The Best Betaine Supplements for Athletes, Pre-Workout, And More

Also called trimethylglycine, betaine anhydrous (betaine for short) is not as artificial as its lengthy name might suggest. It occurs naturally in the body and can also be found in spinach, seafoods, and beets — which is where "betaine" gets its name from. It’s a popular supplement, particularly in fitness circles, because of research suggesting that it might improve strength and power output. It’s also gained some recognition for its potential role in reducing cortisol and homocysteine, which can decrease stress and improve cardio health. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)

You’ll find betaine within pre-workout and post-workout products, and in standalone supplements. The typical dosage you’ll see across the market can range from 1.5g to 6g. We scoured the market for the finest array of betaine supplements and landed on this group. You’ll find picks for muscle gain, athletes, and bulk buys — but read on to see which of our favorites could help you grow in your fitness journey.

Best Betaine Supplements

• Best Betaine Supplement Overall: Bulk Supplements Betaine Anhydrous
• Best Betaine Supplement for Muscle Gain: Huge Supps Formula XII
• Best Betaine Supplement for Working Out: Huge Supps Formula XII
• Best Betaine Supplement for Athletes: Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout
• Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout with Betaine: Legion Pulse Pre-Workout (Without Caffeine)
• Best Bulk Betaine: BulkSupplements Betaine Anhydrous
• Best Unflavored Betaine: Nutricost Betaine Anhydrous
• Best Betaine Tablets: NOW TMG 1000mg

Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.

Best Betaine Supplement Overall

Though betaine can come in robust blends of other micronutrients or pre-workout ingredients, sometimes it’s easier not to complicate things. Our top pick is straightforward and effective — you’ll get a solid dose of betaine and nothing else.

Bulk Supplements Betaine Anhydrous

Bulk Supplements boasts a solid product at a very reasonable price — a combination that many people will appreciate. With an average 1,500mg dose per serving, and 167 servings per bag (for their smallest bag), you actually end up paying less than one cent per dose. There are no ingredients outside of betaine, and this product is free of sugar, soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, and additives. You can take one scoop up to twice daily, and since this product is unflavored, it’s pretty versatile — mix it in water, smoothies, pre-workout, or another flavored beverage of your choosing. 

Bulk Supplements Betaine Anhydrous

Bulk Supplements Betaine Anhydrous

An extraordinarily well priced betaine that$0027s made in a facility free from major allergens where it$0027s lab tested for purity. This product packs 1,500mg of betaine per serving, and you can take it up to two times per day. 

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Who Should Buy Bulk Supplements Betaine Anhydrous

• Those who follow gluten-free diets will appreciate that there is no gluten here. 
• People looking for an average dose of betaine — this product has 1,500mg per serving. 
• Anyone who doesn’t want any added ingredients in their betaine supplement — this product is betaine and nothing else. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy Bulk Supplements Betaine Anhydrous

• Anyone who would prefer a capsule or tablet betaine supplement. 
• Folks who want their betaine within a pre-workout blend will want to look elsewhere. 

This betaine supplement is about as straightforward as they come. It’s 1,500mg of betaine in a 167-serving bag — it’s cheap, reasonably dosed, and simple, which is why it takes our top slot on this list. 

Best Betaine Supplement for Muscle Gain

Though many pre-workout supplements contain betaine, you can also take betaine as a post-workout supplement to refuel what you lose as you sweat. This pick’s ingredients can also boost your intra-workout energy and help you dig in to a harder workout for more potential gains.

Huge Supplements Formula XII

Designed for intra- or post-workout use, Huge Supps Formula XII formula tops the list for best betaine supplement for muscle gain. With 12 active ingredients including betaine, creatine monohydrate and beta-alanine, this formula is designed for optimal nutrient loading to take your workouts to the next level.

The 3,000mg of betaine anhydrous in combination with 5,000mg of creatine is ideal for gains — this combination is powerful because betaine can help produce carnitine, and carnitine can help with energy metabolism (6). The betaine in Formula XII should help boost endurance and energy during a workout, and when paired with creatine, it can give you the endurance to lift for longer and potentially build more muscle mass.

This product rings in at $64.95 for 30 servings per container, and is therefore priced at $2.16 per serving making it a higher priced betaine than others on the market. With Candy Apple and Tropical Blast as two delicious flavor options, Formula XII is easy to drink during or after exercise to potentially level up your energy, power, and gains.

Huge Supplements XII Intra & Post Workout

Huge Supplements XII Intra & Post Workout

This supp contains 10,000mg of Cluster Dextrin, 5,000mg of Organic ModCarb, 3,200mg of Beta-Alanine, 3,000mg of Betaine Anhydrous, 150mg of Potassium Citrate, and 5mg of Bioperine, which can help you absorb all these nutrients. It comes in Candy Apple and Tropical Blast. 

