The 8 Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts of 2023 – Fitnessnacks

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Some people prefer a pre-workout supplement without any stimulants included. You may work out later in the evening and not want your pre-workout to affect your sleep, you may prefer to get your daily pick me up from a cup of coffee before a workout, or perhaps you’re taking a fat burner that already contains caffeine. Regardless of your reasoning, we have a list of potentially pump-inducing, focus-forward, performance-enhancing pre-workouts, all sans stimulants.

If you have avoided trying pre-workouts in the past because you wanted to steer clear of stimulants, this is the opportunity to push aside the guesswork and find a pre-workout that will work for your lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for a pre- with added creatine that may help you achieve more muscle growth, or just want to stay focused throughout your leg day, look no further than this list — these are the best non-stim pre-workout supplements on the market today.

Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts

Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. 

Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout Overall

To win our overall best spot, a pre-workout has to have respectable dosages, solid ingredient lists, and inclusions for focus to make up for the lack of caffeine. This pick has all three and comes in a delicious flavor to boot.

Swolverine PRE

This pre-workout formula is optimized to help support athletic performance, hydration, and recovery. Each scoop delivers a solid dose of 5,000mg of citrulline along with 2,500mg of betaine, which may aid in blood flow and deliver pre-workout ingredients for skin-splitting pumps. (1)(2) To potentially support endurance, you’ll also receive 3,200mg of beta-alanine and 1,500mg of carnitine.

Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout

Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout may lack stimulants, but it makes up for that with a great blend of high-dosed ingredients to help improve blood flow, recovery, and endurance. The citrulline malate and betaine anhydrous can give you the edge you need to conquer your next gym session.

If you have trouble focusing, you may find the 1,200mg of taurine and 1,000mg of eleuthero to be helpful. Finally, since you want to ensure you’re staying hydrated, the 1,000mg of coconut water powder and 500mg of pomegranate fruit powder can help. Swolverine PRE is made using only all-natural sweeteners, though it does only come in one flavor — Mango Lemonade. You can snag a 25-serving container for around $52.99 or $2.12 per serving which is on the pricey side for pre-workouts, but we think it’s justified for the high quality and quantity of ingredients here.

Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout

Who Should Buy Swolverine PRE

• Athletes who want a non-stim pre-workout that still contains ingredients to potentially help focus and cognition, like the 1,200mg of taurine and 1,000mg of eleuthero found here. 
• Those who are looking for crazy pumps will like the beetroot, citrulline, and betaine found in this formula. 
• Anyone who wants to avoid artificial ingredients. This pre-workout uses all-natural ingredients.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine PRE

• People who want a natural energy booster like ginseng will have to look elsewhere. 
• Folks who want more flavor options beyond the one available here, or anyone looking for an unflavored option.
• Those who don’t like the tingling sensation of beta-alanine may not like the potent dose of 3,200mg in PRE. 

If you’re looking for a stim-free pre-workout that still has the potential to provide pumps, energy, and focus, look no further than Swolverine PRE. It contains 10 well-dosed ingredients meant to assist you in conquering grueling workouts, all without caffeine.

[Related: Nutrition For Bulking: 10 Tips For Intelligent Muscle Gain]

Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for Muscle Gain

When you’re trying to pack on the muscle, a pre-workout might be the key to unlocking bigger gains. This stimulant-free pre-workout contains high doses of classic pre-workout ingredients to support blood flow and focus along with some extras.

Transparent Labs Stim-Free

Transparent Labs includes a solid dose of 4,000mg of 2:1:1 BCAAs, which may help improve endurance and more importantly, boost recovery and muscle building. Each large, 22-gram scoop of this pre-workout is also stacked with 6,000mg of citrulline and 2,500mg of betaine to potentially support blood flow and pumps. If you’re not experienced with beta-alanine supplements, you may want to start off with a smaller scoop since Transparent Labs packed in a massive 4,000mg dose to each scoop. 

Transparent Labs Stim Free Pre-Workout

An unusually powerful pre-workout that’s packed with clinically effective doses of ingredients linked to everything from power to endurance. All of this without the use of caffeine or other stimulants.

