If you’ve ever felt fatigued, you’re not alone. Did you know that in one study, as many as 50% of American college students reported sleepiness during the day (Hershner)? Between tests, work, and social expectations, modern college students can be very busy. This is draining and commonly leads to issues like a lack of energy or poor mental focus, which can have consequences like hindered academic performance. Further, there is a lot of demand for products that boost energy and mitigate mental fatigue. A lot of busy people use energy drinks to keep up with their daily demands, and one survey found that 51% of college students drink energy drinks regularly. When asked for the main reasons they were consuming energy drinks, 65% said it was to increase energy, and 67% said it was to make up for not getting enough sleep (Malinauskas).While it is fair to say that a good energy drink must simply give you energy, it is apparent that a great one must offer more to the consumer in our modern times. Some important things to consider when picking an energy drink can be brand reputation, type of sweetener, price, and quality of ingredients for fatigue and mental focus. The market for energy drinks has become vast, so we are going to explore two options to help you decide which one you’re drinking next.
Photo by Kaleb Becker on Unsplash
Red Bull
We cannot talk about energy drinks without considering Red Bull Energy, because its popularity has dominated the market for 38 years. The launch of the Red Bull company in 1987 is even credited for creating the modern product category that is energy drinks (“Red Bull”). Data from a 2025 survey of 730 Americans showed that 41% consumed Red Bull the most frequently (Gallant). Chances are you have tried one before. For the sake of keeping this argument concise, we will compare their most popular product, the 12 oz original flavor Red Bull Energy drink. Because of its ease of accessibility from most grocery and convenience stores, Red Bull can be an excellent choice for those seeking a boost.Photo by Philo Tyler
Jocko GO Energy
Sweetener
The type of sweetener can be incredibly important when considering which drink is the right one for you. Jocko GO Energy is sugar-free and instead sweetened with Monk Fruit extract, which is a natural sweetener with no calories. Monk fruit gets its sweetness from antioxidants called mogrosides, which are sweeter than sugar and could even improve health. Studies show that Monk fruit sweeteners also do not spike blood sugar and might have anti-inflammatory properties, both of which are excellent benefits (Brown). In comparison, Red Bull Energy Original flavor is sweetened with 37 grams of sugar (“Red Bull”). While sugar is fine in moderation and can even help give a temporary boost to your brain, excessive amounts of sugar have been shown to have negative consequences for your health. A 2014 study of the effects of sugar intake showed that “people who got 17% to 21% of their calories from added sugar had a 38% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared with those who consumed 8% of their calories as added sugar” (“The Sweet Danger of Sugar”). The link between heart disease and sugar is well studied and something to seriously consider when you're looking for a product you can feel confident in. The American Heart Association recommends 36 grams of sugar a day for men, and 25 grams per day for women (“How Much Sugar is Too Much”). Even just one Red Bull a day would put anyone above the recommended amount of sugar per day, which means it could have consequences for your long-term heart health. With that in mind, it's no wonder many consumers choose to go with sugar-free options like Jocko GO. For the health-conscious consumer, Jocko GO might take the win in this category.
Intended Effects
An energy drink's effects on fatigue and mental focus are also very important when considering which is the best. Comparing the ingredients that our brands choose to enhance their drink, and their intended benefits, are how we will navigate this topic. For one twelve ounce can, Red Bull offers 102 milligrams of caffeine (“Red Bull”), whereas Jocko offers 95 milligrams of caffeine for the same size can (“Jocko”). Very similar, so we will consider this a baseline similarity ultimately. Another similarity, they both supplement you with B-group Vitamins, which are incredibly important for brain function and natural energy production. Basically, both will give you a boost of energy and reduce fatigue.Let's get right into everything that makes them wonderful and different from one another. Red Bull has one more ingredient to enhance your experience, which is 1000 milligrams of Taurine (per twelve ounce can). Taurine is an important amino acid that plays a role in heart health and can enhance brain function according to the brand's website (“Red Bull”). Jocko, on the other hand, offers a lot more. To start off with, you get the combined force of three important electrolytes, sodium and potassium. On the brain support side of things, the Jocko website details how you get a whole lot of clinically dosed, science-based support from a blend of supplements called nootropics. The effect of all these together is intended to increase focus, mental energy, processing speed, and boosted mood (“Jocko”). As far as which one offers more brain power for its consumer, Jocko GO Energy simply provides more.
