Head to head · Pre-Workout
Alani Nu Pre-Workout vs GHOST Legend V4 Pre-Workout
GHOST scores higher overall (8.2 vs 7.5 out of 10), mainly on efficacy and transparency.
Updated September 2026 from our full reviews · How we score
A flavor-first, beginner-friendly pre-workout with 200 mg caffeine and 200 mg L-theanine; its pump and endurance ingredients are lightly dosed.
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A fully disclosed, clinically dosed pre-workout (300 mg caffeine, 6 g citrulline, 3.2 g beta-alanine) wrapped in GHOST's popular licensed candy flavors.
We may earn a commission when you buy through these links — it never affects our scores. How we make money
We may earn a commission when you buy through these links — it never affects our scores. How we make money
The short answer
Choose Alani Nu if…
- Beginners and casual gym-goers
- Flavor-focused buyers
- People who want moderate caffeine with L-theanine
- You want the lower cost per serving ($1.33)
Choose GHOST if…
- Experienced stimulant users
- Lifters wanting full pump and endurance doses
- Flavor-driven buyers
- You care most about efficacy, transparency
Side by side
| Pre-Workout | Legend V4 Pre-Workout | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 7.5 / 10 | 8.2 / 10 |
| Efficacy (30%) | 6.6 | 8.6 |
| Quality & Purity (25%) | 7.0 | 7.2 |
| Value (20%) | 8.0 | 8.2 |
| Experience (15%) | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Transparency (10%) | 8.0 | 8.8 |
| Form | Powder | Powder |
| Serving | 1 scoop (10 g)30 servings per container | 1 scoop30 servings per container |
| Price per serving | $1.33 | $1.50 |
| Testing & certifications | None verified | None verified |
| Dietary | Vegan, Gluten-free, Sugar-free | Vegan, Gluten-free, Soy-free, Sugar-free |
| Key ingredients |
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|
| Flavors | 8 (Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Breezeberry, Pink Slush…) | 8 (Blue Raspberry, Orange Cream, Welch's Grape…) |
| Creator video reviews | 3 | 3 |
Pros and cons
Pre-Workout
- 200 mg caffeine balanced with 200 mg L-theanine
- Fully disclosed label with no proprietary blends and 0 g sugar
- Popular flavors; 4.4 stars from nearly 8,800 buyer reviews
- Affordable: $39.99 for 30 servings on Alani's site and often under $30
- Marketed as vegan and gluten-free
- Beta-alanine (1.6 g) and L-tyrosine (500 mg) are well below research doses
- Citrulline malate (6 g) sits at the low end of the studied range
- No third-party certification or published lab results found
- Sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium
Legend V4 Pre-Workout
- Clinical doses of L-citrulline (6 g), beta-alanine (3.2 g) and betaine (2.5 g)
- Fully transparent label with no proprietary blends
- Popular licensed flavors (Welch's, Sonic, Warheads, Sour Strips); listed as vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and sugar-free by GNC
- About $1.50 per serving at list price ($44.99 for 30)
- Strong buyer ratings: 4.5 stars from roughly 1,900 buyer reviews
- 300 mg caffeine plus 100 mg theobromine per scoop is too much for many people
- No third-party certification could be verified for Legend V4
- Beta-alanine causes noticeable tingling for some users
- Secondary extracts (Senactiv, AstraGin, NeuroFactor) have limited evidence
Our verdicts
Pre-Workout
Alani Nu Pre-Workout is a pleasant, moderate-stimulant option for beginners and casual lifters who care most about taste. Its caffeine-theanine combination works, but beta-alanine and tyrosine are under-dosed and there is no third-party certification, so serious lifters and tested athletes can do better.
Full review
Legend V4 Pre-Workout
Legend V4 is one of the better-formulated mainstream pre-workouts: its core ingredients are at research-backed doses, the label is fully transparent, and the flavors are a genuine draw. The 300 mg caffeine dose is too strong for beginners and late-day training, and there is no verified sport certification, so tested athletes should look elsewhere.
Full review