Cheap Caffeine Powerhouse
Nutricost Pre Pre-Workout Review
After testing Nutricost Pre for two weeks I am pleasantly surprised. This is the best “cheap” pre-workout on the market.
It is GMP-compliant and third-party tested, and it has enough caffeine for even the most hardcore caffeine fiend.
Now, Nutricost Pre is unlikely to be the best pre-workout you’ll ever try. But at a cost that’s significantly cheaper than other third-party-tested pre-workouts, it might be worth looking past its downsides.
Here to Build Muscle and Lose Fat?
Pre-workout can give you an extra 1% boost but won’t make up for a shitty diet and training. Taking a bunch of pre-workout without dialing in your diet and training is like stepping over $20 bills to pick up pennies. See how it works here.
In this review, I’ll discuss the ins and outs of Nutricost Pre pre-workout and my experience using it.
Keep reading to learn whether this pre is for you, or to find out the potential alternatives that might give you a bigger bang in training.
Table of Contents
Nutricost Pre Pre-Workout Overview
Nutricost Pre
Score:
8.0
/10
Pros and Cons:
Pros
- Shit-ton of caffeine
- Price, price, price
- Taste
Cons
- Too much caffeine?
- Average pump
- Some junk ingredients
Product Name
Score:
9.0
/10
Pros and Cons:
Pros
- Ingredients: 9
- Price Per Serving:
- How It Made Us Feel: 8.9
Cons
- High caffeine (400mg)
- Price Per Serving: 6
- Third-party Tested: No
- How It Made Us Feel: 8.9
Product Highlights
Ingredients
6
/10
Energy
8
/10
Pump
8
/10
Price per serving
$2.38/$$2.02
Taste
10
/10
Mixability
10
/10
Customer Experience
10
/10
Third-party tested/GMP certified
Yes/Yes
Best For:
Caffeine fiends.
With 300 mg of caffeine per serving, Nutricost’s pre-workout is perfect for lifters who need and can tolerate that dose without the typical caffeine downsides.
The budget conscious.
If you’re looking for a pre-workout that won’t break the bank but still packs a punch, Nutricost Pre is the best option on the market. It’s like finding a unicorn that poops popcorn.
Not For:
Anyone after an exceptional pump.
While Nutricost pre-workout has an ok 4,000 mg of L-citrulline, it won’t please pump chasers who crave that skin-splitting vascularity.
Stim-sensitive souls.
If you’re the type who gets jittery seeing a coffee ad, steer clear of this one.
Ingredient minimalist.
Sure, Nutricost gets it almost right with caffeine and L-citrulline, but some of the other ingredients are underdosed or just fillers. If you demand clinical doses and only the ingredients with the strongest scientific backing, look elsewhere.
Nutricost Pre-Workout Ingredients
[image showing the ingredient label]
While Nutricost Pre gets some things right, it could’ve easily cut the ingredients in half. There’s way too much junk here.
That being said, none of the junk is likely to be harmful, so I am willing to give it a pass. Simply because of the low price.
L-Citrulline
4,000 mg
L-citrulline is an amino acid that increases nitric oxide production, which can improve blood flow and improve muscle pumps. It may help you train harder by allowing you to squeeze out a few extra reps.
It doesn’t directly increase muscle strength, but it can improve muscular endurance. L-citrulline can also reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and boost anaerobic performance.[1]
Nevertheless, there’s evidence that 4,000 mg is the minimum effective dose.
At 4,000 mg, this is a clinically effective dose shown to improve exercise performance. However, the optimal dosing of L-citrulline isn’t clear, and it doesn’t work for everyone in every situation. I personally get the biggest benefit when L-citrulline is dosed at or above 6,000 mg.
Beta-Alanine
2,000 mg
Beta-alanine can help buffer lactic acid in muscles, potentially delaying fatigue and allowing you to bang out a few extra reps.[2]
But for beta-alanine to work, it needs a loading phase. You actually have to hit a saturation point of 178,000 mg before seeing any benefits. Otherwise, you’re only left with paresthesia, a harmless tingling sensation that doesn’t indicate beta-alanine’s effectiveness in any way.
The minimum effective dose of beta-alanine is 3,200 mg daily, but the International Society of Sports Nutrition recommends a dose of 4,000 mg — 6,000 mg.
