Viv, Vizzy, and some Michelob Ultra Organic seltzers are around 1–2g. White Claw and Truly both sit around 1–2g, so any of them work for keto. See our full ranking of low-carb hard seltzers for the complete list.

Sources

  1. USDA FoodData Central
  2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH)

Keep reading

Free tools: Is It Keto? checker · macro calculator · protein calculator · 7-day meal plan PDF