The world of pre-workout supplements is crowded, confusing and costly. Between mysterious ingredients you can’t pronounce and caffeine dosages that send your heart rate skyrocketing, finding a blend that’s actually safe and effective is no small task. To find the best pre-workouts, I spoke with a certified personal trainer and a registered dietitian. Based on their insights (combined with my own extensive research), I found that Transparent Labs’ Bulk Pre-Workout is a solid option for most people. It’s third-party tested and delivers a steady, reliable boost of energy. I also like Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Pre-Workout if you’re looking to gain muscle.
When you’re shopping for a pre-workout supplement, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Start by assessing your fitness goals, caffeine tolerance and dietary restrictions, as these variables will eliminate a lot of blends off the bat. From there, look for key ingredients like beta-alanine, creatine and L-citrulline—all amino acids or amino-acid compounds that support endurance, muscle building and blood-flow improvements, respectively. And finally, think about other specifics, like natural versus artificial ingredients, variety of flavors and their taste and cost per serving. With all that in mind, these are some of the best pre-workouts of 2025, whether you’re lifting, endurance training or looking for a boost of energy.
Our Top Recommendations
- Best Pre-Workout Overall: Transparent Labs Bulk Pre-Workout
- Best Value Pre-Workout: Nutricost Pre-X Pre-Workout
- Best Pre-Workout For Variety: Legion Pulse Pre-Workout
- Best Pre-Workout For Muscle Gain: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout
- Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout: Transparent Labs Stim-Free Pre-Workout
- Best Pre-Workout For Weight Loss: Cellucor C4 Ultimate Shred Pre-Workout
- Best-Tasting Pre-Workout: Ghost Legend Pre-Workout
Best Pre-Workout Overall
Quality Ingredients And Third-Party Testing
Transparent Labs Bulk Pre-Workout
Caffeine per serving: 200 milligrams | Serving size: 1 scoop (20.7 grams) | Key ingredients: Caffeine, beta-alanine, L-theanine, citrulline mallate | Servings per container: 30 | Dietary considerations: Vegan, gluten-free
What’s notable: Its clean ingredients and third-party testing make it a solid choice for most people. It also contains 200 milligrams of caffeine, which is a bit less than other high-stim blends.
What could be better: It’s not the cheapest pre-workout on our list, costing twice as much as our value pick.
Transparent Labs Bulk Pre-Workout is a good option for most people. While it has a bit less caffeine than other options in this guide, you still get the energy you need for a workout, minus the intense jitters or crash when you’re done. It also includes beta-alanine to support endurance, as well as L-theanine, an amino acid that’s shown to promote relaxation and help you manage any caffeine-induced “wired” sensations.
What really makes Bulk stand out, though, is the brand’s commitment to transparency. Transparent Labs clearly labels all ingredients in this formula and doesn’t use any artificial flavors or sweeteners (instead, Bulk is sweetened with stevia). These ingredients are also third-party purity tested and verified for efficacy, and the results are clearly published on the brand’s website. Fortunately, you don’t have to pay a premium for that degree of transparency—at just $1.66 per serving, the peace of mind that comes from clean ingredients, clear labeling and high safety standards is very accessible.
Best Value Pre-Workout
Third-Party Testing And Essential Ingredients For Less
Caffeine per serving: 300 milligrams | Serving size: 1 scoops (16 grams) | Key ingredients: Caffeine, L-citrulline, beta-alanine, taurine | Servings per container: 30 | Dietary considerations: Not vegan-friendly, gluten-free
What’s notable: Its combination of key ingredients, third-party testing and cost-effective pricing makes it a truly great value.
What could be better: It doesn’t contain creatine monohydrate or BCAAs, and it isn’t tested for banned substances, making it a poor choice for competition.
Cheap supplements are often made with cheap ingredients, but that’s not the case with Nutricost’s Pre-X Pre-Workout. It contains 300 milligrams of caffeine per serving, as well as L-citrulline, beta-alanine, taurine and 11 other ingredients—plus it’s made in a GMP-compliant, FDA-registered facility. With a handful of flavors to choose from and an average cost of around a dollar per serving, it’s a great option if you can’t commit to a more expensive blend but still want something that’s effective and third-party tested.
Of course, a wallet-friendly blend doesn’t come without its drawbacks, but they aren’t as substantial as you might assume: Pre-X has artificial sweeteners and ingredients and isn’t tested for banned substances. It also doesn’t contain creatine monohydrate and BCAAs, but you can get these elsewhere if need be. Ultimately, this is a great option for those in need of a high-stim, budget-friendly blend who don’t mind caffeine or artificial ingredients.
Best Pre-Workout For Variety
A Well-Rounded Blend With Lots Of Flavor Options
Caffeine per serving: 350 milligrams | Serving size: 2 scoops (24 grams) | Key ingredients: Caffeine, citrulline malate, L-theanine | Servings per container: 20 | Dietary considerations: Not vegan-friendly, gluten-free
What’s notable: With nearly 20 flavors to choose from, it’s incredibly easy to find one that satisfies your taste buds and agrees with your stomach.
