If you really want the best of both worlds, a pre-workout supplement with creatine will take you far in boosting your athletic performance and destroying your fitness goals – faster than ever before!
But, it seems to be a common problem that many creatine pre-workouts don’t contain nearly enough creatine (or other effective ingredients) to actually produce results.
Well, you can sit back and relax, because I’ve compiled a list of the very best pre-workout supplements with creatine to suit all of your needs – so you don’t have to.
Our top pick for the best pre-workout with creatine goes to Pre-Kaged Pre-Workout by Kaged.
Pre-Kaged is exceptionally well-balanced pre-workout supplement that is well-suited for a wide variety of users. Its combination of clinical ingredient doses and transparency in its manufacturing process makes it one of the best pre-workout supplements on the market. While it may not be the cheapest pick, it’s truly top-of-the-line.
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.
Table of Contents
The 8 Best Pre-Workout Supplements With Creatine
- Pre-Kaged – Kaged
- Godzilla Pre-Workout – Ryse Supplements
- Pre-Kaged Elite – Kaged
- Altius Pre-Workout – Jacked Factory
- Arez Titanium – Ntel Pharma
- Hydraulic Stim-Free Pre-Workout – Axe & Sledge
- Creatine HCL – Kaged
- Blackwolf Pre-Workout
1. Pre-Kaged – 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.
Our top pick for the best overall pre-workout with creatine is, without a doubt, Pre-Kaged!
It comes as no surprise that this killer supplement has received multiple awards and countless 5-star reviews from athletes, bodybuilders, gym junkies, and workout enthusiasts alike.
Unlike most pre-workouts on the market these days, Pre-Kaged provides full label disclosure with top-shelf ingredients that take your workouts to the MAX. Think energy, focus, muscle pumps, gains, and stamina – one scoop is all you need!
Pre-Kaged even contains BCAAs, which can help with muscle gain if you’re not getting enough protein from your regular diet.
And for the health nuts, it’s vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and free from artificial flavors and colors. What more could you want?
Key Pre-Workout Ingredients:
- L-Citrulline – 6,500 mg
- Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) – 6,500 mg
- L-Leucine – 4,750 mg
- L-Isoleucine – 875 mg
- L-Valine – 875 mg
- BetaPower (Betaine Anhydrous) – 2,500 mg
- CarnoSyn (Beta-Alanine) – 1,600 mg
- Patented Creatine HCl – 1,500 mg
- Coconut Water Powder – 500 mg
- SPECTRA Total ORAC Blend – 100 mg
- Taurine – 2,000 mg
- N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine – 1,000 mg
- PurCaf Organic Caffeine – 274 mg
- Sodium – 50 mg
- Vitamin B12 – 500 mcg
- Vitamin B6 – 25 mg
- Niacin – 30 mg
2. Godzilla Pre-Workout – Ryse Supplements
If massive pumps and increased blood flow are your thing, this pre-workout with creatine is going to blow your mind.
Godzilla, a.k.a the king of pre-workout, delivers smashing doses of patented L-Citrulline, Beta-Alanine, Caffeine, and Thinkamine for explosive energy, monster-like pumps, laser focus, and speedy muscle repair.
In other words, you won’t find a label this loaded amongst most of the other pre-workout supplements on the market.
Ryse’s formula is fully transparent, clinically tested, and absolutely LOADED; plus, it actually tastes great!
One scoop is more than enough to have you destroying your workouts, but experienced stimulant users can go for two scoops of this potent supplement.
Key Pre-Workout Ingredients:
- L-Citrulline – 4,500 mg
- Citrulline Nitrate – 1,000 mg
- Beta-Alanine – 3,200 mg
- Betaine Anhydrous – 2,500 mg
- Creatine Monohydrate – 2,500 mg
- Choline Bitartrate – 800 mg
- Pink Himalayan Sea Salt – 250 mg
- Caffeine Anhydrous – 175 mg
- Hydrolyzed Casein Tripeptides – 150 mg
- Theobromine – 100 mg
- zumXR Extended Release Caffeine – 25 mg
- Vincamine – 10 mg
3. Pre-Kaged Elite – Kaged
If you want a strong, overloaded label without any banned or sketchy ingredients, Pre Kaged Elite is what you're looking for.
