Head to head · Hydration & Electrolytes
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier vs Pedialyte Classic Electrolyte Powder Packets
Pedialyte scores higher overall (7.5 vs 7.0 out of 10), mainly on efficacy, quality & purity and transparency.
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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The pharmacy-standard rehydration mix: 260 mg sodium, 180 mg potassium and 6 g sugar per 8 oz packet. Dependable when sick, but pricey per ounce.
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
Choose Pedialyte if…
- Rehydrating during stomach bugs, vomiting or diarrhea
- Families who want one mix for kids (1+) and adults
- Travel bags, diaper bags and first-aid kits
- You care most about efficacy, quality & purity, transparency
Side by side
| Hydration Multiplier | Classic Electrolyte Powder Packets | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 7.0 / 10 | 7.5 / 10 |
| Efficacy (30%) | 7.2 | 8.0 |
| Quality & Purity (25%) | 6.8 | 7.4 |
| Value (20%) | 6.0 | 6.2 |
| Experience (15%) | 8.2 | 8.0 |
| Transparency (10%) | 7.0 | 8.0 |
| Form | Stick pack | Stick pack |
| Serving | 1 stick (16 g) in 16 oz water16 servings per container | 1 packet (9 g) in 8 fl oz water24 servings per container |
| Price per serving | $1.56 | See retailer |
| Testing & certifications | None verified | Kosher |
| Dietary | Vegan, Gluten-free, Non-GMO | Gluten-free |
| Key ingredients |
|
|
| Flavors | 8 (Lemon Lime, Strawberry, Passion Fruit…) | 5 (Variety Pack (Strawberry, Fruit Punch, Grape, Apple), Grape, Orange…) |
| Creator video reviews | 5 | 2 |
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
Classic Electrolyte Powder Packets
- Classic ORS-style formula: 260 mg sodium, 180 mg potassium and 6 g dextrose per 8 oz
- Labeled for mild to moderate dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting, ages 1 and up
- Full nutrition and ingredient data published by Abbott; no proprietary blend
- Buyers consistently praise the mild taste, portability and usefulness when sick
- About $1.11 per 8 oz stick, or roughly $2.22 to fill a 16 oz bottle
- Less sodium than WHO's reduced-osmolarity ORS and far less than high-sodium sport mixes
- Sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium; variety-pack flavors still list Red 40 and Blue 1 during the dye-free changeover
- No NSF or Informed Sport certification; a 2022 Class III recall hit one lot of 0.6 oz packets for undeclared wheat-derived dextrose
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
Classic Electrolyte Powder Packets
Pedialyte's classic powder is a dependable, widely available rehydration formula for stomach bugs, heat and travel, with less than half the sugar of a typical sports drink by Abbott's comparison. It is not the strongest option for heavy sweaters, it relies on artificial sweeteners (and, until the dye-free switch is complete, dyes in some flavors), and at about $2.22 per 16 oz the sticks are an expensive way to hydrate every day.
Full review
What creators say
Questions people ask
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