The 7 Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2023 - For Muscle Gain, Weight Loss, And More
Lift heavier, run quicker, and boost focus with these best pre-workout supplements
Written by John Schubel
Last update: July 31th, 2023
One of the most popular supplements on the market right now, people often use pre-workouts to increase energy, blood flow, power, and endurance to maximize their workout. In an ocean of hundreds if not thousands of pre-workout options, we will help you identify the top pre-workout supplement that is best for your unique needs. Our panel of experts cut through the noise to deliver easily digestible reviews and suggestions to make sure you are maximizing your workout time whether your goal is to lose weight, gain muscle, or anything in-between.
The 10 Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2023
- Best Overall Pre-Workout: KAGED Pre-Kaged 8.8/10
- Best Pre-Workout for Muscle Gain: Transparent Labs Bulk 8.2/10
- Best Pre-Workout for Energy: REDCON1 Total War 8.0/10
- Best No Caffeine Pre-Workout: KAGED Pre-Kaged Stim Free 7.7/10
- Best Pre-Workout for Beginners: Cellular C4 Sport 7.5/10
- Best Pre-Workout of College Athletes: Musclepharm Assault 8.3/10
- Best Pre-Workout for Weight Loss : Cellular C4 Ripped 8.0/10
How We Selected & Tested the Pre-Workouts
We wanted to keep the rating system as simple as possible. We have a panel of 3-5 experts test all of our pre-workouts and rate them based off 6 key factors we call the “FEEPIP” score: Focus, Energy, Endurance, Pump, Ingrediencies, and Price. We then give an overall score. The score is easily digestible and gets down to what is really important in a pre-workout; how well does it work & is it the right fit for your individual training style and needs.
- Focus – How undivided is your attention on your workout
- Energy – How much output are you able to deliver on any given set
- Endurance – How sustainable is the level of energy through your entire workout
- Pump – How much blood flow gets to the target muscles
- Ingredients – How quality are the ingredients and what is the dosage
- Price – Cost of the product at a cost per serving level
Best Overall Pre-Workout: Kaged Pre Kaged
Overall: 8.8/10
Focus – 10/10
Energy – 10/10
Endurance – 10/10
Pump – 9/10
Ingredients – 9/10
Price – 5/10
Specs: read full Pre-Kaged review
- Caffeine: 274mg
- Highlights: 6.5g L-Citrulline, 1.6g Beta-Alanine, 1.5g Creatine hydrochloride, Taurine 2mg
- Flavors: Pink Lemonade, Grape, Fruit Punch, Krisp Apple, Orange Krush, Berry Blast, Cherry Bomb
- Price: $44.99
- Servings: 20
- Price Per Serving: ~$2.25
Pros
- Caffeine is organic from green coffee beans, gives lots of energy with little jitteriness
- Contains coconut powder to help with hydration
- Contains taurine and tyrosine which may help with focus
- High in caffeine
- On the expensive end compared to other options
Best Pre-Workout For Muscle Gain: Transparent Labs Bulk
Overall: 8.2/10
Focus – 9/10
Energy – 9/10
Endurance -8/10
Pump – 8/10
Ingredients 9/10
Price – 6/10
Specs
- Caffeine: 200mg
- Highlights: 8000 mg Citrulline Malate, 4000mg Beta-Alanine
- Flavors: Strawberry Kiwi, Pina Colada, Blue Raspberry, Black Cherry, Peach Mango, Tropical Punch, Sour Grape
- Price: $44.99
- Servings: 30
- Price Per Serving: ~$1.67
Pros
- Clearly labeled high quality ingredients
- High doses of both Citrulline and betaine which can help with getting a pump & muscle growth
- Beta-alanine and caffeine together may provide more focused energy
- No creatine which is a highly popular research backed ingredient that facilitates muscle growth
- People may not like the beta-alanine induced skin tingles
