Many of the best pre-workout supplements pack high doses of caffeine, which may not jive with the diets and training schedules of many athletes. Thankfully, many brands have begun to release caffeine-free alternatives. Rather than focusing on the energy boost, the best non-stim pre-workouts instead hone in on other aspects of the supplement, including workout endurance, blood flow, and more.
“Pre-workouts can be an effective way to get the most benefit out of your workout sessions,” says Dr. Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DipABOM. “Many people associate pre-workouts with caffeine, but many non-stimulant pre-workout formulations are not only as effective as stimulants, but they also may provide other benefits, too.”
Of course, removing a key ingredient places added emphasis on other components to reap similar results. BarBend’s expert testers got their hands on dozens of different non-stim pre-workouts, using our hands-on supplement testing methodology to see which ones could deliver a pump without making our hearts flutter. Grab a steaming cup of decaf, relax, and dive into our picks for the best non-stim pre-workouts available today.
The Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts of 2025
- Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout Overall: Transparent Labs Stim-Free
- Best Budget Non-Stim Workout: Nutricost Pre-SF
- Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for Pump: Legion Pulse (Caffeine-Free)
- Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout with Creatine: Gainful Non-Caffeinated Pre-Workout
- Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for Muscle Gain: Gorilla Mind Nitric
- Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for Cardio: 1st Phorm Endura-Formance
- Best All-Natural Non-Stim Pre-Workout: Genius Pre
Medical Disclaimer: 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-Workouts Video Review
Join BarBend expert tester Jake Herod, NASM-CNC, and registered dietician nutritionist Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD, as they discuss some of the best non-stim pre-workouts on the market in 2025, with a focus on pre-workouts from brands like Legion, Transparent Labs, and Onnit.
Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout Overall: Transparent Labs Stim-Free
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.
Specs
- Key Ingredients: 6,000mg citrulline malate, 4,000mg beta-alanine, 2,500mg betaine anhydrous, 4,000mg BCAA, 1,300mg taurine, 1,000mg L-tyrosine
- Flavors: Cherry Limeade, Sour Grape, Blue Raspberry, Orange, Peach Mango, Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical Punch
- Price Per Serving: $1.66
- Third-Party Testing: Yes
Best Budget Non-Stim Pre-Workout: Nutricost Pre-SF
Nutricost Pre-SF is among our favorite budget-friendly pre-workout supplements. This one comes in three flavor options and is totally free of stimulants.
Specs
- Key Ingredients: 6g l-citrulline, 1.2g beta-alanine, 1.2g taurine, 1.2mg arginine, 1g l-carnatine tartrate, 250mcg huperzine A
- Flavors: Blue Raspberry, Peach Mango, Pink Lemonade
- Price Per Serving: $0.89
- Third-Party Testing: Yes
Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for Pump: Legion Pulse (Caffeine-Free)
This pre-workout supplement can come with or without caffeine and in 16 different flavors. Each serving provides 350 milligrams of L-theanine and eight grams of citrulline, which may facilitate better pumps.
Specs
- Key Ingredients: 8,000mg of citrulline malate, 3,600mg beta-alanine, 2,500mg betaine anhydrous, 300mg alpha-GPC
- Flavors: Fruit Punch, Arctic Blast, Blue Raspberry, Sour Candy, Tropical Punch, Green Apple, Strawberry Kiwi, Grape
- Price Per Serving: $2.25
- Third-Party Testing: Yes
Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout with Creatine: Gainful Non-Caffeinated Pre-Workout
Gainful Pre-Workout is a customizable formula that can either be caffeinated or non-caffeinated. You can also opt to add creatine to your formula at 3,000mg or 5,000mg, depending on the intensity of your workout. Right now, take 50% off your first order with the code: BF50.
Specs
- Key Ingredients: 1,500mg beta-alanine, 3,000mg of creatine monohydrate, 4,000mg citrulline
- Flavors: Strawberry Lemonade, Watermelon
- Price Per Serving: $1.86
- Third-Party Testing: N/A
Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for Muscle Gain: Gorilla Mode Nitric
This stim-free pre-workout features five grams of L-citrulline, along with 2.5 grams of creatine monohydrate. It's also available in 11 flavors, including Blackberry Lemonade, Strawberry Kiwi, and Tiger's Blood.