Though there is no caffeine in here, there are pre-workout ingredients for focus — like 50mcg of Huperzine A and 1,300mg of taurine. To potentially help absorb all these potent doses, you also receive 5mg of black pepper extract with each scoop. You can choose from six tasty flavors when purchasing a 30-serving tub for around $49.99 ($1.67 per serving), which is about average price for a high quality pre.

Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Stim-Free

• People who like a pre-workout with added BCAAs to potentially aid in muscle building and recovery. 
• Those who are big fans of the tinglies you feel from high doses of beta-alanine will appreciate the giant 4,000mg dose here. 
• Anyone who wants to have multiple flavors to choose from. This comes in six different flavors.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Stim-Free

• People who dislike the tingling sensation that beta-alanine can cause will want to check out other options with lower doses.
• Those who are already taking a BCAA supplement may find their inclusion here redundant.
• Anyone who wants a higher dose of citrulline can find some other products with higher doses. 

There really isn’t much to dislike with this pre-workout, other than the large scoop size compared to many other pre-workouts. It contains BCAAs, which may help pack on muscle, along with other staple pre-workout ingredients for potential boosts in focus and blood flow.

Best All-Natural Non-Stim Pre-Workout

This pick is stim-free, all-natural, and still contains high doses of some favorite pre-workout ingredients. It also comes in a delicious Mango Lemonade flavor with no added sugars.

Swolverine PRE

Finding a pre-workout that is all-natural may be really important for some users, and Swolverine has created an all-natural pre-workout with natural flavors, no added sugars, and eight highly-dosed ingredients to set you up for a successful workout. This pre-workout contains 5,000mg of citrulline malate, which has been suggested to enhance recovery and performance due to its potential to increase nitric oxide production and arginine bioavailability. (4) Swolverine PRE also contains 3,200mg of beta-alanine, which is known for the tingly feeling it can produce in your skin.

Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout

Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout may lack stimulants, but it makes up for that with a great blend of high-dosed ingredients to help improve blood flow, recovery, and endurance. The citrulline malate and betaine anhydrous can give you the edge you need to conquer your next gym session.

This formula contains 1,500mg of carnitine and 1,200mg of taurine, which are two amino acids that may be helpful for recovery as amino acids are the essential building blocks of protein. It’s rounded out with the addition of 1,000mg of Siberian ginseng, which may provide natural energy, 1,000mg of coconut water, which may promote hydration, and 500mg of pomegranate fruit, which may offer antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. (5) This pre-workout will cost you around $2.10 per serving, which is a higher cost than some pre-workouts on the market, but nothing too extravagant.

Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout Suggested Use

Who Should Buy Swolverine PRE

• Those who want an all-natural formula that doesn’t skimp on taste or quality will enjoy this robust and highly-dosed ingredient list. 
• Anyone who wants the addition of Siberian ginseng, which may provide some natural energy without stimulation will be happy to see 1,000mg present in this formula. 
• Folks who want some extras like 1,000mg of coconut water extract, which may improve hydration, or 500mg of pomegranate fruit extract, which may help with inflammation.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine PRE

• If you’re looking for a plethora of flavors to choose from, you’ll have to look elsewhere as this only comes in a Mango Lemonade flavor. 
• Those who want a pre-workout with BCAAs will have to find another on the market. 
• Folks who want to bulk-buy their supps as this only comes in 25-serving tubs. 

If you want a non-stim pre-workout that is also all-natural in its formulation, look no further. Swolverine PRE has highly-dosed and helpful natural ingredients, like Siberian ginseng — which can help provide energy for your workout without the addition of stimulants to the formula.

[Related: Best Macros Calculator For Tracking Muscle Gain And Fat Loss]

Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for Performance & Recovery

If your main focus for supplementation is improving recovery and performance, you’ll want a pre-workout that’s stacked with ingredients that support both. This pre-workout is dosed with ingredients that may improve muscle gain, recovery, and pump, but it still steers clear of stimulants.

Onnit Total Strength and Performance

People most often associate post-workout supplements with recovery, but this pre-workout has ingredients designed to aid in performance as well as recovery. Each serving provides a 4,500mg dose of a combination of BCAAs, glutamine, and beta-alanine — all of which may aid in both performing better in the gym and kickstarting recovery outside of it. In addition, d-aspartic acid and grains of paradise may help improve hormonal regulation and aid in muscle building.

