When you need that extra energy boost and focus in the gym, choosing one of the best pre-workout supplements can give you the edge. If you’re on the go, grabbing a ready-to-go can of Cellucor C4 Energy Drink can sub in for your favorite powder. Our team of expert testers uses the BarBend supplement testing methodology to rank supplements and energy drinks — and we think C4 gives just the right amount of fizz, buzz, and flavor (even though, alas, it isn’t third-party tested).
As a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, I’m a nerd for ingredients, benefits, and how they stack up against research. I like that C4 has a solid blend of performance-boosting amino acids and a safe amount of caffeine. With insight from our expert testers so you know how it actually tastes, here is my full C4 Energy Drink review.
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 use as 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. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.
No calories, 200 milligrams of caffeine, plus a blend of common pre workout ingredients that citrulline, beta-alanine, betaine, and tyrosine.
Main Takeaways
- C4 Performance Energy is a canned, carbonated energy drink from the supplement brand Cellucor. It has 200 milligrams (mg) of caffeine and a blend of ingredients commonly found in pre-workout supplements.
- C4 Energy Drink is technically a beverage — it’s a pre-workout drink, not a pre-workout supplement, though it may work similarly. This distinction means it’s not third-party tested.
- C4 Energy Drink is sugar-free (but uses artificial sweeteners) and has 0 carbs and 5 calories. It could be one of the best pre-workouts for weight loss since it doesn’t add many calories or macros to your day while potentially helping you perform better in the gym.
C4 Energy Drink Specs
| Caffeine Per Serving | 200 mg |
| Other Notable Ingredients | CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine, Betapower, L-Citrulline and Malic Acid (Citrulline Malate), Betaine Anhydrous, Citric Acid, N-acetyl L-tyrosine, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12), Natural and Artificial Flavors |
| Calories Per Serving | 5 |
| Price Per Serving | $2.33 |
| Flavors | Frozen Bombsicle, Strawberry Watermelon Ice, Orange Slice, Cherry Limeade, Arctic Snow Cone, Midnight Cherry, Grape Frost, Starburst (Strawberry, Cherry, Orange, Lemon), Skittles, and Popsicle |
| Sweeteners Used | Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium |
| Third-Party Tested? | No |
Drinking coffee before hitting a workout gives you about 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine; a pre-workout drink like C4 Energy Drink gives you 200 milligrams of caffeine plus other ingredients (amino acids and vitamins) to potentially deliver “explosive energy,” better focus, more endurance, and less fatigue.
C4 contains its own energy blends called “CarnoSyn (l-carnosine) Beta-Alanine” and Betapower (betaine anhydrous) to reduce fatigue and increase endurance and work capacity. As a nutrition coach, I’m not in love with proprietary blends like this, because it means consumers have less transparency about how much of each ingredient is actually present.
The carbonated drink also contains citrulline malate and n-acetyl l-tyrosine to increase nitric oxide, improve blood flow, and potentially boost cognition. It has a decent amount of vitamins B3 (niacin), B6, and B12 which may also boost energy — but research is mixed on their impact on exercise performance. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
Though the ingredients sound good, how much you get of each is unspecified, so it’s hard to say if it’s clinically dosed. In comparison, the Cellucor C4 Pre-Workout Powder gives you all the dosages on the label. (It’s also one of our picks for the best pre-workouts for women.)
But what makes the energy drink worth it is its convenience. One of BarBend’s expert testers is a huge fan, saying: “Honestly, I regularly get these by the case. It’s what I grab when I need pre-workout, because it treats my stomach even better than the C4 powder.”
C4 Energy Drink comes in 13 flavors that our testers and customers love. It has 5 calories, 0 carbs, and is sugar-free — but it contains artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose and acesulfame potassium, along with natural and artificial flavors. Each 16-ounce can comes to $2.33 when you buy a pack of eight, though a subscription will knock the price per serving down a bit. Energy drinks like this one aren’t third-party tested.
Who Should Use / Who Shouldn’t Use C4 Energy Drink
C4 Energy Drink has a decent amount of caffeine (200 milligrams), so it’s not for anyone looking for the best non-stim pre-workouts. On the other hand, pre-workout supplements can go up to 300 milligrams of caffeine, so it’s also not one of the strongest pre-workouts. It’s somewhere in between — here’s who may or may not benefit.
Recommended for:
- On-the-go athletes who want a convenient canned and carbonated energy drink
- People looking for a 200-milligram caffeine boost
- Gymgoers who aren’t picky about the amount of pre-workout ingredients
Not Recommended for:
- Pregnant or nursing people
- Those who want an exact amount of specific pre-workout ingredients
- People who want a non-stim pre-workout or a lower amount of caffeine
Our Experience Using C4 Energy Drink
So you know what’s in C4 Energy Drink and what it’s supposed to do, but how does it actually taste, feel, and work? We got BarBend’s expert testers to weigh in with their experience of its taste and effect, and I’ll also chime in as a nutrition coach with my ratings of 1 to 5 on the ingredients, formulation, cost, and safety.
