Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, and chocolate. It boosts energy and alertness (1).
Caffeine pills may also help manage weight (2). It induces a thermogenic effect that encourages more weight loss. A controlled dosage of caffeine is helpful for athletes in sports performance (3).
Caffeine works on the central nervous system that positively affects the physical and mental aspects of an individual. Supplements of caffeine or caffeine pills have also become popular for its many health benefits, especially since it needs no preparation time like coffee and tea.
Here are the 6 best caffeine pills according to our researchers. Check them out and pick the one most suitable for you.
Our Best Picks:
1. Best Overall Caffeine Pills – Performance Lab®
2. Best-Budget Caffeine Pills – Bulksupplements.com
3. Best Gluten-Free Caffeine Pills – Prolab Caffeine
4. Best Extended-Release Caffeine Pills – Genius Caffeine
5. Best Vegetarian Caffeine Pills – Natrol High Caffeine
6. Best Unflavored Caffeine Pills – Muscletech Platinum Caffeine
1. Best Overall Caffeine Pills – Performance Lab Stim
L Theanine has been found to help in mental relaxation (4). It pairs well with caffeine stimulation.
Nutri Genesis® is a licensed brand of lab-grown vitamins and minerals. It reflects the nutrient genesis found in nature.
About Performance Lab®
Performance Lab Stim caffeine capsules are 100% plant-based. Caffeine is obtained from coffee robusta seeds.
The capsules are made from fermented tapioca. These are easy to digest. This supplement also contains prebiotics.
These Nutri caps do not contain gluten, soy, allergens, artificial colors, or preservatives. There are no synthetic additives present in them.
Only non-GMO components are used. There is no exposure to radiation during the manufacturing of this product. The product is vegan-friendly and has been GMP certified.
What it Contains:
Each pack has 30 capsules. The suggested use is up to 1 capsule a day for stimulation. It also contains 2 mcg of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 has a daily percentage value of 83% in each capsule.
A user can consume between 1 to 5 capsules a day depending upon the tolerance level. The dosage range is 50 mg to a maximum of 250 mg each day.
One serving contains:
- Natural Caffeine (coffea robusta seeds) – 50 mg
- L – Theanine (Suntheanine®) – 100 mg
- 500 mcg of vitamin B2
- 750 mcg of vitamin B6
Each Nutri capsule of Performance Lab Stim contains 50 mg of caffeine and 250 mg of L-Tyrosine.
L-Theanine helps keep the side effects of caffeine at bay and L-Tyrosine promotes the restoration of catecholamines that help improve mental alertness. This combination together improves memory and performance.
The other ingredients are rice concentrate and pullulan capsule.
The Pros:
- Complete plant-based capsules
- No allergens present
- Vegan-friendly product
- Contains vitamins
Summary: Performance Lab Stim caffeine capsules contain pure caffeine derived from coffea robusta seeds. It has an appropriate blend of vitamin B forms.
2. Best Budget Caffeine Pills – Bulksupplements Pure Caffeine Capsules
Caffeine anhydrous means that the derived caffeine has no water. This is a highly concentrated form of caffeine.
It has shown to be helpful in increasing focus during long and exhaustive exercise and during times of needed wakefulness.
About Bulksupplements.com
Bulksupplements is well-known for manufacturing supplements that are of high value, effective and budget-friendly.
Each caffeine pill of Bulksupplements.com contains only the stimulant. Additives, coloring agents, or artificial ingredients are not present.
As the caffeine powder is in its pure form, only one capsule is recommended. Take only one capsule every 3 hours. Do not exceed more than 3 capsules a day.
A gap of at least 3 to 4 hours should be maintained between servings or as advised by your physician.
Each pack of the supplement contains 100 pills.
Bulksupplements delivers the benefits of this product at a highly affordable cost. The company delivers its product’s claim of benefits with no big marketing schemes.
What it Contains:
One serving of the capsule contains 200 mg of anhydrous caffeine. The pack has 100 capsules. With a serving direction of only 1 capsule a day, the pack offers a supply for more than 3 months.
No coloring agents or artificial ingredients form part of this supplement. The caffeine pills contain no sugar, soy dairy, yeast, or gluten.
