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Home » Supplement Reviews » Pre Workout Reviews » The 5 Best Pre-Workouts with BCAA in 2023

The 5 Best Pre-Workouts with BCAA in 2023

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By Kyle Risley
Last updated May 8, 2025


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

While blocked chain amino acids (BCAAs) are not essential to create an effective pre workout, some people like to use a pre workout that kills two birds with one stone.

Here are the best pre-workout supplements with BCAAs.

If you just want to know our top recommendation, that honor goes to Lean Pre-Workout by Transparent Labs. It combines 210 mg of caffeine with 2 grams of BCAA and 6 grams of citrulline malate to give you the energy and endurance to finish the toughest workouts.

Plus, you’re getting 30 servings in each tub, which many brands don’t do anymore.

Great Nutrition Support + Every Day Pre Workout
Lean Pre Workout - Transparent Labs
Lean Pre Workout - Transparent Labs
4.3

Lean Pre-Workout is a great choice for those seeking all-around nutrition support and a little extra fat-burning help. It's a well-rounded pre-workout that can be good choice for lots of different use cases.

Discount Codes:

LV10 = 10% off your entire order

Caffeine: 210 mg
Citrulline Malate 2:1: 6,000 mg
Sweetener(s): Stevia Extract
BCAA 2:1:1: 2,500 mg
Shop Transparent Labs
Lift Vault earns a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

Table of Contents

  • 1 The 5 Best Pre-Workouts with BCAA
    • 1.1 Lean Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs
    • 1.2 Bulk Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs
    • 1.3 Kaged Pre-Workout – Kaged
    • 1.4 Amino Synergy – Kaged
    • 1.5 Amino Energy – Optimum Nutrition
  • 2 Honorable Mention for Pre-Workout with BCAA: Nutrex Research – Outlift
  • 3 Best Value Pre Workouts with BCAAs

The 5 Best Pre-Workouts with BCAA

  1. Lean Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs
  2. Bulk Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs
  3. Kaged Pre-Workout – Kaged
  4. Amino Synergy – Kaged
  5. Amino Energy – Optimum Nutrition

Lean Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs

Great Nutrition Support + Every Day Pre Workout
Lean Pre Workout - Transparent Labs
Lean Pre Workout - Transparent Labs
4.3

Lean Pre-Workout is a great choice for those seeking all-around nutrition support and a little extra fat-burning help. It's a well-rounded pre-workout that can be good choice for lots of different use cases.

Discount Codes:

LV10 = 10% off your entire order

Caffeine: 210 mg
Citrulline Malate 2:1: 6,000 mg
Sweetener(s): Stevia Extract
BCAA 2:1:1: 2,500 mg
Shop Transparent Labs
Lift Vault earns a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

Bulk Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs

Best Low Caffeine + Nutrition Support
BULK Pre Workout - Transparent Labs
BULK Pre Workout - Transparent Labs

With just over 200 mg of caffeine, BCAAs, Vitamin D3, and Zinc, BULK is a great choice if you're looking for a normal amount of caffeine + extra nutritional support.

Discount codes:

LV10 = 10% off Transparent Labs

Caffeine: 202 mg
Recommended for: Beginners, tested athletes, daily driver pre-workout
Shop Transparent Labs
Lift Vault earns a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

Kaged Pre-Workout – Kaged

Best Medium Caffeine + Nutrition Support
Pre-Kaged Pre Workout  - Kaged
Pre-Kaged Pre Workout - Kaged

Pre-Kaged is one of the best "all-around" pre-workouts on the market today. When it comes to delivering proven ingredients at effective dosages, Kaged is a brand that delivers time and time again.

Pre-Kaged supplies pump, energy, and focus without any banned or shady ingredients, making it a great choice for tested athletes or anyone that cares what they put into their body.

L-Citrulline: 6.5 g
Recommended Flavor: Cherry Bomb
Creatine HCL: 1.5 g
BCAA 2:1:1: 6.5 g
Caffeine: 275 mg
Recommended for: beginners, daily driver, tested athletes, health conscious
Shop Kaged Take Kaged Supplement Quiz
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Amino Synergy – Kaged

Best EAA with Caffeine
Amino Synergy w/ Caffeine - Kaged
Amino Synergy w/ Caffeine - Kaged

If you're looking for some caffeine with your EAA supplement, check out Amino Synergy (caffeine version). Remember: you're getting BCAAs too!

