Best Pre-Workout With Creatine (2024): Reach For Next-Level Workouts with These Favorites

Creatine is the most heavily studied dietary supplement in the sports nutrition world, and the consensus among experts is this: It works! Creatine has been shown to help build muscle mass, aid in ATP synthesis¹ (our body’s form of energy), and generally help boost exercise performance². 

This is why it doesn’t hurt to own a creatine pre-workout. Our supplement stacks can grow and grow, from the best pre-workouts to the best BCAAS and protein powder, but, come on—our stomachs can only handle so much. Including creatine in your pre-workout can help consolidate your supplement regimen. It also allows you to use the “creatine bloat,” the phenomenon of creatine pulling water into the muscles, to your advantage to enhance that coveted muscle pump. 

Now, if you’ve heard the rumor that supplementing with both creatine and caffeine (a common pre-workout ingredient) at the same time is a waste due to the two ingredients counteracting each other, a recent review suggests that this is nothing more than paranoia³ and that athletes who supplement with both may actually experience more performance benefits. 

That said, we’ve highlighted the inclusion of both creatine and caffeine in our picks for informational purposes. So, with that in mind, please take a moment to sit back, relax, and read on to learn about the next pre-workout to get you jacked.

Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider.

Best Pre-Workout With Creatine

• Best Pre-Workout With Creatine Overall: Gorilla Mode
• Strongest Pre-Workout With Creatine: Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
• Best Pre-Workout With Creatine for a Pump: 4 Gauge
• Best Pre-Workout With Creatine for Focus: JYM Supplements Pre-JYM
• Best Pre-Workout With Creatine for Muscle Gain: Blackwolf
• Best High-Stim Pre-Workout With Creatine: RYSE Godzilla
• Best Budget Pre-Workout With Creatine: MuscleTech Vapor X5
• Best Natural Pre-Workout With Creatine: Naked Energy
• Best Pre-Workout With Creatine for Beginners: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout

Best Pre-Workout With Creatine Overall: Gorilla Mode

Good for: Individuals who want good focus and an even better pump

Best Overall

Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4.25

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Product Highlights

• Ingredients shown to improve mental focus, muscle endurance, and energy
• 11 flavors
• Can be bought in bulk for discount

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Ingredients shown to improve mental focus, muscle endurance, and energy
• 11 flavors
• Can be bought in bulk for discount

Cons

• A bunch of reviewers did not feel its effect
• Expensive at $2.50 about per serving
• Contains stimulants
• Mixed reviews on taste, mostly that it's too sweet

Bottom Line

While Gorilla Mode receives mixed reviews, it is formulated with all the key ingredients you want in a pre-workout drink to improve performance in the gym. However, if you are sensitive or want to avoid stimulants, this may not be the supplement for you.

Currently ranked as #3 in the Sports Nutrition Pre-Workout Powders category on Amazon, Gorilla Mode earns our pick as the best overall pre-workout on this list due to the sheer potency of ingredients. Not only does their pre-workout boast a high dose of l-citrulline at 9 grams, but it contains nearly 24 grams of active ingredients in a two-scoop serving.

If you’re looking for some consistent muscle pumps, then Gorilla Mode is what you should check out: the L-tyrosine, Glycerpump, and 2,500 milligrams of creatine monohydrate can all work to improve blood flow to the muscles.

Jacob Penner, a USAW Level 1 Trainer and member of the GGR expert panel, has tried 50+ pre-workouts and says Gorilla Mode is one of his favorites. “Even two hours after my workout, I still feel pumped up, and I don’t crash the way you sometimes do after taking a strong pre-workout. I still feel focused.”

There are also only 175 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous, so the focus with this pre is less on the energy boost and more on the potential to boost muscle gain, improve blood flow, and maintain focus. This is also a plus for those of us who are used to getting caffeine from our daily coffee and do not want to overdo it when it comes to our pre-workout, so the lower-than-average dose provides a layer of comfort here.

Just a note about the glycerol from Glycerpump: Studies that showed glycerol can be helpful for exercise performance⁴ also showed that it can cause weight gain, so you want to be careful with this one if weight loss is one of your fitness goals. Also, glycerol is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). 

