Best Pre-Workouts on Amazon (Independently Reviewed)

While Amazon is the most convenient place to stock up on supplements, their “Top Rated” list can be a minefield of “proprietary blends” and clever marketing. Many best-sellers rely on high marketing budgets rather than high-quality formulas.

In this guide, I’ve used my experience as a supplement store manager and nutrition coach to filter through the noise of Amazon.com (US). I’ll share our top picks that actually meet clinical standards, as well as the popular “big names” you might consider avoiding.

In A Hurry? Here’s The Top Pick

My number one recommendation for a pre-workout available on Amazon is Transparent Labs Bulk. While it doesn’t always sit at the very top of Amazon’s “sponsored” results, it is a staple recommendation across our site and often tops my ranked lists because of its 100% formula transparency, clinical dosing, and high quality testing.

Why Trust Our Recommendation?

At FeastGood.com, we don’t just look at star ratings. Our team consists of industry experts like supplement store managers, Certified Nutrition Coaches, and athletes who have personally tested and reviewed hundreds of formulas.

For this specific list, we independently reviewed every product. We set our Amazon location to a US address to ensure we are seeing the same “top-rated” results you see. If it made this list, it’s because we’ve put it to the test in the gym and verified the label.

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At A Glance

Category	Product	Key Highlight	Rating
Best Overall	Transparent Labs Bulk	Clinically dosed, third-party tested, most well-rounded formula great for muscle building	4.5/5
Best for Focus	Bucked Up Woke	Incredible mental focus blend, euphoric energy, high stim	4.3/5
Best Stim-Free	Transparent Labs Stim-Free	Clinically dosed, high quality ingredients, great well-rounded formula with zero caffeine or stimulants	4.5/5
Best Pump	Gorilla Mode Nitric	Massive doses for maximum vasodilation. Not great for taste or mixability	3.8/5
Best for Beginners	Alani Nu	Balanced energy with no “tingle” itch, no major side effects	4/5
Best Tasting	Ghost Pre	Great flavors and good mixability, the brand really focuses on the small details	4.2/5

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Our Criteria: How We Chose the Best Amazon Pre-Workouts

I focused on selecting products that appeared in the top search results for “top rated pre-workout” on Amazon.com, but I filtered them through four quality pillars:

1. Independent Testing: Every product on this list has been personally used by our team to verify its effectiveness, whether it delivers on its promises, and the factors relating to the overall user experience like taste and mixability. 
   
   
2. Clinical Dosages: We look for products that contain clinical doses. That is to say, do the amounts of the ingredients found within the product match what has been shown in scientific studies to actually improve athletic performance.
   
   
3. Label Transparency: We prioritize products that avoid “proprietary blends” where specific ingredient amounts are hidden. We look for brands that use independent third-party testing laboratories to ensure ingredient dosing and that products are free from contaminants
   
   
4. Amazon Availability: We only included products that are consistently in stock and shipped by reliable sellers on the Amazon US platform.

Top Pre-Workouts on Amazon

1. Best Overall: Transparent Labs Bulk

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Our Thoughts:

The key features that keep Transparent Labs in the top spot of this list is Transparent Labs’ commitment to clinically dosed formulas, high-quality ingredients, and top-tier independent third-party testing. 

Transparent Labs Bulk contains clinical doses for all 9 of its key ingredients and has 200mg of caffeine per serving, allowing you to hit the “sweet spot” of increased energy without side effects like jitteriness or anxiety. 

Transparent Labs does not use any artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives in their product and comes in at a fantastic value, around $1.66 per serving. Other comparable pre-workouts like Kaged or Legion Pulse cost between $2.00 and $3.00 per serving. 

When I tested Transparent Labs Bulk, I noticed a significant increase in strength and overall work output, and while I did experience some of the tingles from beta-alanine, I didn’t find it to be uncomfortable or detracting from my workout. 

One thing to note is that most flavors lean towards a sour or bitter taste, especially since the product isn’t overloaded with artificial flavoring. When I used the recommended 12oz of water to mix it, the taste improved but I found that was too much water personally to sit in my stomach during a workout. 

Overall Verdict: Transparent Labs Bulk is best for individuals who value high-quality, transparent ingredients and are looking to increase strength and muscle mass without being over-stimulated by caffeine.

2. Best for Mental Focus: Bucked Up Woke 

Overall Rating: 4.3/5

Our Thoughts:

Woke pre-workout is a high-stimulant option, with 333mg of caffeine per serving plus several other added stimulants like synephrine and dendrobium. This is a hard-hitting formula for people who want to feel maximum energy.  

