Actimel vs Yakult: Which Is Better on Slimming World?
If you've ever stood in the dairy aisle holding a bottle of Actimel in one hand and a Yakult in the other, you are absolutely not alone. Both are probiotic drinks, both are small, both claim to support your gut health — and both are going to cost you syns. The question is: which one is worth it?
I've been asked this so many times in group and online that I thought it deserved a proper head-to-head. When you're following Slimming World and trying to squeeze every bit of value out of your daily syn allowance, even a half-syn difference matters. And there is a difference here — a meaningful one depending on what you're optimising for.
Actimel comes in a 100ml bottle and the 0% Fat Original version clocks in at 2 syns and 52 calories, with around 6.5 billion live L. casei cultures. Yakult Original is a smaller 65ml bottle, costs 3 syns, and has 53 calories — but it packs in 8 billion live L. casei Shirota cultures. Yakult also makes a Light version at 65ml, which brings the syns down to 2.5 and the calories to 35.
So it's not a straightforward win either way. It depends entirely on what you're after: fewer syns, more cultures, or more liquid for your money. Let me break it all down so you can make the call that's right for you and your plan.
Head-to-head breakdown
| Category | Actimel | Yakult | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syns per bottle (standard) | 2 syns (100ml) | 3 syns (65ml) | Actimel |
| Calories per bottle | 52 kcal | 53 kcal | Tie |
| Live cultures per bottle | 6.5 billion (L. casei) | 8 billion (L. casei Shirota) | Yakult |
| Bottle size | 100ml | 65ml | Actimel |
| Lowest-syn version available | Actimel 0% Fat: 2 syns | Yakult Light: 2.5 syns | Actimel |
| Taste profile | Mild, creamy dairy taste | Slightly sweeter, more intense | Tie |
The verdict
On a pure Slimming World basis, Actimel 0% Fat is the winner. At 2 syns versus Yakult's 3 (or 2.5 for the Light version), it's the more syn-efficient choice, and you also get a larger 100ml bottle for that allowance.
If you're tightly managing your daily syns and just want something to support your gut health on plan, Actimel is the one to reach for. That said, Yakult has more live cultures per bottle — 8 billion versus 6.5 billion — which matters if gut health is your primary goal rather than syn minimisation.
Yakult Light at 2.5 syns is a reasonable middle ground: more cultures than Actimel, and only half a syn more. If you're already on 15 syns a day and have the wiggle room, it's worth considering.
But if you're being strict, Actimel wins.
Frequently asked questions
Which has fewer syns, Actimel or Yakult?
Actimel 0% Fat Original comes in at 2 syns per 100ml bottle, making it the lower-syn option. Yakult Original is 3 syns for a 65ml bottle, and Yakult Light is 2.5 syns. So if you're purely counting syns, Actimel is the better choice. It's also a larger bottle, which means you feel like you're getting more for your syn spend. Always double-check the specific variety you're buying though, as syn values can occasionally be updated by Slimming World.
Are probiotic drinks worth the syns on Slimming World?
That really depends on your goals and your individual syn budget. If gut health is important to you — and for lots of us it is, especially when we're changing our eating habits — then yes, 2 to 3 syns for a daily probiotic can absolutely be worth it. That said, you can also get beneficial bacteria from free foods like natural yogurt (when used as a Healthy Extra or synned) or fermented foods. Probiotic drinks are convenient and consistent, but they're not your only option on plan.
Is Actimel 0% Fat the lowest-syn probiotic drink?
It's one of the lowest widely available ones, yes. At 2 syns per bottle it's hard to beat in the mainstream supermarket probiotic drinks range. Some supermarket own-brand probiotic drinks may come in at a similar or slightly different syn value, so it's always worth checking the Slimming World app or website for the most up-to-date syn values on the specific product and serving size you're buying. Syn values are calculated from the full nutritional information so even small formula changes can affect them.
Can I drink probiotic drinks every day on Slimming World?
Yes, absolutely — there's nothing in the Slimming World plan that prevents you from having them daily. You just need to syn them. If you're having Actimel 0% Fat at 2 syns a day, that's 14 syns a week just on your probiotic drink, which is a meaningful chunk of your allowance. Many members find it worth it for the routine and gut health benefit, while others prefer to save those syns for food. It's entirely a personal call based on your daily syn total and what you enjoy.
Does Yakult have a lower-calorie version?
Yes — Yakult Light is the reduced-sugar version. It comes in the same 65ml bottle as the original but contains around 35 calories compared to 53 in the standard version, and works out to approximately 2.5 syns rather than 3. The culture count remains the same at 8 billion L. casei Shirota per bottle, so you're not sacrificing the gut health benefit. If you want to choose Yakult but save a bit on syns, Yakult Light is the smarter option.
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Syn values based on publicly available nutritional data. Always confirm with the official Slimming World app. Updated 2026-04-26.