As the market for hydration products continues to grow, viral trends have stepped up to challenge established names. This is the case with relative newcomer Waterboy, which routinely compares itself to the popular electrolyte mix Liquid I.V.
As a dietitian, clients often ask me about which supplements are worth trying, so I decided to compare Waterboy and Liquid I.V. directly to see which actually offers better hydration.
🏆 Who’s the winner? Between these two brands, I have to go with Waterboy. It costs more than Liquid I.V., but it has a cleaner formula with no sugar or fillers, plus enjoyable flavors.
🥇 But is it the best? However, Waterboy is far from the best value on the market. If clean hydration is your goal, you'll find a better option is Live it Up Vital Minerals. It's not only more cost-effective with a better return policy, but it has a far more balanced electrolyte formula to help you stay hydrated.
Waterboy vs. Liquid I.V. at a Glance
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| Best for | Those looking for clean, everyday hydration | Athletes and those who engage in intense physical exercise |
| Electrolytes |
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| 2:1 sodium to potassium ratio | No (4:1) | No (1.3:1) |
| Sweeteners |
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| Cost per serving (with subscription) | $1.33 | $1.09 |
| Shipping | Free on orders of $40 or more | Free on orders of $40 or more |
| Flavor options |
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| Formula at a glance |
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| Testing and certifications | Third-party tested, GMP-certified manufacturing | FDA-compliant manufacturing, no public info about third-party testing |
WaterBoy Overview
Founded in 2021 by reality TV star Connor Saeli and current CEO Mike Xhaxho, the Waterboy brand started with a focus on healthy, effective weekend recovery for hangovers and other effects of a night out drinking alcohol.
While its Weekend formula is still made with this purpose in mind, the brand has since expanded and now offers a Workout formula to recover from the gym as well as a Daily Hydration formula, which provides electrolytes and vitamins in quantities tailored toward everyday use. Waterboy prides itself on using minimal ingredients and zero added sugar.
Read the full Waterboy review.
Waterboy Pros
- No sugar, caffeine, or calories
- Vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free
- Third-party tested
- Free from fillers or additives
Waterboy Cons
- Sodium to potassium ratio is imbalanced
- No returns or refunds available
- Must spend $40+ to get free shipping
- No calcium or vitamin C
- Requires re-mixing to avoid settling
Liquid I.V. Overview
Founded in 2012, Liquid I.V. built a popular brand touting its proprietary LIV HYDRASCIENCE™ formula and the claim that it hydrates faster than water alone. It also claims to contain three times the electrolytes of the leading sports drink and includes added nutrients. Liquid I.V. also offers other beverage powders aimed at benefits like energy, immune support, gut health, and sleep.
Read the full Liquid I.V. review.
Liquid I.V. Pros
- Includes added nutrients that support energy, endurance, and recovery for athletes
- Offers lots of variety with 19 different flavors
- Available in a sugar-free version
- Vegan, gluten-free, and diary-free
Liquid I.V. Cons
- High added sugar content of 11g per packet (22% DV)
- 50 calories per serving
- More than 100% DV of some nutrients
- Includes the additives silicon dioxide and dipotassium phosphate
- Overly sweet taste
Hydration Formula Analysis
As a dietitian, I look for more than just high electrolyte content when evaluating a hydration formula. The real key to effective hydration is the ratio of different electrolytes to one another.
Sodium is a primary electrolyte since it regulates how much water moves across cell membranes. The body loses sodium as it sweats, so many hydration formulas aim to replenish electrolytes mostly through sodium. However, potassium is important for keeping sodium in check. The sweet spot I look for is a 2:1 or 3:1 balance of sodium to potassium for optimal bodily nutrient absorption.
Waterboy Formula
Waterboy includes 550mg of sodium per serving. Unfortunately, its potassium content of just 140mg per serving is far too low to balance out all of that salt. The result is an unbalanced 4:1 ratio that I don’t think can hydrate very effectively. Waterboy does contain a few other electrolytes, but while magnesium plays a role in enzyme reactions throughout the body, it’s only present in tiny amounts here.
Waterboy is made with clean ingredients and no fillers or additives. Its nutrient levels are within daily value recommendations, though the formula lacks additional nutrients like vitamin C.