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Onnit Total Strength + Performance

Onnit contains a Power Blend with longjack, which can help fuel muscle contractions, a Performance Blend with BCAAs, glutamine and beta-alanine, which can help boost performance during exercise, and a Support Blend with resveratrol that can help you push through during tough training.

Onnit included some doses of B vitamins here too, like B5 and B6, which may be helpful for energy production and make up for the lack of stimulants in this formula. (7) With a keen eye for recovery tactics, Onnit added an herb blend for mood support, which may help improve recovery by reducing stress and anxiety.

The only thing some people may take issue with is the use of proprietary blends rather than listing exact ingredient amounts. You can choose either Strawberry Lemonade or Pink Grapefruit flavors in 30-serving containers that cost around $44.95 ($2.25 per serving). It’s priced above average, but the included BCAAs and glutamine may make the cost worth it for some folks.

Onnit Total Strength + Performance

Who Should Buy Onnit Total Strength and Performance

• Those who want potentially performance-enhancing ingredients will like the d-aspartic acid and beta-alanine found in this formula. 
• Folks who want a pre-workout that also contains recovery ingredients will like the glutamine and added BCAAs here, which come in a 2:1:1 ratio.
• Folks who place a high value on mood support ingredients will like the herb blend here.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Onnit Total Strength and Performance

• Those who want more flavors to choose from will have to look elsewhere as this only comes in Strawberry Lemonade and Pink Grapefruit.
• Folks who don’t like proprietary blends. Most of the ingredients are listed in blends here. 
• Athletes on a budget can find a pre-workout for under $2.00 elsewhere on the market.

If your biggest desire for a pre-workout is for it to have performance and recovery ingredients, you’ll have a hard time beating this formula. It contains a unique list of ingredients that may help improve your focus and pump, as well as ingredients that may help you recover faster to get back to the gym sooner.

Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for the Money

Price can be an important factor when it comes to choosing your next pre-workout, but being on a budget doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the quality of your pre-workout. This formula contains no artificial ingredients and has a nice selection of flavor choices.

Transparent Labs Stim-Free

You should be able to find a high-quality pre-workout that won’t break the bank, and that is where Transparent Labs Stim-Free Pre-Workout comes in. This formula contains 6,000mg of citrulline malate, 4,000mg of a 2:1:1 breakdown of BCAAs, 4,000mg of potentially tingle-inducing beta-alanine, and 2,500 of betaine anhydrous. You’ll find 1,300mg of the amino acid taurine present, which may be helpful for hydration, increasing oxygen uptake, improving recovery time, delaying fatigue during exercise, and reducing overall muscle damage from resistance training. (8) It also happens to be an ingredient often found in energy drinks, which makes it a great addition to a stim-free pre-workout. 

Transparent Labs Stim Free Pre-Workout

An unusually powerful pre-workout that’s packed with clinically effective doses of ingredients linked to everything from power to endurance. All of this without the use of caffeine or other stimulants.

This pre-workout is naturally flavored, colored, and sweetened with stevia. It is available in Fruit Punch, Cherry Limeade, Sour Grape, Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, Lemon Lime, Orange, Peach Mango, Strawberry Lemonade, and Tropical Punch flavors. At about $1.65 per serving, this price, ingredient list, lack of artificial ingredients, and plentiful flavor choices make this a tough pick to beat. 

Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Stim-Free

• Folks who want the best bang for their buck will appreciate the solid doses this supp provides at its $1.65 per serving price tag.
• Those who want a plethora of flavors to choose from as this formula comes in 10 unique flavors.
• Athletes who want a supplement free of artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Stim-Free

• Buyers who want creatine in their pre-workout will have to look elsewhere. 
• People who don’t like the taste of stevia as this is sweetened with stevia. 
• Those who are hoping for an unflavored option. 

There is no reason why shopping for an affordable pre-workout supplement should be a challenge. Transparent Labs Stim-Free Pre-Workout has found the balance of creating a natural and highly-dosed stim-free pre while maintaining a very reasonable price point.

Read our full review of Transparent Labs Stim-Free.

The Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for Pump

This formula is so focused on providing an insane pump, it even has the word in its title. You’re not messing around when it comes to your workouts, and Huge Supplements Pump Serum isn’t messing around with their pump-focused ingredients.