What could be better: It contains 350 milligrams of caffeine per serving—the highest concentration among blends in this guide.
Legion Pulse Pre-Workout is a great choice for those who value performance and flavor variety. It’s packed with ingredients like citrulline malate to promote anaerobic performance and relieve muscle fatigue, beta-alanine for endurance and L-theanine to help manage energy, so it delivers a well-rounded experience for tough workouts. Plus, it comes in caffeine and caffeine-free versions, which is nice to see for those who work out late or don’t want stimulants. You can choose from a vast selection of naturally sweetened flavors, like fruit punch, blue raspberry, sour candy and tropical kiwi, so there’s a taste for just about every preference.
With that said, it’s not the cheapest option—a serving costs $2.25 if you can’t find it on sale, which makes it one of the more expensive pre-workouts I recommend. And while the natural flavors help keep the formula clean, they can also alter the taste. (It can take some time to get used to the muted and slightly bitter aftertaste.) Still, if you’re looking for a versatile product with a lot of flavor and formula options, Legion is a solid way to go.
Best Pre-Workout For Muscle Gain
A Trusted Name In The Supplement Space
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout
Caffeine per serving: 175 milligrams | Serving size: 1 scoop (10 grams) | Key ingredients: Caffeine, creatine, beta-alanine, L-citrulline, L-tyrosine | Servings per container: 30 | Dietary considerations: Not vegan-friendly
What’s notable: Containing just 175 milligrams of caffeine per serving, it’s a great choice if you prefer low-stim blends. Plus it contains creatine monohydrate, which helps you train harder.
What could be better: It contains sucralose, an artificial sweetener.
Coming from one of the more trusted names in the supplement industry, Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Pre-Workout delivers a solid blend of muscle-building ingredients. It contains beta-alanine, L-citrulline, L-tyrosine and creatine monohydrate—all the staples we look for in a well-rounded blend to support endurance and boost strength. Creatine monohydrate is especially important because it provides muscles with more energy and allows you to train harder. It’s also relatively low in caffeine (175mg per serving), which helps lessen the jittery feelings and energy crash you might get from a more intense blend. Notably, this formula is nearly half the price of our best overall pick, Transparent Labs Bulk, though it also has slightly lower levels of key ingredients like beta-alanine. A single serving costs just $0.83, making it the most wallet-friendly blend in this guide.
In terms of downsides, there are a couple: For one thing, 175mg of caffeine might not be enough if you’re used to stronger blends. If that’s the case and you opt for this formula, you might need to tweak your routine by adding a cup of coffee or timing dietary carbs with your workout to get a natural energy boost. There are also some artificial flavors in this product, including sucralose as a sweetener. That said, overall, this is a well-balanced pre-workout that supports muscle gain from a brand with a solid track record in the supplement space.
Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout
A Clean, Caffeine-Free Formula
Transparent Labs Stim-Free Pre-Workout
Caffeine per serving: None | Serving size: 1 scoop (20.4 grams) | Key ingredients: Citrulline malate, beta-alanine, L-tyrosine | Servings per container: 30 | Dietary considerations: Not vegan-friendly, gluten-free
What’s notable: It contains no caffeine, making it ideal for anyone sensitive to stimulants.
What could be better: Transparent Labs is notoriously expensive, and this blend is no exception.
For a pre-workout that delivers performance benefits without caffeine, consider the Stim-Free Pre-Workout from Transparent Labs. Designed for those who train in the evening (so caffeine doesn’t affect nighttime sleep) or are sensitive to stimulants, this formula packs in a number of other worthy ingredients to boost energy and improve performance: citrulline malate for enhanced blood flow, beta-alanine for endurance and L-tyrosine to promote focus and mental clarity. Plus, it’s naturally flavored and sweetened with stevia, and colored with beetroot powder, which studies have shown can also improve athletic performance.
This formula costs $1.67 per serving, which is a bit more than budget options like Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Blend, but it’s still fairly priced for a stim-free formula that maintains quality via natural ingredients and third-party testing. If you’re after a similar non-stim blend that’s clean and costs a bit less ($1.15 per serving when it’s on sale), Legion Pulse Pre-Workout may be a good option to explore.
Best Pre-Workout For Weight Loss
Energy To Get You Through Tough Sessions
Cellucor C4 Ultimate Shred Pre-Workout
Caffeine per serving: 300 milligrams | Serving size: 1 scoop (15.8 grams) | Key ingredients: Caffeine, beta-alanine, L-citrulline, L-arginine | Servings per container: 20 | Dietary considerations: Vegan-friendly, keto, gluten-free
What’s notable: It contains key ingredients that help you train harder and burn more calories, which may help you lose weight.
What could be better: It isn’t a silver bullet for weight loss—you still need to put in the time and effort to see results.
Cellucor C4 Ultimate Shred Pre-Workout is great if you’re looking to lose weight, but it’s important to note this formula isn’t a magic fat burner—that’s just not how pre-workout works. Instead, it provides energy that helps you focus and power through tough workouts, so you can train harder, stay consistent and burn more calories over time. With 300mg of caffeine per serving, it’s on the stronger side, making it a good option for early-morning workouts or high-intensity sessions when you need that extra push.
