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If you’re reading this, you likely either intentionally searched for the strongest pre-workout supplements or accidentally stumbled across our list in your search for the best pre-workout and your interest was piqued.
Whichever camp you fall into, we want to preface with this: High-stimulant pre-workouts might sound like a good time, but we can’t stress the importance of safe consumption enough. They also give much truth to the notion, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”
At GGR, we’re the first to admit that most of us have tried these products first-hand and genuinely do enjoy them. We’re also the first to admit that we are brutally honest in our reviews—exhibit A: our Woke AF Pre-Workout Review.
All of this said, we want to help you navigate how to select and use the strongest pre-workout as carefully as possible. So, without further delay, let’s take heed of our top picks formulated to take your workout to the next level (or a few)!
RELATED: Black Friday Supplement Sales
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.
Strongest Pre-Workouts
- Strongest Pre-Workout Overall: Transparent Labs BULK Black
- Strongest Pre-Workout on a Budget: Nutricost Pre-X
- Strongest Natural Pre-Workout: Legion Pulse
- Strongest Pre-Workout With Best Taste: Onnit Alpha BRAIN Pre-Workout
- Strongest Pre-Workout for a Pump: Jacked Factory Wick Mode
- Strongest Pre-Workout for Strength and Power: Nutrition Cartel El Jefe
- Strongest Pre-Workout for Focus: JYM Supplements Pre-JYM
- Strongest High-Stim Pre-Workout: Huge Supplements Wrecked Enraged
Compare Side By Side
Transparent Labs BULK Black | Nutricost Pre-X | Legion Pulse | Alpha BRAIN | Jacked Factory Wick Mode | El Jefe | Pre JYM | Wrecked Enraged | |
Rating Our expert product testers, who include certified personal trainers and coaches, use a multi-point testing methodology to determine average ratings out of 5 stars. | ||||||||
Price Per Serving | $1.83 | $1.10 | $2.25 | $3.00 | $0.75 | $1.37 | $1.83 | $1.12 |
Serving Size | 21.4 g | 17 g | 23.5 g | 10.4 g | 9.8 g | 11.6 g | 25 g | 15.5 g |
Third-party Tested? | — | — | — | — | ||||
Caffeine | 305 mg | 300 mg | 350 mg | 200 mg | 150 mg | 300 mg | 300 mg | 200 mg |
Beta-Alanine | 4 g | 2 g | 3.6 g | 2.4 g | 4 g | 2 g | 2 g | 4 g |
Citrulline | 8 g citrulline malate | 4 g | 8 g citrulline malate | 2.4 g | 8 g | 4 g | 6 g citrulline malate | 4 g |
Flavors | 8 flavors | 3 flavors | 19 flavors | 2 flavors | 3 flavors | 5 flavors | 10 flavors | 4 flavors |
Strongest Pre-Workout Overall: Transparent Labs BULK Black
Good for: Powering your workout with science-backed ingredients and clinically-effective doses
Strongest Overall
Transparent Labs Bulk Black Pre-Workout
Product Highlights
- Clinically dosed pre-workout
- Over 17 g of active ingredients
- Vegan
- No artificial, sweeteners, coloring, or preservatives
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No artificial sweeteners, coloring, or preservatives
- 3rd-party lab tested
- Transparent ingredients
- Subscribe and save 10%
- Available in 5 flavors
Cons
- Manufactured in a facility that also processes allergens
- Limited reviews
- Some flavors may be sold out
Bottom Line
Transparent Labs BULK BLACK is a step-up from the original BULK pre-workout with more stimulants for people looking for a bigger energy boost before their workout. It is also very positively reviewed by customers.
Strongest Pre-Workout on a Budget: Nutricost Pre-X
Good for: A big caffeine boost with an affordable price per serving
Best Budget
Nutricost Pre-X Pre-Workout
Product Highlights
- Pre-workout formula with B vitamins
- 300 mg of caffeine per serving
- About $1 per serving
- Third-party tested
- 5 flavor options
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Contains B vitamins
- Gluten-free and non-GMO
- Affordable price per serving
Cons
- Not enough research to support the ingredients that claim to support cognitive function
- Caffeine content may be too much for some folks
Bottom Line
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.
