The 5 Best Pre-Workout Supplements in 2023: 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-Free 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 Core Nutritionals Fury Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 20% | Overall Best Pre-Workout Supplement with Creatine Highlights:
| Our #1 Rated  9.0 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#2 Inspired Nutraceuticals FSU Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10% | Best for Stim-Free Highlights:
| Our #2 Rated 9.3 out of 10 in the Pump Category |
#3 NutraBio Pre Extreme Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10% | Best Well-Rounded Pre-Workout With Creatine Highlights:
| Our #3 Rated 8.8 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#4 MuscleSport Rhino Black Kings Ransom Use coupon code INFORMANT40 to save 40% | Best for Energy Highlights:
| Our #4 Rated 9.1 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#5 Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 5% | Best for Clinically Dosed Creatine HCl Highlights:
| Our #5 Rated 7.9 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 Core Nutritionals Fury
- Rating: 9.0 out of 10
- Servings: 40/20
- Best For: Top Overall Product
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Pros
Cons
Core Nutritionals Fury really hit the market hard this year. Not only did Core Nutritionals do some awesome rebranding, they made their already impressive product line even better. Core Fury is a great example of this, and is certainly in the talk for Pre-Workout of the Year for 2020.
Fury has some of your standard pre-workout ingredients, such as 6 grams of L-Citrulline for pumps, 2.5 grams of Betaine Anhydrous for increased power output, and 2 grams of GlycerSize™ to aid in cellular hydration. Fury also contains VasoDrive-AP™ at 254mg, which is a very underutilized ingredient which may aid in pumps.
Of course, this makes the list due to it having 5 grams of Creatine Monohydrate, which is the most proven form of Creatine on the market. It is at the clinical dose, and it is simply part of an overall great product.
It doesn't stop there, it also contains some impressive energy and focus ingredients as well. Of course Caffeine Anhydrous is the first one we have to note, which is at 375mg, putting Fury close to our preferred limit for Caffeine. However it also come with a great dose of Tyrosine. You get 2 grams of Tyrosine, which is a precursor to Dopamine. This is a great dose of Tyrosine and it should certainly aid in focus and mood.
They also include Citicholine, which is a source of Choline with a high bioavailability. Core also includes Halostachine, which provides PEAs, which will elevate your mood and increase energy/focus. Now the most interesting ingredient in here is the Pregnenolone. This is a "neurosteroid" that has been shown in some animal studies to aid in focus. To date, this is the first pre-workout that we know of to use this ingredient, and it's really cool to see Core use something different.
Overall it's a great pre-workout, and as far as overall top pre-workout with creatine, this could very well be #1. The taste is great, the focus is great, the profile is great... there is essentially nothing we can complain about when it comes to this pre-workout.
Who Makes It?
Core Nutritionals is a brand from Doug Miller. It has been around for a long time now, and has certainly stood the test of time. They are known for making some of the best formulas on the market and never seem to disappoint when it comes to new product or flavor launche
What's In It?
One serving (two-scoops) 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
- 2.5g Betaine Anhydrous - May increase power output
- 2g GlycerSize™ - glycerol powder that allows muscles to absorb fluids
- 2,000mg L-Tyrosine - a well-researched amino acid with many benefits. May be good for fat loss, focus, and stress
- 375mg Caffeine Anhydrous - Good for energy
- 254mg VasoDrive-AP® - a derivative of Casein that may aid in pumps
- 250mg Citicholine - Cognitive enhancing stimulant
- 100mg Halostachine - Source of PEA
- 20mg Huperzine A (1%) - May help with focus
- 10mg Pregnenolone - a "neurosteroid" that may aid in focus
Bottom Line:
Core Nutritionals has certainly set a new standard here with the new Fury. Not only does the rebrand look cool, but the profile is simply top notch and we can't complain about anything. The addition of Pregnenolone makes it interesting, and the inclusion of high quality ingredients such as Citicholine and VasoDrive-AP make it well worth the money. This is a pre-workout that is staple worthy, and easily worth trying at least once.