So, it’s fine to take if you aren’t an athlete who gets drug-tested, but it’s not recommended if you do fall into this category. In general, though, we love the pump you get from Gorilla Mode along with the absence of too many stimulants or beta-alanine so you can stay focused and jitter-free.

Strongest Pre-Workout With Creatine: Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite

Good for: People who want a pre-workout packed with active ingredients

Strongest

Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite

GGR Score: 4.25

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Product Highlights

• Pre-workout formulated with creatine monohydrate and creatine nitrate
• 5 grams of total creatine
• Expensive—$3 per serving
• Third-party tested
• 3 flavors: Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Glacier Grape

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Pre-workout and creatine in one
• Contains 5 grams of total creatine
• Third-party tested

Cons

• Expensive

Bottom Line

If you're looking for a product that combines a pre-workout with creatine, Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite might be a good choice.

Whenever a pre-workout has a product page that describes its workout products as “not for the faint of heart,” that’s when you know that they mean business. Despite containing over 20 effective ingredients, Pre-Kaged Elite contains 0 artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, colors, or GMOs.

Now let’s talk about the creatine: Unlike most creatine pre-workout supplements, Pre-Kaged contains both creatine nitrate and creatine monohydrate. Though creatine monohydrate and creatine nitrate don’t differ much in how they affect workout performance, creatine nitrate⁵ is thought to have greater solubility, meaning you can take a smaller dose than you would of creatine monohydrate⁵.

With respect to Pre-Kaged’s Elite formula, we have to point out that its pricing is a little steep in comparison to others. On average, a tub costs about $60, and there are only about 20 servings in a tub. Considering the size of the scoop (nearly 35 grams!), it may seem as if the tub is small, so we hope you’ll be comfortable with the cost if you plan to use this pre-workout frequently.

Jacob Penner, USAW Level 1 Trainer and member of the GGR expert panel, also tried this pre-workout and says it’s a good, solid option that provides a constant stream of energy. “I’d use this again! Really like the flavor and the effects. I wouldn’t use it on a day when I need a massive burst of energy or pump, but I would use it for routine training.”

RELATED: Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged Review

Best Pre-Workout With Creatine for a Pump: 4 Gauge

Good for: Those looking for a pump without the crash

Best for a Pump

4 Gauge Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• 4 claimed benefits in just one serving: “explosive power, improved focus, extra stamina, and an intense muscle pump” 
• Third-party-tested 
• Company emphasizes transparency in reporting accurate dosages of each ingredient

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Nature-based ingredients
• No proprietary blends
• No artificial sweeteners
• No preservatives
• Tastes good according to users
• Third-party tested

Cons

• Expensive
• Lower dose of caffeine at 150mg (not a deal breaker but definitely an issue for some)
• Only one flavor

Bottom Line

Although expensive, 4 Gauge pre-workout supplement provides research-backed doses of high-quality and nature-based ingredients to give users the best possible outcomes.

4 Gauge is one of our favorites due to it being almost made to give muscle pumps—and good ones at that. It contains ingredients like beetroot, which is known for its ability to increase levels of nitric oxide in the blood⁶. This, along with the creatine monohydrate, can work to keep those muscles feeling inflated. 

Additionally, 4 Gauge features carnitine, which has been shown to increase athletic performance, reduce muscle fatigue, and promote muscle recovery⁷. 

The compound Rhodiola rosea is also included in the formula, which is a fairly new compound on the market. According to recent studies, however, it may have multiple benefits when it comes to improving athletic performance, including a reduction in the amount of muscle damage after intense exercise⁸.

Though 4 Gauge contains caffeine, it doesn’t have any beta-alanine, so you can enjoy your pump without the tingles or crash. I admit I would have liked to see a slightly higher dose of creatine, considering the best creatine supplements include at least 3 grams to maximize the potential to build muscle. Having said that, if you’re more interested in getting a pump, you’re in good hands.

