Hint
Hint Inc. is a San Francisco-based beverage company producing unsweetened flavored still and sparkling water infused with natural fruit essences, sold direct-to-consumer via drinkhint.com and through retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and Instacart, targeting health-conscious consumers seeking zero-sugar hydration.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Hint does
Hint Inc. is a San Francisco-based beverage company that produces unsweetened flavored still and sparkling water infused with natural fruit essences, serving health-conscious consumers and former sweetened-beverage drinkers seeking flavorful hydration without sugar, sweeteners, or calories. Founded in 2005/2006, the company has operated for approximately 20 years and positions itself as the leading unsweetened flavored still water brand in the U.S., with 25+ flavor SKUs spanning still water in 16 oz bottles, 12 oz cans, and 19.2 oz cans, plus a sparkling water line with electrolytes in unconventional flavor combinations (Peach Raspberry, Guava Lychee, Huckleberry & Cream). Its core technology is a proprietary fruit essence infusion process that uses concentrated natural flavors derived from fruits, spices, and herbs to produce vibrant, consistent taste without artificial ingredients.
The business operates a dual-channel go-to-market: direct-to-consumer e-commerce through drinkhint.com (offering Subscribe & Save at a 17% discount on flexible 14/30/60-day intervals, plus the tiered Club Quench loyalty program with points accrual and referral incentives) and third-party retail through Amazon, Walmart, Staples, Instacart, and a nationwide store-locator footprint. DTC pricing is anchored around $22.99 for a 12-pack of 16 oz bottles and $24.99 for a 12-pack of 19.2 oz cans, with subscription pricing reducing these to $18.99 and $20.74 respectively. The company has raised approximately $51.5M across six funding rounds from 2012 to 2020, with the most recent $25M growth round led by Springboard Growth Capital, and employs 101–250 people. In March 2026, Hint initiated a brand refresh in partnership with NY-based agency Mythology to reinforce its category-leadership position in the 'better for you' beverage space.
Hint firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hint
- Legal name
- Hint Inc.
- Website
- https://drinkhint.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Hint Inc. is a San Francisco-based beverage company producing unsweetened flavored still and sparkling water infused with natural fruit essences, sold direct-to-consumer via drinkhint.com and through retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and Instacart, targeting health-conscious consumers seeking zero-sugar hydration.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hint industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Flavored Bottled Water
- NAICS
- Beverage Manufacturing (3121)
- SIC
- Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Flavored/Enhanced Bottled Water Production (Essenced, Vitamin, Electrolyte) (AFAFACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sparkling/Carbonated Bottled Water Production (AFAFACAE), Functional Beverages (Vitamins, Probiotics, Nootropics, etc.) (CRADAHAL)
Keywords
Where Hint is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hint business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of flavored water products through drinkhint.com with one-time purchase and subscription options. Subscription model offers 17% discount with flexible delivery intervals.
- Retail Distribution: Products sold through major retail partners including Amazon, Walmart, Staples, and Instacart for broader market reach
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard 16oz 12-pack bottles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 12oz 12-pack still cans |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 19.2oz 12-pack still cans |
| Subscription | Monthly | Club Quench Loyalty Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hint product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hint manufactures and sells unsweetened flavored still and sparkling water beverages infused with natural fruit essences, offering zero sugar, zero sweeteners, and zero calories across 25+ flavors in bottles and aluminum cans. The company distributes through its own drinkhint.com e-commerce site with a Subscribe & Save subscription offering 17% off, the Club Quench tiered loyalty program, and major retail partners including Amazon, Walmart, Staples, and Instacart.
Product overview
Hint Inc. is a flavored water company offering unsweetened still and sparkling water infused with natural fruit essences. The core product portfolio consists of still water available in 16 oz bottles, 12 oz aluminum cans, and 19.2 oz aluminum cans, along with sparkling water with electrolytes. Products span 25+ flavors organized into Classics (Blackberry, Cherry, Pineapple, Watermelon, Raspberry), Full On Flavor (Crisp Apple, Georgia Peach, Grape, Coconut), Smashups (Blueberry Lemon, Peach Raspberry, Strawberry Kiwi, Strawberry Lemon, Strawberry Watermelon, Huckleberry & Cream, Cherry Vanilla, Guava Lychee), and Seasonals (Lemon Zest Freeze, Rainbow Sherbet Ice Pop, Orange Vanilla Swirl, Cherry Berry Burst, Peppermint Bark, Cranberry Orange). The company sells direct-to-consumer via subscription and online, as well as through retail partners including Amazon, Walmart, Staples, and Instacart. Supporting services include a subscription program with 17% discount and Club Quench loyalty program with tiered benefits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hint Still Water (16 oz Bottles, 12-pack) Still water infused with natural fruit essences, offering zero sugar, sweeteners, and calories while providing flavorful hydration in 16 oz bottles sold in 12-packs at $22.99 ($18.99 with Subscribe & Save). Targeted at health-conscious consumers and former sweetened-beverage drinkers seeking a better-tasting hydration alternative.
- Hint Still Water (12 oz Aluminum Cans, 12-pack) Aluminum can format of Hint still water offering zero-sugar, fruit-infused hydration in sustainable packaging, priced at $14.99 per 12-pack ($12.44 with Subscribe & Save) in select flavors including Watermelon, Peach Raspberry, and Lemon Zest Freeze.