Liquid I.V. Formula
Liquid I.V. has a similar electrolyte imbalance to Waterboy’s, but with too much potassium rather than too little. With 510mg of Sodium and 390mg of potassium, its sodium-to-potassium ratio is just 1.3 to 1. Liquid I.V. could be beneficial for athletes, but I don’t think it’s as suitable for daily hydration, especially considering its high sugar content.
I was pleased to see Liquid I.V. includes additional nutrients, like vitamin C and B vitamins, which can support energy levels for exercise. However, the formula lost serious points for me by including the fillers dipotassium phosphate and silicon dioxide.
🏆 Formula Winner: Waterboy
Though Liquid I.V.’s sodium to potassium ratio is closer to the mark for efficient hydration, Waterboy’s formula has cleaner ingredients, no added sugar or calories, and no fillers.
⭐ Want a better formula? I recommend Live it Up Vital Minerals. It strikes the right balance between sodium and potassium with a roughly 2:1 ratio, plus it includes added vitamin C for immune support and no added sugar.
Taste Review
Taste is an important factor when incorporating any supplement into your diet. I sampled both Waterboy and Liquid I.V. to compare their flavors and textures.
Waterboy Taste
Waterboy Daily Hydration comes in four flavors:
- Watermelon
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Cucumber Citrus
- Blue Raspberry
I gave the Cucumber Citrus flavor a try, and the taste is faint and not a sugar-bomb of sweetness. I do appreciate that while it’s still salty, it tastes less so than many of its competitors. It also dissolves fairly well, but I was put off by how often I had to stir it again due to settling on the bottom of my glass. If I didn’t re-stir, the taste was much saltier and grittier.
Liquid I.V. Taste
Liquid I.V. casts a wide net with a whopping 19 flavors. Most are meant to taste like real fruit, though a few, such as Cotton Candy and Popsicle® Firecracker, are meant to taste more like a sweet treat.
Flavor quality varies from flavor to flavor, and you may need some trial-and-error to find one you like. For example, I found the standard Lemon Lime flavor refreshing, while the Strawberry flavor was salty and too sweet, with a very artificial strawberry taste.
The intense sweetness isn't surprising when you look at the ingredients and see not only 11g of sugar, but also dextrose and stevia. Some may prefer this, but I see it as a negative. On the plus side, the powder mixes well in water without a chalky feel, although the resulting beverage is slightly thick and grainy.
🏆 Taste Winner: Waterboy
Though Waterboy comes in fewer flavor options, the lack of sugar gives it a slight edge on taste over Liquid I.V.’s intense sweetness.
⭐ Want better taste? I prefer the great taste of Live it Up Vital Minerals over both of these brands. Like Waterboy, there is no added sugar. Unlike Waterboy, Vital Minerals dissolves very well and stays that way without the need to re-mix. It’s a bit sweet without much saltiness and has a much more balanced flavor that makes daily use enjoyable.
Cost Comparison
Cost is another important factor, since whatever hydration solution you choose will have to fit your budget.
Waterboy Cost
Waterboy can be purchased in packs of 15, 30, 45, or 60 servings from the brand's website, and falls on the higher end of the cost spectrum for hydration powders.
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One-time purchase:
- 15-pack: $24.99 ($1.67 per stick)
- 30-pack: $49.98 ($1.67 per stick)
- 45-pack: $64.97 ($1.44 per stick)
- 60-pack: $84.96 ($1.42 per stick)
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Subscription purchase:
- 15-pack: $19.99 ($1.33 per stick)
- 30-pack: $39.98 ($1.33 per stick)
- 45-pack: $59.97 ($1.33 per stick)
- 60-pack: $79.96 ($1.33 per stick)
These prices don't include tax, and Waterboy’s subscription doesn’t offer discounts when you order in bulk. Free shipping is only available on orders of $40 or more, meaning you'll pay an extra $4.99 on any order that doesn't meet the minimum.
Liquid I.V. Cost
Liquid I.V. comes in pouches of 16 sticks:
- A one-time order costs $24.99 ($1.56 per stick).
- A subscription purchase costs $17.49 ($1.09 per stick).
Like with Waterboy, free shipping doesn't kick in until you spend $40, adding $5.99 to every order that doesn't meet the minimum.