Specs
- Key Ingredients: 5,000mg l-citrulline, 2,500mg creatine, 2,000mg betaine anhydrous
- Flavors: Blackberry Lemonade, Bombsicle, Cotton Candy Grape, Jungle Juice, Krush, Pina Colada, Sour Candy Apple, Strawberry Kiwi, Tiger’s Blood, Volcano Burst, Watermelon
- Price Per Serving: $1.49
- Third-Party Testing: N/A
Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for Cardio: 1st Phorm Endura-Formance
As its name suggests, 1st Phorm Endura-Formance is a caffeine-free pre-workout supplement designed specifically for endurance athletes. It includes doses of PeakO2 and S7, a pair of ingredients that can boost aerobic performance and training volume, making it ideal for marathon runners.
Specs
- Key Ingredients: 3,200mg beta-alanine, 2,500mg betaine anhydrous, 1,000 L-tyrosine, 1,000mg PeakO2, 50mg S7, 5,000mg creatine monohydrate
- Flavors: Berry Lemonade, Grape, Green Apple, Orange, Strawberry Lemonade, Black Cherry, Peach Ring
- Price Per Serving: $1.50
- Third-Party Testing: N/A
Best All-Natural Non-Stim Pre-Workout: Genius Pre
This pre-workout powder delivers a robust blend of energy, pump, and endurance-boosting ingredients.
Specs
- Key Ingredients: 6,000mg citrulline malate, 2,000mg beta-alanine, 2,000mg betaine anhydrous, 1,000mg L-arginine 1,000mg taurine, 1,000mg L-tyrosine, 600mg AlphaSize, 100mg Rhodiola
- Flavors: Grape Limeade, Sour Apple, Blue Raspberry, Sour Cherry
- Price Per Serving: $1.90
- Third-Party Testing: Yes
How We Tested and Chose the Best Stim-Free Pre-Workouts
The BarBend team is made up of competitive athletes, certified personal trainers, and lifelong fitness enthusiasts. To determine the best non-stim pre-workouts available today, we’ve tested 68 different products using BarBend‘s supplement testing methodology to rate each on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Below are some of the categories and components that played into our rankings.
- Ingredient Formulation: Non-stim pre-workouts require other ingredients to offset the lack of ingredients like caffeine, and those results can’t be achieved without researched-backed dosages. (2) When looking at the best-performing stim-free pre-workouts, we want to ensure that most vital ingredients are served in an effective manner.
- Solubility: A pre-workout powder is sort of useless if it can’t mix properly before hitting the weights, right? To test this, we employed multiple preparation methods to see which supplements dissolved easily.
- Price Per Serving: The best stim-free pre-workouts cost between $1.50 and $2.50 per serving. We’ve done our best to give you a solid blend of budget-friendly and splurge-worthy options.
- Taste & Flavor Options: As subjective as taste can be, we still think it’s a worthwhile component to call out with certain pre-workouts. We tried to pick products that offered as many flavors as possible.
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.
Betaine
Betaine is made in the body and can also be found in food sources like beets, broccoli, and shellfish. Betaine may be good for increasing strength and power, as two studies found proper supplementation to increase both disciplines by almost 25 percent. (14)
Beta-Alanine
Beta-alanine has been suggested to delay muscular fatigue, and enhance physical performance, especially in high-intensity anaerobic workouts. (15) The effective dose for beta-alanine is between 3,200mg and 6,400mg per day, but we recommend opting for a lighter serving if you find tingles to be unpleasant. (16)
BCAAs
BCAAs are typically found in a 2:1:1 ratio and are most commonly utilized to help increase muscle growth. More BCAA benefits include enhanced exercise performance and reduced fatigue, plus they can help speed up repair muscle damage after post-workout. (17)
Citrulline
Citrulline may help produce more nitric oxide in your system, improving blood flow. It has may also help enhance performance and recovery. (7) A clinically effective dose of citrulline is considered to be about 6,000mg per day. (2)
Creatine
Creatine is a very popular supplement and is commonly used as a driver for improved muscle growth. Creatine has been shown, in various studies, to help improve performance and muscle mass in consistent users. (18)
The suggested dose of creatine will vary based on your size, muscle mass, and type of creatine, but in general, common recommendations fall between 3,000mg and 5,000mg per day after a loading period. (6)
Benefits of Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
Outside of the obvious exclusion of a stimulating ingredient like caffeine, stim-free pre-workouts can be just as influential on your workout experience as their original counterparts. Below are just a handful of the top perks that can be reaped from supplementing with these powerful powders.
