If you have ever stared at the electrolyte shelf wondering which colorful little tube or scoop is actually worth your money, you are not alone. I have been there too, trying to figure out if Nuun or Ultima would actually help me hydrate better or if I was just buying another trendy drink mix. They both promise cleaner ingredients, better hydration, and more energy. But they are not the same. So I decided to break down what really matters, test them in real life, and share what I learned in a way that feels honest and practical.
What Is Nuun?
Nuun Sport Hydration is an effervescent electrolyte drink tablet made for active hydration. You drop one tablet into 16 oz (about 475 ml) of water, and it dissolves pretty quickly. Each serving gives you five essential electrolytes, along with 1 gram of sugar and about 15 calories.
From my experience, Nuun feels very workout-focused. It’s Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan, gluten-free, and kosher, and it’s clearly built for times when water alone doesn’t feel like enough. I’ve reached for Nuun most often during longer workouts, travel days, or when I’m sweating a lot and want something light but still functional. It’s less about daily sipping and more about performance and convenience when you’re on the move.
What Is Ultima Replenisher?
Ultima Replenisher is a powdered daily electrolyte drink mix made for zero-sugar, zero-calorie hydration. Each scoop delivers six essential electrolytes along with vitamin C and zinc for immune support. There are no carbs, no artificial sweeteners, and nothing added just for taste or color.
What sets Ultima apart for me is that it’s designed for everyday hydration, not just workouts. It’s Non-GMO Project Verified, certified vegan, gluten-free, and keto-friendly, which makes it easy to use no matter how you eat or train. I think of it less as a sports drink and more as a clean hydration option I can use any time during the day.
Electrolyte Amounts (Exact Numbers per Serving)
This is where the differences between Nuun and Ultima really stood out to me. On paper, they’re both “electrolyte drinks,” but the balance is very different once you look at the actual numbers.
Nuun (1 tablet / 5 g):
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Potassium: 150 mg
- Magnesium: 25 mg
- Calcium: 13 mg
- Chloride: 40 mg
Ultima (1 scoop / 3.5 g):
- Sodium: 55 mg
- Potassium: 250 mg
- Magnesium: 100 mg
- Calcium: 65 mg
- Chloride: 78 mg
- Phosphorus: 70 mg
From my perspective, Nuun is clearly built around sodium. That makes sense if you’re sweating heavily during a workout or a long run. Ultima, on the other hand, spreads things out more evenly. I noticed it delivers much higher amounts of magnesium, potassium, calcium, and chloride, which feels more aligned with daily hydration rather than just sweat replacement.
🏆 Winner: Ultima Replenisher
Why: Ultima offers a more comprehensive electrolyte profile for everyday balance, especially with its higher magnesium and potassium. Nuun still wins if sodium is your main goal, but for daily use, Ultima fits my routine better.
Sweeteners Used
Sweeteners are a big deal for me with hydration drinks because I use them often, not just during workouts. This is one area where the two brands feel very different.
Nuun:
Nuun uses a combination of dextrose and stevia leaf extract. That adds up to about 1 gram of sugar per serving. It’s not much, but I can still taste it, especially in some of the fruit flavors.
Ultima:
Ultima is sweetened only with stevia (rebaudioside A) and has zero grams of sugar. There’s no blood sugar spike, and it fits easily into keto or low-carb days.
🏆 Winner: Ultima Replenisher
Why: It’s completely sugar-free, which makes it a better choice for keto, low-carb, and anyone trying to avoid added sugars. For daily hydration, that matters to me more than a small sugar boost.
Ingredients
I always flip the package over before committing to a hydration mix. The ingredient list usually tells you more than the marketing on the front.
Nuun highlights:
Citric acid, dextrose, sodium and potassium bicarbonates, magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate, stevia, beet juice (for color), and avocado oil.
Ultima highlights:
Magnesium citrate, potassium phosphate and aspartate, calcium citrate, vitamin C (calcium ascorbate), zinc, manganese, spirulina (for color), and stevia.
This is where Ultima really won me over. The mineral forms matter, and Ultima uses chelated forms like citrate and aspartate, which are generally easier for the body to absorb. On top of that, the added vitamin C and zinc feel like a nice bonus for daily use, especially when I’m traveling or run down.
🏆 Winner: Ultima Replenisher
Why: Ultima uses higher-quality mineral forms and includes vitamin C and zinc, supporting both hydration and immune health. For something I drink regularly, that extra thought in the formula makes a difference.
Hydration Effectiveness
This is one of the few areas where I don’t think there’s a clear loser. It really depends on how and when I’m using it.
Nuun:
With 300 mg of sodium per tablet, Nuun is clearly built for situations where I’m sweating a lot. During longer workouts, hot days, or intense training, I can feel the difference. It helps with rapid fluid retention and keeps me from feeling wiped out midway through a session.
