Nutricost at a glance
- more affordable than many other brands
- powders mix easily in water
- third-party tested for purity and potency
- manufactured in a CGMP-compliant facility
- vegetarian-friendly, gluten- and GMO-free
From weekend warriors to performance athletes, supplements that support fitness are as important as your sport of choice.
We want the nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that can boost our output and help us recover — at a price that allows us to invest in all the other aspects of our active lifestyles, like diet, fitness tech, and gear.
Nutricost is one brand that fits the bill. Our tester tried three of Nutricost’s powered products to support her peak performance:
- Pre-X Workout Complex Powder
- Creatine Monohydrate
- Whey Protein Isolate
Keep reading for her thoughts after taking these products daily for more than a week.
Performance athlete Jackie Cruz tested Nutricost products with goals of:
- enhancing her performance on the dodgeball court
- building muscle
- speeding up muscle recovery
Though she’s tried a couple of other pre-workout supplements and protein powders in the past, this was her first experience with creatine.
Nutricost Pre-X Workout Complex Powder
This pre-workout complex may look like it has way more caffeine than other pre-workout mixes, but the form of caffeine is a bit different.
Caffeine anhydrous, or dehydrated caffeine, is a more concentrated form.
Caffeine anhydrous is made from the seeds and leaves of coffee plants. The word “anhydrous” means “without water.” After the coffee plant is harvested, caffeine is extracted from the plant matter and then dehydrated. This produces a highly concentrated caffeine powder.
This pre-workout contains sucralose and is a sweet powder packed with power-boosting ingredients. It has 5 calories per scoop and comes in 5 flavors.
Overall, our tester found it to be a good product for high-intensity training.
Nutricost Pre-X is available at Amazon for $32.95.
What our tester says about Nutricost Pre-X
Jackie Cruz was open to trying Nutricost’s pre-workout supplement to enhance her performance on the dodgeball court and try to make her high intensity interval training workouts more bearable.
Cruz enjoyed the berry flavoring of the powder. She said the sweeter taste isn’t too overpowering, but it can be watered down to preference.
“I start drinking it before I get to the gym, and then I add more water to it before I get on the bike, so it is diluted a bit more which I prefer.”
She did experience some side effects from beta-alanine, which is a common ingredient in pre-workout supplements.
“The first time I took the pre-workout, I felt the prickly sensation (as described on the bottle) in my arms very soon after my first few sips. Once I started my bike workout, I felt prickly for around 30 minutes, [or up to] 10 miles of biking.”
Cruz said the pre-workout did give her the surge she was looking for.
“I felt like I could set the bike at a higher resistance already with one scoop of the pre-workout and continue building on that. It felt like 35 minutes of intense biking went by in the blink of an eye and I could do more cardio if I wanted to.”
As a serious athlete, Cruz has experimented with pre-workout mixes before and says, comparatively, “I’d say the Nutricost gave me the most ‘prickly’ feeling which could be uncomfortable for some people, but to me it makes me move more and react quicker which is helpful for my sport — especially when you feel drained.”
Nutricost vs. top competitors
| Specs | Nutricost Pre-X Workout Complex Powder | Gnarly Pre-Workout |
|---|---|---|
| Servings per container | 30 | 30 |
| Price | $32.95 | $48.95 |
| Available flavors | 6 flavors | 3 flavors |
| Active ingredients | L-Citrulline, Beta Alanine, Taurine, Nitrosigine, Caffeine Anhydrous, Theobromine, Huperzine A, Niacin, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12 | Caffeine (or a decaf option), Asian Ginseng, Citrulline Malate, Beta Alanine, Vegan BCAAs, and Stevia |
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate
This creatine powder from Nutricost delivers 5 grams (g) of non-GMO micronized creatine monohydrate per serving and is free of artificial additives, fillers, or preservatives. It’s vegetarian, gluten-free, and made in a facility that complies with the
Micronized means the creatine particles have been mechanically processed to make them smaller, which enhances their solubility and absorption when consumed. This form also ensures the capsules contain no calories or carbohydrates.
