The 5 Best Pre-Workout Supplements in 2025: Our Tested 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.
Creatine in your pre-workout supplements is a personal preference. Some like creatine with their pre-workout, while others enjoy the Creatine Free Pre-Workout. While many companies do offer creatine in a pre-workout supplement, rarely will you find it at a clinically dosed amount. Pre-workout supplements with creatine are generally dosed for the attribute of added strength and not typically at a clinical dosage. Creatine does play an important part in strength output and muscle gain, so there are benefits to including it in your pre-workout supplement.
Be Informed. Live Fit.
The following products on our top pre-workout with creatine rankings list were used by the author of this article.
He 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 zero creatine pre-workout list is the real deal.
Here at Fitness Informant, we don’t steer you wrong. If you're looking for a creatine free pre-workout option that you can trust, look no further than our top 5 picks below.
The Best Rated Creatine Containing Pre-Workout Supplements on the Market Today
Here's the top 5 picks for the best pre-workouts supplements with creatine that money can buy:
Product Name | Highlights | Rating |
|---|---|---|
#1 RYSE Supplements Godzilla Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15% | Overall Best Pre-Workout Supplement with Creatine Highlights: | Our #1 Rated  9.3 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#2 RAW Nutrition Thuper Thavage Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 20% | Best for Energy Highlights:
| Our #2 Rated 9.1 out of 10 in the Pre-Worktout Category |
#3 RYSE Pump Daddy V2 Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15% | Best for Non-Stim Highlights:
| Our #3 Rated 9.1 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#4 Hosstile Supplements Hosstility V2 Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10% | Best for Pre-Workout without Beta-Alanine Highlights:
| Our #4 Rated 9.2 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#5 ProSupps Mr. Hyde Signature | Best for Budget 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 with creatine out there.
How did these 5 make Fitness Informant's top 5 list? Read on and we'll tell you:
#1 RYSE Supplements Godzilla
- Rating: 9.0 out of 10
- Servings: 40/20
- Best For: Top Overall Product
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Pros
Cons
RYSE Supplements Godzilla pre-workout is the brand's top of the line pre-workout supplement. Many brands come out with what we call a "F-U" pre-workout. This is theirs. RYSE combines pump with focus and energy.
The race to increase Citrulline is officially on. RYSE packs in a total of 11g from Citrulline and Citrulline Nitrates. As if that was not enough, they toss in double the typical dosage of Beta Alanine at 6.4g - which a caution to users you will feel this - if you don't like that itchy feeling then you won't like this at the 2-scoop serving.
In addition to the above 11g Citrulline, RYSE has 300mg VasoDrive-AP for even more help moving that blood into the muscles. Creatine Monohydrate, which can help pumps too, is added at the full dosage of 5g.
Energy-wise they combine zumXR with Caffeine Anhydrous like many of the other great brands and formulas. Combine that with Thinkamine and Choline Bitartrate and users will experience improved focus - which is clutch in the gym.
Regarding flavors we have not tried any outside of Monster Berry, which we weren't huge fans of, but we are looking forward to the others.
RYSE Godzilla looks good on paper and it performs. That is key.
Who Makes It?
RYSE Supplements has blown up. Period. They are one of the fastest growing brands in sports nutrition and it is through products and formulas like Godzilla that they are gaining more and more fans. They also have an energy drink which is gaining popularity. They combined fun branding/marketing with quality products.
What's In It?
One serving (two-scoops) contains:
- 9g Citrulline – clinically dosed Citrulline to help move blood into the muscles
- 2g Citrulline Nitrate - exogenous nitrates moving blood into the muscle
- 3.2g Beta Alanine - muscular endurance
- 2.5g Betaine Anhydrous - good for power output
- 5g Creatine Monohydrate – helps product ATP - muscular energy
- 1.6g VitaCholine - improved focus and memory
- 500mg Pink Himalayan Salt - improved hydration/pumps
- 350mg Caffeine Anhydrous – fast acting caffeine for improved energy levels
- 300mg VasoDrive™ - a derivative of Casein that helps with pumps
- 200mg Theobromine - increased energy and body temperature
- 50mg zumXR - extended release version of caffeine for longer energy
- 20mg Thinkamine – improved focus
Bottom Line:
RYSE Supplements nailed this one. The experience in the gym is fantastic, especially if you like good energy with great muscle pumps. There is a reason they have a hard time keeping this one in-stock, it is that good. We want to try all the other flavors versus the one we did because we feel they improved them or they are just better - but many like the Monster Berry flavor.