Next time you forget your pre-workout and notice your gym has cans of C4, should you grab one? Here’s our team’s take.
Ingredients and Formulation
C4 Energy Drink has 200 milligrams of caffeine and an undisclosed amount of several amino acids and vitamins frequently found in pre-workout supplements: beta-alanine, betaine, citrulline malate, n-acetyl-l-tyrosine, and B-vitamins. Apart from the B vitamins, there is some solid research on each ingredient’s potential efficacy. (6)
C4 also has two other products whose ingredients vary slightly. C4 Ultimate has 300 milligrams of caffeine for those who need a little more, and C4 Smart Energy contains natural caffeine from green coffee beans and Cognizin (another proprietary blend), which has a nootropic effect that may boost cognition.
Although the ingredients are good, it’s hard to say if the dosages are accurate without knowing how much you’re getting, so I’m taking a point and a half off as a nutrition coach who values knowing what’s in my supplements (and how much). Since it contains artificial sweeteners, a con for some, I’m knocking off another half points, landing the formulation at a 3 out of 5.
[Related: Strongest Pre-Workout]
Effects
We don’t know how much of each ingredient there is, but having our tester weigh in on how it felt helps. One expert tester says, “This is pretty good if you’re looking for a caffeine buzz. It doesn’t feel like it’s overloaded with stimulants, just feels like it’s an energy drink with beta-alanine. You will get the tingles from it, so if you don’t like that, it’s not for you.”
Regarding caffeine content, they add, “This is comparable to most energy drinks in caffeine dosages, and it’s great that it tastes good, too.”
Taste
We asked one of our testers, a competitive weightlifter, how it tasted. They love the fizz, noting, “One of the best parts of C4 drinks is that they are carbonated. Pre-workout powders aren’t carbonated, so it’s a great change-up.”
Regarding taste and flavors, they add, “It’s rare for me to find a C4 flavor I don’t like, and I’ve been drinking C4 regularly for a decade. My favorite flavors are Arctic Snow Cone and Starburst Cherry. They are all very sweet — if you don’t like sweet drinks, you wouldn’t like these.” When asked to rate the taste, they give it a 5 out of 5.
Another one of BarBend’s expert testers shares their experience: “All the flavors are genuinely good. They all get a 5 out of 5 for taste, which is honestly pretty rare. They’re not too sweet — definitely in the Goldilocks ‘just right’ zone. The 200 flavors are honestly a bit better than the 300s, but they’re all really good.”
Price Per Serving
Through the C4 website, a 12-pack of 16-ounce cans costs $27.99, so it’s $2.33. If you do a subscription, it’s $25.19 for a 12-pack, making it $2.10 per serving. Amazon occasionally has sales on select flavors.
Two dollars for a drink isn’t too bad, though it’s a lot if you compare it to the price per serving for a pre-workout powder. Then again, you’re paying for the convenience of a grab-and-go drink. I’ll go with a 4 out of 5 here.
Third-Party Testing
Since dietary supplements aren’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), we love products that do third-party testing. Some C4 supplements are third-party tested and NSF Certified for Sport, but since this is a beverage and not technically a supplement, it doesn’t apply. So, no third-party testing here: a 2 out of 5, with an extra good faith point since Cellucor does test its other products.
What to Consider Before Buying C4 Energy Drink
If you’re ready to try an energy drink, here are a few things to consider: what type of stimulant and how much it has, whether it has creatine, its price, what kind of sweeteners, and safety. You also want to look out for common pre-workout side effects — tingling from beta-alanine is a big one, and the company even warns of it on its website. (I say “warns” lightly here — the tingles are harmless, but they can be … annoying and uncomfortable unless you happen to not mind or even enjoy them. Yes, many of our testers do.)
One of BarBend’s expert testers adds, “The energy from these is pretty clean. I got energy plus focus, with only a little bit of tingling.”
- Stimulants: The C4 Energy Drink contains 200 mg of caffeine, equivalent to two cups of coffee.
- Creatine: There is no creatine in this.
- Price: It is $27.99 for a 12-pack and $2.33 per serving. If you do a subscription, it’s $25.19 and $2.10 per serving.
- Sweeteners: C4 Energy Drink contains the artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
- Third-party testing: No. Some C4 products are third-party tested and NSF Certified for Sport, but drinks don’t apply.
C4 Energy Drink Vs. Competitors
Let’s see how C4 Energy Drink stacks up to its competitors. We’re comparing it to two popular brands that offer a pre-workout powder instead of a drink so you can see how the specs break down. We like Transparent Labs for its clean ingredients, and their BULK pre-workout is on our list of the best pre-workouts for men. Nutricost is also a solid company, and both do third-party testing.
| C4 Energy Drink | Transparent Labs BULK | Nutricost Pre-X | |
| Price Per Serving | $2.33 | $1.66 | $0.93 |
| Protein Per Serving | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Calories Per Serving | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Flavors | 13 | 9 | 5 |
| Third-Party Tested? | No | Yes | Yes |
The most significant difference is that the other two list how much of each ingredient you get per dose, while C4 doesn’t, which is a major plus for people who like to know precisely what they’re taking. Nutricost Pre-X is also the strongest, with 300 milligrams of caffeine (the other two have 200). Another difference is the sweeteners — Transparent Labs BULK has a natural sweetener (stevia), while the other two have the artificial sweetener sucralose.
