The 5 Best Pre-Workout Supplements On A Budget in 2024: Our Tested No B.S. Reviews
Honest Review Guarantee from Fitness Informant:
Our product testing team uses the full 30 day serving amount in container before reviewing. Learn more about our review process here.
We get it all the time: what is the best pre-workout supplement for under $40? Well, we got tired of consistently answering that question, so we put together a guide that gives you the top 5 rated pre-workout supplements that are less than $40. More specific, these are the 5 best pre-workout supplements on the market that are less than $2 per serving.
We understand that some people cannot afford a $50+ version of a pre-workout. Is there a difference between of $50 pre-workout and an economical pre-workout at $40? Sure there is, but we wanted to make sure that if all you had was $40 in your pocket, you are getting the best pre-workout that money can buy.
We did not just take a list of pre-workouts that had a list price of $40 or under to make this list. We looked at a plethora of items to ensure this is the most comprehensive list available online that lays out, from 1 to 5, the best, cheapest pre-workout supplements on the market.
What Did We Look For When Making Our Best, Cheapest Pre-Workout Supplements List
We looked at several things when creating this comprehensive list of the cheapest pre-workout supplements that work. The word "cheap" can be taken negatively, and we do not want that with this list. We made sure we kept quality at the base of every pre-workout we included in this list of best pre-workout supplements on a budget.
Price
The first thing we looked at was price. We wanted to create a list of pre-workout supplements that were under $40 per container. The $40 mark seems like a good threshold to ensure you can still can a quality, effective pre-workout, while not breaking the bank.
Servings
We also looked at servings. We did not want to give you a $40 pre-workout that only had 15-servings...that doesn't help you while you're on a budget. The pre-workout supplement had to at least have 20 servings per container. We took price and divided that by servings to ensure that we were only including pre-workout powders that was $2 or less per serving. We accomplished that. In fact, none of the pre-workouts on this list are over $1.75 a serving
Quality
There are A LOT of pre-workout supplements on the market that are under $40. The issue: they are complete trash. It was our goal to ensure that not only are you being cognizant of your budget by providing pre-workouts under $40, but that it would also help you in the gym.
We looked at ingredients used and efficacious dosages. It is nice to "window dress" the product with pretty ingredients, but if you are going to under dose them we won't consider them. So not only did we look at the type of ingredient, we looked at the dosages to ensure that you were getting a full efficacious dosage of that ingredient.
Effectiveness
We only selected pre-workout supplements that work. Having efficacious dosages is great, but if that doesn't translate to in gym performance, then the product isn't considered for this list.
Only the best pre-workout supplements under $40 were selected for this guide. They must contain 20 servings or more. They must work. Let's GOOOOO!
[toc]
The following products on our top pre-workout for pump ranking list were used by Fitness Informant personally for this guide.
We used each of these pre-workout supplements through the duration of a full container. Sample packs were not used in determining the rankings.
Stop relying on faulty information that is influenced by outside writers and money. This best pre-workout supplements on a budget list is the real deal.
Here at Fitness Informant, we don’t steer you wrong. If you're looking for the best pre-workout supplements under $40 option that you can trust, look no further than our top 5 picks below.
A Comparison of the Pre-Workout Supplements for Pumps
Here's the top 5 picks for the best pre-workout supplements for pumps that money can buy:
Product Name | Highlights | Rating |
|---|---|---|
#1 RYSE Loaded Pre Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15% | Best Overall Pre-Workout for Value Highlights:
| Our #1 Rated  8.8 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#2 Hosstile Hosstility Foudnation Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10% | Best for Energy Highlights:
| Our #2 Rated 8.7 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#3 Muscletech Shatter Pre-Workout Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 20% | Best for Pumps Highlights:
| Our #3 Rated 8.6 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#4 Jacked Factory NitroSurge Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10% | Best for Theanine Containing Pre Highlights:
| Our #4 Rated 8.2 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#5 RAW Nutrition CBum Essential Pre Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 20% | Best for Bang For Your Buck Highlights:
| Our #5 Rated 8.0 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
There are hundreds of different brands and variations of pre-workout supplements out there.
How did these 5 make Fitness Informant's top 5 list? Read on and we'll tell you:
#1 Ryse Loaded Pre
- Rating: 8.7 out of 10
- Servings: 30
- Best For: Best Overall
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15%
Pros
Cons
Ryse Loaded Pre is one of the most popular pre-workouts on the market, and there are plenty of reasons why. Not only does it have several great flavor collabs as well as a solid profile… it also comes at a very fair pricepoint.
