Pre-workout is one of the most widely used supplements by exercisers. There are hundreds of products available to you, all with different flavors and ingredients. If you’ve ever used pre-workout before, you probably noticed that one of the main ingredients in many is creatine.
While some people don’t have an issue taking a pre-workout with creatine, some prefer a creatine-free product. Many people choose their pre-workout without creatine but weeding through the dozens of products to find a high-quality one that will help you achieve your goals can be time-consuming.
We’ve tested several creatine-free pre-workouts to find the best overall one. We’ve found Transparent Labs Preseries Lean to be the overall best pre workout without creatine. It’s great for both men and women, regardless of their fitness goals.
If you don’t think the Preseries Lean is for you, we’ve found other fantastic pre-workouts that are great for cardio, weight loss, and more. We’ll go over the pros and cons of these creatine-free pre-workouts and who they’re ideal for to hopefully help you find the best one for you and your goals.
Is Pre-Workout Bad?
The simple answer? No. Pre-workout isn’t bad for you when you follow the instructions and take it accordingly. Pre-workout gives users the little boost of energy many people need to power through their workouts and give it their all.
Side Effects of Pre-Workout
While pre-workout isn’t necessarily harmful to you, you may experience some adverse side effects when taken. Many of the side effects are a symptom of being overly caffeinated, while others may happen due to how your body naturally reacts to the product. Some of the side effects you may experience when using pre-workout include:
- Bloating
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Rapid heart rate
- Dehydration
- Insomnia
Most pre-workouts contain some level of caffeine. You may want to check the dosage in your product to ensure you can handle it before taking it.
Being overly caffeinated can cause rapid heart rate, headaches, dizziness, and a feeling of discomfort. Depending on when you take the pre-workout, the caffeine can lead to you having trouble sleeping too.
Benefits of Pre-Workout
Pre-workout supplements are designed to enhance your workout. Depending on the brand and product, people take them anywhere between 15 minutes to 30 minutes before their workout. As the name may suggest, these supplements can have a tremendous impact on how you work out and recover from your workout—the amino acids in pre-workout help boost blood flow to your muscles.
These supplements can help improve your stamina and endurance when working out, allowing you to perform your absolute best.
Muscle Gains
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are one of the most heavily researched supplements for muscle gain. When consumed before an exercise bout, BCAAs increase protein synthesis by up to 50%.
Research has also found that BCAAs can help athletes recover more quickly after a workout. Athletes who consumed these supplements found they had less muscle soreness and less fatigue during their next training session.
BCAAs play a key role in muscle protein synthesis, which is the process that builds and repairs muscle. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Proteins are the building blocks of muscles.
Promotes Strength and Endurance
Pre-workout supplements can ramp up energy levels. This may help you perform better in athletic events. Pre-workouts also increase strength by fortifying your muscles. They contain various mixtures of vitamins and minerals that are essential for muscle health.
Athletes use pre-workout not only for strength but also for endurance during long workouts and competitions. The key ingredient in pre-workout is nitrate, which feeds your muscles the nutrients to perform better. That has created an enormous demand for this product.
They work by removing the mechanisms that cause fatigue, and they boost your endurance instead. The primary way to do this is to take advantage of increased motivation and energy through caffeine intake.
So you can work out longer before becoming fatigued. Caffeine also causes the body to release norepinephrine. This hormone sends energy from food sources to muscles so that they can perform work and fatigue less.
What is Creatine?
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound in the body. It supplies energy to all cells—primarily muscle. It’s popular among weightlifters and other power athletes and often included in pre-workout formulas. That’s because it increases the rate of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the fuel your muscles use to contract. So you can work harder and longer.
Creatine is available in powders, but it’s also commonly sold in concentrated form on its own or in the pre-workout formula. Supplementing with creatine can increase your body’s stored supply of this compound.
Benefits of Using Pre-Workout Without Creatine
There are several benefits of picking pre-workout powder without creatine. Creatine is a good supplement, but it is unnecessary to get the benefits of a good pre-workout powder. Creatine can cause water retention and bloat for some people.
The effects of an intense workout can be exhilarating. But for most, they are short-lived without the right supplements. With a pre-workout supplement that does not contain creatine, you can get a long-lasting boost of energy.
