The 11 Best Thermogenic Fat Burners To Try in 2023

The first steps to a lean physique and weight loss are a calculated diet and an organized training workout split. Neglect those two essential points, and no number of fat-burning pills will inch you closer to being ripped. However, if your diet and training are dialed in, then a fat burner can help to push you over the finish line. Of course, you need to know what you’re buying and, more importantly, why. 

We took the guesswork out of the process by listing out the best fat burner supplements on the market based on our experience and research. They contain ingredients that have been shown to aid in fat loss (when used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise) — plus, most of these picks shouldn’t break the bank. If you want to get more into the nitty gritty, we also explain how fat burners work and dive a bit deeper into the ingredients that are in them. 

Best Fat Burners

• Best Fat Burner Overall: Jacked Factory Burn XT
• Best Fat Burner for Men: PhenQ
• Best Fat Burner For Women: Hourglass Fit
• Fastest Working Fat Burner: Kaged Clean Burn Powder
• Best Affordable Fat Burner: Swolverine Therm Fat Burner
• Best Belly Fat Burner: PhenQ
• Best Thermogenic Fat Burner: Jacked Factory Burn XT
• Best Non-Stim Fat Burner: Transparent Labs Stim-Free Fat Burner
• Best Natural Fat Burner: Swolverine Therm Fat Burner
• Best Fat Burner for Suppressing Appetite: Leanbean
• Best Premium Fat Burner: Legion Phoenix Fat Burner

Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. 

Best Fat Burners Video Review

Be sure to check out our best fat burners video for an even more in-depth analysis of this supplement. 

How We Tested and Chose the Best Fat Burners

When selecting the best fat burners for this list, we considered ingredients and dosing, based on research and cost. We’ll admit that fat burners aren’t an absolute must-have, but if you want to give them a try, we’re here to help you make the most educated (and effective) purchase possible. 

Dosage

If an ingredient is solid, but it’s in an amount that is five times less than what the science says is effective — then what’s it actually doing? We strive to choose products that offer the right ingredients in the right doses that are priced accordingly. 

Proprietary Blends

If we don’t know the dose, it’s hard to know just how effective the fat burner is. For that reason, we favored fat burners that rely on transparent labeling over products with proprietary blends. We want you to know what you’re getting and exactly how much.

Price

The price tag of your fat burner depends on the ingredients in the bottle. A pricier fat burner most likely contains more ingredients and higher doses, too. We aimed to showcase fat burners mostly in the middle, including premium and budget options, too.

Customer Satisfaction

Everyone’s body is different, so while one fat burner may work wonders for your gym buddy, it may not have the same effect on your physique. With that said, we did our best to choose popular products that customers seem to enjoy and buy consistently. 

The Best Overall Fat Burner: Jacked Factory BURN-XT

Specs

• Caffeine: 270mg
• Key Ingredients: 350mg acetyl l-carnitine hcl, 225mg green tea leaf extract, 135mg caffeine, 25mg capsimax cayenne pepper fruit extract, 2.5mg bioperine black pepper fruit extract
• Capsules Per Serving: 1
• Price Per Serving: $0.58

Pros

• A main ingredient, l-carnitine may help you cut weight and reduce body fat (more on this below).
• It’s made with veggie-based capsules, so the product is vegan-friendly.
• This filler- and dye-free pick has a transparent label with all ingredients clearly listed. 

Cons

• It’s suggested that you take this supplement with a meal, which may be inconvenient.
• It’s not ideal for those who are sensitive to caffeine — this product contains 135mg of caffeine per serving (a cup of coffee is about 95mg).

Main Ingredient Breakdown

• L-Carnitine: Naturally available in plenty of foods, carnitine helps you produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which your body uses for energy, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• Green Tea Leaf Extract: Green tea extract is often used to help increase mental focus and aid weight loss. Plus, it has caffeine content to enhance energy levels, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).
• Cayenne Pepper Extract: Cayenne pepper may help improve your digestion by boosting the good bacteria in your gut, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This ingredient may even promote thermogenesis, potentially helping you burn more calories. (22)

A successful cut means losing fat and retaining some energy to help you hit the gym to maintain as much muscle mass and strength as possible. Some formulas are better equipped for this task than others.