Woke hits clinical dosing for key ingredients like citrulline and beta-alanine which helps with blood flow and endurance, alongside the mood-boosting “euphoric” energy provided by dendrobium. 

When I tested Woke AF, I hit several new PRs and became hooked on the feel-good energy that it provided. I noticed significant increases to my strength, energy, and stamina as well as my recovery between sets. Despite the high stimulants, I found it to be gentle on the stomach and I didn’t experience any headaches or crashes afterwards. 

At $1.83 per serving, Woke pre-workout is a bit more expensive than some other high-stim formulas on the market, like Ryse Loaded Pre. However, Woke pre-workout has clinical doses for ingredients to boost endurance and recovery, where products like Ryse fall short. 

Note that this pre-workout is not recommended for beginners and is more likely to cause sleep disruptions because of the variety of stimulants. I don’t recommend taking this within 5 hours of bedtime. 

Overall Verdict: Bucked Up Woke Pre-Workout is best for experienced gym-goers and stimulant junkies who want mood-boosting energy, laser focus, and increased stamina. 

3. Best for Pump: Gorilla Mode Nitric

Overall Rating: 3.8/5

Our Thoughts:

I had tried several caffeine-free pump formulas before discovering Gorilla Mode Nitric, and I felt let down with each one. Even the most highly rated ones were inconsistent in their effect or caused brutal gastrointestinal side effects. 

Gorilla Mode Nitric is one of the most highly dosed pre-workouts available on the market, and I admit that I was very reluctant to try it, given my previous experience. 

Gorilla Mode Nitric is clinically dosed in pump ingredients like citrulline and Nitrosigine, but a 2 scoop serving also contains clinical doses of creatine monohydrate and betaine, two ingredients which support muscle growth and strength and power output. 

Notably, Gorilla Mode Nitric does not contain caffeine, making it a good option for individuals who work out late in the evening or are sensitive to caffeine but still want to maximize pump and performance. 

Another unique characteristic of Gorilla Mode Nitric is that it does not contain beta-alanine. This is the ingredient that causes skin-tingling (paresthesia). For users who hate the itchy, tingly feeling, Gorilla Mode Nitric is a great option. 

This product did not provide the euphoric energy or extreme strength increases that some other pre-workouts do, but I experienced a fantastic pump and was able to hit all of my prescribed sets and reps in the gym comfortably. 

Most significant to me was that, despite the extremely high dosing of ingredients, I did not experience any negative side effects while taking Gorilla Mode Nitric. 

There are two notable downsides to this product. First of all, it is incredibly expensive. In order to get clinical doses for all of the ingredients, a 2-scoop serving is required which makes the cost $3.00 per full serving. This is nearly double the industry average ($1.61) and makes it among the most expensive products on the market. 

It also mixes terribly and has a very gritty texture. Due to the sheer volume of ingredients (more than 30g per serving), the powder does not dissolve completely and leaves an almost sand-like texture. 

Overall Verdict: Gorilla Mode Nitric is best for dedicated lifters with a generous supplement budget who want the absolute maximum “pump” possible. At half a dose, it is a suitable pre-workout for people who train at night or anyone who hates the “itch” of Beta-Alanine.

4. Best Stim Free: Transparent Labs Stim-Free

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Our Thoughts:

You can take most of the key benefits of Transparent Labs Bulk, and apply them to Transparent Labs Stim-Free. The formulas are almost identical, except that the Stim-Free formula forgoes the caffeine and stimulant ingredients in favor of an ingredient called elevATP® to increase energy and endurance. 

Very few stim-free pre-workouts still provide clinical dosing for their performance enhancing ingredients, but Transparent Labs Stim Free checks the boxes for 7 key ingredients like citrulline and beta-alanine. The end result is a pre-workout that supports all aspects of athletic performance like energy, strength, power, stamina, pump, and recovery without the use of caffeine or stimulants. 

At $1.66 per serving, Transparent Labs Stim-Free offers the same great value that the caffeinated Bulk Pre-workout does. This is the ultimate versatile pre-workout that can provide late night lifters with great performance enhancements and no negative impact on sleep quality. 

I have, admittedly, been obsessed with this pre-workout since I first tried it in 2023. As a busy mom of two juggling many responsibilities, sometimes my workouts didn’t happen until late in the evening after a full day of work and parenting. 

Despite being mentally and physically exhausted, when I took Transparent Labs Stim Free my performance didn’t suffer, and in fact I kept making strength gains and increases during periods that were meant to be deload weeks. 

Overall Verdict: Transparent Labs Stim Free is great for late-night trainers, people on a “caffeine reset,” those with caffeine sensitivities, or anyone wanting to maximize strength and pump while avoiding stimulants.

