DripDrop vs Gatorade: sodium, sugar and cost compared
Label data checked . Amounts are per 12 fl oz of finished drink unless a table says otherwise.
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder has 3 times the sodium of Gatorade Thirst Quencher per 12 fl oz (494 mg vs 162 mg). Gatorade Thirst Quencher has twice the sugar of DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder per 12 fl oz (21 g vs 10 g). Gatorade Thirst Quencher costs less per liter as mixed ($1.48 vs $4.75 for DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder).
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder vs Gatorade Thirst Quencher, side by side
Serving sizes differ. DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder's label is for one stick in 8 fl oz (237 mL) of water; Gatorade Thirst Quencher's is for a 20 fl oz (591 mL) bottle serving. The per-serving numbers on the two labels can't be compared directly, so this page converts both to 12 fl oz and 1 liter of finished drink.
| Nutrient | DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder | Gatorade Thirst Quencher |
|---|---|---|
| Format | powder stick | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 52 kcal | 84 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 13 g | 21 g |
| Sugars | 10 g | 21 g |
| Added sugars | 10 g | 21 g |
| Sodium | 494 mg | 162 mg |
| Potassium | 270 mg | 48 mg |
| Magnesium | 60 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder | Gatorade Thirst Quencher |
|---|---|---|
| Format | powder stick | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) |
| Calories | 148 kcal | 237 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 38 g | 59 g |
| Sugars | 30 g | 59 g |
| Added sugars | 30 g | 59 g |
| Sodium | 1,392 mg | 457 mg |
| Potassium | 759 mg | 135 mg |
| Magnesium | 169 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder | Gatorade Thirst Quencher |
|---|---|---|
| Format | powder stick | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 8 fl oz (237 mL) | 20 fl oz (591 mL) |
| Calories | 35 kcal | 140 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 9 g | 35 g |
| Sugars | 7 g | 35 g |
| Added sugars | 7 g | 35 g |
| Sodium | 330 mg | 270 mg |
| Potassium | 180 mg | 80 mg |
| Magnesium | 40 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
Shaded cells mark more electrolytes, or less sugar and fewer calories. Carbohydrate and caffeine are not marked, since more or less depends on your use. Neither label lists calcium or chloride.
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Thirst Quencher label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Sodium per liter
Sweat carries about 230 to 1,610 mg of sodium per liter[1]. Both gauges use the same scale, so the markers line up.
Cost per serving and per 1,000 mg sodium
| Measure | DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder | Gatorade Thirst Quencher |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $35.99 for 32 sticks | $6.99 for 8 x 20 fl oz bottles |
| Cost per serving | $1.12 | $0.87 |
| Cost per liter | $4.75 | $1.48 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $3.41 | $3.24 |
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder price checked at DripDrop (brand store) . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Thirst Quencher price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Sugar, sweeteners and caffeine
- Sugar from sugar, fructose and dextrose. Sweetened with sucralose.
- DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder has no caffeine.
- 3.8% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
SUGAR, FRUCTOSE, SODIUM CITRATE, CITRIC ACID, POTASSIUM CITRATE, DEXTROSE, NATURAL FLAVOR, MAGNESIUM CITRATE, SALT, SILICON DIOXIDE, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), SUCRALOSE, TURMERIC FOR COLOR, ZINC ASPARTATE.
- Sugar from sugar and dextrose. No low-calorie sweeteners listed.
- Gatorade Thirst Quencher has no caffeine.
- 5.9% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
Water, Sugar, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Monopotassium Phosphate, Gum Arabic, Ascorbic Acid (to Protect Color), Natural Flavor, Glycerol Ester of Rosin, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Beta Carotene (Color).
Which to pick
Each reason below is a measured difference in the label data.
Pick DripDrop if
- you want more sodium: 494 mg vs 162 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want less sugar: 10 g vs 21 g per 12 fl oz
- you want more potassium: 270 mg vs 48 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want magnesium: 60 mg per 12 fl oz vs not on the label
- you want a powder stick that is light to carry and mixes into your own water
Pick Gatorade if
- you want a lighter salt dose: 162 mg vs 494 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want to avoid sucralose
- you want the lower cost per liter: $1.48 vs $4.75
- you want a ready-to-drink bottle with nothing to mix
Where to buy
Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy, and it never changes the data or rankings. Affiliate disclosure.