Places to Buy C4 Energy Drinks
- Cellucor.com
- C4Energy.com
- Amazon
- Golds Gym
- GNC
- Target
- The Vitamin Shoppe
- Walmart
- 7 Eleven
- Albertsons, Kroger, Publix
Customer Experience and Brand Reputation
Here’s what to expect if you decide to place an order based on their policies and other customers’ experiences.
- Shipping and Delivery:
- Time: After placing your order, it may take 5 to 10 business days to process, ship, and arrive with ground shipping. If you opt for an expedited order for overnight or second-day delivery, they’ll ship the same day. If you place it after 1 p.m. Central Standard Time, they’ll ship the following business day.
- Price: You get free shipping for any subscription and orders over $55. Orders under $55 have a flat fee of $8 for shipping.
- Trial Period: Cellucor offers a 90-day money-back guarantee on orders placed through c4energy.com or an authorized seller. You have to submit a request for a refund or replacement. Once approved, you’ll submit proof of purchase. You may have to mail back whatever you have left of your product and pay the shipping cost.
- Customer Reviews:
- Cellucor: There are 2,039 reviews on their website, and users rate C4 Energy Drink a 4.8 out of 5.
- Amazon: There are more reviews on Amazon — 22,389 — with a rating of 4.6 out of 5.
- Customer Thoughts: Customers say the C4 Energy Drink is high-quality, and they like that it’s sugar-free. They say it still tastes great and doesn’t leave an aftertaste. Several reviews don’t like the tingling side effect, and some say it’s not worth the price.
Our Final Verdict on C4 Energy Drinks
Fitness nerds often have a cabinet full of their favorite powder supplements with ingredients they trust. At the end of the day, Cellucor’s C4 Energy Drink is just that — an energy drink that provides a hefty caffeine dose in a can with some other stuff pre-workout-esque ingredients. It’s not necessarily comparable to a powder with clear, third-party tested, non-proprietary blended ingredients. Still, our testers and customers like the taste and convenience it offers.
A final word from one of our experts highlights the taste, carbonation, and convenience: “Having a carbonated energy drink — that tastes great! — is an awesome change of pace for pre-workouts. Having it in a can is super convenient, too, which is definitely something I value in an energy drink.”
FAQs About C4 Energy Drinks
Is C4 energy drink good for you?
C4 Energy Drink is not third-party tested, and we can’t verify what’s in it. The amount of caffeine in it is generally safe, as long as you’re not also drinking a ton of coffee on top of it. The unknown amount of amino acids, vitamins, and unlisted ingredients — due to proprietary blends — makes it hard to say whether it’s “good for you,” but there’s no current evidence that there’s not.
Why does a C4 energy drink make you tingle?
Tingling is a common side effect of beta-alanine. It’s harmless, so nothing to worry about. Since C4 Energy Drink has beta-alanine, that’s why.
How much caffeine is in C4?
C4 Energy Drink has 200 milligrams of caffeine.
References
- Hoffman JR, Emerson NS, Stout JR. β-Alanine supplementation. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2012 Jul-Aug;11(4):189-95. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e3182604983. PMID: 22777329.
- Lee EC, Maresh CM, Kraemer WJ, Yamamoto LM, Hatfield DL, Bailey BL, Armstrong LE, Volek JS, McDermott BP, Craig SA. Ergogenic effects of betaine supplementation on strength and power performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2010 Jul 19;7:27. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-7-27. PMID: 20642826; PMCID: PMC2915951.
- Gonzalez, Adam M.1; Trexler, Eric T.2. Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Humans: A Review of the Current Literature. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 34(5):p 1480-1495, May 2020. | DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003426
- Hase A, Jung SE, aan het Rot M. Behavioral and cognitive effects of tyrosine intake in healthy human adults. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2015 Jun;133:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2015.03.008. Epub 2015 Mar 20. PMID: 25797188.
- Jagim AR, Harty PS, Tinsley GM, Kerksick CM, Gonzalez AM, Kreider RB, Arent SM, Jager R, Smith-Ryan AE, Stout JR, Campbell BI, VanDusseldorp T, Antonio J. International society of sports nutrition position stand: energy drinks and energy shots. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2023 Dec;20(1):2171314. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2023.2171314. PMID: 36862943; PMCID: PMC9987737.
- Harty, P.S., Zabriskie, H.A., Erickson, J.L. et al. Multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements, safety implications, and performance outcomes: a brief review. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 15, 41 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-018-0247-6