Best Pre-Workout For Energy: REDCON1 Total War
Overall: 8.0/10
Focus – 9/10
Energy – 9/10
Endurance – 7/10
Pump – 8/10
Ingredients 6/10
Price – 9/10
Specs
- Caffeine: 325mg
- Highlights: 6g Citrulline Malate, 3.2g Beta-Alanine, 1g Taurine, amino acids
- Flavors: Sour gummy bear, blue lemonade, blue raspberry, cali splash, grape, green apple, orange crush, patriot, pineapple juice, rocket bomb, strawberry kiwi, strawberry mango, tigers blood, vice city, watermelon
- Price: $34.99
- Servings: 30
- Price Per Serving: ~$1.16
Pros
- Super high caffeine content providing lots of energy
- Cheap relative to other pre-workouts
- Ample Sodium helping achieve a strong pump
Cons
- High in caffeine impacting sleep for people who prefer evening workouts
- No creatine
- People may not like the beta-alanine induced skin tingles
Overall: 7.7/10
Focus – 9/10
Energy – 5/10
Endurance – 9/10
Pump – 9/10
Ingredients – 9/10
Price – 5/10
Specs
- Caffeine: 0mg
- Highlights: 6.5g L-Citrulline, 1.6g Beta-Alanine, 1.5g Creatine hydrochloride
- Flavors: Pink Lemonade, Grape, Fruit Punch, Krisp Apple, Orange Krush, Berry Blast, Cherry Bomb
- Price: $44.99
- Servings: 320
- Price Per Serving: ~$2.25
Pros
- No Caffeine for people who are sensitive, work out later in the day, or trying to get off stimulants
- Contains coconut powder to help with hydration
- Contains taurine and tyrosine which may help with focus
- Doesn’t provide as much energy since it is stimulant free
- On the expensive side compared to other options
Best Pre Workout for Beginners: Cellular C4 Sport
Overall: 7.5/10
Focus – 7/10
Energy – 7/10
Endurance -7/10
Pump – 7/10
Ingrediencies 7/10
Price – 10/10
Specs
- Caffeine: 135mg
- Highlights: 6.5g L-Citrulline, 1.6g Beta-Alanine, 1.5g Creatine hydrochloride
- Flavors: Watermelon, blue raspberry, fruit punch, arctic snow cone
- Price: $20.80
- Servings: 30
- Price Per Serving: ~$1.50
Pros
- Caffeine is moderate so new gym goers wont feel jittery
- Contains beta alanine, which in combination with caffeine may help with energy and endurance
- The formula is well balanced and lighter dosed so people can ease into supplementation
- Not as strong as other pre-workouts on the market
Best Pre-Workout for College Athletes: Musclepharm Assault
Overall – 8.3/10
Focus – 8/10
Energy – 8/10
Endurance -8/10
Pump – 7/10
Ingrediencies 9/10
Price – 10/10
Specs
- Caffeine: 200mg
- Highlights: 500mg Taruine, 1.6g Beta-Alanine, 1.5g Creatine monohydrate
- Flavors: Blue raspberry
- Price: $26.99
- Servings: 30
- Price Per Serving: ~$.9
Pros
- Banned-substance tested so it’s guarantied safe for college athletes
- Transparent ingredients containing no proprietary blends so you know exactly what you are getting
- Contains 1.5g of creatine which may help with strength and muscle growth
- High in caffeine if you work out in the evenings
- The high does of beta alanine may cause skin tingles which some people find uncomfortable
Best Pre-Workout for Weight Loss: Cellular C4 Ripped
Overall: 8.0/10
Focus – 9/10
Energy – 8/10
Endurance -8/10
Pump – 7/10
Ingrediencies 7/10
Price – 9/10
Specs
- Caffeine: 150mg
- Highlights: 1g L-Citrulline, 1.6g Beta-Alanine, 1g thermogenic blend
- Flavors: Cherry limeade, fruit punch, icy blue razz, raspberry lemonade
- Price: $39.99
- Servings: 30
- Price Per Serving: ~$1.33
Pros
- Contains a thermogenic blend, including capsaicinoids from cayenne, which may help with weight loss
- The combination of caffiene and beta alanine may help with energy and endurance
- Contains a high does of beta alanine which my help maximize your workout
- Some people may find the beta alanine induced skin tingles uncomfortable
- The thermogenic may make people sweat a lot