Jacked Factory BURN-XT contains common fat-burning ingredients, like l-carnitine. Although a supplement can’t do as much as a fat-loss-focused diet and workout routine, l-carnitine may help you lose weight. (21) You also get 225mg of green tea leaf extract, which may also help promote weight loss and control blood sugar levels. Each serving also provides 135mg of caffeine, a natural fat burner, which can also increase energy levels, while 25mg of cayenne pepper fruit extract is intended to help increase your calorie burn through thermogenesis. 

“From the first dose I felt a lot of energy, it suppresses my appetite a lot, and in the first week I noticed an improvement in muscular performance with more resistance and I even sweated a lot more than normal, it kept me more focused and motivated,” says one positive customer review on the Jacked Factory website. 

“I’ve tried so many pills over the years, says one five-star Amazon review (among thousands of others). “Most did nothing or did crazy stuff, like sickness or heart rate issues or even rashes. But I’m happy to report this stuff is the strangest wonderful combination that for whatever reason does its job!”

This product contains no fillers or dyes, for those who are concerned about those, though you need to take two doses per day. Depending on your personal experience with fat burners, you may want to start off with a smaller dose and assess your tolerance. For optimal digestion, Jacked Factory recommends consuming the capsules with a meal. Each 60-serving bottle costs about $34.99 or around $0.58 per serving, making this fat burner fairly affordable compared to others.

If you’re looking for a fat burner supplement that contains both ingredients with potential fat-burning properties and caffeine for an energy boost, BURN-XT is a well-rounded product to start with.

Best Fat Burner for Men: PhenQ

Specs

• Caffeine: 75mg
• Key Ingredients: 8mg vitamin B3, 0.7mg vitamin B6, 1.25µg vitamin B12, 150mg l-carnitine, 75mg caffeine, 50mg capsimax
• Capsules Per Serving: 1
• Price Per Serving: $1.17

Pros

• Can help you retain muscle mass and energy (thanks to the caffeine) in a calorie deficit.
• Easy to buy in bulk, thanks to the brand’s multiple package purchase options.
• You only take 2 pills daily.

Cons

• This product isn’t ideal for those with caffeine sensitivities, as one serving packs about 300mg of caffeine anhydrous. 
• It only comes in capsule form, so those who want a powder fat burner should opt for another pick.
• You have to take two servings at different points in the day, which can be tedious. 

Main Ingredient Breakdown

• L-Carnitine: Carnitine helps you produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which your body uses for energy when you train, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, a compound in chili peppers that may increase your body’s internal temperature, adding up to another five to 50 calories burned per day. (9)
• Black Pepper: Also known as piperine, black pepper may help you better absorb nutrients and ingredients, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

If you’re looking to cut and retain the muscle you’ve built in the gym, a fat burner can potentially help you. This pick is one of the best fat burners for men who are focusing on keeping their gains strong. 

Though a healthy diet, exercise, and a caloric deficit are the crucial factors during a cut, a fat burner may also help you retain the muscle mass you built while speeding up the weight-loss process. PhenQ contains caffeine, as well as cayenne pepper seeds, which can have thermogenic properties. That means they may help raise your body temperature, increasing your body’s calorie burn.

This supplement also includes ingredients like B vitamins, which help your body use carbs to produce energy (especially helpful if you’re in a deficit), per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Plus, theanine may help increase your mental focus so you can better power through your day and training, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Each serving is one capsule that you take once in the morning and once at lunch.

If you’re already adhering to a nutrient-dense diet and hitting a calorie deficit, a fat burner can be a solid supplement to add to your regimen as you near your fat loss finish line. PhenQ is a great option for men in the cutting weight phase. 

Best Fat Burner For Women: Hourglass Fit

Specs

• Caffeine: None
• Key Ingredients: 1.7mg vitamin B6, 2.4mcg vitamin B12, 125mcg chromium, 8mg zinc, 1.1mg vitamin B12, 3000mg konjac root extract, 100mg cayenne pepper extract, 5mg black pepper extract, 150mg 5-HTP
• Capsules Per Serving: 4
• Price Per Serving: $2.17

Pros

• Offers a multifaceted fat-loss approach, thanks to the glucomannan, cayenne pepper, and chromium, which may help boost metabolism and increase thermogenesis. 
• With no caffeine per serving, this is ideal for women (or people with smaller bodies in general) and those who are sensitive to caffeine.
• This product only contains natural ingredients, so it’s great for those who want a simple formula.

Cons

• Those who want a more traditional fat burner should look elsewhere, as this doesn’t have jitter-inducing ingredients, like caffeine.
• This one may not provide as much energy boost, due to the low caffeine content.
• The dosing can be a little tedious, as it requires one pill up to four times per day.