Sporting a massive 35 gram scoop, Pre Kaged Elite packs more active ingredients into each serving than any other pre workout I've reviewed. Every base is truly covered in this premium supplement.
Next on the list is the best high caffeine pre-workout with creatine! Pre-Kaged Elite is not here to mess around. In fact, it’s included in our list of the strongest pre-workout supplements available.
With a massive 388 mg of organic caffeine and 3,000 mg of creatine monohydrate, this insanely effective supplement is guaranteed to take you and your training into another dimension with immense energy, pumps, and focus.
This all-in-one formula truly is elite, with 20 fully-disclosed premium ingredients perfectly combined to deliver the most intense pre-workout experience possible.
If you’re sensitive to caffeine, you might want to steer clear of this bad boy (yes, it’s that powerful), and you’ll find a more suitable pre-workout below!
Key Pre-Workout Ingredients:
- L-Citrulline – 10,000 mg
- Beta-Alanine – 3,200 mg
- Creatine Monohydrate – 3,000 mg
- Creatine Nitrate – 2,000 mg
- Betaine Anhydrous – 2,500 mg
- Carnipure – 1,500 mg
- Taurine – 2,000 mg
- Coconut Fruit Water Powder – 500 mg
- elavATP – 150 mg
- L-Tyrosine – 2,500 mg
- Caffeine – 388 mg
- Alpha-GPC – 300 mg
- AmaTea – 100 mg
- Huperzia Serrata Extract – 10 mg
- Niacin – 30 mg
- Vitamin B6 – 35 mg
- Vitamin B12 – 1,000 mcg
- Magnesium – 65 mg
- Sodium – 280 mg
- Potassium – 250 mg
4. Altius Pre-Workout – Jacked Factory
Altius is a clinically-dosed, "No BS" pre workout without any artificial sweeteners or unnecessary filler ingredients.
It's is a great choice for those seeking a strong burst of energy without any banned ingredients or shady stimulants.
With a fully transparent label, 325 mg of caffeine, and 8 g of citrulline malate, it packs a solid punch.
Ever find yourself in the predicament of having to choose between paying your rent and buying pre-workout supplements?
Making gains doesn’t have to be a struggle – as we’ve found the best budget pre-workout with creatine!
Altius offers everything you could wish for in a straightforward pre-workout with creatine, for only half the price. Premium science-backed ingredients, no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or dyes, and just pure goodness!
This awesome supplement will have you taking your workouts to the next level, with more strength, mental focus, energy, and muscle growth!
Key Pre-Workout Ingredients:
- L-Citrulline Malate 2:1 – 8,000 mg
- Betaine Anhydrous – 2,500 mg
- Creatine Monohydrate – 3,000 mg
- Beta-Alanine – 3,200 mg
- Caffeine Anhydrous – 325 mg
- AlphaSize Alpha-Glycerol Phosphoryl Choline – 300 mg
- AstraGin – 30 mg
- Vitamin B12 – 500 mcg
- Sodium – 170 mg
- Potassium – 300 mg
5. Arez Titanium – Ntel Pharma
Ntel Pharma delivers another winner in their legendary Arez line of pre workouts. Titanium is a hard hitting, stim-heavy supplement with 175 mg of DMHA per serving.
Discount codes:
LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off Nutri Cartel
If you’re looking for the best high stim pre-workout with creatine, it’s right here!
Arez Titanium in a nutshell? PURE POWER.
This pre-workout is reserved for those who take their workouts seriously. A single serving of this delicious formula will give you motivation like never before, superhuman energy, huge pumps, and immense mental clarity.
Thanks to the potent stimulants in this pre-workout, it’s recommended to only take it a few times a week, not to put too much pressure on your central nervous system.
Key Ingredients:
- Beta-Alanine – 3,200 mg
- L-Citrulline – 3,000 mg
- Creatine Monohydrate – 3,000 mg
- Agmatine Sulfate – 500 mg
- Caffeine Anhydrous – 350 mg
- Choline Bitartrate 97% – 250 mg
- B-Phenethylamine – 200 mg
- Juglans Regia Extract – 175 mg
- Eria Jarensis – 75 mg
- Synephrine HCL – 30 mg
- Hordenine – 10 mg
- Alpha Yohimbine – 2.5 mg
6. Hydraulic Stim-Free Pre-Workout – Axe & Sledge
Hydraulic by Axe and Sledge will make you feel as if you took a stim-based pre-workout without having taken one. It is recommended for anyone looking to get off stims without having to give up the feeling of one with the Beta-Alanine for the tingles and L-Tyrosine for focus.