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#2 RAW Nutrition Thuper Thavage
- Rating: 9.1 out of 10
- Servings: 20
- Best For: Energy
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 20%
Pros
Cons
Thuper Thavage is one of those “loaded” formulas you see every popular brand have in their lineup. While some of them start to look similar, we are glad to say we really like this one, which is why we included it on this list.
Thuper Thavage starts off with 6.4g of Beta-Alanine, which is double the 3.2g you typically see. This helps with endurance, and is probably the most popular ingredient in any pre-workout after Caffeine. This is then followed by 6g of Citrulline, which helps with pumps. It helps with pumps by converting into Arginine in the body.
Next up we have Creatine Monohydrate. This is by far the most popular ingredient in the supplement space, and at 5g, it is at the clinical dose. Betaine Anhydrous is up next, and it is another ergogenic aid. It helps with power output, and at 2.5g, it is dosed well.
2 more performance ingredients in here are Taurine and PeakO2®. Taurine is an amino acid that helps with blood flow, and also plays an important role in hydration. At 2g, it is dosed well. As for PeakO2®, it is a mushroom blend that has been shown in studies to help with endurance by increasing your VO2 Max. We’d like to see it at 2g as it will get you to saturation quicker, however at 1g, it will simply take you longer to get there.
Now we have Agmatine, which you used to see a lot more. Agmatine is a metabolite of Arginine, and it may help with pumps. At 1g, it is dosed well in here. Alpha GPC is nice to see in here. It is a high quality form of Choline, which is a neurotransmitter. One of the most common Nootropic ingredients you can find. At 500mg, you are getting a solid dose. Next ingredient is Himalayan Pink Salt, which is a source of electrolytes that can help with performance and muscle function.
Now we come to everyone's favorite ingredient… Caffeine! Caffeine of course helps with energy, and at 400mg, is quite strong. Caffeine is a personal ingredient, so 400mg could be normal to you. For us, we would consider this a “high-stim” here on FI. Next up we have Juniper Berry Fruit Extract, which we have seen in some other pre-workouts. To be honest we have no idea why this is in here.
Next up we have RedNite®, which is a trademarked form of Beet Root Extract. This is a natural source of nitrates, which can help with vasodilation. Following this comes Theanine, which helps stave off any side effects you may experience from the Caffeine and Alpha Yohimbine. 200mg is quite a strong dose. The Alpha Yohimbine helps with energy, fat loss, and may cause some jitters in some, which is probably why the Theanine has been added.
The profile is quite loaded and will certainly help with energy, focus, pumps, performance, and endurance. There is quite a bit of Caffeine in here, as well as Yohimbine, so be sure to start off with a half serving.
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:
- 6.2g Beta-Alanine - improve muscles endurance
- 6g L-Citrulline - contributes to muscle pumps which aids in healing and recovery
- 5g Creatine Monohyrdate - replenishes ATP, improved muscular energy
- 2g Betaine Nitrate - exogenous nitrates moving blood into the muscle
- 2g Taurine - may help with power output and blood flow
- 1g PeakO2 - Blend of mushrooms that helps with performance
- 1g Agmatine - Helps with pumps
- 500mg Alpha-GPC - Source of choline, helps with focus
- 500mg Pink Himalayan Salt - Improved hydration/pumps
- 400mg Caffeine - Increases energy
- 220mg Juniper Berry Extract - May help with energy
- 200mg L-Theanine - Reduces stress and anxiety
- 200mg Theobromine - Increased energy and body temperature
- 2.5mg Rauwolfia Root Extract - Source of Alpha Yohimbine, helps with energy and fat loss
Bottom Line:
Thuper Thavage is a great option for those want a powerful pre-workout with Creatine Monohydrate. With a huge dose of Caffeine with some added Alpha-Yohimbine, it makes for a great boost in energy, as well as some nice pumps with the Agmatine, Nitrates, and Citrulline. We highly suggest trying this one out!
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#3 RYSE Pump Daddy V2
- Rating: 9.0 out of 10
- Servings: 20
- Best For: Non-Stim
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Pros
Cons
Pump Daddy V2 is a worthy successor to the original Pump Daddy from RYSE. If you remember that one, you know it was quite powerful, and was actually our #1 ranked Pump product for a bit. Well now we have Pump Daddy V2, and while some changes were made to the formula, not much has changed when it comes to effectiveness.
