Staying properly hydrated is crucial for our health and wellbeing. From athletes to children to everyone in between, we all need fluids and electrolytes to keep our bodies functioning optimally.
In this in-depth guide, we‘ll compare two of the most popular hydration drink brands on the market: Liquid IV and Pedialyte. You‘ll learn about their history, product lines, ingredients, pricing, and more to help determine which is best for your needs.
A Brief History of Liquid IV and Pedialyte
The Origins of Liquid IV
Founded in 2012 by Brandin Cohen, Liquid IV is the new kid on the block. The California-based company offers a line of powdered drink mixes designed to rapidly hydrate the body through a process they call "Cellular Transport Technology."
The idea is that their products can hydrate you faster and more efficiently than water alone, almost like getting an IV infusion. The company‘s mission goes beyond just selling beverages though. They aim to donate servings of their products to those in need, develop sustainable business practices, and "change the world."
Today you can find Liquid IV‘s mixes for sale online and at major retailers like Whole Foods and GNC. Their product line includes options tailored to hydration, energy, sleep, and immunity.
Pedialyte: Hydration for Sick Children
Developed in the 1960s by Dr. Gary Cohen, Pedialyte was originally formulated to combat dehydration in children suffering from diarrhea and vomiting. That‘s right – this sports drink started as a medical beverage!
Pedialyte contains optimal levels of sugar, sodium, potassium and other electrolytes to promote hydration. It has less sugar and calories than traditional sports drinks but more electrolytes. Over the years Pedialyte became popular with athletes before gaining wider commercial appeal.
Now Pedialyte offers an array of products including drink mixes and ready-to-drink options with added vitamins, probiotics and more. You can easily find their affordable sports drinks at any pharmacy, grocery store or online retailer.
Liquid IV vs. Pedialyte: Key Factors to Compare
Now that we know a bit about their histories, let‘s see how Liquid IV and Pedialyte stack up across some key purchasing factors:
- Product Selection – Both offer drink mixes and ready-to-drink options to suit different needs but Liquid IV has more variety.
- Ingredients – Comparable electrolyte content but Pedialyte generally has fewer calories/sugar.
- Intended Use – Liquid IV markets to the holistic/wellness crowd while Pedialyte treats dehydration and targets athletes.
- Availability – Pedialyte wins hands-down based on widespread brick-and-mortar retail distribution.
- Mission – Liquid IV aims to be an agent for global change beyond profits.
- Price – Depends on the exact products compared but generally cost is similar.
As you can see, there are some clear distinctions between the two brands – but how do their specific products measure up? Let‘s explore some head-to-head comparisons.
Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier vs Pedialyte Electrolyte Water Review
Liquid IV‘s Hydration Multiplier and Pedialyte‘s Electrolyte Water are both designed to quickly rehydrate. Let‘s see how they compare:
The Pedialyte Electrolyte Water is simplicity itself – just straight up electrolyte-enhanced water. No calories, carbs, or sugar, just hydration.
Liquid IV‘s Hydration Multiplier takes the form of powdered drink mix sticks that you add to your water bottle or glass. It boasts an impressive array of vitamins and electrolytes and comes in tasty fruit flavors. It does contain 45 calories per serving unlike Pedialyte‘s water.
For pure, simple hydration nothing beats Pedialyte‘s drink. But Liquid IV offers a more versatile rehydration beverage with a flavor and nutrition boost.
The Winner: Tie – it depends if you want flavor/nutrition or zero-cal hydration.
Liquid IV Immune vs Pedialyte Immunity Powder Review
What about when you need hydration and a cold/flu-fighting immune boost?
Liquid IV packages vitamin C, zinc and their electrolyte blend into convenient tangerine-flavored sticks.
Pedialyte Immunity also includes Vitamin C, Zinc and electrolytes but ups the ante with extra B12, Vitamin E and prebiotics. It comes in kid-friendly punch and mixed berry flavors.
