16 Best Cracker Brands Ranked in 2025

The best crackers have come a long way since your childhood Lunchables. Crispy or crumbly, plain or flavored, vegan or keto or gluten-free — there’s basically no niche that today’s countless cracker brands haven’t covered.

That makes finding the best of the best harder than ever. But it’s also an opportunity to discover a new favorite. You’re not limited to Ritz, Saltines and Goldfish when you’re looking for the best crackers anymore.

And, with U.S. consumers eating crackers daily instead of as an occasional treat, as reported by Mintel, it's not surprising that shoppers are looking for the best crackers on the market, with many also wanting to vary up their snacks by trying different brands and flavors. 

So, which crackers should you be adding to your cart? These are the 16 best cracker brands that we recommend trying, from innovative new brands to nostalgic classics and everything in between. 

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• The 16 Best Snack Crackers Ranked
• What Are the Best Crackers for Cheese?
• What Are the Best Crackers for a Charcuterie Board?
• What Is the Best Snack Cracker? 

The 16 Best Snack Crackers Ranked 

16. Triscuits 

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who think Triscuits taste like straw and won’t eat them, and those who think Triscuits taste like straw and eat them anyway.

We recommend belonging to the second group and correctly acknowledging this polarizing shredded wheat cracker as one of the most delightful crackers ever put on the market. 

Jokes aside, we know that texture’s not for everyone. A little bit of peanut butter or cheese goes a long way to make them taste less dry, but there will always be people who aren’t fans.

We still think that there’s a certain kind of appeal to their dry, salty, crumbly texture, and award them a place among the best crackers anyway. If nothing else, eating them will make you feel health-conscious.

Gluten-Free: No

Vegan: Yes, depending on the flavor

15. Wheat Thins

Don’t write these off as a dull health food: Wheat Thins are actually one of the best crackers in the whole grain niche. If you’re one of those people who like the coarser, seedier texture of a whole wheat product, Wheat Thins are going to be exactly what you’re looking for. Sometimes you want a cracker with a little more character, don’t you?

That’s ultimately what earns Wheat Thins their spot on this list of the best crackers. Feeling healthy is all well and good, but it’s really the texture of Wheat Thins that earns them a place among the best crackers. They have a fantastic snap to them, and that makes them a perfect pair for many types of cheese. 

When we think about eating an afternoon snack of cheese and crackers, this is the cracker we imagine — not necessarily because it’s the world’s best cracker on its own, but because somehow it just feels right. 

Gluten-Free: No

Vegan: Yes

14. Premium Saltines

It’s kind of trendy to hate on Saltines. We sort of get why: they’re common snacks for soothing upset stomachs, and chances are you probably had a science teacher who made you chew them to demonstrate how enzymes worked.

Get a pair of them with your soup, and you’re probably going to end up tossing them in your glove compartment on the way home. But why all that flak? These wouldn’t be so enduring if they weren’t one of the best crackers somehow. 

Saltines, if you can get past the funky associations, are actually pretty tasty. They’re pleasantly salty and more filling than most crackers. And sure, you might associate them with being sick, but there’s something to be said for a snack that’s easy on the stomach.

They’re cheap, easy to find and always there for you — we think that’s enough to make them one of the best crackers out there, no matter what their reputation may be. 

Gluten-Free: No

Vegan: Yes

13. Blue Diamond Nut Thins

There are lots of gluten-free crackers out there. Several of the best crackers on that list qualify for that designation. But this one is unique because it has something to offer nutritionally that most gluten-free crackers don’t: the protein and healthy fats found in nuts.

These healthy crackers have an unmistakably glossy finish and a perfectly savory taste. Naturally, they’re one of the best crackers for the carb-conscious, and they're as delicious on their own as paired with cheese.  

Gluten-Free: Yes

Vegan: No

12. Cheez-It

There is basically nothing healthy about this absolute classic cheddar snack. But if it’s between this, a candy bar and a bag of potato chips, the bag of Cheez-Its may be the best pick at the gas station. All hail the “not as bad as it could be” snack that defined a generation of school lunches.

Some of the best crackers get in on quality, or by filling an uncommon niche. Others make it onto the list of best crackers for their reputation. This is one such snack that got grandfathered in. No matter how artificial that orange color may be, and no matter how old we get, Cheez-Its remain irresistible.

There are better-made, better-quality options on this list of the best crackers; in fact, nearly every other entry is both of those things. But none have the Cheez-It’s je ne sais quoi. 

Gluten-Free: No

Vegan: No

11. Classic Goldfish

You might laugh. Maybe it’s been 20 years since you ate Goldfish crackers, and you can’t imagine buying a bag now. Maybe you’ve moved on with your life. And that’s fine!