The dose of beta-alanine in Nutricost pre-workout falls well short of that recommendation.
Taurine
2,000 mg
Taurine is an amino acid that may improve exercise performance by improving muscle contractions and reducing exercise-induced muscle damage.[3] But the research isn’t conclusive on any of this.
The dosage in these studies varies between 1 gram and 6 grams, so theoretically, 2,000 mg in a scoop of Nutricost Pre could be enough to get some of those benefits.
Nitrosigine (Inositol-Stabilized Arginine Silicate)
1,500 mg
Nitrosigine is a patented complex of arginine and silicon that’s said to aid nitric oxide production, which has the potential to get you all gorged up with blood flow, focus, and muscle pumps.[4]
Kind of like L-citrulline.
Although Nitrosigine acts very much like L-citrulline, the research is way stronger on the latter.[5]
I wish Nutricost would just add more L-citrulline into its mix instead of trying to butter up the ingredients list for the clueless.
The bottom line? Nitrosigine shows promise, but we need more studies on it.
Betaine Anhydrous
1,500 mg
Betaine anhydrous is a natural compound found in the body and in foods like beets, spinach, cereals, and seafood. Betaine may help you bang out more reps and increase training volume, supporting muscle growth. However, the science on its efficacy is mixed.[6]
Based on studies supporting betaine’s case for performance, the minimum effective dose is 2,500 mg. Nutricost falls short of that.
Caffeine Anhydrous
300 mg
Caffeine is a powerful stimulant that can boost energy, focus, and athletic performance.[7]
A 300 mg dose is on the higher end but still safe for most healthy adults. But if you’re sensitive to caffeine, you’re more likely to end up shaking on the toilet than actually getting any training done.
For reference, the daily upper limit of caffeine for most folks is 400 mg.
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine
250 mg
Tyrosine is an amino acid that may enhance cognitive function during stress. However, evidence is mixed regarding its impact on physical performance.[8]
An effective dose is typically 500–2,000 mg, so the 250 mg in Nutricost is likely to do f*ck all for your performance.[9]
Alpha GPC 50%
200 mg
The main driver here is choline, an essential nutrient that can improve brain development, muscle movement, nervous system function, and metabolism. That’s if you hit the daily target (550 mg for men and 425 mg for women) of choline per day.
For reference, an egg has about 150 mg of choline. The 200 mg dose here yields only 100 mg of choline.
Choline supplementation might have limited effects on memory and physical performance in healthy young adults and trained athletes, but based on the current evidence, the supplementation does not consistently improve performance.[10]
My take? Just another pointless ingredient to mislead the unassuming consumer. But not you!
DMAE Bitartrate
150 mg
DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) is a naturally occurring compound that is structurally similar to choline.
Some studies suggest that DMAE may improve mental clarity, focus, and mood, especially improving the cognitive decline that comes with age. But we need more research to confirm this.[11]
For now, the science on DMAE doesn’t validate its use in a pre-workout.
CDP Choline
100 mg
CDP Choline, also known as citicoline, is made of choline and cytidine. Like Alpha GPC, it can support cognitive function.[12] But most of that research is conducted on the elderly.[13]
Besides, typical doses range from 500–2,000 mg, so the 100 mg in Nutricost Pre won’t move the needle whatsoever.
Theobromine
100 mg
Theobromine is a compound found in cocoa that has similar effects to caffeine, although milder. It may give you a modest energy boost and improve your mood. And when used with caffeine, it might help keep blood pressure low.
However, at 100 mg, the dose in Nutricost Pre is laughably low and unlikely to provide any benefits for mood, focus, or energy.[14]
For reference, one study showing some positive effects used 700 mg of theobromine.[15]
Vitamin B6
60 mg
Vitamin B6 supplementation only makes sense if you’re deficient in it.[16] I can’t see the point of having B6 in your pre-workout.
Vitamin B12
200 mcg
Yes, if you’re old, or a vegan, or an old vegan, you’ll need to supplement vitamin B12.[17] But it doesn’t need to be in your pre-workout.
Talk to your doctor, have your levels checked, and make an informed decision.
Niacin
16 mg
Niacin, or vitamin B3, is an essential nutrient that offers various health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, skin health, brain function, digestive health, and potential diabetes management. Fantastic right? Well . . .
