With endorsements from Paris Hilton and fitness influencer Whitney Simmons, it’s no surprise that Alani Nu Pre-Workout is a marketed toward women. Their packaging is always brightly colored and stereotypically feminine — their branding includes mixing their supplements in coupe glasses or wine glasses with adorable ice cubes (either butterfly-shaped or cubes frozen with fruits). It’s undeniable that their brand is strong. But what does it have in it and how does it compare to other pre-workouts?
Our expert testers at Barbend are both nutrition coaches and personal trainers. They have tried and researched over 100 of the best pre-workout supplements, including Alani Nu, to give you the low down on what supplements are worth trying. For this Alani Nu Pre-Workout review, I’m using my background as a certified nutrition coach to dig into what Alani Nu has in it and what it does to you when you take it. Overall, by using our supplement testing methodology and trying Alani Nu for ourselves, we think it’s an extremely solid pre-workout, offering plenty of energy without a noticeable crash afterward. Here are all the details.
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.
This gluten- and sugar-free pre-workout contains clinically-backed doses of beta-alanine, l-theanine, and citrulline to help give you an edge before workouts. This caffeinated pre-workout is available in nine different flavors, including Cosmic Stardust, Blue Slush, and Witch’s Brew.
Main Takeaways
Marketing Targeted Toward Women: Alani Nu is a supplement company marketed towards young women.
Flavor Varieties: Alani Nu is known for its wide selection of flavors. They all come with unique names like Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Breezeberry, and Cosmic Stardust.
No Proprietary Blends: Alani Nu lists the exact amounts of their ingredients on their labels. Without third-party testing or the approval of the FDA, we can’t be sure that those ingredient labels are 100% accurate, but not using proprietary blends is a huge plus.
Alani Pre-Workout
Alani Nu’s pre-workout boasts great taste, and with the huge number of flavors they offer there is something for everyone’s taste buds. As a brand, Alani Nu is known for its transparency with its formulas and its long list of female fitness influencers who endorse it.
As a nutrition coach, I like that Alani Nu’s ingredients only include what’s necessary to give you energy and a great pump at the gym. In short — L-citrulline malate, beta-alanine, and caffeine can help with delaying fatigue and boost energy levels. L-tyrosine and L-theanine help with focus and mental clarity. With more energy to expend and the focus to stay present, this combo can benefit any goal — be it hypertrophy, endurance, strength, or some combination of the above.
With 200 milligrams of caffeine per serving, this powder has a pretty standard amount of caffeine as far as most pre-workouts go. It does include added artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols — sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Both are FDA-approved, but more studies need to be done on each as to the long-term effects of each, especially on your gut microbiome and metabolism. (Some people’s stomachs really don’t appreciate sucralose.)
Marketing-wise, Alani Nu is definitely unique in that they market specifically toward young women. You can see this in their archetypally feminine colors and their flavor options. (See their seasonal Witches Brew, for example.) Alani Nu also encourages college-aged women to sign up for their Ambassador program and to promote their products on campus and via their social medias. Many of these photos include sorority letters.
That said, you don’t have to be a woman to enjoy this pre-workout. Our expert tester, Ben Emminger, reports having a great experience with Alani Nu. “I used this pre-workout powder for a few strength training workouts as well as before a few slow-pitch softball games. While I’ve had Alani Nu in the past (typically in the brand’s pre-canned varieties) this is my first true experience with the standalone powder.” He tried the Galaxy Lemonade flavor, and says he enjoyed it quite a bit — and the energy and mental boost it gave him was strong and quick (it only took about 10 minutes to kick in).
Pros
Includes L-theanine to combat caffeine jitters
It’s easily accessible — sold in most grocery stores and drug stores
Vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free
Cons
Contains artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols
200 mg of caffeine may be too much for some
Who Should Use / Who Shouldn’t Use Alani Pre-Workout
Not every supplement is perfect for all individuals. At BarBend, we acknowledge this and have created a brief list for you to determine if Alani Nu is right for you.
Recommended for:
People who are not overly sensitive to caffeine
Those looking for a boost of energy in their workout
Folks looking for a pre-workout that does not include a bunch of additives
Not Recommended for:
People who already drink two or more cups of caffeine a day
Those sensitive to caffeine may prefer a non-stim pre-workout
Individuals trying to avoid artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols
Pregnant or nursing people
Our Experience Using Alani Pre-Workout
Alani Nu is known for its great taste and variety of flavors. Their seasonal Witches Brew sold out almost immediately on their website during the month of this writing. The formula is not third-party tested but, as a certified nutrition coach, I like that the ingredients are pretty spot on for what you’d look for in a pre-workout. It’s also priced pretty decently for a pre-workout.
