Goldfish and Cheez-Its are both popular cheesy snacks. Cheez-Its come in a more classic cracker shape, while Goldfish come in a cute Goldfish shape (the name gives it away).
Both of them sell well, and both have a good variety of products.
But which is better?
Before I can answer this question, let us have a look at the two different brands, what they offer, and how they compare against each other.
Will there be a clear winner in the fight of Goldfish vs Cheez-Its?
Goldfish
Goldfish were introduced in America in 1962. They are a product of Pepperidge Farm, which has a proud family history and started in a family kitchen (in1937).
What most people do not know is that the original recipe for the Goldfish cracker came from Switzerland, where Margaret Rudkin discovered it. She took the recipe back home, and Goldfish were introduced to America.
Since 1961, the company has been part of the Campbell Soup Company.
What Goldfish Flavors Are There?
Goldfish Crackers are fish-shaped crackers, making them very different from cheese crackers. Of course, there are quite a few options to choose from.
The Original Six Flavors: 
- Goldfish Baby Cheddar (smaller-sized Goldfish crackers)
- Goldfish Colors (three different colors, all made with plant-based dyes)
- Goldfish Original (the classic)
- Goldfish Parmesan (a pretty strong flavor)
- Goldfish Pizza (beautiful flavor for pizza lovers)
- Goldfish Pretzel (tastes like a pretzel but is shaped like the usual Goldfish crackers)
The Flavor-Blasted Flavors:
Cheese Crackers Baked with Whole Grains Options (slightly healthier): 
Special Limited Editions Which Include: 
- The Star Wars Goldfish Cheddar Cracker adds some interesting shaped Star Wars crackers to the classic Goldfish.
- The Old Bay Seasoned Goldfish Cracker is a must if you like Old Bay.
If you’d like to explore the different ranges, you can buy a variety pack with a whopping 45 bags of Goldfish snacks!
Cheez-Its
Cheez-Its first entered the market in 1921; since then, the company has changed owners a few times until Kellogg became the producer in 2001.
As Cheez-Its wasn’t as well known back then, the original producer (Green & Green Company) described the product as a “baked rarebit.” Over 100 years later, everyone knows what Cheez-Its are, while fewer people know what a rarebit is.
What Cheez-Its Flavors Are There?
Cheez-Its has an extensive range of products. Here are some examples.
The Original and Flavors Range includes products like:
- Cheez Its Original is the classic cheesy cracker.
- Cheez-Its Cheese Pizza tastes exactly the way you imagine.
- Cheez-Its Hot&Spicy is perfect if you like spicy stuff.
- Cheez-Its Reduced Fat is excellent if you need to watch your fat intake.
- Cheez-Its Scooby-Doo Crackers are your original Cheez-Its but in a fun shape.
In addition to this range, there are Cheez-Its Puff’d, Snap’d, Grooves, Duoz, and two types of Snack Mixes.
Let’s check out one example from each: (each has only 2-5 options):
Cheez-Its Puff’d Scorching Hot Cheddar is an airy, puffed cracker snack with quite a bit of hotness. It’s crunchy but also melts in your mouth. You could compare the texture to a cheese puff – but in cracker shape.
Cheez-Its Snap’d Double Cheese is great for people who think the original Cheez-Its are too thick. The Snap’d versions are thinner but just as loaded with flavor.
Cheez-It Grooves Zesty Cheddar Ranch takes the original Cheez-Its shape to the next level and adds extra grooves to pack in more flavor and a bit of an extra crunch.
Cheez-Its Duoz Bacon & Cheddar combines two great flavors in one box. Not on the same cracker, though: what you get is half a box of bacon Cheez-Its mixed with half a pack of Cheddar Cheez-Its.
The Double Cheese Snack Mix is a cheesier version of the classic snack mix. You get a selection of white cheddar crackers, Cheez-Its Original crackers, salty pretzels, mini toasted bread slices, and crunchy cheese curls.
Comparison Questions
Which Is More Affordable?
Let’s look at how much you pay for various options on average (the average price has been calculated using different retailers’ prices).
| Product | Cheez Its | Goldfish | More Affordable |
| Original Flavor | $0.32 per oz | $0.38 per oz | Cheez-Its |
| Cheddar | $0.51 per oz | $0.29 per oz | Goldfish |
| Pizza Flavor | $0.39 per oz | $0.78 per oz | Cheez-Its |
| Wholegrain | $0.70 per oz | $0.57 per oz | Goldfish |
There is no clear winner, and prices can vary quite a lot from one retailer to the next. In general, it depends a lot on the flavor you are looking for.
Which Has The Better Nutrition Values?
Let’s compare the nutrition information of the two and see which one looks better (values per serving of 30G).
| Cheez Its Original | Goldfish Original | Better | |
| Total Sugar | 0g | Less than 1g | Cheez-Its |
| Total Carbs | 17g | 20g | Cheez-Its |
| Sodium | 230mg | 230mg | neither |
| Protein | 3g | 3g | neither |
| Calories | 150 | 140 | Goldfish |
| Calcium | 30mg | 20mg | Cheez-Its |
| Iron | 1mg | 0.7mg | Cheez-Its |
| Potassium | 30mg | 30mg | neither |
| Total Fat | 8g | 6g | Goldfish |
Though neither is good for you, these numbers tell us that both of them have a few things going for them.
If you are watching your fat and calorie intake, Goldfish is the slightly better option.
Overall, the two are similar.
Which Has The Better Ingredient List?
| Cheez Its Original | Goldfish Original | Conclusion |
| Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, vitamin B1 [thiamin mononitrate], vitamin B2 [riboflavin], folic acid), vegetable oil (high oleic soybean, soybean, palm, and/or canola oil with TBHQ for freshness), cheese made with skim milk (skim milk, whey protein, salt, cheese cultures, enzymes, annatto extract color). Contains 2% or less of salt, paprika, yeast, paprika extract color, soy lecithin | Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Cheddar Cheese ([Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes], Annatto), Vegetable Oils (Canola, Sunflower And/Or Soybean), Salt, Contains 2% Or Less Of Yeast, Sugar, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Paprika, Spices, Celery, Onion Powder, Monocalcium Phosphate, Baking Soda. Contains Wheat, Milk. | They are pretty much the same, apart from Cheez Its use of TBHQ. |
Does One Brand Offer Gluten-Free Options?
For now, Cheez-Its does not have a single gluten-free option for people with gluten intolerance.
Unfortunately, there are also no gluten-free options in the Goldfish range, as all products are made with ordinary flour (which is a source of gluten).
Are Cheez-Its Or Goldfish Vegan-Friendly?
Even though more and more companies add vegan-friendly products to their range, Goldfish and Cheez-Its have yet to take that step.
Their products contain real cheese, which is a no-no for vegans.
Final Thoughts
Based on the selection of flavors, I would choose Cheez-Its as my favorite. That does not mean that they are better, but I like spicy stuff, and Goldfish only offers that much choice when it comes to spicy food.
In addition, the different options Cheez-Its offer in regard to textures (Original, Snap’d, Puff’d, and Grooves) are very appealing and give you products for various purposes. Goldfish come in one shape and one type of texture only.
Goldfish, however, would be my choice if I had to choose a snack for children. Children would prefer the Goldfish shape!
In the end, it is a personal choice. If you like dense, Goldfish-shaped crackers, you’ll prefer Goldfish. If you want a wider variety of flavors and textures, you’ll prefer Cheez-Its!