Current evidence suggests ongoing niacin supplementation increases insulin resistance. And that isn’t great for gains.
The recommended daily allowance for niacin ranges from 14–18 mg per day for adults.
As with any other damn vitamin, B3 doesn’t need to be in your pre-workout.
Huperzine A
200 mcg
Huperzine A is a cognitive enhancer said (by marketers) to improve focus and mental clarity. It might also improve cognitive health and provide a neuroprotective effect for people with Alzheimer’s.
There’s zero science to show that it improves performance, not even as a cognitive enhancement. In one study, taking huperzine-A had a worse effect than the placebo.[18]
[table showing ingredients and minimum effective doses]
My Experience Using Nutricost Pre Pre-Workout
I paid for Nutricost Pre using my own money and without anyone at Nutricost knowing I’d review it publicly.
The energy and focus were about as good as I’ve ever had from a pre-workout. Just outstanding. But it was overshadowed slightly by the mediocre pump.
But I get it — for this price, you can’t have everything.
Price
[image of the serving size]
Nutricost Pre sets you back a very reasonable $1.09 per serving. The price drops another 20% if you subscribe. That’s actually a ridiculously good deal considering it’s third-party tested, doesn’t skimp on caffeine, and hits the minimum effective dose of L-citrulline.
That’s like getting a blow job and a pizza delivered at the same time.
Nutricost offers a 60-day 100% money-back guarantee, but you have to fork out the shipping and handling costs.
Shipping is $7 or free for orders over $59.
Third-Party Tested and GMP certified
[screenshots of third-party test results]
Nutricost Pre is made in GMP, FDA-registered facilities, which certifies that there’s no suspicious shenanigans going on when it’s bottled.
It’s also third-party tested by ISO-accredited labs to ensure potency and purity.
Thumbs up to Nutricost for doing it right.
Energy
The energy and focus are as you’d expect with 300 mg — unreal. I felt really dialed in my sessions and could see powering through a PR on a good day.
What’s even better, I had zero crashes while testing Nutricost Pre.
Pump
The pump was ok, but not great, or even good really. That’s pretty standard for me with a 4,000 mg dose of L-citrulline.
Taste
[screenshot of flavors from the website]
Nutricost Pre comes in five very sensibly named flavors:
- Blue Raspberry
- Watermelon
- Fruit Punch
- Grape
- Peach Mango
I got Blue Raspberry since I’ve always liked that flavor. The Nutricost version gets a seal of approval from me.
The online reviews tend to be mostly positive about the flavor as well.
Mixability
[image of the pre-workout mixed up]
I had zero issues mixing Nutricost pre. It results in a smooth texture that’s easy to drink.
Customer Experience
The Nutricost website is easy to use and the whole ordering process is a breeze. The box was at my doorstep in four days.
Nutricost Pre Pre-Workout Alternatives
If not for the low L-citrulline dose, I wouldn’t even suggest alternatives to Nutricost pre. Well, the caffeine is likely to be high for anyone sensitive to that stuff. Still, you get the point — it’s a close call.
Neither of these two alternatives can compete with Nutricost when it comes to price, but the upsides might be worth the extra money.
Transparent Labs BULK
Transparent Labs BULK is my go-to recommendation. It’s third-party tested, GMP certified, and at $1.66 per serving ($1.49 if you subscribe), it’s still very reasonably priced.
You’ll get 5,300 mg of L-citrulline and a more reasonable 200 mg of caffeine. It does have 4,000 mg of beta-alanine, though, so if you don’t like the tingles, skip this one.
Read more about Transparent Labs BULK in my review.
Outwork Nutrition Pre-Workout
Outwork Nutrition Pre-Workout is third-party tested and GMP certified, and it comes with 5,000 mg of L-citrulline and 300 mg of caffeine.
At $1.99 per serve, it’s way more expensive than Nutricost Pre, but if you’re set on minimal ingredients in your pre-workout, Outwork is your best choice with only five ingredients.
Learn more by reading my full review of Outwork Nutrition.
Or read all my pre-workout reviews.
How I Tested Nutricost Pre Pre-Workout
I test each supplement across eight categories, pouring over studies and combining them with personal feedback.
When I conduct tests and write my pre-workout reviews, my commitment is to the truth, even if it ruffles a few feathers. There are no hidden agendas, no fluff — just rigorous research.
