Powerade vs Vitaminwater: sodium, sugar and cost compared
Label data checked . Amounts are per 12 fl oz of finished drink unless a table says otherwise.
Powerade has 240 mg sodium per 12 fl oz; vitaminwater has none. Powerade has 34% more sugar than vitaminwater per 12 fl oz (21 g vs 16 g). Powerade costs less per liter as mixed ($1.16 vs $3.37 for vitaminwater).
Powerade vs vitaminwater, side by side
Serving sizes differ. Powerade's label is for a 12 fl oz (355 mL) bottle serving; vitaminwater'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 | Powerade | vitaminwater |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 80 kcal | 60 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 21 g | 16 g |
| Sugars | 21 g | 16 g |
| Added sugars | 21 g | 16 g |
| Sodium | 240 mg | 0 mg |
| Potassium | 80 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Powerade | vitaminwater |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) |
| Calories | 225 kcal | 169 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 59 g | 44 g |
| Sugars | 59 g | 44 g |
| Added sugars | 59 g | 44 g |
| Sodium | 676 mg | 0 mg |
| Potassium | 225 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Powerade | vitaminwater |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 20 fl oz (591 mL) |
| Calories | 80 kcal | 100 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 21 g | 26 g |
| Sugars | 21 g | 26 g |
| Added sugars | 21 g | 26 g |
| Sodium | 240 mg | 0 mg |
| Potassium | 80 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 magnesium, calcium or chloride.
Powerade label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Vitaminwater label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Powerade and Vitaminwater are both Coca-Cola brands.
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 | Powerade | vitaminwater |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $5.49 for 8 x 20 fl oz bottles | $1.99 for 1 x 20 fl oz bottle |
| Cost per serving | $0.41 | $1.99 |
| Cost per liter | $1.16 | $3.37 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $1.72 | no sodium |
Powerade price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Vitaminwater price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Sugar, sweeteners and caffeine
- Sugar from high fructose corn syrup. No low-calorie sweeteners listed.
- Powerade has no caffeine.
- 5.9% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LESS THAN 0.5% OF: CITRIC ACID, ELECTROLYTES (SALT, SODIUM CITRATE, MAGNESIUM AND CALCIUM CHLORIDES, MONO-POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE), VITAMINS B12 AND C (CYANOCOBALAMIN AND ASCORBIC ACID), NATURAL FLAVORS, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (TO PROTECT COLOR), MEDIUM CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES, SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE, BLUE 1.
- Sugar from crystalline fructose and cane sugar. No low-calorie sweeteners listed.
- Some vitaminwater flavors have caffeine (up to 60 mg per serving); the others have none.
- 4.4% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
reverse osmosis water, crystalline fructose, less than 0.5% of: vitamins A, C, B3, B5, B6, B12 (beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, cyanocobalamin), sodium selenate, manganese citrate, electrolytes (magnesium and calcium lactates and potassium phosphate), cane sugar, citric acid, gum acacia, natural flavors, fruit and vegetable juices (for color).
Which to pick
Each reason below is a measured difference in the label data.
Pick Powerade if
- you want more sodium: 240 mg vs 0 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want the lower cost per liter: $1.16 vs $3.37
Pick Vitaminwater if
- you want a lighter salt dose: 0 mg vs 240 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want less sugar: 16 g vs 21 g per 12 fl oz
- you want the option of a caffeinated flavor: up to 60 mg per serving
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 Powerade vs Vitaminwater matchups
Powerade Zero Sugar vs vitaminwater zero sugar
Powerade Zero Sugar has 240 mg sodium per 12 fl oz; vitaminwater zero sugar has none. Neither has any sugar.
Powerade Zero Sugar's label is for a 12 fl oz (355 mL) bottle serving; vitaminwater zero sugar's is for a 20 fl oz (591 mL) bottle serving. The table converts both to 12 fl oz.
| Per 12 fl oz | Powerade Zero Sugar | vitaminwater zero sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 240 mg | 0 mg |
| Potassium | 80 mg | not on label |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 0 kcal | 0 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $1.16 | $3.37 |
Powerade Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Vitaminwater zero sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Powerade Zero Sugar price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Vitaminwater zero sugar price checked at Target . 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 Powerade at Target on Sep 24, 2026 and vitaminwater 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. Vitaminwater lists different values for some flavors; this page uses the main label.
- Older records. The USDA food database has older figures for Powerade and vitaminwater that differ by more than 10%. We use the current label.
FAQ
Which has more electrolytes, Powerade or Vitaminwater?
Per 12 fl oz, Powerade has 240 mg sodium and 80 mg potassium. Vitaminwater has 0 mg sodium and no listed potassium. Per liter that is 676 mg vs 0 mg sodium. Neither label lists magnesium.
Does Powerade or Vitaminwater have more sugar?
Powerade: 21 g sugar and 80 kcal per 12 fl oz, no low-calorie sweeteners listed. Vitaminwater: 16 g sugar and 60 kcal per 12 fl oz, no low-calorie sweeteners listed.
Why do Powerade and Vitaminwater list different serving sizes?
Powerade's label is for a 12 fl oz (355 mL) bottle serving and vitaminwater's is for a 20 fl oz (591 mL) bottle serving. Comparing the labels as printed gives 240 mg vs 0 mg sodium, but on the same 12 fl oz it is 240 mg vs 0 mg.
Which is cheaper, Powerade or Vitaminwater?
Powerade worked out at $0.41 a serving, $1.16 a liter and $1.72 per 1,000 mg sodium (8 x 20 fl oz bottles at Target, checked Sep 24, 2026). Vitaminwater worked out at $1.99 a serving, $3.37 a liter and n/a per 1,000 mg sodium (1 x 20 fl oz bottle at Target, checked Sep 24, 2026). Prices change often, so treat these as a snapshot.
How does Powerade Zero Sugar compare with vitaminwater zero sugar?
Powerade Zero Sugar has 240 mg sodium per 12 fl oz; vitaminwater zero sugar has none. Neither has any sugar. Per liter as mixed, Powerade Zero Sugar costs $1.16 and vitaminwater zero sugar costs $3.37.
Does Powerade or Vitaminwater have caffeine?
Powerade has no caffeine. Some vitaminwater flavors have caffeine (up to 60 mg per serving); the others have none.