Best Energy Drinks (2025): Tested By Fitness Experts

Legion Energy Drink takes our top spot for best energy drink overall because of its formulation: clean ingredients with clinically effective doses, just like other Legion supplements like Legion Pulse. Plus, Legion Athletics is transparent with their ingredients and quantifies all active ingredients, which is rare in most energy drinks. “It’s definitely the cleanest energy drink I’ve ever had,” says GGR director of content Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, who rates the formulation a 5 out of 5.

Although the 150 milligrams of caffeine per can is slightly lower than the research-backed dosage we typically recommend in pre-workout (3 to 6 milligrams of caffeine¹ per kilogram of body weight), the caffeine is organic and naturally sourced from green coffee beans. 

Legion claims that naturally derived caffeine can provide a “smoother” boost of energy with less of a crash, possibly from its inclusion of chlorogenic acids² and antioxidants, which makes it more bioavailable (readily absorbed) than synthetic caffeine. Nicole adds, “I really enjoy the effects from this. It’s not caffeine-laden, but it still provides a nice boost for workouts or a general pick-me-up.” She rates the effects a 4.5 out of 5.

This energy drink also comes with 2,000 milligrams of taurine, which helps improve focus when combined with caffeine³ while also reducing jitters⁴ and other side effects you may feel from an energy drink. The amino acid L-theanine is present for improving mood and attention⁵, citicoline helps with focus and memory⁶, and B vitamins are also used for enhancing focus and attention⁷.

Legion Energy Drinks are also naturally sweetened and flavored, resulting in no added sugars and a low-calorie drink. Available in three flavors, Nicole tried out the Fruit Punch and rated the taste a 4.5 out of 5. “It’s really good compared to other energy drinks I’ve had,” she says. “It’s not overly sweet, which tends to happen after a few sips with other drinks. Not the case here.”

The main callout we have is the price; at $3.75 per 12-ounce can, this is certainly one of the priciest energy drinks on this list, earning a 1.5 out of 5 for cost. You can subscribe and save a bit, but you’re still paying over $3 for a can. We think its clean profile will be worth it to most, however.

Many sugar-free energy drinks are sweetened with artificial sweeteners, like sucralose or aspartame. For a naturally sweetened bit of energy, I like to recommend Jocko Go, which is naturally sweetened with monk fruit instead of any artificial sweeteners. The other ingredients are also minimal and clean. “Only five or six ingredients in each flavor is pretty impressive for an energy drink,” notes dietitian Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD.

Along with monk fruit extract, Jocko Go uses fermented cane sugar, which is surprisingly a zero-calorie sweetener. Fermentation of cane sugar creates rebaudioside M⁸, a steviol glycoside that’s usually derived from the stevia leaf. This fermentation process is gaining popularity, as it creates a natural sweetener at a lower cost than extracting it from stevia.

Jocko Go contains some impactful ingredients: natural caffeine, electrolytes like sodium and potassium, and nootropics to boost cognitive function like L-theanine⁵, and alpha-GPC⁹, but Destini warns that the ingredients are underdosed. 

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“There’s only 95 milligrams of caffeine in a can, and 100 milligrams or less of the other active ingredients used to boost energy,” says Destini. “Honestly, I’d rather just get a cup of coffee.” She rates the formulation a 2.5 out of 5.

That said, I tried out Jocko Go and found 95 milligrams of caffeine to be great for someone like me who is fairly sensitive to caffeine. It’s still far less than the recommended 200 milligrams, but I found it gave me a slight boost of energy with no crash. I rate the effects a 4.5 out of 5.

The taste also earns a 4.5 out of 5; I had Mango Passionfruit and found it to be sweet, but not overly sweet. Some folks might not like the obvious monk fruit taste, however. Texture-wise, the carbonation was light and left a pleasant mouthfeel, earning the energy drink a 5 out of 5 for texture.

Although this energy drink is a little more expensive at about $3 per can, it’s third-party tested for quality and also claims to be free of banned substances. Athletes should know, however, it doesn’t have a banned-substance testing certification from the likes of NSF or Informed Choice.

If you want an energy boost but don’t need tons of caffeine, go with our pick for the best low-stim energy drink: Uptime Energy Drink. Uptime keeps the caffeine low with 142 milligrams of natural caffeine but also provides other ingredients for heightened focus.

Certified personal trainer and director of content Nicole Davis rates the effects a 5 out of 5, saying, “I appreciate the lower amount of caffeine. That way, I can comfortably drink an entire can without feeling caffeine jitters.”

RELATED: Best Low-Caffeine Pre-Workout

Along with L-theanine⁵, Uptime has a couple other ingredients to boost focus and aid with fatigue, notably ginseng root extract¹⁰ and CoQ10¹¹. However, Nicole notes that the exact doses aren’t disclosed—a common problem amongst energy drinks. “It’s sugar-free but only lists the caffeine content—not any of the other active ingredients,” explains Nicole, who rates the formula a 3 out of 5.

Nicole tried the Blood Orange flavor and rated the taste a 5 out of 5. “I loved it, and it seems to be a customer favorite as well,” she adds. “It’s citrusy and clean without being too sweet.” Along with the taste, Nicole rates the texture a 5 out of 5, noting that the carbonation adds to the crisp, clean flavor.

Registered dietitian Destini Moody also notes that Uptime might be a bit overpriced for its modest caffeine content. “It could still be a good option for people who are caffeine sensitive and just want a refreshing drink and a little boost,” she adds. At about $2.41 per can, it’s not the priciest energy drink on our list either, earning a 3.5 out of 5 for pricing.

Ghost Energy is our best pick for athletes because it has been certified free from banned substances by NSF Certified for Sport. It’s a little difficult to find as Ghost doesn’t seem to promote this, but three of the dozens of flavors available are listed on the NSF Sport website: Tropical Mango, Orange Cream, and the OG. This sports drink earns a 4 out of 5 for third-party testing, only because we can’t confirm that all flavors go through the same testing.

Speaking of flavors, Ghost Energy brings some bold and wild choices to the table, including collaborations with candy companies like Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish. Our tester Amanda Dvorak, a certified nutrition coach and GGR’s managing editor, rates the taste a 4.5 out of 5. 

“I’ve had various flavors over the years, but my favorites have to be Swedish Fish and Sour Pink Lemonade,” says Amanda. “The flavors taste true to their description, and as someone with a sweet tooth, I appreciate the candy-like flavors.” She does note that the sucralose-sweetened beverages may be a bit too sweet for some, though.

“Ghost Energy is carbonated like most energy drinks, but not overly so,” Amanda continues. “I don’t notice any weird mouthfeel or aftertaste while drinking them either.” She rates the texture a 5 out of 5.

Along with an effective dose of 200 milligrams of caffeine, Ghost Energy contains other active ingredients like taurine and B vitamins. There’s also 1 gram of carnitine¹² in each 16-ounce can, which may help burn stored fat in your body. Carnitine has also been shown to aid with alleviating muscle soreness, although this 2020 systematic review¹³ used higher doses (2 to 3 grams).

Although GHost Energy has solid ingredients and is sugar-free, it doesn’t disclose quantities of all active ingredients, so Amanda rates the formulation a 3.75 out of 5. Still, athletes looking for a nice ready-to-drink pre-workout with a sweet, bold flavor will find Ghost Energy to be right up their alley.

RELATED: Ghost Creatine Review

Needing an extreme energy boost? You’ll probably find it with Bucked Up Energy Drink, packed with 300 milligrams of caffeine. Along with the caffeine content, it provides classic ingredients for typical pre-workouts: taurine, beta-alanine, ginseng, and Huperzine A. This energy drink provides great energy prior to workouts in an array of bold flavors.

Beta-alanine¹⁴ in particular has been shown to reduce muscular fatigue and improve athletic performance in individuals, and taurine³ can help improve focus. Huperzine A¹⁵ is marketed as a nootropic that can boost cognitive function, although more research needs to be done.

Bucked Up Energy Drink promotes itself as a fully transparent energy drink brand…but registered dietitian Destini Moody disagrees. “How can you boast a fully transparent formula when the active ingredients are listed, but nowhere on the label do we get to see dosages?” Destini asks. Because of this, we don’t know if Bucked Up has research-backed doses of active ingredients (aside from the caffeine and a couple B vitamins). Destini therefore rates the formulation a 2 out of 5.

