Thermogenic pre-workout supplements do the same thing as normal pre-workouts, with the bonus of burning fat. If you’re looking to lose weight and boost your metabolism while having an intense workout, give them a try.
This article will break down the ingredients and best uses for each. You can decide which is the best thermogenic pre-workout for your needs.
If you just want to know what our top recommended products are, they are:
- Overall Best Thermogenic Pre Workout: Superhuman Burn – Alpha Lion
- Best High-Stim Thermogenic Pre Workout: Black Tulip – Apollon Nutrition
- Best Stim-Free Thermogenic Pre Workout: Superhuman Burn Stim-Free
If you’d like to see more pre-workout recommendations, check out our analysis of the best pre-workout supplements.
SuperHuman Burn is a 2 in 1 pre-workout and fat burner. It includes clinical doses of proven fat burning ingredients for increasing energy expenditure along with tried and true pre-workout ingredients.
Its well-balanced but potent ingredient profile makes it one of our favorite overall pre-workout supplements.
Discount codes:
LIFTVAULT = 15% off at Nutrition Cartel
LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off at Supps Central
For those who want more stimulants in their pre-workout, but still want thermogenic effects, Apollon Nutrition has you covered.
Black Tulip is a version of their infamous Assassin pre-workout that focuses on amping up thermogenesis and calorie burning. Apollon is well-known by pre-workout fans for including massive doses of each ingredient and Black Tulip is no different.
Discount codes:
LIFTVAULT = 15% off at Nutri Cartel
Superhuman Burn Stim-Free is a caffeine-free version of Superhuman Burn by Alpha Lion. It combines several proven fat-burning ingredients to help you burn more calories during your workout. As it contains no caffeine or other stimulants, it's a great choice for taking late in the day without keeping you awake at night.
Discount codes:
LIFTVAULT = 15% off at Nutri Cartel
LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off at Supp Kingz
Table of Contents
- 1 Best Thermogenic Pre Workout Supplements
- 1.1 Superhuman Burn Pre Workout – Alpha Lion
- 1.2 Superhuman Burn Pre Workout (Stim-Free) – Alpha Lion
- 1.3 Black Tulip – Apollon Nutrition
- 1.4 Nitrosurge Shred Pre-Workout Fat Burner – Jacked Factory
- 1.5 Defiant Shredded – Muscleforce
- 1.6 CaloriBurn Gains Candy (Grains of Paradise) – Alpha Lion
- 1.7 Alpha Neon – Darkside Onslaught Pre-Workout – Best Thermogenic Pre-Workout Without Beta-Alanine
- 1.8 Alpha Neon Darkshred Pre-workout – Best Thermogenic Pre-Workout Without Pump Products
- 2 The Calorie Burning Thermogenic Effect
- 3 Should You Switch to a Thermogenic Pre-Workout?
- 4 General Advice for Purchasing a Thermogenic Pre-Workout
- 5 Key Thermogenic Pre-Workout Ingredients
- 6 What to Look for When Buying a Thermogenic Pre-Workout
- 7 FAQs about Thermogenic Pre-Workout Supplements
- 8 Conclusion
Best Thermogenic Pre Workout Supplements
- Superhuman Burn Pre Workout – Alpha Lion
- Superhuman Burn Stim-Free Pre Workout – Alpha Lion
- Black Tulip Pre Workout – Apollon Nutrition
- Nitro Surge Shred Pre Workout – Jacked Factory
- Defiant Shredded Pre Workout – Muscleforce
- CaloriBurn Gains Candy – Alpha Lion
- Darkside Onslaught Pre Workout – Alpha Neon
- Darkshred Pre Workout – Alpha Neon
Here are the best thermogenic pre-workouts and how they can help you meet your fitness goals.
Superhuman Burn Pre Workout – Alpha Lion
Overall Best Thermogenic Pre Workout
SuperHuman Burn is a 2 in 1 pre-workout and fat burner. It includes clinical doses of proven fat burning ingredients for increasing energy expenditure along with tried and true pre-workout ingredients.