Because this blend contains ginger and cayenne, some reviews note that it’s a bit spicy going down, but the heat isn’t overwhelming. At $2.75 per serving, it’s also expensive, so it’d be nice to see the brand increase the total servings per container from 20 to 30. Ultimately, though, it’s a useful pre-workout to fuel intense sessions and support any weight-loss goals you may have.
Best-Tasting Pre-Workout
Flavors From Your Childhood
Ghost Legend Pre-Workout
Caffeine per serving: 300 milligrams | Serving size: 1 scoop (21.5 grams) | Key ingredients: Caffeine, L-citrulline, beta-alanine | Servings per container: 30 | Dietary considerations: Vegan-friendly, gluten-free
What’s notable: Classic, well-known flavors like Sour Patch Kids Redberry and Bubblicious Strawberry Splash are tasty and easy to consume.
What could be better: Many flavors are so tasty because they contain artificial flavors and sweeteners, like sucralose.
If you’ve ever asked about the best flavors in the supplement space, you’ve probably heard of Ghost—a company that’s known for getting flavors right. The Ghost Legend Pre-Workout leans heavily into candy-inspired flavors, like Swedish Fish, Sonic Cherry Limeade, Warheads Sour Watermelon and Sour Patch Kids Redberry, all of which taste like the real thing.
Beyond flavors, Ghost Legend isn’t lacking in the performance department, either. Each scoop contains 300mg of caffeine for energy, along with ingredients like L-citrulline for muscle recovery and beta-alanine for endurance. You’ll definitely feel the classic tingling sensation due to the beta-alanine, but it’s manageable. And at $1.50 per serving, you don’t wind up paying a premium for access to name-brand tastes. Ultimately, if flavors matter as much as function and you want a blend that you’ll actually look forward to drinking, Ghost Legend is as tasty as they come.
The Forbes Vetted gear team writes and regularly updates a vast library of health and wellness guides. From supplements like protein powders to recovery tools, we evaluate products and break down complex topics in the fitness space to help you make more informed decisions.
We pulled back the curtain and took a closer look at what goes into an effective, transparent pre-workout blend, keeping these key factors in mind:
When it comes to finding the ideal pre-workout, there are a few key variables to keep in mind. Look beyond the flashy labels and bold claims, and consider your goals, ingredients and other details, like taste and cost per serving. Here’s how to break it down:
Pre-workouts contain a lot of hard-to-pronounce ingredients, and these are rarely the same from one blend to the next. With that said, here are some of the most common and effective ingredients, and what they do:
Beyond the individual ingredients, you should also consider how they’re blended. According to Ramos Jr., there are a few key ingredients many pre-workouts have in common for optimal efficacy: “A solid pre-workout includes caffeine (for energy), creatine (for power) and citrulline malate (for blood flow).”
Of course, the ratio of these ingredients matters, too, to ensure these formulas are safe and can help you reach your specific fitness goals. It’s important to prioritize products that clearly label their ingredients (whether natural or artificial) and list the specific amounts of each. On the flip-side, Ramos Jr. explains, users should “be cautious of products that hide dosages behind proprietary blends—those are often under-dosed or packed with unnecessary fillers."
Caffeine is an important ingredient in most pre-workouts, but not everyone reacts to it in the same way. If you’re sensitive to stimulants or prefer to exercise in the evening, low-stim or stim-free pre-workouts will be a better option, as these contain little to no caffeine.
On the other hand, if you’d like to take advantage of the energy and motivation that caffeine can provide, simply look for pre-workouts that contain a reasonable amount. Most formulas contain 150 to 300 milligrams of caffeine per serving, which equates to between one and three cups of coffee. Just be aware of the potential side effects, like jitters or trouble falling asleep.
It’s easy to assume all pre-workouts are the same, but different ingredients set each one apart, and the one that’s right for you depends on your goals. Here are the primary reasons people reach for pre-workout, and what to look for based on your needs.
There are plenty of other variables to consider, but the biggest ones are usually taste, cost and dietary restrictions.
If a pre-workout doesn’t taste good, you probably won’t want to drink it, so it’s worth looking for flavor options that you’ll actually enjoy. On another note, if you follow a plant-based diet or have specific allergies, you’ll want to look out for formulas that match your needs. For example, some of the amino acid compounds found in pre-workouts, including several of the options here, are derived from animal products and thus are not vegan-friendly.
Beyond taste, it’s worth looking at the cost per serving—some tubs of pre-workout may look affordable, but in reality, they often contain fewer servings or less concentrated dosages. A good pre-workout should strike a balance between performance, flavor and overall value.
And finally, if pre-workouts simply don’t agree with your body? “Natural alternatives work great too: bananas, honey, oatmeal, sweet potatoes and water [with a sprinkle of Himalayan pink salt] can all provide clean fuel,” says Ramos Jr.