Non-stim pre-workout is a powder or drink you take before exercise that contains no caffeine or other stimulants. It suits people who train in the evening, want to protect their sleep, or simply prefer to skip caffeine. Fortune's guide to the best non-stim pre-workout supplements, published October 31, 2026, names creatine, beta-alanine, beetroot/nitrates and L-citrulline as the well-studied ingredients in this group, and says the effect you feel depends on the ingredients and the dose.
“Stim-free” does not mean free of every stimulant-like effect. Fortune notes that some products use herbal stimulants, which can have their own side effects. Read the full ingredient list, not just the front of the tub.
What does non-stim pre-workout do?
The makers make the performance claims. Transparent Labs says its stim-free formula is designed to “boost strength, endurance, and blood flow without jitters.” Swolverine says its product helps “amplify strength, power output, and high-intensity performance.” Fortune describes the category as offering “no stimulants, same performance-boosting effect.” Those are sales claims. They are not trial results.
The stronger part of the story is the ingredients. Fortune quotes Johannah Katz, RD, a dietitian at Consumer Health Digest, who says certain non-stim ingredients have research supporting exercise performance. Katz says these ingredients may help support blood flow, muscular endurance, strength, power and oxygen delivery during exercise, without the stimulant side effects of caffeine.
Is stim-free pre-workout any good?
It can be, depending on what you want from it and which ingredients you like. Fortune's testers tried five products. Its best overall pick is Transparent Labs Stim-Free Pre-Workout. Fortune's testers described their own experiences, such as Pete, who said he noticed “better blood flow and a solid muscle pump” with Nutricost and credited the 6 grams of L-citrulline. Each of these is one person's report, not a controlled trial.
| Product | Fortune's label | Who Fortune says it suits | Servings per tub | Beta-alanine / citrulline per serving (Fortune's table) | Sweetener | Fortune score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transparent Labs Stim-Free Pre-Workout | Best overall | People sensitive to stimulants or who train in the evening | 30 | 4,000 mg / 8,000 mg | Rebaudioside M (stevia) | 4/5 |
| Swolverine PRE | Best for a pump | People who want a stimulant-free boost, evening trainers, or those who avoid caffeine | 25 | 3,200 mg / 5,000 mg | Rebaudioside A (stevia leaf) | 4.5/5 |
| 1st Phorm Endura-Formance | Best with creatine | Those who work out in the evening or prefer to avoid caffeine | Check the label | Not listed in Fortune's table | Sucralose | — |
| Nutricost Stim-Free Pre-Workout | Best budget | People wanting a stimulant-free option at a lower cost | Check the label | 1,200 mg / 6,000 mg | Sucralose | — |
| Kaged Pre-Kaged Stim-Free | Best tasting | People looking for a stimulant-free boost with strong flavor | 20 | 1,600 mg / 6,500 mg | Steviol glycosides, sucralose | — |
Per-serving amounts are as Fortune lists them. They are not a suggested dose. Check the label for the exact amounts in the tub you are considering.
What do these products cost?
Prices as of October 31, 2026, in Fortune's value table run from $32.97 to $49.99 per tub for the products it lists. Most cost-per-serving figures fall between $1.10 and $1.70. Fortune calls Nutricost the lowest cost per serving and Swolverine the most expensive option in its lineup. Prices change, so check today's price directly with the company before you order.
Is stim or non-stim pre-workout better for you?
Fortune says caffeinated pre-workouts “can be helpful before a workout,” but can leave you “feeling jittery late into the night,” which makes them “not ideal” if you want a good night's sleep. Non-stim products avoid that trade-off, Fortune says, while still offering “same performance-boosting effect.”
Which is better depends on you. If caffeine suits you and you train in the morning, a caffeinated product may fit your routine. If you train late, are sensitive to caffeine, or prefer to avoid it, a non-stim product fits better. The Fortune article does not show a head-to-head trial of the two, so the “same effect” line is a claim to weigh, not a settled finding.
Does non-stim pre-workout still work?
Some of the ingredients have research behind them, and Katz says the effect depends on the ingredients and dose. Fortune's testers reported real-world effects. Paige said she “still felt a good amount of boost” after 1st Phorm, and Pete said he felt more energized about 20 to 30 minutes after drinking Kaged.