Main Ingredient Breakdown

• Konjac Root Extract: Konjac root contains glucomannan, which, as mentioned above, is a dietary fiber that can help increase your satiety, potentially curbing your appetite. (16)
• 5-HTP: This is a chemical your own body can produce and may have a positive effect on your sleep, mood, and appetite, according to Mount Sinai Medicine.
• Zinc: Zinc is crucial for the health of your immune system but most people don’t get enough in their daily diet. (20) This is especially important when your body is in a calorie deficit and you’re training extra hard in the gym. “I ask all my clients to add zinc to their diet when they’re training in a deficit,” says Carolina Araujo, CPT, a New York-based strength coach and IFBB athlete. “In a calorie deficit, your body is a little more susceptible to sickness, so the zinc can help keep you healthy.” 

This fat burner is formulated with eight active ingredients to potentially help you burn fat through thermogenesis, which is the process of generating heat in the body that can potentially increase your metabolism. Marketed to women, this pick contains ingredients designed to reduce cravings and increase energy without causing caffeine jitters. 

This formula includes potentially effective fat-burning ingredients, including 125mcg of chromium and 100mg of cayenne pepper extract, as well as ingredients like 150mg of 5-HTP to help reduce food cravings. 

The addition of chromium here has been suggested to decrease BMI, fasting insulin, and free testosterone. (2) The 1.7mg of vitamin B6 may also be another helpful ingredient for weight loss as it may normalize metabolism and BMI. (3) Hourglass Fit requires you to take one capsule and can work best if you take it four times daily with a glass of water.

“I really like this product,” says one Amazon reviewer. “A lot of manufacturers and sellers have a tendency to overstate the benefits. However, that is not the case this time because this product really worked for me. I have to give it my highest recommendation. Five stars!”

Hourglass Fit may be an excellent fat burner for women who are looking to minimize food cravings and decrease body fat. Chromium and vitamin B6 may be helpful ingredients to potentially aid in regulating your BMI and metabolism.

Fastest Working Fat Burner: Kaged Clean Burn Powder

Specs

• Caffeine: 166mg
• Key Ingredients: 1500mg l-carnitine, 500mg coconut fruit water powder, 500mg organic apple cider vinegar powder, 375mg l-tyrosine, 166mg caffeine, 50mg capsicum, 20mg CaloriBurn GP Grains of Paradise
• Serving: 1 scoop
• Price Per Serving: $1.49

Pros

• This product can potentially help with appetite suppression, so you may find yourself eating less throughout the day.
• It has a more moderate dose of caffeine per serving (166mg), for those who are more sensitive.
• If you want thermogenic ingredients, you’ll appreciate the capsicum (cayenne pepper) in this supplement. 

Cons

• This only comes in Orange Mango.
• It’s only available in powder form.

Main Ingredient Breakdown

• L-Carnitine: This ingredient can help improve your performance, as it helps boost your ATP levels, per the NIH.
• Cayenne Pepper: The capsaicin in this ingredient may help raise your body’s temperature, increasing your daily calorie burn. (9)
• Apple Cider Vinegar: This ingredient can help lower blood sugar, making it easier to stave off cravings and control portions, per the Cleveland Clinic. 

It’s a fact: You can’t out-train your diet. If you’re looking to burn fat quickly, then you need to focus on your appetite and implement a calorie deficit — fast. Since many people struggle with portion control and craving, the apple cider vinegar in this formula is especially helpful. This ingredient can help control blood sugar levels, offering a little natural appetite suppression, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

This product is also packed with a ton of thermogenic ingredients like capsicum fruit extract, guayusa tea extract, and caffeine. 

Though nothing is going to make your fat burn happen with the snap of a finger, this product may be able to help you get your portion sizes under control — which in turn, may help you reach your calorie deficit more efficiently than a fat burner that doesn’t contain fiber.

The Best Affordable Fat Burner: Swolverine Therm Fat Burner

Specs

• Caffeine: 100mg
• Key Ingredients: 25mg vitamin B6, 150mcg iodine, 100mcg chromium, 300mg guarana, 100mg cocoa extract, 50mg yerba mate powder, 50mg green tea leaf extract, 125mg garcinia cambogia leaf, 125mg chitosan, 10mg cayenne pepper
• Capsules Per Serving: 1
• Price Per Serving: $0.39

Pros

• This supp has a relatively low price tag compared to other products.
• You get a robust ingredient list, focused on helping to increase your metabolic health.
• If you prefer ingredients focused on thermogenesis to burn fat, you’ll like the ingredients list on this product.

Cons

• Those who want a simpler label probably won’t be pleased with this product’s longer ingredient list. 
• This product doesn’t have any ingredients that are labeled for mood enhancement or fatigue decrease.

Main Ingredient Breakdown

• Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 performs a variety of functions for your body, including helping your carb and fat digestion, according to the NIH. 

• Iodine: Your body uses iodine to make thyroid hormones that help regulate your body’s metabolism, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 
• Chromium: There is some research that suggests chromium, a trace element, may help regulate hunger levels and cravings, according to the NIH. 
• Guarana: Derived from the seeds of the guarana plant, guarana is mainly used for its caffeine content and may also help reduce hunger levels, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Expensive isn’t always synonymous with high quality. We found a product that will fit most budgets while still providing great fat-burning ingredients. 

The ingredient list is pretty robust (especially for the cost), but most of the ingredients are geared toward thermogenesis. Thermogenesis is a fat loss method that fat-burning supplements use. It works by picking ingredients that raise the body’s internal temperature to burn more calories (as it requires energy to cool down).

Some of the ingredients that help with this are green tea leaf extract, cayenne pepper, caffeine, cocoa extract, and garcinia cambogia. Though some fat-burning supplements boast extra mood-enhancers or fatigue-fighting ingredients, this product sticks to the basics of fat burn and focuses on metabolism and metabolic health.

One reviewer loves Therm for its jitter-free effect, helping curb snack cravings, according to Swolverine’s website. “When I take it constantly, along with diet and exercise, I notice my body is slimmer and tight.”

at burners can be fairly expensive, so if you are looking for a reasonably-priced product with thermogenic ingredients, like cayenne pepper extract and green tea leaf extract, this pick is the way to go. 

[Related: Intermittent Fasting 101: A Guide To Benefits, Muscle Gain, And More]

Best Belly Fat Burner: PhenQ

Specs

• Caffeine: 75mg
• Key Ingredients: 8mg vitamin B3, 0.7mg vitamin B6, 1.25µg vitamin B12, 150mg l-carnitine, 75mg caffeine, 50mg capsimax
• Capsules Per Serving: 1
• Price Per Serving: $1.17

Pros

• It’s ideal for athletes who are working hard in the gym to eliminate body fat, and want a supplement that contains multiple ingredients that may help with fat loss.
• This product has ingredients with thermogenic properties, including capsimax powder.
• You only have to take one pill in the morning and one mid-day.

Cons

• This isn’t available in a powder form, so you can’t stack with others in a smoothie.
• If you’re looking for green tea extract, you’ll have to look at other products.

Main Ingredient Breakdown

• L-Carnitine: This ingredient helps produce ATP, which you need for energy during your workouts, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• Cayenne Pepper: The capsimax powder contains cayenne pepper or capsaicin, a compound in chili peppers that may increase your body’s internal temperature. (9)
• Black Pepper: Black pepper may help you better absorb the ingredients in this supp, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

First, a quick disclaimer: spot fat reduction is a myth. If you want to lose belly fat, no amount of dieting or ab training will help you specifically target this area. Your genetics primarily decide where you store the most fat, and only consistently training and adhering to a caloric deficit will, over time, reduce fat stores all over your body — yes, including in your tummy. 

With that said, this pick has ngredients that can help increase your metabolism and burn fat. PhenQ is a thermogenic fat burner that includes capsimax powder and caffeine which can help raise your body’s temperature to potentially increase your calorie burn. You’ll also find nopal cactus, a high-fiber ingredient that may help you feel fuller for longer. 

The capsules do not contain gelatin, which means they’re vegan- and vegetarian-friendly. And you only have to take two pills daily — some fat burners require upwards of six capsules a day. 

When it comes to losing body fat, it doesn’t hurt to have a supplement with multiple ingredients targeting fat loss — and the capsimax in PhenQ may have the thermogenic properties that many customers seek out in a fat burner.

Best Thermogenic Fat Burner: Jacked Factory Burn XT

Specs

• Caffeine: 270mg
• Key Ingredients: 350mg acetyl l-carnitine hcl, 225mg green tea leaf extract, 135mg caffeine, 25mg capsimax cayenne pepper fruit extract, 2.5mg bioperine black pepper fruit extract
• Capsules Per Serving: 1
• Price Per Serving: $0.58

Pros

• This fat burner can help increase your body temperature to potentially burn more calories (i.e., a thermogenic fat burner).
• This supplement has black pepper extract, which can help with absorption and digestion.
• You get a high dose of caffeine (270mg) and, therefore, energy per serving to help you get through your toughest leg days.