Hydraulic is easily stackable with a stim-based nootropic for a complete pre-workout experience.
Discount code:
LIFTVAULT = 15% off at Nutri Cartel
Hydraulic leaves no room for competition when it comes to the best caffeine-free pre-workout with creatine. In fact, it’s included on our list of the best pre-workout supplements without caffeine.
Whether you have a low tolerance to caffeine or have already consumed enough throughout the day, this product will help you smash your goals while being completely stim-free! Plus, you won’t have any trouble sleeping at night.
Besides immensely increasing blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients to your muscles, Hydraulic also helps to reduce lactic acid build-up, which means less muscle fatigue, super strength, boosted endurance, and pumps for killer workouts!
Key Ingredients:
- L-Citrulline – 5,000 mg
- Glycerol Powder 65 % – 3,000 mg
- Beta-Alanine – 2,400 mg
- L-Taurine – 2,000 mg
- Magnesium Creatine Chelate – 1,500 mg
- Agmatine Sulfate – 1,000 mg
- L-Tyrosine – 1,000 mg
- Arginine Silicate – 1,000 mg
- N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine – 250 mg
- Vitamin B3 – 25 mg
- Vitamin B6 – 25 mg
- Vitamin B12 – 500 mcg
- Magnesium – 120 mg
- Potassium – 40 mg
7. Creatine HCL – Kaged
High quality, patented, pure creatine HCL with zero fillers.
Available in unflavored powder (for mixing into other drinks), lemon lime powder, or vegetable capsules (vegan).
Next up is the best creatine supplement for adding to your existing favorite pre-workout, which could save you a whole lot of cash in the long run (no need to switch between different pre-workout products). Plus, it’s great for stacking!
Kaged has provided us with the highest quality, patented creatine HCl out there (unlike the generic Creatine HCl used by most brands). This is why it is recommended as one of the best creatine HCL supplements and one of the best bulking creatine supplements.
This means it’s super easy to digest without causing GI upset, there’s no loading phase, and it mixes easily into any liquid.
Anyone looking for a clean, simple creatine supplement that gets the job done will definitely enjoy this one!
Key Ingredients:
- Creatine Hydrochloride (Patented C-HCl) – 750 mg
8. Blackwolf Pre-Workout
Blackwolf pre-workout is a great choice for beginners looking for a solid pre-workout to help them power through their workouts. With a fully transparent label, you know exactly what you're getting.
And last but not least, we have the best pre-workout without creatine for beginners.
Blackwolf is top of its game with a vegan-friendly formula providing lasting, clean energy -without the crash – for optimal performance without feeling completely wired.
It comes in 3 super tasty flavors: Green Apple, Blue Raspberry, and Fruit Punch. The Fruit Punch contains no caffeine – for people who don’t fancy howling at the moon all through the night. (It’s loaded with DMAE and huperzine instead to up your focus.)
Whether you go for the caffeine or caffeine-free option, you can expect maximum endurance, lasting energy, excellent mental clarity, and more than enough motivation to get you through those extra intense workouts.
Key Ingredients:
- L-Citrulline Malate – 6,000 mg
- Beta-Alanine – 3,200 mg
- Creatine Monohydrate – 3,000 mg
- Betaine Anhydrous – 2, 000 mg
- L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate – 1,000 mg
- Taurine – 1,000 mg
- L-Tyrosine – 600 mg
- Caffeine Anhydrous – 200 mg (Only in Green Apple and Blue Raspberry flavors)
- Dynamine – 125 mg
- DMAE – 150 mg and Huperzine – 10 mg (Only in Fruit Punch flavor)
- Coconut Water Powder – 300 mg
- BioPerine – 5 mg
What To Look For When Buying A Good Pre-Workout Supplement With Creatine
Fully disclosed ingredient label
A transparent ingredient label is an essential factor to consider when choosing the best pre-workout supplement with creatine.
What does that mean?
Dietary supplements should always be clear about what’s in the bottle – by stating the exact ingredients and each one’s exact dose (and not concealing any substances or doses under so-called “proprietary blends”.)