Huge Supplements Pump Serum

Pump Serum has 13 ingredients, many of which are keyed in on potentially helping you with your pumps. This formula contains a whopping 8,000mg of citrulline, which may improve blood flow by restoring nitric oxide levels and relaxing blood vessels. This can allow for more blood to pump through the body. (8) It also contains 3,000mg of GlycerPump ©, which was formulated with the intention to help improve performance, enhance endurance, and boost vascularity (pump) for its users. The 1,500mg of tyrosine may be helpful for creating energy as well, as it’s a precursor to dopamine and norepinephrine, which may lead to increased energy. (9)

Huge Supplements Pump Serum

This pre-workout contains 8,000mg of l-citrulline. This high level of citrulline combined with other patented ingredients, like GlyerPump, make this product a potent nitric oxide supplement.

With the addition of 2,000 mg of natural vasodilator beetroot extract and 5mg of BioPerine (black pepper extract) to help with nutrtients absorption, you have a homerun ingredient list that may provide the pump you’ve been longing for. This supplement comes in Strawberry Mojito, Jungle Juice, Cherry Bomb, and Island Dream flavors, and costs around $2.25 per serving, which is a bit pricier than others on our list.

Huge Supplements Pump Serum

Who Should Buy Huge Supplements Pump Serum

• People who want an ingredient list that specifically can help give you better and more intense pumps during your workouts will like the beetroot, GlycerPump ©, and citrulline in this lineup.
• Folks who like BioPerine or black pepper extract in their formula to help the other ingredients absorb better.
• If you want a pump without the tingle feeling beta-alanine leaves you with, you’ll be pleased that this formula comes sans beta-alanine.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Huge Supplements Pump Serum

• People who want a pump and aren’t concerned about extras can find a simpler formula.
• Those who are on a budget can find a cheaper alternative.
• Folks who like a plethora of flavors to choose from; although the choices are unique, Pump Serum only comes in four flavor options.

Huge Supplements Pump Serum is made specifically with potentially pump-inducing ingredients, all dosed above the market average. They include both artificial and natural ingredients, and a kick of black pepper extract to potentially help with absorption.

[Related: Intermittent Fasting 101: A Guide To Benefits, Muscle Gain, And More]

Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for Focus

Maybe you’re training early in the morning or after a tough day at work, or maybe you just find focusing to be the hardest part of your workout. No matter your reasoning, this formula comes with focus-forward ingredients to help you stay in your lane and crush your workouts without distraction.

Transparent Labs Stim-Free

Transparent Labs Stim-Free Pre-Workout contains 1,000mg of the amino acid tyrosine, which may be helpful for cognition. One study found tyrosine to increase dopamine levels in the brain and that it may help improve some parts of cognitive control in situations that require high demand — such as the gym. (1) This may also mean it could be helpful for energy production as it’s a precursor to dopamine and norepinephrine. (9) It also contains 50mcg of huperzine A, which is a well-accepted nootropic, meaning it may help with brain function, motivation memory, and cognition. (10)

Transparent Labs Stim Free Pre-Workout

An unusually powerful pre-workout that’s packed with clinically effective doses of ingredients linked to everything from power to endurance. All of this without the use of caffeine or other stimulants.

Transparent Labs Stim-Free pre is one of our more affordable options on this list coming in at around $1.65 per serving, and offering a variety of delicious flavors. The available flavors are Fruit Punch, Cherry Limeade, Sour Grape, Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, Lemon Lime, Orange, Peach Mango, Strawberry Lemonade, and Tropical Punch. Transparent Labs is known for leaving out artificial ingredients, and this product uses stevia to sweeten.

Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Stim-Free

• Athletes who want to potentially increase mental cognition and focus during their workouts will appreciate the tyrosine and huperzine A found in this formula.
• Those seeking a pre-workout that isn’t limited in its flavor choices will like that this has 10 to choose from.
• Folks who want a reasonable price point for their pre-workout as this rings in at around $1.65 per serving.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Stim-Free

• Folks who don’t like the taste of stevia will want to find a pre-workout with a different sweetening agent.
• If you want a supplement specifically geared towards cognition and focus, but aren’t tied to a pre-workout, you can find more focus-forward supps on the market. 
• Anyone hoping for an unflavored supp.

