Here are the 13 best pre-workouts without Beta-Alanine for every occasion.
After working out for almost a decade and working with different supplement brands I’ve tried more pre-workouts than I can count. And over the years I’ve learned a thing or two about them.
Beta-Alanine is a very common ingredient in pre-workout formulas. But a lot of people, myself included, don’t enjoy the itching and tingles that Beta-Alanine causes.
And in fact, Beta-Alanine isn’t even necessary for a good pre-workout! In this article, I’ve gathered the best Beta-Alanine-Free pre-workouts on the market.
Here are the 13 best pre-workout supplements without Beta-Alanine:
- Best Overall – Gorilla Mode
- Best For Pump – Huge Supplements Pump Serum
- Best For Women – Prolific Pre-Workout
- Best For Beginners – Raw Nutrition Pre
- Best For Athletes – Jacked Factory Pump Surge
- Best Caffeine Free – Gorilla Mode Nitric
- Best For Weight Loss – Raw Nutrition Burn
- Best For Muscle Growth – Set For Set Always Ready
- Best For Running – Blackmarket AdreNOlyn
- Best Nootropic – Cracked RX
- Best Budget – Cutler Nutrition Prevail
- Best Natural & Organic – Pre Lab Pro
- Best High Stim – MyoBlox LOCO
Keep reading to see the full breakdown of each Beta-Alanine free pre-workout!
#1 Best Overall – Gorilla Mind Gorilla Mode
Key Ingredients:
- Caffeine – 350 mg
- Citrulline – 9 grams
- Creatine Monohydrate – 5 grams
- GlycerPump – 3 grams
- Betaine – 2.5 grams
Gorilla Mode is arguably the best pre-workout on the market. It’s also free from Beta-Alanine which means that you won’t have to endure the face tingles and itchy butt cheeks.
The formula is packed with ingredients to maximize your pump, performance and mental focus.
Each serving of Gorilla Mode has 350 mg of caffeine and 1.5 grams of Tyrosine. Caffeine improves your cognition and mental focus while Tyrosine helps to improve your mood and helps you focus on your workout.
Each serving of Gorilla Mode contains 9 grams of Citrulline and 1 gram of Agmatine sulfate. These Nitric oxide boosters improve your muscle pump by dilating your blood vessels and increasing blood flow to your muscles.
You also get 5 grams of Creatine Monohydrate which improves strength, power output and muscle size.
Creatine is used to create ATP which is your muscle’s acute source of energy. ATP is used for a lot of different mechanisms in your cells, and for bodybuilding the most important ones are nerve signaling and muscle contraction.
Creatine, Betaine and GlycerPump (glycerol) draw water into the muscle cells which makes your muscles appear larger. This improves endurance which increases the number of reps you can perform each set.
#2 Best For Pump – Huge Supplements Pump Serum
Key Ingredients:
- Citrulline – 8 grams
- Betaine – 3 grams
- GlycerPump – 3 grams
- Tyrosine – 1.5 grams
Huge Supplements Pump Serum is the best option if you are looking for a pump pre-workout without Beta-Alanine.
Each serving contains a whooping 10 grams of Citrulline and 1.25 grams of Agmatine sulfate. These two ingredients increase your Nitric oxide production which dilates your blood vessels and improves blood flow to your muscles.
Pump Serum also has 3 grams of Betaine and GlycerPump. Both compounds hyper-hydrate your muscles with water which improves endurance and also increases their size.
This not only makes you look bigger but also improves your endurance and allows you to perform more reps during each set. Betaine has also been shown to increase your strength and power output.
The Tyrosine also gives you also get a nice mental boost. Tyrosine increases the levels of dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenalin in your brain which improves your mood and motivation.
#3 Best For Women – Prolific Pre-Workout
Key Ingredients:
- Caffeine – 320 mg
- Citrulline – 6 grams
- Betaine – 2.5 grams
- Taurine – 1.5 grams
Prolific is the best tasting pre-workout on this list. And it gives you a really good pump and energy boost without the itchy side effects from Beta-Alanine.
You get 320 mg of caffeine and 200 mg of Theanine in each serving. Caffeine boosts your mental focus and cognition while Theanine smooths out the jitters that you can get from high caffeine doses.
Each serving of Prolific contains 6 grams of Citrulline which will improve your muscle pumps by boosting Nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide dilates your blood vessels and allows more blood to flow into your muscles.
You also get 2.5 grams of Betaine and 1.5 grams of Taurine. These ingredients hydrate your muscles which improves your endurance and strength. You’ll be able to perform more reps and lift heavier weights which will increase your muscle growth.
