Top 20 Worst Rip-Off Brands of All Time

#20: Mountain Lightning / Mountain Lion

Mountain Dew

To “Do the Dew,” you must drink a Mountain Dew. Common knowledge. Walmart and Food Lion introduced the public to alternative Dew methods with their Mountain Lightning and Mountain Lion sodas, respectively. Walmart’s Mountain Lightning showcases the same recognizable color scheme as Mountain Dew. Dare we say, it’s a little too similar. It does have less caffeine though! As for Food Lion’s Mountain Lion, the bottle design doesn’t exactly pop out at you. It’s the Mountain-Dew-like green liquid it houses that does that. But bottle appearance, soda color, and taste aside, the idea of asking someone if there are any Mountain Lions in the garage just sounds odd.

#19: Crust

Crest

Changing one letter of a famous brand is a typical knockoff strategy. But changing Crest toothpaste to Crust toothpaste? Seriously, what are we doing? The name Crust doesn’t exactly scream dental hygiene. If anything, it sounds like it’d make your teeth less white, more cavity-prone, and give you absolutely terrible breath! But hey, who knows how many people have actually tried this stuff? Not much has to be said about why you should choose Crest over Crust. Let’s just treat this toothpaste branding debacle as a lesson that one small letter can make a very big difference.

#18: Pranks

Trix

We get the synonym strategy Pranks cereal went with to distinguish itself from Trix. But it definitely seems like they missed a golden opportunity. Why not use the ‘x’ ending, as in p-r-a-n-x instead of the p-r-a-n-k-s they went for? If you’re gonna try to emulate Trix, it’s only right. It must be said, though, that the animal mascot—a raccoon, not a rabbit, mind you—as well as the design on the Pranks box, do work pretty well. It’s fun to imagine a commercial for this colorful cereal. They’d probably say something like, “Silly raccoon! Pranks are for kids!”

#17: Wow! I Totally Thought It Was “Butter” / You’d Butter Believe It!

I Can't Believe It’s Not Butter!

There’s no shortage of butter substitutes out there. Many people know the famous I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, a brand of margarine that’s been around since 1981. There are also off-brands that play on the lengthy brand name fun with their own twists. One of those products is called Wow! I totally thought it was “butter.” Yeah, we bet you did. The other is called You’d Butter Believe It! Yeah, you butter. Maybe someday there’ll be a No Way That’s Not Butter, too. We’ll let you decide which name is best.

#16: Donkey Donuts

Dunkin’ Donuts

Okay, we get it that Dunkin’ Donuts technically goes by just Dunkin’ now. That change occurred in 2019. But one thing’s for sure: Competition from Donkey Donuts had nothing to do with that. Donkey Donuts clearly tried to replicate the Dunkin’ Donuts vibe. The sign’s font looks all too similar to the multinational mega chain. And the name—Donkey Donuts—well, leaves a lot to be desired. The name Dunkin’ Donuts came from the concept of dunking donuts into coffee. Donkey Donuts has the alliteration going for it, yes. But in terms of sounding like a legit, appetizing alternative to a Dunkin’ donut, we don’t think so.

#15: Burger Madam & Sir / Burger Friends

Burger King

BK is known for making sure you “Have it your way” and letting us know we “rule.” The ubiquitous fast-food chain has been around since the 1950s. And it’s inspired other restaurants—like, really inspired them. Exhibit A: Burger Madam & Sir. The name doesn’t have the same snappiness as Burger King. Exhibit B: Burger Friends, one of multiple restaurants that appeared as part of a rise in the fast-food scene in Baghdad, Iraq. Each of these restaurants’ logos is nearly identical to Burger King’s old logo! BK said “Have it your way,” not their way.

#14: Skerple

Sharpie

You know you’ve made it when people stop saying “permanent marker” and just say “Sharpie.” With all due respect, it’s hard to imagine the permanent marker known as Skerple ever reaching that status. This Chinese knockoff brand looks awfully familiar. The resemblance is uncanny—like permanent marker twins. And obviously the fact that Skerple starts with an ‘S’ only adds to the copycat energy. The Sharpie has been around since 1964, when it became the first ever pen-style permanent marker. Its dominance of the market seems, dare we say, permanent. No offense, Skerple.