5. Best for Beginners: Alani Nu Pre

Overall Rating: 4/5

Our Thoughts:

For experienced pre-workout users, Alani Nu may not provide the desired “kick” or performance boost you are looking for. 

For beginners, however, Alani Nu has a few key features that make it a great starting point. First of all, it has a very minimal ingredient list (only 5 ingredients) which reduces the likelihood of experiencing any negative side-effects. 

With 200mg of caffeine, it provides a solid energy boost without being overwhelming. It contains a clinical dose of citrulline for muscle pump as well as tyrosine and theanine to improve mental clarity and prevent any post-caffeine crashes. 

Alani Nu Pre is the most affordable pre-workout on the list, available for just over $1.00 per serving. This is great for anybody on a budget, but also makes an appealing price point for beginners who don’t want to overspend on a product without knowing how they will feel on it. 

Alani Nu has a variety of delicious flavors and mixes easily, two factors that make it very appealing to a broad audience. 

Working against Alani Nu are the facts that the dose of beta-alanine falls shy of clinical dose standards, and there is reduced transparency around the third party testing of the product. Unlike some of the other brands on this list, like Transparent Labs, who publicly display the results of all of their testing online, Alani Nu claims to test for banned substances internally but does not show any testing results for ingredient doses or contaminants. 

Overall Verdict: Alani Nu Pre-workout is best for beginners or those who want a “daily driver” that tastes amazing and won’t leave them feeling over-stimulated or crashing mid-afternoon.

6. Best Tasting: Ghost Legend

Overall Rating: 4.2/5

Our Thoughts:

I definitely don’t recommend choosing a pre-workout SOLELY based on taste, but after managing a supplement store for more than a decade I have learned that for many individuals, if a product does not taste great they aren’t even willing to try it. 

If you know that you yourself tend to be very sensitive to the taste and mixability of products, I put Ghost Legend here for your consideration. 

Ghost is famous for its authentic collaborations with brands like Sour Patch Kids, Warheads, and Sonic. Unlike many bitter pre-workouts, these are genuinely enjoyable to drink and dissolve very well, leaving almost no residue. 

The reason that Ghost Legend doesn’t top the list is that it falls just shy of hitting clinical dosing for all of its ingredients, though it does hit the mark for some important ones like beta-alanine and Nitrosigine. 

It has 250mg of caffeine, so it hits harder than some of the more mild pre-workouts but doesn’t quite hit the “hardcore” level that products like Bucked Up Woke do. 

Ghost Legend also provides good value at $1.50 per serving. It is slightly cheaper than the industry average but this cost is justified by the comprehensive list of ingredients, many of which are high-quality, patented versions. 

Another small, but sometimes significant factor is Ghost’s overall brand experience. Ghost excels at small details, such as a rewards program and engineering their tubs so the scoop always sits at the top rather than being buried in the powder.

Some key factors keeping Ghost Legend out of the top spot on this list are that it is underdosed in citrulline, and the itching sensation from the beta-alanine is extremely intense and long-lasting. I realize that this last one can be desirable by some users, but I found the beta-alanine tingles to be so uncomfortable and intense that on more than one occasion, I actually abandoned my workout because of it. 

There is no official third party certification identified on the label, and some flavors of Ghost Legend use artificial food dyes like FD&C Blue #1, which can be a deal-breaker for health-conscious consumers. 

Overall Verdict: Ghost Legend is great for lifters who prioritize amazing taste and a well-rounded, moderate energy/focus blend for daily training.

Pre-Workouts on Amazon We DO NOT Recommend

There are many budget-friendly supplements on the market. Here are some that we tested personally that didn’t make the cut, despite their high Amazon ratings.

Cellucor C4 Original

While C4 Original is a perennial Amazon best-seller due to its low price and excellent flavoring, it fails to meet our professional standards for efficacy. 

First, we found the performance ingredients to be significantly underdosed; it contains only 1.6g of Beta-Alanine and 1g of Citrulline Malate, which are well below the clinical thresholds required to improve muscular endurance or blood flow. 

Ultimately, C4 relies on brand recognition rather than formula potency, making it an ineffective choice for serious athletes seeking measurable results. That being said, if you are on an extreme budget and only want an energy boost (like what you would get from a cup of coffee), that’s what C4 Original provides. 

Ryse Loaded Pre

I know I won’t make friends with this recommendation, since Ryse is extremely popular both online and in-store. 

While this formula provides intense energy, its 390mg caffeine dose sits at the upper daily safe limit set by the FDA, while key performance ingredients like L-Citrulline (4.5g) remain underdosed. 

During testing, the high stimulant load led to late-day headaches and uncomfortable skin itching, while the lack of clinical pump and strength ingredients resulted in a noticeable dip in my overall training performance.

