Coconut aminos substitutes
Coconut aminos substitutes — 3 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Soy sauce
Same amount as the coconut aminos
Similar sauce with different source.
The best substitutes for coconut aminos are soy sauce, tamari, or liquid aminos, depending on the use.
Coconut aminos is the salty-savoury splash in a dish for people avoiding soy and wheat. It carries the fermented depth and the brown colour of soy sauce at about a third of the salt, and it is genuinely sweet - which is the part every soy-based swap gets wrong.
- Verdict —
- Works
- Best for —
- cooking
Updated 26 Jul 2026 · no sponsored swaps
Saltprimary
Roughly 270 mg of sodium per tablespoon against soy sauce's 880 mg, brand-dependent - read the bottle. It is the seasoning of the dish, but a weak one, which is why a soy sauce or tamari swap poured in spoon for spoon overshoots the salt roughly threefold. Hold back the recipe's other salt until you have tasted.
Sweetnesssecondary
Coconut sap is sugary, so the bottle tastes distinctly sweet with a faint caramel note. In a dressing or a glaze that sweetness is doing real work, and it is the one job no soy sauce, tamari or liquid aminos will do for you.
Umami & savory depthprimary
Fermented coconut sap leaves free amino acids behind, so a spoonful makes a dressing or a stir-fry taste savoury and finished rather than merely salty. This is why it stands in for soy sauce at all, and why plain salt water does not.
Browning & colorsecondary
It is a dark brown liquid, so it colours the food and darkens further in a hot pan - though less than soy sauce, which is why a coconut aminos stir-fry reads light brown rather than deep brown.
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of coconut aminos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soy saucecooking | Same amountWorks | Works |
| 2 | Tamaricooking | Same amountWorks | Works |
| 3 | Liquid aminoscooking | Same amountWorks | Works |
Soy sauce
similar taste and texture
Similar sauce with different source.
- Covers
- Salt
- Umami & savory depth
- Browning & color
- Misses
- Sweetness — not covered
- Best for
- cooking, marinades, stir-fries, dressings
Different source, similar flavor - contains soy.
Tamari
similar taste and texture
Similar sauce with different source.
- Covers
- Salt
- Umami & savory depth
- Browning & color
- Misses
- Sweetness — not covered
- Best for
- cooking, marinades, stir-fries, dressings
Different source, similar flavor - contains soy.
Liquid aminos
similar taste and texture
Similar sauce with different source.
- Covers
- Salt
- Umami & savory depth
- Browning & color
- Misses
- Sweetness — not covered
- Best for
- cooking, marinades, stir-fries, dressings
Different source, similar flavor - contains soy.
Questions
4 questionsCan I use soy sauce instead of coconut aminos?
Yes, soy sauce is the closest substitute, but it contains soy and gluten, which coconut aminos don't.
What's the difference between coconut aminos and soy sauce?
Coconut aminos are made from coconut sap and are soy-free and gluten-free, while soy sauce is made from soybeans and wheat.
Are coconut aminos healthier than soy sauce?
Coconut aminos are lower in sodium and don't contain soy or gluten, making them a healthier choice for some people.
What are coconut aminos?
Coconut aminos are a soy-free, gluten-free sauce made from coconut sap and sea salt, similar to soy sauce but milder.
Tips for substituting coconut aminos
5 tips- Coconut aminos are soy-free and gluten-free, making them ideal for dietary restrictions
- They have a slightly sweeter flavor than soy sauce
- Coconut aminos are lower in sodium than soy sauce
- Use coconut aminos in the same way you would use soy sauce
- Coconut aminos are made from coconut sap and sea salt