Transparent Labs Review: A Complete Roundup of Transparent Labs Products
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Utah-based supplement company Transparent Labs has one main goal: to be totally transparent in its ingredients and what exactly goes into their products. Launched in 2015, this well-loved nutrition brand promises evidence-based formulas driven by science. Product efficacy is critiqued by independent scientific advisors and even revised as needed. Plus, their products—which include creatine, whey protein isolate and turmeric, among others—are tested by third-party labs for quality and purity. Still, these are lofty promises, so what makes Transparent Labs trustworthy, and are their products actually worth the hype?
Our Transparent Labs review will take a look at the company and its claims, the pros and cons of their products and how these supplements stack up against competitors. We’ll also include a full product guide to various Transparent Labs supplements on the market and what you need to know before making a purchase. In addition to our own extensive review, we’ll share what other verified customers have to say about their supplements, and whether or not these products are ultimately worth the buy.
This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.
What is Transparent Labs?
Transparent Labs is a Utah-based supplement company launched in 2015 that creates nutrition products geared toward athletes, bodybuilding and weight loss. The company promises full transparency in its ingredients (hence its name). You'll find info on exactly what goes into each and every product, including inactive ingredients. Transparent Labs writes on their official website that their formulas are created out of the latest science and nutrition research, and that they even run their formulas by independent scientific advisors who critique them as needed (with Transparent Labs following up on that feedback by revising products in accordance).
At the time of publishing, Transparent Labs’ advisory board (made up of independent experts and reviewers) includes eight members with specialities ranging from certified personal trainers, medical doctors, registered dietitians and certified sports nutritionists. The board reviews all information that Transparent Labs presents. Some of these advisors also contribute articles to Transparent Labs’ blog, which offers education on weight loss diets, benefits of specific supplements, meal prep ideas and exercise guides.
Overall, the supplement brand promises full disclosure when it comes to what they sell, including info on why each product can be beneficial to your health. They use high-quality ingredients that are natural and grass-fed, and products free of proprietary blends (blends that state what they’re made out of, but not the quantities or ratios of ingredients within those blends). Products are also free of artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, fillers and preservatives. You can buy products individually, or in stacks of multiple products to achieve specific goals, such as building lean muscle.
In addition, Transparent Labs sends all of its supplements for third-party testing (which isn’t required, as supplements aren’t FDA regulated) to check quality and purity. You can find certificates of analysis and certificates of composition from the third-party labs on the website. Transparent Labs actually stands by its mission so much that their website even says, “At Transparent Labs, we let the ingredients and the associated evidence behind those ingredients do the talking.”
Read on to learn whether we agree.
Transparent Labs Products
Transparent Labs sells products across eight series that include core, mind, physique, pre (or pre-workout supplements), protein, raw, strength and wellness. It also offers supplements that meet four various goals: build muscle, energy and focus, recovery and weight management. Currently, Transparent Labs offers free shipping for orders of $149 or more, which can seem like a lot (you’ll have to buy at least three or four products to get free shipping at that rate), but customers can also take advantage of a subscribe and save program. This gets you free shipping on all subscriptions, plus 10 percent off—which can help you save big. Note, you can pause or cancel your subscription anytime, so you’re not locked into a multi-month plan.
While Transparent Labs offers dozens of products, all supplements can be divided into three main categories: pre-workout, build muscle and recover and protein. Below, we're outlining the most popular products in each category, plus everything you need to know about their claims.
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Pre-Workout
Pre-workout supplements are designed to be taken before exercising. They can help give you energy for a workout and some ingredients can even enhance your workout. These supplements often include a mix of nutrients, vitamins, amino acids, caffeine and/or sugar, although Transparent Labs offers stimulant-free (or caffeine-free) supplements for those who are sensitive to or can’t have caffeine. Here are the top Transparent Labs PreSeries formulas.
Transparent Labs Bulk
Bulk is an advanced pre-training formula that promises to enhance strength, muscle pumps, stamina, focus and energy. It comes in 12 different flavors, including sour grape, blue raspberry and strawberry lemonade. This supplement is designed to boost your workout and bulk up your muscle mass with lean muscle growth. It has 4,000 milligrams of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which help promote muscle protein synthesis; 1,300 milligrams of taurine, which has brain and heart benefits; Astragin, or astragalus membranaceus extract, which promotes anti-aging; citrulline malate, which can relieve muscle soreness and beta-alanine, which can enhance high-intensity exercise. It also includes an extremely high dose of vitamin B12 (which can boost endurance) at 4,170 percent of the recommended daily value.
Bulk costs $49.99 as a one-time purchase, or $44.99 with subscribe and save.
Transparent Labs Lean
Lean aims to help people get “cut,” or develop lean muscle growth. It claims to target stubborn fat, while also preventing lean muscle loss at the same time. This formula includes what the company calls a “potent” fat burning and thyroid support complex with chromium picolinate, which promotes blood glucose control; choline bitartrate, which is essential for proper muscle function and cell repair and zinc, which can reduce diet-induced obesity. Like the Bulk formula, Lean pre-workout is formulated with citrulline malate, beta-alanine and BCAAs. It also includes betaine, which research shows can significantly reduce body fat and caffeine anhydrous, a derivative of coffee plant seeds and leaves that can promote body fat reduction, making this formula ideal for fat loss. It comes in nine natural flavors that include tropical punch, green apple and cherry limeade.
Lean costs $49.99 as a one-time purchase, or $44.99 with subscribe and save.
Transparent Labs Stim-Free
For those who are sensitive to caffeine or stimulants, or simply don’t want to take supplements that contain them, Transparent Labs’ Stim-Free formula offers a non-caffeinated option. This stim-free pre-workout formula is designed to be used by bodybuilders and serious athletes, and is suitable for men and women alike. It contains 13 active ingredients that the company says can aid with muscle building, focus and endurance. Those ingredients include L-tyrosine, which can improve muscle strength and endurance; betaine anhydrous, which can enhance body composition; and taurine. Stim-free comes in 10 flavors with the likes of cherry limeade, orange and peach mango.
Stim-Free costs $49.99 as a one-time purchase, or $44.99 with subscribe and save.
Build Muscle and Recover
For post-workout supplementation, some athletes and exercisers turn to formulas that can help them build muscle and recover from challenging workouts. While exercising itself is important for the brain and body, active recovery is just as important as well—and this time period helps increase blood flow, which removes waste products from soft tissue (like muscles) that have been broken down by intense exercise. Common post-workout supplements include ingredients like BCAAs, creatine and glutamine. Here’s what Transparent Labs has to offer in this category.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Creatine HMB is a potent Transparent Labs supplement that promises to enhance strength, increase endurance, decrease fat mass and prevent lean muscle loss. Studies show that consuming creatine, which does indeed increase fat-free mass and strength, has a greater effect when used immediately post-workout (as this supplement is designed to be taken), rather than before a workout. This formula also includes Bioperine, or black pepper extract, which is a surprisingly beneficial ingredient that can help alleviate some muscle damage; Vitamin D, which can reduce muscle inflammation from exercising; and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, or HMB, an ingredient that can reduce fat mass. Transparent Labs StrengthSeries creatine comes in 10 flavors (plus an unflavored option) that include black cherry, Hawaiian splash and orange.
Creatine HMB costs $49.99 as a one-time purchase, or $44.99 with subscribe and save.
Transparent Labs Vitality
Vitality is a hormone-support formula that aims to boost vitality, which is a broad term that refers to how active, energetic and strong a person is. This supplement claims to promote lean muscle gains, fat burning, strength, libido and confidence, and includes a wide range of ingredients that can play a role in all of these potential benefits. The formula includes boron, which promotes positive use of estrogen, testosterone and Vitamin D within the body (which can be helpful for fertility); organic ashwagandha extract, which can help reduce stress and improve immunity; and a high dose of zinc, which is important for cell growth, repair and breaking down carbs. Vitality comes in capsule form with 30 servings per container meant to be taken daily.
Vitality costs $54.99 as a one-time purchase, or $49.49 with subscribe and save.
Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine
Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine supplement is designed specifically for muscle repair and recovery. Created with premium fermented vegan BCAAs, this formula has just three active ingredients—BCAAs, glutamine and coconut water powder—and is designed to be used during or immediately after training (however, you can double this as a pre-workout formula if you’d like). Supplements with BCAAs are a popular choice amongst the fitness community, as these amino acids can alleviate muscle damage while also relieving muscle soreness after exercise. Glutamine, on the other hand, can have a significant effect on weight reduction, and coconut water is a nutrition powerhouse that can help with everything from hydration to healthy fat storage. BCAA Glutamine comes in five flavors including sour green apple and tropical punch.
BCAA Glutamine costs $39.99 as a one-time purchase, or $35.99 with subscribe and save.
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Protein
Getting enough protein through food isn’t always easy, so many people meet their protein goals with protein supplementation. Protein has the power to enhance muscle mass and performance, in addition to helping you feel full and more energetic. Luckily, protein powders come in a variety of formats, including whey (animal-sourced) and vegan (plant-based), so there are numerous options to choose from. These are Transparent Labs’ most popular protein supplements.
Transparent Labs Mass Gainer
Mass Gainer doubles as a meal replacement and weight-gaining formula designed for people who are truly looking to bulk up and increase lean muscle mass. Each serving of Transparent Labs Mass Gainer formula includes 53 grams of grass-fed whey protein, 750 calories and 109 grams of carbohydrates. Therefore, if your goal is to lose weight, or you’re simply looking for a more traditional protein supplement, you may want to stick with one of the two options below. Mass Gainer currently comes in two flavors—chocolate glaze donut and sweet vanilla.
Mass Gainer costs $76.99 as a one-time purchase, or $69.29 with subscribe and save.
Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate
Whey Protein Isolate is your more traditional protein supplement that packs in 28 grams of grass-fed whey protein isolate per 32 gram scoop. This protein powder supplement is made from naturally-fed, hormone-free cow whey and like all other Transparent Labs products, is free from artificial sweeteners, food dyes and preservatives - making it a cleaner option. Unlike the Mass Gainer formula, this protein powder can be used for basic post-workout recovery or simply hitting daily protein goals. It comes in nine different and unique flavors that we don’t see very often in protein powders, such as peppermint hot chocolate and cinnamon french toast. This formula is also extremely low in carbs with just one gram per serving and no added sugar.
Whey Protein Isolate costs $59.99 as a one-time purchase, or $53.99 with subscribe and save.
For more information, check out our in-depth Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate review.
Transparent Labs Organic Vegan
For those who follow a vegan diet, Transparent Labs Organic Vegan protein supplement is made out of plant-based rice and pea protein. Each serving packs in 24 grams of protein, two grams of fat, two grams of sugar and three grams of carbs. While the fat and carb content is slightly higher than the whey protein isolate formula, the Organic Vegan supplement is still made with minimal ingredients and enough protein to help support a vegan diet, which tends to be lower in protein intake compared to other diet types. It currently comes in just two flavors of chocolate and vanilla, so we’re hoping that flavor options can expand in the near future.
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Other Transparent Labs Supplements
In addition to the supplements we’ve highlighted above, Transparent Labs offers a wide range of different formulas. Other popular supplements include MindSeries Nootropic capsules, which are a mental performance-enhancing supplement designed to support mood and cognition. This formula is made with caffeine and L-theanine, a green tea-derived amino acid that can reduce stress and anxiety, and promises to be jitters-free, although this claim is hard to back up. The Prebiotic Greens formula is another top pick and is made out of aquatic greens and fiber. This formula packs in healthy algae greens, which can boost the immune system, and prebiotic fibers like artichoke and green banana fiber, which lower the risk for numerous chronic conditions.
The Pros of Transparent Labs
Transparent Labs supplements come with a number of perks, but the company’s biggest pro is its commitment to transparency in its ingredients and how much of each ingredient supplements contain. This helps customers feel confident not only about what they’re putting into their body, but the breakdown of those ingredients, which is important for people who need to watch how much they consume of certain ingredients, vitamins or other nutrients (such as vitamin D, for example). We also like Transparent Labs for its minimal ingredients lists, which help us feel good that we’re not consuming unnecessary fillers or artificial flavors or coloring. Plus, the prices are mid-level, so these buys shouldn’t break the bank, and the subscribe and save program is an added benefit that helps customers save a significant amount of money.
In addition, we like that Transparent Labs shares who is on its advisory board. The advisory board contains a wide mix of experts that range from registered dietitians to medical doctors, so we feel good about the diverse opinions and backgrounds informing decisions. The fact that Transparent Labs tests all of its products with a third-party is another added bonus, because while this step isn’t necessary or required, it helps boost trust amongst customers. Users can also benefit from the numerous calculators on the company’s website, which include protein and body fat calculators, which can be helpful for determining supplementation needs.
The Cons of Transparent Labs
For a company that prides itself on transparency, we’re surprised to see that Transparent Labs offers virtually zero information on its founders and how it was started. Navigating to the official website’s About Us page is difficult, and we were only able to find it through Google (rather than directly on the website). Still, there’s nothing listed about who is actually behind Transparent Labs, since the advisory board consists of independent experts who aren’t employees of the company. There are also some product claims that just can’t be backed up, such as promoting formulas as jitters-free (like the MindSeries Nootropic capsules), which we feel is a bold claim to make for a product that contains caffeine. Another con of Transparent Labs is that there’s little mention of possible side effects of their products, which we feel would help boost customer trust even further, especially since products contain ingredients that can interact with medicines.
While many formulas come in numerous fun flavors, there are a handful that only come in two standard flavors of chocolate and vanilla. Our biggest concern in this area is that Transparent Labs’ whey protein isolate comes in nine flavors (which are highly unique, like peppermint hot chocolate), while the Organic Vegan protein formula comes in just two standard flavors, limiting options for customers who follow a plant-based diet. That being said, many customers have complaints about the existing flavors, which we’ll cover below.
What Customers Say About Transparent Labs
Transparent Labs supplements get mostly positive customer reviews. Customers praise the high-quality ingredients and many say the formulas are easy on the stomach, which is a benefit for numerous users as some supplements can cause digestion issues. Users also praise the trustworthy transparency of the company, and many note their appreciation for the clean label design. "The product mixes very well and gives a good [muscle] pump” writes Amazon reviewer Justin in regards to the Lean pre-workout formula. "The best out of all the other brands I’ve tried” writes a Transparent lab website reviewer regarding the Organic Vegan protein formula (who has been using the product for four years).
Still, Transparent Labs supplements come with drawbacks that seem to get the same customer complaints. Many users go through bottles or containers quickly and wish that more product was offered for the price, while others report no benefits from formulas like Creatine HMB. The biggest gripe amongst buyers, however, is the taste. Almost all complaints revolve around the same issue: that Transparent Labs supplements just don’t taste good, despite their numerous flavor options. "I can barely drink eight ounces" writes Amazon reviewer Harry about the Bulk pre-workout, specifically the tropical punch flavor. "It tastes like medicine" writes Amazon reviewer Kevin, regarding the Lean pre-workout formula.
Who Transparent Labs is Best For
Transparent Labs is best for athletes, bodybuilders and those who have weight loss or weight gain goals. These products are an excellent choice for those who are conscious of what they put into their body, including ingredients and their ratios, the quality of formulas and how supplements are tested. The nice thing about Transparent Labs is that while it offers more serious bulk-up formulas like Mass Gainer, it also offers more mid-level or traditional formulas like the Whey Protein Isolate, which can be used as an average protein powder for protein intake support. Therefore, these products appeal to a wide range of customers and needs.