1. Ingredients
I care mostly about two ingredients in pre-workout supplements: caffeine and L-citrulline. Then there are two that might be worth your dollars: beta-alanine and electrolytes. But those two are far from mandatory.
Once I know a pre-workout has the two ingredients I care about, I check that the dosage of both ingredients is where it should be to provide the stimulation I need.
Besides those two, most other ingredients serve a different purpose: marketing. The fewer ingredients I see on the label, the better.
You can read more about the ingredients I look for on my how I test ingredients page.
2. Price per serving
I care whether a single serving will give me enough of the two ingredients above for the needed stimulus. Ultimately, I want the best bang for the buck per serving.
Often, the key ingredients are about the same in most pre-workout supplements. It’s the proprietary blends and trademarked ingredients that raise the price. Both of which rarely contribute to the quality or effectiveness of the supplement.
Another reason why fewer ingredients are better is that it keeps the cost down.
You can read more about how price factors into my scoring system here.
3. Third-party testing and Good Manufacturing Practice certification
When a supplement company wants third-party testing and certification, it pays an outside organization to test for ingredient potency and accuracy.
Getting certified means an independent organization has reviewed the product and determined it complies with safety, quality, and performance standards.
The absence of third-party testing doesn’t immediately mean a poor product. But knowing the dishonest bullshitting going on in the supplement industry, third-party testing gives me peace of mind knowing a product is safe and has — and does — what it says on the box.
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification means the manufacturing facilities comply with the rigorous quality standards of regulatory authorities. It covers the entire manufacturing process, including sourcing of raw materials, production processes, packaging, and labeling.
These guidelines provide minimum requirements that a manufacturer must meet to ensure its products are consistently high in quality.
In short, third-party testing is about the product, and GMP compliance covers the manufacturing.
Read more about third-party testing and GMP compliance here.
4. Energy
Out of all the effects I look for in a pre-workout, this is the one I care about the most. I want to feel psyched and focused for my strength training. And I want to finish without getting the dreaded post-workout caffeine crash.
You can read more about how energy factors into my scoring system here.
5. Pump
The second-most important thing I need from a pre-workout is the pump. The product must have enough L-citrulline (4,000 mg) to increase the blood flow into the muscles I’m working. In most cases, anything less than 6,000 mg, and I’d rather spend my money elsewhere.
Read more about what I look for when scoring the pump.
6. Taste
Let’s face it: Making a decent-tasting pre-workout shouldn’t be that difficult. Yes, a pre-workout with high-quality ingredients in high doses often tastes worse because it’s hard to mask the flavor of the ingredients, but anything less than 8/10 is only acceptable if the product is otherwise exceptional.
Then again, taste is subjective, so don’t get too hung up on this.
You can read more about how taste factors into my scoring system here.
7. Mixability
I need a pre-workout that’s easy to mix in a shaker. That means no powder clumps! I expect something smooth and grit-free that doesn’t get stuck on the side of the shaker. Most pre-workouts add silicon dioxide and calcium silicate as anti-caking agents, so look for that if you’re as annoyed by clumps as I am.
Read more about how mixability factors into my scoring system.
8. Customer experience
In this testing stage, I find and navigate the website, complete the ordering process, and accept delivery, evaluating each company every step of the way. I also review customer service in cases where I have problems with the order. I have high expectations for customer service and will harshly judge brands with missing links in their customer experience.
You can learn more about how customer service factors into my scoring system here.
Conclusion
Nutricost Pre is an interesting one. The caffeine dose would suggest it’s for more advanced pre-workouters (that’s a term, right?), but the measly 4,000 mg of L-citrulline is more geared toward novices.
But let’s be real — not everyone likes to look like they’re smuggling grapefruits under their skin. So if caffeine is what you’re after, and you can tolerate 300 mg in one hit, and the pump is an afterthought, Nutricost is your answer.
Plus, with third-party testing and GMP certification, you know you’re not shoveling some sketchy bathtub concoction into your face.
Now, if you can stretch your budget a bit, consider one of the alternatives I shared above. They might suit your needs better than Nutricost Pre.
Just remember, pre-workout isn’t a magic potion that’ll transform you into the Hulk. You still gotta put in the work, eat right, and get your beauty sleep.