Strongest Natural Pre-Workout: Legion Pulse
Good for: Anyone looking for a powerful pre-workout formulated with high-quality and natural ingredients
Strongest Natural
Legion Athletics Pulse Pre-Workout
Product Highlights
- 100% nature-based
- Free from added sugar, food dyes, and other chemicals
- Full refund if not satisfied
- Can get with or without caffeine
- 15 flavors available
Pros & Cons
Pros
- All-natural ingredients
- Free from dyes and chemicals
- Naturally sweetened
- Intended to avoid the dreaded crash
- Full refund if not satisfied
- Can get with or without caffeine
- 15 flavors available
Cons
- Natural sweeteners make for a different taste—it may not be your cup of tea
- Only 21 servings per tub
Bottom Line
Formulated with all-natural ingredients, each of which are present at a high level, Legion Pulse's stim-free pre-workout formula is a fan favorite. If you’re trying to avoid artificial flavors and chemicals, this may be a good choice.
Strongest Pre-Workout With Best Taste: Onnit Alpha BRAIN Pre-Workout
Good for: Those looking for intense (and delicious) pre-workout energy
Strongest with Best Taste
Onnit Alpha BRAIN Pre-Workout
Product Highlights
- 200 mg of caffeine
- Includes beta alanine and L-citrulline
- Priced around $3/serving; subscribe-and-save option available
- 2 flavors currently available
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 200 mg of caffeine
- Tiger's Blood flavor tastes great
- Includes 225 mg of ashwagandha extract
- Contains beta alanine and L-citrulline
- Subscribe-and-save option is available
Cons
- Only 2 flavors available, and Yuzu Peach isn't popular among our product testers
- $3/serving is expensive
- Key ingredients like citrulline and beta-alanine are under-dosed
Bottom Line
Onnit's Alpha BRAIN Pre-Workout is a unique blend of ingredients that our testers enjoyed for workouts where they wanted to be focused and energized. It only comes in two flavors; the Tiger's Blood flavor is our preferred choice.
Strongest Pre-Workout for a Pump: Jacked Factory Wick Mode
Good for: Pumping up your workouts with premium and patented ingredients
Strongest for a Pump
Jacked Factory Wick Mode
Product Highlights
- Available in 3 flavors
- Can adjust the amount of caffeine based on the number of scoops you take
- Also includes beta-alanine, L-citrulline, and L-tyrosine
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable price of $0.75 to $1.50 per serving
- Delicious flavors, according to our product testers
- Excellent solubility
Cons
- Doesn't contain creatine
- No mention of it being third-party tested
Bottom Line
Jacked Factory Wick Mode is a great choice for those looking for a pre-workout that tastes great, helps with energy and focus, and gives you noticeable pumps.
Strongest Pre-Workout for Strength and Power: Nutrition Cartel El Jefe
Good for: Anyone looking to enhance their pre-workout game with effective ingredients
Strongest for Strengh and Power
El Jefe Pre-Workout
Product Highlights
- All-in-one high stim pre-workout
- Combines stim and pump ingredients
- Available in 4 flavors
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Flexible dosing: Can take 1 or 2 scoops
- Combines stimulants and pump ingredients
- Save when buying multiple
Cons
- Contains sucralose
- Limited reviews
- Not third-party tested
Bottom Line
El Jefe Pre-Workout is a high stimulant pre-workout with limited but positive customer reviews for providing energy, focus, pump, and tasting good.
Strongest Pre-Workout for Focus: JYM Supplements Pre-JYM
Good for: Lasering your focus while boosting your athletic performance and recovery
Strongest for Focus
JYM Supplement Science Pre JYM Pre-Workout
Product Highlights
- A pre-workout powder powerhouse
- Packed with lab- and gym-tested ingredients
- 9 different flavors to pick from
- Boosts strength, energy, endurance, mindset, and muscle growth
- 14 active ingredients and a nutritional supplement
- Higher potency with 26-gram scoops
- Award-winning brand and pre-workout supplement
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Helps boost your energy for any workout
- Supports mental focus with caffeine, alpha-GPC, and huperzine A
- Includes amino acids to promote muscular strength and endurance
- Great for men and women
Cons
- Do not take up to 6 hours before bed
- Some reviewers don’t love the flavors
- Reviewer complaints about high sucralose and sugar levels
- Shares equipment that handles eggs, milk, soy, tree nuts, and wheat
- Not third-party tested
Bottom Line
Fuel your body with a delicious pre-workout supplement with nutrients and 14 active ingredients for an energy-boosting workout.
Strongest High-Stim Pre-Workout: Huge Supplements Wrecked Enraged
Good for: Eliciting a highly stimulated workout without breaking the bank
Strongest High-Stim
Huge Supplements Wrecked Enraged
Product Highlights
- High-stim pre-workout
- 200 mg of caffeine per scoop
- Manufactured in a FDA-compliant Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) Facility
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Flexible dosing: Can take either 1 or 2 scoops
- Stackable with other Huge Supplements products
- Made in the USA in a cGMP compliant facility
- Medical, first responder, and military discounts available
Cons
- Taste poorly reviewed
- Produced in a facility that also processes allergens
- Uses artificial flavors
- Contains sucralose
Bottom Line
Wrecked Enraged is a high stimulant pre-workout with either 200 or 400 milligrams of caffeine depending on the servings size you pick. Customers did not enjoy the taste of this supplement.
