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

The 5 Best Tasting Pre-Workouts 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

Pre-workout supplements are excellent products that can help give you the energy and mental focus to complete successful workouts. However, one aspect of pre-workouts that is sometimes neglected is how they taste.

You’ll be far less interested in taking a pre-workout supplement if it doesn’t taste very good. Many supplement companies are aware of this and do their best to make their pre-workouts as tasty as possible while still being effective.

In this piece, we’ll be discussing the best-tasting pre-workout supplements so that taking your pre-workout becomes less of a chore and more of a treat.

Best Tasting Pre-Workout
Lean Pre Workout - Transparent Labs
Seriously Strong + Yummy
Bulk Black - Transparent Labs
Great Tasting + Extra Caffeine
Pre-Kaged Pre Workout  - Kaged
Lean Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs
Bulk Black Pre-Workout - Transparent Labs
Pre-Kaged Pre-Workout - Kaged
4.5
4.6
4.4
Caffeine:
210 mg
Caffeine:
297 mg
Caffeine:
275 mg
Flavors:
9
Flavors:
5
Flavors:
6
Recommended Flavor:
Strawberry Lemonade
Recommended Flavor:
Cherry Kiwi
Recommended Flavor:
Cherry Bomb
Servings:
30
Servings:
30
Servings:
20
Discount code:
LV10 = 10% off Transparent Labs
Discount code:
LV10 = 10% off Transparent Labs
Discount code:
n/a
Shop Transparent Labs
Shop Transparent Labs
Shop Kaged
Best Tasting Pre-Workout
Lean Pre Workout - Transparent Labs
Lean Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs
4.5
Caffeine:
210 mg
Flavors:
9
Recommended Flavor:
Strawberry Lemonade
Servings:
30
Discount code:
LV10 = 10% off Transparent Labs
Shop Transparent Labs
Seriously Strong + Yummy
Bulk Black - Transparent Labs
Bulk Black Pre-Workout - Transparent Labs
4.6
Caffeine:
297 mg
Flavors:
5
Recommended Flavor:
Cherry Kiwi
Servings:
30
Discount code:
LV10 = 10% off Transparent Labs
Shop Transparent Labs
Great Tasting + Extra Caffeine
Pre-Kaged Pre Workout  - Kaged
Pre-Kaged Pre-Workout - Kaged
4.4
Caffeine:
275 mg
Flavors:
6
Recommended Flavor:
Cherry Bomb
Servings:
20
Discount code:
n/a
Shop Kaged

Table of Contents

  • 1 The 5 Best Tasting Pre-Workout Supplements
    • 1.1 Transparent Labs – Lean
    • 1.2 Pre-Kaged – Kaged
    • 1.3 Jacked Factory – Nitro Surge
    • 1.4 Gorilla Mode – Pre Workout
    • 1.5 Ghost Legend Pre Workout
  • 2 Most Important Things To Look For When Choosing Pre Workouts
    • 2.1 Fully disclosed ingredient label
    • 2.2 The correct doses of key ingredients
    • 2.3 Choose a well-known brand that people trust
    • 2.4 Palatable flavors
  • 3 FAQs

The 5 Best Tasting Pre-Workout Supplements

  1. Lean Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs
  2. Pre-Kaged Pre-Workout – Kaged
  3. Nitro Surge Pre-Workout – Jacked Factory
  4. Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout
  5. Legend Pre-Workout – Ghost

Transparent Labs – Lean

Best Tasting 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.

Transparent Labs’ Lean offering is a great natural pre-workout, as it contains no artificial flavors or additives of any kind. Despite only using natural flavors, many of its pre-workout flavors still taste amazing.

Besides tasting great, this pre-workout can also give you a much-needed energy boost and help burn fat. Many customers have praised the Tropical Punch flavor option as being one of the best. Some of the other flavor options that customers seem to be crazy about include Blue Raspberry and Watermelon.

If you aren’t a fan of sour flavor options, then you should steer clear of the Green Apple flavor and some of the other flavors that include the word sour in their names.

Key Ingredients

  • Citrulline Malate – 6,000 mg
  • Beta-Alanine – 2,000 mg
  • BCAA – 2,500 mg
  • Betaine Anhydrous – 1,500 mg
  • Acetyl L-Carnitine – 630 mg
  • Choline Bitartrate – 500 mg
  • L-Theanine – 360 mg
  • Caffeine Anhydrous – 180 mg
  • Theobromine – 50 mg
  • Dicaffeine Malate – 40 mg
  • BioPerine – 5 mg

Available Flavors

  • Sour Grape
  • Sour Peach
  • Blue Raspberry
  • Green Apple
  • Orange
  • Cherry Limeade
  • Strawberry Lemonade
  • Tropical Punch
  • Watermelon

Pre-Kaged – Kaged

Great Tasting + Extra Caffeine
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
Lift Vault earns a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

The Kaged Pre-Kaged pre-workout supplement is considered to be one of the best pre-workout options on the market. This is due to its inclusion of all of the right ingredients at the right doses and its affordable price.