The profile starts off with 9 grams of Citrulline, which is well above the 4g-6g average. Citrulline is the most popular ingredient for pumps, and this delivers more than enough. Now we have Beta-Alanine, which after Creatine is the most popular sports nutrition ingredient (that isn’t Caffeine). It helps with endurance by buffering lactic acid, and you typically want this at 3.2g. You get 6.4g in Pump Daddy... DOUBLE the amount.
Following this you get 5g of Creatine Monohydrate, which is the recommended daily dose. Creatine needs no introduction, however if you didn’t know it is the most studied ingredient the supplement industry has, and helps with performance.
Betaine Anhydrous has grown in popularity over the past few years in pre-workouts, and can help with power output. You typically see 1.5g-2.5g in pre-workout. Well you get 4g of it in here. Certainly a great ingredient to help you with performance. Next up comes Betaine Nitrate as NO3-T®, which is one of the higher-yielding nitrate forms. Nitrates are certainly a surefire way to increase pumps, and you get a solid dose in here at 2 grams.
VasoDrive-AP® are peptides that have been shown to help with blood pressure. It is becoming quite popular in pump products, and you get 508mg of it in Pump Daddy, which is the clinical dose.
The two final ingredients are AstraGin® and CitraPEAK. AstraGin® is an ingredient from NuLiv Science, which may help the absorption some ingredients. It also reduces inflammation in the gut. At 50mg, you are getting the clinical dose. CitraPEAK is an antioxidant derived from orange peels that helps with NO production. At 200mg, you are getting a solid dose.
We loved the first version, but this one is a worthy successor, and deserves its spot on this list.
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 (2 scoops) contains:
- 9g Citrulline – clinically dosed Citrulline to help move blood into the muscles
- 6.4g Beta-Alanine - more for the non-stimulant pre-workout aspect, but aids in muscular endurance
- 5g Creatine Monohydrate - aids in ATP production, can also help with water in muscles for pump
- 4g Betaine Anhydrous - good for power output
- 2g Betaine Nitrate (NO3-T) – a combination of betaine and exogenous nitrates to improve blood flow and power output
- 508mg VasoDrive™ - a derivative of Casein that helps with pumps
- 200mg CitraPeak - increased blood flow
- 50mg AstraGin® – aids in ingredient absorption
Bottom Line:
Pump Daddy V2 is a loaded-non-stim pre-workout and pump powder that hits multiple pathways in the body to help generate powerful pumps, as well as increasing power output, and performance. Certainly worth keeping around for days where you just want to train arms for two hours and feel like they’re going to explode.
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#4 Hosstile Supplements Hosstility V2
- Rating: 9.2 out of 10
- Servings: 40/20
- Best For: Without Beta-Alanine
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Pros
Cons
Hosstility has been around for quite some time, and is no stranger to our lists. For years they have provided some excellent products to lifters everywhere, and with some new blood and some of the hottest influencers, expect to hear more from them in the coming years.
Hosstility V2 is the second version of Hosstility (obviously), and is a nice upgrade from the original. It starts off with the Pump+Performance blend, which contains your ergogenic ingredients such as Citrulline, Creatine, and Betaine. All at solid doses, especially the 8g of Citrulline! This is then followed by 2g of Arginine Nitrate, which is one of our favorite pump ingredients. You also get Taurine to aid with hydration and muscle function. One great addition is the PeakO2, which is a blend of mushrooms that can helps with endurance and performance.
The Energy+Focus blend is well-rounded, and contains 300mg of RhodioPrime. This is an adaptogen, and can help with performance and mental fatigue. The version Hosstile uses here is twice as strong as your typical Rhodiola extract. You get some other common ingredients in here such as Alpha GPC, a source of Choline that helps with focus, as well as a gram of Tyrosine.
As for Caffeine, you get 300mg total, with most coming from Caffeine Anhydrous, and some coming from Infinergy, an extended release Caffeine, which may help prevent a crash. Finally, you get AstraGin® and BioPerine®, which both may aid with the absorption.
The profile is well-rounded and has everything to aid with a solid workout. Now you may or may not like this, but there is NO Beta-Alanine. Some people can’t stand the tingles you get from the ingredient, and this makes for a great option for those who hate that. This is quite relieving, as sometimes it is hard to avoid Beta-Alanine in pre-workouts.
