We use “men’s” and “women’s” in this article to align with how products are sold on retail sites. But your gender identity may not align with how the products are marketed. Choose the product with the features that work best for you!
So you’re ready to take your sweat sessions to the next level with a pre-workout supplement. Sweet! The catch? There are about a million of these boosters on store shelves, and a lot of them have oddly aggressive packaging that might make you wonder if you’re even shopping for the right thing.
The truth is, women don’t necessarily need a specially branded pre-workout supplement. The best ones will work well for all bodies. (One less thing to think about when you shop — NICE.)
Here are the best 10 options to help you reach your fitness goals A-S-A-P.
The best pre-workout supplements for women
- Best pre-workout supplement for women overall: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout
- Best pre-workout supplement for HIIT or CrossFit: Cellucor C4 Original Pre-Workout
- Best pre-workout supplement for strength training: Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged Premium Pre-Workout
- Best pre-workout supplement for runners: BARWIS Revere Pre-Workout
- Best pre-workout supplement to aid in recovery: Vital Proteins Vital Performance Pre
- Best vegan pre-workout supplement for women: LADDER Sport Pre-Workout Powder
- Best-tasting pre-workout supplement for women: Alani Nu Pre-Workout
- Best unflavored pre-workout supplement for women: Do Vitamins PurePump Pure Pre-Workout Formula
- Best caffeine-free pre-workout supplement for women: The Genius Brand Genius Pre
- Best-value pre-workout for women: RSP AminoLean
What makes a pre-workout better than, like, a banana?
A well-chosen snack before exercising can def give you an edge in the performance dept, especially if you were hungry or dragging before getting going. Pre-workout supplements are kinda like that, but better.
Usually sold as powdered drink mixes that can be added to water, they’re specially formulated with ingredients like caffeine, B vitamins, and amino acids to give you an energy boost and help you go longer and harder.
And before you ask: No, it’s not all a marketing ploy. Some research has found that pre-workouts can improve athletic performance.
On the other hand, not all experts agree that pre-workouts are 100 percent necessary. And like any other dietary supplement, some pre-workouts could definitely contain sketchy ingredients or have misleading info on their labels. So it’s always really important to do your research before buying.
How we chose
Most studies on pre-workout supplements that include men and women show that both can benefit from these products. With that in mind, we sought out the best supps *period* — not necessarily the ones that claimed to be made just for women.
Some other important criteria: Because pre-workout supplements aren’t closely regulated, we stuck with products that were verified by a third-party organization like NSF or Informed Choice. A seal of approval from one of these orgs means you can trust that the product contains what the label says.
Beyond that, we generally looked for pre-workouts made with clean ingredients and free of artificial sweeteners. Last but not least, everything on this list was approved by our vetting team of medical and brand integrity experts. In other words, we’ve got you.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $20
- $$ = $20–$30
- $$$ = $31–$40
- $$$$ = over $40
The 10 best pre-workout supplements for women
Get ready to no longer sit staring at your screen confused by the vast array of pre-workout options. (Ooh, think of all the time you’ll save.)
Best for women overall
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout
Price: $
Nearly 30,000 Amazon reviews and an average 4.5/5-star rating say it all. This stuff will give you the boost you need, for real, at a price that’s sustainable for regular use.
The manufacturer says this product has a specially designed matrix to boost muscle function, performance, energy, and focus, giving you max support for explosive moves and helping you push yourself for longer.
With just 3 grams of carbs and 0 grams of added sugar, this pre-workout is keto-friendly. And it comes in four fruity flavors that go down easy without any weird aftertastes.
Best for HIIT or CrossFit
Cellucor C4 Original Pre-Workout
Price: $$
Sprints or triple-unders are never actually, uh, easy. But you’ll be able to go a little longer without feeling the burn thanks to C4’s proprietary form of beta-alanine, an amino acid that supports endurance and helps keep fatigue at bay.
It’s got a special compound that the brand says could help prolong your caffeine tolerance, so you won’t feel like you need to keep upping your dose to get the same jolt.
Best for strength training
Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged Premium Pre-Workout
Price: $$$
OK, so the name kinda sounds like an early-2000s metal band. But don’t let that deter you. Pre-Kaged serves up loads of L-citrulline, a natural vasodilator (an ingredient that increases blood flow), to keep your muscles supplied with oxygen so you can pump longer and harder.
It also contains a patented blend of creatine and amino acids that’s designed to fuel muscles.
Best for runners
BARWIS Revere Pre-Workout
Price: $$$
This plant-based formula relies on pomegranate and beets to enhance endurance and boost blood flow, green tea and coffee for better focus, and sweet potato for a carb-rich energy hit that’ll start your run on the right foot — and keep you going for the long haul without hitting a wall.
It’s got 45 calories per serving, which is a little more than most other pre-workout supplements. But when you’re logging serious mileage, you can always use the extra fuel.
Best to aid in recovery
Vital Proteins Vital Performance Pre
Price: $$$
Having to deal with a pre-workout supplement and a post-workout supplement is kind of a lot. This option covers both, thanks to the addition of collagen peptides to keep your joints feeling good and branched-chain amino acids to support muscle growth.
There’s also citrulline, arginine, and creatine to enhance blood flow so you can push harder during your sweat session. And let’s not forget the ancient peat and apple polyphenols — the brand says these can support increased power output.
Best vegan option
LADDER Sport Pre-Workout Powder
Price: $$$$
You’ll get focus without the jitters thanks to a balanced blend of caffeine and theanine, plus blood flow and endurance boosters like beta-alanine and creatine, all in a 100 percent vegan blend that’s free of artificial colors and flavors.
LADDER nixes the artificial sweeteners and flavors, too, and relies on real ingredients like strawberry, lemon, and a few grams of natural sugar.
Best tasting
Alani Nu Pre-Workout
Price: $$$
Caffeine? Check. Amino acids? Check. Citrulline? Check. This pre-workout covers all the bases for extra energy and a longer push.
But the primo flavors are the real selling point (think Hawaiian Shave Ice, Mimosa, Pink Guava, and Aloha Pineapple). They taste refreshing and natural — and they actually are, since the powders are free of artificial flavors.
Best unflavored option
Do Vitamins PurePump Pure Pre-Workout Formula
Price: $$$
Sometimes you don’t wanna deal with sweet, over-the-top flavors, and that’s OK. This flavorless powder, which you can stir into a smoothie or a glass of milk totally unnoticed, is there for you.
It’s also one of the few options that’s both vegan and keto while being totally free of added sugars, sweeteners, and fillers. It’s pure energy and muscle food, baby.
Best caffeine-free pre-workout
The Genius Brand Genius Pre
Price: $$$
Want a boost without a side of caffeine? Instead of stimulants, this formula uses a blend of nootropics. The brand says it’ll give you laser-sharp focus and boost blood flow to support your muscles without making you feel like you’re gonna bust out of your skin. Plus, it’s vegan and sweetened with stevia, so you know you’re getting the real deal.
Best value
RSP AminoLean
Price: $
This powder pretty much has it all — and for a great price. Branched-chain amino acids plus essential amino acids should support your muscles both during and after your workout, and caffeine and green tea extract can give you a smooth energy boost.
As a bonus, it’s got ingredients like EGCG and green coffee bean — according to the brand, these may help support your healthy weight goals. It also has no sugar, carbs, or calories.
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