At just $25 per tub ($0.83/serving), this is the best bang for your buck if you're looking to add some EAAs to your diet.

Shop Kaged Take Kaged Supplement Quiz
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Amino Energy – Optimum Nutrition

Best Low Caffeine + No Beta Alanine
Amino Energy - Optimum Nutrition
Amino Energy - Optimum Nutrition

If you're a beginner that doesn't like beta alanine tingling, then Amino Energy is a solid choice. With 100 mg of caffeine from green tea and a 5 g amino acid blend, it's a cheap energy boost that won't make you uncomfortable.

LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off at Muscle Players

Shop Muscle Players Shop Nutrition Faktory
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Honorable Mention for Pre-Workout with BCAA: Nutrex Research – Outlift

The same pre workout actually earned high marks for both strength and value: Nutrex Research’s Outlift.

Taking a look at the label, there’s a lot to like.

  • BCAAs: 6g
    • Outlift has more BCAAs than a lot of protein powder supplements out there.
  • Caffeine: 350mg
    • This is a huge blast of caffeine, sure to satisfy even the most stimmed out lifter.
  • Citrulline Malate: 8g
    • Again, Outlift is delivering a massive dose here. 8 grams of Citrulline Malate will be sure to deliver massive pumps during your workout.
  • Beta Alanine: 3.2g
    • This is the standard full dosage of beta alanine.
  • Creatine: 3g
    • Personally I don’t care much about creatine in pre workout because I supplement  it separately, but it doesn’t hurt.
  • N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine: 150mg
    • I suspect NALT is mainly on the label as a shiny bell and whistle, but there is some evidence to suggest is has positive impacts on cognition, stress reduction, and subjective well-being.
    • While NALT is a more soluble form of L-Tyrosine, 150mg is still a relatively small dose, leading to my suspicion this is mainly window dressing.

At $44.99 for 30 servings, or $1.50/serving, this is an extremely solid pre workout with BCAA. You’re getting a ton of effective, fully dosed pre-workout ingredients at a reasonable price. When it comes to pre workouts with BCAA, you’d be hard pressed to find a better deal.

Nutrex Outlift Ingredient Label

Best Value Pre Workouts with BCAAs

The following pre workouts also deliver phenomenal value along with a strong dose of BCAAs.

  • JYM Supplement Science – Pre JYM ($1.30/serving)
    • This is slightly less expensive (and slightly less jam packed) than Outlift.
    • You’re still getting 6 grams of BCAAs along with 300mg of caffeine, 6 grams of Citrulline Malate, and just 2 grams of beta alanine.
    • 2 grams of creatine HCL (different than monohydrate, requiring a much smaller dose to be effective) is fully dosed (and then some), covering your daily creatine needs.
    • Outlift is the best bang for your buck, that’s why it was the #1 value pre workout with BCAAs, but this is a very solid option too.
    • Personally, I’d just go with Outlift since Pre JYM isn’t weak enough to be considered a good pre workout for those sensitive to caffeine, nor does it have the same amount of value as Outlift. It’s just a solid pick and better than most of the junk out there.
  • Wild Card Supplements – Wild Card Pre Workout ($1.60/serving)
    • Clocking in with 7 grams of citrulline malate, 4 grams of beta alanine, and 275mg of caffeine, this is a pretty solid choice for those looking for a pump.
    • 4 grams of BCAAs is a relatively standard dose.
    • 1.5 grams of creatine HCL is a full daily dose.
    • I’d prefer Pre JYM over this for the extra caffeine provided by Pre JYM, but if you’re a pump chaser then Wild Card might be a good choice for you.
  • Nutrex Research – Outlift Natural ($1.75/serving)
    • This is a more expensive version of Outlift, but with natural sweeteners and flavors. Otherwise they’re precisely the same. For an extra $0.25 per serving (it’s $1.75/serving), this may be worth it to some people.
    • Even still, it’s a better value than most of the pre workouts with BCAA out there.

For more, check out our list of best pre-workout supplements.

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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.

Filed Under: Pre Workout Reviews, Supplement Reviews
Tagged With: pre workout lists



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