Pre-Kaged doesn’t just improve endurance, encourage muscle growth, and boost blood flow; it is also one of the better-tasting pre-workout supplements. It comes in seven tasty flavors that are all vegan-friendly.

Overall Pre-Kaged is a good pre-workout supplement for both beginners and advanced users, and it doesn’t hurt that it tastes great too!

Key Ingredients

  • Organic Caffeine – 274 mg
  • L-Citrulline – 6,500 mg
  • Beta-Alanine – 1,600 mg
  • Fermented BCAAs – 6,500 mg
  • Creatine HCL – 1,500 mg
  • Spectra Antioxidants – 100 mg
  • Taurine – 2,000 mg
  • Tyrosine – 50 mg

Available Flavors

  • Pink Lemonade
  • Fruit Punch
  • Krisp Apple
  • Grape
  • Orange Krush
  • Cherry Bomb

Jacked Factory – Nitro Surge

Tasty and Cheap Pre-Workout
NITROSURGE Pre-Workout - Jacked Factory
NITROSURGE Pre-Workout - Jacked Factory

Nitrosurge is a great choice for beginners who are looking for their first pre workout. With 180 mg of caffeine, Nitrosurge packs a nice punch without being overwhelming.

It also doesn't contain any shady or illicit ingredients, making it a good choice for beginners.

Caffeine: 180 mg
Shop Jacked Factory
Lift Vault earns a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

Nitro Surge by Jacked Factory includes all of the common pre-workout ingredients that you’ve come to expect. However, it differs from its competition by not overdoing any of its ingredients and including too much of them.

If you are worried about how your pre-workout tastes, then this Jacked Factory offering will be an excellent choice. This is because the Nitro Surge pre-workout formula comes in 13 different flavors, so you’re almost guaranteed to find one that will suit your taste.

Jacked Factory’s Nitro Surge is also one of the more budget-friendly pre-workouts on the market while still effectively helping with power, mental focus, and endurance.

Key Ingredients

  • L-Citrulline – 3,000 mg
  • Beta-Alanine – 1,600 mg
  • Betaine Anhydrous – 1,250 mg
  • Caffeine Anhydrous – 180 mg
  • L-Theanine – 90 mg
  • Theobromine – 50 mg
  • AstraGin – 25 mg

Available Flavors

  • Cherry Limeade
  • Blue Raspberry
  • Pineapple
  • Watermelon
  • Arctic White
  • Grape
  • Cotton Candy
  • Blueberry Lemonade
  • Green Apple
  • Black Cherry
  • Fruit Punch
  • Sour Peach Rings

Gorilla Mode – Pre Workout

Well-Rounded Pre-Workout
Gorilla Mode Pre Workout
Gorilla Mode Pre Workout
4.7

Gorilla Mode is a great choice for beginners and anyone seeking an all-in-one daily driver without any illicit ingredients.

Discount codes:

LIFTVAULT = 15% off Nutri Cartel

Caffeine Anhydrous: 400 mg
Eria Jarensis: 500 mg
Niacin: 32 mg
Shop Nutri Cartel
Lift Vault earns a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

If you’re not looking for a stimulant-free pre-workout, then this Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout could be an excellent option for you. It can help improve blood flow and endurance and can also provide you with a great nitric oxide pump.

Most pre-workout supplements offer a handful of flavors to choose from, but Gorilla Mode takes things up a notch by offering 12 different tasty flavors to choose from. The high dose of stimulants in this pre-workout formula makes it slightly less suitable for beginners, but it is possible to start by using a half-serving.

Key Ingredients

  • L-Citrulline – 4,500 mg
  • Creatine Monohydrate – 2,500 mg
  • GlycerPump – 2,500 mg
  • Malic Acid – 1,500 mg
  • Betaine Anhydrous – 1,250 mg
  • L-Tyrosine – 750 mg
  • Agmatine Sulfate – 500 mg
  • Kanna – 250 mg
  • Caffeine Anhydrous – 175 mg
  • N-Phenethyl Dimethylamine Citrate – 175 mg
  • Bioperine – 5mg
  • Huperzine A – 200 mcg

Available Flavors

  • Bombsicle
  • Cherry Blackout
  • Firefly Lemonade
  • Fruit Punch
  • Krush
  • Lemon Lime
  • Mango Peach
  • Jungle Juice
  • Mojo Mojito
  • Mouth Watering Watermelon
  • Tiger’s Blood
  • Volcano Burst

Ghost Legend Pre Workout

Best Tasting Pre Workout
Ghost Legend Pre-Workout
Ghost Legend Pre-Workout
Ghost has partnered with many brands you'll recognize to deliver delicious pre-workouts!
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Ghost Legend Pre Workout has a rather strange name, but this doesn’t stop it from being one of the best-tasting pre-workouts you can buy. If you’re looking for energy, then this pre-workout isn’t lacking in that department either.

A single serving contains more caffeine than two cups of coffee, so beginners should be wary of taking a full serving. Its flavor is bolstered by some artificial sweeteners, so consumers should also be aware of this.