Best Pre-Workout With Creatine for Focus: JYM Supplements Pre JYM

Good for: People who want a multifunctional pre-workout powder

Best for Focus

JYM Supplement Science Pre JYM Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4.25

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Product Highlights

• A pre-workout powder powerhouse
• Packed with lab- and gym-tested ingredients
• 9 different flavors to pick from
• Boosts strength, energy, endurance, mindset, and muscle growth
• 14 active ingredients and a nutritional supplement
• Higher potency with 26-gram scoops
• Award-winning brand and pre-workout supplement

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Helps boost your energy for any workout
• Supports mental focus with caffeine, alpha-GPC, and huperzine A
• Includes amino acids to promote muscular strength and endurance
• Great for men and women

Cons

• Do not take up to 6 hours before bed
• Some reviewers don’t love the flavors
• Reviewer complaints about high sucralose and sugar levels
• Shares equipment that handles eggs, milk, soy, tree nuts, and wheat
• Not third-party tested

Bottom Line

Fuel your body with a delicious pre-workout supplement with nutrients and 14 active ingredients for an energy-boosting workout.

There are 13 active ingredients in Pre JYM that are designed to help boost your performance and focus during those intense workouts. One of those ingredients is a different form of creatine: creatine HCl. 

According to science, the difference in performance benefits between creatine monohydrate and creatine HCl isn’t very large at all. However, it has been suggested that creatine HCl can be more favorably absorbed⁹ in the gut than monohydrate. It may also be more effective at supporting weight loss than other forms of creatine.

Now what about focus? Pre JYM contains 300 milligrams of caffeine, which has been shown in several studies to promote mental focus¹⁰. If caffeine is taken with other nootropics such as taurine—of which there’s 1 gram of in a serving of Pre JYM—then caffeine’s ability to enhance cognition is enhanced even further. Taurine is one of the amino acids that is used as treatment for neurological disorders¹¹ and may be able to boost focus during exercise.

Jacob Penner, USAW Level 1 Trainer and member of the GGR expert panel, calls Pre JYM one of his go-to pre-workouts, saying he always feels super clear and stimulated for his session. In fact, his whole weightlifting team is now a fan of Pre JYM as well for this reason. 

Pre JYM also has more going for it: It also contains BCAAs and electrolytes to aid in the gain of lean mass and to promote positive hydration status. Here’s a fun fact: Dehydration negatively affects mental focus, attention, reaction, and mood¹², according to research. This is just another sneaky way that Pre JYM helps with cognitive function, along with having many of the other common pre-workout ingredients you may be looking for. 

Check out our full JYM Pre-Workout review to learn more.

Best Pre-Workout With Creatine for Muscle Gain: Blackwolf

Good for: Those looking for a great-tasting pre-workout used by elite athletes

Best for Muscle Gain

BlackWolf Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4.2

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Product Highlights

• Stimulant-free 
• Backed by over 25 clinical trials
• Available in 3 flavors
• Mixes well
• One flavor is caffeine-free

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Stimulant-free
• Tastes great
• Mixes well
• No post-workout crash
• Caffeine-free option
• 11 scientifically backed ingredients
• Free 10-week training program and cookbook included with purchase

Cons

• The dosage of beta-alanine can cause tingling and itching of the skin
• No user reviews on their website

Bottom Line

BlackWolf Pre-Workout contains 11 scientifically proven ingredients designed to improve energy, focus, and performance without any unwanted side effects.

Blackwolf is a brand that hails itself as big on flavor and big on results. Based on what I saw after glancing at the ingredient list, it appears one of those results is a serious pump. Creatine and l-arginine in particular can help flood the muscles with blood, which can result in muscle growth¹³ over time. 

RELATED: Best Creatine for Muscle Growth

L-arginine in particular is one of those nitric oxide boosters you hear about and science has shown that not only can it help with blood flow, but it can help improve aerobic and anaerobic athletic performance¹⁴ as well. 

Blackwolf is made in the U.S. and manufactured in a GMP-certified facility. However, it does not appear to bear a certification of third-party testing at this time. Also, while there are no secret proprietary blends, you want to carefully check which of your favorite flavors you order as there are key ingredients that are left out depending on which one you end up selecting. That said, the Fruit Punch flavor is a stimulant-free pre-workout for our caffeine-sensitive readers out there. 

Read more in our in-depth Blackwolf Pre-Workout review.

Best High-Stim Pre-Workout With Creatine: RYSE Godzilla

Good for: Those not sensitive to the effects of caffeine and beta-alanine

Best High-Stim

RYSE Supplements Godzilla Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 3.5

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Product Highlights

• Loaded, fully transparent label
• Full doses in 1 scoop
• Nootropics
• Extended release caffeine

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Salt included
• RYSE pump fuel (2 forms of citrulline)
• 200 mg of caffeine makes this suitable for most
• Extended-release caffeine
• Label includes dosages for both 1 and 2 scoops
• Full doses in 1 scoop
• Trademarked Thinkamine for improved focus and euphoria
• Competitively priced at $1.42/serving

Cons

• 18.3 g scoop size requires a lot of water to blend
• Only 2 flavors available

Bottom Line

Ryse Supplements’ Godzilla Pre-Workout is a top-notch supplement for anybody looking to improve their gym experience and get the most out of their workouts.

Not only are there two types of caffeine in RYSE, but two types of citrulline as well: l-citrulline and citrulline nitrate. One of the most common pre-workout ingredients, science has suggested that citrulline plays a role in improving blood flow and muscle recovery¹⁵. 

Whenever you manage to graduate to a level where you are able to take 2 scoops of this monster of a pre-workout, expect to also ingest a pretty hefty dose of beta-alanine, which is approximately 6.4 grams.  

Beta-alanine is known for its ability to help you crank out more reps¹⁶, especially during high-intensity exercise. The average amount in most pre-workout supplements is about 2 to 3 grams, so if you’re sensitive to the tingling sensation of this ingredient, look out.

Rose, a member of GGR head of content Kate Meier’s weightlifting team, tried RYSE and felt the effects of the beta-alanine pretty quickly. “I’ve tried about half a dozen pre-workout, but this is stronger than what I have used before; and this is the first time I really felt the strong tingles!”

RYSE also contains 5 grams of creatine monohydrate, which is the effective dose for you to achieve all of the benefits of creatine without taking an extra supplement. Not half bad. The formula also has the electrolytes potassium and sodium from pink Himalayan sea salt to help optimize hydration.

Finally, this pre-workout is a monster with 2 scoops making up 40 grams of powder. For perspective, that’s nearly ½ cup of powder, which is enough to make even the bodybuilders gulp. All in all, though, if you can stomach it, there’s a lot of good stuff to be found inside.

Get all the details with our full RYSE Pre-Workout review.

Best Budget Pre-Workout With Creatine: MuscleTech Vapor X5

Good for: People who want all of the basics of a good pre-workout without a hefty price tag

Best Budget

MuscleTech Vapor X5

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• Very affordable pre-workout
• Available in Blue Raspberry Fusion, Miami Spring Break, Fruit Punch Blast flavors
• 150 mg of caffeine per serving
• 1.5 g of creatine and citrulline per serving
• 1.6 g of beta-alanine per serving

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Very affordable
• Comes in three flavors
• Good dosages of caffeine and beta-alanine

Cons

• Not third-party tested
• A bit light on citrulline
• Some don't like creatine in their pre-workout

Bottom Line

MuscleTech Vapor X5 is a very affordable pre-workout available in three flavors. It contains good dosages of caffeine and beta-alanine, but is a little light on citrulline according to the research-backed daily recommended amount.

Vapor X5 from MuscleTech is by far the cheapest brand on our list, coming in at only 83 cents per serving. That being said, it’s still packed with ingredients to optimize focus, exercise performance, blood flow, and even hydration. Seriously, we don’t even have enough room here to break down all of the complexes in this formula. 

Vapor X5 has 1.5 grams of creatine per scoop, which is a bit under-dosed, but it’s a start if you’re looking to supplement with creatine. A highlight of Vapor X5’s formula, though, is betaine anhydrous. Some studies have shown that betaine anhydrous can help with muscular endurance and the quality of reps performed¹⁷ after 15 straight days of supplementation. 

Vapor X5 also contains l-theanine, which has been widely researched. Studies suggest that athletes who supplement with l-theanine can benefit from improved immune function¹⁸ even during high-intensity exercise training. It has also been shown to help improve cognitive function¹⁹ and act as a nitric oxide booster²⁰.

Jacob Penner, USAW Level 1 Trainer and member of the GGR expert panel, says he felt more awake pretty quickly after taking Vapor X5. “I took this at the end of my work day about 15 minutes before my workout session. I could tell some of that low-energy feeling I had at the end of the work day went away. And there was no tingling, I was just very alert.”

This supplement does not contain any branched-chain amino acids, but it does contain plenty of other non-essential amino acids, which can serve to improve your workout performance without costing you a fortune.

Best Natural Pre-Workout With Creatine: Naked Energy

Good for: People who like their pre-workout without all the fillers and stimulants

Best Natural

Naked Nutrition Naked Energy Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4.25

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Product Highlights

• Naked Energy is a vegan pre-workout supplement formulated with just 10 ingredients and nothing artificial. 
• Three flavors are available: Fruit Punch, Citrus, and Unflavored.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Formulated with just 10 ingredients
• Affordable at less than $1 per serving
• Available in unflavored option
• Vegan

Cons

• Small dose of creatine
• No nitric oxide boosters, so don’t expect a muscle pump

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a vegan pre-workout supplement, Naked Energy may be a good choice. Made with just 10 ingredients and nothing artificial, it was designed to support increased energy without the fillers.

Naked is a brand that people turn to when they want a high-quality, all-natural sports nutrition supplement, and Naked Energy is no exception. Given the crazy flavors and ingredients are nearly a defining feature of pre-workout supplements today, finding a more natural formulation can be difficult. 

Naked is known for its unflavored supplements, which offers some versatility in how you can consume them. Even the flavored options have been given their taste using natural ingredients as Naked Energy does not contain any GMOs, fillers, additives, artificial colors, or artificial sweeteners. We should note, there is one natural ingredient in this formula that is cane sugar, which means the formula is not sugar-free.

If you’re sensitive to stimulants, Naked offers a stim-free version of Naked Energy that is also the only variation of the pre-workout formula that does not have beta-alanine. So, if you’re trying to avoid the pins and needles, that’s the one you might want to go with. Other than that, along with being third-party tested, it’s hard to find a pre-workout powder more transparent than Naked Energy. 

RELATED: Best Natural Pre-Workout

GGR senior staff writer Amanda Capritto tried Naked Energy and really likes it for her triathlon training. “Citus is quite lemony, but not overpoweringly tart or sour. I always feel energized and focused when I take this,” she says.

Best Pre-Workout With Creatine for Beginners: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout

Good for: People just starting out on their fitness journey or trying pre for the first time

Best for Beginners

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4.3

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Product Highlights

• Reputable brand 
• Combines 175 milligrams of caffeine with 3 grams of creatine monohydrate and 1.5 grams beta-alanine
• Available in 4 flavors
• Mixes well
• Tastes good

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Contains creatine
• A slew of vitamins in this formula
• Reputable brand
• Tastes good
• Affordable
• Mixes well

Cons

• Some flavors reported to have a synthetic aftertaste

Bottom Line

Made with simple yet effective ingredients, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout provides users with a good boost of energy, improved focus, and enhanced performance.

As one of the most accessible brands of sports nutrition supplements in the industry, Optimum Nutrition has built a reputation for being one of the most reliable brands on the market. Their strawberry whey was my go-to post-workout for years when I first started my weight lifting journey, and I appreciate that it’s not only easy to find, but it’s affordable as well. Their pre-workout will run you only about $1.10 per serving and has a formulation that’s far from overwhelming.

RELATED: Best Optimum Nutrition Flavor

Along with micronutrients and 3 grams of creatine per serving, it also contains a proprietary blend of something called AstraGin. Now, AstraGin doesn’t have a direct influence in building muscle mass or boosting energy levels, but studies have suggested that this patented compound can get your gut primed²¹ to the pre-workout ingredients contained in Gold Standard pre-workout with minimal discomfort. 

