In their most basic form, pre-workout supplements are designed to help you get more out of your workouts.
Many contain caffeine, taurine, amino acids, niacin, creatine, several other vitamins, proprietary blends, and flavorings. Ideally, these supplements should help you to:
- Feel more focused and energized going into your workout.
- Help you sustain energy over periods of high exertion.
- Aid in vasodilation (get that “pump” with your reps).
- Reduce intraworkout fatigue.
As with any category of supplements, however, not all pre-workouts are made the same. Some are fantastic! Others are just overpriced tubs of caffeine with some flavoring mixed in. In this article, we’ll walk through what to look for in pre-workout supplements and give recommendations for those we can’t get enough of.
Top 12 pre-workout supplements comparison
Brand | Taste | Effectiveness | Cost | Overall Score | Stimulants? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacked Factory NitroSurge Pre-Workout | 4 | 5 | $25.50 | 4.166666667 | Contains Stimulants |
Swolverine Citrulline Malate | 4 | 3.5 | $59.99 | 4 | Stimulant Free |
MUSCLETECH VAPOR X5 RIPPED PRE-WORKOUT | 4 | 4.5 | $24.95 | 4 | Contains Stimulants |
Optimum Nutrition Pre-workout | 4 | 4 | $29.99 | 3.666666667 | Contains Stimulants |
Gorilla Mind Gorilla Mode | 5 | 4 | $49.00 | 3.666666667 | Contains Stimulants |
Bodybuilding.com Signature | 3 | 4 | $27.99 | 3.583333333 | Contains Stimulants |
Bucked Up | 5 | 4 | $42.95 | 3.5 | Contains Stimulants |
EVLUTION NUTRITION L-Citrulline2000 | 3 | 3 | $19.99 | 3.5 | Stimulant Free |
EVLUTION NUTRITION PumpMode Nitric Oxide | 3 | 2.5 | $22.99 | 3.166666667 | Stimulant Free |
BSN NO-Xplode | 3 | 4.5 | $39.99 | 3.083333333 | Contains Stimulants |
Cellucor C4 Preworkout | 3 | 3 | $29.99 | 3 | Contains Stimulants |
AminoCo Perform | 3 | 3.75 | $75.00 | 2.58 | Contains Stimulants |
You can’t go wrong with any of these supplements, but as you can see, we’ve taken the time to rank them for you from our highest to our lowest score.
The way the scores are determined is based on averages. The categories of Taste and Effectiveness are scored on a scale of 1-5, with one being the worst and five being the best. Then, we broke down the cost per serving of each supplement and placed those on a scale of 1-5, with one being closest to $0.50 per serving and five is $1.50 per serving or higher. We then combined the average of taste, effectiveness, and cost to calculate the overall score.
It should be noted that taste and effectiveness are both subjective. We’re basing this exclusively on our personal preferences and how we responded to each supplement. You may try a different flavor or have different preferences, which could cause your experiences to vary. For supplements that come in a pill or tablet, we settled on a taste score of 3 since it’s neither bad nor good.
Highlights
Jacked Factory
Jacked Factory has been my personal go-to pre-workout supplement for a while. I wish they would let me into their affiliate program so that I could earn commissions by recommending them, but for now, that’s off the table (yo, Jacked Factory, if you see this… call me). Until then, you can buy it here on Amazon and support me that way.
What I like about Jacked Factory is that when it hits you, it hits you. It’s hard to take that supplement and not go hard in the gym.
If you’re sensitive to caffeine or easily flush when taking a supplement like niacin, this product probably isn’t for you! If you like those juicy pumps (I feel so bro-y) and high-paced workouts.
Amino Co Perform
Amino Co’s Perform contains caffeine, but not as much as other pre-workout supplements. It does not cause flushing or heart palpitations, which is relieving. It can help you power through a workout but won’t leave you jittery.
Because it’s comparatively low in caffeine, it can also be taken as an afternoon pick-me-up. Unlike many pre-workout supplements, if you take it and don’t immediately go to work out, you will not regret it.
If you want to try it for yourself, you can find it here.
Bucked Up
Bucked Up is the pre-workout supplement I’ve tried most recently. It’s a lot like Jacked Factory regarding its observed effectiveness and flavor. It is slightly more expensive than Jacked Factory, but in my experience, it doesn’t cause uncomfortable flushing.
I wasn’t a fan of Bucked Up’s marketing at first– there’s something oddly rural and patriotic, yet also “swoll” culture, about it– so I had held off trying it out. Now that I have, it’s quickly becoming one of my favorites.
You can find Bucked Up and try it out for yourself here.
Swolverine Citrulline Malate (Stim-Free)
Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid. The name “non-essential” is a bit misleading. You have to have citrulline in your body, but it is considered non-essential because your body can produce its own.
Taking additional citrulline, however, helps with vasodilation, and research suggests that it can contribute to significantly enhanced athletic performance. Additionally, taking citrulline long-term is thought to support heart health.
Who Should Take Pre-Workout Supplements?
Pre-workout supplements are ideal for folks who have planned long, intense workouts. They cause vasodilation, elevated heart rate, and sustained energy.
For HIIT, powerlifting, weightlifting, Crossfit, and circuit training (among similar workouts), a pre-workout supplement can be an ideal way to ensure you have sustained energy for your entire workout
Pre-workout supplements also help with the “pump.” That pump makes your veins pop and look great during your workouts and contributes to your muscle development. Vasodilation increases fuel delivery to your muscles and the delivery of amino acids, testosterone, growth hormone, and insulin growth factor to your engaged muscles, which stimulates faster muscle growth.
Who Should NOT Take a Pre-Workout Supplement?
If you have heart issues, are pregnant or may become pregnant, or take prescription medications, do not take pre-workout supplements until you’ve talked to your doctor. Generally, it’s best to avoid taking new supplements until a medical professional has signed off on them for you, but that’s especially true for supplements containing stimulants.
Additionally, it’s best to avoid pre-workout supplements if you are sensitive to caffeine or prone to niacin flushing. They may be too intense if you’re not used to consuming caffeine; in that case, you may also want to consider starting with a half-dose or smaller to test your tolerance.
Shop This Article
Curious about any of the other pre-workouts in our round-up of the 12 best? Check them out at the links below.
- MuscleTech Vapor X5 Ripped
- Optimum Nutrition Pre-Workout
- Gorilla Mind Gorilla Mode
- Bodybuilding Signature
- EVLUTION NUTRITION L-Citrulline2000
- EVLUTION NUTRITION PumpMode Nitric Oxide
- BSN NO-Xplode
- Cellucor C4
We may earn a commission from some purchases through links in this article, but that doesn’t prevent us from only recommending supplements we’ve tried and are comfortable endorsing. Check out our editorial policy to learn more about how we pick products and choose to use affiliate links.