Reddit’s 10 Best Pre-Workouts Are Amazing

Key Points

• Reddit’s top-rated pre-workouts provide a reliable source of information from real users.
• Ghost Legend is the best overall pre-workout with a balanced energy blend and unique flavors.
• SuperHuman Burn is the top choice for fat loss with its fat burner matrix and generous caffeine dosage.
• Gorilla Mode is recommended for cardio workouts with its lower caffeine dosage and focus on muscle endurance.
• Pre-Kaged Elite is the best pre-workout for strength training with its high dosages of caffeine, creatine, and L-Citrulline.
• Pump Serum is the top pick for achieving a better pump with its high dose of L-Citrulline and beetroot extract.
• Gold Standard is the best pre-workout for beginners with its balanced energy boost and reasonable price.
• C4 is the best pre-workout for those on a budget with its respectable energy blend and variety of flavors.
• Bucked Up is the top choice for men with its potent ingredients and Himalayan rock salt for hydration.
• Alani Nu is the best pre-workout for women with its tailored energy blend and inclusion of spirulina for weight loss.
• Naked Energy Vegan Pre-Workout is the best vegan option with its natural plant-based ingredients and slow-release caffeine from guarana seed extract.
• When choosing a pre-workout, consider your fitness goals such as gaining muscle, losing fat, or increasing cardio endurance.

Fueling your workouts with the right pre-workout supplement can improve your fitness journey tremendously. If you’re seeking the ultimate boost to take your workouts to the next level, look no further than Reddit’s top-rated pre-workouts.

A pre-workout supplement is much more than just an energy drink. Some of these supplements aim to increase energy levels, while others help reduce fatigue. Some pre-workouts aim to achieve a better pump, while others enhance focus. Picking the right pre-workout supplement can be overwhelming. This list breaks down the best choices depending on your goals.

History Computer’s Top Picks for Pre-Workout

Why Trust Reddit’s 10 Best Pre-Workouts?

Reddit is a reliable source for the fitness community since experienced users and beginners can all exchange knowledge and ideas in the forum. There’s no sponsored content being posted, so you can be sure that all suggestions, ideas, and conversations are genuine.

The internet is filled with misinformation. Reddit uses an upvoting and downvoting system to filter and separate helpful posts from misinformation. Well-received posts rise to the top, while misinformation and malicious content sink to the bottom.

The media offers a lot of information about the best supplements to take, but the problem is that many companies sponsor a lot of this content. How can you know whether a review is genuine if that’s the case? The Reddit fitness community has tried and tested countless pre-workouts, and they went through trial and error, so you don’t have to. Reddit users fill the forums with honest reviews, conversations, and information, allowing users to hear directly from real people instead of advertisements.

Best Overall Pre-Workout: Ghost Legend

Best Overall Pre-Workout

GHOST Legend Pre-Workout

$44.38 ($3.04 / Ounce)

• Zero calories
• Vegan friendly
• 250mg Caffeine
• 3200mg Beta-alanine
• 4000mg L-Citrulline

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12/08/2023 06:44 am GMT

Ghost Legend has become one of the most popular pre-workouts in recent years, and for a good reason. This supplement brings 200mg of caffeine, which might seem low to some people, but it’s the perfect amount for a workout boost without the crash.

When you first glance the Ghost Legend nutrition facts, it might not seem that impressive since it brings a balanced energy blend of caffeine, beta-alanine, and L-Citrulline that doesn’t stand out much. Many Reddit users have shared similar experiences on how they switched from a pre-workout that was more potent with its dosages but the effects were not as impactful as Ghost Legend.

The cherry on top of Ghost Legend is its flavor. They partnered with Sour Patch Kids, Warheads, and other brands to bring out new unique tastes, and they’re all incredible. The personal favorite on Reddit seems to be the Sour Patch Kids Redberry flavor.

Reddit users have pointed out this supplement’s balanced energy blend as a possible setback. Often, pre-workouts focus on enhancing a specific area, whether that’s energy, focus, endurance, or pump; but Ghost Legend keeps it balanced on all fronts.