Its well-balanced but potent ingredient profile makes it one of our favorite overall pre-workout supplements.
Discount codes:
LIFTVAULT = 15% off at Nutrition Cartel
LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off at Supps Central
This pre-workout promises to increase strength and endurance and provide laser-like focus without a crash. It includes two forms of caffeine and L-theanine, providing powerful energy to get you through intense workouts.
S7 is used to increase nitric oxide levels. Increases nitric oxide improves blood and nutrient flow to the muscles and provides a better pump in the gym.
Key Ingredients:
- Niacin 12.5 mg
- Caffeine Anhydrous 150 mg
- L-citrulline Malate 3500 mg
- L-taurine 500 mg
- Nitrosigine 375 mg
- S7 50 mg
- Beta Alanine 1600 mg
- Betaine Anhydrous 1250 mg
- L-Theanine 175 mg
Superhuman Burn Pre Workout (Stim-Free) – Alpha Lion
Best Stim-Free Thermogenic Pre-Workout
Superhuman Burn Stim-Free is a caffeine-free version of Superhuman Burn by Alpha Lion. It combines several proven fat-burning ingredients to help you burn more calories during your workout. As it contains no caffeine or other stimulants, it's a great choice for taking late in the day without keeping you awake at night.
Discount codes:
LIFTVAULT = 15% off at Nutri Cartel
LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off at Supp Kingz
This fat burning pre workout delivers a powerful pump for those looking to take a break from caffeine or are working out late at night. By providing a max dose of non-stimulant ingredients, a stimulant-like pump is felt when supplementing this product. Lion’s Mane is a nootropic that will provide extensive focus during the workout.
Key ingredients:
- L-Citrulline Malate – 8000 mg
- S7 – 150 mg
- HydroPrime – 3000 mg
- Beta-Alanine – 3500 mg
- Pink Sea Salt – 350 mg
- Organic’s Lion Mane – 600 mg
- AlphaSize – 300 mg
Black Tulip – Apollon Nutrition
For those who want more stimulants in their pre-workout, but still want thermogenic effects, Apollon Nutrition has you covered.
Black Tulip is a version of their infamous Assassin pre-workout that focuses on amping up thermogenesis and calorie burning. Apollon is well-known by pre-workout fans for including massive doses of each ingredient and Black Tulip is no different.
Discount codes:
LIFTVAULT = 15% off at Nutri Cartel
Best High Stim Thermogenic Pre-Workout
This product is fully loaded to provide maximum thermogenic effects as it contains many key fat burning ingredients. It has zero fillers and maximizes cardio and endurance while accelerating fat loss. It is highly stimulant-based and will wake you up and make you want to train hard.
Key Ingredients:
- Beta Alanine – 3200 mg
- Betaine Anhydrous – 2500 mg
- L-tyrosine – 2000 mg
- L-Carnitine – 2000 mg
- Caffeine Anhydrous – 175 mg
- Di-Caffeine Malate – 135 mg
- Synephrine HCL – 120 mg
- Hordenine HCI – 100 mg
- AstraGin – 50 mg
- Noopept – 30 mg
Nitrosurge Shred Pre-Workout Fat Burner – Jacked Factory
Best Value Thermogenic Pre-Workout
At just $1 per serving, Nitrosurge Shred is a great value thermogenic pre-workout from Jacked Factory.
A great choice for beginners looking for their first thermogenic pre-workout. More advanced users may prefer two scoops.
Nitro Surge Shred provides a thermogenic boost that helps burn fat faster while maintaining lean muscle mass. It also boosts nitric oxide levels to provide powerful pumps.
Key Ingredients:
- L-Citrulline – 2 g
- Beta-Alanine – 1.6 g
- Acetyl – L-Carnitine – 1 g
- Caffeine Anhydrous – 180 mg
- L-Theanine – 90 mg
- Theobromine – 50 mg
- BioPerine – 2.5 mg
Defiant Shredded – Muscleforce
Best Hardcore Thermogenic Pre-Workout
If you're looking for a thermogenic pre-workout with DMHA, then Defiant Shredded is worth a look. There are no pump ingredients in Defiant Shredded. Instead, it focuses on delivering a high-energy, thermogenic pre-workout experience.
