Pre-workout powders are some of the most widely used supplements in sports nutrition—and for good reason. When properly formulated, they can support strength and power output, enhance muscular endurance, sharpen focus, stimulate muscle protein synthesis, and promote nitric oxide production, which improves blood flow and muscle pumps. Sounds like a win, right?

It can be—if you’re using a pre-workout with clinically effective ingredients.

The problem? The pre-workout market is saturated with thousands of products, all promising to take your workouts to the next level. But not all formulas are created equal. Some rely on underdosed ingredients, unnecessary fillers, or even potentially harmful stimulants that provide more hype than help.

Even more concerning, quality control in the supplement industry can be inconsistent—making it crucial for consumers to do their research. The responsibility often falls on you to separate trustworthy brands from the ones cutting corners.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through what to look for in a quality pre-workout (the green flags), what to avoid (the red flags), and how to make sure you’re investing in a product that actually delivers results—without compromising your health or your wallet.