Other Strong Pre-Workouts We Researched
There are plenty of other strong pre-workouts on the market, including these options that just didn’t make the final cut on the list of our top picks:
- Muscle Factory Crack Pre-Workout: This was sold out each time we tried to order it for testing.
- Apollon Nutrition Hooligan: This is high on stimulants, even for experienced users. GGR performance editor Anthony O’Reilly tried this and said even he felt a bit spacey, and he has a very high caffeine tolerance.
- Rich Piana 5% Nutrition 5150 High-Stim Pre: Our testers felt like this one took quite a while to come on, so timing could be an issue. For that reason, we left it off the list.
- Insane Labz Psychotic Pre-Workout: Anthony tried this and overall wasn’t impressed; he said it was all energy but no other effects.
- Bucked Up Woke AF: This pre-workout has a very high amount of stimulants, and while Anthony liked it, it won’t be suitable for many people. Read his full Woke AF pre-workout review for all his thoughts.
How We Picked and Tested the Strongest Pre-Workout
While picking and testing the strongest pre-workout products on the market isn’t a job for the faint of heart, the GGR team is always up for trying products to best serve our readers. Here’s the inside scoop on our selection process:
- Stimulants: Strong pre-workouts call for strong stimulants; we didn’t skimp out on them. But because everyone’s tolerance varies, we included varying caffeine contents and products that can easily be divided into single scoops.
- Formulation: Caffeine might be the backbone of a strong pre-workout, although even the best stim-free pre-workouts can provide stellar pump and dialed-in focus. That said, we looked for products formulated with staple pre-workout ingredients like beta-alanine5, citrulline malate2, and alpha-GPC.12
- Flavor options: Because everyone has different palates, our list falls nothing short of flavor variety. So, say NO to dry scooping pre-workout and all the yes to mixing and sipping your favorite pre-workout flavor with water!
- Cost: Our roundups always feature products with varying costs in hopes there’s at least one option to fit into our readers’ budgets.
- Third-party testing: Whether searching for the best creatine or best fish oil supplement, we always prioritize products that undergo third-party testing.
Benefits of Strong Pre-Workouts
We might’ve already hinted about the benefits of strong pre-workouts, but below highlights just how supplementing with one could take your fitness to the next level.
- Enhances energy and stamina: While more energy for your workout is likely the motivator behind looking for a strong pre-workout, research1 actually shows that caffeine offers ergogenic effects. Other common pre-workout ingredients—like beta-alanine1 and citrulline malate4—help combat fatigue to boost your workout stamina.
- Improves blood flow and pumps: Pre-workouts with nitric oxide boosts, including L-citrulline22 and citrulline malate2, can improve blood flow and your muscle pumps.
- Enhances exercise performance and recovery: More stimulants in the tank can excel your workouts, though other common pre-workout ingredients—such as creatine and taurine3—also can enhance exercise performance and recovery.
- Increases focus and cognition: Caffeine, huperzine A, alpha-GPC6, and other ingredients act as nootropics to increase your focus during a workout.
- Supports overall health: While formulated to boost your workouts, common ingredients in strong pre-workouts may support your overall health. For instance, beetroot extract21 may improve immune function while L-theanine has been shown to reduce stress.9
Dosing and Interactions
While there’s no one-size-fits-all on how much pre-workout to take, we recommend starting with the lower end and gauging your tolerance. You should also dose according to the directions of your selected pre-workout, particularly if it provides a high stimulant dose, to avoid unwanted pre-workout side effects.
Certain populations should be extra cautious of caffeine intake, including pregnant women and those with certain health issues like sleep disorders and heart conditions.
Herbal ingredients, especially, may also interact with medications and interfere with their effectiveness. And because pre-workout ingredients and serving sizes are not standardized, we encourage you to review what’s in your pre-workout of choice and the doses of each.
Talking with your physician before starting a new supplement routine is always a smart idea. This is extra important when considering the potency of the ingredients in the strongest pre-workouts.
Third-Party Testing
We always encourage selecting products that have been third-party tested—and maybe even more so with the strongest pre-workouts. The FDA does not tightly regulate dietary supplements and stimulants can be dangerous (and even banned by WADA and some countries).
For these reasons, we recommend—at minimum—seeking products manufactured in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facilities. And if you’re a competitive athlete, we can’t stress the importance of using products free of banned substances and third-party tested—like Informed Choice Certified, Informed Sport Certified, and NSF Certified for Sport.