Cons

• This product has about 5mg of black pepper, so anyone with pre-existing allergies should take note. 
• The caffeine dose is on the higher end.

Main Ingredient Breakdown

• L-Carnitine: This ingredient can help increase your ATP levels, giving your muscles more fuel for the gym, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• Green Tea Leaf Extract: Green tea extract may help increase your focus but it has also been used to help promote weight loss, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).
• Cayenne Pepper Extract: Cayenne pepper may help increase your body temp, promoting thermogenesis and potentially helping you burn more calories. (22)

Thermogenic fat burners are touted to increase metabolism (through heat production) to burn fat, and this product boasts a solid dose of cayenne pepper fruit extract, which can play a key role in this process. Capsicum extract can potentially raise your body’s temperature. You’ll also find green tea extract here, another thermogenic ingredient.

This supp’s caffeine can help with metabolism and energy, while the black pepper extract may help you better absorb all of these ingredients, per the Cleveland Clinic. Jacked Factory recommends you take one capsule per day for the first three days. Then, you can increase to two pills once or twice per day, depending on your tolerance. 

Thermogenic fat burners are ideal if you want a supplement that can help increase your metabolism and encourage your body to use fat to create energy. This product includes capsicum fruit extract for this purpose, along with ingredients that may help with fat burn and energy.

Best Non-Stim Fat Burner: Transparent Labs Stim-Free Fat Burner

Specs

• Caffeine: N/A
• Key Ingredients: 300mg green tea leaf extract, 250mg forslean (coleus forskohlii 10%), 50mg paradoxine (grains of paradise), 50mg capsimax (red pepper extract)
• Capsules Per Serving: 2
• Price Per Serving: $0.91

Pros

• This product is ideal for those who want a stimulant-free fat burner with zero caffeine.
• If you have trouble taking pills, the two-capsule serving may be preferable compared to other fat burners, which can require upwards of four or even six capsules per day.
• This fat burner is budget-friendly at only about $0.91 per serving.

Cons

• As it’s a stimulant-free formula with sleep-promoting ingredients, you shouldn’t take this during the day.
• Unlike other fat burners, you won’t get any extra energy for your workout.

Main Ingredient Breakdown

• Forskolin: This ingredient may help enhance your body’s fat-burning abilities, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
• Pepper Extract: Cayenne pepper may help improve your digestion but may also promote thermogenesis, increasing your overall calorie burn. (22)
• Green Tea Leaf Extract: This ingredient may help increase your mental clarity and focus, while potentially supplying some weight-loss-benefits, per the Cleveland Clinic.

If you prefer a non-stimulant fat burner because you work out at night or get the jitters, this pick comes sans caffeine, but that doesn’t stop it from being a potentially effective supplement. 

Transparent Labs Stim-Free Fat Burner free of stimulants so that you may reap the potential benefits of a fat burner without caffeine making you jittery or disrupting your sleep schedule. Leading off the lineup is 300mg of green tea extract, which may increase fat loss and provide clean energy.

Forslean (10 percent forskolin root) dosed at 250mg might help boost metabolism, suppress appetite, and regulate blood sugar. You also get 50mg of Capsimax red pepper fruit extract, which may be able to help promote thermogenesis, potentially helping you increase your calorie burn. If you want to pick up a 60-serving bottle, you’ll only have to spend $54.99, which works out to around $0.91 per serving — rather cost-effective for a fat burner.

The formula on this stim-free fat burner is rather short but to the point. Each ingredient is intentional and attacks fat burning from multiple angles. There are components to potentially aid in boosting metabolism, burning fat, controlling hunger, and increasing energy naturally.

Best Natural Fat Burner: Swolverine Therm Fat Burner

Specs

• Caffeine: 100mg
• Key Ingredients: 25mg vitamin B6, 150mcg iodine, 100mcg chromium, 300mg guarana, 100mg cocoa extract, 50mg yerba mate powder, 50mg green tea leaf extract, 125mg garcinia cambogia leaf, 125mg chitosan, 10mg cayenne pepper
• Capsules Per Serving: 1
• Price Per Serving: $0.39

Pros

• This company offers full transparency about both the ingredients and dosing. 
• For what you get, this fat burner is pretty affordable and fairly priced. 
• You only have to take one tablet per serving, which is significantly less than competing products.