#4 Best For Beginners – Raw Nutrition Pre
Key Ingredients:
- Caffeine – 100 mg
- Citrulline Malate – 7 grams
- GlycerPump – 3 grams
- Tyrosine – 2 grams
- Alpha-GPC – 600 mg
Raw Nutrition Pre is the best pre-workout for beginners who want to avoid Beta-Alanine itches. The pre-workout also has a more moderate dose of caffeine which is great if this is your first time buying a pre-workout.
Each serving of Raw Pre contains 100 mg of caffeine and 600 mg of Alpha-GPC. Both caffeine and Alpha-GPC are cognitive enhancers that improve your concentration and mental focus.
The Raw Pre formula is also packed with Nitric oxide boosters. Each serving has 7 grams of Citrulline Malate, 1.5 grams of Agmatine sulfate and Nitrosinge.
Nitric oxide boosters improve your muscle pump by dilating your blood vessels and improving the blood flow to your muscles.
You also get 3 grams of Glycerpump which hyper hydrates your muscle cells. This fills your muscle cells with water which makes them appear larger. It also improves your endurance and helps you perform more reps and sets.
#5 Best For Athletes – Jacked Factory Pump Surge
Key Ingredients:
- Citrulline – 5 grams
- Betaine – 2.5 grams
- Taurine – 2 grams
Jacked Factory Pump Surge is a great Beta-Alanine free pre-workout for athletes. The formula contains a lot of great ingredients that improve athletes’ performance.
Each serving contains 5 grams of Citrulline. Citrulline is a Nitric oxide booster that dilates your blood vessels and improves blood flow to your muscles.
Better blood flow is a big benefit for athletes. It helps to bring in fresh oxygen to your muscles which improves your endurance and also decreases the risk of getting cramps.
The formula also has 2.5 grams of Betaine and 2 grams of Taurine. Betaine hyper-hydrates your muscle cells with water which improves your endurance and power output. This allows you to train harder and longer before fatiguing
Taurine helps with reducing muscle fatigue during exercise, it also reduces cramps and muscle soreness after workouts. This helps you to perform at a higher level and recover faster after training.
#6 Best Caffeine Free – Gorilla Mode Nitric
Key Ingredients:
- Citrulline – 10 grams
- Creatine Monohydrate – 5 grams
- GlycerPump – 4 grams
- Betaine – 4 grams
- Agmatine Sulfate – 1.5 grams
Gorilla Mode Nitric is the best stim-free pre-workout without Beta-Alanine. The formula is packed with ingredients to improve your pump, endurance and focus.
Each serving of Gorilla Mode contains a huge dose of 10 grams of Citrulline and 1.5 grams of Agmatine sulfate and Nitrosigne. These Nitric oxide boosters improve your muscle pump by dilating your blood vessels and increasing blood flow to your muscles.
Gorilla Mode Nitric also has 5 grams of Creatine Monohydrate which improves your strength, power output and muscle size.
Creatine is used to produce ATP in your body. ATP is used as a primary source of energy in your cells. It plays a big role in different cell mechanisms, such as nerve signaling and muscle contraction which are super important for optimal muscle growth.
The formula also has 4 grams of Betaine and GlycerPump (glycerol). These ingredients, along with Creatine, help to draw water into the muscle cells.
This increases your muscle volume and makes them appear larger. It also improves endurance which increases the number of reps you can perform each set.
#7 Best For Weight Loss – Raw Nutrition Burn
Key Ingredients:
- Caffeine – 150 mg
- Glucomannan – 3.5 grams
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine – 3 grams
- Tyrosine – 3 grams
Raw Nutrition Burn contains a lot of great ingredients to boost your energy levels and help you lose body fat. You get 150 mg of caffeine which will help you stay energized throughout your workout.
Each serving also contains 3 grams of Acetyl-L-Carnitine. Carnitine helps your body to promote fat as a primary energy source instead of glycogen, this increases fat loss when you are exercising.
Carnitine also spares amino acids from being used as a source of energy. Amino acids are the building blocks of muscles and minimizing their breakdown helps to preserve muscle mass while cutting.
Raw Nutrition Burn also has 3.5 grams of Glucomannan and Tyrosine. Glucomannan reduces appetite which can help you eat less food. Decreasing your caloric intake is the key to losing weight.
Tyrosine is an amino acid that increases the levels of dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenalin in your brain. This improves your mood and motivation which is super helpful if you are tired and unmotivated from going through a tough diet.
#8 Best For Muscle Growth – Set For Set Always Ready
Key Ingredients:
- Caffeine – 300 mg
- Citrulline – 9 grams
- GlycerPump – 2.5 grams
- Betaine – 2.5 grams
- Tyrosine – 2 grams
Set For Set Always Ready is a high-dosed pre-workout without any Beta-Alanine. It’s great for maximizing muscle growth, it gives you a huge pump and lots of energy for your gym session.
