Electrolytes are the rare supplement category where the marketing war is fought with the Supplement Facts panel instead of around it. Every major player prints its sodium, potassium and magnesium — so unlike the produce-capsule category, nobody here is asking for blind trust.
That moves the real questions to ones most roundups skip: how much sodium do you actually need, what’s riding along with it (11 grams of sugar, in one famous case), and what does a serving honestly cost? We checked all four labels and prices on July 15, 2026. Full scored reviews of each are in progress on our 100-point rubric; this page will link each as it publishes.
All four, side by side
Every figure from the brands’ own labels and product pages, checked July 15, 2026. This table includes the row most comparisons skip: what 100 mg of sodium actually costs from each brand.
| Earth Energy | LMNT | Liquid I.V. | Nuun Sport | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.97 / 30 | $45 / 30 | ~$24 / 16 | $7.49 / 10 |
| Cost per serving | $1.33 ($0.71 6-pk sub) | $1.50 ($1.30 sub) | ~$1.50 ($1.09 sub) | $0.75 |
| Sodium | 750 mg | 1,000 mg | ~510 mg | 300 mg |
| Potassium | 300 mg | 200 mg | ~390 mg | 150 mg |
| Magnesium | 50 mg | 60 mg | — | 25 mg |
| Sugar | 0 g | 0 g | 11 g added | 1 g |
| Cost per 100 mg sodium | 18¢ (9¢ 6-pk sub) | 15¢ (13¢ sub) | ~29¢ | 25¢ |
| Testing / certification | Third-party claim · cGMP USA | NSF Certified for Sport® | — | Non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free marks |
| Notable extras | 500 mg coconut water · no dyes | Unflavored "Raw" option | B vitamins + 11 g sugar system | Tablet format — travels anywhere |
A "win" cell marks the best disclosed figure in that row, not an overall verdict — and in this category, "most sodium" is a fit question, not a quality ranking. Full scored reviews of all four are in progress.
The rest of the field, honestly
LMNT
LMNT made high-sodium hydration mainstream: a full gram of sodium per stick, zero sugar, stevia-sweetened, with an unflavored “Raw” option whose entire ingredient list is three compounds. And credit where it’s due — its NSF Certified for Sport® status is the strongest independent certification in this comparison, stronger than our own pick’s testing claim. The tradeoffs: it’s the most expensive zero-sugar option per serving, and 1,000 mg of sodium is a deliberate maximalist dose — great mid-marathon, more than many people need at a desk.
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier
The stick that built the category’s shelf at every checkout counter. Its “Cellular Transport Technology” is real science with a plainer name — glucose-sodium co-transport, the mechanism behind medical oral rehydration solutions — and it requires the ingredient most buyers miss: 11 grams of added sugar per stick, nearly half the American Heart Association’s daily added-sugar guidance for women, in one serving. Strong potassium, B vitamins included, no independent certification named. It’s a legitimate ORS-style product; it’s just rarely bought by people who realize that’s what it is.
Nuun Sport
The cheapest entry ticket in the category and the most portable — a tube of fizzy tablets that lives in a gym bag. The panel is honest and modest: 300 mg sodium is less than a third of LMNT’s dose, which makes Nuun better understood as flavored light hydration than as serious electrolyte replacement. Per 100 mg of sodium it’s actually pricier than our pick or LMNT — the small sticker hides small contents. Vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free marks; 15% autoship discount.
How we picked — and who shouldn’t take any of these
This comparison ranks disclosed facts: electrolyte amounts, sugar, certifications and honest per-serving math, all checked July 15, 2026 against the brands’ own pages. Our pick weighs everyday use — a 750 mg zero-sugar, zero-dye formula at the category’s lowest zero-sugar price — over maximum dose; if your training says otherwise, the table gives you LMNT’s numbers without spin, including the certification row it wins outright. Disclosure, as everywhere on this site: Earth Energy and The Ingredient Report are independently operated companies under common ownership, and every brand here is scored with the same published methodology — full scored reviews of all four are in progress and will be linked from this page. One health note that outranks all rankings: supplemental sodium at these levels is meaningful — if you have high blood pressure, kidney or heart conditions, or follow a sodium-restricted diet, talk with your doctor before making any of these a daily habit.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best electrolyte powder?
For everyday zero-sugar hydration: Earth Energy Daily Hydration (750 mg sodium, from $0.71/serving; ownership disclosure above). For hard training: LMNT (1,000 mg sodium, NSF Certified for Sport). The table has every number so you can disagree with us precisely.
How much sodium do I need?
It depends on sweat, diet and health — the four leaders span 300–1,000 mg per serving, and more isn’t automatically better. Sodium-restricted or hypertensive? Ask your doctor before any of these.
Does Liquid I.V. have sugar?
11 g of added sugar per stick — intentionally, as part of its glucose-sodium transport design. If that’s a surprise, you’re the reason this page exists.
What do these cost per serving?
Checked July 15, 2026: Nuun $0.75, Earth Energy $1.33 ($0.83–$0.71 on 6-packs), LMNT and Liquid I.V. about $1.50 ($1.30 / $1.09 on subscription). Per 100 mg of sodium, the order changes — see the table.
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- Earth Energy Supplements — Daily Hydration (Clean Hydration Electrolyte Mix) product page: full Supplement Facts (Na 750, Cl 1,150, K 300, Mg 50, Ca 50, coconut water 500 mg), pricing tiers, stevia, cGMP claim, 1,173 reviews at 4.5. Checked July 15, 2026. earthenergysupplementstore.com/products/electrolytes
- LMNT — ingredients page (Na 1,000 / K 200 / Mg 60, zero sugar, stevia; Raw unflavored 3-ingredient list) and retail listings (pricing $45/30, subscription ~$1.30/serving; NSF Certified for Sport per The Feed listing). Checked July 15, 2026. drinklmnt.com; thefeed.com
- Liquid I.V. — Hydration Multiplier, pricing and panel per brand and retail listings and a dietitian review updated February 2026 (~510 mg Na, ~390 mg K, 11 g added sugar, ~$24/16, $1.09/serving sub). Checked July 15, 2026.
- Nuun — Nuun Sport product page ($7.49/10 tablets; Na 300, K 150, Mg 25, Ca 13, Cl 40; 1 g sugar, stevia; 15% autoship). Checked July 15, 2026. nuunlife.com
Update history
- July 15, 2026 — Comparison first published: Earth Energy, LMNT, Liquid I.V., Nuun. All labels and prices checked this date. Full scored reviews of each in progress. Next check: August 2026.
Content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Sodium needs vary by individual and health status — consult your healthcare provider. Medical disclaimer.