Cons

• Folks who want a shorter ingredients list can find simpler products out there. 

Main Ingredient Breakdown

• Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 can help your body better digest and process carbs and fats, according to the NIH.
• Iodine: Derived from kelp, in this supplements’ case, iodine can help regulate your body’s metabolism, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 
• Chromium: This trace element can help you keep your hunger levels and cravings under control, according to the NIH. 
• Guarana: Derived from the seeds of the guarana plant, this ingredient is used for its caffeine content and may also help reduce hunger levels, per Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

Some brands hide natural, quality ingredients in blends, so you don’t really know what or how much you’re getting. This is why brands that value transparency — in ingredients and dosing — are valuable. 

Swolverine Therm Fat Burner offers up quality in the right quantity. There are natural ingredients, like green tea extract, which we like since it increases fat oxidation and thermogenesis, along with cayenne pepper and garcinia cambogia (a tropical fruit). (5) In addition to listing the full doses, Swolverine also provides in-depth explanations of the ingredients’ efficacy.

Plus, Swolverine only requires one tablet per serving, which is one of the lowest numbers we’ve seen on the market (as some brands require up to six capsules per serving).

For anyone who values a clear and transparent label loaded with natural ingredients, Swolverine Therm Fat Burner is a solid bet. This product lists the full doses of each ingredient in plain sight, so you know exactly what you’re putting into your body. 

The Best Fat Burner for Suppressing Appetite: Leanbean

Specs

• Caffeine: No added caffeine but green coffee extract may add minimal amounts
• Key Ingredients: 0.56mg vitamin B6, 0.8mcg vitamin B12, 27.5mg choline, 1000mg glucomannan, 50mg cabbage palm, 40mg green coffee extract
• Capsules Per Serving: 1
• Price Per Serving: $0.39

Pros

• This fat burner also includes fiber, which aids in digestion and can help increase your satiety, curbing your hunger.
• An ingredient in the formula, glucomannan can act similarly to a hunger suppressant to help keep you full. 
• It’s low in stimulants, so it’s great for those who want a more mild product.

Cons

• This product is pretty pricey per serving compared to others.
• Extra fiber can be tough to process and may cause digestive issues — not ideal when you’re trying to exercise.
• Leanbean is six pills per serving, which is more than most other products.

Main Ingredient Breakdown

• Glucomannan: As you may have read with some of our other picks above, glucomannan is a common fat burner ingredient. This fiber source can help promote satiety and curb hunger. (16)
• Vitamin B6: This vitamin promotes metabolic health and function, helping your body better break down and digest fats and carbohydrates, per the NIH.
• Choline: An essential nutrient many people under-consume, choline helps your metabolism function properly, according to Oregon State University. 

There’s no way around it; calorie deficits suck and no, caramel rice cakes aren’t as good as real desert. But the right fat burner can help curb those cravings and suppress your appetite.

Pretty much all of the ingredients on this list are status quo, but Leanbean differentiates itself by overcoming hunger cravings. This formula uses a dietary fiber called glucomannan, which can swell your stomach slightly to create a feeling of fullness. Leanbean offers up three grams of the specific fiber, which is more than you’ll find in other brands.

It’s worth noting that this product is marketed specifically to women but just about anyone can enjoy the results, alongside Leanbean’s thousands of satisfied customers across the globe.

If you’re trying to limit your grazing or eat smaller meals to stay in a calorie deficit, this product’s glucomannan may help swell your stomach, so you feel fuller. 

Read our full Leanbean Review.

Best Premium Fat Burner: Legion Phoenix Fat Burner

Specs

• Caffeine: 200mg
• Key Ingredients: 1.7mg vitamin B6, 2.4mcg vitamin B12, 240mcg iodine, 1000mg caralluma fimbriata extract, 250mg coleus forskohlii extract, 200mg caffeine, 153mg mucuna pruriens, 153mg griffonia simplificolia, 100mg black ginger extract, 30mg grains of paradise, 15mg laminaria japonica aresch extract
• Capsules Per Serving: 1
• Price Per Serving: $0.39

Pros

• This fat burner offers both tried-and-true ingredients and a few extras — plus, you can read all about them on the website.
• The L-DOPA in this product may help increase your focus and reduce brain fog.
• You can buy this product with or without additional caffeine.