A serving of Always Ready contains 300 mg of caffeine. Caffeine is a cognitive enhancer that improves energy levels and cognition. 300 mg of caffeine will give you a huge energy boost and help you stay focused throughout your workout.
The pre-workout will give you a huge pump thanks to the 9 grams of Citrulline in each serving. Citrulline boosts Nitric oxide production which dilates your blood vessels and allows more blood to flow into the muscles.
Always Ready contains 2.5 grams of GlycerPump and Betaine which improve your endurance and power output. This allows you to do more reps and lift heavier weights which will increase your muscle growth.
Another nice effect of Glycerpump and Betaine is that they draw water into your muscle cells which makes your muscles appear larger.
#9 Best For Running – Blackmarket AdreNOlyn
Key Ingredients:
- Citrulline – 5 grams
- PeakO2 – 1 gram
- Dextrose – 1 gram
- Tyrosine – 1 gram
- Pink Himalayan Salt – 500 mg
AdreNOlyn is the best Beta-Alanine free pre-workout for running and cardio. The formula contains ingredients that improve endurance and decrease muscle fatigue which helps you run longer before tiring.
Each serving has 5 grams of Citrulline which is a Nitric oxide booster that dilates your blood vessels and improves blood flow to your muscles.
Improved blood flow is beneficial for running. It helps to supply your muscles with fresh oxygen which improves your endurance and also decreases the risk of getting cramps.
AdreNOlyn also contains 1 gram of PeakO2 which helps your body adapt to physical stresses like running and cardio.
PeakO2 increases your endurance and decreases your fatigue, and also helps your body utilize oxygen more efficiently. This will allow you to run longer before tiring.
The pre-workout formula also contains 1 gram of Dextrose and 500 mg of Pink Himalayan salt. Dextrose can quickly be absorbed by your muscles and used for energy.
The Pink Himalayan salt supplies your body with important electrolytes to keep you hydrated. Staying hydrated increases your endurance and minimizes the risk of cramps.
#10 Best Nootropic – Cracked RX
Key Ingredients:
- Caffeine – 200 mg
- Citrulline Malate – 5 grams
- Creatine HCl – 2 grams
Cracked RX is a great PWO without Beta-Alanine if you are looking to maximize your mental performance. This nootropic pre-workout also has ingredients that improve your pump and strength.
The pre-workout has 200 mg of caffeine and a lot of nootropic ingredients including Ashwagandha, Tyrosine, Lion’s mane, Reishi and Cordyceps mushroom extract.
Lion’s mane and Ashwagandha help to lower stress and increase mental clarity. Ashwagandha might also improve strength and promote testosterone production.
Reishi and Cordyceps mushroom extract improve your stamina and performance in the gym which helps you train harder and achieve better results.
Each serving of Cracked RX contains 5 grams of Citrulline Malate and 2 grams of Creatine. These ingredients give you better muscle pumps and increase your strength and muscle size.
Citrulline Malate gives you a really good pump by boosting your Nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide dilates your blood vessels and allows more blood to flow into the muscles.
Creatine is used to produce ATP in your body. ATP is used as a primary source of energy in your cells. It plays a big role in different cell mechanisms, such as nerve signaling and muscle contraction which are super important for optimal muscle growth.
#11 Best Budget – Cutler Nutrition Prevail
Key Ingredients:
- Caffeine – 400 mg
- Citrulline – 4 grams
- Taurine – 2 grams
- Alpha-GPC – 750 mg
Cutler Nutrition Prevail is a great budget-friendly pre-workout supplement without Beta-Alanine.
Prevail aims to give you the best focus and energy possible for your workouts. Each serving contains 400 mg of caffeine together with 750 mg of N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine and Alpha GPC.
Caffeine is a cognitive enhancer that boosts your energy and improves focus during your workouts. Tyrosine helps to heighten your mood and motivation by increasing the levels of dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenalin in your brain.
Alpha GPC also improves focus and energy levels and it can even improve your strength and power output which allows you to lift heavier weights and increase your muscle growth.
Each serving of Prevail also contains 4 grams of Citrulline and 2 grams of Taurine.
4 grams of Citrulline will give you a really good pump. Citrulline boosts your Nitric oxide production which dilates your blood vessels and allows more blood to flow into the muscles.
Taurine reduces muscle fatigue during exercise, it also minimizes cramps and muscle soreness after workouts. This helps you to perform at a higher level and recover faster after training.
#12 Best Natural & Organic – Pre Lab Pro
Key Ingredients:
- Caffeine – 80 mg
- Citrulline – 2 grams
- Gluthathione – 200 mg
- Beetroot powder – 1.5 grams
Pre Lab Pro is a good Beta-Alanine free pre-workout without any artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. It’s also non-GMO and free from herbicides and pesticides.
