You’ve probably already heard of Optimum Nutrition thanks to its high-quality whey protein powder that we’ve also tried in the past in our Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard review.
That said, we’d forgive you for not knowing they’ve also had a pre-workout powder that’s been around for over a decade now. Luckily, our team has given it a whirl so you don’t have to. For this Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout review, we had Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1 test it out for herself and report back.
Keep reading to discover what we found.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
When It Comes to Sports Nutrition, Our Experts Are the Gold Standard
We’re more than fitness professionals and registered dietitians: We lift, too! That means we also love pre-workout and trying different brands. If a pre-workout review isn’t unbiased and honest, we won’t write it. In order to provide you with the most personalized feedback, though, that means we always test out the products we review.
Using our supplement testing methodology, we rate products on a scale from 1 to 5. Here are the key criteria we examined:
- Price per serving: Our price ratings are calculated based on the market average of similar pre-workout supplements.
- Formulation: We look for key ingredients including l-carnitine, citrulline malate, and caffeine. We also aim to ensure these compounds are offered in research-backed dosages.
- Taste: This rating is based both on our testers’ subjective opinions and verified buyer reviews.
- Third-Party Testing: Our rating system considers whether the product has been tested by an accredited third-party laboratory such as NSF, Informed Choice/Sport, or Banned Substance Control Group (BSCG), and if there is a certificate of analysis (COA) available.
- Side Effects: This rating is derived from both customer reviews in which side effects such as jitters, crashes, or digestive issues have been mentioned, as well as from the experience of our testers.
Made with simple yet effective ingredients, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout provides users with a good boost of energy, improved focus, and enhanced performance.
What our tester says:
“We have people on the weightlifting team who have been using Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout for years; the flavors are always absolutely delicious. Sweet, but not too sweet.”
A Quick Look at Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout
Optimum Nutrition has a major flex to flaunt as it currently (and consistently) has some of the best protein powders on the market. We’ve also had the brand’s various amino acid supplements rank highly within our best BCAAs round-up. It’s safe to say, then, that they are a reliable name in sports nutrition, so we weren’t surprised when our team gave the pre-workout supplement good ratings all around.
Before You Buy
- Dosages of some ingredients are pretty low
- There are 3 grams of carbohydrates per serving
- It’s unclear if the included caffeine comes from natural sources
Is Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout Worth It?
Optimum Nutrition pre-workout can be a solid choice for people who don’t have a lot of supplement money to spend, and the addition of creatine is nice, too. However, it doesn’t have a lot of extra ingredients like electrolytes for hydration or amino acids.
RELATED: Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy Review
Great for:
- Weightlifting and pre-workout beginners
- People with a small supplement budget
- Those who like to combine their pre-workout and creatine in one beverage
Not recommended for:
- Individuals looking for a massive muscle pump
- People who avoid artificial ingredients
- Those who need a stimulant-free pre-workout
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout Specs
| Price per serving | $1.10 |
| Serving size | 1 scoop (10 g) |
| Flavors | Blueberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Green Apple, Watermelon |
| Caffeine dosage | 175 mg |
| Beta-alanine dosage | 1.6 g |
| L-citrulline dosage | 750 mg |
| Creatine dosage | 3.3 g |
| Other key ingredients | L-tyrosine, vitamin D, calcium, niacin, thiamin, folate, vitamin B12 |
| Sweeteners | Sucralose |
| Third-party tested? | Yes, Informed Choice |
Experience Using Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout
Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1 summed up her experience as being generally positive, but nothing insane when it comes to this Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout. “There is some tingling, but this leaves you with a great level of focus and energy,” Kate says. “Even though it is not the strongest pump, this is always a reliable pre-workout choice.” Read below to discover more findings from our time with this popular pre-workout supplement.
Price Per Serving
We gave a 4.5-out-of-5 rating in this category due to the product being $1.10 before any discounts have been applied. The pre-workout may be even more affordable on Amazon, as well. Either way, Optimum Nutrition does have a reputation for offering reasonably-priced sports nutrition supplements, and reviewers of the product also remark on how much they appreciate the value at play.
Formulation
We rated this formulation a 4 out of 5. It’s got a lot of key ingredients you’d come to expect from a pre-workout powder in addition to creatine monohydrate and a well-balanced caffeine content, which is excellent. However, there are some issues with the potency, so let’s take a closer look at the ingredients.