To many of us, Goldfish were a mainstay in our school lunches, but quickly lost their relevance after graduation. But we think this absolutely classic cracker is worth a revisit. These days, there are many different Goldfish flavors as well, so you may find a new type that you love. 

They’re crunchy, flaky, cheesy and undeniably one of the best gas station snacks. You could go on eating them for hours without even realizing it. And sure, there are higher-quality cheddar crackers out there, but none of them taste like your childhood.

The humble Goldfish may not look like much, but it’s always going to be one of the best crackers there is. 

Gluten-Free: No

Vegan: No

10. Crunchmaster Multi-Seed 

If you can’t have wheat, you might be feeling a severe lack of crunch in your life. It’s a sad fact that, barring potato chips and toasted nuts, not many gluten-free snacks are crunchy.

But Crunchmaster’s rice-based Multi-Seed Crackers are one of the handful of varieties on this list of the best crackers that are aiming to change that. They’re sturdy, glossy and have a great snap, perfect for pairing with cheese. 

Gluten-Free: Yes

Vegan: Yes

9. Ritz 

We can’t say much about this giant of the cracker scene that someone else hasn’t said more eloquently before. Nor can we likely override whatever experiences you’ve already had with them, for better or for worse.

If there’s one cracker nearly everyone in America has tasted, it’s this one. And that tells you pretty much all you need to know about what makes it one of the best crackers out there.

There’s nothing quite so flaky and perfectly golden as a Ritz. When a baking recipe tells us to leave something in the oven “until golden brown,” it’s the color of a Ritz cracker that we imagine as a reference for what that ought to look like.

Lunchables had it right: those little ham-and-cheese sandwiches wouldn’t have been the same if they were sandwiched between any other type of cracker. We would be absolutely remiss to leave this one off any list of the best crackers, and so would you. 

Gluten-Free: No

Vegan: Yes

8. Trader Joe’s Organic Naan Crackers

We love Trader Joe’s many unique offerings and this relatively healthy snack at Trader Joe’s is one of our favorites from the whole line-up. Notably, if we could only choose one cracker on this list to go with cheese, this would be the one.

Starting with an Indian naan-inspired base was an excellent choice, and of all the best crackers, these are one of the few where the bread itself is enough to stand on its own without a whole lot of seasoning.

Crunchy, sturdy and deliciously flaky, this is what we imagine a Ritz cracker would taste like if it dressed up for a nice dinner. Your favorite hard cheese will thank you for introducing it to this delightful Trader Joe’s snack. 

Gluten-Free: No 

Vegan: Yes

7. Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies 

It’s no secret that this cracker from Annie’s, a brand that’s made a name for itself selling decidedly semi-healthy snacks for kids, is meant to be a healthier version of Goldfish. But don’t think for a second that these rabbit-shaped cheese crackers are anything less than some of the best crackers around in their own right.

They have a decided advantage over other, more popular cheese crackers because they use real cheese, giving them a pronounced cheddar flavor that makes them all but irresistible. 

This is also a great, unique selling point in a crowded market. With cheddar cheese being the most popular flavor of crackers, according to Innovative Market Insights, there’s a lot of competition. But Annie’s fun shapes and relatively healthy ingredients help them stand out.

Even if you didn’t grow up eating this kid-oriented snack, there’s something nostalgic about it. And because Annie’s has made its fortune marketing to a demographic of notoriously picky eaters, you can be assured that they taste as good as any of the best crackers, if not better. 

Gluten-Free: Yes

Vegan: No

6. Mary’s Gone Crackers Original

These days, gluten-free snackers have a lot of options in the cracker aisle. Even so, these organic, vegan and gluten-free crackers made with a variety of whole grains are some of the best crackers in that niche.

Mary’s Gone Crackers makes a variety of gluten-free products, but the Original cracker is, in our opinion, the best representation of what this cracker does best. If you’re sick and tired of weirdly shiny rice crackers, go with a gluten-free option that’s nothing like the rest. 

One of the best crackers for anybody with health in mind, but especially those who can’t have wheat-based crackers. 

Gluten-Free: Yes

Vegan: Yes

5. Simple Mills Sea Salt Almond Flour Crackers

Choosing just one Simple Mills cracker to feature here was tough because they’re all really worth a try. This gluten-free cracker brand makes some of the best-tasting healthy snacks you’ll find anywhere, and there are pretty much no misses in their lineup. But we’re going with the classic here.

Made with almond flour in lieu of wheat, these crackers have a distinctive crunch that you won’t find in any other cracker. We find them to be perfectly salty and flavorful enough to stand on their own, but we also think they pair well with cheese or cold cuts.

