The 7 Best Clean Pre-Workouts in 2023

Finding a clean pre-workout can be a serious struggle. Where does one even begin?

Have no fear, we’re here to help. 

In this article, we’re looking at the seven best clean pre-workout supplements in 2023, giving you the low down on ingredients, what they’re good for, and how to choose the right clean pre-workout. 

The winner on our list is without a doubt the Lean Pre-Workout by Transparent Labs.

We love that it has no artificial sweeteners or preservatives, has a completely transparent ingredient label, and contains clinical dosages of key ingredients like caffeine and citrulline malate.

Ready to get your pump on? Let’s do it!

The 7 Best Clean Pre-Workout Supplements

1. Lean Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs
2. Stim-Free Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs
3. Pre-Workout – Promix
4. Vegan Pre-Workout – Naked Nutrition
5. Bulk Black – Transparent Labs
6. Altius Pre-Workout – Jacked Factory
7. Pump Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs

Best Overall Clean Pre-Workout: Lean Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs

The best overall clean pre-workout goes to Transparent Labs with its Lean Pre-Workout. This fantastic pre-workout supplement contains betaine, citrulline malate, and beta-alanine. All the things that make any pre-workout an absolute must!

Not to mention thyroid support and fat-burning complex, including zinc, chromium picolinate, and acetyl-L-carnitine. These ingredients work wonders for those that want to burn some fat without losing any lean muscle mass. 

There are 21 active ingredients, all working together to form the perfect clean pre-workout supplement. Plus, it’s sweetened with stevia extract, so no worries about your sugar intake (but also not compromising on taste). 

There are ten different flavors, a few popular ones include fruit punch, sour peach, and tropical peach. 

Key Ingredients:

• Citrulline Malate 2:1 – 6,000 mg
• PurCaf® Organic Caffeine – 200 mg
• Beta-Alanine – 2,000 mg
• BioPerine® – 5 mg
• BetaPure™ Betaine Anhydrous – 1,500 mg
• Theobromine – 50 mg
• Acetyl L-Carnitine HCl – 1,000 mg
• Choline Bitartrate – 500 mg
• L-Theanine – 180 mg

Sweetener:

• Stevia extract

Best Stim-Free Clean Pre-Workout: Stim-Free Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs

For those looking for a clean pre-workout supplement with no stimulants, the Stim-Free Pre-Workout by Transparent Labs is right up your alley. 

But don’t let the term “stim-free” fool you, there are fantastic pump ingredients, including elevATP and BCAA’s to keep you going throughout your workout. 

The ingredients are all-natural, making it a great choice for vegans and the gluten-free gang! Plus, there are no GMOs, preservatives, or artificial sweeteners. Also, the flavors are supported by a stevia extract. 

Key Ingredients:

• L-Norvaline – 60 mg
• Choline Bitartrate – 500 mg
• N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine – 600 mg
• Citrulline Malate 2:1 – 6,000 mg
• Mucuna Pruriens (98% L-Dopa) – 70 mg
• BioPersine – 5 mg
• Beta-Alanine – 4,000 mg
• BCAA 2:1:1 (instatized) – 4,000 mg
• Taurine – 1,300 mg
• BetaPure Betaine Anhydrous – 2,500 mg

Sweetener:

• Stevia extract

Best Sugar-Free Pre-Workout: Pre-Workout – Promix

If you’re trying to avoid sugar, the Promix Pre-Workout is the best sugar-free mix on our list. It uses monk fruit extract to add some sweetness to the taste. 

The pre-workout supplement is keto and vegan-friendly, made with all-natural ingredients with no carbs or sugars! The green coffee and B12 are fantastic for keeping you going, while the tyrosine will enhance your focus. 

Plus, with turmeric as a major ingredient, you can expect some fantastic anti-inflammatory properties to help you recover from your workout. We also can’t forget that the pre-workout from Promix goes through strict third-party testing. 

Key Ingredients:

• Taurine – 1 g
• Caffeine (coffee bean extract) – 200 mg
• L-Tyrosine – 3 g
• B12 (as Methylcobalamin) – 250%
• Vitamin C – 100%
• Beta-Alanine – 3.2 g

Sweetener:

• Monk fruit extract

Best Vegan Pre-Workout: Vegan Pre-Workout – Naked Nutrition

Vegans, it’s time to shine! The vegan pre-workout from Naked Nutrition offers a serious energy boost to get your muscles across the finish line during your next workout session. 

The formula is non-GMO and has no artificial sweeteners or additives. Plus, it’s third-party tested for all heavy metals. 

Naked Nutrition is all about giving you the pump you need without any harmful chemicals or additives. As you’ll see from the ingredients below, the creatine monohydrate, and beta-alanine are there to help improve mental focus and promote quicker recovery.

Key Ingredients:

• Vitamin B6 – 667 mcg
• Caffeine – 200 mg
• Calcium – 27 mcg
• Vitamin B3 – 40 mg
• Vitamin C – 333 mg
• Vitamin B12 – 47 mcg
• Creatine Monohydrate – 1,000 mg
• L-Arginine – 1,000 mg
• Beta Alanine – 2,000 mg
• Folate – 333 mcg

Sweetener:

• Cane sugar

Best Strong and Clean Pre-Workout: Bulk Black – Transparent Labs

Are you on the lookout for a strong pre-workout supplement with none of the nasty additives? Bulk Black from Transparent Labs is the best strong and clean pre-workout on our list of best pre-workout supplements.

Bulk Black is a clinically dosed pre-workout supplement that includes muscle fortifiers and natural testosterone-supporting ingredients. 

You can enjoy improved muscle strength, a lifted mood, and better endurance, without any of the nasty, jittery side effects. There are no food dyes, added sugars, or artificial sweeteners. Bulk Black uses a stevia extract instead of any added sugar.

Plus, it comes in some fantastic flavors, including cherry kiwi, peach mango, and blue raspberry. 

Key Ingredients:

• L-Tyrosine – 1000 mg
• Infinergy™ (Dicaffeine Malate) – 30 mg
• AlphaSize® Alpha-GPC – 300 mg
• Taurine – 1,300 mg
• BetaPure™ Betaine Anhydrous – 2,500 mg
• Citrulline Malate 2:1 – 8,000 mg
• Astragin™ – 50 mg
• Theobromine – 50 mg
• L-Theanine – 200 mg
• Caffeine Anhydrous – 275 mg
• Beta-Alanine – 4,000 mg

Sweetener:

• Stevia extract

Best Clean Pre-Workout for Focus: Altius – Jacked Factory

If you’re tired of losing focus halfway through your workout then Altius from Jacked Factory is here to save the day. It is the best clean pre-workout supplement for focus on our list. 

Altius from Jacked Factory is a natural pre-workout supplement with a completely natural list of ingredients that will give you the energy, focus, and gains you’re after, without the added chemicals. 

This pre-workout supplement is also keto-friendly and is scientifically formulated in the US with a stevia extract to add some sweetness. 

Key Ingredients:

• L-Citrulline Malate – 8 mg
• Betaine Anhydrous – 2.5 mg
• Creatine Monohydrate – 3 mg
• Beta-Alanine – 3.2 mg
• Caffeine – 325 mg
• Alpha-GPC – 150 mg
• B12 – 500 mcg
• BioPerine – 5 mg

Sweetener:

• Stevia extract

Best Clean Pre-Workout for Pumps: Pump Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs

Ready to get your pump on? The Pump Pre-Workout from Transparent Labs makes it onto our best pre-workout supplements list as the best clean pre-workout for pumps. 

The pre-workout is completely stimulant free and includes fantastic pump ingredients like L-citrulline, L-glutathione, and NO3-T® arginine nitrate.

The ingredients are proven to boost energy and hydrate the cells to increase blood flow, even during the longest workout sessions. There are no fillers, no junk, and no colorants, simply pure ingredients that work. 

Key Ingredients:

• BioFolate® – 400 mcg DFE
• NO3-T® Arginine Nitrate – 2,500 mg
• Setria® L-Glutathione (Reduced) – 250 mg
• L-Tyrosine – 500 mg
• Citrulline Malate 2:1 – 8,000 mg
• AstraGin™ – 50 mg
• Vitamin C – 250 mg
• BetaPure™ Betaine Anhydrous – 2,500 mg

Sweetener:

• Stevia extract

What Is A Clean Pre-workout Supplement?

Everyone has their definition of a “clean pre-workout”, so we’ll give you our take. A clean pre-workout in our book has a completely transparent label, excludes sketchy ingredients, and doesn’t use artificial sweeteners or colors. 