🏆 Cost Winner: Liquid I.V.
Both brands tie on shipping, but Liquid I.V. is generally less expensive per serving than Waterboy.
⭐ Want a better price? Live it Up Vital Minerals beats both of these brands on price while offering more value with a better-balanced hydration formula. A monthly subscription costs just $29.95 ($0.99 per serving) and all purchases come with free shipping.
Customer Experience
Customer experience definitely has an impact on how easy it is to use a particular supplement. It’s worth considering where you can purchase from and how easy it is to manage subscriptions.
Waterboy Experience
You can purchase Waterboy directly from the company’s website, on Amazon, or from a number of major retailers such as Target and Walmart. If you set up a subscription purchase, you can log in to edit, skip, or cancel your subscription at any time.
Unfortunately, Waterboy has a strict return policy. There are no refunds or exchanges available if you are dissatisfied with your purchase, and you can only make a return if your product is defective.
Liquid I.V. Experience
Liquid I.V. is one of the most popular and widely available hydration products on the market. You can purchase it from the company’s website, from major retailers and wholesalers, and on Amazon. If you have a subscription purchase set up, you can pause or cancel it at any time. An AI chat or customer service email is available if you have any questions, though some customers have noted slow response times.
Liquid I.V. has a 100% satisfaction guarantee and accepts returns for products purchased on its website within 60 days of delivery. The company will also accept returns on products sold by authorized sellers outside of its website within 45 days of purchase.
🏆 Experience Winner: Liquid I.V.
Liquid I.V. is widely available, has an online service bot, and offers a generous return policy, whereas Waterboy’s policies are extremely limiting.
⭐ Want better service? Live it Up Vital Minerals combines amazing value for your money with great service. There’s an excellent customer service team that’s always on hand to help (not a bot), subscriptions can easily be paused or cancelled at any time, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee to make returns easy.
Why Choose Live it Up Vital Minerals
Waterboy and Liquid I.V. have merits as hydration powders. Every individual has unique health concerns and goals, and these products may suit some people well.
However, because neither has a properly balanced electrolyte formula and other drawbacks on taste or price, I'd ultimately recommend Live it Up Vital Minerals instead. It strikes the right ratio between sodium and potassium to help you feel hydrated and refreshed every day.
Vital Minerals comes in two delicious, easy-to-dissolve flavors with no added sugar and is suitable for daily use, all for an affordable price that makes it the best value. And with the 30-day money-back guarantee, there’s no risk in giving it a try!
FAQs About Waterboy vs. Liquid I.V.
What is the difference between Waterboy and Liquid I.V.?
Waterboy and Liquid I.V. are both powdered electrolyte drinks. However, their formulas differ, and they’re each better suited to different uses.
Waterboy has zero sugar and natural ingredients, making it more appropriate for daily use. Liquid I.V. is high in sugar, but its nutrient content may be useful for athletes or people doing intense workouts. Neither formula has the 2:1 or 3:1 ratio of sodium to potassium for proper hydration effectiveness, which is why I recommend Live it Up Vital Minerals as an alternative.
What’s the best electrolyte powder?
The best electrolyte powder is one that is able to strike the right balance between sodium and potassium, which are two of the most important electrolytes the body needs to function. I typically look for a 2:1 ratio of these two nutrients, which is not available in some mainstream electrolyte products.
One hydration powder that strikes this balance properly is Live it Up Vital Minerals. It works great, tastes great, and offers great value, making it easier to incorporate into your daily life.
What is the downside to Liquid I.V.?
The biggest downside to Liquid I.V. is its high sugar content. Each serving contains 11g of added sugar, and the formula also includes fillers along with the sweeteners dextrose and stevia. A single serving of Liquid I.V. also contains more than your daily recommended dosage of several nutrients. The result is an extremely sweet drink that may not be suitable for daily use for everyone.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice or individualized nutrition counseling. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to supplements or medications. Any product or brand mentions are for general information and don’t guarantee results.
References
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/nutrition-and-fitness/sports-and-hydration-for-athletes
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/sodiumpotassium-ratio-important-for-health
- https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajprenal.1998.274.5.F868?rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed&url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11557730/
- https://www.ncoa.org/article/10-reasons-why-hydration-is-important/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22150427/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1323420/
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