Gatorade is a well-known brand and sells millions of drinks every year. It is promoted by famous people like Serena Williams and Usain Bolt. Gatorade is sold in dozens of countries and dominates the market in many countries.
Now there is Prime Hydration – sold in only two countries so far, the USA and the UK (as of September 2022). The launch was successful, and the company struggles to keep up with demand.
But is Prime a worthy opponent to Gatorade? Could it be the better sports drink? Let’s compare the two competitors and find out!
Gatorade
In 1965, scientists at the University of Florida came up with a drink to help the university’s football team (the Gators) perform better. In honor of the team, the drink was called Gatorade.
Two years later, in 1967, the Gators celebrated a big success for the first time: They won the Orange Bowl. Whether that is due to good coaching or drinking a great sports drink is open to discussion.
Since then, Gatorade has never stopped researching, and more products have been developed. There’s even a Gatorade Sports Science Institute!
In 2000, Gatorade became part of the PepsiCo family.
Today, Gatorade is one of the most prominent players in the sports drink market.
What Flavors Does Gatorade Offer? 
Gatorade offers many different flavors, and some others were on offer in the past. People often refer to Gatorade drinks by their color, as the color of these drinks is very vibrant.
While there are well over 20 different flavors, we will introduce only the seven most popular ones. The Variety Pack will be a good solution if you need help deciding!
Lemon-Lime 
The Lemon-Lime flavor is one of the classics and a trendy option. It is just the kind of drink almost everybody likes.
Strawberry-Kiwi 
Strawberry-Kiwi is a beautiful combination and tastes particularly lovely when you drink it in summer (or when you want memories of summer in colder months).
Berry 
Suppose you are not so keen on Kiwi mixed into your berries. In that case, the classic Berry Gatorade is a lovely tasting alternative.
Cool Blue 
The Cool Blue Gatorade is a favorite among athletes. In addition to tasting great and rehydrating your body, it also looks fabulous!
Grape
Of course, no list would be complete without the Grape-flavored Gatorade. It is a classic flavor, and everyone is familiar with the taste of grape drinks in one way or the other.
Passionfruit 
If you fancy a tropical flavor but don’t really like all tropical fruits, the Passionfruit Gatorade is an excellent alternative to the classic tropical flavor.
Glacier Cherry 
The Glacier Cherry Gatorade is a zero-sugar sports drink with as many electrolytes as the standard version. You don’t miss any benefits if you need to watch your sugar intake.
What are the Ingredients in Gatorade?
If you take a look at one example, the Strawberry-Watermelon Thirst Quencher, the ingredient list, according to the official page, is as follows:
Water, sugar, dextrose, citric acid, sodium citrate, salt, monopotassium phosphate, gum arabic, natural and artificial flavor, glycerol ester of rosin, and red 40.
As there are many different varieties and flavors of Gatorade, I cannot list the ingredients of every single drink.
The main difference between different flavors is:
- Other types of food coloring
- Variations in sugar amount, or sugar being substituted by sweeteners
- Different kinds of natural and artificial flavorings
Is Gatorade Healthy?
Not exactly. Gatorade is an extremely sugary drink with plenty of artificial ingredients in most of the variations.
While there is a lot of research about Gatorade and its effect on athletes, most of these studies were funded by Gatorade itself or stakeholders – making it a bit hard to believe everything in these studies.
You can’t deny that Gatorade will rehydrate you and resupply your body with some electrolytes during or after exercise. One interesting study that looked into the marketing claims of sports drinks (not limited to Gatorade) explained that the benefits only come into play when you are serious about your exercise.
The short of it: If you exercise for more than an hour and sweat a lot, a drink like Gatorade can help you recover.
If you, however, only drink Gatorade because you like the taste, you will receive fewer benefits from it – and it could, in the long-term, also cause issues.
How Long Does Gatorade last?
Like most sports drinks, Gatorade has a shelf life of 2-3 years. If properly stored (away from direct sunlight, in a cool place), it can even last another nine months after its best before date.
Once you open a bottle of Gatorade, you need to store it in a fridge and drink it in three to five days.
Is Gatorade Vegetarian or Vegan?
The answer to this question depends on which Gatorade product you want to drink. Some of the products in the line-up contain animal-derived ingredients. They are not suitable for vegans (Recover drinks and shakes).
