Best pre-workouts to try in 2024

About Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout

As a trusted fitness product brand, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout provides just about every evidence-based ingredient to support your pre-workout routine. From creatine and beta-alanine for exercise performance support to caffeine for energy support and citrulline for helping increase blood flow to the muscle, this pre-workout supplement has everything you need to stay alert and focused during your workout. 

As an added bonus, this product has been tested for banned substances, so athletes can feel safe using it during their athletic season. With four delicious flavors to choose from, your pre-workout routine will never get boring. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout is a complete pre-workout supplement that is healthy for both your workout and your wallet.   

Why we like it

• Less than $1 per serving 
• Consumers report low to no jitters
• Multi-ingredient formula with banned substance testing

What to consider

• Contains artificial sweeteners
• Some consumers say the taste is sour
• Some consumers report that the energy boost is not strong enough

Best third party testing support: C4 Sport Pre-Workout

About C4 Sport Pre-Workout

As an NSF-certified for Sport product that has undergone third-party testing, C4 Sport® Pre-workout is perfect for athletes and average fitness enthusiasts alike to support your workout. This pre-workout supplement contains both a performance blend and an energy blend to help you stay focused and alert during your exercise routine. 

With three delicious flavors, blue raspberry, fruit punch, and watermelon, this pre-workout supplement is easy to consume any time of day. At less than $1 per serving, C4 Sport® can also fit within just about any budget. Add C4 Sport® Pre-workout supplement to your daily pre-workout routine today for ultimate energy and performance support you can trust.

Why we like it

• Third-party tested for quality and safety
• Trusted fitness supplement brand since 2011
• Many consumers enjoy the taste

What to consider

• Some consumers say the energy boost is not enough
• Some consumers complain of jitters
• Some consumers complain of digestive discomfort after intake

Best for potent caffeine: Prolific Pre-Workout

About Prolific Pre-Workout

For an added energy boost during your exercise, you should give Prolific Pre-Workout Supplement. This third-party tested pre-workout supplement contains potent caffeine content without the jitters for added alertness during your workouts. In eight delicious flavors, including Guava Pineapple Punch and Raspberry Lemonade, you’ll be sure to find a flavor to please your palate. With a boost of pure L-citrulline for performance support, Prolific Pre-Workout is good for more than just providing extra energy (7). Grab a container of Prolific Pre-Workout today to help optimize the energy and focus of your workout routine. 

Why we like it

• Potent energy support 
• Third-party lab tested
• Consumers report low to no jitters

What to consider

• Some consumers dislike aftertaste
• Nearly $2 per 2-scoop serving
• Contains artificial sweeteners

Best for flavor variety: Alani Nu Pre-Workout

About Alani Nu Pre-Workout

Alani Nu Pre-Workout is a third-party tested brand that is both fun and a fantastic pre-workout supplement. Besides a good boost of caffeine sourced naturally from coffee bean extract, it also contains L-citrulline, L-theanine and beta-alanine for ultimate workout support. In 11 delicious flavors like mimosa and sherbet swirl, Alani Nu Pre-Workout supplement is sure to make your pre-workout routine tasty and interesting. This gluten-free, vegan and sugar-free pre-workout supplement fits just about any pre-workout routine from amateur to athlete. Try Alani Nu Pre-Workout today to see how it can help support your fitness goals.

Why we like it

• Third-party tested for safety and quality
• Contains multiple evidence-based ingredients like L-citrulline, beta-alanine and L-theanine for workout performance support
• Sugar-free

What to consider

• Some consumers complain of after taste
• More than $1 per serving
• Mixed reviews on energy support (low versus high energy boost)

Best for potent creatine: Xeela Clean Pre-Workout

About Xeela Clean Pre-Workout

Xeela Clean Pre-Workout is a perfect pre-workout supplement whose formula is free of gluten, soy and dairy, is vegan friendly and free of GMOs. In four flavors, including blue raspberry and tropical punch, this pre-workout provides a potent boost of creatine for performance support. This third-party tested formula is BSCG Certified Drug-Free, so athletes can ensure this product contains no ingredients that are prohibited by sports organizations. This cGMP-certified product is sugar-free and free of sweeteners from synthetic sources, which helps reduce any aftertaste that can ruin your pre-workout. Try Xeela Clean Pre-Workout for the ultimate, jitter-free pre-workout support. 

Why we like it

• Third-party tested for quality and safety
• BSCG Certified Drug Free for Sport Standard
• Consumers report low to no jitters

What to consider

• Nearly $2 per serving
• Some consumers complain of taste of the iced coffee flavor
• Some consumers report of no significant energy boost

How to choose a pre-workout

There are a few considerations to keep in mind when choosing a pre-workout. Let’s get into them!

• Your needs: When choosing a pre-workout supplement, be sure to choose one that meets your pre-workout needs. For example, if you are looking to increase energy, perhaps choose one that contains caffeine. However, if you’re looking to support endurance improvements, then choose a product with an ingredient like L-citrulline, for example (3). 
• The flavor: You will also want to consider the flavor and texture of the supplement since you will want one that will be palatable enough for you, so you will want to take it before each workout. 
• The ingredients: Next, you will want to ensure that the pre-workout supplement does not contain any ingredients that you may be allergic to.
• Your budget: Also, you will want to choose a product that is within your budget. 
• Lab tests: Finally, you should look at the label to ensure that the product has been third-party lab tested and/or has been produced in a lab that is certified by a reputable organization to ensure safety, potency, and purity of the product.  This is because some pre-workout products may contain ingredients like synephrine that studies show could cause harmful cardiovascular side effects in some people (8).