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#2 Inspired Nutraceuticals FSU
- Rating: 9.3 out of 10
- Servings: 40/20
- Best For: Non-Stim Formula
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Pros
Cons
FSU was one of the most impressive formulas to be released onto the market in 2019. Seriously, the guys at Inspired Nutraceuticals have ben nothing short of impressive when it comes to formulas. FSU is Inspired's pump product, and it is a serious contender.
It starts us off with 4g of L-Citrulline, followed by 3g of NO3-T® Arginine Nitrate. These two ingredients right here are what really put FSU over the top as far as pumps go. Honestly you really don't need much else to aid for pumps, besides carbohydrates and proper hydration of course.
FSU also has a blend specifically meant for performance/hydration. This blend provides a blend of Creatine, Betaine, and electrolytes. Creatine and Betaine are proven ingredients which aid in power output, and the added electrolytes also aid in muscle contractions and prevent cramping.
The last blend in FSU is called the "I'm Seriously So Focused Right Now", and we wouldn't expect anything else from Chris Waldrum (the owner). This is a blend of Tyrosine, Lion Mane, and Neurofactor. These 3 ingredients have solid research supporting them for focus/alertness. Honestly all that's really missing from this is caffeine and it would be a top contender for pre-workout of the year.
Who Makes It?
Inspired Nutraceuticals is a smaller company focused on product quality and innovation. Unlike the big guys, who focus much of their efforts growing the top and bottom line through clever marketing, IN is putting their resources into R&D to provide quality supplements for the consumer.
What's In It?
One serving (two-scoops) contains:
- 4g L-Citrulline- clinically dosed Citrulline to help move blood into the muscles
- 3g NO3-T® Arginine Nitrate - increases nitric oxide in the body - great pumps
- 200mg Horny Goat Weed - an aphrodisiac that aids in cardiovascular health
- 3g Creatine Monohydrate - aids strength and power output
- 2.5g Betaine Anhydrous - good for power output
- 500mg Potassium Glycerophosphate - electrolytes
- 500mg Sodium Glycerophosphate - electrolytes
- 300mg AquaMin® - aids in hydration
- 300mg Pink Himalayan Sea Salt - aids in hydration
- 2g L-Tyrosine - aids in focus and alertness
- 600mg Lions Mane Mushroom - aid in focus
- 100mg Neurofactor® - aids in focus
Bottom Line:
FSU is easily one of the best pre-workout with creatine on the market. It provides more Arginine Nitrate than any other product in the industry, can aid in focus with it's nootropic blend, and can also be good for hydration and strength. The taste is amazing, and honestly we have little to complain about.
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#3 NutraBio PRE Extreme
- Rating: 8.8 out of 10
- Servings: 20
- Best For: Well-Rounded
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Pros
Cons
NutraBio Pre Extreme holds its place as one of the best creatine pre-workouts on Fitness Informant. NutraBio has been at the top of the game for years now, and it certainly isn’t stopping anytime soon. While Pre-Extreme has gone through several profile updates throughout the years, it always seems to be one of the most positively reviewed pre-workouts on the market.
Here we have 3 grams of patented creatine monohydrate, which is a good dose. A good dose of creatine monohydrate is 3-5 grams. To add to that, we have Creatine MagnaPower®. This is creatine bound to magnesium chelate. Magnesium plays a vital role in ATP production.
With that said, of course Nutrabio went above and beyond to make sure Pre Extreme was going to hit you on all fronts. Not only does it have creatine, it also has ingredients for focus, endurance, hydration, recovery, energy, blood flow, pumps, etc..
Just taking a look at the extensive fully loaded label, you can expect to see this product on more ranking lists in the future.
Who Makes It?
NutraBio has been around for a long time, although many wouldn’t know that without taking a deeper look. Nutrabio has been the industry’s best kept secret since the 90’s. If there is one thing that Nutrabio is known for, it is TRANSPARENCY. They are known for using well-studied ingredients at clinical doses in their sports nutrition products. Pre Extreme demonstrates this well.
What's In It?
