Short answer: both stevia and monk fruit are plant-based, sugar free sweeteners with virtually no calories. Stevia blends are more concentrated, so you use less. Monk fruit blends are often made to swap 1:1 with sugar, which makes them the easiest choice for baking. Taste is personal, so many people keep both in the pantry.
What is stevia?
Stevia comes from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, a plant native to South America. The sweet compounds in the leaf, called steviol glycosides, are roughly 200–300 times sweeter than sugar. Because pure extract is so intense, most stevia products are blended with a bulking ingredient such as erythritol so they're easy to measure.
SUGARLESS® Organic Stevia is made with organic erythritol and organic steviol glycosides and is Australian Certified Organic. It's twice as sweet as sugar, so ½ teaspoon replaces 1 teaspoon of sugar.
What is monk fruit?
Monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii), also called luo han guo, is a small melon grown in southern China. Its sweetness comes from compounds called mogrosides, which are also far sweeter than sugar. Like stevia, monk fruit extract is usually blended with erythritol.
SUGARLESS® Organic Monk Fruit Sweetener is made with organic erythritol and organic monk fruit extract and is Australian Certified Organic. It's designed to measure like sugar: 1 teaspoon replaces 1 teaspoon of sugar.
Stevia vs monk fruit at a glance
| SUGARLESS Organic Stevia | SUGARLESS Organic Monk Fruit | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Stevia leaf | Monk fruit |
| Ingredients | Organic erythritol, organic steviol glycosides | Organic erythritol, organic monk fruit extract |
| Swap for 1 tsp sugar | ½ tsp | 1 tsp |
| Calories | 0.5 per serve | Less than 1 per serve |
| Best for | Coffee, tea and everyday sweetening; goes further per tin | Baking and recipes where you want a simple 1:1 swap |
| Certified | Australian Certified Organic, vegan, gluten free | Australian Certified Organic, vegan, gluten free |
Which tastes better?
Some people notice a slight bitter or liquorice-like note with lower quality stevia. Good blends balance this out; our Organic Stevia is formulated to avoid that bitter aftertaste. Monk fruit is often described as rounder or fruitier. Both can have a light cooling feel from erythritol. The best way to decide is to try each in your usual coffee or tea.
Which is better for baking?
Monk fruit is the simpler swap because it measures like sugar, so you can follow most recipes as written. Stevia works well too; just halve the amount of sugar in the recipe. A few tips for either:
- Erythritol-based sweeteners don't caramelise like sugar, so bakes may brown less. Check them a few minutes early.
- Sugar adds bulk and moisture. When you use a concentrated sweetener like stevia, a little extra liquid, yoghurt or mashed fruit can keep cakes tender.
- Sweeteners that contain erythritol can recrystallise in very high-sugar recipes such as hard caramel, so these are best made with other methods.
Need a starting point? See our sugar to stevia conversion chart or try the sugar free banana bread.
Which is better in coffee?
Both dissolve easily in hot drinks. If you want convenience on the go, stevia comes in tablets (1 tablet = 1 tsp sugar) and café sticks (1 stick = 2 tsp sugar).
Are stevia and monk fruit keto friendly?
Yes. Both are sugar free and suitable for keto and low-carbohydrate eating. Read more in our guide: Is stevia keto friendly?
The bottom line
Choose Organic Stevia if you want a sweetener that goes further and suits everyday drinks. Choose Organic Monk Fruit if you bake a lot and want a straight 1:1 swap for sugar. Both are Australian Certified Organic, vegan and gluten free.
This article is general information only. If you have specific dietary needs, talk to your healthcare professional.