Best Pre-Workout for Fat Loss: SuperHuman Burn

Best Pre-Workout for Fat Loss

Alpha Lion Superhuman Burn

$59.99 ($4.00 / Ounce)

• 300mg Caffeine
• 806mg Thermogenics
• 3200mg Beta-alanine
• 4000mg L-Citrulline

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12/08/2023 06:53 am GMT

Our top pick for fat loss is Superhuman Burn because it combines a pre-workout and a fat burner. The fat burner matrix of SuperHuman Burn combines L-Beta-Aminoisobutyric Acid, Cocoa extract, and Synephrine. Researchers have shown that this combination of ingredients increases fatty acid oxidation in the liver, reduces fat gain, and helps weight loss.

SuperHuman Burn packs a punch with 300mg of caffeine, more than enough to keep you focused on your workout. This product’s pump matrix includes beta-alanine and taurine, two crucial ingredients for a good pump.

This product’s most significant selling point is that it combines a fat burner and pre-workout into one, but unfortunately, it does not include all the ingredients found in most fat burners.

Best Pre-Workout for Cardio: Gorilla Mode

Best for Cardio

Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout

$49.99 ($2.26 / Ounce)

• 175mg Caffeine
• 2500mg Creatine
• 4500mg L-Citrulline
• 1250mg Beta-alanine

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12/08/2023 06:53 am GMT

Gorilla Mode by Massive Pumps stands out as the best pre-workout for cardio because it avoids loading you up on stimulants. This pre-workout has 175mg of caffeine and 2500mg of creatine. Research has proven that creatine helps with muscle endurance and fatigue, enabling your body to adapt to longer and more intense cardio sessions.

175mg of caffeine may seem low for pre-workout, but this is the perfect amount for a cardio supplement. Cardio exercise pushes the heart to an accelerated rate, so too much caffeine can go wrong during a cardio session.

Some pros for Gorilla Mode are the wide variety of flavors, including Tiger’s Blood, FireFly Lemonade, Mojo Mojito, Volcano Burst, Mango Peach, and more. This supplement is excellent for cardio but might not pack enough punch for some weight-lifting users.

Best Pre-Workout for Strength Training: Pre-Kaged Elite

Best for Strength Training

Pre-Kaged Elite

$41.98 ($3.00 / Ounce)

• 388mg Caffeine
• 5000mg Creatine
• 3200mg Beta-alanine
• 10000mg L-Citrulline

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12/08/2023 06:53 am GMT

If regular pre-workout supplements aren’t doing it for you, then Pre-Kaged Elite is the answer. This pre-workout brings generous doses of all its ingredients and could easily be the most potent pre-workout on the market. Pre-Kaged Elite packs 388mg of caffeine, 5000mg of creatine, 3200mg of Beta-Alanine, and a whopping 10,000mg of L-Citrulline.

L-Citrulline helps dilate blood vessels to increase blood flow, and 10,000mg of L-Citrulline will give you some massive pumps. The 5000mg of creatine in Pre-Kaged Elite will help with muscle fatigue to endure longer and more intense workouts.

Pre-Kaged Elite is an excellent supplement for experienced users who want to take their workouts to the next level. Unfortunately, beginners or caffeine-sensitive individuals would not be suited for Pre-Kaged Elite due to the pre-workout’s strong dosages.

Best Pre-Workout for Pump: Pump Serum

Best for Pump

Huge Supplements Pump Serum, Stim Free Pre-Workout

$54.95 ($2.20 / Ounce)

• Stimulant free
• 8000mg L-Citrulline
• 2000mg Beet root extract
• 3000mg Beta-alanine

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12/08/2023 06:54 am GMT

Pump Serum by Huge Supplements brings ingredients for a great pump without any stimulants. You can easily stack Pump Serum on top of another stimulant because it’s caffeine-free. But you can also use it on its own for a stim-free experience.

What makes Pump Serum different from the rest is its potent dose of L-Citrulline. This ingredient helps increase blood flow, helping users achieve a better pump. Huge supplements packed 8,000mg of L-Citrulline per serving into Pump Serum, explicitly targeting a pump of the muscles. Pump Serum also has 2000mg of Beetroot extract. Beetroot contains nitric oxide to improve blood flow and achieve better pumps.

According to Reddit, this is the best supplement available for users who want a pre-workout for a pump and no other stimulants. However, if you want to buy a pre-workout with caffeine, this might not be the best fit for you.