#13: Prongles

Pringles

As far as chips stacked in a tall, cylindrical tube go, it doesn’t get any better than Pringles. They do say, “Once you pop, you can’t stop!” With all those different flavors, and of course that iconic mustached man logo, Pringles are world-famous. But there’s also been another stackable chip sold in a similar container with a pretty cool logo of its own. Its name? Prongles. That’s right. There’s Pringles, and then there’s Prongles. Or at least there was. People were understandably confused when these parody chips appeared in the cards and games sections at Target stores in 2017. Soon after, we found out Prongles was created by the same company that made the party game Cards Against Humanity. That explains it… Sort of.

#12: Nut Master

Nutella

This one’s a real head-scratcher. Nut Master is apparently a Nutella-like product made in Turkey. But, let’s just say, the name might make you think it’s something else. Seriously, what went into the thought process here? Besides a very questionable name of pure hilarity, Nut Master has a very similar label and color scheme as Nutella. You know how sometimes you notice a product on the shelf for its shape, color, or design, rather than the name? Well, even with those similarities, if you were to spot a Nut Master container, how could you not do a double take? Let’s not kid ourselves: The master of hazelnut cocoa spreads is Nutella.

#11: Fony

Sony

They’re not even trying to hide it. This gaming controller has the name Fony on it instead of Sony. And rather than the typical buttons—triangle, circle, ex, and square—found on a Sony PlayStation controller, the Fony controller’s buttons are F, O, N, and Y! At the same time, it does look like it has all the buttons you need! But it’s hard to believe these things would be as functional or durable as a regular Sony controller. At least the name is a warning in and of itself. It’s quite literally a Fony, albeit with an F.

#10: Robert Cop

RoboCop

If you grew up in the 1980s, you definitely remember Robocop. Part man, part machine, all cop, this movie spawned countless catchphrases, toys, and even several sequels! However, if you stumble across an action figure of the famous robot-cop in-store today, you might want to take a closer look at the label. A few years ago, a series of “Robert Cop” action figures appeared on the shelves of Chinese department stores, bearing a striking resemblance to the real titular police officer. They’re so close, in fact, that to compare them side by side would yield little to no difference in appearance. Except for the tagline, that is. Apparently, Robert Cop is “The Furniture of Law Enforcement”!

#9: Dr. Bob

Dr. Pepper

First Robert, now Bob. Apparently, the name is a common theme in rip-offs… Walk into any major grocery chain and you’ll often find a store brand version of the more popular sodas. Great Value, Big 8, and countless other “no-name” brands are always cheaply priced. Normally, the names are distinct enough from the original to stand apart, but positioned close enough to their counterparts to make the comparison. “Dr. Bob”, a variation on the Dr. Pepper brand, fits the bill...even if it does come up a little short on the creativity front. And Dr. Bob isn’t the only soda brand out there to mimic the “Dr.” in the title. Do you know any others?

#8: Game Child

Game Boy

Although not technically the first portable game system, Nintendo’s Game Boy was certainly the first major success in the market. Sales exploded and video game fans were eager to finally play their games on the go. Given the popularity, it was only a matter of time before someone tried to rip off the idea. Enter: the “Game Child”. Modeled nearly identically to the original Gameboy, this copycat could easily fool a parent unfamiliar with handheld game consoles. The biggest difference was that the Game Child did not allow you to play separately-sold cartridges. Instead, you were limited to one built-in game (out of six options) per Game Child, with the name of the game indicated on the box.

#7: Specialman

Superman

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s…a knockoff! It’s safe to say that no one’s claiming that Superman isn’t special. He’s got super strength, x-ray vision, and the power of flight! What’s not special about that? Well, someone out there thought it ought to be made a little more forthright, and thus: “Specialman” was born. One look at the outside, and it’s clear as day that this is a Superman action figure encased in different packaging. The cape, the belt, the famous “S” on his chest, and even his twirl of hair are all identical to the original. Come on, guys! You could have tried to make it look at least a little different!