Nutricost’s creatine is also third-party tested at a lab accredited by the International Organization for Standardization.
In our tester’s experience, this was a beneficial addition for her strength training routine.
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate is available at Amazon for $32.95.
What our tester says about Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate
Cruz wanted to take this creatine powder to help with muscle recovery.
She liked that the unflavored had no odd aftertaste and the fruit punch, well, “tastes just like fruit punch, and it’s on the sweeter side but tastes good to me.”
Cruz followed the recommended loading phase dose and then tapered down.
Overall, she found a solid benefit to taking Nutricost’s creatine monohydrate.
“I felt like I was able to add more weight within a short amount of time without any problems. My partner also told me that my arms looked bulkier!”
Nutricost vs. top competitors
| Specs | Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate | Thorne Creatine |
|---|---|---|
| Creatine per serving | 5 g | 5 g |
| Servings per container | 100 | 90 |
| Price | $32.95 | $42.00 |
| Available flavors | unflavored, 4 flavors | unflavored |
Nutricost Whey Protein Isolate
Nutricost’s Whey Protein Isolate comes in 2-pound (lb) or 5-lb containers and 10 flavors, including an unflavored option. It’s sweetened with 1 g of sucralose, and most reviewers praise its flavor.
One reviewer notes that this powder has a high sodium content per flavored scoop. So you may want to opt for an unflavored option or split the serving in two for a second shake later in your day.
Overall, whey is a great source of protein to add to your routine if you’re looking to promote muscle growth.
Nutricost Whey Protein Isolate is available at Amazon for $41.95.
What our tester says about Nutricost Whey Protein Isolate
Cruz was interested in adding this whey protein isolate to her diet to boost her protein consumption and build muscle.
She agrees with other online reviewers in that the product tastes great on its own and blends well into smoothies.
“I put this product into my blender with a banana, milk, yogurt, and chia seeds. It makes a really tasty smoothie that can replace a meal if you need a quick bite after working out.
“I think this has a really nice mild and sweet taste. It tastes just like a chocolate milkshake when blended into a smoothie but without all the bad stuff like sugar!
“Other products I’ve tried don’t taste as good as the Nutricost Whey Protein Isolate, or they have a weird aftertaste. I also felt very satisfied, hunger-wise, if I were using this to replace a meal. It kept me full for hours.”
Nutricost vs. top competitors
| Specs | Nutricost Whey Protein Isolate (Milk Chocolate) | NOW Foods Sports Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate (Creamy Chocolate) |
|---|---|---|
| Whey per serving | 30 g | 25 g |
| Available flavors | unflavored, 9 flavors | unflavored, 2 flavors |
| Servings per container | 24 servings | 19 servings |
| Price | $41.95 | $39.99 |
Final thoughts & FAQs
For many of its supplements, Nutricost offers what many supplement brands can’t (or don’t): high quality supplements at an affordable price point that are third-party tested. Nutricost is available online and in most big box retailers and is priced competitively.
Whether you’re an active adult or performance athlete, you can use Nutricost sports nutrition products before, during, or after your workouts to optimize your energy, build muscle, help with muscle recovery, and to supplement your nutritional needs.
Most pre-workouts are meant to be taken with water about 30 to 60 minutes before your workout. The exact timing varies by product, so it’s best to follow the directions on the label.
If you’re new to using pre-workouts, it’s a good idea to start with a half serving to see how you’ll tolerate it before trying a full dose. This is especially important for pre-workouts that contain stimulants.
Creatine loading may provide benefits quicker, but research suggests it’s not necessary to experience creatine’s benefits.
If you’d like to try creatine loading, research suggests taking 20 to 25 g of creatine monohydrate for 5 to 7 days.
This daily dose is most commonly divided into 5-g servings throughout the day. After the loading phase, you can take 3- to 5-g doses daily to maintain creatine stores.
Whey protein isolate varieties contain more than 90% protein and are lower in carbs, fat, and lactose than whey protein concentrate. They may be a desirable option if you’re following a low carb diet or are lactose intolerant.