As far as taste goes, it succeeds, according to GGR senior staff writer Stephen Sheehan, CPT, CNC, who tried out the Blue Raz energy drink. “I’m already a huge fan of Blue Raspberry as a flavor, and Bucked Up Energy Drink didn’t disappoint,” says Stephen. “It didn’t taste too artificial, and it was sweet but not overly sweet either.” He rates the taste a 4 out of 5.

Stephen also rates the texture and mouthfeel a perfect 5 out of 5. He says, “I usually don’t drink energy drinks and I rarely drink carbonated drinks in general. This went down easy though, and I didn’t notice any weird aftertastes either.” 

He does warn that the first time taking this before a workout, however, he felt queasy mid-workout. “I don’t know if it was the intensity of the workout or the Bucked Up, but I don’t usually feel that way working out, so I wanted to note it,” says Stephen.

Although the energy drink’s ingredient list isn’t as transparent as Bucked Up Pre-Workout, it’s a great ready-to-go drink if you need a high-stim option on the move. That said, athletes may want to think twice before using this energy drink, since it’s not third-party tested for banned substances.

Our favorite energy drink for improved focus is Bloom Sparkling Energy. Along with a respectable 180 milligrams of caffeine, the energy drink also contains B vitamins⁶ and L-theanine⁴, used for improving mood, focus, and attention. 

Our product tester for Bloom was Jacob Penner, a USA Weightlifting Level 2 coach who’s personally tested dozens of pre-workouts and energy drinks. Jacob, who’s more used to the strongest pre-workouts on the market, would like to see a high-stim option from Bloom, but otherwise, he liked the effects he got. 

“I feel energized in a good way,” he says. “My head’s clear and my mind’s engaged.” He rates the effects a 5 out of 5, but recommends that this energy drink might be better for day-to-day activities instead of intense workouts, especially if you have a tolerance for caffeine.

Dietitian Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD, rates the formulation a 3.5 out of 5. “It has a lower caffeine content than most popular energy drinks, but it also contains other cool ingredients that you won’t find in similar brands,” says Destini.

What sort of ingredients? Green tea leaf extract is present, which has been shown¹⁶ to aid in weight loss in high doses. More unique is the inclusion of lychee extract, which Destini notes is high in antioxidants. “It has Asian ginseng as well,” she continues, “which some studies suggest can help boost energy and cognitive performance, also there’s not a lot of science behind it yet.”

Destini also adds that there’s prebiotics included in Bloom Sparkling Energy, but “it’s only 1 gram in each can, which isn’t much to write home about.”

RELATED: Best Prebiotic Soda

Jacob rates the taste of these zero-sugar drinks a 5 out of 5. “It reminds me of other flavored sparkling water drinks,” says Jacob. “Cherry Lime is my favorite flavor, but honestly all of them would get a 5 from me.”

At just over $2 a can on Amazon, Bloom is one of the more affordable energy drinks on our list, but people who avoid artificial sweeteners should note that this has sucralose in it.

Whether it’s at a commercial gym or in the comfort of your own garage gym, fitness enthusiasts alike will appreciate the added active ingredients in Gorilla Mind Energy Drink. Even more notable is that Gorilla Mind lists out the quantities of their key ingredients—a rare feat in the energy drink market. 

Registered dietitian Destini Moody rates the formulation a 4.5 out of 5, saying, “While it’s not nearly as potent as the label hypes it to be, it’s a solid choice for active individuals when you compare it to more basic energy drinks available.”

RELATED: Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout Review

To start off, Gorilla Mind packs a solid 200 milligrams of caffeine in each 16-ounce can. It also has decent dosages of alpha-GPC⁹, Huperzine A¹⁵, and L-theanine⁵, all shown to aid with focus and cognitive function. In addition to these ingredients, Gorilla Mind also has N-acetyl-L-tyrosine. L-tyrosine has been shown to enhance cognitive performance, particularly in stressful situations, according to a 2015 review¹⁷.

GGR staff writer Matt Dustin, CSCS, PN1-NC, tested out Gorilla Mind Energy Drink and really enjoyed the addition of nootropics, rating the effects a 5 out of 5. “I’ve become a huge fan of these drinks,” says Matt. “I like the caffeine content and stimulants, but Gorilla Mind has a great blend of nootropics as well. I felt like this helps me focus in the gym without being too jittery.”