When it comes to your tough workouts, you may want a pre- that can help keep you focused and clear-headed throughout your lifts. This pre-workout has focus-forward ingredients like tyrosine and huperzine A, which may help you stay motivated and cognizant throughout the entirety of your workout.

Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout with Creatine

Why take creatine and pre-workout separately when you can find both in one supp? This pre-workout contains many favorite pre-workout ingredients, as well as 1,500mg of creatine HCl.

Kaged Pre-Kaged Stim-Free

Kaged isn’t shy when it comes to making high-quality, potent, and robust supplements, and this stim-free pre-workout is no exception. There are so many ingredients found in this lineup that they split the ingredient list into categories based on what each ingredient provides.

15% Off

Kaged Pre-Kaged Stim Free

This pre-workout includes BCAAs, taurine, tyrosine, citrulline, and creatine — but it does not contain caffeine. You’ll also find coconut water powder, which can help with hydration throughout your workouts. 

The categories include Pump, which contains 6,500mg of citrulline, Muscle Fuel Matrix, which is a 2:1:1 blend of BCAAs, Anabolic Activator (which contains 3,000mg of leucine), Strength & Power Matrix (which is where the 1,500mg of creatine is found), Hydrate & Defend with 500mg of coconut water and a proprietary blend of superfoods, and Neuro-Focus Matrix (which contains 2,000mg of taurine). Taurine is a common ingredient found in energy drinks, as it is potentially helpful for boosting energy. 

With so many pre-workout staples in this ingredient list, it’s a serious bonus to see 1,500mg of creatine HCl in this formula. The good news about creatine is that one study has suggested that supplementing with creatine may benefit you beyond just muscle gain alone, potentially helping to improve cognitive function as well. (11) This formula comes in Fruit Punch and Cherry Bomb flavor options, both of which are naturally flavored and colored, and will cost you about $2.25 per serving.

Kaged Pre-Kaged Pre-Workout Powder

Who Should Buy Kaged Pre-Kaged Stim-Free

• Anyone who wants a pre-workout that contains 1,500mg of creatine that may help with muscle gain and cognitive function.
• People who value robust ingredient lists as this one is pretty extensive with over 12 active ingredients. 
• Folks who want naturally colored and flavored supplements. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy Kaged Pre-Kaged Stim-Free

• Folks who are on a budget can find cheaper alternatives on our list. 
• Anyone who prefers to take their creatine and pre-workout at different times of the day will want to opt for two different products. 
• If you’re not into Fruit Punch or Cherry Bomb flavors this may not be the supp line for you.

This formula contains a robust ingredients list, highly-dosed ingredients, and the benefit of staple pre-workout ingredients with the addition of creatine HCl — which may help provide better cognition and build more muscle mass.

Benefits of Non-Stim Pre-Workouts

Non-stim pre-workouts provide nearly all the same benefits as regular pre-workouts with the notable exclusion of stimulants, like caffeine, yohimbine, theobromine, and theacrine. They can be potentially beneficial for improving your pump and blood flow, may enhance muscular endurance, and possibly boost focus.

Pump and Blood Flow

Perhaps the second most common reason for taking a pre-workout (after stimulants which you won’t find in these pre’s) is improved pumps and blood flow. Ingredients like citrulline, arginine, betaine (beetroot), and other nitric oxide boosters are commonly included in high dosages in stimulant-free pre-workouts. (2)(3) People who are perpetually chasing the pump will like non-stim pre-workouts because they tend to feature these ingredients in their formulas front and center, instead of harping on stimulant ingredients.