Pedialyte Immunity emerges as the winner here by supplying more immune-enhancing vitamins & minerals compared to Liquid IV. The probiotic content is another nice bonus not found in the competitor‘s offering.
The Winner: Pedialyte Immunity
Liquid IV Bundle vs Pedialyte AdvancedCare Review
Let‘s say you want the full suite of hydration-boosting products in one fell swoop. How do the comprehensive bundles compare?
Liquid IV‘s 360 Bundle gets you over 14 servings each of their Hydration Multiplier (including the Immune version), Energy Multiplier and Sleep Multiplier. That‘s a lot of functional hydration!
Meanwhile, Pedialyte AdvancedCare serves up a mix of hydration, electrolytes, vitamins and prebiotics in a single powder pack. Think of it as the greatest hits of Pedialyte products all in one.
Liquid IV may provide more total servings, but Pedialyte Advanced Care gets the edge by packing everything into one optimal hydration formula. Plus, they come in convenient single-packet servings.
The Winner: Pedialyte AdvancedCare
Liquid IV vs. Pedialyte Ingredients Breakdown
Now let‘s get into the nitty gritty and compare what‘s actually inside these functional hydration drinks. We‘ll start with Pedialyte:
- Pedialyte – Higher sodium and potassium content than traditional sports drinks. Added zinc for immunity. Lower sugar content than similar beverages, uses sucralose for sweetness.
And Liquid IV:
- Liquid IV – No GMOs, gluten, dairy or soy. Features dextrose, cane sugar, citric acid for electrolyte uptake. Includes magnesium, potassium, vitamin C and more.
As you can see, there are some clear similarities, but some distinction as well. Pedialyte tends to have fewer calories and less sugar, though exact amounts vary by product. Both provide the crucial electrolyte potassium needed for optimal hydration.
Liquid IV vs. Pedialyte: Pricing & Value Comparison
Next, let‘s explore how affordable these functional drinks are:
Since Pedialyte doesn‘t sell directly to consumers, pricing varies. But generally:
- 33 oz Pedialyte Electrolyte Water cost ~$2 per bottle
- 6 packets Pedialyte Immunity sold for ~$11
For Liquid IV purchased directly from their website:
- 16-pack Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier = ~$1.56 per stick
- 14-pack Liquid IV Immune = ~$1.79 per stick
Liquid IV also offers a subscription program with discounts and free shipping.
In general Liquid IV seems the better value when buying direct, especially with their subscription discounts. But Pedialyte still holds its own when it comes to value for money.
Shipping, Returns and Discounts
Liquid IV provides reasonable flat-rate shipping fees depending on speed.
- $0 for 3-6 day shipping
- $15 for expedited 2-3 day shipping
Their return policy is excellent – you can return any unused Liquid IV products within 60 days. They also offer subscriptions with nice discounts.
Since Pedialyte retails through 3rd parties, no direct shipping or returns. But products stay affordable thanks to wide availability at major retailers online and offline.
The Verdict: Liquid IV vs. Pedialyte
Let‘s summarize the key finding from our comparisons:
- Product Selection: Liquid IV has greater variety but Pedialyte covers the basics effectively.
- Ingredients: Similar electrolytes, Pedialyte typically lower calories.
- Price/Value: Liquid IV takes it but cheaper Pedialyte options exist.
- Use Cases: Liquid IV for wellness/performance; Pedialyte for illness/athletic recovery.
So which brand comes out on top? For the average health and performance-focused consumer, Liquid IV is the winner. Their suite of creative, mouth-watering hydration products takes consumption from chore to treat.
However, no one beats Pedialyte if you actually need urgent rehydration after illness or severe physical exertion. It‘s an affordable, accessible, medical-grade solution.
The truth is both brands make sense for different situations. So try out Liquid IV‘s tasty multiplier mixes for fitness and wellness goals. But keep Pedialyte‘s balanced electrolyte drinks in your back pocket when battling dehydration.
Now get out there, stay hydrate and feel your best!