What is still open is whether a finished blend works the way its single ingredients do. The Fortune article does not name specific trials for its ingredient claims. Ask each maker for the studies behind its exact formula and dose before you rely on the claim. Katz also notes that “not all people react the same way to certain supplements,” so your experience may differ from a tester's.
Is it okay to take non-stim pre-workout every day?
Fortune's tester Pete said the Nutricost instructions tell you to use the product daily. He thought that was wrong for a product meant for workout days. That is his view, not a rule. Follow the directions on your own label, and ask a clinician or pharmacist if you plan to use a pre-workout every day.
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, in its consumer fact sheet, tells you to “Tell your doctor, pharmacist, and other health care providers about any dietary supplements and prescription or over-the-counter medicines you take.”
What is in non-stim pre-workout, and what has been studied?
Fortune lists the ingredients of each product. These are the ones it discusses most, with the research it reports. For creatine, you can read more on creatine human studies (our research library).
| Ingredient | What Fortune reports about the research | Limits or side effects Fortune notes | On Fortune's list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creatine | Research “can be helpful for resistance training and other intense, shorter-duration exercises” | Fortune names no specific trial | 1st Phorm (creatine monohydrate); Kaged (creatine HCl) |
| Beta-alanine | Katz calls it one of the well-studied supplements | Tingling (paresthesia), which Katz calls harmless but can be annoying | All five products |
| L-citrulline | Katz lists it among the well-studied supplements | — | Transparent, Swolverine, Nutricost, Kaged |
| Ginseng | Research could positively affect exercise endurance and possibly improve VO2 max | The study authors note most studies in the review were animal models, so further research in humans is needed | Transparent (Senactiv tienchi ginseng); Swolverine (Siberian ginseng) |
What are the side effects, and who should check with a clinician first?
| Possible effect | What the source says | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Tingling (paresthesia) | Katz names beta-alanine as the example; she calls it harmless but can be annoying | Expect it if beta-alanine is on the label |
| Digestive discomfort | Katz says sugar alcohols may cause it in sensitive people | Check the ingredient list for sugar alcohols |
| Racing heart (tachycardia) | Fortune says tachycardia is possible even without caffeine, and herbal stimulants can have their own side effects | Talk to a clinician first if you have a heart concern |
| Sucralose | Fortune says some people prefer to avoid it, and notes some research links it to possible health issues | Pick a sweetener you are comfortable with |
| Any ingredient | Katz: “Even stimulant-free products can cause side effects depending on the ingredients and dose.” | Read the label and ask a clinician |
Fortune recommends “speaking with a healthcare provider who can review your health history and discuss whether a non-stim pre-workout supplement is the right fit for you.” That is the step to take if you take prescription medicines or have any heart or blood pressure concern.
Can I get the same effect from food and training basics?
Katz says nitrate-rich foods such as beets, beet juice, arugula, spinach and pomegranate may help support nitric oxide production and blood flow during exercise. She notes that the effect is modest compared with beetroot or nitrate supplements. She also calls sleep quality, hydration, carbohydrate and protein intake, meeting nutrient guidelines and recovery “more impactful than supplements alone.” For meal timing, see what to eat before a workout.
What is still not known, and what the Fortune story leaves open?
Fortune notes that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not approve dietary supplements for safety or efficacy, so a product's ingredients or amounts may differ from its label. The FDA's consumer warning on tainted products says, as of October 2026, that products sold as male energy pills and stamina pills are “likely to be contaminated with dangerous hidden ingredients.” That warning covers a different category from most pre-workout powders, but it is a reason to read the label closely.
The open questions are whether each blend works like its ingredients, whether tester experiences carry over to you, and how each product performs over months of use. Those are for the maker and your clinician to answer, not for a ranking.
Before you order
- Read the whole ingredient list for stimulants, including herbal ones. For how to read the numbers, see workout hydration labels.
- Find the per-serving amounts on the label. Fortune's table is a starting point, not a substitute.
- Ask the maker for the studies behind the exact formula and dose.
- Look for third-party testing. Katz recommends looking for products that are “NSF Certified for Sport.”
- Check today's price and the seller's returns page for the refund window before you pay.
- Talk to a clinician or pharmacist first, especially if you take prescription medicines or have a heart concern.
For more on pre-workout safety, see pre-workout safety.
By the Gym Floor Guide Editorial Team