There isn’t an obscene amount of any one type of ingredient, even the more well-known ones like l-citrulline, l-tyrosine, and beta-alanine. And while it’s not a stimulant-free pre-workout, there are only 175 milligrams of caffeine, which is a pretty tame amount by pre-workout standards. 

GGR head of content Kate Meier says several members of her weightlifting team have been using this pre-workout for years, and find it a solid choice. “You’ll get a little tingly, but overall, have great focus and energy levels from this. You won’t get the strongest pump, but this is always a reliable choice for pre-workout.”

In light of all of these factors, Gold Standard pre-workout is a great supplement for beginners who might be intimidated by the bigger scooped supplements taken regularly by more experienced weightlifters.

Other Pre-Workout With Creatine We Researched and Tested

There are quite a few other pre-workouts with creatine on the market, and we researched many of them. Here are a few that didn’t quite make our list.

• Jacked Factory Altius Pre: This was sold out when we tried to order it, but looks like a good formula.
• Cellucor C4: This only has 1 gram of creatine per serving, so we left it off the list. 
• Beyond Raw Lit: While we like this pre-workout, there are others we like more. 

Benefits of Pre-Workout With Creatine

Creatine and pre-workout supplements are not one in the same, and a pre-workout does not have to contain creatine to be good. However, some of the best pre-workout supplements are those that serve multiple functions and a pre-workout that contains creatine can serve to help with building lean mass and other performance benefits. So, here are some benefits to taking a pre-workout that also contains creatine:

RELATED: Pre-Workout Alternatives

Muscle Pumps

It is commonly understood that a “pump” is defined in the fitness world as that temporary increase in blood flow that makes the muscles appear huge after you have worked out. Like we talked about earlier, this is great not only for confidence or getting ready for a night out or aesthetic competition, but may also translate to the synthesis of more lean mass over time¹⁵. 

Ingredients like citrulline malate may be able to help with the blood flow to produce a pump. However, creatine also has a special property. Considering the fact that creatine bloating, which is a phenomenon where supplementing with creatine seems to pull a large amount of water into the muscles, is a thing, this may cause even bigger pumps. 

Aid In Increasing Lean Mass

By just taking a pre-workout, depending on which you choose, you are likely taking compounds that can help your workouts be more effective, your reps be more high-quality, and for you to maintain better muscle recovery. All of these things can indirectly help you with muscle growth. However, the inclusion of creatine is also huge for this fitness goal. 

If you’ve been paying attention, creatine is one of the most commonly used compounds for muscle growth due to the strong amount of evidence that supports its effectiveness. A pre-workout that includes creatine just provides an extra layer of gains-making potential. 

RELATED: Homemade Pre-Workout

Help Improve Muscle Recovery

The nitric oxide boosters and creatine contained in creatine pre-workout helps flood the muscles with blood. Just like a wound or other injury, the body floods the area with blood to help provide the tissues with antibodies and other healing compounds to repair the damage. 

The same rules apply to your muscles, since they are also tissues. When the muscles are saturated with blood, they are likely to be able to recover faster by allowing the muscles to repair themselves from the muscle damage that was caused by the exercise.

Potentially Better Focus

If your selected pre-workout supplement has nootropics like huperzine, caffeine, l-theanine, and l-tyrosine, this may be able to boost your mental focus. As you become more focused on your workout and become less likely to be distracted by outside factors, you may be able to make your workouts more efficient and less time-consuming.

Dosing and Interactions 

As with all dietary supplements, you should consult your physician before starting one, especially if you take prescription medications. When taking pre-workout supplements, it is important to follow the instructions very carefully due to the high amounts of stimulants and chemical compounds present in proprietary blends. 

To prevent overdosing on caffeine, you should also be aware of how much you’re getting from additional sources, like green tea and coffee. Pre-workout supplements are definitely not recommended if you have heart problems. Many compounds have a dramatic effect on blood pressure, blood volume, and your heart rate that could exacerbate your condition. 