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?
One serving (two-scoops) contains:
- 8g L-Citrulline - Converts to arginine to aid in nitric oxide production
- 5g Creatine Monohydrate - A popular ingredient used to aid in overall power output
- 2.5g Betaine Anhydrous - May increase power output
- 2g NO3-T® Arginine Nitrate - increases nitric oxide in the body - great pumps
- 2g Taurine – regulates water and electrolytes producing better pump and more endurance and strength
- 2g PeakO2 - helps with endurance
- 1g L-Tyrosine - a well-researched amino acid with many benefits. May be good for fat loss, focus, and stress
- 600mg AlphaSize Alpha-GPC – nootropic that improves focus
- 300mg RhodioPrime 6x - Adaptogen that helps with energy and mental clarity
- 200mg Caffeine Anhydrous - Good for energy
- 136mg Di-Caffeine Malate - prolonged energy and crash prevention
- 10mg Huperzine A (1%) - May help with focus
- 50mg AstraGin - May help with ingredient absorption in the body
- 10mg BioPerine - May help with ingredient absorption in the body
Bottom Line:
Hosstility V2 is a great option from Hosstile, and it is really great to see them back. The profile is similar to the old one, however adds some extras to make it just that much better. We commend Hosstile for not using Beta-Alanine, as it is hard to find a loaded formula without it. Fo
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#5 ProSupps Mr. Hyde Signature
- Rating: 8.0 out of 10
- Servings: 72/36
- Best For: Budget
Pros
Cons
At this point, ProSupps is a legacy brand, and just about a decade ago, they hit the scene HARD with their pre-workouts. Well now, we have their new pre-workout Mr. Hyde Signature Pre-Workout. This makes the list, due to its great price point and SOLID formula.
The formula starts off with Citrulline at 6 grams. This helps with blood flow/pumps and is a staple in pre-workouts. This is followed by Creatine Monohydrate. Creatine is the most studied sports nutrition ingredient, and is backed by thousands of studies. You get a great dose at 5 grams.
Next up comes Beta-Alanine. This is also extremely common in pre-workouts, as it helps with endurance, and is widely known to be effective. At 4 grams., you are getting higher than the usual 3.2 gram dosage we recommend. Now we come to Betaine Anhydrous. This can help with power output, and at 2 grams, is dosed well.
Now we come to our mood and energy ingredients. With 2 grams of Tyrosine, you will certainly get a nice increase in focus. Tyrosine is a precursor to dopamine, and we love seeing it in pre-workouts. 2 grams is a solid dose, and it’s not common to see this high of a dose in pre-workouts you can find at CostCo! Finally we have Caffeine Anhydrous at 200mg-400mg (1-2 scoops). Caffeine of course gives you energy, and is on the higher side at 2 scoops. The formula ends with 400mg of Himalayan Rock Salt. This is an electrolyte and is important for hydration and performance.
You can get this for under $30 per tub sometimes, and it is well under $1 per serving. For the solid formula with proven ingredients, this is a great option for those who want to save some $ yet still get a quality pre-workout.
Who Makes It?
ProSupps is a legacy brand that has cemented itself as a brand that won't be going away anytime soon. They infest the shelves of big box retail stores, and always have one of the stronger options when it comes to pre-workouts. If you are looking for hard hitting, affordable, and enduring brand... ProSupps is a good option.
What's In It?
One serving (one-scoop) contains:
- 6g L-Citrulline - Converts to arginine to aid in nitric oxide production
- 5g Creatine Monohydrate - A popular ingredient used to aid in overall power output
- 4g Beta-Alanine - Increases endurance
- 2g Betaine Anhydrous - may increase power output
- 2g L-Tyrosine - a well-researched amino acid with many benefits. May be good for fat loss, focus, and stress
- 400mg Caffeine Anhydrous - increased energy
- 400mg Pink Himalayan Salt - improved hydration/pumps
Bottom Line:
ProSupps Mr. Hyde Signature is a great pre-workout for those who like to grab their supps along with their groceries. This one is available at Costco, and is one of the best formulated pre-workouts you can expect from these stores.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-Workout Supplements
Why Do You Need To Supplement with a Pre-Workout?
Pre-workout supplements provide benefits that can significantly improve your workout and muscle growth. Pre-workout supplements can be more than just “energy” supplements. They are not just glorified caffeine pills.
