Finding the best pre-workout supplement for your particular needs and wants can be tricky given the category’s oversaturation with product options. Does it taste good? Will it offer an energy boost? Does the powder contain high-quality ingredients? Naked Nutrition Naked Energy checks these boxes and more with an affordable makeup composed of natural ingredients that work to elevate your athletic performance.
In our opinion, Naked Energy pre-workout is one of the tastiest powders within the category, and we appreciate that this pre-workout supplement is available in stim- and non-stim formulations. According to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD though, “Some key ingredients are underserved and may not appeal to every athlete.” In this Naked Nutrition Naked Energy review, we’ll dive deep into this powder’s full formulation and specs. Our team of expert testers, in accordance with our supplement testing methodology, also examined this pre-workout’s real-world qualities, like taste and solubility. Looking to refresh your energy boosts? Let’s get into our findings with this Naked Energy pre-workout review.
Naked Nutrition Naked Energy is a simple, powerful formula that is vegan-friendly. It comes in several flavors as well as options for a non-stimulant version.
Medical disclaimer: 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.
Main Takeaways
- Naked Nutrition Naked Energy features no artificial sweeteners or additives and serves as one of the best natural pre-workouts we’ve tried.
- While tasty and flavorful, there are just four flavor options — two if you omit the Stim-Free and Unflavored variations.
- Each two-scoop serving is roughly $0.90, making it one of the more affordable pre-workouts we’ve had in testing.
Naked Nutrition Naked Energy Specs
| Price Per Serving | $0.90 |
| Serving Size | 2 scoops |
| Caffeine Per Serving | 200mg |
| Key Ingredients | 2g beta-alanine, 1g creatine monohydrate, 1g l-arginine |
| Sweeteners Used | Cane sugar |
| Available Flavors | Unflavored, Fruit Punch, Citrus, Stim-Free |
| Third-Party Testing | Yes (certifying lab not listed) |
Like other dietary supplements from Naked Nutrition, Naked Energy pre-workout features a simplified formulation free of artificial flavors, preservatives, and other added compounds. The pre-workout formula is available with or without stimulants, with some deviations between the two makeups. For the stim-containing powder, you get 200 milligrams of green coffee bean-sourced caffeine along with 1 gram of creatine monohydrate — a powered nutrient that’s been linked to improved cognitive function, muscle growth, and exercise capacity. (1)
“I also appreciate the 333 milligrams of vitamin C,” notes Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD. “This dosage is high and can help support immune function and other cellular protocols yet stays under the 2,000-milligram upper limit for adults.” (2)
The stimulant-free powder (naturally) forgoes the caffeine inclusion but also omits the creatine monohydrate. Rather, Naked Energy stim-free features a 1-gram serving of citrulline malate, which can be beneficial as an ergogenic aid and may support better muscle recovery. (3) Regardless of your stim- or stim-free preferences, Naked Energy pre-workout is always loaded with natural ingredients like cane sugar, monk fruit extract, and natural plant-based flavoring agents.
Naked Nutrition Naked Energy is available in Citrus, Fruit Punch, and Unflavored taste options, along with the Stim-Free variation. Our expert tester, a certified personal trainer, states, “The flavored options aren’t overly sweet, which is a nice change of pace from other pre-workout powders that are way too sugary for my palate.”
Admittedly, though, if you are on the hunt for a range of available flavors, there are better options on the market. Some pre-workout powders are offered in over 16 different flavors, which can be better suited to defend against flavor fatigue after regular use.
Cost-wise, Naked Energy is one of the best cheap pre-workouts we’ve tested. Each two-scoop serving costs roughly $0.90, but the brand also offers a ‘Subscribe & Save’ service that can help you receive a discounted order total for autoship orders. You can set your delivery cadence to your preferences, too, meaning there’s no worry about running out of pre-workout unexpectedly.
Who Should Use / Who Shouldn’t Use Naked Nutrition Naked Energy
“When looking for an ideal pre-workout, it’s important for athletes to focus on safe ingredients, transparent labels, and proper dosages that match their specific needs,” states Amy Goodson MS, RD, CSSD, LD. Naturally, then, there are certain pre-workouts that may or may not be great for your supplement protocols. Below are a handful of groups we feel could benefit from Naked Nutrition Naked Energy, as well as some that may fare better with a different formulation.
