Pre-workouts are among the most popular fitness supplements, used for the ability to boost your energy, mental focus, and fight fatigue in the gym. However, there are hundreds of options on the market, all with varying ingredients and effects, so choosing the right one for your needs can be difficult.
To help guide your search, every review we write at Garage Gym Reviews relies on not just expert insight but also our hands-on testing experience. Our team aims to test as many pre-workout supplements as possible, which we then carefully evaluate using our dedicated testing methodology.
Rather than simply providing our individual opinions, this methodology allows us to calculate an unbiased score for each product, which helps us provide honest reviews and suggestions to our readers. Our goal is to help GGR readers find the best pre-workout supplement for their individual needs, depending on their goals, preferences, budget, and other factors.
For each pre-workout we review, our testers use the product multiple times to identify the benefits, potential side effects, and other noteworthy callouts. We then calculate a final product score, guided by the step-by-step process outlined below.
Our team of personal trainers, strength coaches, registered dietitians, and fitness enthusiasts has tested over 80 pre-workout products, searching for the best of the best. We’ve helped over 11,799 people find the best pre-workout for their goals, and we’re here to help you, too.
Our Values
A team of thoughtful experts weighed in on every portion of this testing methodology. We consulted with physicians, registered dietitians, and sports nutritionists who helped ensure we’re using the most up-to-date guidelines.
Our editorial team members are also credentialed, and many of us have years of experience using various supplements for our own fitness goals.
Our Process
When creating a buyer’s guide and selecting the best supplements, we carefully consider all the pre-workouts we’ve tested. Our goal is to find products that have scored highly in the most important categories, and we make sure to include pre-workouts that fit a variety of budgets and preferences.
This means we include high-stimulant formulas, stim-free options, products without beta-alanine, and more.
We also compare each product to the average pre-workout we’ve tested, allowing GGR readers to quickly see how a given formula stacks up against the pack. We use the averages below, which we’ve calculated based on the 80+ pre-workout formulas we’ve personally tested.
| Category | Average Pre-Workout We Test |
| Price per serving | $1.51 |
| Serving size | 14 g |
| Caffeine content | 170 mg |
| Number of flavors | 6 |
| Third-party tested? | Yes |
RELATED: Does Pre-Workout Help Build Muscle?
Pre-Workout Performance Testing
Now that we’ve covered how we use our methodology, here are the exact pre-workout testing categories, along with how we score them.
Price Per Serving
The price per serving helps us quickly determine whether a product is fairly priced, which can be confusing, as both container and serving sizes can vary between formulas.
The average pre-workout we test costs $1.51 per serving, and we assign a 3-out-of-5 rating for this category to any formula that costs around $1.50 per serving. Higher scores are awarded to products that cost around $1 or less.
Ingredients and Formulation
With pre-workouts, in particular, formulation is the most important consideration. There are plenty of beneficial ingredients that can be used, but the dosing is key, as many products may not contain clinical doses.
We also try to avoid proprietary blends, as this hides the exact dosing of each ingredient.
Here are the research-backed doses of the best pre-workout ingredients, recommended by the current scientific research as well as our expert panelists Bob Iafelice, MS, RDN, LDN and Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD:
- Caffeine: 200 milligrams
- Creatine: At least 3 grams (5 grams is the daily recommended dose, but not many pre-workouts contain this much)
- Citrulline: 6 grams
- Citrulline Malate: 6 to 8 grams
- Beta-Alanine: 3 grams
To earn 3 out of 5 stars, most ingredients need to be included at the clinical dose level. However, certain things, like creatine, may be under-dosed (as many users take it separately). We save 5-star ratings for formulas with proper dosing of all active ingredients.
RELATED: Creatine Benefits Explained
Taste
Taste is very subjective, but we strive to rate each formula fairly. While the flavor intensity of any product can be manipulated by using more or less water, we test the flavor by using the dose recommended by the manufacturer.
To achieve an average score of 3 out of 5, a pre-workout should have a fine taste, defined as neither offensive nor particularly special. Scores of 5 out of 5 are saved for pre-workouts that our testers consider the best-tasting products they’ve ever tried.
Solubility
To test solubility, we look at how well a pre-workout dissolves when mixed in a shaker cup with the suggested amount of water. Some users prefer more water for a thinner taste, and others use less water for a more concentrated beverage, but we assign a score based on the recommended fluid ratios.
To earn 3 out of 5 stars, there may be a few floaties or separation after a few minutes, but it’s nothing too unpleasant. The highest scores are reserved for products that dissolve entirely and don’t separate after mixing.
Side Effects
With side effects, we’re looking for any noteworthy outcomes caused by taking a pre-workout, though this can vary based on individual caffeine tolerances. Specifically, we ask our testers to note any jitters, itching or tingling, headaches, nausea, or a crash when the pre-workout wears off.
To get a 3 out of 5, there may be a few minor complaints, but nothing too serious. For example, beta-alanine is a beneficial ingredient that enhances workout performance, but it often causes temporary itching and tingling of the skin (known as paresthesia). We don’t consider this a reason to avoid it, but we’ll point this out and note that some products intentionally leave out beta-alanine to avoid the tingles.
RELATED: Best Pre-Workout Without Beta-Alanine
Transparency and Third-Party Testing
Third-party testing is used to verify that a product contains exactly what is listed on the label, with no additional ingredients or contaminants. The FDA doesn’t strictly regulate supplements, so third-party testing is a way to verify that a given product is safe for use and accurately labeled.
We also look for label transparency, which shows the exact dose of each ingredient. If we see proprietary blends, we’ll likely dock points, as this only shows the ingredients used, not the actual quantity.
To get a 3-out-of-5 rating, the company seems transparent and uses clear labeling, but may not be certified by a major organization like NSF, Informed Choice/Sport, or Banned Substance Control Group (BSCG). If a supplement has been tested by one of the major organizations, we’ll give it a higher score.
RELATED: Best Pre-Workout for Men
Customer Experience Testing
The quality and performance of the pre-workout itself are important, but we also consider the customer experience in our scoring. Specifically, we look at the company policies, customer service, ordering experience, and customer reviews.
Customer Service
For supplements, we primarily consider return policies and customer support. Many dietary supplements can’t be returned due to food safety concerns. We take this into account, while also considering whether you can easily reach a company via phone, email, or live chat on the website.
To get a 3 out of 5, a product’s parent company must be relatively easy to reach via one or more methods, and may even allow returns on some unopened products.
For a 5-out-of-5 rating, a company should be very easy to contact, and may offer free returns, even on opened products.
Customer Reviews
This number is pulled directly from the company’s website, Amazon, or other third-party retailers. We look at the average customer review score, which is then factored into our final product score.
Overall Score
To calculate our final product score, we use a ratings chart that shows each individual score, as shown in the example below. The overall rating is an average of each category rating, as shown in the example below:
