5 Differences Between C4 Pre Workout vs Creatine

Both C4 Pre-Workout and creatine can be effective supplements for improving athletic performance, but they work in different ways and may be more suitable for different goals.

It’s important to consider your specific needs and goals when deciding which supplement is right for you. Speaking with a healthcare professional or a sports nutritionist is also important before starting any new supplement regimen.

Between C4 pre workout vs creatine, which one to choose?

C4 Pre-Workout contains a blend of ingredients that are meant to boost energy, focus, and performance during exercise. Creatine is a naturally occurring compound found in muscles and helps produce energy. It is often used as a supplement to improve strength, power, and muscle mass.

If you are looking for specific features of these two supplements, continue reading. 

C4 Pre Workout vs Creatine

Supplement	Who Should Use	Ingredients	Dosages	Effects	Potential Side Effects
Creatine	Athletes and bodybuilders looking to improve physical performance and increase muscle mass	Creatine monohydrate, creatine hydrochloride, creatine ethyl ester, and other forms of creatine	5-20 grams per day	It may improve physical performance and increase muscle mass	It may cause gastrointestinal distress, muscle cramps, and weight gain
Pre-Workout	Individuals looking to improve energy, focus, and performance during exercise	Caffeine, beta-alanine, arginine, citrulline, and other ingredients	1-2 servings per day, depending on the individual’s tolerance and goals	It may improve energy, endurance, and focus during exercise	It may cause jitters, nervousness, and insomnia

C4 Pre-workout

Pre-workout is a new supplement that combines caffeine, beta-alanine, and other ingredients. They provide strength and endurance to the user. If you are an athlete, this supplement can improve your performance and stimulate you for more challenging workouts.

Although companies don’t disclose the blends of ingredients in this one, some extracts that are usually included are

• Citrulline Malate
• Betaine Anhydrous
• L-Theanine
• Beta-Alanine
• L-Carnitine
• Agmatine
• Pomegranate
• Taurine
• Beetroot

The only issue with this supplement is that it isn’t available in larger doses. However, you need to continue the dosages for effective results.

Characteristics

• Boosts your energy immediately for workouts and sports activities.
• Improves brain function to increase focus.
• Better pumping of blood for increased circulation. 
• Increases strength and performance. 

Drawbacks:

• It might cause headaches, itches, or jitters.
• Some people may face trouble sleeping with anxiety.
• You might also suffer from cramps that would slow down your workout.

Creatine 

Normally, creatine consists of three amino acids:

• Methionine
• Arginine, and
• Glycine

It is stored in the muscle tissues to transfer energy. So, when taking creatine as a supplement, you add more fuel to the body. This allows speedy muscle growth and increased strength. 

However, you will need to take a high dose of 10 to 15 g regularly for at least a week actually to see any change. Creatine is an effective supplement but is slower than pre-workouts to make an impact. Users suggest mixing it with foods like overnight oats or beverages.

Characteristics

• Creatine helps to increase muscles and overall strength.
• Enhances sports performance and allows more speed.
• Improves brain and physical health.
• Suitable for athletes and bodybuilders for energy boosting. 

Drawbacks:

• Creatine can cause problems with the liver and kidneys. 
• Long-term intake can slow down muscle work.
• It causes water weight gain and bloating.

Can You Take Pre-workout and Creatine Together?

So, instead of choosing between the two, why not take them together?

When you mix the two, there will be more fuel to the tissues and an instant energy boost. This means you can continue high-intensity workout sessions for longer. Since creatine is organic, it doesn’t react with pre-workout ingredients to change the formula and offer the same benefits.

Possible Side Effects

Even though creatine is said to have various side effects, the two supplements together don’t cause any additional problems.

Common issues like nausea, water weight, bloating, or cramping may occur. But some people did complain of itches or jitters.

Pre-workout with Creatine

Interestingly, you will get some pre-workout packs in the market with creatine. But this isn’t sufficient to cover your creatine needs.

Besides, creatine monohydrate with Pre-workout isn’t an effective supplement for enhancing performance. Creatine monohydrate is also slow to absorb in your body. Even with as high doses as 15g, you will need to take it for a long time for any visible changes.