Discount codes:
LIFTVAULT = 15% off at Nutri Cartel
LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off at Supp Kingz
Defiant Shredded provides ingredients to optimize fat loss and increase the intensity of your workouts. Defiant will boost the metabolism and speed up the thermogenesis process, providing a boost through challenging workouts without a crash afterward. This allows increase their mental focus on their training while building lean muscle.
Key ingredients:
- L-carnitine – 1500 mg
- Beta-alanine 800 mg
- Caffeine – 150 mg
- L-Theanine – 100 mg
- 2-aminoisoheptane – 62.5 mg
- InnoSlim – 62.5 mg
- NeuroFactor – 50 mg
- AstraGin – 25 mg
- Synephrine – HCL 15 mg
- Alpha-Yohimbine – 0.5 mg
CaloriBurn Gains Candy (Grains of Paradise) – Alpha Lion
Most Versatile Thermogenic Supplement for Burning Calories
If you want to turn any pre-workout into a thermogenic pre-workout, just add CaloriBurn!
CaloriBurn is a trademarked form of grains of paradise, which has been shown in clinical trials to help burn calories.
This is actually quite a cost-effective method for adding a thermogenic effect to your workouts.
Discount codes:
LIFTVAULT = 15% off at Nutri Cartel
While this product is not a pre-workout, you can combine it with your favorite pre-workout. CaloriBurn activates good metabolic fat tissue, elevates energy expenditure, and increases calorie burning effects.
The powerful natural extract, Grains of Paradise, provides a thermogenic effect without using stimulants.
Key Ingredients:
- Grains of Paradise Seed Extract (6-Paradol 12.5%) – 40 mg
Alpha Neon – Darkside Onslaught Pre-Workout – Best Thermogenic Pre-Workout Without Beta-Alanine
Best Thermogenic Pre-Workout Supplement without Beta-Alanine
Darkside Onslaught is an incredibly unique pre-workout.
First, it combines ingredients for fat-burning, focus, energy, and pumps.
Second, it doesn't contain beta-alanine, a traditionally popular but occasionally polarizing ingredient.
Third, it doesn't contain any illicit stimulants or other banned ingredients.
Last, it actually delivers 30 full servings at a time where you're lucky to get 25 servings from most quality pre-workouts.
Discount code:
LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off at Supp Kingz
Darkside Onslaught is for experienced pre-workout users who want to up their stimulant intake and have an insane workout. It has all the best stimulants, nootropics, and pump ingredients combined.
Key Ingredients:
- L-Citrulline – 7000 mg
- Glycerol Monostearate – 2500 mg
- N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine – 1000 mg
- Alpha GPC – 500 mg
- Caffeine Anhydrous – 300 mg
- Lion’s Mane – 300 mg
- N-Methyltyramine HCL – 120 mg
- L-Theanine – 50 mg
- Paradoxine (grains of paradise) – 45 mg
Alpha Neon Darkshred Pre-workout – Best Thermogenic Pre-Workout Without Pump Products
Best Thermogenic Pre-Workout Supplement without Pump Ingredients
Darkshred combines many ingredients rarely seen in pre-workout supplements (kalonji, horsetail extract, parsley extract, and cordyceps mycelium extract, to name a few) to deliver a unique thermogenic pre-workout experience.
Discount codes:
LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off at Supp Kingz
This fat-burning pre-workout provides extreme pumps and blood flow in the gym with its high stimulant dose. It has a few different extracts to help boost the metabolism and burn fat. Taurine and guarana are ingredients in energy drinks that are great for providing long-lasting energy.
Key Ingredients:
- L-carnitine – 1.5 g
- Grains of paradise – 50 mg
- Caffeine – 350 mg
- L-theanine – 200 mg
- Guarana – 200 mg
- Taurine – 1.6 g
- White willow bark – 200 mg
- Dandelion extract – 700 mg
- Horsetail extract – 500 mg
The Calorie Burning Thermogenic Effect
The main goal of a thermogenic pre-workout is to create the process of thermogenesis in the body. Thermogenesis is a metabolic process where the body burns calories to produce heat. The increase of core body temperature leads to the burning of calories which is the primary goal when trying to burn fat.
The ingredients found in thermogenic pre-workouts increase the process of thermogenesis, leading to increased fat burning. They also boost the metabolism to break down food faster, which increases the body’s ability to convert fats into energy.
Should You Switch to a Thermogenic Pre-Workout?
Thermogenic pre-workouts are great because they do the same thing that a pre-workout is supposed to, while additionally burning extra fat. Anything looking to increase the intensity of their workouts while burning fat should try one.
If you are in a cutting or dieting phase then a thermogenic pre-workout is a great choice for you. If you struggle with weight gain then these products are not for you. If you are caffeine or stimulant sensitive, then they are also not a good idea.
General Advice for Purchasing a Thermogenic Pre-Workout
It’s important to remember that a thermogenic pre-workout is not a magic pill. If you are eating healthy and in a caloric deficit, they will aid the body’s ability to burn fat. However, you cannot eat a poor diet and expect them to work.
Don’t exceed the recommended serving size on the ingredient label. Stimulants can be dangerous if taken more than needed. Don’t take pre-workout products at nighttime unless they are stim-free as they will mess up your sleep schedule.
Key Thermogenic Pre-Workout Ingredients
Here is a list of the best ingredients to promote thermogenesis in the body while working out. Look out for these when buying a thermogenic pre-workout supplement!
MitoBurn
MitoBurn or L-Baiba is known as an exercise mimicking supplement that boosts the metabolism. It has proven to increase fatty acid oxidation, increase BHB levels, and improve insulin sensitivity. The recommended dose range is 250-500mg
Synephrine
Synephrine plays a role in sports performance, appetite control, energy, mental focus, and cognition. All aid in workout performance and fat loss. This ingredient exerts metabolic enhancement without acting as a central nervous system stimulant.
This means it will not increase blood pressure or negatively affect the heart. Defiant Shredded and Black Tulip both contain this ingredient. The recommended dose range is 30-60mg, meaning Defiant Shredded falls below this range while Black Tulip goes beyond.
Grains of Paradise
This aromatic spice helps heal wounds, provides antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, and aids in weight loss. Clinical trials have shown that grains of paradise reduce white adipose fat tissue.
Grains of paradise are found in Darkside Onslaught and Alpha Lion products. The recommended dose range is 40-50mg, meaning that all of the pre-workouts listed fall in the correct doing range.
5-HTP
5-HTP has many benefits, such as increasing serotonin production in the brain. High serotonin levels affect mood, sleep, and weight loss. It also helps increase feelings of fullness, allowing the consumer to eat less.
Testosterone and growth hormone are released during sleep, so sleep is very important for anyone in the gym and is also when the muscles rebuild. 5-HTP should be dosed at around 100mg.
White willow bark
Willow bark acts similarly to aspirin as it is used to treat pain, which helps with muscle soreness and recovery after a challenging workout. It is found in Alpha Neon Darkshred. The recommended dosage is 120-240mg, meaning that Darkshred falls in the proper range.
InnoSlim
InnoSlim is used to manage weight, blood sugar levels, and energy levels. It helps fight metabolic imbalance, allowing the metabolism to break down foods faster. InnoSlim also improves insulin sensitivity, which aids in fat burning.
It is found in Defiant Shredded. The recommended dosage is 250mg, meaning that Defiant Shredded is underdosed.
Capsaicin
Capsaicin has been shown to increase energy metabolism and exercise endurance in studies, which allows you to work out longer and harder, breaking down more muscle fibers.