Each serving of Pre Lab Pro has 80 mg of natural caffeine together with Theanine, this gives you a nice energy push before your workouts. The Theanine helps to smooth out the caffeine jitters and boost focus.
The pre-workout formula contains a combination of Citrulline and Gluthathione. These ingredients along with the 1.5 grams of beetroot powder improve your muscle pump.
They increase your body’s Nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide relaxes your blood vessels and allows more blood to flow into your muscles.
#13 Best High Stim – MyoBlox LOCO
Key Ingredients:
- Caffeine – 400 mg
- Citrulline Malate – 6 grams
- Taurine – 2 grams
- Tyrosine – 1 gram
LOCO pre-workout will give you a massive energy boost thanks to the 400 mg of caffeine you get in each serving. Since the formula is free from Beta-Alanine you won’t have to worry about any pre-workout-itching.
The pre-workout formula contains 6 grams of Citrulline Malate and 2 grams of Taurine.
6 grams of Citrulline Malate will give you a really good pump. Citrulline boosts your Nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide relaxes and dilates your blood vessels which allows more blood to flow into your muscles.
Taurine helps to reduce muscle fatigue during exercise, and it also minimizes cramps and muscle soreness post-workout. This helps you to perform optimally in the gym and recover faster after training sessions.
To boost the cognitive effects further, LOCO also has Theobromine and Tyrosine. Theobromine is a stimulant that works similarly to caffeine. It boosts your cognition and focus which helps you work out harder.
Theanine is a mood enhancer and also improves your focus and cognition. It helps to regulate the levels of dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline in your brain which elevates your mood and improves your motivation.
Is Beta-Alanine Necessary In A Pre-Workout?
No, Beta-Alanine is not a necessary ingredient for a good pre-workout formula. Pre-workouts work just as well without Beta-Alanine.
A lot of pre-workout products like to implement Beta-Alanine in their formula for its acute effects. The idea is that people associate the tingling sensation with a potent pre-workout.
But in reality, the only effect you get from the tingling is a placebo, it doesn’t mean that the pre-workout is “strong”.
The tingling sensation you get from Beta-Alanine is called paresthesia and is completely harmless but it isn’t performance-enhancing either!
The problem with Beta-Alanine is that it doesn’t work right off the bat. To get the performance-enhancing effects of Beta-Alanine you need to build up a store of 147 grams in your body. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22270875/ ]
This means that you need to supplement with 5 grams of Beta-Alanine for about 30 days before you get the desired effects.
So, what does Beta-Alanine even do?
When Beta-Alanine is used correctly (build-up of 147 grams) it helps to increase your muscle endurance. It regulates the acid build-up in your muscles and prevents fatigue.
This can help you perform more reps before getting tired which means that you can overload your muscles better and achieve more hypertrophy (muscle growth)
This sounds great, and it is pretty helpful for building muscle, but there are alternatives to Beta-Alanine that don’t cause tingles and itchy butt cheeks.
What Is An Alternative To Beta-Alanine?
There are a couple of alternatives to Beta-Alanine that will give you the same or similar effects.
Firstly, Creatine. Your body uses Creatine to create ATP which is your muscle’s acute source of energy. ATP is used for a lot of different mechanisms in your cells, such as nerve signaling and muscle contraction. [1]
The more ATP your body has the more energy it has at hand for muscle contractions. This means that Creatine similar to Beta-Alanine increases your endurance, but also your strength, power output and muscle size. [2]
Moreover, Creatine draws water into the muscle cells which also improves endurance and increases the number of reps you can perform each set.
Secondly, Betaine. Betaine helps to hydrate your muscle. It draws water into the muscle cells which improves your endurance and power output. [3]
Thirdly, GlycerPump. Similarly to Betaine, GlycerPump (Glycerol) hyper-hydrates your muscle cells with water which improves your endurance. [4] Hydration is one of the most important factors in muscle endurance.
Lastly, Citrulline. Citrulline mainly gives you massive muscle pumps. But it can also help with muscle endurance. Citrulline boosts Nitric oxide production which dilates your blood vessels and improves blood flow to your muscles.
This brings in fresh oxygen to your muscles and also helps to flush out lactic acid buildup which improves muscle endurance. [5]
What To Do Now?
Now that you’ve found your new pre-workout without Beta-Alanine it’s soon time to try it out in the gym!
But before that, here are some more pre-workouts that might interest you! And check out some pre-workout alternatives that you can make at home, completely beta-alanine-free.
And if you are looking for a new training program you should definitely check out these articles!
- 2 Day Workout Splits
- 3 Day Workout Splits
- 4 Day Workout Splits
- 5 Day Workout Splits
- 6 Day Workout Splits
Sources:
