Gatorade has become synonymous with electrolytes but is it the healthiest way to get them? And while Propel Water seems healthier, does it taste good enough to beat Gatorade? Let’s compare the two.
The main difference between Propel Water and Gatorade is Propel Water contains more vitamins than Gatorade, with less sugar (carbohydrates) and calories. Propel Water is considered healthier than Gatorade but doesn’t taste as good. On the other hand, Gatorade has more variety, including options with no sugar and 6 times more electrolytes.
In this article, we will compare the two in detail and discuss what each difference means to you as a consumer.
| Category | Propel Water (16.9 fl. oz.) | Gatorade (20 fl. oz.) |
| Sugar content | 0g – 2g | 36g – 38g |
| Electrolyte content | 160mg sodium – 40mg potassium | 160 mg sodium – 50 mg potassium |
| Flavor variety | 9 flavors | 22 flavors |
| Comparative cost | Costs 2-3x less | Costs 2-3x more |
| Nutrition and health | 19x fewer calories and 18x less sugar. Contains vitamins and calcium. | 19x more calories and 18x more sugar, but sugar-free varieties are available. Contains no vitamins. |
| Comparative availability | Available in the US in health stores and online | Widely available in the US and internationally |
Gatorade: A Brief Overview
Gatorade is a sports drink that claims to replace water and fulfills said claim with a decent dose of electrolytes. Gatorade tastes good enough to appeal to the general public but isn’t healthy enough for the more fitness-focused people.
The beverage is available internationally wherever PepsiCo distributes or licenses bottling. It is also available as a drink mix with roughly the same nutritional value and contents.
Propel Water: A Brief Overview
Propel is a flavored water product with roughly the same amount of electrolytes as Gatorade. However, it has fewer calories and less sugar, which impacts the product’s taste.
Propel is used by fitness-conscious people but has yet to achieve the same degree of popularity as Gatorade. It is cheaper than the original thirst quencher but is not too different as a drink mix.
Gatorade Sugar Content
One serving of Gatorade features 36 grams of sugar. Gatorade is carb-heavy and is not marketed as an option for people trying to get slim. That said, you can purchase Gatorade Zero, which contains zero sugar, and virtually calorie-free versions of the beverage.
So, Gatorade’s sugar content cannot be a deal-breaker even if you have diabetes or are trying to lose weight. Still, it is worth mentioning that the average Gatorade you’ll find in a convenience store is likely to have plenty of sugar – 139 calories worth of sugar, to be more specific.
Propel Sugar Content
Propel is comparatively sugar-free with 2 grams of sugar with zero net effect (zero calories). This is obviously the healthier option for diabetics and people trying to stay lean.
But the lack of sugar can also be viewed as a negative.
Propel doesn’t taste as good as Gatorade. Where Gatorade is designed to appeal to the masses, Propel is manufactured to be effective. If you find its effectiveness worth getting used to a semi-sweet taste, then you can choose this option. Otherwise, you can opt for Gatorade Zero.
Gatorade Electrolyte Content
Gatorade contains 160 milligrams of sodium and 50 milligrams of potassium. These two electrolytes act as sponges for water and ensure you don’t lose water at the same rate you consume it. This is the average electrolyte dose you need on a hot day. But if you’re losing too much water, you can always go with Gatorade Endurance which has the most electrolytes.
The Endurance variety of the electrolyte-rich drink contains 620 milligrams of sodium alongside 280 milligrams of potassium. Even if you don’t take this option, the average Gatorade leaves you with 10 mg more potassium than Propel.
Recommended Resource:
One key ingredient in most sports hydration drinks is salt or sodium chloride. It’s added to sports drinks because it helps to replenish the sodium lost through sweat during exercise. We created a great resource about the use of salt in sports drinks called Why Salt Is in Sports Drinks Like Gatorade?
Propel Electrolyte Content
Propel contains the same amount of sodium as Gatorade (160 mg on average) but has slightly less potassium than the mainstream thirst quencher.
With 40 mg of potassium, Propel is slightly less effective. The difference, however, is almost unnoticeable. But if you compare Propel to Gatorade Endurance, the latter comes out on top.