Pre-Kaged 

Despite its high-quality, Informed-Sport certified ingredients, I do not recommend Pre-Kaged due to its poor digestibility. 

The massive 29g serving size caused me persistent nausea during testing, which significantly hindered my workouts. Additionally, the formula is underdosed in Beta-Alanine (1.6g) and Creatine HCl (1.5g), falling short of the clinical thresholds required for maximum performance.

Why Purchase Pre-Workouts on Amazon?

Here are a few key features that make purchasing pre-workouts on Amazon appealing: 

• Logistics & Convenience: For many shoppers, the main draw is the “Prime” ecosystem. Being able to get fast, free shipping and a unified checkout process where you can purchase all of your supplements, and anything else you may need, in one secure way. 

• The “Storefront” Effect: Most major supplement brands (like those featured in this article) run their own official stores on Amazon. This allows you to buy directly from the manufacturer (which helps reduce the likelihood of issues like counterfeit products), while using Amazon’s logistics. 

• Price Competition: Amazon’s algorithms often fluctuate prices to stay competitive with big-box retailers. You can take advantage of features like the “Subscribe & Save” offer, which can provide an extra 5-15% off for regular users. 

How should consumers navigate issues like returns and refunds on Amazon?

A potential downside to ordering from Amazon is that the official return and refunds policy provided by the brands that are available on the supplement company’s official website do not apply to third-party retailers. 

While the article doesn’t explicitly detail a step-by-step return process, general Amazon policy and supplement industry standards suggest:

Supplements fall under the category of “Health and Personal Care” and are often marked as non-refundable once opened for safety reasons. That being said, you may be able to do a refund or replacement through Amazon if the item arrives damaged or defective. 

You can try to contact customer support if you have an issue like nausea. Amazon will sometimes issue a refund without requiring you to ship the physical product back. 

(As a personal aside, I have tried to issue refunds and replacements through Amazon before and it can be an absolute nightmare of a process). 

If you are concerned about being able to do a refund or exchange, check the seller before buying the product. Ensure that the product you are buying is either “Sold by Amazon” or the “Official Brand Store” which can make the refund process smoother. 

Can consumers trust all reviews posted on Amazon?

Short answer: No. I have been researching for FeastGood.com for years and there are a few things that I have learned about product reviews. The first is that no matter which product you are looking at, you will always find people who rate it 5/5 and highlight all of the reasons why a product is the best they’ve ever had. In the same product, you will find people who give it the lowest possible rating and outline all of the ways that product is terrible. 

It really does come down to personal experiences and biases, which can’t always be relayed in a review. 

Another thing I have learned is that some people who post reviews are being compensated for those reviews. They might be quiet partners or brand ambassadors of the brand and are trying to bump up the product’s positive reviews. I have also seen situations where people do the opposite and deliberately try to tank another brand or product because of some personal vendetta.

One way that sites like Amazon will try to combat this is by having a “verified purchase” badge, indicating that the person leaving the review has actually purchased the item from Amazon. This isn’t foolproof, but it is one added level of reassurance. 

How can international customers deal with shipping restrictions or costs?

To get an accurate picture of what is available and what it will truly cost:

Set your location. 

If you want to browse US products and see which products are most highly rated in the US, then set your Amazon delivery address to a US zip code while browsing. This allows you to see the full selection available to the US, as some products are hidden from international shoppers due to local regulations.

Import Fees Deposit

Amazon often calculates an “import fees deposit” at checkout, which covers the estimated customs duties. If the actual cost is lower, then Amazon typically refunds the difference. 

Check Local Legality

Be aware that some ingredients (like high-dose stimulants) may be restricted by your country’s customs. Always verify that your product is legal to import into your specific region to avoid it being seized at the border. 

Author’s Note: As someone living in Canada but testing US products, I have run into this a few times. Sometimes the product I ordered doesn’t arrive, but was instead replaced by the Canadian version of said product. On some occasions, the product never arrives. Double check your country’s restrictions. If it is hidden from your Amazon page while you have your local delivery address inputted, then there is probably a reason why. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Best “Bang for Your Buck” on Amazon?

If you want to find the perfect marriage of quality, ingredient dosing, and value, opt for Transparent Labs Bulk pre-workout. There are some that are less expensive, but they come with insufficient ingredient lists or negative side-effects like nausea and headaches. 

Why is a product so highly rated if it’s low quality?

Amazon ratings often reflect the price and the flavor rather than the efficacy. Many users rate a product highly because it’s a “Best Seller” and they feel a caffeine buzz, even if the actual performance ingredients are underdosed.