- Hint Still Water (19.2 oz Aluminum Cans, 12-pack) Larger 19.2 oz aluminum cans of Hint still water providing fruit-infused hydration in sustainable packaging, priced at $24.99 per 12-pack ($20.74 with Subscribe & Save) in flavors including Georgia Peach, Grape, and Watermelon.
- Hint Sparkling Water with Electrolytes Sparkling variant of Hint water enhanced with electrolytes, featuring unconventional flavor combinations such as Peach Raspberry, Guava Lychee, and Huckleberry & Cream, positioned in the functional beverage category for health-conscious consumers.
- Hint Variety Packs Curated multi-flavor 12-packs of Hint 16 oz still water including Star Spangled (seasonal), Classics, Full on Flavor, Smashups, Red, and White variety packs, allowing consumers to sample multiple flavors within one purchase.
- Hint Subscribe & Save Subscription Program Subscription service on drinkhint.com delivering regular shipments of Hint products with 17% off, free shipping on 3+ case orders, early access to new flavors, and flexible 14-, 30-, or 60-day delivery cycles for health-conscious consumers and former sweetened-beverage drinkers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 350,000+ five-star reviews demonstrating customer satisfaction
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Hint
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hint technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Hint partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Mythology AgencycoreBrand refresh partnership with NY-based agency Mythology to develop new visual identity and creative platform debuting in May, positioning Hint as category leader in 'better for you' beverage space
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hint competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LaCroix: National Beverage Corp.'s flagship sparkling water brand. LaCroix is a direct competitor to Hint in the flavored/unsweetened water category with overlapping flavors and broad retail distribution, often sharing shelf space with Hint at Walmart, Target, and grocery.
- Spindrift: Premium sparkling water made with real squeezed fruit. Spindrift targets a similar health-conscious consumer with a comparable premium positioning, DTC channel mix, and emphasis on clean ingredients — directly comparable to Hint's fruit-essence approach.
- Waterloo Sparkling Water: Premium unflavored and flavored sparkling water with a focus on bold, unconventional flavor profiles. Waterloo is a direct competitor to Hint's still and sparkling essence water, sharing a similar DTC and retail omni-channel model and ingredient-minimalist positioning.
- CORE Hydration: Nutrient-enhanced water with electrolytes and minerals positioned for active, health-conscious consumers. CORE is directly comparable to Hint's sparkling electrolyte line in target customer, functional positioning, and pH-balanced clean-label messaging.
- Liquid Death: Canned water brand with disruptive branding and D2C/retail omnichannel distribution. Liquid Death competes with Hint in the canned water format and targets a similar premium, design-forward consumer with strong social media presence.
Broad incumbents
- Bubly: PepsiCo's flavored sparkling water brand. Bubly competes directly in the flavored sparkling water category with massive marketing spend and PepsiCo's distribution network, pressuring Hint at retail and on shelf.
- AHA Sparkling Water: Coca-Cola's flavored sparkling water brand featuring unusual flavor combinations. AHA is a direct competitive threat in the flavored sparkling water category with Coca-Cola's national distribution and marketing scale.
- Topo Chico: Coca-Cola-owned Mexican sparkling mineral water brand. Topo Chico competes in the premium sparkling water segment with broad U.S. retail presence and strong brand equity among consumers seeking alternatives to sugary soft drinks.
- Vitaminwater (Glaceau): Coca-Cola-owned enhanced water brand with vitamins and flavors. Vitaminwater competes in the functional flavored water space, sharing distribution at convenience and grocery stores with Hint and targeting health-conscious consumers seeking more than plain water.
Emerging players
- Aura Bora: Botanical and herbal-flavored sparkling water brand. Aura Bora targets a similar flavor-forward, clean-label consumer with unconventional flavor profiles and a premium DTC positioning, intersecting with Hint's Smashups and seasonal SKUs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hint social profiles
Digital presenceHint financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hint leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Hint funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hint M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hint
What does Hint do?
Hint manufactures and sells unsweetened flavored still and sparkling water beverages infused with natural fruit essences, offering zero sugar, zero sweeteners, and zero calories across 25+ flavors in bottles and aluminum cans. The company distributes through its own drinkhint.com e-commerce site with a Subscribe & Save subscription offering 17% off, the Club Quench tiered loyalty program, and major retail partners including Amazon, Walmart, Staples, and Instacart.
Is Hint a public or private company?
Hint is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Hint founded?
Hint was founded in 2006. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Hint based?
Hint is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hint make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail Distribution.
Who are Hint's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LaCroix, Spindrift, Waterloo Sparkling Water, CORE Hydration and Liquid Death. Broad incumbents are Bubly, AHA Sparkling Water, Topo Chico and Vitaminwater (Glaceau). Aura Bora is listed as an emerging player.
Does Hint have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hint.
What industry is Hint in?
Hint's product category is Flavored Bottled Water. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFACAF, Flavored/Enhanced Bottled Water Production (Essenced, Vitamin, Electrolyte), with a secondary code of AFAFACAE, Sparkling/Carbonated Bottled Water Production. Its NAICS code is 3121 and its SIC code is 2086.