Propel vs Gatorade: sodium, sugar and cost compared
Label data checked . Amounts are per 12 fl oz of finished drink unless a table says otherwise.
Propel Fitness Water and Gatorade Thirst Quencher have about the same sodium per 12 fl oz (163 mg vs 162 mg). Gatorade Thirst Quencher has 21 g sugar per 12 fl oz; Propel Fitness Water has none. Gatorade Thirst Quencher costs less per liter as mixed ($1.48 vs $1.76 for Propel Fitness Water).
Propel Fitness Water vs Gatorade Thirst Quencher, side by side
Serving sizes differ. Propel Fitness Water'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 | Propel Fitness Water | 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 | 0 kcal | 84 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 21 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 21 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 21 g |
| Sodium | 163 mg | 162 mg |
| Potassium | 43 mg | 48 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Propel Fitness Water | 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 | 0 kcal | 237 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 59 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 59 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 59 g |
| Sodium | 460 mg | 457 mg |
| Potassium | 120 mg | 135 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Propel Fitness Water | 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 | 0 kcal | 140 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 35 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 35 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 35 g |
| Sodium | 230 mg | 270 mg |
| Potassium | 60 mg | 80 mg |
| 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.
Propel Fitness Water label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Thirst Quencher label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Propel and Gatorade are both PepsiCo 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 | Propel Fitness Water | Gatorade Thirst Quencher |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $5.29 for 6 x 16.9 fl oz bottles | $6.99 for 8 x 20 fl oz bottles |
| Cost per serving | $0.88 | $0.87 |
| Cost per liter | $1.76 | $1.48 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $3.83 | $3.24 |
Propel Fitness Water 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
- No sugar sources in the ingredients. Sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
- Propel Fitness Water has no caffeine.
- 0% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
Water, Citric Acid, Sodium Hexametaphosphate (To Protect Flavor), Natural Flavor, Salt, Potassium Sorbate (Preserves Freshness), Potassium Citrate, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Vitamin E Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6).
- 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 Propel if
- you want no sugar: 0 g vs 21 g per 12 fl oz
Pick Gatorade if
- you want carbohydrate for energy during long sessions: 21 g vs 0 g per 12 fl oz
- you want to avoid sucralose and acesulfame potassium
- you want the lower cost per liter: $1.48 vs $1.76
- you want the cheapest sodium: $3.24 vs $3.83 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 Propel vs Gatorade matchups
Propel Fitness Water vs Gatorade Zero Sugar
Propel Fitness Water and Gatorade Zero Sugar have about the same sodium per 12 fl oz (163 mg vs 162 mg). Neither has any sugar.
Propel Fitness Water'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 | Propel Fitness Water | Gatorade Zero Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 163 mg | 162 mg |
| Potassium | 43 mg | 48 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 1.2 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 0 kcal | 3 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $1.76 | $1.48 |
Propel Fitness Water label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Propel Fitness Water price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Zero Sugar price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Propel Powder Sticks vs Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks
Propel Powder Sticks and Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks have about the same sodium per 12 fl oz (156 mg vs 162 mg). Neither has any sugar.
| Per 12 fl oz | Propel Powder Sticks | Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 156 mg | 162 mg |
| Potassium | 48 mg | 48 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 0.6 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 3 kcal | 3 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $0.99 | $0.95 |
Propel Powder Sticks label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Propel Powder Sticks price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Sticks 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 Propel Fitness Water 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, Propel or Gatorade?
Per 12 fl oz, Propel Fitness Water has 163 mg sodium and 43 mg potassium. Gatorade Thirst Quencher has 162 mg sodium and 48 mg potassium. Per liter that is 460 mg vs 457 mg sodium. Neither label lists magnesium.
Does Propel or Gatorade have more sugar?
Propel Fitness Water: 0 g sugar and 0 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 Propel and Gatorade list different serving sizes?
Propel Fitness Water'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 230 mg vs 270 mg sodium, but on the same 12 fl oz it is 163 mg vs 162 mg.
Which is cheaper, Propel or Gatorade?
Propel Fitness Water worked out at $0.88 a serving, $1.76 a liter and $3.83 per 1,000 mg sodium (6 x 16.9 fl oz bottles 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 Propel Fitness Water compare with Gatorade Zero Sugar?
Propel Fitness Water and Gatorade Zero Sugar have about the same sodium per 12 fl oz (163 mg vs 162 mg). Neither has any sugar. Gatorade Zero Sugar has 1.2 g total carbohydrate per 12 fl oz; Propel Fitness Water has none. Per liter as mixed, Propel Fitness Water costs $1.76 and Gatorade Zero Sugar costs $1.48.