Cons

• If you’re looking for big hitters like cayenne pepper extract or green tea extract, you won’t find them here.
• This product has a pretty lengthy ingredient list, so if you’re looking for simplicity, opt for one of our other products.

Main Ingredient Breakdown

• 5-HTP: As noted with some of our other products, 5-HTP is found in many fat burners and may help reduce hunger and cravings, according to Mount Sinai Medicine.
• Forskolin: This root extract may help increase your body’s fat-burning abilities, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
• L-DOPA: Also known as levodopa, this ingredient may help reduce brain fog and increase focus, as it acts like dopamine in your brain, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Sometimes (read: almost always) quality will cost you. However, this fat burner boasts great ingredients with useful extras, and actually comes at a fairly reasonable price. 

This is a pretty complete fat burner. It’s got 5-HTP, caralluma fimbriata, and forskolin, which all can help increase your metabolism, suppress your appetite, and burn fat. In addition to these less common ingredients, this fat burner also contains 200mg of caffeine and a dose of B vitamins, which are more common in fat burners. Plus, you’ll find a kick of L-DOPA, which can help increase focus and reduce brain fog — a great asset if you are hitting your workouts hard in the gym.

An added perk with this product is that if you want to go stim-free, you have the option to remove the caffeine at checkout. And when it comes down to it, this premium fat burner really won’t cost you much more than your average fat burner, which is great for those on a budget. 

Plus, this product has more than 900 5-star reviews on Amazon, from both everyday athletes and physique competitors.

Legion Phoenix boasts unique ingredients like Caralluma Fimbriata and L-DOPA that many basic fat burners do not. Plus, you have the option to buy this product with or without caffeine — a choice you don’t get with many fat burners on the market.

Read our full Legion Phoenix Fat Burner Review.

Benefits of Fat Burners

There are three primary ways that a fat burner can be beneficial and help to drive fat loss. Here’s a breakdown of each.

Fat Oxidation

A fat burner won’t actually burn fat off of your body. That said, fat is an energy source that your body stores to use. Having your macros dialed in and training consistently should always come first, but certain ingredients in fat burners have been shown to coax your body into using (or oxidizing) stored fat. Specifically, green tea extract — well, the compound EGCG, found in green tea — and L-carnitine. 

Thermogenesis

Your body burns calories (necessary for fat loss) simply by regulating normal functions, like breathing, temperature regulation, and organ function. Most fat burners include capsaicin (extracted from chili peppers) and caffeine to increase your internal temperature. In doing so, your body works with higher intensity to cool down and burn more calories. The number of extra calories you can burn from thermogenesis isn’t many, but they can add up over time. This is especially true if you’re already in a caloric deficit and don’t want to further reduce your food intake. At that point, an extra 50 to 100 calories a day may help. 

Appetite Suppression

You need to eat fewer calories than you burn to lose weight — unfortunately, there’s no way around that. And eating a calorie deficit can be tough, especially when you need to train at a high intensity, too. This is why many fat burners contain ingredients like 5-HTP, fiber, and psyllium husk to help you feel full. That way, you’re less likely to give in to spur-of-the-moment cravings or mindless eating.

How Much Do Fat Burners Cost?

Fat burners are fairly inexpensive — though if you just look at the cost of the container you’re buying, you may not think so. You need to weigh the cost of the container against the number of servings you’re getting in that container. This number will usually come out somewhere around $0.50 to $1.00 per serving (though the premium fat burners cost around $2.00 per serving). 

Best Fat Burner Overall	Jacked Factory Burn XT	$39.99 $1.33 per serving
Best Fat Burner for Men	PhenQ	$69.99 $1.16 per serving
Best Fat Burner for Women	Hourglass Fit	$60.00 $2.00 per serving
Fastest Working Fat Burner	Kaged Clean Burn Powder	$44.99 $1.50 per serving
Best Affordable Fat Burner	Swolverine Therm Fat Burner	$34.99 $0.38 per serving
Best Belly Fat Burner	PhenQ	$69.99 $1.16 per serving
Best Thermogenic Fat Burner	Jacked Factory Burn XT	$34.99 $1.17 per serving
Best Non-Stim Fat Burner	Transparent Labs Stim-Free Fat Burner	$54.99 $0.91 per serving
Best Natural Fat Burner	Swolverine Therm Fat Burner	$34.99 $0.38 per serving
Best Fat Burner for Suppressing Appetite	Leanbean	$59.99 $2.00 per serving
Best Premium Fat Burner	Legion Phoenix Fat Burner	$49.99 $1.66 per serving

 

The cost of a fat burner goes up when you add extra ingredients to the fat-burning blend. While most fat burners will include a blend of common ingredients, like cayenne pepper extract, caffeine, and green tea extract, the more expensive products will include ingredients like DMAE, which can improve mood. If added boosts aren’t important to you, one of the basic, less-expensive options on this list should do just fine.