Ultimately, you decide what you want in your pre-workout – it is a personal choice on what you want to ingest. But we do hope that this article will help you make an informed decision. 

What To Look For When Buying A Clean Pre-workout

Fully disclosed ingredient label

The most important thing to look out for is a fully disclosed and clear ingredient label. You’d be surprised by just how much certain products hide from you in plain sight by using scientific terms. 

That’s why it’s essential to know at least a little bit about the ingredients in your pre-workout, but we’ll get into that shortly. 

First, you need to look closely at the ingredient label. Keep an eye on the bottom of the listed ingredients with the amounts. Some less evident ingredients are often listed here because they fall beneath what is legally required to label with an amount. But that doesn’t mean you want it in your pre-workout. 

Second, look at the quantities. Having the right ingredients is all good and well, but they need to be included in the correct dosage to be effective. 

Lastly, take a look at the warnings. If a product is non-GMO, vegan, and all-natural, you can pretty much assume that it is made with clean ingredients. But it doesn’t hurt to be 100% sure by taking a deeper look at the ingredients listed. 

Clinical doses of clean ingredients

L-Citrulline

L-citrulline is a non-essential amino acid. Your kidneys take the L-citrulline found in your pre-workout and foods like watermelon and change it into L-arginine and nitric oxide. 

Nitric oxide and L-arginine are essential to the health of blood vessels and the heart. L-citrulline essentially helps relax the arteries, which helps with blood flow. This is a great factor for gym pre-workouts because you want your blood to get pumping when you’re in the heat of your workout. 

Some studies suggest that L-citrulline can also help lower blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause heart disease, so we want it within a normal range before getting our pump on. 

For a pre-workout to be effective for blood flow you need at least 4 grams of L-citrulline or 6 grams of Citrulline Malate. A great choice is Altius from Jacked Factory with 8 grams of L-citrulline. 

Betaine anhydrous

The chemical Betaine anhydrous occurs naturally in the body. You can also get it from seafood, spinach, and beets. 

Basically, Betaine anhydrous aids the body in processing homocysteine. This chemical helps parts of the body function as they should, including the eyes, nerves, muscles, bones, and blood. So, when taking Betaine anhydrous, it prevents homocysteine from building up in the blood. 

You should look for a pre-workout that has at least 2.5 grams of betaine anhydrous. Like the Lean Pre-Workout by Transparent Labs with 2.5 grams. 

Studies show that those with high blood cholesterol may want to limit how much Betaine anhydrous they take. You should always contact your healthcare provider if you’re unsure of whether you can take a supplement, even if it’s natural. 

Creatine HCL

Before we get into creatine HCL, let’s take a look at creatine overall. Creatine plays a vital role in the production of cellular energy in the body. It helps in forming adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is responsible for cellular energy. 

Overall, there have been highly successful studies that show that creatine can improve strength in muscle training by as much as 10%. It can also help with about 5% more strength for bench presses and 8% for legs. 

Some studies reveal that creatine may also decrease mental fatigue, so say goodbye to that mid-workout slump. 

Now, creatine hydrochloride (HCL) has recently been gaining popularity because initial studies showed that this form of creatine was much more soluble in water. This led researchers to believe that it may prevent certain side effects, like an upset stomach, which is quite common with other forms of creatine. 

At the moment studies are still underway to prove this, so it’s not a resounding truth that creatine HCL is better. We’re keeping an eye out for further research. 

Regardless, you want to use at least 750 mg of creatine HCL in your pre-workout to maximize its effects on muscle building and strength. 

Creatine Monohydrate

Let’s move on to the most commonly used creatine for supplements, creatine monohydrate. This form of creatine is the most popular because it has the most research which supports that this supplement can genuinely make a difference to improve exercise performance. 

Creatine monohydrate is made up of a water molecule and a creatine molecule. To keep the molecules as creatine monohydrate, the two molecules remain together, providing about 90% creatine by weight. 

While generally used for its athletic performance benefits, creatine monohydrate can also produce more water in muscle cells. This can help with muscle building through cell swelling. 

As mentioned above, some may experience an upset stomach or cramping. You can reduce the likelihood by taking two lower doses throughout the day. 

Most studies recommend at least 3 g of creatine monohydrate for pre-workout to be effective. 