A scoop of Alani Nu Pre-Workout
The other great thing about Alani Nu is that it’s sold in many grocery and drug stores. This makes it easily accessible, which can be an important factor for many people. Our expert tester, Ben Emminger, notes that this is one of his favorite pre-workouts — and he’s taken quite a few. “This pre-workout (specifically the Galaxy Lemonade flavor) is right up there with some of my favorites over the years. I had great energy and focus without a noticeable crash, making it a solid pick for those that tend to train in the evening hours.”
Ingredients and Formulation
As a nutrition coach, I love that Alani Nu’s pre-workout powder is not a proprietary blend. They are transparent about their ingredients and the exact amounts of each. No, it’s not third-party tested, which is not ideal — we always prefer third-party testing for our supplements — but containing no proprietary ingredients is a good thing, too.
This pre-workout powder contains 200 milligrams of caffeine, which is the equivalent of about two cups of coffee. This is average for most pre-workouts, and certainly not one of the strongest pre-workouts out there; however, consuming over 400 milligrams is not recommended and even more than 300 milligrams of caffeine in one day can have negative effects on some individuals. (1)
If you aren’t sensitive to caffeine, though, you might be able to squeeze this in even for an evening workout. Our expert tester Ben Emminger did just that: “I took this Alani Nu pre-workout before some evening training sessions and was still able to get to bed easily without any tossing or turning. Of course, though, my experience can be subjective since I’ve grown a tolerance to pre-workouts over the years.”
As a nutrition coach and personal trainer, I like that L-theanine is included. It’s an essential amino acid and a natural relaxant and can help counteract some of the jitteriness or anxiety that caffeine can induce. (2) L-theanine is an amino acid that when combined with caffeine helps counteract some of the caffeine jitters. I like the inclusion of this because it can soften the crash after taking caffeine and can contribute to mental focus. (3) Our tester can confirm this impact, noting the lack of crash with this pre-workout.
Supplement Facts label on a tub of Alani Nu Pre-Workout
In terms of the rest of the ingredients, this one contains L-citrulline malate and beta-alanine, which are both amino acids. L-citrulline malate may help boost energy and reduce muscle soreness. Beta-alanine can help reduce fatigue, and, as a side-effect, contributes to that tingly feeling you get from some pre-workouts.
Emminger reports that the tingles with this product can be intense (though short-lived). “I will admit that the tingles did catch me off-guard when I took this powder for the first time,” he explains. “I’ve had Alani Nu pre-canned pre-workout before and those didn’t give me any sense of tingles, but I did feel some itchiness with the powdered variety. Some scratchiness across my arms, in my hands, and (especially) across my lips. The sensation subsides quickly, though, so it wasn’t a big annoyance.”
As a nutrition coach and personal trainer, I’m never excited to see artificial sweeteners on the label. Alani Nu contains sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that is approved by the FDA, but can possibly cause digestive issues or change your gut microbiome. (4) Acesulfame potassium is a controversial sugar alcohol, mostly because it is an unnatural chemical and can’t be broken down in the body. More studies need to be done on the long-term effects of acesulfame potassium on the body. (5)(6)
The nutrition coach in me also likes that they offer a “Mini Energy” option. This pre-workout contains half the caffeine as their other pre-workouts and is a great option if you want a little boost without taking a large dose of caffeine.
If you’re looking for a pre-workout with recovery benefits like creatine and BCAAs, you may want to look elsewhere or try a post-workout recovery supplement. (You can also add the best creatine supplements to your pre-workout.)
Taste
Alani Nu is known for its great taste and wide variety of flavors, and our tester definitely agrees. Regarding the Galaxy Lemonade flavor, Emminer reports: “There’s a good “lemony” taste to it, and I really appreciate the tartness of this blend. Typically, I tend to prefer tart pre-workouts since it almost acts as a mental queue before training. If I were to stick with this pre-, this flavor would easily become my go-to.”
But is the lemon flavor tart enough? Emminger says yes — just the right amount. “You definitely get a tartness from the lemonade flavoring, but it isn’t overly sour or unbearable. I’d equate it to an over-powdered mix of Country Time — just a little spark of citrusy sour to let you know what’s in your cup.”
Overall, he rates the flavor a 4.5 out of 5. “I thoroughly enjoyed this variety and feel it was the perfect blend of sour and sweet.”
Solubility
In terms of solubility, our tester says Alani Nu works well for him, too. “With water, I had no issues,” he reports. “The flavor stays present even when mixing with the maximum 8 ounces, and there’s no heavy residue or clumping.”
Mixing a serving of Alani Nu Pre-Workout
Still, it wasn’t the most perfect blending situation we’ve ever seen. “I own a BlendJet, so mixing and clumps is rarely an issue,” Emminger explains. “That said, there was a little residue at the base of my blender, so a quick rinse out was needed to get all of the powder.”
All told, Emminger gives this one a 4 out of 5 on the solubility scale. “You can definitely get this powder dissolved thoroughly with your initial mix, but I’d recommend adding a dash of water and a few extra shakes to ensure you’re getting your whole dosage prior to training.”
Effects
The taste and solubility aren’t the only things our expert tester appreciates about Alani Nu. Of the effects, Emminger says: “I really felt energized roughly 10 minutes after downing this pre-workout. I felt powered up for my training and games without much effort. Additionally, you get a good mental boost, as well. I felt focused and locked in during my workouts — thinking through sets and other tasks seemed effortless.”
His experience makes sense to me as a nutrition coach, because this energy supplement has a formula that can certainly increase your energy, enhance your mental focus, improve your endurance, help you gain muscle, and give you better pumps during workouts. As a nutrition coach, I like that the formula balances itself well, supporting both mental and physical performance.
On the flip side, consuming too much caffeine can have negative side effects like anxiety, restlessness, fidgeting, insomnia, muscle twitches or tremors, irregular heart rate, and gastrointestinal irritation. (7) Still, our tester — who admittedly is pretty caffeine tolerant — says: “Outside of my typical post-game or post-training tiredness, I didn’t feel any excessive crash while taking this pre.”
With the inclusion of beta-alanine, you may notice — like our tester did — a tingling sensation when taking Alani Nu’s pre-workout. This feeling is ultimately harmless and typically doesn’t last long. It can start up to 15 minutes after ingesting and lasts about an hour. (8)
In terms of pump, our tester says that Alani Nu is neither the best nor the worst. “There’s a slight pump to this formulation, but I would recommend this powder more for energy and focus than pumps. Rather, I’d advise athletes to look for a nitric oxide supplement if they’re wanting those skin-bursting effects in the gym.”
Price Per Serving
At $39.99 and with 30 servings per container, Alani Nu Pre-Workout powder is $1.33 per serving. As far as pre-workouts go, the price is pretty average. You can sign up for a subscription at checkout directly from the website and then it’s only $1.27 per serving. There is also a rewards program you can sign up for additional savings.
Third-Party Testing
The supplement industry is not regulated by the FDA, so third-party testing is the only way to ensure the product has what it says it has. Unfortunately, Alanu Nu does not use third-party testing. While their ingredients and formula are listed on the label, without third-party testing, we can’t guarantee these claims are true.
Third-party testing also helps ensure quality control, ethical manufacturing, and that no added ingredients or unwanted contaminants are present. As a nutrition coach, I always like to see that a supplement company allows third-party testing, and it’s unfortunate that Alani Nu does not.
What to Consider Before Buying Alani Pre-Workout
At BarBend, we’ve tested over 100 pre-workouts with the intention of bringing you the best products both in quality and taste. The wellness and supplement industry is oversaturated with options and it can be overwhelming to determine which products are worth it. That’s where we come in.
Alani Nu Pre-Workout tub with shake in a blender
We know that on an individual level, there are lots of things to consider when determining if a pre-workout is a good option for you. Not everyone wants the same things out of a pre-workout, so doing your own research (we’re here to help!) is important before investing in one is important, especially as a beginner. If you’re new to pre-workouts and not sure what to look for, you can check out our ultimate guide to pre-workouts. To make it easier for you, we’ve made a list of the biggest things you might consider before trying Alani Nu.
Caffeine Sensitive: If you are sensitive to caffeine, are nursing, or are pregnant, a non-stim pre-workout might be a better option.
Recovery Benefits: If you’re looking for a pre-workout that includes recovery aids like BCAAs and creatine, this might not be the right choice for you.
Tingling Sensation: Beta-alanine, the culprit of the itchy, tingly sensation that comes from some pre-workouts, is in Alani Nu.
Third-Party Testing: If you’re looking for a product that is third-party tested, this isn’t the one for you.
Alani Pre-Workout Vs. Competitors
Alani Nu stands out in the supplement market in that it’s one of the leading brands in female-catered supplements. While Transparent Labs is not specifically marketed toward women, what sets it apart from other pre-workouts is its use of third-party testing. This is a an important feat for any supplement. It is the only way to ensure that a product has what it says it does on the label, and not many supplement companies allow it.
Jacked Factory is another pre-workout we love at BarBend because it’s one of the more affordable options and for the price, you’re getting a really great value. There are no added fillers, only the ingredients you’d want in a pre-workout. All three offer a wide variety of flavors and while Alani Nu and Jacked Factory Nitrosurge are known for their great taste, Transparent Labs BULK has mixed reviews on taste.