When Should I Take Fat Burners?

It’s best to take fat burners in the morning about 30 minutes before you eat breakfast. Since your metabolism typically slows overnight as you sleep, taking a fat burner right in the morning can help jumpstart it for the day. 

You can also take your fat burner about 30 minutes before your workout. Since fat burners contain a lot of ingredients that can help supply energy (like caffeine), it may be beneficial to take them pre-workout for an added jolt of energy. (6)(7)

However, be cautious when you take them as a pre-workout supplement. Some fat burners can cause a pretty big spike in your heart rate, and that’s not ideal when you need stability and precision to execute a heavy lift. 

Plus, some fat burners can cause you to sweat — a lot. So, learn from our mistakes and don’t take them right before a training session with your gym crush.

How to Safely Take Fat Burners

When considering a specific fat burner, become familiar with the ingredients listed on the fat burner’s label. This helps you avoid taking a substance that might interact with any medication you’re taking or that may lead to an allergic reaction. And if you’re not sure about any of the ingredients, be sure to consult with a medical professional for extra guidance. 

If you do decide to take it, follow the instructions on the label, unless otherwise directed by your physician. The best way to use a fat burner is to start with half or a quarter of the recommended dosage and gradually increase your intake to test your sensitivity. If you start to feel unwanted side effects, drop the dosage or stop taking the product. 

Potential Side Effects of Fat Burners

While the FDA takes measures to ban dangerous substances from fat burners, they may still cause some unwelcome side effects. Fat burners with stimulants like caffeine or beta-alanine can cause increased heart rate, nausea, dizziness, and irregular heartbeats. 

It’s always a good idea to consult with your doctor before starting a new fat burner pill cycle, and if you do start to experience serious side effects, stop using the product immediately.

While fat burners can speed up fat loss, remember that they are designed as a supplement to (not a replacement for) a healthy, low-calorie diet and regular exercise. If you’re already experiencing weight loss through diet and exercise, a fat burner may not be necessary.

What to Consider Before Buying a Fat Burner

As with most supplements, it’s important to consider your personal fitness goals before buying a product. In this case, you’ll want to weigh the types of ingredients you’re looking for, the time at which you’ll be taking your fat burner and/or exercising, and the price you’re willing to pay.

Ingredients

First and foremost, you’ll want to consider the type of potential fat burn you are looking for. As we discussed, fat burners use ingredients that may help with fat oxidation, thermogenesis, and appetite suppression. While many fat burners include ingredients that do all three of these things, oftentimes a product will lean more heavily toward one of the three in particular. Before you decide which fat burner you want to buy, you should consider which of these processes you want to prioritize. 

You’ll also want to look out for proprietary blends of ingredients. We recommend sticking to products that disclose the dosage of every ingredient in their fat burner. If a product lists a proprietary blend without the dosage, you have no way of knowing what you’re getting in your supplement or if the dosage you’re getting can be effective. 

Timing

Though you can take your fat burner when you wake up in the morning to jumpstart your metabolism, many people choose to take their fat burners before they workout. If you are one of these people, you’ll want to consider the stimulants — like caffeine — in your fat burner. If you’re a morning workout person, great — you’re good to go. However, if you prefer to workout late at night, you may want to opt for a fat burner that doesn’t contain any stimulants. If you take a fat burner with caffeine too late in the day, it could potentially mess with your sleep.

Price

Most fat burners will include the typical big hitters — cayenne pepper, caffeine, and green tea — but if you’re willing to dish out a little extra cash, some fat burners may also include extras like HMB or DMAE that can help with things outside of fat burn (in this case, muscle retention and mood).

Final Word

While a healthy diet, caloric deficit, and consistent exercise regimen are the best tools you can have for losing weight, fat burners can be helpful supplements. If your nutrition and workout routine are on point, fat burners may help you suppress your appetite, increase your metabolism, and burn a little extra fat.

Before you start on a fat burning supplement, it’s important to speak with your physician to see if this supplement could be right for you. Once you’ve picked out the ingredients you’re looking for and settled on a price point, this list can help you with the rest.

FAQs

References

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