Electrolyte powders have been shown to prevent muscle cramps, improve bladder health, boost hydration, and more. This article looks at the top 5 hydration supplements of 2025, considering factors like sodium content, salt quality, and price per serving.

As we reviewed each electrolyte power, we considered five important criteria:

1. Salt Quality: The quality of salt in your electrolyte powder matters. Steer clear of supplements with sea salt, as this type of salt is usually contaminated with microplastics. Instead, opt for an electrolyte powder that uses Himalayan sea salt. This salt type is considered the most pure since it’s mined by hand and minimally processed.

2. Sugar Content: A high-quality electrolyte powder should have 0 grams of sugar. Yet surprisingly, some of the most popular brands contain anywhere from 5 to 11 grams of sugar. That’s more than a third of what your daily intake should be! That said, it’s essential to double-check the sugar content on the back of the label before adding an electrolyte supplement to your shopping cart.

3. Price Per Serving: An electrolyte powder should be affordable enough to purchase for months and years to come. Yet, some supplements come with a steep price tag (like $24 for just 16 servings), which makes it challenging to keep purchasing month after month. For this reason, we provide a “price per serving” for each electrolyte supplement listed.

4. Sodium Content: The sodium content in electrolyte powders varies greatly. Just one serving can range from 40 mg—all the way to 1,000 mg. The latter tends to taste quite salty (as you can imagine), so we prefer an electrolyte powder that has roughly 200 mg of sodium. This dosage makes for an enjoyable sipping experience when added to 16 ounces of water.

5. Trustworthy Brand: In a world saturated with supplements, buying from a brand that believes in transparency and trustworthiness is essential. That said, when purchasing an electrolyte powder, ensure it was produced in the USA in a certified GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) facility and is third-party tested for purity and potency. 

By NativePath

Zero-Sugar Electrolyte & BCAA Drink Mix

Only Available ONLINE

Newly launched product (frequently out of stock)

Promotes Muscle Function & Recovery

30 Convenient Single-Serve Stick Packs

3 Delicious Flavors (Mixed Berry, Peach Mango, Tangerine)

Third-Party Tested

365-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Native Hydrate is the only electrolyte powder we could find that contains electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and potassium, plus all nine essential amino acids and 2,000 mg of recovery-boosting BCAAs. Most importantly, it has zero fillers, sugar, or artificial sweeteners. A daily scoop of Native Hydrate can ease muscle cramps, reverse dehydration, and boost energy. Given its unique blend of 24 different ingredients—and its affordable price—Native Hydrate secured the #1 spot on our list for the best electrolyte powder of 2025.

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“I really like the flavor and can’t believe it is 5 calories.”

—Sandy V., NativePath Verified Customer

“Excellent product. I used to get lots of leg cramps before but I have used it for a month and no more leg cramps.”

—Bharati D., NativePath Verified Customer

By Thorne

NSF Certified for Sport Ⓡ

No Essential amino acids or BCAAs

Trustworthy & Compliant

Small dose of magnesium (only 40 mg)

Contains 500 mg Taurine

Naturally sweetened with stevia

Only one flavor (Lemon Lime)

Sliding into second place is the Thorne CatalyteⓇ Electrolyte Mix. It has zero sugar, which we like. But it also has zero essential amino acids or BCAAs, which hinders your muscles’ potential for growth and recovery. In addition, it only offers a Lemon Lime flavor, so it may not be enjoyable for some tastebuds. Thorne prides itself on its transparent testing, which is why you’ll see an NSF Certified for Sport badge on many of its products. NSF independently tests for over 290 athletic-banned substances.

By Nuun

Convenient stick packs

1st ingredient is sugar (5 grams)

Non-GMO

Contains 100% DV vitamins C & B12

No essential amino acids or BCAAs

Two different flavors

Miniscule amounts of magnesium

Contains rice concentrate

7 g carbohydrates

Salt is less natural (sea salt)

Nuun’s Instant electrolyte powder comes in third on our list. Each stick pack boasts 520 mg of sodium, but their sodium is sourced from the sea (as opposed to Himalayan salt that’s hand-mined and ground). This causes sea salt to have fewer minerals than Himalayan rock salt, particularly magnesium, calcium, and potassium. In addition, the first ingredient on Nuun’s ingredient label is cane sugar—ringing it in at 5 grams per stick pack.

By Dr. Berg

Only 40 mg of sodium

1000 mg potassium

No essential amino acids or BCAAs

Over 10 flavors

100 servings per container

Naturally sweetened with stevia

Certified GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)

With Dr. Berg being one of the most popular electrolyte powders, we were surprised to see that it only contained 40 mg of sodium per scoop. This is far lower than the other top brands on our list, which range between 200 mg and 500 mg. However, we appreciate that Dr. Berg emphasizes transparency and quality control by producing their products in a certified GMP facility. All things considered, the absence of key minerals like sodium (and no amino acids) drops Dr. Berg’s Electrolyte Powder to #4 on our list.

By Liquid I.V.

First ingredient is cane sugar (11 grams)

Cellular transport technology for rapid absorption 

Multiple flavors to choose from

No amino acids or BCAAs

Convenient stick packs

Only 5 essential vitamins

Easy to use

Artificial taste

Squeaking by our list of 2025’s Best Electrolyte Powders is Hydration Multiplier by LIQUID I.V. It boasts a proprietary Cellular Transport Technology, which is designed to enhance rapid absorption of water and other key ingredients to the body. However, it comes with a significant downside: 11 grams of sugar per serving and a somewhat artificial taste. In addition, it lacks essential amino acids and BCAAs, which may be a deal breaker for some people.

Electrolytes are like tiny electrically charged particles in your body. They help control important functions, such as balancing fluids, regulating your heartbeat, and allowing your muscles to contract.

Common electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. When you sweat or lose fluids, you also lose electrolytes, which is why they're often replenished through electrolyte powders in order to keep your body functioning properly.

By taking a premium electrolyte supplement daily, you may experience the following science-backed benefits:

Fewer muscle cramps & UTIs

Increased lean muscle mass

Faster post-workout recovery

Whole-body hydration

More energy & mental clarity

Fewer headaches

To recap, there are six important criteria to consider when shopping for an electrolyte powder…

1. Double-check what type of salt is used. Himalayan sea salt is best since it’s considered to be the purest and least minimally processed.
2. Check the sugar content on the Supplement Facts Panel. A truly healthy, high-quality electrolyte powder should have 0 grams of sugar.
3. The price per serving should be less than a dollar.
4. Ensure the supplement is third-party tested and made in the USA.
5. Double-check the sodium content. The sweet spot is 200 mg of sodium.
6. It’s a huge bonus if the electrolyte powder also has essential amino acids and BCAAs. This will boost the health benefits even more.

“This helps me consistently drink more water plus the benefits of the added minerals without the added calories of a sports drink.”

—Brenda E., NativePath Verified Customer

“Your product appears to have lessened the urge to urinate a lot allowing me to sleep longer before awakening to pee.”

—Gregory B., NativePath Verified Customer

“This has been a great product for myself and my athlete kids! All the pure ingredients and it's sugar free... Can’t top that!”

—Joscelyn H., NativePath Verified Customer

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References

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The information contained within this site is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have, expect to have, or suspect you may have any medical condition, you are urged to consult with a health care provider. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or medical conditions. Results are based on the Natural Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

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