Caffeine Pills vs Pre-Workout?

Do you want a boost to help you train harder and longer? Two supplements you might consider are pre-workout and caffeine pills. Some people take a pre-workout supplement to help them push harder, while others take caffeine pills to boost their focus and energy, but which one would be better to take?

Stick with us as we take you through everything you need to know about caffeine pills vs pre-workout.

What are caffeine pills?

Caffeine pills are like the shot of espresso in the world of supplements. They are a concentrated form of caffeine anhydrous geared towards enhancing your performance, focus, and energy levels by increasing the activity of your central nervous system. Pop one down your throat with some water, and within 30 minutes, you’ll feel like a million bucks and ready to work out.

How much caffeine is in a caffeine pill?

The caffeine content in a single pill generally contains a 100 to 200 mg dose. This means you get more than your usual cup of coffee but less than most energy drinks. So, it’s enough to give you an extra boost when you need it most.

What are pre-workouts?

Pre-workouts are supplements packed with different ingredients like BCAAs, vitamins, minerals and other amino acids to help improve your physical performance and muscle recovery. Ultimately, it can help you increase lean muscle mass, improve muscular endurance and strength, and fat oxidation.

Is it better to take caffeine pills or pre-workout supplements?

Caffeine tablets and pre-workouts that contain caffeine are what we refer to as ergogenic aids – they are designed to help your body work harder by increasing energy metabolism and giving you razor-sharp focus. But which one is better to take before a workout?

Pre-workout supplements contain more ingredients designed to improve your athletic performance, whereas caffeine pills solely rely on caffeine. When looking at the overall benefit, pre-workout supplements will be better because:

Pre-workout supplements have more nutritional value

With regards to nutritional value, caffeine pills are generally an isolated form of caffeine, which means they have little to no nutritional value. However, pre-workout supplements contain vitamins, minerals and amino acids that are aimed at improving your health and adding to your workout. 

Pre-workout has better value for money

As far as value for money goes, yes, caffeine pills tend to be much cheaper and more accessible for most people. However, your pre-workout supplements can cater for a wider audience because of their range of ingredients. For example, people with caffeine sensitivity can’t take caffeine pills, but you can definitely find a stimulant-free pre-workout. 

Pre-workout comes in multiple flavours

Pre-workout supplements also come in a range of flavours that you can explore and enjoy, whereas a caffeine tablet just has that straight caffeine taste.

Reviewing the ingredients in caffeine pills

Caffeine pills are generally a concentrated form of caffeine that can be consumed in pill form orally. Its ingredients may contain:

• L-theanine
• Green tea extracts
• Caffeine (100 to 200 mg per pill)
• Flavouring

What are the benefits of taking caffeine pills?

Some of the benefits of taking caffeine pills include:

• Helping improve your mental focus
• Increasing alertness
• Lowering perceived efforts
• Cheaper price than most pre-workout supplements

What are the drawbacks of taking caffeine pills?

When you follow the instructions for taking caffeine pills, there aren’t many drawbacks associated with taking this supplement. However, when you consume too much caffeine, potential side effects related to excessive consumption of caffeine:

• May cause nervousness and irritability
• May sleeplessness
• May cause rapid heartbeat
• May cause high blood pressure

Reviewing the ingredients in pre-workout supplements

Pre-workouts are usually packed with multiple ingredients, but they depend on the specific function they’re trying to achieve – so they’ll differ from one to the next. The most common ingredients in pre-workouts include:

• Nitric oxide
• Caffeine
• Amino Acids (including beta-alanine)
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Natural and artificial flavours

What are the benefits of taking pre-workout supplements?

Pre-workouts have several performance-enhancing benefits, including the same benefits as caffeine pills, as caffeine is often an ingredient in them. Pre-workout benefits include:

• Boost in energy
• Promotion of muscle growth
• Increased blood flow
• Faster recovery
• Reduced muscle soreness
• Increased endurance
• Strengthened immune system and overall health

What are the drawbacks of taking pre-workout supplements?

Pre-workout ingredients could affect people in different ways, and sometimes, these effects can be negative. Here are some drawbacks to taking pre-workout supplements:

• You may experience dehydration
• You may feel nausea
• You may feel jitteriness
• You may experience digestive issues

What is the best time to take pre-workout or caffeine pills?

Most pre-workouts and caffeine pill brands will have instructions on them which tell you when the best time to take them is. That said, for both, the suggested time to take them is 30 minutes before your workout so that your system can process them. The same applies if you’re using caffeine pills as a means of focus.

How many servings of a pre-workout or caffeine can I have?

Most manufacturers of pre-workouts and caffeine supplements provide the recommended dosage in their instructions on the label. However, the maximum dosage common for a pre-workout is one serving per day, at most two, depending on the product.

Final thoughts

Whether you choose to go for caffeine pills or pre-workout, you’re in for a performance boost. But here’s the lowdown – pre-workouts are stacked with tons of beneficial nutrients. They bring more to the table than caffeine pills, giving your body a variety of goodies. But if you want that quick pick-me-up, then caffeine pills may be the better choice for you.