The 11 Best Caffeine-Free Pre-Workout Supplements

Best Caffeine-Free Pre-Workout

If you’re short on time, here’s are list of the best caffeine-free pre-workouts:

When it comes to pre-workouts, what usually pops in mind are heart-attack-inducing energy drinks that make you crash towards the end of your workout.

The effects dramatically decrease over a short period, and then you have to stop taking the product for a while to be as effective as a normal dose…

Well, there are in fact more sustainable pre-workout products that you can use for months on end without actually having to cycle off.

These are namely the caffeine free pre workout supplements or “stimulant-free pre-workouts”, but the thing is there are not many of them that are good enough for the money.

For this exact reason, we have piled up the best-rated products that should be on your watchlist when choosing the best caffeine free pre workout.

What To Look For In A Stim-Free Pre-Workout

Though caffeine is the most proven stimulant, it usually leads to the annoying build-up of caffeine tolerance – This is when you have to stop taking your pre-workout for some time because it doesn’t produce the same effects it initially did…

To solve this problem, you can resort to non-stimulant pre workout products (or caffeine free pre workout) to replace caffeine but still get performance benefits just like you would with a regular pre-workout.

When choosing your caffeine-free pre-workout, make sure that within its content is at least 2 of the following performance ingredients:

1. Betaine – A popular ingredient that improves strength, power, and force production
2. Beta-alanine – Increases exercise capacity and decrease fatigue
3. Citrulline malate – Grants increased muscle pumps & sustained energy boost

These pre-workout ingredients are usually in the content of a viable, complete caffeine-free pre-workout formula, which can give you pumps just as nasty as the ones the hardcore pre-workout does.

SPOILER: There’s another lesser-known ingredient that came on top as the best pre, but we’ll tell you about it in a minute.

Why Pick Caffeine-Free Over a Stimulant Pre-workout?

Now, the reason why caffeine free pre workouts exist in the first place is that stimulant-based products have certain downsides that have to somehow be mitigated.

We are mainly referring to the fact that:

1. The body gets adapted to stimulants quickly
2. Stimulants may disrupt your sleep cycle

First off, if you ONLY take stimulant-based pre-workouts, you will come to find that their effects decrease over time – This is called the “stimulant tolerance build-up.”

When your stimulant tolerance builds up, you have to either bump up your pre-workout dosage or take a complete tolerance break for 14-20 days from any stimulants, including pre-workouts, coffee, and energy drinks.

However, your other option is to take a caffeine-free pre-workout and alternate between that and your stim-based pre-workout supplements (we’ll tell you precisely how to do this at the end of this article).

The second downside of stim-based pre-workouts is that stimulants like caffeine tend to remain in your bloodstream for HOURS after a workout.

What this means for you is that if you tend to work out after 5-6 pm, you might have difficulty sleeping afterward.

This can be mitigated with stimulant-free pre-workout products, due to the fact they don’t have overly-stimulating ingredients and can be taken even a couple of hours prior to sleeping.

These products will not only grant an amazing intra-workout boost but will also allow you to get the much-needed recovery after your workout, without disrupting your natural sleep cycle.

If you’ve never had a caffeine free pump… You should.

Now let’s have a look at the best stimulant free pre workout products you can find on the market right now.

The 11 Best Non Caffeine Pre Workouts

As we mentioned, there are not many viable caffeine free pre-workout products on the market right now.

This is why we decided to create this page and give you non-biased, objective reviews of the best products you can find right now.

So without further ado, let’s have a look!

NOTE: Most of the products on our list are based on the Labdoor rating, meaning that the product is tested across all areas, to grant the most accurate, non-biased overall rating possible.

Here’s a quick comparison table:

* Labdoor is a independent company that buys supplements from retail stores and test them in chemistry labs. Then they publish the results and expert reviews for free, so you can buy the right products for you. The product is tested across all areas, to grant the most accurate, non-biased overall rating possible.

** Alpha GPC is one of the most expensive ingredients that a supplement company can have because of what it does (more information down below). That’s why most supplement companies don’t even bother having any (or effective dosages). Our #1 pick has Alpha GPC!

Let’s go over each stimulant free pre workout.

