Head to head · Pre-Workout
GHOST Legend V4 Pre-Workout vs Transparent Labs BULK Pre-Workout
Transparent Labs scores higher overall (8.5 vs 8.2 out of 10), mainly on quality & purity and transparency. GHOST still leads on experience.
Updated September 2026 from our full reviews · How we score
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.
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A fully transparent, Informed Choice-certified pre-workout with 8 g citrulline malate, 4 g beta-alanine and a moderate 200 mg of natural caffeine.
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 GHOST if…
- Experienced stimulant users
- Lifters wanting full pump and endurance doses
- Flavor-driven buyers
- You care most about experience
- You want the lower cost per serving ($1.50)
Choose Transparent Labs if…
- Daily training with moderate caffeine
- Label-readers who want clinical doses
- Athletes who want a certified product
- You care most about quality & purity, transparency
Side by side
| Legend V4 Pre-Workout | BULK Pre-Workout | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.2 / 10 | 8.5 / 10 |
| Efficacy (30%) | 8.6 | 8.8 |
| Quality & Purity (25%) | 7.2 | 9.0 |
| Value (20%) | 8.2 | 8.0 |
| Experience (15%) | 8.8 | 7.4 |
| Transparency (10%) | 8.8 | 9.4 |
| Form | Powder | Powder |
| Serving | 1 scoop30 servings per container | 1 full scoop30 servings per container |
| Price per serving | $1.50 | $1.67 |
| Testing & certifications | None verified | Informed Choice |
| Dietary | Vegan, Gluten-free, Soy-free, Sugar-free | — |
| Key ingredients |
|
|
| Flavors | 8 (Blue Raspberry, Orange Cream, Welch's Grape…) | 8 (Blue Raspberry, Black Cherry, Strawberry Kiwi…) |
| Creator video reviews | 3 | 5 |
Pros and cons
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
BULK Pre-Workout
- Clinical doses of citrulline malate (8 g), beta-alanine (4 g) and betaine (2.5 g)
- Moderate 200 mg natural caffeine paired with 200 mg L-theanine
- Informed Choice certified (per the brand) with published third-party COAs
- No artificial sweeteners, colors or preservatives
- Wide flavor range (13 flavors on the brand site)
- Stevia-sweetened flavors are divisive; several reviewers call it hard to drink
- About $1.67 per serving, more than mass-market pre-workouts
- Boron and zinc "testosterone support" has weak evidence in healthy lifters
- Amazon listing carries a California Prop 65 warning for lead
Our verdicts
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
BULK Pre-Workout
BULK is one of the best-formulated and most trustworthy pre-workouts available: clinical doses, published test results and a moderate caffeine load that suits daily training. The stevia-sweetened flavors are its main weakness, so expect a stronger, less candy-like taste than mainstream brands.
Full review