The Pros:
- Budget-friendly supplement
- The pure form of caffeine
- No other ingredients added
- No coloring agent included
Summary: The company avoids the use of any coloring agent for the supplement. Each pack has 100 pills.
3. Best Gluten-Free Caffeine Pills – Prolab Caffeine
Scientific research and reviews have shown that caffeine improves endurance and performance. This includes activities like cycling, skiing, and running (5). The dosage of this stimulant can be in the range of 200 to 600 mg (6).
About Prolab Caffeine
Prolab Caffeine delivers a timely amount of energy for mental and physical performance.
Caffeine pills are made in the USA. It is free from wheat or any other type of gluten components. It does not have any sugar or calories.
This supplement should be taken along with a healthy diet. Daily exercise will help in deriving the best benefits from this supplement.
Each serving of this product is equal to 2 cups of coffee. It does not contain any artificial substances such as yeast, milk, egg, soy, starch, or preservatives.
What it Contains:
One serving of the capsule contains:
- 200 mg caffeine and 75 mg calcium
The other components that are included in this product are stearic acid, cellulose gum, silica, magnesium stearate, methylcellulose, and glycerin.
Each bottle contains 100 tablets. The direction for use is to take only 1 tablet with a maximum of 3 tablets in one day. A gap of at least 3 to 4 hours should be kept between each intake of the tablet.
The Pros:
- 200 mg of pure caffeine
- No added sugar or calories
- Artificial colors and flavors not added
- Contains no sugar or calories
Summary: The supplement contains only pure caffeine and calcium. It is free from gluten ingredients. A healthy diet and exercise are necessary for obtaining the best results of this supplement.
4. Best Extended-Release Caffeine Pills – Genius Caffeine
Time-release capsules help in managing energy levels throughout the day.
This kind of encapsulation of dietary supplements has been studied and considered as safe and favorable for health (7).
About Genius Caffeine
The extended-release of Genius Caffeine uses a researched form of caffeine called Newcaff™. Newcaff™ is a branded, trademarked, and tested micro-encapsulated dietary supplement.
The manufacturing company claims that micro-encapsulated pills deliver the continuous benefit of energy for focus and alertness.
With slow absorption of the stimulant, the supplement assists in supporting alertness for a longer period of time. The product formulation used is clean and clinically tested. The usual side-effects like the crash do not occur.
What it Contains:
The pills do not contain fillers, dyes, or additives. The product has no flavor.
Each bottle has 100 pills. One serving of the capsule contains 100 mg of caffeine.
The veggie capsule is made up of hypromellose. The other ingredients are cellulose, organic rice hulls, vitamin C, silica, and magnesium stearate.
The Pros:
- Extended-release capsules
- No caffeine crash
- Veggie capsules
- Each container has 100 pills
Summary: The caffeine supplement uses time-release technology for sustained energy levels and focus throughout the day. 100 mg of caffeine is available in each pill.
5. Best Vegetarian Caffeine Pills – Natrol High Caffeine, Energy Support
Vegetarian capsules are allergens and preservative-free. The FDA recognizes the use of vegetarian capsules as safe.
About Natrol High Caffeine
Natrol High Caffeine offers a simple and good supplement of 200 mg of the caffeine in each pill.
No artificial flavors or preservatives are present. It has no added sugars or calories. The company makes the supplement available at a fair price. Each bottle contains 100 tablets.
These pills should not be taken by children or those who are sensitive to caffeine.
The company has established its brand of supplements by delivering products that are beneficial and affordable.
The company has been around for more than 35 years.
What it Contains:
One serving of this capsule has 200 mg of caffeine and 75 mg calcium.
The other ingredients that make up this product are stearic acid, cellulose gum, silica, magnesium stearate, methylcellulose, and glycerin.
These caffeine pills do not contain nuts, peanuts, and tree nuts. It is free of wheat, fish, and milk components.
A user can take up to 3 tablets a day with a minimum of 3 to 4 hours between them. At no point should the dosage go beyond 3 pills in a 24-hour period.
The Pros:
- Vegetarian supplement
- Fair pricing
- Has no milk products included
- No preservatives present
Summary: Natrol High Caffeine has only caffeine and calcium as its main components. The product is reasonably priced. The company is well-known for its beneficial supplement.
