The 5 Best Pre Workout Supplements of 2023 [Tested] 

Pre-workout products have become increasingly popular among fitness enthusiasts, as they provide an extra boost of energy and focus to enhance workouts. With so many options available on the market, it can be difficult to determine which product will work best for your specific needs. In this article, we will review different pre-workout products and assess their effectiveness, ingredients, and overall value. Whether you're a seasoned gym-goer or a beginner looking to improve your performance, our comprehensive guide will help you make an informed decision on which pre-workout to choose.

To simplify your decision-making process, here are 5 of the top pre-workouts currently found in the market.

1. Best Overall: PreSZN Pre-Workout - SZN Supplements

Best Overall Pre-Workout    

Pros:

• Formulated to enhance strength, muscle pumps, stamina, focus and energy
• 200 mg of Caffeine for energy and focus
• 6000 mg of Citrulline Malate that helps improve strength and boosts nitric oxide
• 3500 mg of Beta Alanine to delay muscular fatigue and promotes healthy proteins
• Flavors - Watermelon, Cherry, Lemon, Orange
• Gluten-free and Non-GMO
• Buy One Get One 50% Off Options
• Free Shipping Available
• 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Cons:

• Only Available Online
• Limited Quantity Available
• Sells Out Often

2. Runner up: AlphaLion Super Human Pre - alphalion

Runner upAlphaLion Super Human Pre

Grade: B
AlphaLion Super Human Pre

• Effect: 9/10
• Ingredients: 9/10
• Price: 6/10
• Overall: 8/10

The AlphaLion flagship pre-workout: High caffeine content at 325mg split into different versions for enhanced functionality. Not recommended for evening use. Super Human Pre offers multiple flavors, beta-alanine, and citrulline, but label confusion may lead to under-dosing and fewer servings than expected.

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Installments: Available

Shipping: Free

The AlphaLion flagship pre-workout, this product also didn't disappoint in functionality. This pre-workout is split into different versions of caffeine anhydrous and delayed release caffeine. This is definitely not a pre-workout I would recommend taking in the evening... The Super Human Pre offers multiple flavors and also contains beta-alanine and citrulline which I also feel is necessary in any good pre-workout. The label information is both transparent and confusing, offering both options for a 1/2 scoop and 1 scoop value in ingredients. The 1/2 scoop option gives the illusion that there aren't only 21 servings in this tub and if you extrapolate to only 1/2 scoop servings, this product is grossly under-dosed in the important ingredients you want from a rather expensive pre-workout.

Pros:

• Acceptable Beta-Alanine
• Decent caffeine levels even though some of these are delayed
• Many flavors to choose from

Cons:

• Citrulline content should be higher
• I wouldn't take this in the evening due to extended release caffeine (personally)
• No creatine content
• Very expensive per serving - $2.38 per serving
• ONLY 21 servings... This wouldn't last me a full month of workouts

3.High Stimulant Pre-Workout:  Bucked Up Woke AF - buckedup

Bucked Up Pre-Workout

Grade: C+
Bucked Up WokeAF

• Effect: 8/10
• Ingredients: 7/10
• Price: 7/10
• Overall 7.5/10

Woke AF by Bucked Up: Intense pre-workout for high stimulant tolerance, providing an extreme pump with 333mg caffeine and questionable compounds. Recommended for occasional use, not as a daily choice.

Guarantee: 45 Days

Shipping: Free

I'd like to start by saying this is definitely for someone with a high stimulant tolerance. Woke AF provides a decent pump and the Citrulline and Beta-Alanine levels are both acceptable. This pre-workout also contains 6g of Citrulline similar to PreSZN from SZN Supplements, but only comes in with 3.2g Beta-Alanine. Now for the stimulants... Woke AF contains 333mg of caffeine, so if you're not into high levels of caffeine, this could give you the jitters or maybe have some upset stomach symptoms due to the high stimulant quantity. In addition to Caffeine, they also added Synephrine and Dendrobium. I'm not really sure why the extra need for these two compounds, but they're both questionable. Synephrine and Deer Antler Extract are both BANNED in nearly all athletics, so any athletes should steer clear. This product did taste good and was effective in my workouts, but I would take this out for special occasions instead of making it my "daily driver."

Pros:

• High stimulant content (if you're into that)
• Good Taste
• Citrulline and Beta-Alanine

Cons:

• High Stimulant content!! (If you're NOT into that)
• Could cause jitters and nausea
• BANNED substances
• Underdosed substances
• High Cost! ~$1.83 per serving

4.Bucked Up - Pre-Workout:  Bucked Up Original 

Bucked Up - Pre-Workout

Grade: C
Bucked Up Original

• Effect: 7/10
• Ingredients: 7/10
• Price: 6/10
• Overall: 6.5/10

Bucked Up®: Developed to elevate workouts and be a top pre-workout. No proprietary blends, only effective doses. Suitable for serious athletes, bodybuilders, and those seeking pump, focus, energy, and growth. Contains approximately 200mg caffeine per serving.

Guarantee: 45 Days

Shipping: Free

The DAS Labs Flagship pre-workout, Bucked Up, provides a lot of the results you're looking for in a workout. Unlike the WokeAF version from Bucked up, the flagship pre-workout offers a more reasonable stimulant quantity minus the additional stimulants Synephrine and Dendrobium. I would like to point out that another big difference between the two is the Beta-Alanine content. The original Bucked Up only offers 2g of Beta-Alanine per scoop which is largely underdosed in comparison to the top 3 pre-workouts listed and is a major reason for dropping this to the #4 spot. Outside of this, the 200mg of caffeine are a nice energy content and the 6g of Citrulline will provide the boost needed to push through for those extra reps. This product still contains the Deer Antler Velvet which gave Bucked Up its name as is still banned in multiple sports categories making this a pass for those in organized athletics.

Pros:

• 6g Citrulline
• 200mg Caffeine
• Tastes good
• Provides a nice pump

Cons:

•Underdosed Beta-Alanine
• No creatine content
• Banned Substances
• High Price Point - $1.66 per serving.

5.Original Pre Workout Powder:  C4 Original

Original Pre Workout Powder

Grade: D+
C4 Original Powder

• Effect: 3/10
• Ingredients: 3/10
• Price: 9/10
• Overall: 5/10

C4 Original is built to take your energy, muscular endurance, and pumps to the next level.  

Guarantee: 60 Days

Shipping: Free

Cellucor's C4 original pre-workout is their flagship pre-workout and easily places last in our list. Despite the respectable legacy that C4 has provided over the years, when it comes to a functional pre-workout, for me, this falls extremely short. C4 contains the lowest caffeine content, no citrulline at all, vastly underdosed beta-alanine and proprietary blends that don't provide accurate information and transparency for the doses you're taking of certain ingredients. C4 DOES contain a creatine nitrate, but unfortunately, this is under dosed and ultimately isn't providing any useful quantities of the ingredient to hit the desired results. This is an affordable pre-workout though, which is a plus and also extremely warranted for the ingredients.

Pros:

• Multiple flavors to choose from
• 150mg of Caffeine - will provide some energy during your workout
• No Banned Substances

Cons:

• Severely underdosed Beta-Alanine and Creatine Nitrate
• No citrulline content
• Proprietary Blends
• I didn't notice any real pump effects

So there you have it, for me, the winner was PreSZN Pre-workout by SZN Supplements. Perfect doses of the ingredients that helped me get through my workout, great taste and mixability, no jitters or negative side effects, great price point at $29.99 plus options to subscribe and save on their website.