Many people turn to supplements to get the most out of their workouts, which can help increase your strength output in the gym so you can gain strength faster and build more muscle. Of course, this process is more subtle. There are many factors that go into building muscle mass, but adding supplements to your hard work (and nutrition) can be beneficial.
After sifting through tons of supplements, studying how they support muscle growth, and testing them ourselves, our team of Barbend experts and testers have handpicked the best products. Whether you’re looking to optimize your hard work in the gym, improve your circulation to improve your weightlifting performance, or increase mental endurance, these supplements are designed to help you achieve maximum muscle growth. Here’s a roundup of the best muscle growth supplements that may be missing from your daily diet.
Join Nick English as he reviews our picks for the best muscle-building supplements hitting the market in 2023.
There are many things to consider when choosing the supplement that will best suit your muscle growth goals. We looked at four important factors—supplement type, price, research, and dosage—to make sure this list meets your needs. After reviewing the 12 best foods for muscle growth, we have selected the best ones.
We wanted to put together a list that would satisfy the needs of those trying to promote muscle growth, but there are many things to consider. First, we wanted to make sure there were options for pre-, mid- and post-workout supplementation so that all consumers could find a product that fits their supplement regimen. We look at various goals such as mental focus, recovery, blood flow and of course muscle growth. We’ve tested both individual supplements that help you achieve specific goals, as well as a larger blend that can include a variety of supplements to help you build muscle.
We also thought this list would appeal to a lot of people. We spent a lot of time thinking about fitness enthusiasts, athletes, bodybuilders, and people just starting to lift weights to make sure there’s something for everyone on this list.
Depending on the type of supplement you choose, prices will vary. Typically, products with more ingredients cost more, while products with one ingredient are cheaper. We understand that not everyone has the same budget, which is why we’ve included a variety of prices in this list. But don’t worry, we think even the highest price we included on this list is worth it.
Research is an important factor when choosing the best supplement. We believe that well-researched and substantiated claims deserve the top spot on our list. Every additive, ingredient and claim in these products is backed by research and studies from our team of BarBend experts. We believe in the integrity of our products and want to ensure that the research matches all claims made regarding these supplements.
We took the time to research the different products in each category and carefully selected the ones that we think are most likely to promote muscle growth. Whether it’s a product that promotes faster recovery and will help you get back to peak performance in the gym faster, or a supplement that helps your body use carbohydrates as fuel instead of breaking down muscle tissue, we’ve covered each of them in detail.
Research is an important part of our decision-making process, but it goes hand in hand with personal testing. If the product tastes too bitter or doesn’t dissolve well, it may not be worth the money. But how can you know until you try? So, to keep your wallet happy, we’ve tested dozens of products and used them in prescribed dosages. Through trial and error, we’ve narrowed down the products that we personally like best and that we think will appeal to the most people.
We believe in the products we support and take the time to find the correct dosage for each supplement. We try to match clinical doses of each ingredient to make it as effective as possible. As noted in some compilations, proprietary blends are also a common way to add ingredients to supplements.
If a supplement has a proprietary blend, we always note this because it means the exact amount of each ingredient in the blend will not be revealed. When we choose a proprietary blend, it’s because we value the integrity of the ingredient list and additives, not just the dosage.
Pre-workout supplements can be your secret weapon to monopolize your performance before you even get to the bar—they can help you stay focused, give you an energy boost, and promote a reliable pump. This set contains high amounts of some potential muscle-building ingredients, such as beta-alanine and citrulline, as well as moderate amounts of other ingredients. That’s why our team needs to do this first thing before training.
BULK is a pre-workout product containing 13 active ingredients, plus B vitamins for energy and electrolytes for hydration. One of the key ingredients is a 4,000 mg dose of beta-alanine, which can help improve muscle endurance and slow fatigue, allowing you to stay in the gym longer. (1) You’ll also find ingredients that may support blood flow, such as citrulline (8,000 mg) and betaine (2,500 mg). Dosing with citrulline can help you recover faster and reduce post-workout soreness so you can get back to the gym faster. (2)
When you’re in the gym, you probably want to focus and focus your energy on building muscle. BULK also contains 300 mg of alpha-GPC, 200 mg of theanine, and 1,300 mg of taurine, which have the potential to boost your concentration, something our testers definitely noticed. Finally, they liked the 180 milligrams of caffeine, which they said was enough to keep them focused but not enough to make them feel groggy after their workout. Satisfied reviewers agree. “Transparent Labs is the only pre-workout supplement I use because it gets the job done and provides a big pump, sustained energy, and no post-workout burnout,” one shopper wrote.