Matt also rates the taste a 4.5 out of 5. Out of the 18 flavors, he’s tried out seven, and has enjoyed just about every one. “I had the Mango Peach for my testing…delicious,” he adds. The energy drink also gets a 5 out of 5 for the carbonation. “It’s carbonated similarly to most energy drinks, but doesn’t leave any strange mouthfeel,” says Matt.

Gorilla Mind Energy Drinks are third-party tested for quality and safety, but they’re not tested by a major lab or company, so they only get a 4 out of 5. At nearly $3 a can, these are also a pricier energy drink. Still, gym-goers may appreciate the transparency and nootropics enough to be OK with the cost.

It seems when it comes to choosing the best-tasting energy drink, people always seem to narrow it down to Alani Nu vs Celsius energy drinks. In our opinion, Alani Nu takes the cake with a variety of refreshing and unique flavors. Our tester, GGR editorial member Amanda Dvorak, ISSA-CPT, ISSA-CNC, has tried several different flavors and rates the taste a 5 out of 5. (Truth be told, I’ve had these before too and would rate it the same way!)

“For testing, I got the Cosmic Stardust flavor, but I’ve had several other flavors of Alani Nu in the past, including Cherry Slush, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Breezeberry, and Juicy Peach,” Amanda says. “I’ve preferred some over others, but I’ve enjoyed every flavor I’ve tried.”

Some flavors are a little out there, but still deliver. For example, Amanda’s absolute favorite flavor is Witches’ Brew, which is candy-apple flavored. “I was skeptical that a flavor like that could deliver, but it certainly did; it’s probably my favorite energy drink flavor ever, not just from Alani Nu,” says Amanda.

Amanda experienced no negative side effects from Alani Nu, but she notes, “Other customers have experienced skin issues or digestive issues from drinking Alani Nu regularly.” Because of other customers’ issues, she rates the side effects a 4 out of 5. “I only drink energy drinks once or twice a week, so someone who drinks them more regularly may experience side effects,” Amanda adds.

Alani Nu contains taurine³ and L-theanine⁵, classic energy drink ingredients for enhancing focus and attentiveness. There’s also 200 milligrams of caffeine in each can, making for a potent energy boost. Unfortunately, Alani Nu doesn’t disclose exact quantities of any active ingredients, so it only earns a 3 out of 5 for formulation. 

There’s no evidence that Alani Nu is third-party tested, either. Still, if you prioritize flavor over third-party testing and certifications, Alani Nu has plenty of fun flavors to choose from.

Very few energy drinks have the longstanding appeal like Red Bull. This classic energy drink that’s been marketed to give you wings has overwhelmingly high customer ratings, with an average of 4.7 stars on Amazon alone—out of over 40,000 reviews.

It also has a more modest formulation than you’d expect. It contains B vitamins⁷ and taurine³ for enhanced focus, and a moderate amount of caffeine. The main difference between Red Bull and other energy drinks on this list is that it’s sweetened with sugar.

Red Bull promotes that their Original flavor is sweetened with real sugar, which may be a good or bad thing for you, depending on your health and fitness goals. People avoiding artificial sweeteners might enjoy a natural sweetener like sugar; however, there’s a high amount of sugar for anyone watching their calories or sugar intake—even in the 8.4-ounce can, with 27 grams of sugar. Yeesh.

Registered dietitian Destini Moody wouldn’t recommend the sugar content to everyone, but can see a situation or two where it could be beneficial. “The sugar content could be great for athletes who need some fast fuel before an intense workout,” says Destini. “This could be a great alternative to the mainly sugar-free energy drinks that are so ubiquitous nowadays.” 

She rates the formulation a 4 out of 5 and recommends drinking a 16-ounce can if your priority is caffeine. The 8.4- and 12-ounce cans have 80 and 114 milligrams of caffeine respectively, which are both pretty low amounts.

“I’ve had Red Bull a ton over the years,” says GGR editorial member Bojana Galic, NASM-CNC, “and compared to other energy drinks I’ve tried, it isn’t my favorite flavor to be honest. It has a unique taste and tang to it that I can’t quite place…maybe like cherry, but not quite.” Bojana rates the Original flavor a 3 out of 5. For people more into fruit flavors, Red Bull also has different-colored “editions,” each given a different fruit flavor profile.

