Independent supplement label database
Read the label.
Skip the hype.
Compare caffeine, clinically studied ingredient doses, serving sizes, label transparency, and important cautions across popular formulas.
- Data taken from manufacturer labels
- No paid product placement
- Affiliate-supported
- Labels checked regularly
Browse by category
All productsThe pre-workout shelf at a glance
Compare all 38 pre-workouts| Product | Caffeine | Citrulline | Beta-alanine | Blend | Stim tier |
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Six of the pre-workouts on file. Doses are per full labeled serving; "blend: yes" marks a proprietary blend that hides individual amounts. Creatine, protein, EAA, and electrolyte shelves live on their own pages above.
Methodology
How we evaluate labels
Every entry is built the same way, from the manufacturer's own supplement facts panel — never from the marketing page.
The metrics change by category — creatine grams and form, protein per scoop, sodium per serving — but the method never does.
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Read the current panel
We log caffeine, every disclosed ingredient dose, serving size, and serving count from the label itself.
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Compare against studied amounts
Each key dose is lined up against the amounts used in published research on that ingredient.
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Check label transparency
Proprietary blends are flagged: a blend total tells you the sum, not the individual doses inside it.
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State the cautions
High caffeine, likely side effects such as beta-alanine tingling, and fine print like two-scoop servings are noted on every entry.
Reading a label
Cellucor C4 Original · pre-2024 label, kept as a worked example (the current formula discloses every dose)
| Caffeine | 150 mg |
| Beta-alanine | 1.6 g |
| Half of the 3.2 g per day used in most beta-alanine studies. | |
| Creatine nitrate | 1 g |
| Below the 3–5 g standard used in creatine research. | |
| Explosive Energy Blend | 371 mg |
| Blend total only — the individual amounts inside are not disclosed. | |
Beta-alanine · 1.6 g against the studied dose
0 g Marker: 3.2 g/day, the amount most studies use 4 g
A few places to start
Compare every formulaCommon questions
How much caffeine is in pre-workout?
The formulas we track range from 0 mg (stim-free) to 400 mg of caffeine per serving, and most sit between 150 and 350 mg. For reference, the FDA cites about 400 mg per day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults — and coffee, tea, and energy drinks count toward the same daily total.
What is a proprietary blend?
A proprietary blend lists a group of ingredients under one combined weight, so the label tells you the sum but not how much of each ingredient you're getting. Every blend in the database is flagged, because a blend total can't be checked against studied doses.
Why does pre-workout make your skin tingle?
That prickling in the face, neck, and hands is paresthesia from beta-alanine. It's generally considered harmless, it's dose-dependent, and it fades on its own — typically within about an hour. It shows up for many people from roughly 1.6 g and is expected at the 3.2 g dose most studies use.
What counts as a clinically studied dose?
The amount of an ingredient used in published research on that ingredient — for example, 6–8 g of citrulline malate, 3.2–6.4 g per day of beta-alanine, 3–5 g of creatine monohydrate, and 2.5 g of betaine. Every entry lines the label's doses up against those amounts, and many popular formulas come in under them.
What does stim-free mean?
Zero caffeine. Stim-free formulas keep the pump and focus ingredients — citrulline, beta-alanine, glycerol, choline compounds — without the stimulants, which suits evening training or anyone managing caffeine intake. Beta-alanine tingles still apply; they aren't caused by caffeine.
What categories does Scoop Sense cover?
Five: pre-workouts, creatine, protein powders, EAA/BCAA formulas, and electrolyte mixes. Every category gets the same treatment — figures from the manufacturer's panel, key doses compared against published research, proprietary blends flagged — with metrics that fit the category, like creatine form, protein per scoop, or sodium per serving.
How does Scoop Sense make money?
Some product links are affiliate links, and Scoop Sense may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. No brand owns, sponsors, or edits the site, there is no paid placement, and every figure comes from the manufacturer's label — the full disclosure explains what commissions never change.
Using supplements safely
Many pre-workout formulas carry 150–350 mg of caffeine per serving, and coffee, tea, and energy drinks count toward the same daily total. The FDA cites about 400 mg per day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults; individual tolerance varies widely.
Nothing on this site is medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting any supplement, and always verify the current label on the product you buy. Read the full health & safety notes.
Find your formula.
Five categories of labels logged and compared — filter by category, caffeine, or brand, then read the breakdown before you buy.
Browse the database