Popcorn is a great alternative to chips and puffs. They can be just as savory – after all, popcorn comes in sweet, salty, and spicy varieties.
Popcorn may not be as crunchy as chips, but it has a few advantages, like less fat and fewer calories. But which popcorn brand is the one to choose?
In this article, I look at Skinny Pop vs Smartfood. What’s the better popcorn?
Read on to learn more about both brands, what they offer and how they compare against each other.
Skinny Pop
Skinny Pop popcorn has been around since 2010.
The first few thousand bags of Skinny Pop were hand-produced, but now the brand is too big to keep doing this, so the process has become mechanized.
In December 2017, the original Skinny Pop company was taken over by Hershey’s.
Where Do I Buy Skinny Pop?
Skinny Pop is a product of Hershey’s, and it’s fairly easy to find. You can buy Skinny Pop in grocery stores, Target, Walmart, convenience stores, gas stations, and other retailers that sell a good selection of snack foods.
Of course, Amazon is also a great choice. You can get great offers on Skinny Pop, especially when you buy in bulk. Take a look at these.
- Two big bags of Skinny Pop one classic and one for the people who love it spicy. It’s the perfect combo.
- 12 boxes of Skinny Pop buttery popcorn (3 bags in each box). This offer ensures you won’t run out of popcorn for your movie nights.
What Skinny Pop Flavors Are Available?
Skinny Pop has a small but nice selection of flavors.
- Sea Salt
- Buttery
- White Cheddar
- Cinnamon and Sugar
- Sweet and Salty Kettle
- Sharp Cheddar
- And, of course, the original flavor
Later, we’ll find out whether Smartfood popcorn has a better lineup.
What are the Ingredients in Skinny Pop?
The ingredients of the most basic Skinny pop flavor are few.
Popcorn, sunflower oil, and salt.
Flavored versions of the popcorn will include more ingredients like sugar, flavorings, colorings, etc.
Is Skinny Pop Vegetarian or Vegan?
Skinny Pop popcorn is fine for vegetarians, and some flavors are fine for vegans.
Vegans must avoid the flavors (because of dairy): buttery, white cheddar, and sharp cheddar.
Smartfood
Frito-Lay, part of the Pepsi-Cola Company, produces Smartfood popcorn.
The popcorn first entered the market in 1985, so it’s been around for longer than Skinny Pop.
Where Do I Buy Smartfood?
Smartfood popcorn makes it easy to find a local store; head over to the “Where To Buy” section on the official website.
Generally, Smartfood popcorn, and other Smartfood snacks, can be found in grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and other stores that sell a variety of snacks (including, but not limited to, Walmart and Target).
If you like getting things delivered, then online shopping is an option.
Amazon has a great variety box of Smartfood popcorn, including 40 bags of the most popular Smartfood popcorn flavors. It’s a nice option to try and find out which ones you like best.
What Smartfood Flavors Are Available?
Smartfood popcorn also comes in some tasty varieties.
- White Cheddar
- Flamin’ Hot White Cheddar
- Caramel and Cheddar Mix
- Movie Theater Butter
- Sweet and Salty Kettle
- Sea Salt
Basically, Smartfood and Skinny Pop offer almost the same number of flavors. Smartfood doesn’t have a flavor that’s only sweet, which is a shame.
What are the Ingredients in Smartfood?
Just like Skinny Pop, the ingredient list of Smartfood popcorn is simple.
Popcorn, Vegetable Oil, (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil), and Sea Salt
Again, flavored versions have a slightly longer ingredient list but are nowhere near as excessive as other snack foods.
Is Smartfood Vegetarian or Vegan?
The salted Smartfood popcorn and the sweet & salty flavor are both fine for vegans and vegetarians alike, but unfortunately, vegans cannot enjoy the remaining flavors in the lineup.
They contain dairy, making them unsuitable for vegans.
Comparison Questions (Skinny Pop vs Smartfood Popcorn)
Which Is More Affordable?
Considering that the offered flavors and ingredients are not that different, let’s look at how the two popcorn brands compare regarding pricing. As both are offered in various sizes, I calculated the average price per oz by comparing prices from various stores.
I compared two similar flavors – salted and white cheddar.
| Skinny Pop | Smartfood | More affordable | |
| Salted | $0.29 per oz | $0.54 per oz | Skinny Pop |
| White Cheddar | $0.65 per oz | $0.47 per oz | Smartfood |
As you can see, there is no clear winner this round. For some reason, Skinny Pop sometimes costs a lot more than Smartfood, and for other flavors, it’s the other way around. If affordability is very important, you’ll need to check each available flavor individually.
Which Has The Better Nutritional Values?
There has been no clear winner, so let’s see whether the nutritional facts make a difference. I have chosen the salted version of each popcorn brand to keep the comparison fair.
| Skinny Pop | Smartfood | Better | |
| Serving size | 3 ¾ cups (28g) | 3 ¾ cups (28g) | neither |
| Calories | 150 | 140 | Smartfood |
| Fat | 10g | 7g | Smartfood |
| Sodium | 75 mg | 150 mg | Skinny Pop |
| Total Carbs | 15g | 17g | neither |
| Protein | 2g | 3g | Smartfood |
While Smartfood overall has a few better values, it’s important to note that Skinny Pop has much less sodium (half as much).
I’d say it balances everything, so you can’t say one popcorn is nutritionally better than the other. If you have to watch your sodium intake, Skinny Pop is the better choice.
Do Skinny Pop Or Smartfood Have Gluten-Free Options?
Popcorn is one of the foods that are safe for people who cannot eat food with gluten.
Both popcorn brands are gluten-free.
Final Thoughts
While I prefer Skinny Pop as it has some flavors I like a lot (cinnamon and sugar is just a combination that’s hard to beat), Smartfood popcorn is also very good.
The popcorn brands are very similar, but overall, Skinny Pop is the winner of this fight. The basic Skinny Pop flavors are more affordable, contain less sodium, and are just a little tastier.
Read my related snack food comparisons:
- Corn Chips vs Potato Chips | What’s the Difference?
- Cheetos vs Cheez Doodles | What’s Better?
- Cheetos vs Chesters | What’s the Difference?
- Takis vs Turbos | What Chips Are Better?
- Plantain Chips vs Tortilla Chips | What’s the Difference?
- Goldfish vs Cheez-Its | What’s the Better Cheese Snack?