Muscular Endurance

Working out harder for longer is generally more beneficial unless you take it to the extreme. Ingredients that can potentially enhance how long your muscles can perform at high levels might improve the gains you can make. Pre-workouts that boast enhanced muscular endurance should feature well-dosed ingredients, like beta-alanine, creatine, and betaine (which works double-duty from the previous section). (6)(15) Creatine is generally regarded as a power output enhancing supplement, but the way it does that is by increasing the amount of time that you’re able to utilize the phosphocreatine system, which is technically improving muscular endurance. (6)

Focus

Many people use caffeine and other stimulants to enhance their alertness and focus in the gym. Stimulant-free pre-workouts, by definition, can’t rely on those ingredients, so they include others in their formulation. You’ll find tyrosine, taurine, alpha-GPC, and theanine commonly present in formulations with the intention of enhancing focus. (1)(9) Huperzine A is a newer nootropic ingredient that has some promising studies behind it and has been used increasingly in pre-workouts with the hopes of enhancing cognitive function, focus, memory, and motivation. (10) Some studies suggest that creatine may even benefit brain function, too. (13)

How We Chose the Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts

When putting together a list of the best non-stim pre-workouts there were several factors that we considered. Dosages, ingredients, and price were the main ones, but we’ll dig a little deeper into each of those below.

Dosage

For an ingredient to be as effective as possible, it has to be clinically dosed. We tend to pick supplements that contain ingredients that are clinically dosed to be effective, providing you with the most bang for your buck. We generally prefer that ingredients have specifically stated doses, but sometimes a brand will include a proprietary blend in their ingredient list.

Image via Shutterstock / Pixel-Shot

A proprietary blend is a mix of various ingredients that have a total amount, but each individual ingredient’s dose isn’t disclosed. You may see this more commonly in a greens powder supplement. While most of our picks on this list don’t contain proprietary blends, we state when a proprietary blend is included.

Ingredients

Ingredient lists can be eclectic for many supplements, but pre-workouts tend to be one of the most eclectic. When making this list we wanted to provide some simpler formulas, as well as more extensive and robust ingredient lists. We try to make sure there is something for almost everyone on these lists, and that means having a variety of ingredient lists.

Image via Shutterstock / GaudiLab

Another important factor to consider specifically for a non-stimulant pre-workout is the ingredients included in the formula that can potentially produce energy to make up for the lack of caffeine or stimulants that regular pre’s often contain. Some of those ingredients include ginseng, taurine, tyrosine, and B vitamins. 

Price

Price is another important factor that we considered when building out this list. We care about quality, and often higher prices go hand in hand with higher quality. However, we have some picks on this list that don’t compromise quality even at lower price points. There should be an accessible price point on this list for just about anybody. And rest assured that no matter the price point you choose on this list, you’ll be getting your money’s worth.

How Much Do Non-Stim Pre-Workouts Cost?

Pre-workouts definitely vary in price. Their cost will depend on the ingredient list, dosage, bulk purchase options, and whether the company used fillers, or artificial or natural ingredients. This list contains a variety of stim-free pre-workouts that range between around $1.50 per serving to around $2.50 per serving. There is some wiggle room between the two, but this is just for stim-free picks that we love. This is fairly standard across the board for pre-workouts — the stim-free factor doesn’t change the price point here.

If you’re looking for a highly-dosed and all-natural pre-workout, you may be paying for it. The high quality of an ingredient list will most likely increase the price point, as well as highly dosed individual ingredients. If you opt for a formula that contains proprietary blends, you may expect to pay less. This is because proprietary blends don’t disclose how much of each individual ingredient is present in the formula, and therefore, there may be smaller doses of each ingredient.

Common Ingredients In Non-Stim Pre-Workouts

Before buying a new pre-workout, it’s important to understand common pre ingredients and their purposes. When you have that base knowledge, you can make an informed decision about which formula and ingredient list may be best suited for your workout needs.

Citrulline

Citrulline is a nonessential amino acid, which means the body generally produces enough of it that you don’t need extra supplementation to be sufficient. However, just because you have enough to survive doesn’t mean that an extra dose won’t have some potential benefits.

Image via Shutterstock / Miljan Zivkovic

When used for workout performance, citrulline may help produce more nitric oxide in your system, which can up the blood flow in your muscles delivering the pumps many athletes are chasing. It has also been suggested to be helpful for enhancing performance and recovery in its users. (4) A clinically effective dose of citrulline is considered to be about 6,000mg a day. (12)

Betaine

Betaine is made in the body and can also be found in food sources, like beets, broccoli, and shellfish. One study suggests that betaine may be good for increasing strength and power as two studies found supplementation with betaine to increase both by almost 25 percent. (13) This is likely due to the fact that betaine is a precursor to carnitine, which is an amino acid that can help with energy production. The effective dose of betaine for exercise performance is about 2,500mg per day, but it may be most effective when split into two 1,250mg doses. (14)

