Cider is quietly the biggest success story in the alcohol-free world. While AF beer gets all the headlines and AF wine still struggles to convince anyone, alcohol-free cider has been turning out genuinely brilliant bottles for years. The reason is simple: cider already gets most of its character from apples, not alcohol. Take the booze out and you still have something that tastes like, well, cider.
We've been tracking AF cider prices and availability across UK retailers for months, and the range has never been better. Whether you want a proper scrumpy-style West Country number or a fruit cider for the garden, there's something here for you.
Traditional Apple Ciders
These are for the people who actually like cider. Proper apple flavour, a bit of tannin, and none of that sticky sweetness.
Thatchers Zero (0.0%)
The benchmark. Crafted at Myrtle Farm in Somerset using a blend of traditional and modern cider apples, Thatchers Zero delivers a golden, medium-dry cider with fresh apple up front and a crisp tartness to finish. It won Best Cider at the Imbibe No-and-Low Awards and remains the one everyone else is trying to beat. Light, thirst-quenching, and genuinely satisfying.
Price: From £1.84 at ASDA, £2.00 at Sainsbury's, £4.00 at Morrisons Available at: ASDA, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose, Wise Bartender, Dry Drinker
Stowford Press Apple Cider Low Alcohol (0.5%)
Westons have been making cider in Herefordshire since 1880, and their Stowford Press Low Alcohol keeps things traditional. Made with fruit grown within 50 miles of the mill and matured in old oak vats, it has sweet ripe apple with a malic tartness and a gentle honey undertone. At just £1.00 at ASDA, it's arguably the best value AF cider in the country.
Price: From £1.00 at ASDA, £2.45 at The Alcohol Free Co Available at: ASDA, Wise Bartender, The Alcohol Free Co, Dry Drinker
Sandford Orchards Red Zero (0.5%)
This is the craft pick. A Devon cider dealcoholised from heritage varieties including Dabinett, Farmers Glory, and Sweet Alford, Red Zero recently won gold and was named Best Non-Alcoholic Cider at the World Cider Awards. It has noticeably more apple depth than most 0.5% ciders, with juicy orchard fruit, real Dabinett tannin, and a lively fruitiness that sets it apart. If you want to know what a proper small-batch AF cider can do, start here.
Price: From £2.50 at Morrisons, £3.21 at The Alcohol Free Co Available at: Morrisons, The Alcohol Free Co, Dry Drinker
Sheppy's Low Alcohol Classic Cider (0.5%)
Six generations of cider-making in Somerset stand behind this one. Sheppy's Classic blends traditional and dessert apple varieties for a cider with crisp red apple fruit, a hint of tannin, and restrained sweetness. It's gluten-free, vegan, and at £1.75 from Tesco, very affordable for the quality.
Price: From £1.75 at Tesco, £3.60 at Wise Bartender Available at: Tesco, Wise Bartender
Inch's 0.0 Apple Cider
Simple and effective. Clean pressed apple, a touch of tartness, and nothing getting in the way. Inch's doesn't try to reinvent the wheel; it just delivers a solid, refreshing AF cider at a fair price. Widely stocked and reliable.
Price: From £3.47 at ASDA, £4.00 at Sainsbury's Available at: ASDA, Sainsbury's
Hogans High Sobriety (0.5%)
A proper craft cider from the Marches, naturally fermented from fresh-pressed English cider apples with a clever touch of aged cider vinegar for structure. Medium-dry, orchard-fresh, and about as far from industrial cider as you can get. They also do a raspberry version that's tart and bright rather than sugary.
Price: From £1.99 at The Alcohol Free Co Available at: The Alcohol Free Co, Dry Drinker
Fruit Ciders
Not everyone wants bone-dry Somerset scrumpy. Fruit ciders are brilliant for barbecues, picnics, and anyone who likes their drinks on the sweeter side.
Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime Alcohol-Free (0.0%)
The Swedish fruit cider giant absolutely nails the AF version. Reviewers consistently say they can't tell the difference between this and the 4% original, which is about the highest compliment an alcohol-free drink can get. Ripe strawberry, fresh lime zest, and just enough apple to remind you it's cider. They also do Pear (from £1.40 at ASDA), Mixed Fruit, and Mixed Fruit Tropical.
Price: From £1.75 at Tesco/Sainsbury's, £2.99 at The Alcohol Free Co Available at: Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Morrisons, Wise Bartender, Dry Drinker
Old Mout Berries & Cherries Alcohol Free (0.0%)
Deep ruby, properly fruity, and unashamedly sweet. Old Mout's AF fruit cider packs cherry, blackcurrant, and raspberry onto an apple base. Born in New Zealand and brewed in the UK, this is the one for people who want their cider to taste like summer in a glass. Also available in Pineapple & Raspberry.
Price: From £3.47 at The Alcohol Free Co Available at: The Alcohol Free Co, Dry Drinker
Rekorderlig Strawberry & Lime (0.0%)
Made with Swedish spring water, Rekorderlig's AF version delivers the same fruit-forward character as the original. Ripe strawberry and citric lime with a clean finish. A strong pick if you're already a Rekorderlig fan.
Premium and International Picks
Galipette Non-Alc (0.0%)
French cider done right. Pure juice from northwest France with no concentrate, no sweeteners, just apple juice and CO2. Semi-sweet with pronounced natural acidity and a clean, dry finish. Available at Waitrose for £1.95, which is a steal for a Norman cider.
Price: From £1.95 at Waitrose, £3.16 at The Alcohol Free Co Available at: Waitrose, The Alcohol Free Co, Dry Drinker
Maison SASSY Alcohol Free Cider (0.0%)
Organic Norman cider from five bittersweet apple varieties, freshly pressed and dealcoholised. Beautiful packaging, genuinely good liquid inside, and a proper bittersweet tannin that most AF ciders lack. A step up for special occasions.
Price: From £3.10 at Wise Bartender, £3.43 at The Alcohol Free Co Available at: Wise Bartender, The Alcohol Free Co, Dry Drinker
Where to Buy
The supermarkets have seriously upped their AF cider game. Here's where to look:
- ASDA has the best prices overall, with Stowford Press at £1.00 and competitive pricing on Thatchers, Kopparberg, and Inch's
- Tesco stocks Thatchers, Sheppy's, and Kopparberg, with single bottles from £1.75
- Sainsbury's carries Thatchers, Kopparberg, and Inch's
- Morrisons has Thatchers and the excellent Sandford Orchards Red Zero
- Waitrose is the place for Galipette and Thatchers
For wider selection, the specialist online retailers are your best bet. Wise Bartender, The Alcohol Free Co, and Dry Drinker between them stock everything on this list and plenty more. Dry Drinker prices are typically for multipacks, so don't be put off by the higher numbers.
Tips for Getting the Best from AF Cider
Serve it cold. Colder than you think. AF cider really comes alive at fridge temperature, and a couple of ice cubes won't hurt the fruit varieties at all.
Try before you bulk buy. Everyone's palate is different. The cider that wins awards might not be your favourite, and the budget supermarket option might turn out to be the one you keep going back to.
Don't ignore the small producers. Brands like Hogans, Maiden Mill, and Sandford Orchards are making some of the most interesting AF ciders in the country. They cost a bit more per bottle but the quality speaks for itself.
Curious about why cider translates so well to alcohol-free? We covered the science in our piece on why AF cider just works.