Agmatine sulfate

Agmatine sulfate comes from the L-Arginine amino acid which is already present in the brain and spinal cord. Originally discovered in 1910, it’s taken nearly 100 years for us to truly understand the benefits of agmatine sulfate. 

What we know so far is that the amino acid plays a vital role in improving things in the nervous system. So, it comes as no surprise that scientists are working out that this amino acid might have some astounding results for those with neuropathic pain and diseases like Alzheimer’s. 

Agmatine sulfate can help reduce stress and improve mental clarity. But let’s move on to what you’re really here for. This wonder sulfate is used by gym-goers to maximize athletic performance as it increases energy and improves strength during and after workout sessions. 

Sine Agmatine sulfate increases endorphin levels, this can help the body produce more insulin. This, in turn, can make the muscles absorb more glucose, giving the body more resources during the workout and improving muscle repair. 

Your pre-workout should have at least 1 g of agmatine sulfate.

Go with a brand you trust

Finding a brand you trust is the most important thing. Your pre-workout should come from a brand with a reputation for quality and transparency. That means they are known in the industry for being upfront with users about ingredients and the results.

Just to give you a few examples, Transparent Labs posts their certificates of composition and certificates of analysis.

Kaged and Naked participate in the Informed-Sport program, although Naked doesn’t subject their pre-workouts to third-party testing. This is probably because pre-workouts contribute only a small portion of their overall revenue, and testing can be expensive.

As a result, they prioritize testing their most popular products. Nevertheless, this shows their dedication to manufacturing pure supplements.

You should always go with a brand that aligns with your values. So, if you’re vegan, keto, or gluten-free, try to find a brand that provides products for you. 

It can be tempting, but don’t go for “quick result” products. We can almost guarantee it’s a scam that isn’t tested or made ethically. 

Getting input from others can help, but still, the ultimate choice is yours. You need to find a pre-workout that works with your body and gives you the results you’re after. 

What To Avoid When Buying A Clean Pre-workout

Sketchy Stimulants

Some companies will use ingredients like:

• DMAA
• DMHA
• Hordenine
• Eria jarensis
• Higenamine

While there is no doubt that some of these will amp up the effects of the pre-workout, be warned, they do come with a higher risk of causing unwanted side effects. 

Luckily, none of the products we’ve listed come with any of these ingredients, or any banned substances for that matter. Remember, the ingredient label is your friend, read it! 

Proprietary Blends

Proprietary blends are combinations of multiple ingredients in a product. When a manufacturer uses the term “proprietary” they don’t have to disclose the ingredient amounts on the label. They merely need to disclose the ingredients. 

This can get dangerous to a certain degree. You should always know how much of a certain ingredient is in your pre-workout powder, so you can evaluate whether it’s safe to use alongside other supplements. 

Most of the time, proprietary blends are a marketing tactic used to increase profit margins. They could, quite literally, put a pinch of an ingredient and be able to list it on the ingredient label. 

The good news? None of the pre-workouts in this list use any proprietary blends. All the products tell you exactly what ingredients are used and the amount you’re ingesting with each serving. 

If safety is a big concern for you, here are two FDA-approved safe pre-workout supplements.

FAQs about Clean Pre-Workout

Wrap Up 

Our overall best clean pre-workout goes to Transparent Labs with its Lean Pre-Workout. The brand is all about being upfront with customers and ensuring third-party testing on all their products. This pre-workout contains 6,000 mg of citrulline malate, so more than enough for maximum effect. 

We love that the Lean Pre-Workout by Transparent Labs is GMO-free with no added additives or coloring. 

Our runner-up comes from the same brand. The Stim-Free Pre-Workout by Transparent Labs is the perfect gym bag companion for anyone that doesn’t want any sort of stimulant in their pre-workout but still wants a good pump session. The 4,000 mg of BCAA’s and elevATP will get you over that last mile in your workout. 

There are a range of pre-workout supplements to choose from, so find one that works for your needs. Just remember, look at the label to find your clean ingredients. 

About Kyle Risley

Kyle Risley founded Lift Vault in 2016 to make finding great powerlifting programs easier. Since then, the site has grown to include hundreds of programs for strength, bodybuilding, Olympic weightlifting, and more. He currently lives in Massachusetts and continues to compete in powerlifting.