One serving contains:
- 3g PharmaPure™ Creatine Monohydrate - may increase strength and endurance in the gym
- 500mg Creatine MagnaPower
- 15g HBCD (Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin) - a fast acting carb source that is easy on the stomach and does not spike insulin
- 3.5g L-Leucine - BCAA that may aid in recovery
- 3.2g Beta-Alanine - buffers lactic acid and may increase endurance
- 2.5g Betaine Anhydrous - may increase power output
- 1.5g Malic Acid - has a variety of benefits and may aid in the absorption of creatine
- 6g of L-Citrulline - converts to Arginine which can increase pumps in the gym
- 1g Agmatine Sulfate - metabolite of Arginine which can aid in pumps
- 750mg Nitrosigine - a bonded form of Arginine that aids in pumps
- 1.5g L-Tyrosine - a well-researched amino acid with many benefits. May be good for fat loss, focus, and stress
- 500mg Choline Bitartrate - a form of choline which may aid in focus
- 350mg Caffeine Anhydrous/Infinergy - two forms of caffeine, one being fast acting and the other being a buffered form which will make the energy last longer
- 300mg TheaPure - patented form of L-Theanine. May aid in cognition and can prevent people sensitive to stimulants from getting the “jitters”
- 50mg N-Methyl Tyramine - helps regulate blood pressure
- 50mg Hordenine HCl - may aid in energy
- 4mg Yohimbine HCl - increases adrenaline in the body and may help in fat burning
- 2g of Taurine - may help with power output and blood flow
- 100mcg Huperzine A - helps with focus
- 525mg Calcium Potassium Phosphate Citrate - electrolytes, good for cramping
- 189mg Sodium Phosphate - electrolytes, good for cramping
Bottom Line:
What puts this on our best creatine pre-workout list, is that this product is very well-rounded. It has ingredients like betaine which can compliment creatine, and extra electrolytes to prevent potential cramping. Depending on who you are and how good you are at getting enough water throughout the day, creatine may make you more susceptible to cramping. This usually occurs when the user takes too much creatine or isn’t properly hydrated. So having electrolytes to aid in hydration only makes sense here.
The additions of Malic Acid and HBCD are also good addition for this. With the nootropic and energy boosting ingredients in Pre Extreme, it is certainly a pre-workout that you can’t go wrong with. These are only some of the reasons this is considered one of the best creatine pre-workouts.
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#4 MuscleSport Rhino Black Kings Ransom
- Rating: 8.6 out of 10
- Servings: 20
- Best For: Energy
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Pros
Cons
Rhino Kings Ransom pre-workout from MuscleSport takes our #4 spot on our top rated pre-workout supplements with creatine as it is one of the most well-rounded pre-workout supplements we've used, and of course, contains creatine. King's Ransom hits on energy, focus, pumps, strength/power and endurance.
While many pre-workouts do 2-3 things well, Rhino Black King's Ransom does everything very well. Energy is noticeable with the combination of two forms of Caffeine, Caffeine Anhydrous and Di-Caffeine Malate, which total about 337.5mg of Caffeine. King's Ransom also includes 100mg Hordenine for added energy. The best part is they did not go overboard on the stimulants so you could still achieve a great pump.
The pump aspect of King's Ransom is top-notch. The pre-workout adds 6g Citrulline with 1g AGMass Agamatine Sulfate for nitric oxide production and regulation. They also use 2.5g GlycerSize for the muscles to hold the liquid to elicit a great pump. The use of unique ingredients, like Epimedium Extraxct, also sets it apart from others.
Another area that is set apart from other pre-workouts is the cognitive enhancement this pre-workout provides. King's Ransom has 600mg Alpha-GPC, one of the best nootropics on the market, and it is dosed correctly. They combine that with 125mg Eria Jarensis, a powerful nootropic that also aids in energy production. Let's not stop there, they also toss in 750mg Tyrosine and 200mcg of Huperzine A. This cognitive ingredients combined with the stimulants makes for a driven workout experience.
Lastly, King's Ransom focuses on strength, power and endurance with the addition of key ingredients. A full dosage of Betaine Anhydrous will lead to overall strength and power output gains. Creatine MagnaPower also aids in strength output, which is at 2g in here and why it has a spot omg our list. Beta-Alanine is used at 3.2g which aids in muscular endurance.
Who Makes It?
MuscleSport is a popular sports nutrition company that makes key products like Lean Whey and their Rhino Black pre-workout series. They do a phenomenal job on their flavoring and branding, and their products are quite good. When you see the brand MuscleSport you can put your trust into it.
What's In It?
