LMNT vs. Liquid I.V. vs. Nuun vs. DripDrop: What's Actually in Each Packet (2026)
Every brand markets itself differently, but a packet is just a specific dose of sodium, potassium, and magnesium (plus sugar and flavor) at a specific price. Here's the exact label data for the four leading brands, side by side, plus what mixing the same minerals yourself costs.
| Brand | Sodium | Potassium | Magnesium | Calcium | Sugar | Calories | Notable extras | Price/serving | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMNT stick pack (powder) · 1 stick pack |
1,000 mg | 200 mg | 60 mg | — | 0 g | 10 | Stevia-sweetened, Keto-friendly | $1.50 ~$1.50 per stick pack ($1.25 on subscription) |
See on Amazon → |
| Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier stick pack (16 g) · 1 stick pack (16 g) |
500 mg | 370 mg | — | — | 11 g | 45 | Vitamin C 73 mg, B3 / B5 / B6 / B12, Sugar + dextrose "CTT" absorption blend | $1.25 ~$1.00–$1.56 per stick pack |
See on Amazon → |
| Nuun Sport effervescent tablet · 1 tablet |
300 mg | 150 mg | 25 mg | 13 mg | 1 g | 15 | Chloride 40 mg, NSF Certified for Sport | $0.70 ~$0.67–$0.75 per tablet |
See on Amazon → |
| DripDrop ORS stick pack (10 g) · 1 stick pack (10 g) |
330 mg | 185 mg | 39 mg | — | 7 g | 35 | Zinc 1.5 mg, Vitamin C 70 mg, ORS-style glucose:sodium ratio | $1.10 ~$1.00–$1.25 per stick pack |
See on Amazon → |
| 🪑 DIY mix (this site) | you choose | you choose | you choose | you choose | you choose | — | Any dose you want — fully customizable | ~$0.03–$0.15 bulk salts, any budget |
Build your mix → |
LMNT
Who it's for: Heavy sweaters, keto/fasting, zero-sugar preference. LMNT carries the highest sodium dose of the four by a wide margin — 1,000 mg per stick pack, alongside 200 mg potassium and 60 mg magnesium — with zero sugar and zero grams of carbs.
At one serving a day, that's about $547.50 a year ($1.50 × 365 days) buying stick packs.
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier
Who it's for: Sports-drink taste, casual daily hydration. Liquid I.V. doses 500 mg sodium and 370 mg potassium per stick pack, but leans on 11 g of sugar and dextrose to drive glucose–sodium co-transport absorption — it carries the most sugar of the four and tastes closest to a sports drink.
At one serving a day, that's about $456.25 a year ($1.25 × 365 days) buying stick packs.
Nuun Sport
Who it's for: Everyday light hydration, budget-conscious. Nuun's effervescent tablet has the lightest doses of the four — 300 mg sodium, 150 mg potassium, 25 mg magnesium — and the lowest price. It's also NSF Certified for Sport, a common pick for athletes worried about banned substances.
At one serving a day, that's about $255.50 a year ($0.70 × 365 days) buying tablets — the cheapest of the four brands by far.
DripDrop ORS
Who it's for: Genuine dehydration, sick-day rehydration. DripDrop is modeled on a medical oral rehydration solution: 330 mg sodium, 185 mg potassium, 39 mg magnesium, and 7 g sugar in a balanced glucose-to-electrolyte ratio designed for real dehydration, not just daily maintenance.
At one serving a day, that's about $401.50 a year ($1.10 × 365 days) buying stick packs.
Which one should you buy?
- Heavy sweat or keto/fasting — LMNT's high sodium and zero sugar fit best.
- Want the taste and don't mind sugar — Liquid I.V.'s sugar-assisted absorption reads closest to a sports drink.
- Light daily top-up, cheapest option — Nuun Sport wins on price and NSF certification.
- Genuine dehydration or illness — DripDrop's ORS-style ratio is built for that; for serious symptoms, see a doctor.
Or make it yourself for pennies
Every brand above is selling the same handful of minerals — sodium, potassium, magnesium — in a flavored, pre-dosed packet. Mixed from bulk salts, the same minerals cost a fraction as much: our electrolyte calculator tallies the savings for your own habit, and the mix builder lets you pick a goal (everyday, workouts, endurance, keto, sick-day), dial in the exact doses, and get a shopping list with live cost-per-serving — typically $0.03–$0.15, versus $0.70–$1.50 for the brands above.
Doses and prices above were collected from publicly available product labels and retail listings as of July 2026 — formulations and prices change, so always check the current label before buying or consuming any product.
Health, accuracy & trademark disclaimer
Health & medical disclaimer. DrinkIY is a cost-comparison and educational tool, not a source of medical, nutritional, or health advice, and nothing on this site creates a doctor–patient relationship. Electrolyte needs vary widely from person to person. Consuming too much sodium, potassium, or magnesium can be dangerous — particularly for people with kidney disease, heart conditions, high blood pressure, or diabetes, people taking medications such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or potassium-sparing diuretics, and people who are pregnant or nursing. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any recipe or product shown here, and before making any significant change to your electrolyte or fluid intake. For dehydration caused by illness, use a commercially prepared oral rehydration solution and seek medical care — do not rely on a homemade mix. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration; nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Accuracy. Nutrition-label doses and prices shown were collected from publicly available product labels and retail listings as of July 2026. Formulations and prices change; always verify the current label before purchasing or consuming any product. All information is provided "as is," without warranty of any kind, and your use of it is at your own risk. To the fullest extent permitted by law, DrinkIY disclaims all liability arising from use of this site's calculators, recipes, and comparisons.
Trademarks. LMNT, Liquid I.V., Nuun, DripDrop, and other brand names are trademarks of their respective owners. DrinkIY is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of these companies; references are for identification and comparison only.