Gatorlyte vs Gatorade: sodium, sugar and cost compared
Label data checked . Amounts are per 12 fl oz of finished drink unless a table says otherwise.
Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration has 81% more sodium than Gatorade Thirst Quencher per 12 fl oz (294 mg vs 162 mg). Gatorade Thirst Quencher has 2.9 times the sugar of Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration per 12 fl oz (21 g vs 7.2 g). Gatorade Thirst Quencher costs less per liter as mixed ($1.48 vs $4.72 for Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration).
Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration vs Gatorade Thirst Quencher, side by side
| Nutrient | Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration | Gatorade Thirst Quencher |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 30 kcal | 84 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 7.2 g | 21 g |
| Sugars | 7.2 g | 21 g |
| Added sugars | 7.2 g | 21 g |
| Sodium | 294 mg | 162 mg |
| Potassium | 210 mg | 48 mg |
| Magnesium | 63 mg | not on label |
| Calcium | 72 mg | not on label |
| Chloride | 624 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration | Gatorade Thirst Quencher |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) |
| Calories | 85 kcal | 237 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 20 g | 59 g |
| Sugars | 20 g | 59 g |
| Added sugars | 20 g | 59 g |
| Sodium | 829 mg | 457 mg |
| Potassium | 592 mg | 135 mg |
| Magnesium | 178 mg | not on label |
| Calcium | 203 mg | not on label |
| Chloride | 1,760 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration | Gatorade Thirst Quencher |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 20 fl oz (591 mL) | 20 fl oz (591 mL) |
| Calories | 50 kcal | 140 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 12 g | 35 g |
| Sugars | 12 g | 35 g |
| Added sugars | 12 g | 35 g |
| Sodium | 490 mg | 270 mg |
| Potassium | 350 mg | 80 mg |
| Magnesium | 105 mg | not on label |
| Calcium | 120 mg | not on label |
| Chloride | 1,040 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.
Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Thirst Quencher label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorlyte is a line within the Gatorade brand, which PepsiCo owns.
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 | Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration | Gatorade Thirst Quencher |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $2.79 for 1 x 20 fl oz bottle | $6.99 for 8 x 20 fl oz bottles |
| Cost per serving | $2.79 | $0.87 |
| Cost per liter | $4.72 | $1.48 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $5.69 | $3.24 |
Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration price checked at Target . 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. Sweetened with stevia.
- Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration has no caffeine.
- 2% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
Water, Sugar, Citric Acid, Salt, Calcium Lactate, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Oxide, Modified Food Starch, Purified Stevia Leaf Extract, Natural Flavor, Glycerol Ester of Rosin, Blue 1.
- 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 Gatorlyte if
- you want more sodium: 294 mg vs 162 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want less sugar: 7.2 g vs 21 g per 12 fl oz
- you want more potassium: 210 mg vs 48 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want magnesium: 63 mg per 12 fl oz vs not on the label
Pick Gatorade if
- you want carbohydrate for energy during long sessions: 21 g vs 7.2 g per 12 fl oz
- you want the lower cost per liter: $1.48 vs $4.72
- you want the cheapest sodium: $3.24 vs $5.69 per 1,000 mg
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.
Other Gatorlyte vs Gatorade matchups
Gatorlyte Zero Sugar vs Gatorade Zero Sugar
Gatorlyte Zero Sugar has 81% more sodium than Gatorade Zero Sugar per 12 fl oz (294 mg vs 162 mg). Neither has any sugar.
| Per 12 fl oz | Gatorlyte Zero Sugar | Gatorade Zero Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 294 mg | 162 mg |
| Potassium | 210 mg | 48 mg |
| Magnesium | 63 mg | not on label |
| Carbohydrate | 0.6 g | 1.2 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 9 kcal | 3 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $4.72 | $1.48 |
Gatorlyte Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorlyte Zero Sugar price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Zero Sugar price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration vs Gatorade Endurance Formula Powder
Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration and Gatorade Endurance Formula Powder have about the same sodium per 12 fl oz (294 mg vs 310 mg). Gatorade Endurance Formula Powder has 80% more sugar than Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration per 12 fl oz (13 g vs 7.2 g).
Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration's label is for a 20 fl oz (591 mL) bottle serving; Gatorade Endurance Formula Powder's is for one scoop serving in 12 fl oz (355 mL) of water. The table converts both to 12 fl oz.
| Per 12 fl oz | Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration | Gatorade Endurance Formula Powder |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 294 mg | 310 mg |
| Potassium | 210 mg | 140 mg |
| Magnesium | 63 mg | 0 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 7.2 g | 21 g |
| Sugars | 7.2 g | 13 g |
| Calories | 30 kcal | 90 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $4.72 | $2.14 |
Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Endurance Formula Powder label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Endurance Formula Powder price checked at Gatorade (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 Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration at Target 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.
- Every flavor. Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration lists different values for some flavors; this page uses the main label.
FAQ
Which has more electrolytes, Gatorlyte or Gatorade?
Per 12 fl oz, Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration has 294 mg sodium, 210 mg potassium and 63 mg magnesium. Gatorade Thirst Quencher has 162 mg sodium and 48 mg potassium. Per liter that is 829 mg vs 457 mg sodium. Gatorade Thirst Quencher doesn't list magnesium on the label.
Does Gatorlyte or Gatorade have more sugar?
Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration: 7.2 g sugar and 30 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with stevia. Gatorade Thirst Quencher: 21 g sugar and 84 kcal per 12 fl oz, no low-calorie sweeteners listed.
Which is cheaper, Gatorlyte or Gatorade?
Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration worked out at $2.79 a serving, $4.72 a liter and $5.69 per 1,000 mg sodium (1 x 20 fl oz bottle at Target, 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 Gatorlyte Zero Sugar compare with Gatorade Zero Sugar?
Gatorlyte Zero Sugar has 81% more sodium than Gatorade Zero Sugar per 12 fl oz (294 mg vs 162 mg). Neither has any sugar. Gatorade Zero Sugar has twice the total carbohydrate of Gatorlyte Zero Sugar per 12 fl oz (1.2 g vs 0.6 g). Per liter as mixed, Gatorlyte Zero Sugar costs $4.72 and Gatorade Zero Sugar costs $1.48.