Michelob Ultra and Bud Light are the two cans you reach for when you want a light beer that does not blow up your carb budget. They have nearly identical positioning but the macros and the broader lineup tell different stories once you put them side by side.
The numbers, side by side
| Stat | Michelob Ultra | Bud Light |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked entries | 6 | 6 |
| Avg DrinkLeader score | 95.2/100 | 92.5/100 |
| Avg carbs (g) | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Avg calories | 80 | 100 |
| Avg ABV | 4.0% | 5.0% |
The verdict
Michelob Ultra wins on carbs (1.0g avg vs 2.0g). Michelob Ultra is leaner on calories (80 vs 100). Michelob Ultra scores higher overall (95.2/100 vs 92.5/100).
Top Michelob Ultra picks
Score-ranked from the 6 Michelob Ultra entries currently tracked in the Michelob Ultra brand page.
Michelob Ultra Seltzer Cucumber Lime
1g carbs · 80 cal · 4% ABV
DrinkLeader score: 95.15/100
Michelob Ultra Seltzer Spicy Pineapple
1g carbs · 80 cal · 4% ABV
DrinkLeader score: 95.15/100
Michelob Ultra Seltzer Peach Pear
1g carbs · 80 cal · 4% ABV
DrinkLeader score: 95.15/100
Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer Cucumber Lime
1g carbs · 80 cal · 4% ABV
DrinkLeader score: 95.15/100
Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer Peach Pear
1g carbs · 80 cal · 4% ABV
DrinkLeader score: 95.15/100
Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer Spicy Pineapple
1g carbs · 80 cal · 4% ABV
DrinkLeader score: 95.15/100
Top Bud Light picks
Score-ranked from the 6 Bud Light entries currently tracked in the Bud Light brand page.
Bud Light Seltzer Passionfruit
2g carbs · 100 cal · 5% ABV
DrinkLeader score: 92.46/100
BUD LIGHT SELTZER GRAPEFRUIT
2g carbs · 100 cal · 5% ABV
DrinkLeader score: 92.45/100
Bud Light Seltzer Lemon Lime
2g carbs · 100 cal · 5% ABV
DrinkLeader score: 92.45/100
Bud Light Seltzer Black Cherry
2g carbs · 100 cal · 5% ABV
DrinkLeader score: 92.45/100
Bud Light Seltzer Strawberry
2g carbs · 100 cal · 5% ABV
DrinkLeader score: 92.45/100
Bud Light Seltzer Mango
2g carbs · 100 cal · 5% ABV
DrinkLeader score: 92.45/100
Which should you grab?
- Pick Michelob Ultra if you want the leanest macros across the lineup. The seltzers and organic variants extend the brand into genuinely low-carb territory.
- Pick Bud Light if you want a reliable, widely available default that is still under 7g carbs and around 110 calories.
- The category-level winner comes down to whether you want the lowest carbs (Michelob Ultra) or maximum availability and flavor familiarity (Bud Light).
Keep exploring
For the broader category context, see the Beer guide, or compare them against hard seltzers in the Light Beer vs Hard Seltzer guide.