The loading phase associated with standard creatine supplementation is the most crucial factor that people miss out on when choosing a traditional pre-workout powder for their workouts.
A pre-workout supplement without creatine is fast-acting, with no negative side effects. You will first notice that you can burn more calories during this short workout. Which is your body finally compensating for the breakdown of muscle mass that would typically occur when working out.
What to Look For
There are a few things you’ll want to look for in a creatine-free pre-workout. A pre-workout without creatine may contain citrulline malate or arginine. The citrulline malate helps increase blood flow, which can improve your gym performance. Arginine helps relax the blood vessels and muscles to relieve tension.
Beta-Alanine is vital to get in your pre-workout supplement. It’s the amino acid that buffers lactic acid build-up. This supplement will make it easier to perform high-intensity workouts.
When used alongside other ingredients, the right amount of caffeine can increase endurance and improve workout performance. Many pre-workouts use caffeine as an ingredient because it supports muscle gains.
Ingredients To Avoid
Some pre-workouts may not list creatine as an ingredient because it has other names too. Creatine supplements are made in several forms: creatine monohydrate, creatine citrate, and others like creatine ethyl ester.
Creatine monohydrate is the most effective and common type. While it’s true that creatine isn’t bad for you, it may not be the best of choices out there for you.
It may affect those with kidney problems, though research is incomplete. By avoiding certain ingredients listed above, you ensure that your body is safe and that you can use creatine with no danger at all.
The Best Pre Workout without Creatine
If you’re on the hunt for a fantastic pre-workout without creatine, check out some of our top picks.
Best Overall – Transparent Labs Lean Pre-Workout
After sampling several creatine-free pre-workouts, the Preseries Lean is by far the best. It’s a little more on the expensive side as far as pre-workouts go, but it’s designed with athletes in mind.
This product helps motivate you to crush your workouts by providing natural energy, improved focus, muscle hydration, and performance-enhancing nutrients. You can choose between five tasty flavors:
- Green apple, Orange, Sour grape, Blue raspberry, Strawberry lemonade
The formula developers at Transparent Labs created this creatine-free formula with both male and female athletes in mind. From professional athletes to the average person who enjoys working out a few times a week, the Preseries Lean can help anyone reach their fitness goals. With 21 active ingredients, it’s a solid supplement. Some of the key ingredients in this pre-workout are:
- Citrus Malate
- Beta-Alanine
- Anhydrous caffeine
- Betapure
The Preseries Lean formula is rich in the most productive nitric oxide boosters available. This lightweight pre-workout provides both mental and physical support. In addition to having ingredients to help boost your workout, key features of this formula are:
- Gluten-free
- No added sugars
- No artificial coloring
- 30 servings per container
- 180 mg of caffeine
Preseries Lean pre-workout has 30 servings per container and the ability to bundle more than one tub at a time. You’ll be able to take your high-intensity workout to the next level when you incorporate this supplement into your fitness routine.
- All-Natural Formula
- Suitable for both Men and Women
- It isn’t Overly Sweet
- The Caffeine Content May Be Too Much for Some
- More Expensive than Other Options
Best All Natural – Legion Pulse
If you’re looking for an all-natural pre-workout, you may want to check out Legion pulse. The Pulse formula is 100% pure, has zero stimulants, zero crash, and zero proprietary blends.
Pulse is for users who demand ultimate pumps and energy without the crash afterward. It’s created with you in mind, using ingredients like caffeine and L-theanine to give you the best possible workout pulse. These ingredients work to calm your body down after your workout, reducing heart rate and allowing you to recover. Some of the key ingredients in Pulse are:
- L citrulline malate
- Betaine
- Beta-alanine
- Caffeine
- L theanine
In addition to being one of the best all-natural pre-workouts, another area where Legion Pulse excels is in flavor options. We love this pre-workout because you can order the tropical punch and fruit punch flavors without caffeine if you prefer. You can choose from nine delicious flavors:
- Fruit punch, Blue raspberry, Strawberry kiwi, Tropical punch, Blueberry lemonade, and more!
Pulse gives you the boost of energy you need to conquer your workouts without feeling jittery or experiencing a crash afterward. Some features that make this a top-notch pre-workout are:
- Made in the USA
- No artificial flavors and preservatives
- 350 mg of caffeine and other energy-boosting ingredients
- Citrulline malate for muscle endurance
Despite the caffeine content in this pre-workout, most users experience no jitters during or after their workout.
- Nine Flavor Options
- All-Natural Formula
- No Proprietary Blends
- Great Boost of Energy
- Not All Flavors are Offered Caffeine Free
- Some Sensitive Users Reported Nausea
Best Stim-Free – Genius Pre-Workout
Even though pre-workouts are designed to get you through your workout, sometimes too many stimulants can cause adverse side effects. The best stim-free pre-workout is the Genius Pre-Workout Powder.
Genius Pre-Workout Powder is a scientifically superior pre-workout formula that blasts through fitness plateaus. This product has key features such as:
- Six times more citrulline malate than competitors
- All-natural sweeteners
- Easily digestible
- No hard crash after your workout
With the perfect blend of ingredients, you can experience a fantastic workout without feeling jittery. It can even help suppress your appetite. Some of the most important ingredients in this formula are:
- Beta-alanine
- Taurine
- L-tyrosine
- L-citrulline malate
One of the best things about shopping for a new pre-workout is deciding on what flavor to get. When you choose the Genius pre-workout, you can choose from three delicious flavors:
- Sour apple, Grape, Blue raspberry
While this product doesn’t come with as many flavor options as other competitors, they’re still incredibly delicious and worth trying.
- Nine Flavor Options
- All-Natural Formula
- No Proprietary Blends
- Great Boost of Energy
- Not All Flavors are Offered Caffeine Free
- Some Sensitive Users Reported Nausea
Best for Weight Loss – C4 Ripped Pre-Workout
Not everyone is interested in weight loss on their fitness journey, but if you are, the C4 Ripped pre-workout is ideal for weight loss. The special formula allows you to build your strength and endurance while losing the weight you want. This creatine-free blend includes ingredients such as:
- Carnitine
- L-Carnitine
- Green coffee
- Green bean Extract
- Capsimax cayenne
- Coleus forskohlii
C4 Ripped Pre-Workout Powder is an innovative pre-workout that provides you with explosive energy, focus, and performance to help you train harder for maximum results. This powerful formula combines clinically studied ingredients to support metabolism and fat-burning in every scoop. Features of this effective formula are:
- NSF-certification for quality assurance
- Zero sugar taste
- 150 mg of caffeine per serving
The brand C4 is one of the most popular pre-workout brands because they’re backed by 20 years of industry experience and have some of the best flavors. You can choose between five sugar-free flavors:
- Icy blue razz, Fruit punch, Raspberry lemonade, Ultra frost, Cherry limeade
The formula is easy to take, and you’ll be able to feel the effects shortly after ingesting it. You’ll be able to achieve your fitness goals by building strong muscles and losing stubborn fat.
- It includes Fat Burning Ingredients
- It has a Safe Amount of Caffeine for Most People
- Twenty years of Science-backed Pre-workout Recipes
- It’s Not as Sweet as Other Pre-workouts
Best For Cardio – VINTAGE BLAST
Vintage Blast is a new, revolutionary sports nutrition and pre-workout product that’s ideal for cardio workouts. Vintage Blast is a two-stage scientific formulation. Each serving contains two unique blends of ingredients designed to work with each other at different times. The main ingredients in this formula are:
- L-Citrulline Malate
- D-Aspartic Acid
- Beta-Alanine
- L-Arginine AKG
- Vitamin C
Some pre-workouts make cardio exercise harder since your heart is beating much faster for longer. Vintage Blast pre-workout is perfectly safe and great for those who love running or other cardiovascular workouts. Besides being excellent for cardio, other features include:
- GMO-free
- Sugar-free
- All-natural sweeteners
Old School Labs has been creating pre-workouts and supplements for nearly 40 years, so they know a thing or two about delicious flavors. The Vintage Blast pre-workout comes in their perfect flavor:
- Blueberry lemonade
Vintage Blast is a pre-workout formula with scientifically backed findings of energy, focus, and pumps. Recipe developers carefully selected its unique formula of key ingredients based on scientific evidence.
As a result, Vintage Blast’s precise potent formula creates the perfect storm of sustainable energy for men and women alike.
- It’s Perfect for Cardio
- It’s GMO-free
- No Booster
- There’s Only One Flavor
Best for sensitive users – NITROSURGE Pre-Workout
Nitrosurge Pre-Workout helps improve physical performance in the gym. It draws more nutrients into muscle cells to deliver a leaner physique in a shorter time. It features a mix of nootropics, stimulants, nitric oxide boosters, vitamins, minerals, and protein:
- Citrulline
- Beta-Alanine
- Betaine
- Caffeine
- L-Theanine
- Theobromine
- Astragal
Nitrosurge is known for proven results, but it’s also known for having one of the largest flavor selections. There’s plenty of your classic flavors, but they have a few unique ones that you should try:
- Pineapple, Watermelon, Arctic white, Black cherry, Cherry limeade, and more
The Nitrosurge pre-workout delivers adequate energy, strength, and pumps when working hard in the gym. So whether you are a serious athlete, take the performance to the next level with this natural pre-workout. Some of the best features of this supplement are:
- You’ll have endless energy suitable for sensitive users
- 2:1 ratio of caffeine to l-theanine
- Classic and Unique List of Flavors
- Those Sensitive to Caffeine will have No Issue
- Good for Pumps
- Low Dosages for Ingredients
Best for flavors – Redcon1 Total War Pre-Workout
Total War will give you the energy and endurance vital to your performance. One scoop contains a concentrated formula that uses stimulants. It also includes nitric oxide boosters for providing maximum capacity and intensity. Some of the ingredients in this formula are:
- Citrine Malate
- Beta-Alanine
- Agmatine Sulfate
- Taurine
- Caffeine Anhydrous
- Epiblast
- Di-Caffeinate Malate
If you’re looking to be impressed by a pre-workout’s flavor selection, the Redcon 1 doesn’t disappoint. With over 15 flavors, you can choose from:
- Sour gummy bear, Grape, Lemon-lime blast, Blue lemonade, Blue raspberry, and many more
This pure and concentrated pre-workout provides a massive energy surge with zero sugar and zero carbs. With the proprietary pump, you get a perfectly timed dose of high-octane pumps.
This product is for athletes who push themselves that little harder and get more out of their workouts. The key features to note are:
- It’s gluten-free
- It’s sugar-free
Overall, this pre-workout is powerful, and you will never get bored with trying all their flavors.
- Over 15 flavors
- There’s Very Little Ramp-up
- Good Boost Energy and Pumps
- Some Users Report a Bitter Taste
Best for high stimulants – Bucked Up – Woke Pre-Workout
With a Keto-friendly formula, Bucked Up helps those on a low-carb diet but still want the energy. It gives you the energy boost you need for those hard workouts, as well as the mental focus to help you get the best results.
Bucked Up features 333 mg of caffeine, along with two stimulants – Theobromine and Huperzine A, and a keto-friendly blend. The ingredients include:
- Beta-Alanine
- L-Citrulline
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin B2
Bucked up is a pre-workout powder with amazing flavors to choose from. There are five flavors, but the most popular is their rocket pop. Other flavors include:
- Rocket pop, Grape, Blue raz, Red raz, Strawberry kiwi
This pre-workout is ideal for those who love having a high stimulant prior to working out. Some of the key features include:
- Two stimulants for 333 mg of caffeine
- Keto-friendly
- It has Two Strong Stimulants
- It’s Quick-acting
- Almost All-natural Ingredients
- It’s Not Great for Sensitive Users
- It’s Costly
Take-Away
Whatever pre-workout you decide to go with, you’ll be implementing a new excellent supplement to fuel your fitness journey. When shopping for a new product, reading the ingredient list ensures you’re getting a suitable pre-workout for you and your lifestyle.
Based on our experience, the best creatine-free pre-workout is the Preseries Lean Pre-Workout. It has all the crucial ingredients to power you through your workout, no artificial sweeteners, and tasty flavors.
PreSeries Lean increases focus, energy, and reduces mental fatigue and overall stress. This product includes ingredients that benefit the body’s natural ability to burn more calories while helping you endure grueling workouts. You can purchase online via their website to start seeing an improvement in your workouts.