Best Pre-Workout for Beginners: Gold Standard

Best for Beginners

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout

$24.99 ($2.36 / Ounce)

• 175mg Caffeine
• 3000mg Creatine
• 1500mg Beta-alanine
• 750mg Micronized L-Citrulline

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12/08/2023 06:54 am GMT

Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Pre-Workout has been a proven staple since 1986, and Reddit users swear by it. This pre-workout is the perfect supplement for beginners since it provides a balanced energy boost. Gold Standard Pre-Workout brings 175 mg of caffeine, 3000 mg of creatine, and 1500mg of beta-alanine. This dosage may not seem impressive to experienced lifters or users of pre-workout, but it packs the perfect punch for beginners.

The great thing about Gold Standard Pre-Workout is that this supplement breaks down to a reasonable value per serving, so it’s a great bang for your buck. Gold Standard Pre-Workout also doesn’t bring much beta-alanine, which can cause jitters in some people, especially beginners. This pre-workout contains 3000mg of creatine, proven to help users with endurance and fatigue.

Gold Standard is the best pre-workout to get you started, but it unfortunately won’t give enough of a kick long-term.

Best Pre-Workout for a Budget: Cellucor C4

Best for a Budget

Cellucor C4 Original Pre Workout Powder

$29.99 ($5.17 / Ounce)

• 150mg Caffeine
• 1000mg Creatine
• 1600mg Beta-alanine
• Zero sugar

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12/08/2023 06:54 am GMT

The best pre-workout for a budget is Cellucor’s C4; you won’t find a quality energy boost for a better price. C4 pre-workout doesn’t have an extensive list of ingredients, but it’s enough to boost energy, focus, and endurance on a budget.

The main ingredients for Cellucor’s C4 are 150 mg of caffeine, 1000 mg of creatine, and 1600mg of beta-alanine. This dosage of ingredients is pretty basic and low, but if you’re on a budget, then C4 is the best option you can buy.

C4 can be used for strength training or cardio since it’s not overloaded with stimulants. This supplement also brings a variety of flavors, including Cherry Limeade, Strawberry Watermelon, Grape, Watermelon, Frozen Bombsicle, Blue Razz, and more. Some users on Reddit have mentioned that this pre-workout can be clumpy when mixing, but the flavor does not disappoint.

Best Pre-Workout for Men: Bucked Up

Best for Men

Bucked Up Pre-Workout

$44.77 ($4.07 / Ounce)

• 200mg Caffeine
• 6000mg L-Citrulline
• 2000mg Beta-alanine
• 100mg Himalayan rock salt

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12/08/2023 07:03 am GMT

Bucked Up is men’s most popular pre-workout choice on Reddit, and it’s not by coincidence. This pre-workout packs 6000mg of L-Citrulline malate for pumps, 2000mg of beta-alanine to reduce fatigue, and 200mg of caffeine to boost energy. The #1 takeaway from Bucked Up pre-workout is the 100mg of Himalayan rock salt, a key ingredient filled with electrolytes like potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which helps with hydration during training.

Users on Reddit have stated the Bucked Up pre-workout dissolves well and tastes even better. Experienced lifters who struggled feeling something with other pre-workouts have said on Reddit that the energy boost with Bucked Up is always consistent. However, one of this supplement’s cons is that it doesn’t have many options for flavors.

Best Pre-Workout for Women: Alani Nu

Best for Women

Alani Nu Pre-Workout

$36.00 ($3.27 / Ounce)

• 200mg Caffeine
• 1600mg Beta-alanine
• 6000mg L-Citrulline malate
• 500mg L-Tyrosine

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12/08/2023 07:13 am GMT

The Reddit fitness community knows Alani Nu for its women-focused brand. This pre-workout doesn’t contain excessive stimulants, and Reddit users have highlighted it increased their energy levels, reduced fatigue, and increased focus during workouts. Alani Nu offers an energy blend tailored explicitly for women, providing 200mg of caffeine, 1600mg of beta-alanine, and 6000mg of L-Citrulline malate.

Reddit users also like Alani Nu because it contains spirulina, and this ingredient has proven beneficial for weight loss. This pre-workout is available in various flavors, including Rocket Pop, Cosmic Stardust, Rainbow Candy, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, and more. Reddit users have stated that this pre-workout tastes great and boosts their energy but does not mix that well.