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Who Should Buy Huge Supplements Formula XII

• If you prefer to take your betaine in addition to other great ingredients, like l-orinthine HCL and beta-alanine for those workout tingles, Formula XII is a solid choice for you.
• Those looking to add mass to their body will appreciate the added 5,000mg of creatine to potentially maximize muscle gain and endurance. 
• Athletes who like to drink their supplements intra-workout or post-workout will like that this supplement can be taken at either time with similar effects.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Huge Supplements Formula XII

• Anyone who wants a plain betaine supplement will want to look elsewhere as this contains 12 ingredients. 
• If you’re not interested in Tropical Blast or Candy Apple, you may find a different supplement supplier who provides more flavors, or even an unflavored option.

This intra / post-workout supplement isn’t for everyone, but if you’re after muscle gains in the gym, and want to combine a whopping 3,000mg of betaine with creatine and other great supplements, Huge Supplements is the ideal supplement in our opinion. 

Best Betaine Supplement for Working Out

If you’re on the hunt for a betaine supplement to enjoy during your training, this pick is one of our favorites to help you conquer your workout and make the most of each rep.

Huge Supplements Formula XII

Huge Supplements Formula XII is a BarBend favorite for intra workout supplementation to help keep your workout thorough. This stacked product comes equipped with 12 ingredients, including beta-alanine, creatine monohydrate, and of course, 3,000mg of betaine anhydrous. At 3,000mg, this formula has a higher potency of betaine than others on the market, making it a great addition to your stack. This can help you work out longer and harder, which is why it is our top pick for working out.

With the added benefit of grape seed oil, which can help blood flow, this is the ideal supplement to drink while you’re working out to potentially help improve your pump. Though this supp is priced at $64.95 per container for 30 servings, it’s stacked with scientifically dosed measurements of each ingredient, making its higher price tag worth it, in our opinion.

Huge Supplements XII Intra & Post Workout

Huge Supplements XII Intra & Post Workout

This supp contains 10,000mg of Cluster Dextrin, 5,000mg of Organic ModCarb, 3,200mg of Beta-Alanine, 3,000mg of Betaine Anhydrous, 150mg of Potassium Citrate, and 5mg of Bioperine, which can help you absorb all these nutrients. It comes in Candy Apple and Tropical Blast. 

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Who Should Buy Huge Supplements Formula XII

• If you’re looking for an intra-workout drink to help you maximize your time and energy in the gym, with 12 ingredients including 3g of betaine, this is the supplement for you. 
• Athletes who want to supplement their workouts with helpful ingredients for energy, muscle retention, and focus will like the beta-alanine, betaine, and grape seed oil, the latter of which can help blood flow and can create a difference in your pump.
• Anyone who wants a solid dose of betaine will appreciate that this product offers 3,000mg. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy Huge Supplements Formula XII

• Folks who prefer to take their betaine supplement on its own can find simpler products.
• If you don’t like the tingly feeling in your body that beta-alanine provides, this isn’t for you.
• Budget shoppers can find cheaper betaine supplements on the market. 

Huge Supplements Formula XII doesn’t just contain a high dose of 3,000mg of betaine, it also stacks 11 other ingredients that can help push your workout to the next level. Intra-workout supplementation is a great way to kick your workouts up a notch, and the solid dose of betaine here is an added bonus. 

Best Betaine Supplements for Athletes

For those athletes who want a pre-workout supplement that will provide everything you need to take your workouts to the next level without any of the unnecessary filler or a caffeine crash, this supplement is for you.

Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout

This pre-workout is a non-stimulant supplement boasting seven beneficial ingredients to help you push toward your goals in your sport. It includes 2,500mg of betaine anhydrous, which is a fairly generous dose to supplement the intense workouts that come with being an elite athlete. One study done on female athletes found that betaine supplementation caused significant changes in lean body mass, muscle thickness, vertical jump, squat 1RM, bench 1RM, and found that it may reduce fat mass when paired with resistance training (7).

The betaine in conjunction with the other six ingredients, including citrulline malate, beta-alanine, and L-carnitine, may boost greater performance, endurance and strength, and aid in prolonging muscle fatigue to make sure you get the most out of each session. 

Swolverine’s pre-workout comes in a delicious Mango Lemonade flavor and contains 25 servings for $52.99, which makes it a bit more on the expensive side across the betaine market. One of the greatest things about Swolverine is their transparency with ingredients, their reasoning for each ingredient, and their no-fuss ease of understanding their labels, giving you peace of mind as an athlete as to what you are putting into your body.

Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout

Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout

Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout may lack stimulants, but it makes up for that with a great blend of high-dosed ingredients to help improve blood flow, recovery, and endurance. The citrulline malate and betaine anhydrous can give you the edge you need to conquer your next gym session.

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Who Should Buy Swolverine’s PRE Pre-Workout

• Anyone who’s trying to avoid caffeine will appreciate the stim-free blend here. 
• Athletes who want the betaine to potentially push their workout endurance and ability further will appreciate that this comes in pre-workout form to be utilized during workouts.
• Those who want an added boost of superfoods like pomegranate, ginseng, and coconut water will love this formula. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine’s PRE Pre-Workout

• If you’re looking for a standalone betaine supplement or a post-workout supplement with betaine, this product isn’t for you.
• Buyers on a budget can find less expensive options on this list. 
• Those who exercise early in the morning may want to opt for a pre-workout that contains caffeine. 

Stim-free, packed with helpful pre-workout ingredients, and providing betaine to potentially boost recovery and aid in pushing your workouts to the next level, this formula is one of our favorites for those trying to succeed in a sport. 

Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout with Betaine

For those who want a pre-workout with betaine but want to avoid the caffeine, this pre is a great option — it still offers all your classic pre-workout ingredients but steers clear of stimulants.

Legion Pulse Pre-Workout (Without Caffeine)

Legion Pulse Pre-Workout provides 2,500mg of betaine anhydrous, 8,000mg of citrulline malate, and 3,600mg beta-alanine per serving to potentially boost stamina, strength, and avoid fatigue — all while also avoiding caffeine intake. With the clinically effective dose of betaine being between 1,500mg to 2,500mg, this formula boasts the higher end. We also know that betaine can help with energy metabolism, which can help ramp up your workouts, without the need for extra caffeine making this a BarBend favorite pick for energy without the caffeine kick (6).

It’s important to note that the non-stimulant and the regular stimulant pre-workout are on the same purchase page, so make sure you choose the non-stimulant formula when purchasing. At $39.99 for 21 servings, this formula ends up being $1.90 per serving, and finds a middle ground on pricing when compared to the rest of the market. This supplement contains 100 percent natural ingredients, is naturally flavored and sweetened, and blends seamlessly with water for easy consumption 15 to 30 minutes before your workout.

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Legion Pulse Preworkout

Legion Pulse Preworkout

This pre-workout supplement can come with or without caffeine and in 16 different flavors. Each serving provides 350 milligrams of L-theanine and eight grams of citrulline, which may facilitate better pumps. 

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Who Should Buy Legion Pulse Pre-Workout

• Those who want betaine in a stimulant-free formula to avoid caffeine side-effects and caffeine crashes will love this formula.
• Athletes who want the most effective dose of betaine, while still reaping the benefits of other supplements will appreciate the high 2,500mg dose here.
• Anyone who appreciates supplements that are naturally derived, and doesn’t like the taste of artificial sweeteners will enjoy this formula.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Legion Pulse Pre-Workout

• If you’re looking for a pre-workout that is a standalone betaine supplement, this product isn’t for you.
• Folks who like to work out early in the morning may enjoy a formula with some form of caffeine or stimulant within it. Luckily, this pick also offers a caffeinated version though. 
• Customers who are looking for a larger array of flavor choices may find a different brand that has a wider variety of options.

This supplement offers a solid 2.5g dose of betaine, the highest clinically effective dose, along with an array of other ingredients to possibly boost performance, recovery, and endurance. The naturally derived ingredients and lack of artificial sweeteners and flavors make this one of our favorite picks. 

Best Bulk Betaine

Bulk Supplements is a company that makes a huge variety of quality products in their own facilities — no outsourcing here. This particular product is simple, yet effective, and you can buy up to 2.2 pounds of it at once.

Bulk Supplements Betaine Anhydrous

Bulk Supplements Betaine Anhydrous is free of sugar, soy, dairy, yeast, and gluten, and it’s also lab tested for purity and potency. One of the best parts about this supplement is that you can buy it in bulk (up to 2.2 pounds at a time), which can save some serious cash. The product is made in a facility owned and operated by the vendors, which may allow for better quality control — a nice boon for any product you’re adding to your supplement cabinet.

The powder is lab tested for purity and potency before it’s shipped to you. Given how easy it is to buy large quantities, this can easily wind up the least expensive betaine supplement. And to top it off, you’re getting 1,500mg of betaine per serving, with no added ingredients — that’s just about as straightforward as a supplement can get. 

Bulk Supplements Betaine Anhydrous

Bulk Supplements Betaine Anhydrous

An extraordinarily well priced betaine that$0027s made in a facility free from major allergens where it$0027s lab tested for purity. This product packs 1,500mg of betaine per serving, and you can take it up to two times per day.