But most importantly, this supplement will have the side effects of creatine, like bloating, nausea, cramping, or water retention. It’s better to take Kre-Alkalyn with Pre-workout. 

Pre-workout without Creatine

On the contrary, many experts suggest taking Pre-workout and creatine separately. This means you can either choose Pre-workout or creatine for your workout sessions.

Pre-workout without creatine works more effectively than having some quantity or when taken together.

Creatine vs Pre Workout C4: Which Works the Best?

It is difficult to say which one is “best” as both supplements have different purposes and may be more or less effective for different people.

To improve physical performance and increase muscle mass, creatine might be a good option.

If you are looking for a pre-workout supplement to provide energy and improve focus during exercise, C4 Pre Workout might be a good choice.

It is important to remember that both supplements can have potential side effects and should be used cautiously, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications.

Creatine vs Pre-workout vs BCAA

How do protein supplements such as BCAA differ from Pre-workout and creatine? Check out the individual features of each to decide which of the supplements is suitable for you.

Supplement	Description	Benefits	Potential Side Effects
Creatine	A naturally occurring compound that is involved in the production of energy	It may improve physical performance and increase muscle mass	It may cause gastrointestinal distress, muscle cramps, and weight gain
Pre-Workout	A supplement designed to provide energy and improve focus and performance during an exercise	It may improve energy, endurance, and focus during an exercise	It may cause jitters, nervousness, and insomnia
BCAA (Branched-Chain Amino Acids)	A group of essential amino acids that are involved in muscle synthesis and recovery	It may improve muscle recovery and reduce muscle soreness	It may cause gastrointestinal distress and allergic reactions in some individuals

Should You Take Creatine Pre-workout or Post?

There is no specific time to take creatine as a supplement. You can take it at any time of the day. But according to studies, creatine works better when taken after a workout session. Many consumers have experienced more muscle recovery after taking post-workout creatine.

The total fat content also decreases significantly in chest and leg muscles than those who took creatine before a workout. But creatine is also taken beforehand to have more energy to train for longer.

Best Pre-workout Supplements

Athletes and bodybuilders widely use C4 Pre-workout for strength, energy, and endurance. But with so many products in the market, choosing one is harder. Here is a list of some of the top-rated Pre-workouts that you can try out.

• Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged Premium Pre-Workout– Vegan-friendly option with patented ingredients and seven different flavors

• House of Athlete Mental Fitness- Best capsule supplement 

• Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout- Includes natural sources, creatine, and caffeine

• C4 Original Pre-Workout- Suitable for keto diets with low carbs, zero sugar, and alkaloids

• MyProtein Pro—The Pump- Helps with absorption, has fewer side effects, and improves muscle fatigue

FAQ

Does Pre-workout have creatine?

Some Pre-workouts are made with creatine as an ingredient, but not all of them. But the creatine amount isn’t significant enough to make a difference. Instead of taking Pre-workouts with creatine, it’s better to take both supplements together. 

Is C4 the same as creatine?

Creatine is made of three different amino acids. Whereas C4 in Pre-workouts is also creatine with some nitrate content. So, when taking this supplement, you also gain essential nitrates. 

When is it alright to take creatine, and in what amount?

Creatine is not medicinal, so you don’t have any prescribed time. Take it before, during, or after a workout. For starters, a dose of 5 g per day is excellent. If you have protein-rich foods like red meat in your diet, you can lower the dosage. But it should continue for about a month for any effective muscle change. 

The Bottom Line

C4 Pre-workout and creatine are different in features but beneficial in their ways. One thing that is confirmed by both supplements is the gain of strength and endurance. Whichever you choose, you will surely gain nutrition, muscles, energy, and an overall increase in performance. 

Creatine helps with the power to carry out an intense workout and build muscles eventually. Pre-workouts also help with energy and more endurance to train harder. The only drawback in them is the time to have any result. You can either take them separately or together for better benefits. 

Learn more about everyday supplements that can make a difference in your life.