Head to head · Hydration & Electrolytes
Pedialyte Classic Electrolyte Powder Packets vs Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix
Pedialyte scores higher overall (7.5 vs 7.2 out of 10), mainly on efficacy and quality & purity. Ultima still leads on value, experience and transparency.
Updated September 2026 from our full reviews · How we score
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
Zero-sugar, stevia-sweetened mix with potassium and magnesium but only 55 mg sodium. Great for flavoring daily water, far too light for heavy sweating or illness.
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 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
Choose Ultima if…
- Everyday hydration without sugar
- People keeping sodium low
- Keto, paleo and vegan eaters
- You care most about value, experience, transparency
Side by side
| Classic Electrolyte Powder Packets | Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 7.5 / 10 | 7.2 / 10 |
| Efficacy (30%) | 8.0 | 5.8 |
| Quality & Purity (25%) | 7.4 | 7.0 |
| Value (20%) | 6.2 | 8.0 |
| Experience (15%) | 8.0 | 8.3 |
| Transparency (10%) | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Form | Stick pack | Powder |
| Serving | 1 packet (9 g) in 8 fl oz water24 servings per container | 1 scoop or 1 stickpack in 16 oz water90 servings per container |
| Price per serving | See retailer | $0.53 |
| Testing & certifications | Kosher | Non-GMO Project Verified |
| Dietary | Gluten-free | Vegan, Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Keto-friendly, Paleo, Non-GMO |
| Key ingredients |
|
|
| Flavors | 5 (Variety Pack (Strawberry, Fruit Punch, Grape, Apple), Grape, Orange…) | 8 (Lemonade, Raspberry, Watermelon…) |
| Creator video reviews | 2 | 4 |
Pros and cons
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
Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix
- Zero sugar, zero calories and no artificial sweeteners
- Meaningful potassium (250 mg) and magnesium (100 mg) per serving
- Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free and vegan
- About $0.53 per serving in the 90-serving canister
- Only 55 mg sodium, too little to replace sweat losses during long or hot exercise
- Not suitable as an oral rehydration solution
- Some buyers report the powder dissolves unevenly
- No third-party contaminant or sport certification advertised
Our verdicts
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
Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix
Ultima is an excellent choice if you want a clean, sugar-free, low-sodium way to make plain water more appealing and add some potassium and magnesium. It is not a replacement for a sodium-rich sports or rehydration drink, so heavy sweaters, endurance athletes and anyone recovering from illness should look elsewhere.
Full review
What creators say
Questions people ask
Is Pedialyte better than Ultima?
Who should choose Pedialyte over Ultima?
More hydration & electrolytes comparisons
Zero-Sugar Electrolyte Drink Mix vs Sport Electrolyte Tablets
Hydration Multiplier vs Sport Electrolyte Tablets
Sport Electrolyte Tablets vs Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix
Hydration Multiplier vs Zero-Sugar Electrolyte Drink Mix
Zero-Sugar Electrolyte Drink Mix vs Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix
Hydration Multiplier vs Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix
See all hydration & electrolytes, ranked