Recommended for:
- Individuals wanting a clean pre-workout formula composed of all-natural ingredients
- People wanting a modest dose of caffeine that, per our testers, doesn’t lead to jitters or overstimulation
- Athletes looking for an affordable pre-workout supplement that costs less than $1 per serving
Not Recommended for:
- Those in need of a pre-workout with more than four flavor options
- Caffeine-tolerant athletes looking for some of the strongest pre-workout with stimulant servings above 200 milligrams
- Individuals wanting more detailed information on third-party testing results
Our Experience Using Naked Nutrition Naked Energy
The BarBend testing team is made up of competitive athletes, certified personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and lifelong fitness enthusiasts. We’ve tested over 100 different pre-workout supplements over the years and gained a fair understanding of what separates a high-quality formulation from the pack.
For this Naked Nutrition Naked Energy review, we relied on those past experiences, along with our supplement testing methodology, to rate this natural pre-workout supplement in categories such as taste, formulation, and solubility, among others. We also scored our findings on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) to give you a better depiction of how this supplement performed in key areas.
Ingredients and Formulation
This made-in-the-USA pre-workout powder contains plenty of the supplement category’s foundational ingredients such as folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, beta-alanine, and caffeine (if you opt for a stimulant-based formulation). In terms of the energy boost, our tester, a certified personal trainer, notes, “I like the 200-milligram serving. It’s within the FDA-recommended intake up to 400 milligrams, and honestly provided a nice spark to my levels without giving me jitters.” (4)
We also appreciate that Naked Energy’s stimulant formulations contain 1 gram of creatine monohydrate. This inclusion can be great for athletes looking to build muscle, although we recommend one of the best creatine supplements if that is your main goal. (1) While the single gram is a nice inclusion, it’s still below the recommended 3 to 5 grams daily for optimal strength and performance gains. (1)
As impressive and effective as Naked Energy’s formulation is, though, we score the ingredients list at 3.75 out of 5 given that some ingredients, namely l-arginine, are underdosed. “Safe dosages of l-arginine for nitric oxide boosts and improved blood flow can be as high as 9 grams daily, so the single gram with this powder is likely to generate smaller effects,” says Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD. (5) “The low doses of arginine, beta-alanine, and creatine could be sufficient for endurance athletes, though, so there’s still some effectiveness to be had.”
I’ll also point out that Naked Energy can vary widely in counts of added sugars. While the Unflavored and Stim-Free options are sugar-free, the Fruit Punch and Citrus offerings can contain upwards of 9 added sugars. This could be a detriment to some athletes, especially those learning how to count their macros and calculate intakes based on every consumed meal or supplement.
Taste
Like the best protein powders, post-workout shakes, BCAAs, and basically any dietary supplement, taste plays a major factor in how effective your pre-workout will be. After all, how can a formulation help support your training goals if you can’t bear to consume it? Thankfully, Naked Energy’s available flavors hit the mark when it comes to sweetness and taste.
“I had the Citrus variety and enjoyed the mouthfeel,” states our one product tester, a certified personal trainer. “It’s not overly sweet, which I attribute to the natural sugars used in the composition.”
We rate the taste at 5 out of 5, too, given that the Unflavored offering mixes easily with other beverages without affecting the overall flavor. “On its own, the Unflavored powder has a slight bitterness to it,” says our one tester, also a certified personal trainer. “Thankfully, though, I could add it to my best sports drink to mask the bitter notes, and the overall taste wasn’t compromised.”
In my experience with Naked Energy, I can attest to this non-invasive aspect of the Unflavored powder. I’ve previously tested this pre-workout with a blend of essential amino acids prior to training and can barely tell that I’ve added a pre-workout supplement to my shaker. If you’re in need of a supplement that plays well with others, Naked Energy could be a great tool for pre-training protocols.
Solubility
While some pre-workout powders can mix up easily for a pre-gym treat, others can place a lot of strain across your best shaker bottle’s capacity. Naked Energy is of the former camp, which our tester, a certified personal trainer, appreciated during trials. “It mixes well with no clumpy residue or separation,” they state in reference to their 5-out-of-5 solubility rating. “Surprisingly, too, the Unflavored powder mixed to a clear end product. Other pre-workouts in my rotation typically end up with a color similar to the listed flavor, so it was a unique experience to go through.”
Price Per Serving
In terms of cost, Naked Energy equates to roughly $0.90 per serving. This is a surprisingly affordable cost for a natural pre-workout given that supplements in this subcategory, on average, carry price tags of roughly $1.63 per serving. We rate the value at 5 out of 5, too, since Naked Nutrition offers Naked Energy through the brand’s ‘Subscribe & Save’ service which offers a 20% discount to athletes willing to sign up for autoship orders.