Beta-Alanine

Beta-alanine is the ingredient found in many pre-workouts that can give you that tingly feeling in your extremities. It has been suggested to delay muscular fatigue, and enhance physical performance, especially in high-intensity anaerobic workouts. (15) The suggested effective dose for beta-alanine is between 3,200mg to 6,400mg per day. (16)

BCAAs

BCAAs or branched-chain amino acids are the three amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They are usually found in a 2:1:1 ratio, and are most commonly utilized to help increase muscle growth, enhance exercise performance, reduce fatigue, and repair muscle damage after intense workouts. (17) For a combination of all three BCAAs, the suggested dose should not exceed 20g per day with a balance of all three in a 2:1:1 ratio. (18)

Creatine

Creatine is a very popular supplement and is commonly used as a muscle growth supplement. It has been shown in various studies to help improve performance and muscle mass in consistent users. (19) The conditions on its effectiveness are improved when it is utilized in conjunction with resistance training, and it is especially beneficial for healthy young people. The suggested dose of creatine will vary based on your size, muscle mass, and type of creatine but it is suggested to be between 5,000mg to 10,000mg per day. (20)

Non-Stim Pre-Workouts vs. Regular Pre-Workouts

Regular pre-workouts generally contain stimulants like caffeine and yohimbine. There may be many names like caffeine anhydrous, di-caffeine malate, and caffeine citrate so it can be helpful to keep an eye out for them. Other than that, non-stimulant pre-workouts tend to have more ingredients dedicated to improving blood flow and helping you achieve better pumps.

Since this is a list of stim-free pre-workouts, you may be curious as to what ingredients to look out for that may act as energy boosters. Some of the main ones are ginseng, which is a natural energy booster. You’ll also see B vitamins, which may be necessary for energy production in the body. (7) The other two common ingredients that may boost energy levels are the amino acids taurine and tyrosine. Taurine is found commonly in energy drinks while tyrosine is a precursor to dopamine and norepinephrine, which may boost energy levels in the brain. (9)

How to Choose the Right Non-Stim Pre-Workout for You

When adding any new supplement to your stack, it’s important to consider a few factors before deciding on your supp of choice. There is so much versatility on the market and it can be overwhelming to figure out which stim-free pre-workout may be best for your needs. We put together a list of things to consider before you buy.

Goals

Depending on your goals, you may want more specific ingredients in your pre-workout. For example, if your main goal is muscle growth, you’d want to find a pre-workout that contains ingredients that can potentially support muscle growth, such as creatine. If your goal is to avoid burnout and muscular fatigue, you may want a pre-workout that has BCAAs in its ingredient list. It’s important to sit with your intention, and then figure out which ingredients will best help you achieve your end goal.

Ingredients

Ingredient lists are extremely diverse in pre-workouts. This list contains some formulas that have extensive ingredient lists, as well as much simpler ones. Much like goals, the ingredients you’re looking for in a pre-workout will be very important. Those who are looking for a pre-workout that will offer multiple benefits may want a more extensive ingredient list that offers various ingredients for focus, pump, and even muscle growth and gain. While some may opt for a simpler formula knowing they want something that focuses on something more specific, such as solely on focus or nitric oxide production.

Credit: Prostock-studio / Shutterstock

Proprietary blends are another ingredient factor to consider. Proprietary blends are a conjunction of many ingredients, but the exact amount of each individual ingredient isn’t disclosed. We make note of any proprietary blends in this list, but if you’re looking for a product where each individual ingredient’s dosage is disclosed, these blends are important to note.

Dosages

To be the most effective, you want each ingredient in your stim-free pre-workout to be clinically dosed. There are several companies that will over or under-dose, and you’ll want to be aware of the correct dosage amount and how it may affect you. If you’re curious or concerned, many supplement companies disclose the amounts and reasoning behind them on their website, but you can always do a quick Google search.

