Electrolyte powders have a pricing problem. Walk into a health food store and the shelf tags range from fifty cents to a dollar fifty per serving, but the packaging rarely explains why one costs three times more than another. So we lined up seven popular brands, sorted them by price, and looked at what each serving actually delivers in sodium, potassium, sugar, and certifications.
The short version: you can stay well-hydrated for under a dollar a serving without sacrificing much.
The Full Price Ranking
| Rank | Brand | Price/Serving | Sodium | Sugar | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ultima Replenisher | $0.53 | 270 mg | 0 g | Powder tubs, sticks, tablets |
| 2 | Nuun | $0.75 | 300 mg | 1 g | Effervescent tablets, powder |
| 3 | Pedialyte | $0.79 | 1,080 mg | 13 g | Powder packets, liquid bottles |
| 4 | Skratch Labs | $0.98 | 370 mg | 17 g | Powder tubs, stick packs |
| 5 | LMNT | $1.12 | 1,000 mg | 0 g | Stick packs |
| 6 | Drip Drop | $1.25 | 660 mg | 0 g (Zero Sugar line) | Stick packets |
| 7 | Liquid IV | $1.49 | 500 mg | 11 g | Stick packs, canisters |
Prices reflect the most common multi-pack or tub pricing from each brand's website. Subscriptions and bulk buys can trim these numbers further.
What You Get at Each Price Point
1. Ultima Replenisher -- $0.53/serving
Ultima is the cheapest option by a wide margin, and the formula holds up. Each serving delivers 270 mg sodium, 325 mg potassium, and 60 mg magnesium with zero sugar. The sweetener is stevia, so the taste leans toward light and slightly herbal rather than candy-sweet. The 90-serving tub is what drives the price down -- you scoop powder into a glass and stir. Ultima also carries four certifications including Non-GMO and Gluten Free, and the flavor selection is solid at 12 options. The trade-off: sodium is on the lower end, so this is better for daily maintenance than extreme sweat replacement.
2. Nuun -- $0.75/serving
Nuun's effervescent tablets are a different experience. Drop one into 16 oz of water and it fizzes into a lightly flavored, nearly flat drink with 300 mg sodium, 150 mg potassium, and 25 mg magnesium. Sugar is just 1 gram. The tablet format makes Nuun extremely portable -- tubes fit in a pocket -- and the NSF certification matters if you compete in tested sports. Nine flavors, three certifications, and a price point that stays reasonable even when you buy individual tubes.
3. Pedialyte -- $0.79/serving
Pedialyte surprises people on price. The powder packets run about $0.79 each and pack a serious electrolyte punch: 1,080 mg sodium and 780 mg potassium per serving. That is more sodium than LMNT and more potassium than anything else on this list. The catch is 13 grams of sugar per serving and a taste that some adults find medicinal. Pedialyte was designed for clinical rehydration, and the formula reflects that -- high mineral density to combat real dehydration. With 18 flavors and both powder and liquid formats, it is widely available at pharmacies and grocery stores.
4. Skratch Labs -- $0.98/serving
Right at the dollar mark, Skratch Labs delivers 370 mg sodium, 220 mg potassium, and 30 mg magnesium with 17 grams of real cane sugar. The sugar is intentional -- Skratch was built for endurance athletes who want carbs and electrolytes in one drink. The taste is sweet and fruity, more like a natural sports drink than a supplement. Six certifications (including Non-GMO, Gluten Free, and Vegan) back the clean-ingredient reputation. Powder tubs bring the per-serving cost down; stick packs cost slightly more but work for race bags.
5. LMNT -- $1.12/serving
LMNT is where prices start climbing, and the sodium climbs with them. Each stick pack delivers 1,000 mg sodium, 200 mg potassium, and 60 mg magnesium with zero sugar. This is the go-to for keto dieters, heavy sweaters, and anyone doing long sessions in heat. The flavors are deliberately salty -- names like Citrus Salt and Raspberry Salt tell you exactly what to expect. No third-party certifications, but the ingredient list is short and transparent. At $1.12, you are paying for sodium density.
6. Drip Drop -- $1.25/serving
Drip Drop positions itself as a medical-grade hydration solution with 660 mg sodium per serving and a Zero Sugar formula. The brand carries six certifications, more than any other option on this list, including NSF Certified for Sport. Fourteen flavors give you plenty of variety. The stick-packet format works well for travel and gym bags. Drip Drop occupies a middle ground between the moderate sodium of Liquid IV and the aggressive sodium of LMNT, and the zero-sugar option makes it accessible for people watching carb intake.
7. Liquid IV -- $1.49/serving
The most expensive option here, Liquid IV packs 500 mg sodium, 370 mg potassium, and 11 grams of sugar into each stick pack. The sugar fuels what the brand calls Cellular Transport Technology -- essentially using glucose to speed up water absorption in the gut. Fifteen flavors and a very approachable, fruit-forward taste make Liquid IV the easiest sell to people who have never tried electrolyte powders. Two certifications (Non-GMO, Gluten Free). The premium price reflects heavy marketing spend and the stick-pack convenience, not necessarily a superior formula.
Best Bang for Your Buck
Ultima Replenisher wins on pure economics. At $0.53 per serving from the 90-count tub, you can hydrate daily for an entire month for under $16. The mineral profile is balanced (270 mg sodium, 325 mg potassium, 60 mg magnesium), the sugar is zero, and the flavor range keeps things interesting. The only reason not to pick Ultima is if you need high sodium for serious sweat replacement -- in which case Pedialyte at $0.79 delivers more sodium per dollar than anything else on this list.
Picking by Scenario
Stocking a team cooler or office kitchen: Ultima tubs. Buy two or three flavors, set out a scoop and a stack of cups, and the whole group stays hydrated for pennies. The low sodium and zero sugar means nobody gets an unexpectedly salty or sweet drink.
Daily personal use (one to two servings): Nuun tablets or Ultima sticks. Both stay under a dollar, dissolve quickly, and taste mild enough to drink all day. Nuun adds the fun of fizz; Ultima keeps things flat and simple.
Recovering from illness or heavy sweating: Pedialyte powder packets. The 1,080 mg sodium and 780 mg potassium per serving justify the clinical reputation, and at $0.79 per packet, it costs less than half of what you would pay for LMNT while delivering more sodium.
Occasional use for workouts or travel: Skratch Labs stick packs. At $0.98 each, you get a solid electrolyte-plus-carb combo without crossing the dollar line. Toss a few in your bag and forget about them until you need them.
Money is no object, just want the best taste: Liquid IV. The fruit-forward flavors and smooth mixing make it the crowd favorite for a reason. But understand that at $1.49 per stick, a daily habit costs over $45 a month.
The Bottom Line
The cheapest option (Ultima at $0.53) and the most expensive (Liquid IV at $1.49) differ by nearly a dollar per serving. Over a month of daily use, that gap adds up to about $29. The expensive options are not three times better -- they just serve different purposes.
If you are watching your budget, start with Ultima or Nuun for daily hydration and keep a box of Pedialyte packets in the cabinet for heavy-duty recovery. That combination covers virtually every hydration scenario for under a dollar a serving. Save the premium brands for specific situations where their formula or format makes a measurable difference, not as a daily habit that quietly drains your wallet.
About Salty Hydration
Data-driven electrolyte reviews for athletes and health enthusiasts. Every number cited comes from verified label data and published pricing pages.