The 5 Strongest Pre Workouts In 2023: Our Tested Reviews
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Our product testing team uses the full 30 day serving amount in container before reviewing. Learn more about our review process here.
We hate to sound like we’re getting old, but what happened to the days where a normal dose of caffeine would do the trick and get you to the gym? Well, these days it seems as if the most popular pre-workouts, are the hardest-hitting.
We’ve all heard the term “stim-junkie” before, and many of us are junkies, have been junkies, or know a junkie. Well, this rankings page is for that kind of consumer. Here we have the ultimate list of pre-workouts. Those that are guaranteed to give you that boost in the gym that will make you feel like you are God, or at the very least walking on water.
Of course, stimulants aren’t everything. Any company can throw in a bunch of caffeine and other exotic stimulants in a formula. On this strongest pre-workout supplements list, we are looking for that, but also taking into consideration other factors as well. If we were to only consider the amount of stimulants in a product, we would have to give some very irresponsible companies credit that they certainly do not deserve.
The following products on our strongest pre-workout rankings list were used by the author of this article.
Fitness Informant 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 strongest pre-workout list is the real deal.
Here at Fitness Informant, we don’t steer you wrong. If you're looking for the strongest pre-workout option that you can trust, look no further than our top 5 picks below.
A Comparison of the Strongest Pre-Workout Supplements
Here's the top 5 picks for the strongest pre-workout supplements that money can buy:
Product Name | Highlights | Rating |
---|---|---|
#1 Apollon Nutrition Hooligan V6Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15% | Best Overall Strongest Pre-Workout Supplement Highlights:
| Our #1 Rated 8.7 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#2 RYSE Supplements STIM DaddyUse coupon code INFORMANT to save 20% | Best for Energy Highlights:
| Our #2 Rated 8.9 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#3 Hosstile Hosstility AmpedUse coupon code INFORMANT to save 10% | Best for Focus Highlights:
| Our #3 Rated 9.1 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#4 GHOST Legend All OutUse coupon code INFORMANT to save 20% | Best for Flavoring Highlights:
| Our #4 Rated 8.9 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#5 KLOUT PWR KaioUse coupon code INFORMANT to save 15% | Best for Long Lasting Energy Highlights:
| Our #5 Rated 8.7 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 Apollon Nutrition Hooligan V6
- Rating: 8.7 out of 10
- Servings: 20 Servings
- Best For: Top Overall Product
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Pros
Cons
Well here we are, another version of Hooligan, another #1 ranking here on Fitness Informant. If you weren’t aware, Hooligan V5 was #1 on this ranking guide for quite some time, and the only thing that was able to replace it was the V6.
Hooligan is a very popular pre-workout. While many know that it has high Caffeine content, it also has an impressive profile in other areas. Starting off you get your standard pump and performance ingredients. These include Citrulline, Beta-Alanine, and Betaine Anhydrous. These are all dosed well, and are going to help with pumps, endurance, and power output. This is followed by a solid dose of Tyrosine at 2 grams.
To add to the Nootropic aspect to Hooligan V6, you get some Lion’s Mane and 600mg of Alpha GPC. These are popular Nootropic ingredients that have been well-studied. Next up comes why this is really #1 on this list.
Hooligan V6 is #1 on this list because not only does it have great dosages of proven ingredients for pumps and focus, but you also get 500mg of Theobromine, and 450mg of Caffeine Anhydrous. The Caffeine is actually lower than the previous version, but 450mg is still high, and Theobromine is another xanthine, making it similar to Caffeine. At 500mg, you are definitely going to feel something, and to our knowledge this is the highest dose we have seen in a product.
We may be getting ahead of ourselves, but we have to mention the other forms of Caffeine in here. You get 200mg of Di-Caffeine Malate, This is an extended release form of Caffeine, so that you get longer lasting energy and it may also stave off a crash. Since it is 75% Caffeine, you get an extra 150mg. You also get 100mg of Coffeeberry®, which gets you 70 extra mg of Caffeine, bringing the total up to 670mg!
Back to other additions… we have Grape Seed Extract, which contains antioxidants that may help expand blood vessels. You also get Rhodiola, which is an adaptogen that can help with mood, reduce stress, and cognition.
Finally you get some ElevATP® and AstraGin®. ElevATP can help with performance by aiding with ATP production. To keep it simple, it may help with cellular energy. AstraGin has been added to aid with the absorption of certain nutrients.
Hooligan V6 has rightfully taken the top spot on this list, and we don’t see another brand coming anywhere close to it soon. While it is certainly not for beginners, we know every stim junkie will love this one. Well worth having around for days where you want to go all out… we just don’t recommend taking it every day.
Who Makes It?
Apollon Nutrition is a hardcore supplement line that isn't afraid to go places other brands haven't. Not only are they hardcore, they know how to make great products and care about providing clinical doses of ingredients. Certainly not a brand for beginners, however seasoned veterans and supplement nerds will certainly be impressed with what they do.
What's In It?
One serving (one scoop) contains:
- 8g L-Citrulline - Converts to arginine to aid in nitric oxide production
- 3.2g Beta-Alanine - Increases endurance
- 2.5g 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
- 1.5g Agmatine Sulfate - Metabolite of Arginine which may aid in pumps
- 1000mg Lion's Mane - Mushroom that helps with brain function and health
- 600mg Alpha GPC - Source of Choline that helps with focus and has a high bioavailability
- 500mg Theobromine - Helps with energy without increasing blood pressure
- 450g Caffeine Anhydrous - Helps with energy
- 400mg Grape Seed Extract - Helps with relaxing blood vessels
- 300mg Pink Himalayan Sea Salt - Source of trace minerals and helps with hydration
- 300mg Rhodiola Rosea - Adaptogen that helps with energy and stress
- 200mg Di-Caffeine Malate - Time-released Caffeine
- 150mg ElevATP - May help with ATP production
- 100mg Coffeeberry® - Helps with energy
- 50mg AstraGin® - Helps with absorption
Bottom Line:
There should not be any list of strong pre-workouts which don’t include Apollon Nutrition Hooligan V6. The formula gets it right in the aspects that we all look for, those being ENERGY, strength, endurance, and focus. (we said the exact same thing about V5)
If you really want to go with one of the strongest pre-workouts out there. Apollon Nutrition Hooligan V6 may be for you. We do have to warn you though... it is not a pre-workout for everyone, and it is only for those who have a high-tolerance for Caffeine and know their limits. Certainly a pre-workout that you use once a week or so when you are feeling frisky.
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#2 RYSE Supplements STIM Daddy
- Rating: 8.9 out of 10
- Servings: 40/20
- Best For: Energy
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Pros
Cons
STIM Daddy is another loaded formula from the popular brand RYSE. This is a product under the Noel Deyzel Signature Series. The first product was their popular Godzilla pre workout, then towards the end of 2022 they launched their non-stim formula Pump Daddy, which makes several appearances on our ranking guides as well.
STIM Daddy is a powerful pre-workout, and it is certainly going to be enough for many of you stim-junkies out there. The profile starts off with what many loaded pre-workouts start with, that high amount of Beta-Alanine at 6.4g. Following this you get 6g of Citrulline, which is enough to provide a pump. Another ingredient they have added is Betaine Anhydrous, which can help with power output and is at 4g… more than what is necessary to benefit from.
Of course we are all here for the “STIM” part of this formula. Well they have a combination of ingredients that are going to provide a powerful boost in energy and focus. You get 4g of Tyrosine, which is a popular nootropic ingredient that helps with dopamine production. You typically see this at 500mg-1,000mg, so at 4,000mg you are going to notice a difference. Following this you get 500mg of Citicholine, which is a high quality form of Choline and works quite quickly in our experience. Next you get 400mg of Caffeine, which is on the higher end, and definitely lets RYSE use the word “STIM” for this product.
Another energy boosting ingredient is Dynamine, which helps with clean energy and we love this one during workouts. AstraGin has been added to the formula to aid with bioavailability, and is at the recommended 50mg. Finally STIM Daddy gives you Alpha-Yohimbine, which can give a strong energy boost and may even aid with fat loss.
STIM Daddy certainly deserves a spot on this list, as it not only provides plenty of Caffeine and other ingredients to aid with energy/focus, but also great doses of ergogenic ingredients such as Beta-Alanine and Citrulline.
If you are looking for something strong, this is certainly a Daddy you’ve been wanting in your life.
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 (two-scoops) contains:
- 6.4 Beta-Alanine – Helps with endurance
- 6g Citrulline – helps move blood into the muscles,
- 4g Betaine Anhydrous – helps with power output
- 4g L-Tyrosine – helps with focus
- 500mg Cognizin® - high quality form of Choline , helps with focus
- 400mg Caffeine Anhydrous - helps with energy
- 150mg L-Theanine - promotes calmness and is used to combat the side effects of stimulants
- 100mg Theobromine - a molecule similar to caffeine, helps with energy
- 50mg Dynamine™ (40%) - helps with quick acting energy
- 50mg AstraGin - helps with absorption
- 1.5mg Rauwolfia - helps with energy and fat loss
Bottom Line:
STIM Daddy is a great option for those that like a loaded formula, but do not want to delve into the exotic stimulants of this industry. The high dose of Caffeine, paired with the well-dosed nootropic ingredients, make for a fun time. If there isn't enough pump for you, we recommend stacking it with Ryse Pump Cap Max, as they compliment each other well and make for a fun workout experience.
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#3 Hosstile Supps Hosstility Amped
- Rating: 8.9 out of 10
- Servings: 20 servings
- Best For: Focus
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Pros
Cons
Hosstile Supps Hosstility Amped is Hosstile Supps' high-stim pre-workout. It's not enough to have just one pre-workout these days if you're a brand. You need multiple pre-workouts with different formulas for various people. Some want the high-stim, some want the non-stim, some want something in-between. Obviously this one makes this list due to it being a a high-stim loaded formula.
The profile is broken down into 4 different blends. The first is the Pump+Performance blend that contains your typical ingredients such as Citrulline, Beta-Alanine, and Betaine Anhydrous all at solid doses. You also have the Extreme Focus Matrix , which contains Tyrosine at 2g, which is great for dopamine production, as well as 250mg of Cognizin, a high quality form of Choline. Another interesting addition is the Uridine Monophosphate, which helps with Choline production.
Now of course we have to talk about the Extreme Energy+Anti-Crash Matrix, which provides you with everyone's favorite ingredients for energy... Caffeine. You get two forms of it in here. One being straight Caffeine Anhydrous at 350mg. You also get Infinergy, and extended release Caffeine at 136mg. This gives you an extra 100mg of Caffeine that doesn't hit you all at once. SO a total of 450mg of Caffeine! To help stave off a crash, you get 100mg of Theanine, which some like and some don't. It may help prevent jitters you may experience from the 2mg of Alpha Yohimbine! This is quite a strong blend, which is why it's on this list.
Finally you get the Absorption Matrix, which is a blend of AstraGin and BioPerine. These have been added to help with the absorption of the ingredients in here.
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 contains:
- 6g Citrulline – helps move blood into the muscles,
- 3.2g Beta-Alanine – buffers lactic acid which may aid in endurance
- 2.5g Betaine Anhydrous – helps with power output
- 2g Taurine - aids with Hydration and bloodflow
- 789mg Pink Himalayan Sea Salt - Source of trace minerals and helps with hydration
- 2g Tyrosine - helps with focus under stressful situations
- 300mg Uridine Monophosphate - helps with choline production
- 250mg Coleus Forskolii - increases cAMP
- 10mg Huperzia Serrata - prevents acetylcholine from being broken down in the brain
- 350mg Caffeine Anhydrous - provides energy
- 200mg Theobromine - similar to caffeine, can increase body temperature
- 136mg Di-Caffeine Malate (as Infinergy) - Time-released Caffeine
- 150mg L-Theanine - promotes calmness and is used to combat the side effects of stimulants
- 1.5mg Rauwolfia - helps with energy and fat loss
- 50mg AstraGin® - may help with absorption
- 10mg BioPerine® - may help with absorption
Bottom Line:
Hosstility Amped is powerful pre-workout from a great brand. The taste is solid, the energy is great, and it hits in every department you want. Pumps, Focus, Performance.... this is not just a stim-bomb. Well worth picking up as a high-stim option on days where you really want to walk around feeling like you're walking on water.
