Propel vs Powerade: sodium, sugar and cost compared
Label data checked . Amounts are per 12 fl oz of finished drink unless a table says otherwise.
Powerade has 47% more sodium than Propel Fitness Water per 12 fl oz (240 mg vs 163 mg). Powerade has 21 g sugar per 12 fl oz; Propel Fitness Water has none. Powerade costs less per liter as mixed ($1.16 vs $1.76 for Propel Fitness Water).
Propel Fitness Water vs Powerade, side by side
Serving sizes differ. Propel Fitness Water's label is for a 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) bottle serving; Powerade's is for a 12 fl oz (355 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 | Powerade |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 0 kcal | 80 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 21 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 21 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 21 g |
| Sodium | 163 mg | 240 mg |
| Potassium | 43 mg | 80 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Propel Fitness Water | Powerade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 225 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 59 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 59 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 59 g |
| Sodium | 460 mg | 676 mg |
| Potassium | 120 mg | 225 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Propel Fitness Water | Powerade |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 0 kcal | 80 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 21 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 21 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 21 g |
| Sodium | 230 mg | 240 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)
Powerade label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Propel is a PepsiCo brand and Powerade is a Coca-Cola brand.
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 | Powerade |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $5.29 for 6 x 16.9 fl oz bottles | $5.49 for 8 x 20 fl oz bottles |
| Cost per serving | $0.88 | $0.41 |
| Cost per liter | $1.76 | $1.16 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $3.83 | $1.72 |
Propel Fitness Water price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Powerade 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 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.
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 Powerade if
- you want more sodium: 240 mg vs 163 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want carbohydrate for energy during long sessions: 21 g vs 0 g per 12 fl oz
- you want more potassium: 80 mg vs 43 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want to avoid sucralose and acesulfame potassium
- you want the lower cost per liter: $1.16 vs $1.76
- you want the cheapest sodium: $1.72 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 Powerade matchups
Propel Fitness Water vs Powerade Zero Sugar
Powerade Zero Sugar has 47% more sodium than Propel Fitness Water per 12 fl oz (240 mg vs 163 mg). Neither has any sugar.
Propel Fitness Water's label is for a 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) bottle serving; Powerade Zero Sugar's is for a 12 fl oz (355 mL) bottle serving. The table converts both to 12 fl oz.
| Per 12 fl oz | Propel Fitness Water | Powerade Zero Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 163 mg | 240 mg |
| Potassium | 43 mg | 80 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 0 kcal | 0 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $1.76 | $1.16 |
Propel Fitness Water label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Powerade Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Propel Fitness Water price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Powerade Zero Sugar price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Propel Fitness Water vs POWERADE Power Water
POWERADE Power Water has 91% more sodium than Propel Fitness Water per 12 fl oz (312 mg vs 163 mg). Neither has any sugar.
Propel Fitness Water's label is for a 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) bottle serving; POWERADE Power Water'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 | POWERADE Power Water |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 163 mg | 312 mg |
| Potassium | 43 mg | 102 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 0 kcal | 3 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $1.76 | price not checked |
Propel Fitness Water label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
POWERADE Power Water label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Propel Fitness Water 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 Powerade at Target on Sep 24, 2026.
- How much sodium you lose. That depends on your sweat; the sweat rate calculator gives an estimate.
- Older records. The USDA food database has older figures for Powerade that differ by more than 10%. We use the current label.
FAQ
Which has more electrolytes, Propel or Powerade?
Per 12 fl oz, Propel Fitness Water has 163 mg sodium and 43 mg potassium. Powerade has 240 mg sodium and 80 mg potassium. Per liter that is 460 mg vs 676 mg sodium. Neither label lists magnesium.
Does Propel or Powerade have more sugar?
Propel Fitness Water: 0 g sugar and 0 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Powerade: 21 g sugar and 80 kcal per 12 fl oz, no low-calorie sweeteners listed.
Why do Propel and Powerade list different serving sizes?
Propel Fitness Water's label is for a 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) bottle serving and Powerade's is for a 12 fl oz (355 mL) bottle serving. Comparing the labels as printed gives 230 mg vs 240 mg sodium, but on the same 12 fl oz it is 163 mg vs 240 mg.
Which is cheaper, Propel or Powerade?
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). 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). Prices change often, so treat these as a snapshot.
How does Propel Fitness Water compare with Powerade Zero Sugar?
Powerade Zero Sugar has 47% more sodium than Propel Fitness Water per 12 fl oz (240 mg vs 163 mg). Neither has any sugar. Per liter as mixed, Propel Fitness Water costs $1.76 and Powerade Zero Sugar costs $1.16.