The product comes in seven different fruity flavors, such as strawberry kiwi, tropical punch, and peach mango, but our testers especially liked the blueberry one. “It’s hard to describe how blueberries taste, but that’s what they taste like,” he said. “Not too sweet, which is good.”
Clear Labs Bulk is packed with well-dosed ingredients for a pre-workout formula designed to build muscle mass. Not only does it contain caffeine for energy, but it also contains other ingredients that can improve blood flow, concentration, recovery and hydration.
With 8 different flavors and 28 grams of whey protein from hormone-free, grass-fed cows, Clear Labs Whey Protein Isolate is a great way to achieve your goals.
Many protein powders on the market contain fillers, artificial sweeteners, and ingredients that do little to help you maximize muscle growth. Transparent Labs has created a whey isolate that prioritizes protein and eliminates artificial debris.
Clear Labs Whey Protein Isolate Powder contains 28 grams of protein per serving, making it one of the highest protein powders on the market. Because this powder is a whey isolate, it has fewer carbs and fats than whey concentrate, so you get a solid dose of high-quality protein with virtually no other ingredients. The whey formula uses 100% grass-fed, hormone-free cows and contains no artificial sweeteners, food colors, gluten or preservatives.
This protein powder has one of the best flavors and comes in 11 delicious flavors, some of which are more exotic than the usual chocolate and vanilla. From personal experience, our testers really liked the Cinnamon French Toast and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, but if you prefer to cook or bake with protein powder or add protein to your morning coffee or smoothie, unflavored options are also available. Many of the hundreds of five-star reviews also love how easy this product is to mix, and our tester even noted that solubility was “absolutely no problem.”
Not all protein supplements are created equal, and this supplement is a great muscle growth supplement due to its high protein content, all-natural ingredients, and eight delicious flavors.
Swolverine’s vegan POST post-workout powder contains pea protein, carbohydrates, coconut water and Himalayan sea salt to help you recover after an intense workout.
Post-workout refueling is an important part of the recovery process, allowing you to recover faster and rebuild your muscles after a tough workout. Plus, the pea protein and electrolytes in this formula can help with recovery and hydration.
The best post-workout supplement for muscle growth, this vegan formula contains 8 grams of pea protein isolate and 500 mg of coconut water to help you recover and recharge after your toughest workouts. Additionally, 500 mg of bromelain can help speed up the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates so your body can quickly use them to build muscle.
POST carbohydrates mainly come in the form of fruits such as pomegranate, papaya and pineapple. In addition to the fruit’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, papaya contains the enzyme papain, which can also aid in protein digestion.
This post-workout supplement contains vegan ingredients like pea protein and fruit extracts to help you build and maintain muscle mass. Coconut water and Himalayan sea salt replenish the electrolytes you lose during exercise, while the enzyme blend helps digest protein, which helps build muscle.
“This is one of my favorite post-workout supplements. I feel like my body is absorbing clean, tasty, healthy ingredients,” writes one happy reviewer. “This is a must-have supplement in your diet.”
This top-rated creatine supplement from Transparent Labs contains HMB, which can increase strength and protect muscles better than either supplement alone. This is a high quality product that is available unflavored or in a variety of flavors.
Creatine comes in many forms, but decades of research have shown that creatine monohydrate can effectively promote muscle growth and strength. It is also the most economical type of creatine on the market. (3) Many companies try to make creatine monohydrate supplements, but based on our own testing, this is our favorite when it comes to muscle growth.
Our top creatine product has over 1,500 five-star reviews, so it’s safe to say that customers love this creatine too. “Creatine HMB is a reliable product,” wrote one reviewer. “The taste is great and you can taste the difference between taking the product and not taking it. I would definitely recommend it.”
After trying creatine, our testers noted that it needs a little more solubility, so you may need to mix it into smoothies or use an electric blender. Also, black cherry tastes a little bland. This isn’t necessarily a problem, but if you want a rich, bold flavor, you might want to choose a different flavor.