#1 Legion Pulse Stim-Free Pre-Workout

Focusing on a good mix of all important ingredients, the legion pulse stim-free pre-workout will ensure you are performing at your best on every single workout, while not robbing you of your much-needed sleep in the recovery period afterward.

Serving Size: 20.72g (2 scoops), 21 servings per tub

Key Ingredients: Citrulline Malate, Beta-Alanine, Ornithine, Betaine, Alpha GPC

Pros:

• Massive muscle pumps
• Enhanced vascularity
• Optimized maximum strength
• Increased endurance/stamina/nitric oxide production
• Enhanced focus & mood
• No post-workout crash
• Wears off gradually
• Has vital micronutrients
• No side effects

Cons:

• Couldn’t find any

Who Should Buy This:

• If you’re looking for the best substitute to a hardcore, stim-based nitric oxide booster, this is your best bet
• People looking to maximize intra-workout performance & recovery
• Individuals tired of unpredictable stim-based pre-workouts
• If you’re wanting a pre-workout for running, this is a great choice too.

Who Shouldn’t Buy This:

• If you’re looking for slower progress, don’t buy this
• Individuals happy with average performance & pumps

Labdoor rating: 90.2/100

#2 Transparent Labs PreSeries Stim-free pre workout

Serving Size: 1 Scoop (21.4g) , 30 servings per tub

Key Ingredients: L-Citrulline, Beta-Alanine, Betaine

Pros:

• Great taste
• Great ingredients
• Helps manage fatigue & maximize exercise performance
• All Natural

Cons:

• If there’s one “nit-pick” I have, it’s that it doesn’t contain Alpha GPC (learn more about this in our #1 pick)

Who Should Buy This:

• People who are serious about their training
• People who want one of the best pre workout supplements on the market (without stimulants)

Who Shouldn’t Buy This:

• People who don’t want one of the best pre workouts

Labdoor rating: N/A

#3 Do Vitamins Pump Pills

Serving Size: 4 capsules, 30 servings per tub

Key Ingredients: L-Citrulline, L-Arginine, L-Malic Acid, Beta alanine

Pros:

• Easy to consume
• Bang for the buck!
• Provides all the needed benefits, nothing more, nothing less
• Helps manage fatigue & maximize exercise performance

Cons:

• The primary focus is on performance with no cognitive boost

Who Should Buy This:

• People who are serious about their training
• Athletes preparing for a competition
• Individuals who generally find it hard to last during a tough workout

Who Shouldn’t Buy This:

• People who don’t like pill supplement products
• People who don’t want one of the best pre workouts

Labdoor rating: 81.2/100

#4 Pre-Kaged Stim-Free

With pre-kaged stim-free, you are one scoop away from your best pumps, combined with a rather prominent mental focus during intense muscular work.

Serving Size: 31g (1 scoop), 20 servings per tub

Key Ingredients: L-Citrulline, L-Leucine, L-Valine, Carnosyne

Pros:

• Plenty of ingredients
• Balanced formula
• Reliable for any type of activity
• Maximizes nitric oxide production

Cons:

• Small containers, high price
•  

Who Should Buy This:

• People who find it hard to focus in the gym
• Individuals with vitamin b deficiencies
• People looking for one of the best caffeine-free pre-workout supplements

Who Shouldn’t Buy This:

• People looking for more hardcore pre-workout supplements
• People who don’t like caffeine-free pre-workout supplements

Labdoor rating: N/A

#5 PEScience High Volume Booster

Suitable for pre-workout, the PEScience high volume booster grants sustained athletic performance and helps you get rid of the annoying fatigue during and after your training session.

Serving Size: 14g (2 scoops), 18 servings per container

Key Ingredients: L-Citrulline, Glycerol, Taurine

Pros:

• Granted athletic performance
• Optimizes nitric oxide production

Cons:

• Not a hardcore product
• Small serving size
• Lacks certain ingredients

Who Should Buy This:

• People looking for a small push will love this product
• Trainees who find fatigue more painful
• Individuals who don’t last long during intense workouts

Who Shouldn’t Buy This:

• Trainees looking for a more prominent boost
• People who love big scoops

Labdoor rating: N/A

#6 Type Zero Clean Pre-Workout

Combining the most important ingredients, this caffeine free pre workout will leave no plateaus unshattered, helping you maximize your intra-workout performance across all parameters.

Serving Size: 15,62g (1 scoop), 21 servings per tub

Key Ingredients: Arginine AGK, Citrulline malate, Beet root

Pros:

• Contains beetroot (good for prolonged intense performance)
• Buffers fatigue
• Grants plenty of energy

Cons:

• Relatively small serving size (15,6g)
• Lacks certain ingredients

Who Should Buy This:

• If you just need an extra little push, this product is for you
• You can resort to this supplement if you’re looking for a rather mild experience

Who Shouldn’t Buy This:

• People who love big scoops
• Trainees looking for a more intense pre-workout

Labdoor rating: Unavailable

#7 Genius Pre Workout Powder (Nootropic)

Being one of the most balanced products on the list, the genius pre-workout will grant an enjoyable increase in blood flow, while also helping you maximize your focus during your toughest sets.

Serving Size: 15.7g (1 scoop), 20 servings per tub

Key Ingredients:  L-Citrulline, L-Arginine, Carnosyn, Beta-Alanine

Pros:

• Balanced formula
• Flavorful
• Stimulates the brain very well
• Bang for the buck

Cons:

• Stock runs out too quickly

Who Should Buy This:

• If you’re looking for a balanced, tasty product, this is your best bet

Who Shouldn’t Buy This:

• Trainees who don’t want to improve their performance
• People who can’t tolerate being laser focused during a tough workout 😉

Labdoor rating: Unavailable

#8 PMD Sports Ultra Pump Fuel

Combining 10 potent ingredients, the PMD ultra pump will take your workout performance to the next level, while also granting sustained energy for hours afterward – Whether you’re looking for optimized athletic performance or energy for various activities after training, this product has it all!

Serving Size: 31g (1 scoop), 30 servings per tub

Key Ingredients: Carbohydrates, vitamin c, chromium

Pros:

• Big scoop!
• Abundance of micronutrients
• Increases strength, stamina, energy, focus & mood

Cons:

• Doesn’t contain creatine or beta alanine

Who Should Buy This:

• If you’re looking for a product that is loaded with micronutrients, this is it.
• Busy individuals who need an extra bit of energy for activities outside of the gym.

Who Shouldn’t Buy This:

• People who prefer a bigger kick from their pre-workout.

Labdoor rating: Currently unavailable

#9 PumpSurge Stim-Free Pre-workout

Serving Size: 12.5g (1 scoop), 20 servings per tub

Key Ingredients: L-Citrulline, Betaine Anhydrous, Taurine, AstraGin™

Pros:

• Budget pre-workout
• Granted increase in endurance
• Optimized blood flow
• Sustained strength boost

Cons:

• Lacks in certain ingredients
• Does not have a focus & mood matrix like others on the list
• Only 20 servings per tub

Who Should Buy This:

• Trainees on a budget
• People who are new to pre-workout supplements

Who Shouldn’t Buy This:

• Individuals who are looking for a more intense pre-workout
• People who need something to improve their focus in the gym

Labdoor rating: Currently unavailable

#10 Evlution Nutrition PumpMode-NO

Serving Size: 6.1g

Key Ingredients: Glycerol, Betaine Nitrate

Pros:

• Focuses on a couple of vital ingredients
• Grants sustained energy for at least 2 hours

Cons:

• Small serving size
• Lacks certain ingredients

Who Should Buy This:

• People with no prior pre-workout product experience
• Trainees looking for a mild, muscle-felt boost
• Individuals looking to just get a better pump boost

Who Shouldn’t Buy This:

• Lovers of hardcore pre-workout products
• People who love big scoops

Labdoor rating: Unavailable

#11 Cellucor NO3 Ultimate

Serving Size: 10.5g (1 scoop), 20 servings per container

Key Ingredients: L-Citrulline, Nitrosigine, Arginine nitrate

Pros:

• Stacked with synergistic ingredients
• Helps shatter stall in progress
• Maximizes strength levels

Cons:

• Fewer servings than other brands
• More expensive

Who Should Buy This:

• People looking for quality products
• Individuals looking for a balanced formula

Who Shouldn’t Buy This:

• People who don’t want to buy a tub every month

Labdoor rating: Unavailable

Legion – Proven Track Record & Superior Ingredients

There are a couple of reasons why we are placing legion’s products on top of our list, whether the question at hand is stim-based or caffeine free pre workout supplements.