Methodology

To compile this list, our writers and editors reviewed top products on the market, compared specs and features and created a short list of the top pre-workouts. Then, we used product descriptions, reviews and user ratings to find the best pre-workouts for each category. Note that we do not test every product but base our lists on our research, user reviews and expert opinions.

FAQ

What's the tastiest pre-workout?

The tastiest pre-workout supplement will depend on your taste preference. If you prefer to have a quick pre-workout, you can mix in your water bottle, then choose one that already has an added flavor. But if you prefer to have a smoothie in the morning before your workout, then choose a pre-workout that is perhaps unflavored so it will blend well with whatever flavor smoothie you choose.

Is pre-workout OK for beginners?

Pre-workout supplements are okay for beginners if you choose a product that has been lab-tested and certified as safe. However, if your reason for wanting to try a pre-workout supplement is to improve energy during your workout, then you may want to try tweaking your lifestyle habits first to see if that helps. This is because supplements can be expensive and may be unnecessary for the average person who is not concerned with workout performance outcomes. Therefore, before using a pre-workout supplement for energy support, first try improving your sleep routine, adding more nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables to your meals and snacks, adding more protein to meals and snacks or drinking more water to support hydration to see if that helps improve your energy levels.  

Do I need pre-workout?

Although pre-workout supplements can benefit those who engage in frequent and/or intense workout sessions, not everyone may need pre-workout supplements to benefit from their exercise routines. Registered dietitian Emily Norman, MS, RD, who has experience as a sports dietitian working with NCAA athletes believes that powdered pre-workout supplements are not a necessity, even for athletes. She states that “The "30-60g of carbs, 30-60 minutes before exercise" guideline is crucial in providing athletes with the energy needed for sustained workouts, practices or training sessions.” But Norman says that you can consume such carbohydrates through simple snack options like fresh fruit, granola bars, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and oatmeal, as well as “products created specifically for pre-exercise fueling, like Gatorade energy chews and Honey Stinger waffles,” that offer a convenient and portable form of energy. 

References

1. Kerksick, C.M. and Pugh, J.N. (July 2023) “Editorial: Pre-workout nutrition.” Front Sports Act Living, 5:1257740. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2023.1257740. PMID: 37547822; PMCID: PMC10402752. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37547822/
2. Nicoll, J.X., Fry, A.C., and Mosier, E.M. (March 2023) “The effects of a caffeine containing pre-workout supplement on β2-adrenergic and MAPK signaling during resistance exercise.” Eur J Appl Physiol., 123(3):585-599. doi: 10.1007/s00421-022-05085-0. Epub 2022 Nov 16. PMID: 36383249. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36383249/
3. Curtis, J., Evans, C., Mekhail, V., Czartoryski, P., Santana, J.C., and Antonio, J. (May 2022) “The Effects of a Pre-workout Supplement on Measures of Alertness, Mood, and Lower-Extremity Power.” Cureus,14(5):e24877. doi: 10.7759/cureus.24877. Erratum in: Cureus. 2023 Jul 10;15(7):c128. PMID: 35702476; PMCID: PMC9179939. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9179939/
4. Beckner, M.E., Pihoker, A.A., Darnell, M.E., Beals, K., Lovalekar, M., Proessl, F., et al. (September 2022) “Effects of Multi-ingredient Preworkout Supplements on Physical Performance, Cognitive Performance, Mood State, and Hormone Concentrations in Recreationally Active Men and Women.” J Strength Cond Res., 36(9):2493-2501. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003660. Epub 2020 Jun 17. PMID: 32569125. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32569125/
5. Gonzalez, A.M., Townsend, J.R., Pinzone, A.G., and Hoffman, J.R. (January 2023) “Supplementation with Nitric Oxide Precursors for Strength Performance: A Review of the Current Literature.” Nutrients,15(3):660. doi: 10.3390/nu15030660. PMID: 36771366; PMCID: PMC9921013. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9921013/
6. Dassanayake, T.L., Wijesundara, D., Kahathuduwa, C.N., and Weerasinghe, V.S. (November 2023) “Dose-response effect of L-theanine on psychomotor speed, sustained attention, and inhibitory control: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.” Nutr Neurosci., 26(11):1138-1146. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2022.2136884. Epub 2022 Oct 20. PMID: 36263942. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36263942/
7. Cabre, H.E., Greenwalt, C.E., Gould, L.M., and Smith-Ryan, A.E. (December 2023) “The effects of L-Citrulline and Glutathione on Endurance performance in young adult trained males.” J Int Soc Sports Nutr., 20(1):2206386. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2023.2206386. PMID: 37125500; PMCID: PMC10134954. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37125500/
8. de Jonge, M.L.L., Kieviet, L.C., Sierts, M., Egberink, L.B., van der Heyden, M.A.G. (January 2023) “Review of Case Reports on Adverse Events Related to Pre-workout Supplements Containing Synephrine.” Cardiovasc Toxicol., (1):1-9. doi: 10.1007/s12012-022-09777-z. Epub 2023 Jan 13. PMID: 36639595; PMCID: PMC9859859. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9859859/