If you’re reading this here, you’re probably already familiar with a little compound called creatine, which is notorious for its proven ability to help one build muscle mass1. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout contains 3 grams of creatine monohydrate—a unique plus when compared to other pre-workouts on the market.
RELATED: Optimum Nutrition Creatine Review
Granted, most standard creatine supplements contain 5 grams of creatine monohydrate, which is ideal as it’s the maximum effective dose. However, researchers have established that a daily dose of 3 to 5 grams2 of creatine is effective for one to build muscle, so we’re still in that range.
The content of l-citrulline is more unfortunate as there are only 750 milligrams here. This compound can boost nitric oxide production which can improve blood flow and thus workout performance. However, 3 to 5 grams per day3 is the dosage needed to experience these benefits.
Finally, Gold Standard pre-workout contains 1.5 grams of beta-alanine, the ingredient responsible for that infamous pre-workout tingling. It’s also beneficial at boosting muscular power output and supporting general workout performance by helping gymgoers execute more reps4. The bad news is you need a daily dose of 4 to 6 grams of beta-alanine to get this benefit5.
The last thing we had to knock this pre-workout supplement for is the apparent use of artificial colors and flavors, including sucralose. Though sucralose does tend to have much less of an aftertaste than sweeteners like stevia, sucralose does belong to a class of artificial sweeteners. If you’re looking to keep your pre-workouts as natural as possible, it may be best to look elsewhere.
Taste and Solubility
It turns out we actually have a fair amount of mileage with this product that goes way beyond the experience of our tester Kate Meier, senior director of content, and her weightlifting team. “The flavors of ON pre-workout are always delicious; some of the team members have been using it for years,” Kate notes. “Not too sweet, but sweet enough for most.”
RELATED: The Best Pre-Workout Without Sucralose
We’ve also found that it mixes no problem in water without clumps, chunks, or a ton of residue. Accordingly, we rated both taste and solubility a 5 out of 5.
Side Effects
Our tester Kate didn’t experience any negative side effects, except the tingling which comes with the beta-alanine, but she was somewhat disappointed with the lack of pump. “That said, this is still a reliable go-to, especially for those wanting a boost in energy and focus prior to training,” she adds.
There are some customer reviews that report a bit of itching after taking this pre-workout powder, too, so we rated the powder at 4 out of 5 for side effects.
Third-Party Testing
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout is indeed third party tested by Informed Choice, which is a lab that is recognized by athletes and established sports organizations. This is due to the institution’s rigor in testing products for freedom from banned substances and harmful ingredients as well as to establish the product’s potency. So, we awarded a 5-out-of-5 rating for third-party testing.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout vs Nutricost Pre-X Pre-Workout
Nutricost Pre-X is an affordable pre-workout at about $1 per serving. There are five flavors to choose from, each with a light and refreshing taste. Each serving contains 300 milligrams of caffeine, which is equivalent to about 3 cups of coffee.
What our tester says:
“With this one, even two hours after taking it, I didn’t have a comedown, crash, or feel tired. I could still work really hard through my sessions.”
We’re very familiar with both Optimum Nutrition and Nutricost here at GGR. In addition to both the pre-workouts being high performers in our testing protocols, they’re also known for being friendly to your supplement budget. As far as Gold Standard Pre-Workout and Pre-X are concerned, both are similarly priced with formulations that aren’t super fancy yet still feature all the basics. Both are also sweetened with sucralose and include some artificial flavors.
The biggest difference between the two is that Nutricost has more robust dosages of key ingredients that are closer to the efficacious serving sizes. However, Nutricost does not contain creatine monohydrate, so it wouldn’t be the best pre-workout supplement for those trying to build muscle. Nutricost is also not third-party tested by a recognized lab, although the brand does claim it has been independently tested for purity and potency. You can find out more in our full Nutricost Pre-X Pre-Workout review.
| Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard | Nutricost Pre-X Pre-Workout | |
| Price per serving | $1.10 | $0.92 to $1.10 |
| Serving size | 1 scoop (10 g) | 1 scoop (15 g) |
| Flavors | Blueberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Green Apple, Watermelon | Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, Fruit Punch Flavor, Grape, Peach Mango |
| Caffeine dosage | 175 mg | 300 mg |
| Beta-alanine dosage | 1.5 g | 2 g |
| L-citrulline dosage | 750 mg | 4 g |
| Creatine dosage | 3 g | 0 g |
| Other key ingredients | L-tyrosine, vitamin D, calcium, niacin, thiamin, folate, vitamin B12 | Taurine, nitrosigine, betaine anhydrous, N-acetyl l-tyrosine, alpha GPC 50%, DMAE bitartrate, CDP choline, theobromine, huperzine A, niacin, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 |
| Sweeteners | Sucralose | Sucralose |
| Third-party tested? | Yes, Informed Choice | Yes (certifying lab not listed) |
Customer Experience
Refunds are only accepted for products returned within 30 days of purchase and must have been purchased directly from Optimum Nutrition. For a refund, 75% or more of the product must be unused.
Amazon does not accept returns for consumable products, so buyer beware. To receive further assistance, you can use the live chatbot on the Optimum Nutrition website or email oncustsuppus@optimumnutrition.com.
Ordering Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout
In a rare sighting of supplement ordering, there is no subscribe-and-save option for Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout. If you spend more than $75, shipping is free, though. Otherwise, standard delivery is a flat $5.99 while next-day delivery is available for $16.99, with the former taking about 3 to 8 business days for delivery.
Customer Reviews
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout currently holds a 4.4-out-of-5-star rating based on over 45,000 reviews. People praise the energy boost the product gives them, along with the great taste and value for their money. Many reviews also love how it doesn’t make them jittery or itchy, but critical reviews note that it’s too weak to last throughout their whole workout.
On Optimum Nutrition’s website, the pre-workout holds a 4.2-out-of-5 rating with an average of 5 reviews. Reviewers here love how there’s just enough caffeine that they can sleep at night and not get the jitters, while the one negative comment was critical of the extra artificial ingredients.
Final Verdict of Our Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout Review
We all love Gold Standard’s reliable whey protein, but whether you’ll love the Optimum Nutrition pre-workout depends on what you’re looking for. It’s not the best pre-workout supplement for those used to four espresso shots worth of caffeine or skin-ripping pumps. However, our testers and reviews think it tastes great for no crash or digestive side effects, so it could be a solid choice for certain folks.
RELATED: Strongest Pre-Workout
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout
Made with simple yet effective ingredients, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout provides users with a good boost of energy, improved focus, and enhanced performance.
Product Brand: Optimum Nutrition
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 32.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.6
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout: FAQs
What are the side effects of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout?
Customer reviews do not indicate any serious side effects aside from possible itching and tingling from the included beta-alanine.
How much caffeine is in Gold Standard pre-workout?
There are 175 milligrams of caffeine in Gold Standard pre-workout.
Is Optimum Nutrition gold standard worth it?
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout is worth it for those with a limited supplement budget who aren’t looking for a very strong formulation.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Wu SH, Chen KL, Hsu C, et al. Creatine Supplementation for Muscle Growth: A Scoping Review of Randomized Clinical Trials from 2012 to 2021. Nutrients. 2022;14(6):1255. Published 2022 Mar 16. doi:10.3390/nu14061255
- Naderi A, de Oliveira EP, Ziegenfuss TN, Willems MT. Timing, Optimal Dose and Intake Duration of Dietary Supplements with Evidence-Based Use in Sports Nutrition. J Exerc Nutrition Biochem. 2016;20(4):1-12. doi:10.20463/jenb.2016.0031
- Rogers JM, Gills J, Gray M. Acute effects of Nitrosigine® and citrulline malate on vasodilation in young adults. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2020;17(1):12. Published 2020 Feb 24. doi:10.1186/s12970-020-00343-y
- Hoffman J, Ratamess NA, Ross L-citrulline boosts the production of nitric oxide in the body, which assists in improving blood flow to the muscles.L-citrulline boosts the production of nitric oxide in the body, which assists in improving blood flow to the muscles.R, et al. Beta-alanine and the hormonal response to exercise. Int J Sports Med. 2008;29(12):952-958. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1038678
- Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE, Stout JR, et al. International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-Alanine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:30. Published 2015 Jul 15. doi:10.1186/s12970-015-0090-y