Ryse Loaded Pre makes for an easy choice for many gym-goers, as it is simply inviting. Not some overloaded profile with every ingredient under the sun. You get a formula that hits with pumps, endurance, energy, and focus.
The profile starts off with 4.5g of Citrulline, which helps with pumps and performance. 4.5g is a solid dose and while not the most by today's standards, still more than enough to give you a noticeable pump. Following this you get 3.5g of Beta-Alanine. This ingredient helps with endurance and at 3.5 is dosed well.
Now we come to everyone’s favorite ingredient, Caffeine. Caffeine needs no introduction, but for those who are living under a rock on Venus, Caffeine helps with energy. You get 300mg of Caffeine Anhydrous. You also get zumXR, which is a delayed release Caffeine. This helps with longer lasting energy and may help prevent a crash. This adds an extra 90mg of Caffeine, getting this close to a stim bomb. Also thought we would note, you get 100mg of Theobromine, which is a metabolite of Caffeine and may also help with energy.
Finally we have Citicholine and Theanine. Citicholine (as Cognizin) is a high-quality form of Choline. This converts to Acetylcholine in the brain, which is a neurotransmitter. This helps with focus and alertness, and at 250mg is a good dose. Theanine is in here to help combat the potential side effects of Caffeine. You get 50mg, which is nice because some brands seme to add too much.
Now the profile is nothing we haven’t seen before and it is quite simple. This is fine, however it makes this list due to the fair price. You get 30 servings in a tub for under $40. So not only is it budget friendly, you have plenty of flavor options! Kool-Aid, Sour Punch Sour Apple and Blue Raspberry, Bazooka Classic Grape, Ring Pop, and even Countrytime Lemonade (this one has added CitraPeak to aid with pumps)! This is the type of pre-workout to grab several tubs of as they all taste great and won’t hurt your wallet.
Who Makes It?
RYSE Supplements is a booming brand due to their soft approach to bodybuilding building loyalty through culture. RYSE Supplements also does a great job of formulating products including pre-workouts, proteins and other products like pump formulas. RYSE Supplements also launched RYSE Fuel, the brand's energy drink which is getting the brand into more households.
What's In It?
One serving contains:
- 4.5g L-Citrulline – improves blood flow for pumps
- 3.5g Beta-Alanine - improve muscular endurance
- 300mg Caffeine Anhydrous - good for energy
- 250mg Citicholine (Cognizin) - High quality source of Choline that helps with focus
- 120mg zumXR - Delayed release Caffeine that can help with longer lasting energy
- 100mg Theobromine - similar to caffeine, can aid in energy production, may smooth blood vessels for more blood flow
- 50mg L-Theanine - reduces stress and anxiety
Bottom Line:
Ryse Loaded Pre is a solid option for a pre-workout if you are on a budget. You get 30 servings, all for under $1.30. The flavors are awesome, and the added availability of Loaded Pre is nice too. The amount of Caffeine is quite high which may be a turn off for some, but for the seasoned stim veteran it should be business as usual. Great choice for those trying to save yet still get an effective pre-workout.
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15%
#2 Hosstile Hosstility Foundation
- Rating: 8.9 out of 10
- Servings: 30 Servings
- Best For: Energy
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10%
Pros
Cons
Straight-forward pre-workouts are getting more and more popular. With overloaded formulas becoming more popular and the prices on those exceeding $70 at 20 servings, it’s nice to have some options that aren’t $3+ per serving. This is where Hosstile Supps Hosstility Foundation comes in.
Hosstility Foundation makes this list, as it comes in at a price of $42 on the site. Now this is technically above the rules for this guide, however if you use our coupon code INFORMANT you can get it for under $39 with 30 servings. That is quite a solid price considering the profile!
The profile is quite impressive. Typically these basic pre-workouts use the bare minimum for dosages. This one starts off with 6g of Citrulline, which is comparable to many more higher priced pre-workouts on the market. This is then followed by 3.2g of Beta-Alanine and 2.5 of Betaine Anhydrous. Both are proven ingredients that aid performance, and they are both dosed well.
Following this you get 2g of Tyrosine. Tyrosine helps with dopamine production and focus in stressful situations. At 2g you are getting a solid dose. Following this comes Taurine at 2g. Taurine helps with hydration and blood flow, and at 2g is nice to see in here as well.
