Cure vs LMNT: Which Electrolyte Should You Choose?

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Hey friends, it's Lizzie! Cure and LMNT are two of the most-talked-about electrolyte brands — but they're built for pretty different people. Here's my honest breakdown.

The quick verdict

LMNT is a very high-sodium formula (around 1,000mg per stick) with zero sugar — beloved by keto folks, heavy sweaters, and athletes who want a big salt hit. Cure is a more balanced, coconut-water-based mix with lower, gentler sodium and low sugar — my everyday pick. If you want maximum salt, LMNT; if you want clean daily hydration, Cure.

Cure Hydration vs LMNT: the numbers

Per stick pack, from each brand’s own published nutrition panel — Cure Berry Pomegranate and LMNT Citrus Salt, checked July 2026. LMNT’s unflavored stick is a different size (3.5g).

Sodium

This is the biggest difference. LMNT's ~1,000mg of sodium is a lot — fantastic if you sweat heavily or follow keto, but more than many people need day-to-day. Cure's sodium is more moderate, which makes it easier to sip regularly without feeling like you're drinking the ocean.

Sugar & ingredients

Both are low/no sugar. Cure leans on coconut water and a clean, plant-based profile; LMNT is a straightforward salt-forward electrolyte with no sugar. Both are clean — the difference is really the sodium level and the taste that comes with it.

Taste

LMNT is noticeably salty (some love it, some need to get used to it). Cure is lighter and more refreshing, which is why I can drink it all day. Taste is personal, but if “salty” isn't your thing, Cure is the friendlier sip.

Who each is for

• Choose Cure for balanced, clean, everyday hydration that's easy to drink (my pick).
• Choose LMNT if you sweat heavily, do keto, or specifically want a big sodium dose.

Can you use both?

Honestly, yes — some people keep both on hand and reach for each in different situations. LMNT on a brutal, heavy-sweat training day or during keto; Cure for everyday, gentler hydration you can sip all afternoon. There's no rule that says you have to pick one forever. Match the drink to the day.

The bottom line

Cure and LMNT are both clean, sugar-free electrolytes — they're just tuned for different needs. Cure is my daily winner for its balanced, easy-drinking, low-sugar profile; LMNT shines when you specifically want a big sodium hit. Choose based on how much salt your body and taste buds actually want. 💧

How to actually buy your first box

Here’s the thing the spec chart above can’t tell you: the mistake with either brand usually isn’t picking the wrong one, it’s committing too fast. Cure and LMNT both sell in stick packs, and it’s easy to end up with a big box of a single flavor before you know whether you actually like that flavor.

Start with a variety or sample pack if the brand offers one. The electrolyte you’ll actually drink beats the one that looked better on paper, and a flavor you don’t love just sits in the pantry. Two things worth checking before you hit buy:

• Whether your cart is set to a one-time order or a recurring one. If it’s a subscription, find the pause and cancel controls before you sign up, not after.
• Which exact version you’re adding. Sizes and flavors vary inside a single brand’s lineup, so read the label on the box in front of you instead of assuming it matches the one you read about.

If you land on Cure, code LILO works at checkout.

Mixing it, storing it, and not wasting half the box

A lot of what people call a taste problem is really a mixing problem, and water volume is the dial. If a stick tastes too strong or too salty to you, the usual fix is more water, or splitting one stick between two bottles you drink over the same session.

Pour the water in first, then the powder, then shake it in a bottle with a lid. Stirring powder into an open glass with a spoon leaves grit at the bottom every time. Powder also dissolves more easily in room-temperature water than in ice water, so mix it first and add the ice after.

Storage is the part nobody warns you about. I’m on Florida’s Space Coast, and an open box left in a hot car or a damp gym bag can clump the powder inside the sticks. Keep the box inside and take a stick or two with you for the day, in a pouch or a zipped pocket. A loose stick that gets crushed under your gloves empties into the bottom of the bag, and you won’t find out until you go looking for it. If you train outside in the summer, there’s more in my hot-weather electrolyte picks.

My honest take

For everyday hydration, Cure is my winner — gentler, cleaner-tasting, and easy to sip all day. If you're a heavy sweater or keto, LMNT's big sodium makes sense. Read my full Cure review for more.

Frequently asked

Which has more sodium, Cure or LMNT? LMNT, by a lot — around 1,000mg per serving vs Cure's more moderate amount.

Which is better for everyday use? Cure, for its balanced, low-sugar, easy-to-drink profile.

Which is better for keto or heavy sweating? LMNT, thanks to its high sodium content.