Where to Buy Transparent Labs Products
You can buy all Transparent Labs products at the official website of transparentlabs.com. You can also buy some Transparent Labs supplements on Amazon, but you won’t be able to take advantage of Transparent Labs’ subscribe and save program or the ability to stack products. For these savings and bundles, you’ll need to buy directly from the Transparent Labs website.
How Transparent Labs Stacks Up
Transparent Labs has made a name for itself in the supplement industry as a brand that offers natural formulas with minimal ingredients, and as a brand that appeals to athletes. However, it isn’t the only one. Here’s how Transparent Labs compares to other leading competitors.
Transparent Labs vs Optimum Nutrition
Optimum Nutrition prides itself on using high-quality, raw materials and testing its products for quality. This natural-leaning supplement brand produces similar products to Transparent Labs like protein powders and weight-gaining formulas, but takes their offerings one step further with ready-to-drink protein shakes, nutrition gummies and snacks like protein almonds. Still, for the products that are similar across both companies, the prices are nearly the same. The only difference in pricing is that Optimum Nutrition has three levels of savings in its Buy More, Save More program that range from 10 to 20 percent off of each purchase, depending on your spend level. However, there’s no subscription option. At the end of the day, we think Optimum Nutrition has more diverse product offerings, but that Transparent Labs offers better long-term savings, since you’ll need to hit a high spend level to save more than 10 percent with Optimum Nutrition.
Transparent Labs vs Legion
Like Transparent Labs, Legion offers supplements that are developed around science, and also utilizes third-party testing to guarantee the purity and efficacy of its products. It offers a similar array of supplements that include pre-workout formulas, protein powders and recovery blends. While the prices and approach to how formulas are developed are similar, Legion offers a better deal on its subscription program, which includes a 20 percent discount, rather than 10 percent as offered by Transparent Labs. Legion also includes more transparency on its founders and company story on its website. Overall, while the products themselves are similar, Legion takes the edge in terms of reliability, company trust and discounts with its subscription program.
If you're interested in trying some of Legion's products, check out our Legion Pulse Pre-Workout review for our opinion on their popular pre-workout!
Transparent Labs vs Kaged
Kaged offers premium supplements backed by science, and similar to Transparent Labs also sends all of their products for third-party testing. Prices and product offerings across both companies are similar, but one benefit that Kaged offers is that it suggests products that pair well with buys (for example, if you buy glutamine, Kaged recommends pairing it with whey protein isolate or a BCAA 2:1:1 mix). However, the Kaged website doesn’t share anything about how products are reviewed outside of third-party testing, so Transparent Labs does a significantly better job of helping to build customer trust and overall brand reliability.
Transparent Labs FAQs
Here’s everything else there is to know about Transparent Labs.
Is Transparent Labs cruelty-free?
Transparent Labs doesn’t make any claims about being cruelty-free, so it’s tough to say whether or not their products are cruelty-free. They do, however, offer various vegan supplements, so those products don’t include animal sources, but it’s not possible to say exactly how they’re tested.
Where is Transparent Labs based?
Transparent Labs is based out of Utah, but it doesn’t say where third-party testing takes place.
Is Transparent Labs FDA approved?
Transparent Labs writes on their website that “All Transparent Lab products are manufactured in facilities compliant with FDA GMP standards. The facility that manufactures Transparent Labs has UDAF GMP certification.” So, what exactly does that mean? Good manufacturing practice, or GMP, is a system that ensures products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. Therefore, the facilities that manufacture Transparent Labs products meet those guidelines and also meet Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) guidelines.
Final Thoughts
Transparent Labs reigns in its commitment to transparency, minimal ingredient products and pricing that fits most budgets. Plus, with its wide variety of products, you're sure to find one that suits your fitness level or goal. If you’re looking for a brand with a solid reputation and honest supplements, then Transparent Labs is worth considering.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
