Head to head · Pre-Workout
Gorilla Mind Gorilla Mode 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 value. Gorilla Mind still leads on experience.
Updated September 2026 from our full reviews · How we score
One of the most heavily dosed pre-workouts: per scoop 5 g citrulline, 2.5 g creatine and 200 mg caffeine, doubling to 400 mg caffeine at the 2-scoop max.
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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 Gorilla Mind if…
- Experienced lifters chasing pumps and strength
- People who want creatine built into their pre-workout
- Buyers who value per-lot lab results
- 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, value
Side by side
| Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout | BULK Pre-Workout | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.2 / 10 | 8.5 / 10 |
| Efficacy (30%) | 8.7 | 8.8 |
| Quality & Purity (25%) | 8.2 | 9.0 |
| Value (20%) | 7.4 | 8.0 |
| Experience (15%) | 7.8 | 7.4 |
| Transparency (10%) | 9.3 | 9.4 |
| Form | Powder | Powder |
| Serving | 1 scoop (up to 2 scoops per day)40 servings per container | 1 full scoop30 servings per container |
| Price per serving | $1.50 | $1.67 |
| Testing & certifications | Third-party tested | Informed Choice |
| Dietary | — | — |
| Key ingredients |
|
|
| Flavors | 8 (Cherry Blackout, Tiger's Blood, Blue Raspberry…) | 8 (Blue Raspberry, Black Cherry, Strawberry Kiwi…) |
| Creator video reviews | 3 | 5 |
Pros and cons
Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout
- Pure L-citrulline (5 g per scoop, 10 g at the maximum) rather than citrulline malate
- Includes creatine (2.5 g per scoop) plus glycerol and salt for pumps and hydration
- Lot-specific Eurofins test results published for every active ingredient
- Flexible dosing: one scoop for a standard session, two for a maximum dose
- Wide flavor range (13 flavors on the brand site)
- Two scoops deliver 400 mg of caffeine, the FDA's daily reference amount for healthy adults
- No beta-alanine
- About $3.00 per two-scoop maximum dose
- Not NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport, and carries a California Prop 65 warning
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
Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout
Gorilla Mode delivers what it promises for experienced users: big pump, hydration and focus doses with unusually open lab testing. Most people should treat one scoop as the serving, because the two-scoop maximum reaches 400 mg of caffeine and leaves no room for coffee or other stimulants that day.
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