While this pre-workout only comes in two flavors, it is widely regarded as one of the best-tasting pre-workout options that money can buy. The Ghost Legend Pre-Workout recipe also includes healthy doses of everything else you’d expect to see in a pre-workout.

Key Ingredients

  • L-Citrulline – 4,000 mg
  • Beta-Alanine – 3,200 mg
  • Nitrosigine – 1,500 mg
  • Senactiv – 50 mg
  • L-Tyrosine – 1,000 mg
  • Taurine – 1,000 mg
  • Alpha-GPC – 300 mg
  • Natural Caffeine – 250 mg
  • Theobromine – 100 mg
  • AstraGin – 50 mg
  • Rauwolfia – 1.5 mg

Available Flavors

  • Peach
  • Blue Raspberry

Most Important Things To Look For When Choosing Pre Workouts

The taste of a supplement is important, especially if you are going to be taking it almost every day. This is likely why you are looking for the best-tasting pre-workout options.

However, while taste is important, finding the overall best pre-workout supplements for you and your needs is more important.

Below, we will discuss the most important things you should look for when choosing a pre-workout.

Fully disclosed ingredient label

A fully disclosed ingredient label is an important thing to look for when choosing a pre-workout. This is because it is important to know what you are putting into your body.

If you are vegan, vegetarian, or are opposed to artificial additives like artificial sweeteners and flavors, then a good ingredient label will contain all of this information.

Some people also prefer caffeine-free pre-workouts. Brands that have fully disclosed ingredient labels, like Transparent Labs, offer a few caffeine-free options, and it is easy to see this by looking at the ingredient label.

The correct doses of key ingredients

When looking for the best pre-workout for you, it is imperative to not only make sure that a product has all of the right ingredients.

You should also ensure that they have clinical doses of these key ingredients. Otherwise, it is possible that your pre-workout won’t be all that effective.

L-Citrulline or Citrulline Malate

L-Citrulline is one of the many non-essential amino acids. It helps produce nitric oxide, which has been shown to improve blood flow.

Citrulline Malate is simply L-Citrulline in combination with malic acid. This increases the amino acids’ bioavailability and absorption.

The recommended dose for L-Citrulline is 4 grams.

The recommended dose for Citrulline Malate is 6 grams.

Beta-Alanine

Beta-Alanine reduces lactic acid buildup in your muscles. Lactic acid usually begins to form after strenuous exercise and causes muscle fatigue.

You should only consume between 1.5 to 5 grams per day. Otherwise, you may experience an uncomfortable tingling sensation.

Creatine monohydrate or Creatine HCL

Creatine in both of these forms is known to reduce fatigue and increase power and strength during a workout. Creatine HCL is the salt form of the amino acid, which makes it more soluble and bioavailable, so you don’t need to consume as much to get the same results.

The recommended dose for Creatine HCL is 750 mg.

The recommended dose for Creatine Monohydrate is 3 grams.

Caffeine

Caffeine is not necessarily a must-have ingredient in a pre-workout, especially if you are looking for a stim-free solution. However, it can provide you with some excellent energy and endurance to get you through your workouts.

You generally shouldn’t consume more than 400mg of caffeine per day, as consuming more than this can lead to some unpleasant side effects. If you consume a lot of caffeinated drinks during the day, you should consider cutting down significantly if you want to start taking a pre-workout powder.

Betaine Anhydrous

Betaine Anhydrous is found naturally in the body, but if supplemented in the correct doses, it can offer a variety of benefits. These benefits include an improvement in hydration and power, but Betaine Anhydrous is also known to stimulate water-based pumps.

The recommended dose for Betaine Anhydrous is 2.5 grams.

Agmatine Sulfate

Agmatine sulfate aids in the production of nitric oxide. This means it can improve your overall workout performance and your energy levels. It can also provide you with a pump.

The recommended dose for agmatine sulfate is 1 gram.

Choose a well-known brand that people trust

If you’re going to consume a pre-workout when training, then you should go for well-known brands that people trust. While going for an obscure brand could save you some money, you will likely be getting what you pay for.

Brands like Transparent Labs post all of their certificates of composition and analysis on their website. This makes it much easier to find out what you are actually consuming when you use their pre-workout products.

Palatable flavors

If you want a pre-workout that won’t be harsh on your taste buds, then you should choose flavors that you appreciate in other foods and drinks.

If you don’t like sour things, it wouldn’t be the best idea to go for sour flavors, as they will probably not be to your liking.

FAQs

What brands make the tastiest pre-workouts?

The brands we have mentioned above (Transparent Labs, Kaged, Jacked Factory) are generally considered by many people to taste the best. However, taste is subjective, so this might not be the case for you.

Is a pre-workout supposed to taste good?

Pre-workouts may not be specifically designed to taste as good as possible. However, you should experiment with other flavors if you don’t like the taste of your current supplement. Remember, this is something you will be taking either every day or every other day, so you’ll want it to be tasty.

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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




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