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder
Full DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder labelAll DripDrop drinks
Other DripDrop vs Gatorade matchups
DripDrop Zero Sugar Electrolyte Powder vs Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks
DripDrop Zero Sugar Electrolyte Powder has 3 times the sodium of Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks per 12 fl oz (494 mg vs 162 mg). Neither has any sugar.
DripDrop Zero Sugar Electrolyte Powder's label is for one stick in 8 fl oz (237 mL) of water; Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks' is for one stick in 20 fl oz (591 mL) of water. The table converts both to 12 fl oz.
| Per 12 fl oz | DripDrop Zero Sugar Electrolyte Powder | Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 494 mg | 162 mg |
| Potassium | 270 mg | 48 mg |
| Magnesium | 60 mg | not on label |
| Carbohydrate | 4.5 g | 0.6 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 15 kcal | 3 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $4.75 | $0.95 |
DripDrop Zero Sugar Electrolyte Powder label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
DripDrop Zero Sugar Electrolyte Powder price checked at DripDrop (brand store) . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder vs Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration Powder Sticks
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder has 57% more sodium than Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration Powder Sticks per 12 fl oz (494 mg vs 315 mg). DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder has 55% more sugar than Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration Powder Sticks per 12 fl oz (10 g vs 6.8 g).
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder's label is for one stick in 8 fl oz (237 mL) of water; Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration Powder Sticks' is for one stick in 16 fl oz (473 mL) of water. The table converts both to 12 fl oz.
| Per 12 fl oz | DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder | Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration Powder Sticks |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 494 mg | 315 mg |
| Potassium | 270 mg | 225 mg |
| Magnesium | 60 mg | 71 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 13 g | 7.5 g |
| Sugars | 10 g | 6.8 g |
| Calories | 52 kcal | 34 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $4.75 | price not checked |
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration Powder Sticks label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder price checked at DripDrop (brand store) . Source (opens in a new tab)
What the data can't tell you
- How they taste. We compare labels, not flavor.
- What they cost near you today. We checked DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder at DripDrop (brand store) on Sep 24, 2026 and Gatorade Thirst Quencher at Target on Sep 24, 2026.
- How much sodium you lose. That depends on your sweat; the sweat rate calculator gives an estimate.
FAQ
Which has more electrolytes, DripDrop or Gatorade?
Per 12 fl oz, DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder has 494 mg sodium, 270 mg potassium and 60 mg magnesium. Gatorade Thirst Quencher has 162 mg sodium and 48 mg potassium. Per liter that is 1,392 mg vs 457 mg sodium. Gatorade Thirst Quencher doesn't list magnesium on the label.
Does DripDrop or Gatorade have more sugar?
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder: 10 g sugar and 52 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with sucralose. Gatorade Thirst Quencher: 21 g sugar and 84 kcal per 12 fl oz, no low-calorie sweeteners listed.
Why do DripDrop and Gatorade list different serving sizes?
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder's label is for one stick in 8 fl oz (237 mL) of water and Gatorade Thirst Quencher's is for a 20 fl oz (591 mL) bottle serving. Comparing the labels as printed gives 330 mg vs 270 mg sodium, but on the same 12 fl oz it is 494 mg vs 162 mg.
Which is cheaper, DripDrop or Gatorade?
DripDrop Original Electrolyte Powder worked out at $1.12 a serving, $4.75 a liter and $3.41 per 1,000 mg sodium (32 sticks at DripDrop (brand store), checked Sep 24, 2026). Gatorade Thirst Quencher worked out at $0.87 a serving, $1.48 a liter and $3.24 per 1,000 mg sodium (8 x 20 fl oz bottles at Target, checked Sep 24, 2026). Prices change often, so treat these as a snapshot.
How does DripDrop Zero Sugar Electrolyte Powder compare with Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks?
DripDrop Zero Sugar Electrolyte Powder has 3 times the sodium of Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks per 12 fl oz (494 mg vs 162 mg). Neither has any sugar. DripDrop Zero Sugar Electrolyte Powder has 7.5 times the total carbohydrate of Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks per 12 fl oz (4.5 g vs 0.6 g). Per liter as mixed, DripDrop Zero Sugar Electrolyte Powder costs $4.75 and Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks costs $0.95.