The best pre-workouts can provide you with:
This is the first place most consumers look for in a pre-workout. How much caffeine is this giving me?! There are many different types of caffeine, and they are not all treated the same.
Certain ingredients are included in pre-workouts to assist you in the endurance category. Energy is nice, but we want that energy to last throughout a lengthy workout so we can do some work in the gym.
Ingredients are included in the best pre-workouts to help assist in the strength department. These ingredients are selected to help you get one more rep, maybe put on five more pounds. Strength gains in the gym lead to muscle gains outside of it.
You can be jacked up on caffeine, but if you’re not focused on the task at-hand, it can all be wasted. Nootropics and other cognitive enhancing ingredients are used in the best pre-workout supplements to help you achieve your desired results in the gym.
The pump is what we all strive for in the gym. We want to look huge, right? The best pre-workout supplements include pump enhancing ingredients that are not meant for just show, but a solid pump improves blood flow into your muscles which aids in muscle recovery and growth.
What is Creatine?
Whether your medicine cabinet is full of dozens of the latest workout supplements or you’re just starting your journey to better health at the gym, you’ve likely heard about or even been recommended the popular supplement creatine. You ingest natural creatine with seafood and red meat, but people who want more of it take it in powder or pill form. It has a number of different functions in the body, but athletes and exercise enthusiasts use creatine to boost their performance and increase muscle mass.
Creatine is one of the most studied and researched amino acids on the planet, with hundreds of scientific studies exploring the potential benefits of daily supplementation for all types of people. Touted as a substance that provides extra energy with low risk and few side effects, it’s become an increasingly popular choice among gym goers, professional athletes, and those looking for extra energy to navigate their day.
When choosing to take any supplement, it’s important to be able to make a fully informed decision on whether or not it is right for you. In its most basic form, creatine is often purchased in powder form and then mixed with either water or milk in hopes of getting an energy boost in the gym, during a run, or even just going through a typical day.
While many fitness enthusiasts take creatine regularly and swear by the results, not all supplements are a good fit for everyone. Despite this substance’s popularity, there are creatine-free pre-workout options if you decide to go that route.
As with most fitness and supplement recommendations, you should never simply follow the common mainstream advice without first doing your research and determining if a particular supplement fits nicely with your goals and body composition. Fortunately, if you do decide to invest in a pre-workout supplement, there are plenty of creatine-free options available for you to choose from.
Why You Should Take Creatine
Creatine may be the most popular sports nutrition supplement, and for good reason. It is one of the most well-researched supplements, and it is usually the first supplements that is recommended for gym-goers who are looking to improve their strength and stamina in the gym.
Creatine is a very popular ingredient that companies add to pre-workouts, not only for the benefits, but also because it is so well-known that it is almost expected at this point. While many make the argument that it is better to simply buy creatine on its own, it isn’t a bad ingredient to throw in a pre-workout for convenience.
We have to state that it is recommended that you take creatine every day, so it’s recommended that you have a creatine supplement on hand for off days, as pre-workouts should not be taken every day.
You will find creatine in both stim and non-stim pre-workouts. This list will guide you towards pre-workouts that contain creatine which should help increase your performance at the gym overtime.
On that note, remember that any company can throw creatine in a pre-workout. We made sure that the products on this list aren’t simply pre-workouts with a good dose of creatine and then some caffeine thrown in. They are good all-around, but have ingredients to compliment creatine and are just good pre-workouts all-around.
Our 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 pre-workout supplement on their ingredient profile, we look at the ingredients used and the dosage they are being used at.
Many pre-workouts include a variety of beneficial ingredients, but under dose them proving to be non-effective. This section also looks at how many of the sub-categories are being hit (energy, focus, strength and pump).
Effectiveness
Effectiveness is an extension of ingredient profile. If the product uses proven ingredients at clinically suggested dosages, then typically 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 pre-workout 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 pre workout 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.
Why We Test Like This
In an industry with so many players and choices choosing the right supplement for you can be difficult. The pre-workout category is no different. Pre-workouts are a staple supplement for many brands.
Many new start-up brands start with them because it is easy to copy other’s formulas and slap a label on a container and call it your own.
All of this for a minimal investment.
We’ve all read the hype about pre-workout supplements. The bark is way louder than their bite. Cool marketing slogans and product package designs make it difficult to select one that is correct for you. This is especially true if you’re just starting out in the game. We test so you know what’s legitimate and what is not.