The last three ingredients are Pink Himalayan Salt, which helps with hydration and muscle function, Caffeine Anhydrous which helps with energy, and Infinergy™ which is a timed-release Caffeine so you have longer lasting energy. You get a total of 300mg of combined Caffeine in here, which is a standard dose for pre-workouts.
While Hosstility Foundation is a simple pre-workout, we argue that it will work just as well as some of the more expensive pre-workouts out there, and for the price, it is a pre-workout for almost anybody.
Who Makes It?
Hosstile Supps is a brand we are happy to see back on our ranking guides. Before the pandemic, Hosstile was making some noise with their formulas. As many brands during the pandemic, they got a little quiet as the world was a bit different. Now they are officially back! Not only with Fouad, but with some really popular influencers. We expect to see them makes waves in the industry in the coming years!
What's In It?
What's in it?
One serving contains:
- 6g Citrulline – promotes blood flow
- 3.2g Beta-Alanine - improves muscular endurance
- 2.5g Betaine Anhydrous – improves strength, power & endurance giving you more time to achieve the pump
- 2g Tyrosine - helps with focus and dopamine
- 2g Taurine - regulates electrolytes which may lead to strength increases
- 250mg Pink Himalayan Salt - helps with hydration and muscle function
- 200mg Caffeine Anhydrous - pure caffeine to increase energy
- 133mg Di-Caffeine Malate - form of caffeine that contains approximately 75% but is a longer lasting energy to avoid crash
Bottom Line:
Hosstility Foundation is a great pre-workout for those who still want hefty doses of ergogenic ingredients, but don't want to pay extra for the added nootropic or pumps ingredients. With everything dosed as well as some of the best pre-workouts out there and coming in at a much nicer price point. While it won't be the most mind-blowing pump you've ever had or give you that "walking on water" feeling, it will certainly get the job done and feel like you're getting a loaded pre-workout!
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10%
#3 Muscletech Shatter Pre-Workout
- Rating: 8.8 out of 10
- Servings: 20
- Best For: Pumps
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 20%
Pros
Cons
Muscletech used to get a lot of hate for some of the crazy claims they used to make back in the 2000s. Well now they are one of the top brands when it comes to a variety of categories, and we must say that we are impressed with what they have been able to come up with in recent years.
Shatter makes this list, as it is a budget friendly pre-workout that gives you the essentials that every pre-workout has on this list, but also has some extras that give it a slight edge over pre-workouts that also could have been added.
Shatter starts off with Beta-Alanine, Betaine Anhydrous, and Taurine. These are 3 common pre-workout ingredients, and each one is dosed well. Beta-Alanine for endurance, Betaine for power output, and Taurine for hydration and blood flow.
Next comes the Pump blend, which starts off with a nice 4g of Citrulline. This helps with blood flow and is the most common ingredient in pre-workouts next to Caffeine and Beta-Alanine. 4g is a good dose! Following this you get Red Spinach extract (as NO3-T®), which is a source of Nitrates. Nitrates help with blood flow through a different pathway than Citrulline, and we like that it actually shows you the standardization. Next up comes CitraPeak™, which is an antioxidant that helps with pumps. At 200mg it is dosed well. You also get some Hawthorn, which has been used for a long time to aid with blood flow.
We love our stim/nootropic blends. Shatter has a solid one which starts off with Choline Bitartrate at 472mg. Choline converts to Acetylcholine in the brain, and is a neurotransmitter. You get 350mg of Caffeine, which of course helps with energy. This is actually quite high, especially for a budget friendly pre-workout. Muscletech kind of takes the hype away, as this is followed by 125mg of Theanine. Theanine is an anxiolytic, and is used to help stave off the less enjoyable side effects of Caffeine.
Shatter also has some Japanese Raisin Tree extract, which is typically used for hangovers. Not a common ingredient for sure. Finally, you get some Alpha GPC at a small 50mg dose. This is a good form of Choline, however quite low.
The profile is solid, and gives you some good doses of the essentials, while also providing some extracts that give it a slight edge. You can get this for $35 directly from the Muscletech website. If you use coupon code INFORMANT, you get an extra 20% off, which is an absolutely greta deal for this pre-workout.
Who Makes It?
MuscleTech is the one brand on this list that has been around the longest. They are what we call a "legacy" brand. When you think of that term you typically think the brand has lost focus. MuscleTech is not that brand. They are putting emphasis back on science and effective formulas. MuscleTech has informed us that they will continue down this path featuring more innovative products and formulas.
What's in it?