Places to Buy Alani Nu Pre-Workout
Directly from their website
Amazon
Dick’s Sporting Goods
GNC
The Vitamin Shoppe
CVS
Walgreens
Harris Teeter
Giant
Safeway
Piggly Wiggly
Kroger
Rouses Supermarkets
Target
Walmart
7 Eleven
Ampm
Dollar Tree
TikTok Shop
Most grocery stores
Many supplement stores
Customer Experience and Brand Reputation
Alani Nu is known for its transparency and female-forward branding. Fitness influencers across social media platforms endorse Alani Nu, and they have an ambassador program for women in college. On the Alani Nu website, there is a rewards program where you can get points for purchasing from their website, leaving reviews, and following them on social media platforms. Rewards members also get 20% off for their birthday.
First-time users can get 15% off when ordering directly from the website. There is a 30-day return policy, but they only offer store credit for the refund. You can also find Alani Nu in most grocery stores and drug stores, including Target and Walmart.
Alani Nu’s pre-workout powder has a 4.4 out of 5-star rating out of a whopping 18,695 reviews on Amazon. It’s rated #3 in Sports Nutrition Pre-Workout Powders on Amazon and #1,089 in overall Health & Household. Most of the negative customer reviews are about the tingling sensation or that the powder arrives clumpy or rock hard. The energy drinks are separated by flavor so the total ratings are divided among each flavor, but they also average around 4 out 5 stars.
Alani Nu offers more than just pre-workouts. They have whey protein powder, a stand-alone creatine, protein coffee, protein shakes, protein bars, energy sticks, gummies, greens powder, BCAAs, a fat burner, collagen peptides, fish oil, multivitamins, prenatal capsules, and a hormone-balancing capsule.
Our Final Verdict on Alani Nu Pre-Workout
Alani Nu Pre-workout is a brand with a large social media presence and following specifically young woman fitness influencers of a certain appearance and body type. Alani Nu focuses on bringing their users interesting and unique flavors. As a certified nutrition coach, I’m impressed that they list the exact amounts of their ingredients on the label; although, I wish they allowed third-party testing for extra transparency. Its caffeine content is pretty average for a pre-workout and I like that they have a mini option with half the caffeine for those looking for a small boost.
FAQs
What are the main ingredients in Alani Nu Pre-Workout?
The main ingredients of Alani Nu Pre-Workout are L-citrulline malate, beta-alanine, L-tyrosine, caffeine, and L-theanine. All of these ingredients may help give you a boost of energy and might help reduce muscle soreness.
Does Alani have side effects?
Too much caffeine of any kind can have undesired side effects like anxiety, headaches, heart palpitations, diarrhea, or poor sleep. The FDA recommends no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, and that’s more than most people can handle — so you could see any of these side effects after consuming one Alani Nu in a day with any other caffeinated beverage. (1)
How does Alani Nu Pre-Workout compare to other pre-workout supplements on the market?
Caffeine-wise, most pre-workouts contain anywhere from 150 to 300 milligrams of caffeine. At 200 milligrams a serving, Alani Nu Pre-Workout is pretty average. It’s also pretty average price-wise compared to most pre-workouts.
References
Office of the Commissioner. “Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, 7 Sept. 2023.
Nobre, A. C., Rao, A., & Owen, G. N. (2008). L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state. Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, 17 Suppl 1, 167–168.
Haskell, C. F., Kennedy, D. O., Milne, A. L., Wesnes, K. A., & Scholey, A. B. (2008). The effects of L-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood. Biological psychology, 77(2), 113–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2007.09.008
Del Pozo, S., Gómez-Martínez, S., Díaz, L. E., Nova, E., Urrialde, R., & Marcos, A. (2022). Potential Effects of Sucralose and Saccharin on Gut Microbiota: A Review. Nutrients, 14(8), 1682. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081682
Hanawa, Y., Higashiyama, M., Kurihara, C., Tanemoto, R., Ito, S., Mizoguchi, A., Nishii, S., Wada, A., Inaba, K., Sugihara, N., Horiuchi, K., Okada, Y., Narimatsu, K., Komoto, S., Tomita, K., & Hokari, R. (2021). Acesulfame potassium induces dysbiosis and intestinal injury with enhanced lymphocyte migration to intestinal mucosa. Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology, 36(11), 3140–3148. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgh.15654
Bian, X., Chi, L., Gao, B., Tu, P., Ru, H., & Lu, K. (2017). The artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium affects the gut microbiome and body weight gain in CD-1 mice. PloS one, 12(6), e0178426. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178426
Evans J, Richards JR, Battisti AS. Caffeine. [Updated 2024 May 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519490/
Maté-Muñoz, J. L., Lougedo, J. H., Garnacho-Castaño, M. V., Veiga-Herreros, P., Lozano-Estevan, M. D. C., García-Fernández, P., de Jesús, F., Guodemar-Pérez, J., San Juan, A. F., & Domínguez, R. (2018). Effects of β-alanine supplementation during a 5-week strength training program: a randomized, controlled study. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 15, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-018-0224-0
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