One serving contains:
- 6g L-Citrulline - precursor to Arginine, improves blood flow through increased nitric oxide production
- 1g AGMass Agmatine Sulfate - regulates nitric oxide, allows body to produce more
- 250mg Norvaline - arginase inhibitor, allows more nitric oxide to be produced
- 100mg Epimedium Extract - improves blood flow
- 10mg Vanadyl Sulfate - controls blood glucose levels
- 3.2g Beta-Alanine - improve muscles endurance
- 2.5g BetaPower Betaine - increases strength and power output
- 2.5g GlycerSize - glycerol powder that allows muscles to absorb fluids
- 2g Creatine MagnaPower - creatine monohydrate and magnesium ingredient designed for strength output
- 750mg L-Tyrosine - cognitive enhancing ingredient
- 600mg Alpha-GPC - strong nootropic, properly dosed
- 125mg Eria Jarensis Extract - strong nootropic that also has energy producing benefits
- 100mg L-Theanine - reduces stress and anxiety
- 100mg Hordenine - stimulant that aids in fat loss
- 50mg Infinergy Di-Caffeine Malate - for of caffeine providing longer lasting energy
- 50mg Octopalean - non-stimulant fat burning ingredient
- 200mcg Huperzine A - brain boosting ingredient for imporved focus
Bottom Line:
MuscleSport's Rhino Black King's Ransom is the best pre-workout formulated by the company in their history. Subsequently it is the best on the market today. King's Ransom includes key ingredients at efficacious dosages that provides solid energy, focus, pump, strength/power and endurance. We've tried many pre-workouts but King's Ransom limited edition Rhino Black from MuscleSport is the best one we've had to-date. Run, don't walk, to try this!
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#5 Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged
- Rating: 7.9 out of 10
- Servings: 20
- Best For: Creatine HCl
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Pros
Cons
Pre-Kaged is one of the top pre-workouts on the market these days. Kris Gethin has certainly built a brand that is worthy of the praise it gets. Pre-Kaged is a pre-workout that most would consider “loaded”. It’s dosed well in pretty much every ingredient, and it isn’t just a stim-bomb. It’s actually based on performance!
Pre-Kaged includes Creatine HCl, which is creatine attached to hydrochloric acid. Some people may have issues with digesting creatine monohydrate, and some may have issues which water retention. While some may simply need to drink more water, this does not help in all people. Due to its solubility, it is easily digested by many and you can use less of it as opposed to creatine monohydrate. It is one of the best creatine pre-workouts on the market.
Who Makes It?
Kaged Muscle is owned by Kris Gethin who participated in our Expert Roundtable. Kris Gethin has a lot of experience in the industry and practices what he preaches. Whether you agree with his methods or not, he is certainly dedicated. Kaged Muscle has a commitment to high quality ingredients, scientifically backed dosages and your satisfaction guaranteed.
What's In It?
One serving contains:
- 1.5g Creatine HCl - improves strength gains and muscle recovery
- 6.5g L-Citrulline (Fermented) - contributes to muscle pumps which aids in healing and recovery
- 200mg Quercetin Dihydrate - antioxidant
- 3.5g 2:1:1 BCAAs - clinically formulated to reduce recovery time and aid in muscle protein synthesis
- 3 grams of L-Leucine - may aid in recovery
- 1.6g Beta-Alanine - aids in endurance and strength gains
- 2g BetaPower Betaine Anhydrous - patented form of betaine anhydrous, may increase power output
- 500mg Coconut Water Powder - good for hydration
- 100mg Spectra Total ORAC Blend - trademarked blend of fruit/vegetables providing antioxidants
- 2g Taurine - may help with power output and blood flow
- 1,850mg N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine and Tyrosine - cognitive enhancing ingredient designed to improve focus
- 274mg PurCaf Caffeine - energy producing ingredient from natural sources
Bottom Line:
Pre-Kaged by Kaged Muscle Supplements should make most top pre-workout rankings lists. The formula alone is effective for those who enjoy stimulants and even those who don’t. Pre-Kaged is going to include effective doses of key ingredients aimed at improving energy, pump and focus. The Creatine HCl may be a good option for those who don’t handle creatine monohydrate very well.
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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.