Make sure to use a reputable and science-backed site to figure out clinical doses, and the effect an ingredient may have at a specific dose. Beta-alanine, for example, has an effective dose range between 3,200mg and 6,400mg daily for best results, with the strongest pre-workouts at the higher end of that range, you may start feeling that tingly effect. (16)

Price

The price of a pre-workout will fluctuate, but it should never break the bank. It’s important to figure out what your budget is and find a pre-workout that fits your budget. We also recommend looking at the price per serving to be able to weigh the difference between several supps. To do this, you’ll divide the full price of the supplement by the number of servings. The final number that the equation provides will give you the price per serving, making it easier to compare various products on a level playing field.

What to Avoid When Looking for Non-Stim Pre-Workouts

Stimulants aren’t for everyone, and that is okay. If you’re someone who likes to work out later in the day, who is sensitive to stimulants, who prefers to get their pick-me-up from other caffeine sources, or who just doesn’t like how stimulants make them feel, then this may be a great option for you. Some ingredients that may be helpful to avoid are variants of caffeine, yohimbe, and green tea extract

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If you’re looking for an energy boost and you do enjoy some jitters, you may want to rethink going stim-free. With the addition of caffeine or a stimulant in your pre-workout, you may find yourself having more energy, and focus, and stimulants may even be able to help you burn fat, reduce BMI, and increase weight loss. (21)

Final Word

For those who want a pre-workout supplement, but don’t want any of the stimulants many pre-workouts contain, you’re in luck. We’ve reviewed some high-quality pre-workouts that won’t give you the high and crash that pre-workouts with stimulants can cause. These pre-workouts contain effective ingredients, which may help better your focus, cognition, pump, and muscle growth without compromising your desire for a stim-free product.

If you’re going stim-free, but still want a pick-me-up, check your ingredient list for ingredients like ginseng, vitamin B12, taurine, or tyrosine. If you’re wanting to add a stim-free pre-workout to your lineup, but you’re not sure which one is best for you, keep in mind your fitness goals when making your decision. This list is here as a navigating tool to help you find your perfect stim-free pre-workout if you want to kick butt in the gym, but don’t want the buzz from caffeine or other stimulants. 

FAQs

Will I still get the benefits of a pre-workout without any stimulants?

Yes. The ingredients in pre-workouts aren’t only beneficial when paired with stimulants. If your main goal from a pre-workout is to obtain energy, you may want to opt for a pre that contains natural sources of energy, like ginseng.

If you’re concerned that stimulants are the only potentially effective ingredient in pre-workout, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know there are many potentially effective ingredients, and stimulants aren’t the only ingredient that can make a pre effective.

Do non-stimulant pre-workouts make you jittery?

Everyone reacts differently to the formulas of non-stimulant pre-workouts but in general, they lack the ingredients that cause people to feel jittery. Those include caffeine, yohimbine, theobromine, and theacrine. Some supplements marketed as non-stimulant may contain low doses of these ingredients so keep an eye out if you’re sensitive to stimulants.

What is the best non-stim pre-workout?

There are a ton of great stim-free pre-workout options on the market today, and we’ve put our favorites in this list. Right now, we think Swolverine PRE is the best because of its potent list of 10 clinically-dosed ingredients to potentially support pump, focus, blood flow, and endurance. It’s also all-natural with no artificial ingredients, which many people put a premium on.

How much do non-stim pre-workouts cost?

Non-stim pre-workouts range from around $40 to over $60 per container, but that’s only part of the story. When looking at the prices of any supplement (and especially pre-workouts), it’s important to note how many servings are included in the container. Generally, you can expect to spend between $1.50 and $2.50 per serving for top-tier non-stim pre-workouts like the ones on this list.

Why should I take a non-stim pre-workout?

There can be a variety of reasons why someone would opt for a stim-free pre-workout. Some people work out later in the evening and don’t want their sleep to be impacted by taking a stimulant too late at night. Other people may be sensitive to caffeine or stimulants, and not like the way it makes them feel.

There are also some people who prefer to get their stimulants from a cup of coffee or green tea, and don’t want to overdo it on the caffeine front. Whatever your feelings may be, there are plenty of reasons to opt for a stim-free pre-workout formula.

When is the best time to take my non-stim pre-workout?

Much like the name suggests, a stim-free pre-workout is most effective when taken before your workout. Although some supplement companies may give you a “best” window, many supp companies tell you to take your pre-workout about 30 minutes before your workout begins, so the ingredients have time to potentially kick in before your training.

References

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