A good way to verify the claims on the ingredient label is to check for 3rd-party tested certification, like GMP, FDA, or Informed-Sport.
Decide how much caffeine you want
The norm is for pre-workout supplements to contain a whole lot of caffeine, typically ranging from 150 mg to 350 mg in a serving.
Is that good or bad?
Well, it’s really up to you.
If you can handle more than 3 cups of coffee (shout-out to the pre-workouts with 350 mg of caffeine), or you’re an experienced pre-workout junkie, then you’ll thrive on high-stim pre-workouts, like Arez Titanium or Pre-Kaged Elite.
If you have a low caffeine tolerance, opt for a pre-workout with a low caffeine dose or even a stimulant-free pre-workout, like Hydraulic Stim-Free Pre-Workout.
Look for ingredients that can improve performance in the gym
Pre-workouts containing creatine can work wonders when it comes to improving your exercise performance, muscle growth, and muscle recovery.
Here are some other excellent ingredients to look out for to smash those goals and maximize your results:
- Caffeine – ishighly effective at boosting energy, improving concentration, and boosting performance.
- Beta-Alanine – is powerful for improving your endurance with high-intensity exercises, decreasing muscle fatigue, and speeding up recovery.
- L-Citrulline – is extremely beneficial for supporting post-workout recovery and enhancing athletic performance.
- Electrolytes (e.g., potassium, magnesium, sodium) – are fantastic for maintaining hydration and optimizing your performance.
- Taurine – is highly beneficial in increasing strength, power output, and optimal hydration, as well as lowering muscle fatigue.
Choose a brand with a reputation for quality and transparency
Quality and reliability are key when it comes to buying pre-workout supplements.
Here’s what to look for:
- A number of online reviews
- Products available at multiple stores
- Recommended by health experts or sports professionals
- An official website with contact details
- 3rd-party testing, for example, Kaged is part of Informed-Sport, a third-party testing program that ensures products are free of banned ingredients.
Benefits of Creatine For Athletic Performance
Increase strength
Creatine works to maximize your strength, power, and exercise performance as it supports your body in generating more ATP (the energy currency of all cells).
The more available ATP you have, the more strength you will have during your workouts.
To put this into perspective, on average, ATP is depleted after 8 seconds of intense exercise (i.e., HIIT), but taking creatine can extend this duration by a few seconds!
Build lean muscle mass
Pre-workouts with creatine have been shown to be highly effective for muscle gain, whether you’re a pro athlete or just someone wanting to improve your physique.
Besides increasing lean muscle mass in the long term, creatine also promotes water retention in the muscles (yup, that means awesome MUSCLE PUMPS!). Basically, the more water stored in your muscles, the bigger the pump.
Aid workout recovery
Yes, creatine is excellent for boosting your workouts, but it’s also beneficial for accelerated muscle repair.
It assists in reducing inflammation and cell damage, as well as cell-to-cell signaling to speed up post-workout recovery and muscle building.
Improve power output
Don’t we all want better endurance during our training sessions?
Thanks to creatine creating water retention in your muscles and its effect on increased ATP production in the cells, it allows you to work out harder and for longer.
FAQs about Pre-Workout and Creatine
Yes. Though it was once thought that taking creatine and caffeine at the same time would “counteract” the benefits of creatine, this is not supported by modern research. (source 1, source 2) This is especially relevant for pre-workout supplements that contain creatine, as most of these supplements also contain caffeine.
No, you can take creatine any time. It doesn’t make very much difference if you take it before or after working out. The most important thing is taking it daily.
Yes, it’s fine to mix creatine with pre-workout. It is not dangerous to mix creatine with pre-workout and the only potential negative side effect may be some stomach discomfort. In fact, many pre-workouts already contain creatine.
If you’re concerned about how you may react to mixing creatine with pre-workout, it’s fine to take creatine separately later in the day. The timing of creatine consumption does not significantly influence the effect of the supplement.
Conclusion
Whether you’re searching for the top creatine high-stim pre-workout, an effective caffeine-free pre-workout, or something to give you massive pumps, it’s sure to be on this list!
And the prize for the ultimate creatine pre-workout overall goes to… Pre-Kaged by Kaged!
Followed closely by:
- Godzilla Pre-Workout by Ryse Supplements
- Blackwolf Pre-Workout