The 10 Best Yogurt Brands You Can Buy, According to a Registered Dietitian

How to Pick a Healthy Yogurt

You don’t truly grasp the meaning of decision paralysis until you stand in front of the yogurt aisle at your local grocery store. Deciding whether to go for a caramel-flavored yogurt with a side of chocolate sprinkles or splurge on a pint of rocky road can be overwhelming. And what exactly is a probiotic?

That’s no longer a problem. We turned to a registered dietitian for advice on choosing a healthy yogurt and, even better, which specific yogurt brands to grab on your next trip to the dairy section.

Is Yogurt Really Good for You?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. According to Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, and founder of Real Nutrition, selecting a yogurt that’s both tasty and healthy is quite easy. "When picking yogurt, you want to avoid added sugars, which are often used to counterbalance the natural tartness of yogurt," she explains. Translation: none of the options should come with a side of grape jelly (no thanks).

So how can you pick a healthy yogurt aside from checking for added sugar? Here are the top healthy yogurt brands—both dairy and non-dairy options—recommended by Shapiro. "I’ve also included brands that feature probiotic strains, as probiotics are beneficial for the microbiome," she adds.

The list mainly features unflavored yogurts, giving you the freedom to add your own delicious ingredients, like fresh fruit, spices, and granola.

Best Dairy Yogurts for Health

Wallaby Organic Greek Yogurt with No Added Sugar

"A lot of yogurts out there aren’t organic—I prefer Wallaby because they offer organic dairy, which many of my clients prefer," says Shapiro. This brand delivers great taste without the added sugars, using whole food ingredients and spices to naturally sweeten the yogurt. Wallaby also offers a good amount of fat and protein, giving it a satisfying texture that keeps you full.

Fage Total 2% Greek Yogurt

This widely available, incredibly popular brand is non-GMO, free of growth hormones, and does not contain any artificial flavors or preservatives. "I suggest opting for the unsweetened versions of Fage to avoid added sugars," advises Shapiro.

Chobani Complete

As Shapiro mentions, "this great product is sweetened with monk fruit and/or stevia, both calorie-free sweeteners that I endorse." It also includes lactase, which aids digestion, and provides fiber to support a healthy environment for the yogurt's probiotic cultures. "Low in sugar but packed with protein, this makes for an excellent choice for yogurt enthusiasts who want a sweeter option without any negative side effects."

Siggi's Skyr

Siggi's serves creamy skyr—an Icelandic yogurt-like dairy item that's akin to Greek yogurt—featuring very little added sugar (just 4 grams per container) and 12 grams of protein. The product has few ingredients, is hormone-free, and offers a flavor for all. It also includes sidecar options that are low in sugar but nutrient-rich, such as almond butter instead of fruit or jelly.

Two Good Vanilla Greek Yogurt

"This is a great option for those looking for a low-sugar, high-protein yogurt without any artificial sweeteners," shares Dr. Holiday Durham, MS, RD. Two Good's Vanilla Yogurt is crafted with real vanilla bean and is rich in active cultures to support digestion, nutrient absorption, and heart health.

Oikos Triple Zero Blended Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt

Oikos' Triple Zero Blended Mixed Berry Yogurt provides 15 grams of protein, with no added sugars or artificial sweeteners. "These features make it a great option for individuals aiming to keep a balanced diet while managing sugar intake," says Durham.

Maple Hill Organic Yogurt

Maple Hill Creamery's Organic Yogurt is crafted from milk sourced from grass-fed cows, loaded with live and active probiotics, and incredibly nourishing. "An excellent choice for those looking for a grass-fed dairy product with nutritional value," says Durham.

Healthiest Non-Dairy Yogurt Brands

As Shapiro explains, when choosing non-dairy alternatives, it's crucial to pay attention to the additives and sugars used to make the yogurt taste similar to regular yogurt.

Coconut Cult Probiotic Coconut Yogurt

Tasty, tangy, and packed with probiotics. "This product contains only whole-food ingredients based on coconut, paired with a unique probiotic blend," says Shapiro. Each serving contains only 3 grams of sugar. "Coconut Cult may be on the pricier side, but it’s delicious—a jar can last up to four days, so it can be used as a garnish or part of your breakfast. It's quite versatile."

Lavva Dairy Free Yogurt

This plant-based yogurt from Siggi's is packed with nutrients, made from simple ingredients, and a great alternative for those looking for a dairy-free option. With its rich, creamy texture and high probiotic content, it’s a great choice for supporting gut health.

Siggi's Plant-Based Yogurt is an excellent choice for anyone craving a creamy, non-dairy yogurt. Made with high-quality ingredients, it brings a unique blend of flavors and probiotics to nourish both the body and the taste buds.

Pea protein has been incorporated into this coconut milk-based yogurt, providing 10 grams of protein per serving, a unique feature of this blend. Shapiro points out, "Most plant-based yogurts don’t offer substantial protein content." He adds, "Siggi's is low in sugar, free of added sugars, and contains no preservatives. It will keep you feeling full while staying under 200 calories per serving, which is uncommon for plant-based yogurts."

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes a yogurt considered healthy?

  Yogurt is rich in several vital nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins, zinc, potassium, and vitamin D. However, its most distinctive health benefit lies in its probiotic content—the live bacteria that support gut health. Medical professionals believe that these bacterial cultures may help reduce the risk of various diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic inflammatory diseases like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

• What is the healthiest type of yogurt?

  The healthiest type of yogurt depends on which health benefits matter most to you. Both Greek and regular yogurts contain probiotics, but Greek yogurt has double the protein content of traditional yogurt, though it has less calcium. Due to its lower lactose content, Greek yogurt can be a better option for individuals who are lactose intolerant.

• What is the healthiest brand of yogurt for gut health?

  With so many yogurt brands available, each offering different varieties, it’s challenging to point to a single brand as the healthiest. The best way to choose a yogurt that benefits gut health is by checking the label for terms like "live active cultures" or "L. acidophilus."

• Which yogurt has the most probiotics?

  Experts continue to debate whether Greek yogurt or traditional yogurt contains more probiotics. Fortunately, the FDA mandates that all yogurt manufacturers ensure at least 10 million live bacteria remain at the product's expiration date. Thus, both Greek and traditional yogurt offer health advantages when it comes to probiotics.