FAQs
What is the best brand of pre-workout?
The best pre-workout brand is third-party tested, manufactured in a certified GMP facility, and has at least 5,000 mg of L-citrulline and enough caffeine to suit your tolerance. I like Transparent Labs and Outwork Nutrition the best.
Do pre-workout powders really work?
Pre-workout powders really work to give you a slight edge in your training, but that’s only if you work hard, follow a smart training plan, dial in the nutrition, and remember to look after your recovery.
Does pre-workout have side effects?
Pre-workout can have side effects like jitters from caffeine or harmless tingles from beta-alanine. If you’re unsure, it’s best to talk to your doctor first.
References
1. Gonzalez, A. M., & Trexler, E. T. (2020). Effects of citrulline supplementation on exercise performance in humans: A review of the current literature. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34(5), 1480–1495. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003426
2. Trexler, E. T., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Stout, J. R., Hoffman, J. R., Wilborn, C. D., Sale, C., Kreider, R. B., Jäger, R., Earnest, C. P., Bannock, L., Campbell, B., Kalman, D., Ziegenfuss, T. N., & Antonio, J. (2015). International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-alanine. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 12, 30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-015-0090-y
3. Kurtz, J. A., VanDusseldorp, T. A., Doyle, J. A., & Otis, J. S. (2021). Taurine in sports and exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-021-00438-0
4. Kalman, D., Harvey, P. D., Perez Ojalvo, S., & Komorowski, J. (2016). Randomized prospective double-blind studies to evaluate the cognitive effects of inositol-stabilized arginine silicate in healthy physically active adults. Nutrients, 8(11), 736. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8110736
5. Rogers, J. M., Gills, J., & Gray, M. (2020). Acute effects of Nitrosigine® and citrulline malate on vasodilation in young adults. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 17(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-020-00343-y
6. Ismaeel A. (2017). Effects of betaine supplementation on muscle strength and power: A systematic review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(8), 2338–2346. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001959
7. Guest, N.S., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Nelson, M.T. et al. (2021). International society of sports nutrition position stand: Caffeine and exercise performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18, 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-020-00383-4
8. Deijen, J. B., Wientjes, C. J., Vullinghs, H. F., Cloin, P. A., & Langefeld, J. J. (1999). Tyrosine improves cognitive performance and reduces blood pressure in cadets after one week of a combat training course. Brain Research Bulletin, 48(2), 203–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0361-9230(98)00163-4
9. Examine. (2023, July 11). L-tyrosine. https://examine.com/supplements/l-tyrosine/
10. Warber, J. P., Patton, J. F., Tharion, W. J., Zeisel, S. H., Mello, R. P., Kemnitz, C. P., & Lieberman, H. R. (2000). The effects of choline supplementation on physical performance. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 10(2), 170–181. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.10.2.170
11. Examine. (2022, September 28). DMAE. https://examine.com/supplements/dmae/
12. Examine. (2023, February 8). CDP-choline. https://examine.com/supplements/cdp-choline
13. Fioravanti, M., & Yanagi, M. (2000). Cytidinediphosphocholine (CDP choline) for cognitive and behavioural disturbances associated with chronic cerebral disorders in the elderly. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, CD000269. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd000269.pub2.
14. Judelson, D., Preston, A., Miller, D., Muñoz, C., Kellogg, M., & Lieberman, H. (2013). Effects of Theobromine and Caffeine on Mood and Vigilance. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 33, 499–506. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0b013e3182905d24
15. Mitchell, E., Slettenaar, M., Meer, N., Transler, C., Jans, L., Quadt, F., & Berry, M. (2011). Differential contributions of theobromine and caffeine on mood, psychomotor performance and blood pressure. Physiology & Behavior, 104, 816-822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.07.027
16. Examine. (2024, January 11). Pyridoxine (vitamin B6). https://examine.com/supplements/vitamin-b6/
17. Examine. Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12). https://examine.com/supplements/vitamin-b12/
18. Jędrejko, K., Catlin, O., Stewart, T., Anderson, A., Muszyńska, B., & Catlin, D. (2023). Unauthorized ingredients in “nootropic” dietary supplements: A review of the history, pharmacology, prevalence, international regulations, and potential as doping agents. Drug Testing and Analysis, 15(8), 803–839. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3529