- Improved Blood Flow: Non-stim pre-workouts may help you achieve a pump through high doses of key ingredients like citrulline, arginine, betaine (beetroot), and other nitric oxide boosters. (19)(20)
- Longer Muscular Endurance: Beta-alanine, creatine, and betaine are commonly used to help potentially improve endurance and power. (21)(15)
- Better Focus: Common ingredients like tyrosine, taurine, alpha-GPC, and theanine may help improve focus. (22)(23) Other nootropics, like Huperzine A, can also be used and have been backed by promising studies supporting its effect on cognitive function. (24)
How Much Do the Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts Cost?
Non-stim pre-workouts tend to cost roughly the same as the average pre-workout, which we’ve found to cost between $1 and $2 per serving. Though a few picks on our list are above that range, the same goes for their caffeinated counterparts. As you can see in the below chart, our picks range in cost between 90 cents and $2.25 per serving.
Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout Overall | Transparent Labs Stim-Free | $1.66 per serving |
Best Budget Non-Stim Pre-Workout | Nutricost Pre-SF | $0.89 per serving |
Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for Pump | Legion Pulse (Caffeine-Free) | $2.25 per serving |
Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout with Creatine | Gainful Non-Caffeinated Pre-Workout | $1.86 per serving |
Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout for Cardio | 1st Phorm Endura-Formance | $1.50 per serving |
Best Budget Non-Stim Pre-Workout | Naked Nutrition Naked Energy | $0.90 per serving |
Best All-Natural Non-Stim Pre-Workout | Genius Pre | $1.90 per serving |
What to Consider Before Buying a Non-Stim Pre-Workout
We’ve had our hands on a number of stim-free pre-workouts over the years, and in that time we’ve learned how to best connect our purchases to our intended performance. Below are a few factors to keep in mind when searching for that ideal supplement for your setup.
Personal Goals
Depending on your goals, you may want more specific ingredients in your non-stim pre-workout. For example, if you intend to focus on gaining muscle, it may be wise to opt for a non-stim option with a heavy presence of creatine or other muscle-building ingredients.
Genius Pre-Workout
If you’re trying to withstand long, extensive sessions, look for formulations that cater to such a training style. Think about your pre-workout as just a piece of your training puzzle — the right piece with all the matching details is going to give you the best picture in the end.
Ingredients
Like your goals and aspirations, it’s important to think about your tolerances to certain ingredients as well as potential pre-workout side effects, especially when stim-free pre-workouts can vary in robustness. If you’re sensitive to beta-alanine, for example, or want to avoid excessive tingling altogether, try to find a formulation with less beta-alanine present.
We also recommend taking your experience with pre-workouts into consideration, as this can help dictate whether you’re ready for a more extensive ingredients list. Those embarking on a beginner workout plan athletes may want to ease into pre-workout supplementation at first to help get a better understanding of what’s at play within each sip.
Research-Backed Dosages
Just because a non-stimulant pre-workout lists a key ingredient in its makeup doesn’t mean it can deliver a standard effect. The performance of these components are all reliant on proper dosing within each serving, so be sure to check whether your chosen pre-workout can leave you with just the right amount of boost for a given workout. We’ve listed many of the suggested daily dosages for key pre-workout components throughout this guide, but here’s a quick reminder for added clarity on some of the major ingredients:
- Creatine: 3-5 grams
- Citrulline: 3-6 grams
- Citrulline Malate: 6–8 grams
- Beta-Alanine: 3-6 grams
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, as this can be a good point of comparison between otherwise identical products.
Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout 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. There are many potentially effective ingredients in pre-workouts — not just stimulants.
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?
The best non-stim pre-workout is subjective to each athlete. However, we currently view Legion’s Caffeine-Free Pulse Pre-Workout as the best of the bunch thanks to its robust formulation to boost physical and cognitive performance, including 8,000 milligrams of citrulline malate — a non-essential amino acid that has been linked to improved blood flow and improved recovery time post-workout. (3)(18)
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. Some people may also prefer to get their stimulants from a cup of coffee or green tea.
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.
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