These Are the 9 Healthiest Store-Bought Yogurt Brands You Can Buy, According to a Nutritionist
Want to get a bit more out of your yogurt cup? Try one of these expert-approved recommendations.
Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman/Getty Images
In 2025, the global yogurt market was valued at $32.8 billion, and it is projected to reach a whopping $48.2 billion by 2034. This darling of the fermented food category was first discovered by accident between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago when herdsmen stored milk in bags made from animal stomach skins. The bacteria fermented the milk, and yogurt was created! Although Greek yogurt leads the category, we have been seeing newer types of yogurts, including Icelandic (Skyr), Bulgarian (made exclusively with the A2 protein), and many more varieties featuring whole milk.
Below, we'll walk you through what to look for when choosing a yogurt to meet your individual dietary needs, plus nine yogurt brands that we recommend buying the next time you're at the grocery store.
Navigating the Yogurt Aisle
The new 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends three servings of dairy per day as part of a 2,000-calorie dietary pattern. Yogurt counts towards those goals. Depending on your dietary needs, here's a list of what to look out for in the dairy aisle:
Milk Fat Level
With whole milk varieties growing in popularity, there are more yogurt options than ever before. But you can also find low- and nonfat milk options. In 2018, a large epidemiological cohort known as the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study found that people between the ages of 35 to 70 had a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart attack, stroke, and mortality, after eating 14 weekly servings of mostly whole-fat dairy foods. The study followed people from 21 different countries for an average of 7.4 years.
Added Sugar
Many yogurt brands have decreased their added sugar totals, but many have replaced it with sweeteners, like Stevia and monk fruit. Some brands opt to use a small amount of cane sugar, while others don’t use any added sugar or low and no-calorie sweeteners. With so many options available, you’re bound to find something that fits your dietary needs in the yogurt aisle.
Live and Active Cultures
Live and active cultures are friendly bacteria that can be found in yogurt. They support digestion and gut health. If you look at a yogurt's ingredients list, you’ll see names of common bacteria like Lactobacillus Bulgaricus and Streptococcus Thermophiles. Many yogurts also have the International Dairy Foods Association "live & active cultures" seal on their labels. This is a voluntary certification available to all manufacturers of yogurt and cultured dairy products whose products contain at least 100 million cultures per gram of product at their time of manufacture (aka 10 times higher than the minimum levels required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.)
Lactose
Traditional yogurt has about 13 grams of lactose per serving, while Greek yogurt has about 4 grams. Both also provide live and active cultures, which break down the lactose and make it easier to digest. Many brands also have lactose-free offerings, so read your labels!
Vitamin D
This vitamin is under consumed by all populations in the U.S. and works with calcium to support healthy bones. Vitamin D is typically fortified in milk and in some yogurts. If you’re looking to get vitamin D, check out your yogurt label. You can also read the nutrition facts panel, which should ideally have around 10 to 15% of the recommended daily value.
The 9 Healthiest Store-Bought Yogurt Brands To Buy
Below are nine yogurt brands to try. Some have been on market shelves for decades, while others are newcomers. No matter your needs, you'll have a ton to choose from.
This thick and creamy Icelandic yogurt, made with low-fat milk, contains 11 to 17 grams of protein and 9 to 10 grams of sugar per serving. It’s thicker than Greek yogurt and has a milder flavor due to the included Certified Heirloom Cultures from Iceland, which helps support gut health. I, personally, love eating the brand's vanilla flavor topped with blueberries and chopped cashews. Other delicious options include Strawberry & Lingonberry Skyr, Wild Blueberry & Bilberry Skyr, and Peach & Cloudberry Skyr.
If you’re looking for a creamy yogurt with less sugar, Too Good & Co. has got you covered. The blended line contains 70-percent less sugar compared to other average plain and Greek yogurts and no artificial sweeteners or fruit purees. My family loves using the 4-packs of vanilla, mixed berry (see above), and strawberry as a grab-and-go snack or mixed into smoothies.
This Bulgarian-style yogurt, which is made in Pennsylvania, is unstrained and uses A2A2 organic whole milk and live cultures. Typically, cows produce milk that contains A1 and A2 proteins, but some individuals are sensitive to the A1 protein. Trimona yogurt is made from milk produced by A2 cows, making it a good choice for those who are sensitive. Flavors include plain whole milk yogurt, vanilla whole milk yogurt, and a plain yogurt drink. This thick yogurt is not only fantastic for snacking, but it also can be used to thicken soups and smoothies, and in baking recipes.
This lush Greek yogurt was one of the first to hit U.S. markets, and coincidentally, it was also the first food I was given after giving birth to my son in 2002. Whether you’re looking for full fat (5%), reduced fat (2%), or nonfat (0%), Fage has something for you. This yogurt is also free from GMOs, preservatives, artificial flavors, and artificial sweeteners, and is certified gluten-free.
One of the newest Skyr yogurt brands to hit the market, Painterland Sisters was co-founded by Hayley and Stephanie Painter, who are also the brand's co-CEOs. The sisters live in Pennsylvania where they have been on their family farm for four generations, and are committed to organic regenerative farming practices. The thick and creamy yogurt is USDA-certified organic, pasture-raised, non-GMO, and free of antibiotics, hormones, and synthetic chemicals. It's also made with whole milk, and the single-serve containers provide between 16 to 18 grams of protein. In addition to the Savannah’s Peach flavor pictured above, options include Plain, Strawberry Fields, Meadow Berry, Passion Fruit, Blueberry Lemon, and Vanilla Bean.
Nancy’s Probiotic Foods has several lines of yogurt including this 100% Grass-Fed variety that's made with whole milk. It’s produced by a third-generation, family-owned creamery that has been operating in Eugene, Oregon for 66 years. The yogurt contains live probiotics and cream on top with no antibiotics, chemicals, GMOs, or pesticides. In addition to the plain flavor, a 100% Grass-Fed vanilla flavor is also available in 24-ounce containers.
Made from soymilk, this yogurt is a complete protein providing 12-13 grams of plant-based protein, 4 grams of fiber, and 5 essential nutrients (calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iodine, and phosphorus). It contains 8-10 grams of added cane sugar. Plus, this yogurt is made with no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. Soy Protein Yogurt is available in in 5.3-ounce individual cups in flavors like vanilla, strawberry, peach, and mixed berry. The vanilla is also available in 24-ounce tubs (see above.)
If you’re looking for a yogurt that uses all-natural ingredients, Chobani is a good option. Their tasty zero sugar line has 60 calories, 12 grams of sugar, and contains stevia leaf extract (reb m) and monk fruit extract to add sweetness. Because it is all-natural, Chobani doesn’t fortify this yogurt with vitamin D. Popular flavors in this line include mixed berry, toasted coconut vanilla, and vanilla.
One of the best choices for athletes and protein-maxxing enthusiasts is Oikos Pro, according to Dana Angelo White, sports dietitian and Food Network contributor. "Oikos Pro is a tasty and convenient option for a quick breakfast or on-the-go recovery snack," says White. Available in both spoonable and drinkable varieties in flavors like vanilla, peach, and key lime, a 5.3-ounce cup contains 20 grams of protein, plus added vitamin B and D.
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