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#4 GHOST Legend All Out
- Rating: 9.1 out of 10
- Servings: 40/20
- Best For: Pumps
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Pros
Cons
GHOST Legend All Out could easily be side-by-side our #1 ranked as it is that damn good. GHOST did not have a higher stimulant pre-workout until they launched All Out. This is the most hardcore pre-workout supplement the brand has ever released, but it is 100% compliant and won't cause your heart to beat out of your chest.
The pre-workout contains key ingredients for improved pumps, focus and energy. Citrulline and Citrulline Nitrates as NO3-T are added for improved blood flow.
Alpha GPC and Tyrosine are added for improved focus, both at higher dosages than we are typically used to seeing (a full 600mg dosage of Alpha GPC and 2,000mg dosage of Tyrosine).
The big thing here for GHOST was the stimulant complex. GHOST elected to go with 400mg of total caffeine from Caffeine Anhydrous and zumXR extended release caffeine. We love the ratio as well. Caffeine Anhydrous is the source of caffeine that hits first, followed by the tapering off impact of zumXR. Users get 300mg from Caffeine Anhydrous and 100mg from zumXR. The combination doesn't make you want to blow your heart out of your chest.
GHOST adds in Theobromine and Bitter Orange as well for a little extra kick in terms of energy. To round it all out, you get 50mg of AstraGin®, which may help with the absorption of some ingredients. Users will for sure feel the energy burst from GHOST Legend All Out.
Who Makes It?
GHOST has taken over the sports nutrition industry since launching the brand. They combine a lifestyle approach culture with pretty labels and great formulas. Many brands do one or the other great but GHOST happens to hit on everything very well. GHOST won our Brand of the Year award in 2019, 2020 and 2021 (we did not do one in 2022.)
What's In It?
One serving (one-scoop) contains:
- 6g L-Citrulline - combined of pure Citrulline and Citrulline Nitrate improving blood flow
- 3.2g Beta Alanine - improved muscular endurance
- 2.5g Betaine Anhydrous - more strength and power output
- 2g Tyrosine - improved focus
- 600mg Alpha GPC - choline molecule proven to improve memory and focus
- 300mg Caffeine Anhydrous - fast acting energy
- 100mg zumXR - extended release caffeine for longer energy
- 100mg Theobromine - similar to caffeine, can increase body temperature
- 60mg Bitter Orange Extract - increased energy and alertness with increased body temps
- 50mg AstraGin® - may help with absorption
Bottom Line:
GHOST Legend All Out could really be #1 as well. The formula is awesome and it performs, plain and simple. We hope the brand continues to expand flavors but the ones they do have are delicious. You will get a jolt of energy, without the crash, great focus and solid pumps making this a must-try for all pre-workout fans.
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#5 Klout PWR Kaio
- Rating: 8.7 out of 10
- Servings: 20
- Best For: Long Lasting Energy
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15%
Pros
Cons
KLOUT Kaio certainly deserves a spot on this list, but before we get int9o tit, let’s just admire how cool the design is…
Klout is a newcomer to the scene, but they have really made a splash with their awesome looking products and great formulas. Kaio is their high stim pre-workout that impresses not just with high Caffeine content, but also has everything else you need to consider it a top-tier pre-workout.
It starts off with Beta-Alanine at a clinical dose, which can help with endurance. This is then followed by Aquamin®. Aquamin® is a high quality source of minerals, and you get 300mg of it here. Now we have 300mg of Caffeine, which while we consider high, to also be standard for many pre-workouts these days. We will just get it out of the way now, you also get 150mg of Theobromine at 150mg, which is a Xanthine (just like Caffeine), and may help with energy as well. While not as strong as Caffeine, it may add a noticeable boost. It doesn’t end there, as you get an additional 110mg dose of Infinergy, which is Di-Caffeine Malate. This is a delayed-release Caffeine, that helps with longer lasting energy and may help prevent a crash. So you get an additional 82.5mg of Caffeine in here. Definitely what we would consider a high stim product here.