The first reason is that this is one of the few brands with a proven track record of EFFECTIVE, well-formulated supplement products that do not have any proprietary blends.

Whether you’re looking for stimulant pre workouts, stim-free pre workout supplements, or simply a good protein powder, this is the brand you can find top quality on.

This quality has been tested and proven in a variety of customer reviews but more importantly, in labdoor’s thorough, non-biased reviews of supplement products.

Each and every legion product is formulated and experimented with until perfection is reached – This is when their products go out in the public.

The best thing?

Legion ALWAYS look for the latest, lesser-known active ingredients they can use for their products.

Specifically, in the case of their pre-workouts (Both stim & non-stim), that ingredient is ALPHA GPC.

Alpha GPC – Legion’s Secret Weapon

Our #1 Brand Legion very well knows that boosting the performance of your musculature is not enough for a top-rated pre-workout.

The psychological part of the workout is also taken into consideration, which is why the formulation of their caffeine free pre workouts, has a specific mind-boosting matrix.

The MVP of that matrix is namely an ingredient referred to as “Alpha GPC”.

Alpha GPC is essentially the building block of certain neurotransmitters present in the brain and the musculature.

Working in synergy with the rest of the formula, this ingredient will grant you laser focus for the entire duration of your workout.

The best thing is that it doesn’t end there – If you have more mentally demanding tasks after your workout, Alpha GPC will continue to give you mental clarity and energy for hours on end afterward.

Legion would have placed on the #1 spot on our list even without this ingredient, but Alpha GPC adds more to the amazing benefits that this product offers.

How To Use Your Pre-Workouts

If you want to make the best out of your investment in a pre-workout supplement, you really have to consider how to use it optimally.

As we mentioned early on, the most hardcore pre-workouts on the market tend to make the body develop stimulant tolerance quickly due to the large doses of caffeine and other stimulants.

So unless you want to shove 3 scoops of your stimulant-based pre-workout in your shaker just for a tiny bit of extra energy, follow these tips below to avoid all possible side effects:

Don’t use stimulants pre workout every day

This is perhaps the best way to make your pre-workout work for you longer and we can’t stress it enough!

We advise you to use stimulant pre-workout products and other energy drinks on days where you need that extra push.

Not every single day!

It is also a good idea to use them on days when you train your weaker muscle groups, as that will allow you to bring them up quicker due to the higher effort output.

And of course, on days when you are not using stimulant pre workout products, you can certainly use the best caffeine-free pre-workout products we listed above, to still get an extra kick during your workout!

Alternate between Stim & Non-Stim

Alternating between hardcore & stimulant free pre-workout products is also a good option if you want to avoid tolerance breaks.

Ultimately, you’d be taking non-stim pre-workouts for the most part and use stim-based products as your high card on harder training sessions or days when you don’t have enough energy to get you through.

This will ensure the long-term sustainability of the products and give you gains while saving you cash and frustration.

If All Else Fails – Take a Break!

Even if you use these two tips we gave you above, developing stimulant tolerance is still possible, depending on how your body works.

If you ever feel that your pre-workouts are not giving you the same kick as before, don’t up the dose!

Instead, take 10-20 days off of pre-workouts, energy drinks, coffee, and any other stimulants you may be using.

This will allow your receptors to become sensitive to the stimulants once again, thus allowing you to get the same rush as before.

Conclusion

If you’re tired of jittery feelings, sudden energy spikes and crashes, due to the use of stim-heavy products, then it is time to step your game up.

Caffeine free pre workout products are a viable option, whether you are new to pre-workout supplement products or are just looking to use something more sustainable.

These stim free pre workout products have a variety of applications and can be added to your supplement protocol for regular use… Without the need to cycle off.

Whether you are a bodybuilder or a regular trainee, if you have not yet added a caffeine free pre workout to your supplement arsenal, you are missing out!

Don’t underestimate the power of a pre workout without caffeine.