One serving contains:
- 3.2g Beta-Alanine - improves muscular endurance
- 2.5g Betaine Anhydrous - may improve power output
- 1g Taurine - Regulates electrolytes which may lead to strength increases
- 4g Citrulline – transports blood into the muscle
- 600mg Red Spinach Extract - Source of Nitrates that help with pumps
- 200mg CitraPeak - Helps with pumps
- 200mg Hawthorn Extract - Helps with blood flow
- 472mg Choline Bitartrate - helps with focus
- 350mg Caffeine Anhydrous - pure caffeine to increase energy
- 125mg L-Theanine - Reduces stress and anxiety
- 100mg Japanese Raisin Tree Extract - helps with long lasting clean energy.
- 50mg AlphaSize - Helps with focus
Bottom Line:
Muscletech Shatter Pre-Workout is a great pre-workout supplement at a great price. Not only does it have an impressive profile, it also delivers on effectiveness and of course... value. This is certainly a pre-workout that is worth trying or having around. It does well enough on its own and doesn't even really need to be stacked.
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 20%
#4 Jacked factory NitroSurge
- Rating: 8.4 out of 10
- Servings: 30/15 servings
- Best For: Theanine Containing Pre
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10%
Pros
Cons
Jacked Factory is known for their cost effective products that are in a weird way “family friendly”. They aren’t marketed towards the “hardcore” crowd, but they are solid products for anyone at just about any stage in their lifting career.
NitroSurge Pre-Workout has a nice formula, and is budget friendly to boot. The profile starts off with 6g of Citrulline, which is a solid dose. This helps with pumps of course, and is in just about every pre-workout. Following this you get Beta-Alanine, which can help with endurance. At 3.2g it is dosed well. The final ergogenic is Betaine Anhydrous, which can help with power output. At 2.5g, it is at the clinical dose. This is a very standard combination for many pre-workouts, and we have nothing to complain about. Many budget pre-workout would just underdosed these ingredients.
Of course, Caffeine is in here, and you get a whopping 360mg of it! This is on the higher side, so maybe we should take the “family friendly” comment above away. To stave off any potential side effects, Jacked Factory has added Theanine, at quite a high dose. Theanine is an anxiolytic, and is used to help with calming. At 180mg, it is actually quite high, which some may not like. To help with energy, you get Theobromine, which is a metabolite of Caffeine, and is not as strong.
Finally you get 50mg of AstraGin®, which may help with absorption
The price point is what brings it on this list. You can get this directly from the Jacked Factory website for $29.99. If you use coupon code INFORMANT, you save 10%, bringing this to under $2 per serving.
Who Makes It?
Jacked Factory is a popular brand that you will mostly find on Amazon. They have some very straightforward, well-dosed formulas that never seem to be a bad option. They are well worth investing your money into.
What's In It?
One serving (2 scoops) contains:
- 6g L-Citrulline – improves blood flow for pumps
- 3.2g Beta-Alanine - Improve muscular endurance
- 2.5g Betaine Anhydrous - May improve power output
- 360mg Caffeine Anhydrous – Increased energy
- 180mg L-Theanine - Reduces stress and anxiety
- 100mg Theobromine - Similar to caffeine, can aid in energy production, may smooth blood vessels for more blood flow
- 50mg AstraGin - Helps with absorption
- 50mg L-Theanine - Reduces stress and anxiety
- 20mg Cocoa Seed Extract - May increase energy
- 500mcg Huperzine A - Improves focus
Bottom Line:
This is one of the more mainstream brands on this list, and there is no problem with that. If you want a budget friendly pre-workout that still gives you everything you need, and are a fan of Theanine, this is a good option.
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10%
#5 RAW Nutrition CBum Essential Pre
- Rating: 8.0 out of 10
- Servings: 30
- Best For: Bang For Your Buck
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 20%
Pros
Cons
CBUM has been taking the world by storm, and with the demand for most cost effective pre-workouts, CBUM Essential is a great option. This may actually be the most affordable pre-workout on this list.
Now the profile is as simple as it gets. It starts off with 4g of Citrulline. This helps with blood flow and pumps, and at 4g is a good dose. Following this you get 3.2g of Beta-Alanine. Beta-Alanine helps with endurance, and at 3.2g, it is clinically dosed.
The next two ingredients are Tyrosine and Taurine. Tyrosine helps with focus under stress and is common in nootropics and pre-workouts. It also helps with dopamine production. At 2g, it is dosed well. Taurine helps with blood flow and hydration, and you get 1g in CBum Essential.