The classic Gatorade Sports drinks may be vegan. Still, Gatorade cannot say whether the sugar in the drinks has been produced with bone char – this would make them unsuitable for vegans (but okay for vegetarians). The problem is that they source their sugar from many different sources – at least, they are being honest!
What Other Products Does Gatorade Offer?
- Gatorade Zero: A sugar-free, low-calorie sports drink that comes in a variety of flavors.
- Gatorade Endurance: A specialized formula designed for endurance athletes to help them maintain performance during long-duration activities.
- Gatorade Recover: A protein shake designed to help muscles recover after exercise.
- Gatorlytes: A concentrated electrolyte formula designed to help athletes replace key nutrients lost in sweat.
- Gatorade Energy Bars: A line of energy bars designed to provide a quick source of fuel before or during exercise.
- Gatorade Propel: A low-calorie, flavored water infused with electrolytes.
- Gatorade Fast Twitch Energy Drink: A caffeinated beverage designed to provide a boost of energy before or during exercise.
Prime
Prime Hydration drinks are a new player in the sports drinks market. The founders are quite unlikely people: YouTube celebrities that once were enemies thanks to a YouTube boxing match. There was also a little bit of a feud going on.
But then it all changed. Logan Paul and KSI turned into buddies with a new goal: to create a refreshing and rehydrating drink that tastes better than everything already on the market.
They see themselves as underdogs taking on the big names of the industry. The launch of their drinks range has been an incredible success. In the USA and UK, the drinks are often sold out, and a guy in the UK even created a small app that helps people to track where they can find some Prime Hydration stock!
What Flavors Does Prime Offer?
Prime Hydration is still a pretty new sports drink, so it is not surprising that there are a smaller number of flavors. In 2022, there are five regular flavors and two seasonal flavors that are limited editions.
Blue Raspberry 
Blue Raspberry is a delicious drink that reminds me of slushies and snow cone candies. The drink is slightly blue, but while the color might be somewhat disappointing, the flavor is close to perfect if you like raspberry-flavored things.
Tropical Punch
A tropical flavor can’t be missed in any drink line-up. Prime Hydration’s Tropical Punch is just what you would expect from something tropical: refreshing and with many hints of various exotic fruits.
Lemon Lime 
Lemon Lime is tangy-sweet, just as you would expect from a citrusy drink. It is very refreshing, especially when you drink it right after taking it from the fridge.
Grape 
Prime Hydration’s Grape is very sweet and grapey but has a light medical aftertaste, almost a bit like cough syrup. The Prime drinks fanbase is a little divided over this one.
Orange 
The Orange flavor does not have to hide from the orange-flavored competition. It could almost fool you into believing that you are drinking a nice, sweet orange juice.
Ice Pop 
Ice Pop, a seasonal flavor, indeed tastes like ice popsicles. The refreshing is a favorite among Prime drinkers who hope it will be more than just a seasonal drink.
Meta Moon
The other seasonal flavor, Meta Moon, is hard to describe – and it is supposed to be that way. It is interesting. There is a hint of pomegranate, so slightly on the exotic side but relatively mild and pleasant. This is my favorite and the image above is Meta Moon at my local candy store that I purchased and tested out!
What are the Ingredients in Prime?
The ingredients of Prime Hydration are:
Coconut water (10%), sugar-free sweetener (acesulfame potassium), BCAA Blend, L-Leucine L-Isoleucine, L-Valine, antioxidants, vitamin B, electrolytes, natural flavors, citric acid, vitamin E and A, Trimagnesium Citrate, vegetable juice (as colorant), and filtered water.
The only difference you will find in the various flavors is a different flavoring agent; apart from that, all Prime Hydration drinks use the same formula.
Is Prime Healthy?
While I hesitate to call an artificial drink like Prime Hydration truly healthy, Prime Hydration is much healthier than other sports drinks and worlds better than any energy drink on the market.
The things that speak for Prime are the added vitamins, electrolytes, and antioxidants. Compared to other sports drinks, the ingredient list is not excessively long and lacks some really nasty stuff.
This drink will hydrate you and put some essential electrolytes into your system. This is incredibly helpful if you use this during or after exercise.
So, if you drink this in moderation, it is not bad for you and does come with quite a few benefits.
How Long Does Prime last?
There will be a best-before date on your Prime Hydration bottle, but if you store this drink properly (and unopened), it can last up to nine months after that date.