EGCG
Supplementation with the green tea extract, EGCG increases fat oxidation during exercise. It does so by inhibiting enzymes that reduce the degradation of catecholamines.
Adrenaline and noradrenaline are catecholamines that use fat for fuel during exercise, saving muscle glycogen during workouts and instead burning fat.
L-carnitine
When supplemented, l-carnitine has been shown to improve exercise performance, recovery, reduce muscle soreness, and increase oxygen supply to muscles, which allows the muscle to recover and grow faster.
L-carnitine is a very popular and well-researched supplement, as it is found in every thermogenic pre-workout listed above. It is not found in Alpha Lion Superhuman as it is stim-free. The dosage range varies from 1000-4000mg to be effective, and all pre-workouts fall in that range.
What to Look for When Buying a Thermogenic Pre-Workout
Fully disclosed ingredient label
If the nutrition label contains a proprietary blend, that is a red flag, which means they are not stating what exactly is in the formula. They can be underdosing ingredients or using cheap fillers to save on money.
Check that an ingredient label reads full disclosure, meaning that they label every ingredient found in the pre-workout.
Decide how much caffeine you want to consume
Nowadays, supplement companies constantly add more caffeine into their pre-workout supplements. Every new version has an added caffeine boost.
Caffeine is suitable for many people to consume. However, if you are caffeine sensitive, you may want to choose a pre-workout with lower caffeine content. The best way to find out is to start small. Start with a half dose of pre-workout and see how it affects you. Then assess your tolerance.
Make sure ingredients aren’t significantly underdosed
Decide how much of each ingredient the pre-workout should contain. Research and compare the amount of each ingredient to other pre-workouts.
Go with a brand you trust
Reading ratings and reviews are a great way to see if customers are happy or have issues with the company. It is a good sign if they have a website with a phone number and email listed.
It is most likely a good product to purchase if their pre-workout supplement is available at multiple supplement retailers.
FAQs about Thermogenic Pre-Workout Supplements
This answer is different for everyone, depending primarily on how much of a calorie deficit you are in. By eating fewer calories than your body burns, you will be losing fat. If you add a thermogenic pre-workout, your body will burn even more fat.
Thermogenic pre-workouts will help you in your fat loss journey, but they will not work alone. You also have to eat in a deficit and consider adding in cardio.
If you are a beginner in the gym, pre-workouts probably aren’t the best to be using. Many people create a caffeine addiction by using pre-workout products. They get to the point where they have to take a higher dosage as their body becomes used to it.
Caffeine in high amounts can be dangerous. Pre-workouts contain high amounts of caffeine when double-dosing is dangerous. Pre-workout supplements are for advanced lifters who want to add intensity into their training.
Even advanced lifters should not abuse pre-workouts as they can build a tolerance. Caffeine breaks should be taken every once in a while, so this does not happen.
As with any exercise routine or nutritional supplement, it’s a good idea to check with a licensed medical professional before starting anything new.
With that said, a thermogenic pre workout is generally safe as long as you take the recommended dose and follow the instructions label. Staying hydrated and not combining them with any other medications or additional caffeine is vital for safety.
If you are sensitive to any of the ingredients found in a supplement, you should find a different pre-workout. Watch out for products with artificial sweeteners, proprietary blends, or ones that haven’t been third-party tested. Some contain strong stimulants like DMHA or alpha yohimbine, which may cause unwanted side effects.
The best way to determine if a product is safe is to see how it affects your body. If it is causing issues, then you should either find a new product or not use pre-workout.
Conclusion
Our best thermogenic pre-workout is Alpha Lion Superhuman. This product’s ingredients are in the recommended dosage ranges with a double dose of L-citrulline. It also features a couple of thermogenic ingredients that no other product on this list has, including Nitrosigine and S7.
Our two runner-ups are Defiant Shredded and Black Tulip. Both feature many of the prominent thermogenic pre-workout ingredients that we have listed. These ingredients are not underdosed and do what they are supposed to.