#6: Dolce & Banana

Dolce & Gabbana

A quick Google search for “Dolce & Banana” will yield a plethora of results all related to poking fun at the Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana. Admittedly, the latter half of their name does sound an awful lot like banana. This, of course, has opened them up to plenty of mockery in the form of banana-themed apparel. However, a little shop in Cape Town, South Africa decided to use the mock name for their jewelry shop. Dolce & Gabbana sued them, forcing a name change, but that hasn’t stopped the onslaught of t-shirts, bags, and stickers depicting a banana with the original brand’s logo.

#5: Borio / Creme Betweens

Oreo

Introduced over a century ago, Oreo has become the best-selling cookie brand in the United States. Two chocolate wafers separated by a creme filling have become a staple of sweets among fans around the world. Case in point, the Egyptian company Family Nutrition created a copycat of the cookie called “Borio” and sold it within Egypt. Another knockoff brand is called “Creme Betweens”, which appears to be far more available across the United States compared to its Egyptian counterpart. We hate to say it, but these replicas are sort of well-deserved, considering Oreos are actually an imitation in themselves of the preceding Hydrox cookie. Turns out, revenge is a dish best served with a glass of milk.

#4: Benign Girl

Barbie

Hugely popular around the world, Barbie has been a staple of children’s toys since the early 1960s. Much like any other popular brand, it too has seen its share of mimicry over the years. One interesting variation of Barbie is a Taiwanese brand “Benign Girl”. It’s hard to know what the creators were thinking of with the name, but we’re guessing it has something to do with a poor translation. They both start with B… That’s basically the same thing, right? If you were one of those kids who wanted a cell phone of your own: well, Benign Girl’s got you covered. Their most popular product seems to be a pink flip phone, but they’ve also recently acquired a pink smartphone. You know, for the newer generations.

#3: Panburger Partner

Hamburger Helper

Have you ever gone to the grocery store and wanted to pick up a specific brand name for a product, then accidentally grabbed the no-name one instead? We’re thinking the makers of “Panburger Partner” were looking to take advantage of such oversights when they created this product. Clearly a replica of the Betty Crocker branded “Hamburger Helper”, this beef noodle mix leaves nothing to the imagination when it comes to its inspiration. With a similar colored box, almost identical photographs on the front, there’s no mistaking what they’re up to. One thing is still bothering us, though... Just what did they do with Lefty, the Helping Hand?!

#2: MichaelSoft Binbows

Microsoft Windows

In 2004, a Canadian student by the name of Mike Rowe got into a lawsuit with Microsoft over a domain name called “MikeRoweSoft.com”. Mike eventually settled with the tech giant, but it appears others may have used similar tactics to corral customers. “MichaelSoft Binbows'' was a computer repair shop located in Japan. The sign shown in photos depicts an older Microsoft logo, as well as styled text similar to the original, all perched on a building side billboard. As funny as the name is, it makes a little more sense when you understand the pun behind it: "binbo" is a Japanese term meaning "cheap”. Either way, the store’s signage became quite the internet meme long after it had closed its doors. How could it not?!

#1: Sunbucks Coffee

Starbucks

When you become one of the world’s most successful coffee vendors, it’s only a matter of time before someone tries to reproduce your formula. Or, in this case, your entire logo. “Sunbucks Coffee” is a Chinese version of the famous Seattle-based coffee brand, Starbucks. While retaining the white and green colors, Sunbucks uses a Chinese dragon in the center of their logo, as opposed to the legendary mermaid Starbucks fans have come to recognize. As distasteful as brand copycats are, things could be worse than Sunbucks Coffee. At least they aren’t “Starbugs Beetles” where, you guessed it, they don’t exactly sell your morning brew.

Have you ever tried any of these knockoff brands? Let us know in the comments below!