Ultima:
Ultima takes a slower, steadier approach. The sodium is much lower, but the higher magnesium and potassium support more consistent hydration throughout the day. I like it for sipping while working, traveling, or just staying on top of hydration without feeling overloaded on salt.
🏆 Winner: Tie
Why: In my experience, Nuun works better for acute athletic hydration and heavy sweating, while Ultima shines for all-day, everyday hydration. I actually keep both around and use them for different situations.
Health & Wellness Benefits
This category matters to me because I’m not always using electrolyte drinks for workouts. Sometimes I just want something that supports overall health without adding extra stuff I don’t need.
Nuun:
Nuun keeps things simple and performance-focused. It’s designed to improve hydration during activity with minimal calories and no unnecessary extras. When my only goal is replacing what I lose through sweat, it does the job.
Ultima:
Ultima goes beyond hydration. Along with electrolytes, it includes vitamin C at about 110% of the daily value and zinc at around 10% DV, all with zero calories. That immune support is something I actually appreciate, especially during busy weeks, travel, or colder months.
🏆 Winner: Ultima Replenisher
Why: Ultima offers a broader wellness profile by combining hydration with immune support, not just fluid balance. For daily use, that added benefit makes it the more well-rounded option in my experience.
Price
Price always sneaks into my decision eventually, especially for something I use regularly.
Based on approximate conversions from INR to USD, here’s how they break down per serving:
Nuun:
About $8.10 per tube, which works out to roughly $0.81 per serving.
Ultima:
Around $49.20 per jar, coming in at about $0.55 per serving.
At first glance, Ultima looks more expensive because you’re paying more upfront. But once I did the math, it actually ends up costing less per serving, even with a more robust electrolyte and nutrient profile.
🏆 Winner: Ultima Replenisher
Why: Ultima offers a lower cost per serving while delivering higher nutrient density. For something I use almost daily, that value adds up quickly.
Taste
Taste is subjective, but it’s also the fastest way a hydration drink gets kicked out of my routine.
Nuun:
Nuun has a light, crisp flavor with a slightly tart edge. The mild fizz makes it feel refreshing, especially mid-workout or right after. It doesn’t feel heavy or overly sweet, which I appreciate when I’m already pushing myself.
Ultima:
Ultima tastes sweeter, even without sugar. The flavor is smooth and noticeably non-salty, which makes it easy to sip throughout the day. That said, during intense workouts, it can feel a bit too sweet for my personal preference.
🏆 Winner: Nuun
Why: The effervescent texture and lighter sweetness make Nuun more refreshing during workouts. I can see why it appeals to a wider range of people when they’re active and sweating.
Customer Experience
I always like checking reviews before sticking with a product long term. Not because they tell the whole story, but because they show how people are actually using it.
Nuun:
Nuun holds a strong 4.7⭐ rating with around 492 reviews and sits at #17 in Electrolytes & Hydration. That tells me it has wide adoption, especially among athletes and active users. There’s a lot of trust built around Nuun for workouts, sports, and travel hydration.
Ultima:
Ultima also maintains a 4.7⭐ rating, with about 329 reviews. While it has fewer reviews overall, the feedback tends to come from people who use it daily. I noticed a strong loyalty among users who care about clean ingredients and long-term wellness rather than just performance hydration.
🏆 Winner: Nuun
Why: Nuun’s higher category ranking and larger review volume give it an edge in overall customer trust, especially in sports and performance-focused use cases.
Which One Should You Choose?
After using both, I don’t see this as a one-is-good and one-is-bad decision. It really comes down to how you plan to use your electrolyte drink.
Choose Nuun if you:
- Sweat heavily during workouts
- Want higher sodium to support performance
- Prefer fizzy, refreshing drinks
- Need hydration mainly during training, sports, or long, active days
Nuun is what I reach for when I know I’m going to sweat a lot and want something light and refreshing that works fast.
Choose Ultima if you:
- Want zero sugar and zero calories
- Hydrate daily, not just during workouts
- Follow keto, low-carb, or diabetic-friendly diets
- Want added immune support from vitamin C and zinc
Ultima fits better into my everyday routine. It’s the one I sip throughout the day when I’m focused on steady hydration and overall wellness rather than performance alone.
Overall Verdict
After using both, I don’t think there’s a single universal winner. Nuun and Ultima Replenisher are built for different hydration needs, and each does its job well when used in the right context.
Nuun makes more sense if your priority is performance hydration. The higher sodium, light fizz, and workout-friendly flavor profile are clearly designed for training, sports, and heavy sweating. It’s a practical choice when hydration needs to work fast.
Ultima stands out as a daily hydration supplement. With zero sugar, zero calories, a broader electrolyte spread, and added vitamin C and zinc, it fits better into an everyday wellness routine. It’s easier to use consistently without worrying about sugar, carbs, or excess sodium.