Best Vegan Pre-Workout: Naked Energy Vegan Pre-Workout

Best Vegan

Naked Energy Pure Pre Workout

$44.99 ($5.49 / Ounce)

• 12 All natural plant-based ingredients
• Non-GMO
• Vegan friendly
• Third-party tested

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12/08/2023 07:13 am GMT

Naked Energy’s Vegan Pre-Workout only uses non-GMO plant sources to differentiate itself from other vegan options. Redditors love this pre-workout since it’s only based on natural-plant-based ingredients, including beetroot extract, maca root powder, green tea leaf extract, guarana seed extract, and Rhodiola mushrooms.

The guarana seed extract provides more caffeine than any other plant available. A study on guarana seed extract versus coffee showed that coffee increased alertness and performance for up to 30-45 minutes; the effects would then fade quickly. On the other hand, guarana seed extract increased alertness and performance for up to 150 minutes. Research has shown that guarana is three times more effective and powerful than coffee because it naturally releases caffeine very slowly.

Naked Energy Vegan Pre-Workout uses natural non-GMO ingredients to bring you all the benefits of a pre-workout without non-natural stimulants. Maca root powder enhances endurance and reduces fatigue. Beetroot contains nitric oxide to improve blood flow and achieve better pumps. Unfortunately, the beetroot extract found in this pre-workout has no nitric oxide boosters.

How to Pick the Best Pre-Workout

Deciding what pre-workout to buy can be overwhelming; there are many options to look at, even with lists like this. The best way to pick a supplement is to analyze your fitness goals. Personal fitness goals can also be very specific, but for the most part, we can divide them into three categories.

• Gain muscle
• Lose fat
• Increase cardio endurance

Gain Muscle

If you want to gain muscle, one of the most important ingredients you need in your pre-workout is L-Citrulline. This ingredient helps improve blood flow, making for better and bigger pumps. A muscle pump looks great in the mirror, but the improved blood flow has also proven to help with muscle gain. Users who want to gain muscle want a pre-workout with at least 6000mg of L-Citrulline per serving.

A pre-workout supplement will not compensate for a bad diet or poor training methods. To get the most out of your pre-workout, it’s essential to maintain a healthy diet and a steady level of intensity in your workouts.

Lose Fat

The key to losing fat is straightforward, burn more calories than you consume. Unfortunately, there isn’t a pre-workout that will burn off calories for you, but there are supplements that can make the fat-loss process much more manageable.

If your goal is to lose fat, you’re probably in a calorie deficit. Being in a deficit can be detrimental to endurance, focus, and strength in the gym over time. To combat that, users want to look for a pre-workout with a high dosage of beta-alanine and caffeine. Beta-alanine helps increase endurance and reduce fatigue. And a higher dosage of caffeine can help with a much-needed energy boost.

Some pre-workouts will also include fat burner blends. Studies have proven that fat burner blends increase calories burned during workouts. But remember that the fat burner will not act on its own to burn the fat for you. It simply aids in slightly accelerating the process during workouts.

Increase Cardio Endurance

To increase cardio endurance, you’ll want a supplement that reduces fatigue and gives your muscles a boost of endurance. Make sure you choose a pre-workout that does not come packed with caffeine. Cardio exercise raises the heart rate to a much higher intensity than weight training. You don’t want to put too much pressure on your heart, so it’s best not to take any pre-workout with over 200mg of caffeine for cardio.

Your cardio sessions will benefit the most from a pre-workout with a higher dose of beta-alanine and creatine. These ingredients help reduce muscle fatigue, and Reddit users have recommended pre-workouts with at least 3000mg of beta-alanine to feel an impact on cardio sessions.

Using Pre-Workout: What it’s Like

If you’ve never used pre-workout, you’re in for quite the ride. Pre-workout is known as another version of an energy drink, but it’s much more than that. Aside from boosting energy with a caffeine dosage, pre-workout also brings key ingredients to enhance your workout. The main ingredients found in pre-workouts are caffeine, L-Citrulline, and beta-alanine.

L-Citrulline helps increase blood flow to achieve muscle pumps. A pump will make your muscles look bigger and tighter than they are; this is beneficial since more blood flow helps oxygenate torn muscle fibers to support muscle recovery and growth.
Research has proven that beta-alanine, as an ingredient, helps reduce fatigue and increase muscle endurance. Reddit recommends at least 1500mg of beta-alanine because it allows for longer and more intense workouts. Remember that this ingredient is known to give people the jitters, and while some people don’t mind the feeling, others really dislike it.

Summary Table

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