Third Party Testing
Naked Nutrition markets that Naked Energy pre-workout is third-party tested by an independent lab for the presence of heavy metals. This is a definite plus considering some pre-workout supplements aren’t tested at all.
However, Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD explains, “I’d really appreciate some further detail on the certifying lab since it’s not established outright. Plus, there’s a lack of extensive testing to verify the powder’s potency and overall safety.” Accordingly, we rate the third-party testing at 4 out of 5 — we’re happy with what Naked Nutrition has done thus far, but there is room for improvement.
What to Consider Before Buying Naked Nutrition Naked Energy
Whether looking for a caffeine-loaded pre-workout supplement or one of the best non-stim pre-workout options on the market, there are a handful of considerations to think through before adding a supplement to your online cart. Below are some factors we recommend pondering over as you examine whether Naked Nutrition Naked Energy is right for you.
- Ingredients and Formulation: One of the first things to look at with your pre-workout of choice is its listed formulation and ingredients list. “You’ll want to focus on supplements composed of scientifically-supported ingredients in proper serving sizes, such as caffeine for energy, beta-alanine for exercise capacity, creatine for improved strength, and l-citrulline for circulation,” states Amy Goodson MS, RD, CSSD, LD. The ingredients list will also indicate the presence of any known allergens you may be sensitive to — a clear indication that the formulation will or won’t work with your nutritional regimen.
- Caffeine Per Serving: According to Claudia Hleap-Knight, RD, CDCES, “Caffeine is one of the first things I look for in any pre-workout supplement. Studies report that caffeine can help improve performance prior to training, but it’s also important to keep your daily intake below the 400-milligram upper limit recommended by the FDA.” (4)(6)
- Available Flavors: Taste is important when it comes to nutritional supplements — we have entire round-ups dedicated to topics like the best-tasting protein powders. When looking at a pre-workout for your training goals, be sure to consider the available flavors and if they align with your personal palate.
- Third-Party Testing: “It’s best to look for pre-workouts that are third-party tested for quality, potency, and purity,” states Goodson. “Reputable certifications include NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Choice, among others, and they can be quickly identified by the stamp of approval somewhere across the pre-workout’s packaging.”
- Price: Everyone’s budget is different, so you’ll need to have your finances accounted for before trying to choose a proper pre-workout powder. On average, you can expect to pay roughly $1.63 for a natural pre-workout supplement, so this can be a good metric to start from and adjust your search according to your available funds.
Naked Nutrition Naked Energy Vs. Competitors
As you can expect, Naked Nutrition’s Naked Energy is not the lone pre-workout powder available to athletes. There are a variety of pre-workout supplements suitable for a range of needs and wants. Below, we’ve outlined two high-quality pre-workout powders we feel compare well to Naked Energy — Legion Pulse and Transparent Labs BULK.
| Naked Nutrition Naked Energy | Legion Pulse | Transparent Labs BULK | |
| Price Per Serving | $0.90 | Starting at $2.25 | $1.67 |
| Serving Size | 2 scoops | Roughly 2 scoops | 1 scoop |
| Caffeine Per Serving | 200mg | 350mg | 200mg |
| Key Ingredients | 2g beta-alanine, 1g creatine monohydrate, 1g l-arginine | 8g citrulline malate, 3.6g beta-alanine, 2.5g betaine anhydrous, 350mg l-theanine, 300mg alpha-GPC | 8g citrulline malate, 4g beta-alanine, 2.5g betaine anhydrous, 200mg l-theanine, 1.3g taurine |
| Sweeteners Used | Cane sugar | Stevia leaf extract, erythritol | Stevia |
| Available Flavors | Unflavored, Fruit Punch, Citrus, Stim-Free | Cotton Candy, Fruit Punch, Tropical Punch, Mojito, Sour Mango, Blue Raspberry, Piña Colada, Lemon Lime, Rainbow Sherbet, Cherry Limeade, Blueberry Lemonade, Strawberry Kiwi, Sour Candy, Watermelon, Arctic Blast, Green Apple, Strawberry Margarita, Frosted Cranberry, Peach Ring, Pink Lemonade, Blood Orange, Grape | Blue Raspberry, Strawberry Lemonade, Peach Mango, Tropical Punch, Watermelon., Strawberry Kiwi, Sour Grape, Black Cherry, Pineapple Coconut |
| Third-Party Testing | Yes (certifying lab not listed) | Yes (Labdoor) | Yes (Informed Choice) |
Like Naked Energy, Legion Pulse pre-workout is constructed using all-natural ingredients, or, what the brand calls, “unnecessary junk.” We also appreciate the available flavor roster that offers up 22 intriguing tastes for every preference. However, with costs per serving beginning at roughly $2.25, it’s clear that you’re paying for the high-quality makeup (as well as Labdoor-approved third-party testing).