Once you open a Prime Hydration bottle, however, you need to drink the contents within 3-5 days and keep the bottle in the fridge.
Is Prime Vegetarian or Vegan?
None of the Prime Hydration drinks are made with animal-derived products. The ingredients are all vegan and can be consumed by vegans and vegetarians.
A look at the ingredient list and the official Prime Hydration website FAQ confirms this.
What is Prime Energy?
Prime Energy is a new energy drink from the makers of Prime Hydration. According to Men’s Health, Prime Energy is marketed as a direct competitor to Red Bull. It contains caffeine, taurine, and B vitamins, and comes in a variety of flavors.
Comparing Prime Energy to Prime Hydration, the initial difference is that Prime Energy comes in a can and not a bottle. Also, the flavors are not the same but you will find them in a green, orange, blue, red, and pink can.
Click here to read our post on all Prime Energy flavors.
Comparison Questions (Gatorade vs Prime):
Which Is Better For Your Body?
By comparing the ingredients, it is clear that Prime is a bit healthier for you; this is simply because the drinks rely less on artificial colorings, and there is also a lot less sugar involved in Prime drinks.
Overall, fewer ingredients could cause concern in Prime’s offering of drinks.
Is Gatorade Or Prime More Affordable?
At the moment, the answer to this question is a little unfair as the pricing for Prime is heavily skewed by people who are trying to make a profit by selling Prime drinks on eBay and Amazon with a very high price tag. So, to be fair, I will compare the cost of the two competitors based on average retail prices.
| Gatorade | Prime Hydration | Comparison | |
| Average price per bottle (16.9 oz) | $1.70 | $2 | Gatorade is a little cheaper |
| Average price per case | 12x12oz or 6x20oz bottles for $6 | 12 bottles for $30 | Gatorade is a lot cheaper in bulk |
Note: These prices are subject to change without notice. They may not be accurate.
Gatorade has a few advantages because it has been on the market for a long time. The brand offers many more options for multi-buys and various sizes of bottles. It is also easier to find in stores. Overall, Gatorade is the cheaper option in 2022.
Which Brand Offers More Flavors?
Prime Hydration offers five regular flavors and two seasonal, limited editions.
Gatorade’s classic sports drink alone is available in 22 flavors (in September 2022). In addition, Gatorade has zero sugar variations, organic sports drinks, powders, and even shakes.
Gatorade offers you a lot to choose from if you are after variety.
Which Has Been On The Market For Longer?
Gatorade has been around since 1965, and Prime only entered the market in 2022. This means that Gatorade is 57 years older than Prime and has much more drink market experience.
Prime makes up for the lack of experience with an abundance of motivation and joyful energy.
Which Is Better For Hydration?
Both are excellent for hydration, thanks to the added electrolytes. Still, as mentioned above, Gatorade only shines when you are a proper athlete who exercises for over an hour.
Prime, on the other hand, is suitable for everyone (and is also called a lifestyle drink by the creators).
Related Questions
How Often Can You Drink Gatorade or Prime?
Gatorade and Prime are drinks that are supposed to help you rehydrate and replace electrolytes that you lose during activity.
Due to the amount of sugar or sweeteners in these products, you should only drink one or two bottles a day if you are a highly active athlete.
Keep in mind that these drinks are not meant to be a water replacement. You should still aim to drink plenty of plain water daily.
Can Children Drink Gatorade or Prime?
Yes, both drinks are safe for children, but limit how much they drink because of the sugar/sweetener content. If your children are not very active, you should keep them from drinking sports daily.
Sports drinks are actually recommended for children that suffer from diarrhea. It will help to rehydrate them and replace essential vitamins and electrolytes.
The Verdict – Gatorade vs Prime: Which Is Better?
For me, Prime Hydration drinks are the clear winner, even though purchasing them is challenging (for now).
While Gatorade has a long history and offers so many different flavors (too many, if you ask me), it also has a more problematic ingredient list with loads of sugar and some ingredients I do not want to put into my body.
Prime might only have five regular flavors, but all of them are convincing. They don’t taste as sickly and artificial as other sports drinks. This is a great advantage and helps me to enjoy the drinks.
In addition, Prime Hydration drinks are safe to drink for people who often struggle with finding good alternatives, i.e., coeliacs, vegetarians, and vegans.
Gatorade’s only advantage is a more extensive distribution network, stable supply chains, and the power of being a big player. In time, I am sure, Prime will also get there.