Gatorade Flavor Variety
Gatorade comes in 22 flavors and wide varieties (like Gatorade G1, G2, and G3). There are more flavor choices for Gatorade consumers than there are for Propel customers.
Should this matter to you?
Not if you’re a creature of habit. If you have the same thing over and over, then you can get used to a specific Propel flavor. But if it’s the variety you crave, you should opt for Gatorade.
Propel Flavor Variety
Propel isn’t a one-flavor-pony either.
Even though the fitness water brand offers less than half the flavors Gatorade offers, you still have plenty of choices.
Here are the 9 Propel flavors currently available:
- Peach
- Black Cherry
- Grape
- Kiwi Strawberry
- Lemon
- Mandarin Orange
- Watermelon
- Mango
- Strawberry Lemonade
Propel has a moderate range of options for people who get tired of drinking the same beverages over and over. While this range might seem limited compared to Gatorade, it has more options than the mainstream PepsiCo and Coca-Cola beverage range.
Gatorade Cost
Gatorade commands a far higher price than Propel water. While it might not be a factor for people with extensive health beverage budgets, most consumers would pause and consider this factor. If you want to make electrolyte beverages an addition to your daily routine, then Propel will be healthier for your wallet.
A bottle of Gatorade costs 2 to 3 times more than a bottle of Propel. That said, Gatorade powder costs the same (per serving) as Propel.
If you don’t mind mixing your own Gatorade, you can make it an item in your daily routine. But if you want a bottled beverage, you are better off with Propel.
Propel Cost
Propel contains less sugar and flavoring agents, so it makes sense that the beverage costs less. But if you want to drink an oral rehydration beverage daily, you can save a few hundred dollars by opting for Propel bottled water compared to bottled Gatorade.
The price difference is neutralized when you compare Gatorade powder with Propel water. Still, Propel remains the cheaper and more convenient option overall.
Gatorade Nutrition and Health
The mainstream version of Gatorade isn’t healthier than Propel, and this has more to do with what it contains than what it doesn’t.
While Gatorade features electrolytes, it also contains plenty of carbs. Sugars aside, there are also no vitamins in the main Gatorade line, which makes the calorie burden even less justifiable.
Comparing the 190 calories in a Gatorade bottle to 10 in a Propel bottle, you’d expect the beverage with 19 times more calories to feature at least 2x more vitamins.
But that’s not the case.
Gatorade is a healthy dose of electrolytes paired with an unhealthy dose of sugar water.
Propel Nutrition and Health
Propel is one of the healthiest electrolyte replacement drinks. It contains almost as many electrolytes as Gatorade but also features 19 times fewer calories and 18 times less sugar.
Moreover, it contains Vitamins B6 and B12 alongside 10% of your daily recommended dosage of Calcium. A qualitative difference in taste balances the health benefits.
While Propel is healthier than Gatorade, it also tastes healthier. And that’s not a plus. If the health benefits seem worth getting used to the electrolyte water’s taste, then Propel is a no-brainer.
In 2021, Propel jumped into the booming immune health drink game by launching its “Immune Support” line, offering:
- Vitamin C (100% recommended Daily Value)
- Zinc (necessary for immune cell function)
- Zero sugar
- Electrolytes
- 5 calories
Gatorade Availability
Gatorade was acquired by PepsiCo pretty close to the electrolyte beverage’s inception. It enjoys the same distribution as Pepsi, which means it is readily available everywhere.
You can get it in any state and almost any mainstream hypermarket. If you get used to Gatorade and run out, you’ll not have trouble getting a replacement within a day.
Propel Availability
Propel, just like Gatorade, is owned by Pepsi. That’s why it has impressive distribution, even though it is not as widely available as Gatorade. This is to minimize stock risk because of the niche appeal of Propel.
You can get Propel at almost any health store and can easily order it online. Propel’s international distribution is poor compared to Gatorade, but that’s not an issue for domestic consumers.
The Verdict
Propel is the healthier option and is best for people trying to lose weight or maintain a slim figure. If you count calories, Propel gives you more freedom. That said, it is an acquired taste with fewer flavor choices.
Gatorade is a better-tasting beverage that is more widely available. But past that, it doesn’t have enough pros to outperform Propel Water.