With that out of the way, you also get ElevATP®, which can help with ATP production. ATP is the energy currency of cells, and at 150mg you are getting a clinical dose. You also get an additional 100mg of Pink Himalayan Salt.
The Nootropic blend in here is quite impressive. It starts off with 1g of Taurine, which can help with blood flow and hydration. This is followed by 1g of Tyrosine, which is a popular focus ingredient and a precursor to dopamine. Alpha GPC is next, which is a high quality form of Choline. This converts to Acetylcholine in the brain, which is a neurotransmitter. The next two ingredients are CognatiQ, which is Coffee Fruit extract, and TeaCrine. CognatiQ can help with BDNF levels, and TeaCrine can help with long lasting energy while preventing a crash.
Finally you have some pump ingredients. You get 3 forms of Nitrates! We have said this many times here on FI… Nitrates are our favorite ingredients to get pumps from. They simply work! You get 1g of Betaine Nitrate, 750mg of Arginine Nitrate, and 500mg of Sodium Nitrate (all as NO3-T®). All three of these combined should induce a nice pump during your workouts, while making this very stackable with a pump product, as there is no Citrulline, which every pump product seems to have these days.
Overall, this is a great one for you guys who want a strong dose of Caffeine while also getting everything else you need. Also great for you who like to stack a stim-based pre-workout with a pump product. All the flavors we have had are great, so you can’t go wrong with any of them!
Who Makes It?
KLOUT is a relatively new brand to the market and it has already made quite a splash. Not just because they have some of the coolest looking products on the market. They have some very well done formulas and some well done flavors as well. We expect to see more from them in the future, and we can't wait for their approach, especially with whoever is doing their artwork.
What's In It?
One serving contains:
- 3.2g Beta Alanine - helps with endurance
- 300mg Aquamin - aids in hydration
- 300mg Caffeine Anhydrous – helps with energy
- 150mg ElevATP - May help with ATP production
- 600mg Alpha GPC – helps with focus
- 150mg Theobromine - helps with energy without increasing blood pressure
- 110mg Di-Caffeine Malate (as Infinergy) - Time-released Caffeine
- 100mg Pink Himalayan Sea Salt - Source of trace minerals and helps with hydration
- 1g Taurine - aids with Hydration and bloodflow
- 1g Tyrosine - helps with focus under stressful situations
- 600mg Alpha GPC – helps with focus
- 150mg CognatiQ - Helps with BDNF levels
- 50mg TeaCrine® (40%) – helps with long lasting energy
- 1g NO3-T® Betaine Nitrate – increases nitric oxide in the body - great pumps
- 750g NO3-T® Arginine Nitrate - increases nitric oxide in the body - great pumps
- 500mg NO3-T® Sodium Nitrate - increases nitric oxide in the body - great pumps
Bottom Line:
Klout PWR Kaio is a great option for those who not only like cool products, but also like strong formulas that don't need a bunch of exotic stimulants to make them stand out. While not the strongest pre-workout on this list, it still packs a heavy punch with its high dose of Caffeine, and really shines in the Nootropic department. Def. worth checking out, and the flavors are awesome as well!
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When Should I Use A Strongest Pre-Workout Supplement
We all love our strong pre-workout supplements. They are great! They are effective and impactful on energy and focus. This is typically because they are higher stimulant products. This means they contain ingredients like Caffeine (higher amounts), DMHA, Synephrine, Hordenine, Eria Jarensis to just name a few. These are great, effective ingredients, but should not be taken daily.
If you're a stimulant junkie you're probably thinking of telling us to go f*ck ourselves with that last sentence, but for real, cycle these strongest pre-workout supplements. Your body will start to create a tolerance to stimulants, thus requiring you to keep adding more and more. This isn't great for your receptors and your adrenal glands. When you overdo stimulants, you start to feel fatigued, even when you have stimulants in your system.
We recommend using a strongest pre-workout supplement 2-3 times a week. During those other days use a Non-Stimulant Pre-Workout or a lower stimulant pre-workout. Your body will thank you.
Save your strongest pre-workout supplement for days where you are really dragging or you want to hit an epic PR. This is a great time to use one of these five on this strongest pre-workout supplement list.
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.