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Transparent Labs vs Six Star Pre-Workout (2026)
Disclosure: We earn commissions on purchases made through our links. This never influences our scores. Editorial policy
The Verdict
Transparent Labs takes it on our rubric, 82 to 73 on our 0-100 execution score, and holds our Best Value badge in the pre-workout scorecard. The gap is dosing and form, 21 against 14, and purity verification, 19 against 13. The two tie at a full 23 on transparency, which is the most interesting line in this comparison: Six Star is not hiding anything, it simply publishes small numbers. Six Star wins our value pillar 23 to 19 on raw price, and if all you want is caffeine and a flavored scoop before the gym, $18.99 a tub is a real argument.
In our view the value pillar is misleading here and the dosing pillar is the one to read, because the reason to buy a pre-workout rather than plain caffeine is the citrulline and beta-alanine, and Six Star has 1.5g of one and none of the other. Transparent Labs is the buy if you want the ingredients at studied amounts. Two things to know: 200mg of caffeine may be low if you are a heavy caffeine user, and Transparent Labs is not NSF or Labdoor certified, so neither product is the pick for a drug-tested athlete.
BULK Pre-Workout
Transparent Labs
Pre-Workout Explosion
Six Star Pro Nutrition
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | BULK Pre-Workout Transparent Labs | Pre-Workout Explosion Six Star Pro Nutrition |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Score | 82/100Winner | 73/100 |
| Dosing & Form | 21/25Winner | 14/25 |
| Purity | 19/25Winner | 13/25 |
| Value | 19/25 | 23/25Winner |
| Transparency | 23/25Winner | 23/25 |
| Cost/Day | $1.67 | $1.26Winner |
| Dose/Serving | 200mg caffeine | 135mg caffeine |
| Form | Powder | Powder |
| Third-Party Tested | ✓ Yes | No |
| Proprietary Blend | No | No |
Why This Comparison Matters
Both of these labels are fully transparent with no proprietary blends, and that is what makes the comparison easy: you can read exactly what is in each one, and they are not close.
Transparent Labs BULK carries 8g of citrulline malate, 4g of beta-alanine, 2.5g of betaine, and 200mg of caffeine, which lands at or above the amounts our profile lists as clinically studied. Six Star Pre-Workout Explosion carries 1.5g of beta-alanine, 1.5g of creatine, 135mg of caffeine, and no L-citrulline at all. Its own transparent label is what reveals the underdosing. Our notes also flag artificial colors and a high sucralose load in the Six Star product; Transparent Labs uses no artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives and publishes third-party CoAs on its site.
Pre-workout is a multi-ingredient blend with no single clinical dose, so we price it per labeled scoop rather than per effective dose. Transparent Labs is about $1.67 a serving from 30 servings at $49.99. Six Star is $18.99 for 30 servings, and our value figure of about $1.26 assumes two scoops to approach partial clinical dosing, which still leaves it without citrulline. We scored both on dosing and form, purity verification, value, and label transparency.
Detailed Score Breakdown
BULK Pre-Workout
Transparent Labs
Clinical doses of citrulline malate (8g), beta-alanine (4g), betaine (2.5g), and caffeine (200mg)
Third-party COAs published on site, GMP certified, no artificial sweeteners or colors
$1.67/serving - strong value for a fully dosed, clean-label pre-workout
Fully transparent label with no proprietary blends
Best cost per effective dose among fully-dosed pre-workouts; no artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives
Pre-Workout Explosion
Six Star Pro Nutrition
Well below the clinically studied dose across the board - beta-alanine 1.5g, creatine 1.5g, no L-Citrulline at all
GMP certified, transparent label
$1.26/effective dose based on 2 scoops to approach partial clinical dosing - but still lacks citrulline
Transparent label showing all ingredient doses - which reveals the underdosing
Extremely cheap but delivers well below the clinically studied dose on all performance ingredients; contains artificial colors and high sucralose
How We Compared These Products
Every product in our database is scored on four equally-weighted pillars: dosing accuracy and form quality, purity verification (third-party testing), cost per clinically effective dose (not cost per pill), and label transparency. Each pillar is worth 25 points for a total of 100.
Cost per effective dose is calculated using the clinically studied dose from published research, not the manufacturer's suggested serving. If a product requires multiple servings to reach the dose used in clinical trials, that cost is reflected in the value score.
For a full explanation of our scoring methodology, see our methodology page. Prices were last checked on the dates listed for each product and may have changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pre-workout is actually fully dosed?
Transparent Labs BULK, at 8g of citrulline malate, 4g of beta-alanine, 2.5g of betaine, and 200mg of caffeine. Six Star Pre-Workout Explosion carries 1.5g of beta-alanine, 1.5g of creatine, 135mg of caffeine, and no L-citrulline at all, which our data grades as well below the studied doses across the board. That is the 21 against 14 split on our dosing and form pillar.
Why is the cheaper pre-workout not the value pick?
Because pre-workout is a blend with no single clinical dose, so we price it per labeled scoop and judge whether that scoop hits studied amounts. Six Star is $18.99 for 30 scoops, but our value figure of about $1.26 assumes two scoops to approach partial clinical dosing, and even then the formula contains no citrulline. Transparent Labs is about $1.67 for one fully dosed scoop.
Is either pre-workout certified for drug-tested athletes?
Neither. Transparent Labs publishes third-party CoAs and is GMP certified but is not NSF Certified or Labdoor Certified, which our notes list as a con. Six Star has GMP manufacturing with no third-party product testing we could verify. If you compete under a banned-substance policy, neither of these clears that bar.
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FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.