Head to head · Hydration & Electrolytes
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier vs Nuun Sport Electrolyte Tablets
Nuun scores higher overall (7.9 vs 7.0 out of 10), mainly on quality & purity, value and transparency. Liquid I.V. still leads on experience.
Updated September 2026 from our full reviews · How we score
America's best-known electrolyte stick: 560 mg sodium, 370 mg potassium and 11 g sugar per packet. Handy for sweaty days, but pricey and sugary for everyday sipping.
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Informed Choice-certified fizzy tablets with 300 mg sodium and 1 g sugar per 16 oz: clean, affordable everyday and workout hydration, but light for salty sweaters.
We may earn a commission when you buy through these links — it never affects our scores. How we make money
We may earn a commission when you buy through these links — it never affects our scores. How we make money
The short answer
Choose Liquid I.V. if…
- Hot-weather activity and moderate sweating
- Travel days and recovery after a late night
- People who like a sweet, fruity electrolyte drink
- You care most about experience
Choose Nuun if…
- Everyday hydration with minimal sugar
- Gym sessions, runs and rides of moderate length
- Tested-athlete use (Informed Choice)
- You care most about quality & purity, value, transparency
- You want the lower cost per serving ($0.75)
Side by side
| Hydration Multiplier | Sport Electrolyte Tablets | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 7.0 / 10 | 7.9 / 10 |
| Efficacy (30%) | 7.2 | 7.0 |
| Quality & Purity (25%) | 6.8 | 8.8 |
| Value (20%) | 6.0 | 8.2 |
| Experience (15%) | 8.2 | 7.5 |
| Transparency (10%) | 7.0 | 8.8 |
| Form | Stick pack | Tablet |
| Serving | 1 stick (16 g) in 16 oz water16 servings per container | 1 tablet (5 g) in 16 oz water10 servings per container |
| Price per serving | $1.56 | $0.75 |
| Testing & certifications | None verified | Informed ChoiceCertified Gluten-FreeKosherCertified VeganNon-GMO Project Verified |
| Dietary | Vegan, Gluten-free, Non-GMO | Vegan, Gluten-free, Non-GMO, Keto-friendly |
| Key ingredients |
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| Flavors | 8 (Lemon Lime, Strawberry, Passion Fruit…) | 8 (Lemon Lime, Strawberry Lemonade, Citrus Fruit…) |
| Creator video reviews | 5 | 5 |
Pros and cons
Hydration Multiplier
- Meaningful 560 mg sodium and 370 mg potassium per stick
- Mixes easily into 16 oz with a wide range of flavors
- Buyers consistently credit it with less fatigue, fewer cramps and better recovery
- Widely available in stores, on Amazon and on TikTok Shop
- 11 g added sugar per stick (22% of the Daily Value)
- Less sodium and more sugar than the reduced-osmolarity ORS formula; not a medical ORS
- About $1.50-$1.56 per stick
- No third-party testing or sport certification advertised; many buyers find it too salty
Sport Electrolyte Tablets
- Informed Choice certified, plus gluten-free, kosher, vegan and Non-GMO Project certifications
- Only 1 g sugar and 15 calories per tablet
- Portable tablet that fits in a pocket or water-bottle routine
- About $0.53-$0.75 per serving
- 300 mg sodium is modest for long or hot sessions
- Taste is polarizing and some flavors are faint
- Tablets can be slow to dissolve and hard to shake out of the tube
- Not suitable as a replacement for a medical ORS
Our verdicts
Hydration Multiplier
Liquid I.V. is a convenient, good-tasting (to most) way to get a moderate dose of sodium and potassium when you are genuinely sweating, and it earns its popularity on convenience. For daily desk hydration, though, the 11 g of sugar, the $1.50-plus price per stick and the lack of third-party testing make it hard to recommend over water or a cheaper, better-certified mix.
Full review
Sport Electrolyte Tablets
Nuun Sport is a well-certified, low-sugar and reasonably priced way to add electrolytes to everyday drinking and moderate workouts, which makes it our pick for general and athletic use under an hour or two. Heavy sweaters and anyone battling illness-related dehydration should look to a higher-sodium mix or a medical ORS instead.
Full review
What creators say
Questions people ask
Is Liquid I.V. better than Nuun?
Which is cheaper per serving, Liquid I.V. or Nuun?
Are Liquid I.V. and Nuun third-party tested?
Who should choose Liquid I.V. over Nuun?
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