RELATED: Coffee Pre-Workout

If you have liver or kidney conditions, it is also not recommended that you take pre-workout supplements. This is especially true with creatine pre-workout supplements as creatine puts a tremendous load on the kidneys. Creatine is found in many protein-containing foods, which is one reason why people with kidney conditions have strict diet rules around protein consumption to prevent life-threatening complications.

Third-Party Testing

Just because a supplement is third-party tested doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll work “better.” Some of the best pre-workout supplements in terms of effectiveness have yet to achieve third-party testing either because they contain substances that are banned for professional sport or the company simply cannot bear the extra cost. 

In any case, we at GGR recommend choosing third-party tested supplements when possible, but this is especially true with pre-workout as the number of compounds and the nature of their function can pose a risk of being exposed to adulterated proprietary blends. 

However, when you have a pre-workout that has been third-party tested, you know that it has been cleared of containing any banned substances by an independent laboratory. For this reason, it is always best to choose pre-workouts that are third-party tested and labeled with a certification from organizations like NSF or Informed Choice if this is a concern for you.

Buying Guide: What to Look for in Pre-Workout With Creatine

Pre-workout supplements are usually made up of a number of ingredients, but creatine is one of the most common. So, looking for one with creatine doesn’t narrow down the choices very much! Since finding the right one for you can be overwhelming, we wanted to share the criteria we used to make the selections of the best pre-workout supplements on this list:

Creatine Dosage

When talking about creatine supplements, the optimal dose seems to be somewhere between 3 to 5 grams of creatine per day²² to get the full benefits. As a result, if you want to avoid taking creatine supplements separately, choosing to buy a pre-workout that contains this optimal dosage of creatine would be a great choice.

Price Per Serving

There are a lot of advantages to taking a pre-workout with creatine, and taking one that has a substantial amount of creatine can also save you money on buying extra creatine supplements. It is important to pay attention to the price per serving of the pre-workout in order to make this bit of innovative frugality worthwhile. So, work out how much your budget is or how much you are willing to pay for a pre-workout you see yourself taking consistently before you browse. 

Presence of BCAAs

A recent study²³ performed on athletes has suggested that taking BCAAs in combination with creatine can improve anaerobic performance, increase endurance and delay fatigue. So, if any of these functions align with your fitness goals, it might be worth considering seeing if your prospective creatine pre-workout also contains leucine, isoleucine, and valine. At the very least, it can’t hurt to have a few extra BCAAs in you before your workouts begin. Check out our list to the best pre-workout with BCAAs for product recommendations.

RELATED: Best BCAA

Flavors

For some people, creatine can have a gritty and unpleasant flavor, especially depending on the form of creatine. I’ve heard that creatine HCl can even have a sour flavor that’s not the most appealing thing in the world. 

So, you may want to choose a creatine pre-workout that is sweetened naturally with something like stevia, or on that has a variety of flavors you know you enjoy (mine is any type of lemonade). 

This is especially important with pre-workouts that have so many ingredients the scoop size ends up being huge, like some of the supplements on this list, because you end up drinking a large volume of liquid. If that liquid just tastes awful, you have a long tub ahead of you. 

FAQs About the Best Pre-Workout With Creatine

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

References

1. Wax B, Kerksick CM, Jagim AR, Mayo JJ, Lyons BC, Kreider RB. Creatine for Exercise and Sports Performance, with Recovery Considerations for Healthy Populations. Nutrients. 2021;13(6):1915. Published 2021 Jun 2. doi:10.3390/nu13061915
2. Moraes Rd, Van Bavel D, Moraes BS, Tibiriçá E. Effects of dietary creatine supplementation on systemic microvascular density and reactivity in healthy young adults. Nutr J. 2014;13(1):115. Published 2014 Dec 15. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-115
3. Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE. Creatine and Caffeine: Considerations for Concurrent Supplementation. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2015;25(6):607-623. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2014-0193
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Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD

Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD is a sports dietitian and the head of performance nutrition for the NBA G League Ignite. In addition to working with pro athletes, Destini has ghostwritten four weight loss and wellness cookbooks. She also authors online content covering fitness and nutrition topics.

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