Prime vs Gatorade: sodium, sugar and cost compared
Label data checked . Amounts are per 12 fl oz of finished drink unless a table says otherwise.
Gatorade Thirst Quencher has 7.6 times the sodium of PRIME Hydration per 12 fl oz (162 mg vs 21 mg). Gatorade Thirst Quencher has 14.8 times the sugar of PRIME Hydration per 12 fl oz (21 g vs 1.4 g). Gatorade Thirst Quencher costs less per liter as mixed ($1.48 vs $4.98 for PRIME Hydration).
PRIME Hydration vs Gatorade Thirst Quencher, side by side
Serving sizes differ. PRIME Hydration's label is for a 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) bottle serving; 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 | PRIME Hydration | 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 | 14 kcal | 84 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 3.5 g | 21 g |
| Sugars | 1.4 g | 21 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 21 g |
| Sodium | 21 mg | 162 mg |
| Potassium | 497 mg | 48 mg |
| Magnesium | 89 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | PRIME Hydration | 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 | 40 kcal | 237 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 10 g | 59 g |
| Sugars | 4 g | 59 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 59 g |
| Sodium | 60 mg | 457 mg |
| Potassium | 1,400 mg | 135 mg |
| Magnesium | 250 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | PRIME Hydration | Gatorade Thirst Quencher |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) | 20 fl oz (591 mL) |
| Calories | 20 kcal | 140 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 5 g | 35 g |
| Sugars | 2 g | 35 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 35 g |
| Sodium | 30 mg | 270 mg |
| Potassium | 700 mg | 80 mg |
| Magnesium | 125 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.
PRIME Hydration 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 | PRIME Hydration | Gatorade Thirst Quencher |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $2.49 for 1 x 16.9 fl oz bottle | $6.99 for 8 x 20 fl oz bottles |
| Cost per serving | $2.49 | $0.87 |
| Cost per liter | $4.98 | $1.48 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $83.00 | $3.24 |
PRIME Hydration 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 coconut water concentrate. Sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
- PRIME Hydration has no caffeine.
- 1% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
WATER, COCONUT WATER CONCENTRATE, CITRIC ACID, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, TRIMAGNESIUM CITRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, SUCRALOSE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, GUM ARABIC, D-ALPHA TOCOPHERYL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), ESTER GUM, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), RETINYL PALMITATE (VITAMIN A), CYANOCOBALAMIN (VITAMIN B12).
- 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 Prime if
- you want a lighter salt dose: 21 mg vs 162 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want less sugar: 1.4 g vs 21 g per 12 fl oz
- you want more potassium: 497 mg vs 48 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want magnesium: 89 mg per 12 fl oz vs not on the label
Pick Gatorade if
- you want more sodium: 162 mg vs 21 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want carbohydrate for energy during long sessions: 21 g vs 3.5 g per 12 fl oz
- you want to avoid sucralose and acesulfame potassium
- you want the lower cost per liter: $1.48 vs $4.98
- you want the cheapest sodium: $3.24 vs $83.00 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 Prime vs Gatorade matchups
PRIME ZERO Hydration vs Gatorade Zero Sugar
Gatorade Zero Sugar has 45.7 times the sodium of PRIME ZERO Hydration per 12 fl oz (162 mg vs 3.5 mg). Neither has any sugar.
PRIME ZERO Hydration's label is for a 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) bottle serving; Gatorade 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 | PRIME ZERO Hydration | Gatorade Zero Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 3.5 mg | 162 mg |
| Potassium | 312 mg | 48 mg |
| Magnesium | 71 mg | not on label |
| Carbohydrate | 2.1 g | 1.2 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 7 kcal | 3 kcal |
| Cost per liter | price not checked | $1.48 |
PRIME ZERO Hydration label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade 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 PRIME Hydration 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.
FAQ
Which has more electrolytes, Prime or Gatorade?
Per 12 fl oz, PRIME Hydration has 21 mg sodium, 497 mg potassium and 89 mg magnesium. Gatorade Thirst Quencher has 162 mg sodium and 48 mg potassium. Per liter that is 60 mg vs 457 mg sodium. Gatorade Thirst Quencher doesn't list magnesium on the label.
Does Prime or Gatorade have more sugar?
PRIME Hydration: 1.4 g sugar and 14 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Gatorade Thirst Quencher: 21 g sugar and 84 kcal per 12 fl oz, no low-calorie sweeteners listed.
Why do Prime and Gatorade list different serving sizes?
PRIME Hydration's label is for a 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) bottle serving and Gatorade Thirst Quencher's is for a 20 fl oz (591 mL) bottle serving. Comparing the labels as printed gives 30 mg vs 270 mg sodium, but on the same 12 fl oz it is 21 mg vs 162 mg.
Which is cheaper, Prime or Gatorade?
PRIME Hydration worked out at $2.49 a serving, $4.98 a liter and $83.00 per 1,000 mg sodium (1 x 16.9 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 PRIME ZERO Hydration compare with Gatorade Zero Sugar?
Gatorade Zero Sugar has 45.7 times the sodium of PRIME ZERO Hydration per 12 fl oz (162 mg vs 3.5 mg). Neither has any sugar. PRIME ZERO Hydration has 77% more total carbohydrate than Gatorade Zero Sugar per 12 fl oz (2.1 g vs 1.2 g).