Putting Them to the Test
Going into my personal experience with these brands, we will explore things like price, flavor, and my perceived effects. The price difference between these two brands is something to note, with Red Bull being considerably cheaper. When I bought mine, I spent $3.49 on the Jocko Go Energy drink, and $2.88 on the Red Bull. The budget-conscious consumer might give Red Bull the win on that one, and they’d save about $0.61 per can. While I was purchasing both drinks, I noticed that both offered a variety of different flavors to choose from. This is important because most people like to have options. Since I chose to do this experiment with the original Red Bull as the one side of the comparison, I chose the original flavor for this test. The added taurine and citric acid give a unique taste and texture to the drink, which I would describe as sweet and sour. For the Jocko energy drink, I chose a green apple flavor. I found that the monk fruit sweetener does add a unique aftertaste that some might find strange, but I enjoyed. The Jocko was much more subtle with its flavor, and less carbonated as well. Flavor wise, both are definitely worth trying to see which you prefer for yourself. For me, I found Jocko Go to be much easier to drink overall.Which One Works?
Now, to the part you’ve all been waiting for: which one works? For your benefit, I have tried both on two different days, with the intention of improving my school performance. With Red Bull and Jocko alike, I noticed a boost in alertness and mental energy. With the Red Bull energy drink, I felt more restless and jittery compared to my experience with Jock GO Energy, which I found provided a calmer and noticeably longer effect. The crash from the Red Bull was quicker and more profound as well. With Jocko, I was actually able to study for one hour longer than I had with Red Bull. If I was going to pick one to help me with a late-night study session, there is no doubt that I would choose Jocko GO Energy over Red Bull.In conclusion, Red Bull Energy and Jocko GO Energy both offer a wide array of benefits, and both might just help you get through your next test. But after getting into the details, they do not stack up the same when you get into the choice of sweeteners and amount of brain support. Red Bull might be well known and well liked, but newer brands like Jocko GO seem to have adapted to fit the lifestyle of those interested in a drink that does more for the consumer. When you need all the support you can get, why not GO for more?
Works Cited
Hershner, Shelley D, and Ronald D Chervin. “Causes and Consequences of Sleepiness among College Students.” Nature and Science of Sleep, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 23 June 2014, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4075951/#abstract1.
Malinauskas, Brenda M, et al. “A Survey of Energy Drink Consumption Patterns among College Students.” Nutrition Journal, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 31 Oct. 2007, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2206048/#sec9.
Gallant, Andrew. “Here’s Who Is Drinking Energy Drinks and How They Might Be Fueling Emphasis on Health and Fitness in 2025.” CivicScience, 31 Jan. 2025, civicscience.com/heres-who-is-drinking-energy-drinks-and-how-they-might-be-fueling-emphasis-on-health-and-fitness-in-2025/#:~:text=Brands%20That%20Rank,likely%20to%20sway%20drinkers’%20preferences.
“Red Bull Company: Giving Wiiings to People & Ideas.” Red Bull Company: Giving Wiiings to People & Ideas, www.redbull.com/us-en/energydrink/company-profile. Accessed 27 June 2025.
“Jocko Go Energy Drinks.” Jocko Fuel, jockofuel.com/products/jocko-go-energy-drink?variant=50036955480359. Accessed 29 June 2025.
“How Much Sugar Is Too Much?” American Heart Association, 9 Apr. 2025, www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sugar/how-much-sugar-is-too-much.
“The Sweet Danger of Sugar.” Harvard Health, 6 Jan. 2022, www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar.
Brown, Mary Jane. “Monk Fruit Sweetener: Good or Bad?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 12 May 2025, www.healthline.com/nutrition/monk-fruit-sweetener.
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