FAQs About the Strongest Pre-Workouts
Which pre-workout hits hardest?
While the effects of pre-workout can vary greatly from one person to the next, these products may hit the hardest:
Strongest Pre-Workout Overall: Transparent Labs BULK Black
Strongest Pre-Workout on a Budget: Nutricost Pre-X
Strongest Natural Pre-Workout: Legion Pulse
Strongest Pre-Workout With Best Taste: Onnit Alpha BRAIN Pre-Workout
Strongest Pre-Workout for a Pump: Jacked Factory Wick Mode
Strongest Pre-Workout for Strength and Power: Nutrition Cartel El Jefe
Strongest Pre-Workout for Focus: JYM Supplements Pre-JYM
Strongest High-Stim Pre-Workout: Huge Supplements Wrecked Enraged
What pre-workout is most effective?
No single pre-workout has proven to be the most effective. However, those with research-backed and clinically-dosed ingredients—like 4-6 grams of beta-alanine5 and 5 grams of creatine—likely elicit the biggest ergogenic benefits.
What pre-workouts have the most caffeine?
Based on the strongest pre-workouts on our list, Nutrition Cartel El Jefe, Huge Supplements Wrecked Engaged, and Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite offer the most caffeine. El Jefe and Wrecked Enraged provide 400 milligrams per 2-scoop serving, while Pre-Kaged Elite supplies 388 milligrams per 1-scoop serving.
What are the side effects of taking strong pre-workouts?
Taking strong pre-workouts on a regular basis may lead to caffeine dependency, elevated heart rates, disrupted sleep cycles, and risk of developing a cardiovascular disorder.
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
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- Cholewa JM, Wyszczelska-Rokiel M, Glowacki R, et al. Effects of betaine on body composition, performance, and homocysteine thiolactone. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013;10(1):39. Published 2013 Aug 22. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-39
- Kurtz, J.A., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Doyle, J.A. et al. Taurine in sports and exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 18, 39 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-021-00438-0
- Gough LA, Sparks SA, McNaughton LR, et al. A critical review of citrulline malate supplementation and exercise performance. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2021;121(12):3283-3295. doi:10.1007/s00421-021-04774-6
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- Kerksick CM, Wilborn CD, Roberts MD, et al. ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2018;15(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-018-0242-y
- Jongkees BJ, Hommel B, Kühn S, Colzato LS. Effect of tyrosine supplementation on clinical and healthy populations under stress or cognitive demands–A review. J Psychiatr Res. 2015 Nov;70:50-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.08.014. Epub 2015 Aug 25. PMID: 26424423.
- Owen GN, Parnell H, De Bruin EA, et al. The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. Nutr Neurosci. 2008 Aug;11(4):193-8. doi: 10.1179/147683008X301513. PMID: 18681988.
- Kimura K, Ozeki M, Juneja LR, et al. L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biol Psychol. 2007 Jan;74(1):39-45. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.06.006. Epub 2006 Aug 22. PMID: 16930802.
- Rogers PJ, Smith JE, Heatherley SV, et al. Time for tea: mood, blood pressure and cognitive performance effects of caffeine and theanine administered alone and together. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2008 Jan;195(4):569-77. doi: 10.1007/s00213-007-0938-1. Epub 2007 Sep 23. PMID: 17891480.
- Nielsen OB, Clausen T. The Na+/K(+)-pump protects muscle excitability and contractility during exercise. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2000 Oct;28(4):159-64. PMID: 11064849.
- Wessinger CM, Inman CL, Weinstock J, Weiss EP. Effect of Huperzine A on Cognitive Function and Perception of Effort during Exercise: A Randomized Double-Blind Crossover Trial. Int J Exerc Sci. 2021;14(2):727-741. Published 2021 Aug 1.
- Guest NS, VanDusseldorp TA, Nelson MT, et al. International society of sports nutrition position stand: caffeine and exercise performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021;18(1).
- Penry JT, Manore MM. Choline: an important micronutrient for maximal endurance-exercise performance? Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2008 Apr;18(2):191-203. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.18.2.191. PMID: 18458362.
- Rood-Ojalvo S, Sandler D, Veledar E, et al. The benefits of inositol-stabilized arginine silicate as a workout ingredient. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12(Suppl 1):P14. Published 2015 Sep 21. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-12-S1-P14
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- Wylie LJ, Kelly J, Bailey SJ, et al. Beetroot juice and exercise: pharmacodynamic and dose-response relationships. J Appl Physiol. 2013;115(3):325-336. doi:https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00372.2013
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