We’re not gluten-free, but we’d choose Simple Mills over most wheat-based brands any day of the week. They’re simply some of the best crackers on the planet. 

Gluten-Free: Yes

Vegan: Yes

4. Trader Joe’s Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers

If your favorite crackers are the kind you can eat straight from the bag, Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers are perhaps one of the best crackers for you.

A cream cheese filling between crunchy, crumbly bagel-flavored crackers doesn’t quite imitate the original. But it gets enough of the right flavors into each bite that you’ll likely find yourself eating the weight of a real bagel in crackers. 

Think of this as an adult version of those peanut butter sandwich crackers you ate as a kid, and you’ll understand why this is one of the best crackers for idle snacking. They also pair perfectly with a range of beverages from your favorite Trader Joe’s wine to a morning cup of Trader Joe’s coffee.

Interestingly, this isn’t the only everything bagel-themed cracker you can get from the popular grocery store chain. Trader Joe’s also makes Everything But the Bagel Seasoned Crackers, which are equally delicious. 

Gluten-Free: No

Vegan: No

3. Firehook Sea Salt Baked Mediterranean Crackers 

Charcuterie calls for a different kind of cracker than your average snack. Simple Ritz or Triscuits might be fine for eating cheese and crackers, but if you want to impress with your charcuterie spread at a party, you need an elegant cracker. That’s what we find Firehook’s Baked Mediterranean Crackers are best for.

These flat, crispy crackers have more in common with a pita chip than a conventional cracker, and their sturdiness means they hold toppings well. They’re flavorful enough to eat on their own, but not so much so that they’d overpower your favorite cheese or cold cut. And they look fantastic. 

You could go with classic water crackers, but if you really want to impress with your party food spread, we think these are among the best crackers money can buy.

Gluten-Free: No

Vegan: Yes

2. Rustic Bakery Flatbread Bites

We hesitate to lump them together like this, but you’ll get the best idea of Rustic Bakery’s offerings if you know that they’re of a kind with the similar Firehook flatbread crackers.

Both are flavorful, high-quality, slightly pricy crackers that have the right sturdiness and refined look for charcuterie boards. Many fans cite these as the best crackers on the market, period — an honor that speaks to their impeccable quality. An excellent choice for your next charcuterie night. 

Gluten-Free: No

Vegan: Yes

1. La Panzanella Original Croccantini  

Italy knows cheese, so it’s only natural that it knows crackers, too. One of the best Italian crackers to pair with your next charcuterie board is the Original Croccantini from La Panzanella, a bona-fide Italian brand that produces only the very best crackers.

They may be harder to come by and a little pricier than competing flatbread-esque crackers, but you’ll forget all about that as soon as you bite into your cheese-topped flatbread cracker. Semplicemente perfezione.

Gluten-Free: No

Vegan: Yes

What Are the Best Crackers for Cheese? 

The answer to this question really depends on what kind of cheese you’re eating. If you have a soft cheese like brie, you might want to spread it on a harder cracker like La Panzanella’s Croccantini.

Even Blue Diamond Nut Thins are a great choice if you’re wanting a snack rather than a polished party appetizer. But if you’re going with a classic cheddar or Gouda, say, you might find that a classic Ritz or Trader Joe’s Naan Cracker is the best cracker for the occasion. 

What Are the Best Crackers for a Charcuterie Board? 

This is where you want to break out the fancy stuff. Rustic Bakery, La Panzarella or Firehook crackers — crackers with more of a flatbread look and taste — are likely going to be the best crackers to set out with a cheese spread. Plus, they look great on a charcuterie board. Those types of crackers make the best impression when looks are key. 

What Is the Best Snack Cracker? 

We know a lot of people would probably give the title of best cracker for standalone snacking to Ritz, and we understand why. There’s something about that buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture that hits just right.

But our pick has to be Simple Mills. They have, in our humble opinion, the perfect texture and the perfect saltiness, plus the perfect size and shape for mindless snacking. Goldfish? Forget about it. You can do so much better. 

Trader Joe’s Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers also rank highly for standalone snacking, thanks to their bite-size format and the fact that they come paired with cream cheese in the box.

Oh, but we will admit to a partiality for Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies. Age is just a number. Live your truth. 

If you’re convinced that a cracker you’d actually enjoy just isn’t out there, we hope that we’ve convinced you. But if we haven’t, why not let the crackers do the talking themselves?

Buy a box of the best crackers and see if you still think this versatile snack is just a dry, flavorless hunk of processed wheat. We dare you. And we already know what conclusion you’re going to come to. 

For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.