Red Bull also earns a 5 out of 5 for its carbonation. Bojana adds, “I don’t think the carbonation was distracting at all, and it didn’t leave any weird sensations in my teeth or gums.”

A neat fact for athletes: Red Bull is third-party tested and NSF Certified for Sport. Although the sugar content may be too much for some, athletes needing a bit of an energy boost might like this sugar-filled formulation before their workout.

RELATED: Best Pre-Workout for CrossFit

Celsius gets our nod for being the best value energy drink because of its price on Amazon; a 12-pack of energy drinks cost less than $23, meaning you’re spending less than $2 a can. Celsius earns a 4.5 out of 5 for its price, only because you’ll find single cans are more expensive if you shop around at different grocery stores.

Along with 200 milligrams of caffeine and amino acid taurine, Celsius has a proprietary blend of green tea extract, ginger root, and guarana seed—all designed to promote thermogenesis. Guarana was shown to have an effect on mitochondria and boosting metabolism (although the study was done on mice¹⁸ and not humans). Because it’s proprietary, however, the label is not very transparent at all, earning a 3 out of 5 for formulation.

RELATED: How Much Caffeine Is In Pre-Workout?

I tested out a few different flavors for this roundup, although I’ve had Celsius a few times over the years. For this testing, I had four different flavors: Kiwi Guava, Peach Vibe, Arctic Vibe, and Orange. Peach Vibe was my favorite of them all, although each of them have a bit of an artificial tang to me.

I’m pretty sure it’s the sucralose coming through, so I rate the taste a 4 out of 5. It’s not my favorite taste, but it’s not all that bad either. On the other hand, I rate the carbonation a 5 out of 5. I’m not a fan of excessive carbonation, especially before a workout, but Celsius has a mild carbonation that never bothered me. 

Although the price online is great, athletes should know that Celsius doesn’t provide any evidence of third-party testing. Because of this, the lack of a transparent label, and the use of proprietary blends, I have to rate the third-party testing a 1 out of 5. Still, people who aren’t drug-tested regularly can take advantage of the nice value of these energy drinks.

I’ll admit it: sugar-free energy drinks are kind of the norm now. Even sugar-laden classic Energy Drinks like Monster or Red Bull have sugar-free versions available. Still, REIGN Total Body Fuel is a unique sugar-free energy drink because of its addition of other supplements and ingredients to aid athletic performance: branch-chain amino acids and electrolytes, for example.

A 16-ounce can of REIGN contains 200 milligrams of sodium and 70 milligrams of potassium, putting it on the same level as some of the best electrolyte drinks. Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD, adds, “That amount of sodium is on par with about 16 ounces of Gatorade, so it could help with hydration, along with the energy boost from the caffeine.” The same can of REIGN holds 300 milligrams of natural caffeine, making it a great option as a high-stim drink.

The addition of CoQ10¹¹ can help with focus and fight off fatigue. Also, BCAAs like L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine are listed in the ingredients, but Destini mentions that there’s no quantities listed. “So there’s no way to figure out exactly how much the dosage of BCAAs are,” she says, rating the formulation a 4 out of 5. 

GGR editorial member Ben Emminger, NASM-CNC, NASM-CSNC, tested out REIGN, and rates the taste a 4 out of 5. “There’s a definite sucralose note with every sip,” he says, “but it’s not overbearing. Plus, you sort of expect it with this style of energy drink.” Many customers like the different flavor options and even Ben says that while it’s not his favorite energy drink,, the different flavors keep him coming back every now and again.

Ben rates the carbonation a 4.5 out of 5, saying that the mouthfeel was similar to your average soda. “If you let it sit for a while, though, the sucralose begins to create a ‘syrupy’ sensation,” explains Ben. “I’d recommend finishing the can in a handful of sips rather than nipping at the contents for a full morning or afternoon.”

While REIGN sponsors quite a few professional strongmen and CrossFit athletes, drug-tested athletes should note that there’s no evidence of third-party testing when it comes to REIGN energy drinks. Even though REIGN is a respected brand in the fitness community, Ben rates the third-party testing a 2 out of 5, as the label isn’t fully transparent either.