R.D.-Approved: Best Pre-Workout for Muscle Gain (2024)

Do you want more muscle? If you’re reading this, the answer probably isn’t “no.” Whether you’re hoping for big gains from dedicated time in the weight room or you’re an endurance athlete who relies on a muscular body composition to reduce fatigue and injury, many of us wouldn’t say no to muscle gain.

A lot of the best pre-workout supplements can help support your performance goals with ingredients that can improve muscle endurance and athletic performance. We don’t say that lightly – we’ve tested and researched the ingredients, dosages, and scientific evidence backing all of those claims for over 100 different pre-workouts. When it comes to the best pre-workout for muscle gain, we have you covered with our high-quality lineup of the eight top choices researched and tested by our team of dietitians, personal trainers, and athletes. 

The 8 Best Pre-Workout for Muscle Gain of 2024

Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.

We’ve outlined dosing in terms of what is likely to be safe and effective based on scientific studies. Everyone is unique, though, so be sure to consult your healthcare provider if you have concerns about starting a new supplement, especially if you have preexisting health conditions.

How We Tested and Chose the Best Pre-Workout for Muscle Gain

Our team of supplement testers and reviewers consists of registered dietitians, personal trainers, athletes, and other health and fitness enthusiasts. Together, we not only focus on the formulation and dosing of pre-workout supplements for muscle gain, but we also consider factors like price, flavor, and other aspects regarding usability. 

We researched and reviewed more than 100 different types of pre-workout supplements before settling on our lineup of the best of the best. Not only do we sift through the options to find the ones with quality ingredients, but members of our review team personally tested the products as in accordance with our supplement testing methodology. We considered several factors in our reviews, including:

• Formulation: We know poring over a supplement facts label isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, so we did the heavy lifting in that area. For each of the main ingredients in our lineup of the best pre-workout supplements for muscle gain, we compared it to what scientific studies suggest are the effective dosages. 
• Cost: The cost per serving for supplements varies a bit, and we know that your budget can be a big consideration when it comes to something you’ll use consistently. Cost is reported per serving as listed on the supplement labels.
• Taste: A supplement might have spot-on researched-back formulation and fit your budget, but you might not stick with it if you feel like you have to choke it down. These supplements have passed the taste test from our expert reviewers – but do keep in mind that taste is subjective, so you might have different opinions. 
• Solubility: Like taste, how easily a supplement dissolves into your favorite pre-workout drink will determine how likely you are to use it. We’ve included supplements that aren’t gritty and easily dissolve into liquids so you can spend less time mixing and more time focusing on your workout.
• Transparency: Some supplement brands list ambiguous proprietary blends of ingredients, which means you don’t know exactly how much of each ingredient you’re getting. We consider how transparent the supplement label is, as well as if a product is third-party tested. Because supplements aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), third-party testing ensures the product is safe for consumption and contains the amount and ingredients it claims to contain.

Best Overall Pre-Workout for Muscle Gain: Transparent Labs BULK Black

Transparent Labs BULK Black

Transparent Labs BULK Black

Transparent Labs BULK Black is one of the strongest pre-workout supplements on the market. This product comes in five delicious flavors and has high levels of must-have pre-workout ingredients, like caffeine, citrulline, and beta-alanine.