Transparent Labs BULK pre-workout can be a suitable comparison to Naked Energy given its identical caffeine serving of 200 milligrams. You do get more flavor options, as well, and the formulation earns high praise from our expert reviewers. “This Transparent Labs pre-workout is loaded citrulline malate with 8 grams per serving — a high-yet-suitable dosage for the sake of benefitting exercise performance,” notes Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD. (3) Again, though, the cost is more expensive than the Naked Nutrition offering, and Bourgeois notes that the formulation — while well-rounded — does include some proprietary blends.
Places to Buy Naked Nutrition Naked Energy
You can purchase Naked Nutrition Naked Energy directly from the brand’s retail site. This pre-workout can also be found at popular third-party retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
Customer Experience and Brand Reputation
As a brand, Naked Nutrition offers a robust lineup of supplements from grass-fed whey protein powder to some of the best collagen peptides, creatine supplements, and (of course) pre-workouts. Each supplement is constructed with premium ingredients without unnecessary fillers or additives to help athletes support their health and fitness goals. To reach Naked Nutrition with any inquiries, the brand is available via phone at 855-964-0970, Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm ET. There’s also a ‘Live Chat’ feature at the bottom right of the brand’s retail site.
In terms of customer reviews, Naked Energy seems to generate positive buzz with athletes. On nakednutrition.com, the pre-workout currently holds a 4.7-out-of-5 rating based on 867 customer responses. “What I love is that it’s clean…no weird junk, just solid ingredients that fuel my workouts without the crash,” states one positive customer review.
Our Final Verdict on Naked Nutrition Naked Energy
For athletes wanting a clean pre-workout made with all-natural ingredients, Naked Energy from Naked Nutrition is tough to beat. We appreciate that the brand offers a Stim-Free version appealing to caffeine-averse individuals, and the Unflavored variety blends easily with other supplements for a multipurpose shake before training. Yes, the third-party testing leaves something to be desired and there aren’t as many flavors to choose from, but when you’re paying less than $1 per serving for an all-natural supplement, those points begin to stray into “nitpicking” territories.
Whether you’re opting for Naked Energy or another pre-workout supplement, it’s important to consider the powder’s full formulation as well as its caffeine per serving. Remember, the FDA recommends up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, so it can be wise to stick with pre-workouts below these metrics to avoid unwanted side effects like nausea, anxiety, or GI distress. (4) Find an appealing flavor, stick to your budget, and you could soon be reaping the energy-boosting benefits of this popular supplement category.
Naked Nutrition Naked Energy FAQs
How much does Naked Nutrition Naked Energy cost?
Naked Nutrition Naked Energy pre-workout powder is available online for roughly $0.90 per serving. Additionally, the brand offers a ‘Subscribe & Save’ service that can help athletes save 20% on autoship orders scheduled at your preferred delivery cadence.
How much caffeine is too much?
According to the FDA, it’s recommended that healthy adults consume no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. (4) This is spread across all consumed caffeine, so remember that you’ll need to account for your morning coffee or midday energy drink as well as your pre-workout supplement when calculating your personal intake.
Is Naked Nutrition Naked Energy caffeine-free?
There is a stim-free version of Naked Energy for athletes averse to caffeine.
References
- Hall, M., Manetta, E., & Tupper, K. (2021). Creatine supplementation: An update. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 20(7), 338–344. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34234088/
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.-b). Office of dietary supplements – vitamin C. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-Consumer/
- Gough, L. A., Sparks, S. A., McNaughton, L. R., Higgins, M. F., Newbury, J. W., Trexler, E., Faghy, M. A., & Bridge, C. A. (2021). A critical review of Citrulline Malate Supplementation and Exercise Performance. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 121(12), 3283–3295. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34417881/
- Commissioner, O. of the. (2024, August 28). Spilling the beans: How much caffeine is too much?. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.-a). Office of dietary supplements – dietary supplements for exercise and athletic performance. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/ExerciseAndAthleticPerformance-HealthProfessional/
- Graham, T. E. (2001). Caffeine and exercise. Sports Medicine, 31(11), 785–807. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11583104/