Finally you get 200mg of natural Caffeine from Green Coffee Bean Extract. 200mg of Caffeine is a nice amount, and is about the same amount as most energy drinks on the market. Think of it as roughly 2 cups of coffee. You also get some Himalayan Pink Salt, which helps with hydration and muscle function.
While there is nothing “sexy” about this pre-workout, the arousal comes from the price. This comes in at $30 on their website. If you use our coupon code INFORMANT, you get this just about $0.85/serving! That's a great deal, and this pre-workout is stackable with many nootropics and other pump products if it is not enough for you. Easily deserves a spot on this list. Everything you want and nothing you don’t!
Who Makes It?
RAW Nutrition is a brand that is cementing itself as a big player. After winning several awards in 2023-2024 through various supplement media outlets and retailers, you can walk into a retailer without seeing them. With Chris Bumstead as a their leading influencer, it'll be interesting to see how big RAW Nutrition will get.
What's In It?
One serving contains:
- 4g Citrulline - Helps with pumps and endurance
- 3.2g Beta-Alanine - Improve muscular endurance
- 2g Tyrosine - Helps with focus
- 1g Taurine - Regulates electrolytes which may lead to strength increases
- 200mg Caffeine - Increases energy
- 200mg Himalayan Pink Salt - Helps with hydration and muscular function
Bottom Line:
RAW Nutrition CBum Essential Pre is a great option for those who want to spend as little as possible, and don't mind sacrificing some of the fancier ingredients such as nootropics and pump ingredients for the essentials of a pre-workout. Not the sexiest formula, but one that will certainly get the job done for many. Affordability can be sexy too!
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 20%
When Should I Use A Pre-Workout Supplement
Due to the fact that you're on a budget, you need to keep in-mind that a pre-workout supplement does not need to be a daily thing. In fact, not to deter you, but a pre-workout supplement is not needed by anyone. They are nice to have. If you truly are trying to make your supplements last longer, then using them as needed, especially in the case of a pre-workout supplement is best.
On days that you need that extra boost and that extra focus/pump, use a pre-workout supplement. If you feel great and a cup of coffee may provide all the energy you need, awesome.
A pre-workout supplement is much more than caffeine. It can provide performance enhancing features like strength gains, power output, prolonged endurance, muscle recovery and more. You need to do your own financial assessment to determine if you can afford a daily pre-workout supplement.
Due to this, we made sure that each of our top 5 rated cheapest pre-workout supplements would come in at under $2 per serving.
Let's GOOOO!
Our Pre-Workout Supplement Testing Process
We examined five different areas of each pre-workout supplement when we compiled our rankings:
- Ingredients Profile
- Effectiveness
- Taste
- Mixability
- Value
Ingredients Profile
When we review each pump activating supplement on their ingredient profile, we look at the active ingredients being used and their dosages.
Many pre-workout supplements include a variety of beneficial ingredients, but under dose them proving to be non-effective.
Effectiveness
Effectiveness is an extension of ingredient profile. If the product uses proven ingredients at clinically suggested dosages, the product should be effective.
Everyone is different. Everyone takes to different ingredients differently at varying dosages. We have tried and tested each of these products throughout the full duration of their container to ensure these products are effective over their life.
Taste
We review taste on two different components. First, how close does the muscle pump supplement taste to the actual name printed on the label. For example, does Blue Raz actually taste like blue raspberry. Second, we review it on overall taste (in our opinion) versus others in the same flavor category.
Mixability
Mixability refers to how well does the product mix in 8-12oz of water. The testing process for a pump activating drink we use here is a generic Blender Bottle with the chrome spiral ball. We use regular tap water with no ice.
Value
Value is a combination of ingredient profile, effectiveness, taste, mixability and cost. We do not just look at the price tag like a lot of others do. If a product is priced at a premium, we inform you if it is worth the premium price or not based on all the categories. We look at the overall picture of the pre-workout supplement, and how it compares to other pre-workout supplements on the market.
Please Note: Many of the “top 10” lists you find online are written by content writers with no in-gym or supplement experience who are paid by the word count to write an article for a website trying to generate money.
These lists are influenced by brands who pay for placement. These lists contain pump activating supplements that are, for the lack of a better word, garbage.
The following products on our best of list were used by the author of this article. He used the pump activating supplements through the duration of a full container. Sample packs were not used in determining the rankings of the best pump producing supplements.
Stop relying on faulty information that is influenced by outside writers and money. This list is the real deal. Here at Fitness Informant, we don’t steer you wrong. Be Informed. Live Fit.