Clear Labs Creatine features the addition of HMB (also known as beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate). It is a metabolite of the branched chain amino acid leucine, which may help prevent muscle breakdown. When combined with creatine, HMB can help increase strength and size more than either ingredient alone.
The content of piperine, a type of black pepper extract, helps the body absorb creatine and HMB, thereby reducing waste. It also comes in seven flavors, so you’ll likely find one you like. There are also unflavored options if you want to add them to other supplements or mix them into a flavored drink.
The combination of creatine and HMB may be particularly effective in helping athletes increase and maintain muscle mass. Additionally, black pepper may improve the body’s ability to absorb these ingredients.
If you want pure beta alanine and nothing else, Swolverine Carnosyn beta alanine contains 5 grams of solids per serving. Additionally, each container holds up to 100 servings.
Beta-alanine may be best known for causing a tingling sensation in the body after taking it, but beta-alanine’s potential effects on muscle growth and improved cognitive function are the real reason to add it to your supplements. Swolverine’s beta-alanine supplement contains a whopping 5,000 mg dose that will help you perform extra reps and build more muscle mass. And, according to customer reviews, the product begins to act quickly.
This beta alanine from Swolverine contains 5000 mg of CarnoSyn beta alanine, which may promote muscle growth as beta alanine has been found to have many training benefits, including improved mental well-being during tough workouts, cognitive and psychological resilience. (1) Increased mental toughness allows the body to overcome the mental limits we set and train at greater intensity, which can help optimize muscle growth. Another study found that beta-alanine improves training performance and may lead to greater overload and strength adaptations. (8)
What makes this beta alanine different is that it is actually CarnoSyn beta alanine, a proprietary ingredient and the only beta alanine recognized by the FDA as safe when used at recommended doses. Priced at 0.91 cents per serving, Swolverine’s CarnoSyn Beta Alanine is an unflavored blend that can easily be added to any pre-workout or mid-workout drink for an extra boost of energy.
Swolverine has created simple and effective beta-alanine, the only beta-alanine approved by the FDA. This simple yet top-notch option is ideal for those who want to increase their mental toughness and intensify their workouts even more to increase their chances of building muscle mass.
This betaine anhydrous does not contain any added sweeteners, artificial colors, or artificial preservatives. Each container holds a total of 330 servings and costs less than ten cents each.
This Clear Labs betaine supplement contains 1,500 mg of betaine per serving, potentially boosting your performance in the gym.
TL Betaine Anhydrous formula consists solely of betaine. But for those who want to improve their workouts, this ingredient is a must-have. This supplement can improve your body composition, muscle size, performance, and strength. (twenty three)
This supplement is tasteless and should not be taken alone. But you can combine it with other pre-workout supplements or ingredients. Plus, the price is reasonable, with each serving selling for less than ten cents. 330 servings per barrel, enough for long-term storage.
Branched-chain amino acids have some potential benefits: They may help you recover faster from delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and a solid dose of 4,500 mg BCAA combined with Onnit’s Power Blend™ may be just what you need for your muscles. height. (10)
Designed to enhance performance and recovery, the formula includes three powerful blends, one of which specifically targets BCAAs. BCAA Blend contains a 4,500 mg blend of BCAA, glutamine and beta-alanine, which can help improve performance in the gym, as well as recovery and endurance during long workouts. (10)(11)
While you can drink this supplement before or after your workout, many satisfied reviewers prefer to drink it after their workout because it contains no stimulants. “I chose this because I wanted something caffeine-free for hydration and potential replenishment,” one shopper wrote. “I definitely felt better the day after training.”
The main ingredient in the support blend is resveratrol, which can also help you during tough workouts and act as an antioxidant. This energy blend contains D-aspartic acid, long jack extract, and nettle, all of which can boost testosterone levels and promote muscle growth. (twenty one)
Onnit Total Strength + Performance contains a significant dose of branched chain amino acids, glutamine and beta-alanine, which can help slow down muscle fatigue during exercise. (10) Plus, it will help you recover faster after a tough workout. Other blends offer potential testosterone support and antioxidants to complement the product.
This plant protein is made from pea isolate, hemp protein, pumpkin seed protein, sasha inchi and quinoa. It’s also fairly low in fat and carbohydrates, with just 0.5 grams and 7 grams respectively.