6. Best Unflavored Caffeine Pills – Muscletech Platinum Caffeine
The pure anhydrous caffeine powder is powerful. A significantly small amount is sufficient to deliver its health benefits.
About Muscletech Platinum Caffeine
MuscleTech Platinum is America’s #1 bodybuilding supplement brand. They have been in the market for 20 years and are synonymous with the pure and trusted product without any fillers.
The caffeine powder in these pills is 100% pure.
One serving of this product is equivalent to 2.5 cups of coffee. The product offers a good deal in terms of price as the product serving is only one pill per day.
One pack of this caffeine supplement can easily last for more than 4 months. It contains 125 tablets.
Muscletech Platinum caffeine pills are among the strongest caffeine pills available in the market. The company has obtained a ‘guaranteed no banned substances added’ recognition.
A considerable sum of money is invested by the company in research and development of its dietary supplements. All processes of cGMP are followed in manufacturing the product.
What it Contains:
One serving of this tablet contains 220 mg of anhydrous caffeine.
The other ingredients are hypromellose, glycerin, sucrose, maltodextrin, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, and silicon dioxide.
The tolerance level of the individual will determine the number of pills that can be taken in a day. To test your tolerance level, break the tablet in two and take only one half at first.
The recommended use of these caffeine pills is only 1 to 2 times a day as needed.
It is best to consult your physician before starting on a course of this product.
The Pros:
- Unflavored supplement
- Anhydrous caffeine
- 25% more caffeine than most brands
- Non-inclusion guarantee of banned substances
Summary: Muscletech Platinum is among the strongest caffeine supplements available in the market. The company ensures only the best quality ingredients are used in the manufacture of this product.
The Benefits of Caffeine Pills
Caffeine pills have a wide range of benefits. It ranges from the enhancement of nootropic effects (such as alertness and focus) to an increase in your ability to work out more efficiently. Caffeine pills help in burning fat, increases your metabolism, helps reduce weight, and more. Let’s have a look at a few of them.
- Increases focus and alertness: Caffeine pills, as stimulants have been shown to increase alertness and focus. It is mostly true in pills that also contain L-theanine as an ingredient. This combination together helps boost your mental function (8).
- Helps increase metabolism: Caffeine is highly effective in increasing your metabolism resulting in weight loss. In fact, studies have observed around 8-11 % increase when taken on a regular basis. As your metabolism increases, your body loses weight as more calories are getting burned, making caffeine an active ingredient in most weight loss pills.
- Boosts fat burning: Caffeine has a significant fat burning effect. An increased dose of caffeine has shown to alter the biochemical pathways in the body resulting in the burning of fat instead of glucose, which is the primary source of energy. This leads to weight loss.
- Increases exercise performance: Muscles use glucose as their primary source of energy. This is stored as glycogen in the body. As you exercise, more and more energy is needed depleting this glycogen store. This eventually makes the muscles weaker.
Caffeine boosts fat breakdown during exercise sparing this glycogen store for energy, reducing exercise-induced exertion. This mechanism helps boost endurance level and optimizes exercise performance.
Studies have shown that caffeine pills at a dose of 3-9 mg/kg/body mass, 30-90 minutes before exercise help better exercise performance (9).
Summary: Caffeine pills are an effective way to increase your focus and attention, help you lose weight by focussing on fat burning, and boost and optimize your performance.
The Dosage Instructions for Caffeine Pills
The dosage of caffeine pills differs between individuals. Many factors like time of day, whether the user is rested or tired also influence the amount of caffeine intake.
Response to caffeine intake between users varies depending upon sleep patterns and habits.
Children in the age group of 2 to 11 years can consume about 50 mg per day. For women, it is 2.4 mg each day, per kilogram of body weight. Men can have 2.0 mg per kilogram of body weight in one day (10).
The dietary options of caffeine consumption among adults are tea and coffee whereas children consume mostly soda and chocolate. These have low amounts of caffeine.
The average amount of caffeine available in these products is about 200 mg. The directions for the use of these pills vary according to the sought-after health benefits, for example, alertness, cognition, and other health gains.
The recommended dosage suggestions are usually between 1 pill to 2 pills a day with a gap of three to four hours (11).
A consumption of above 400 mg in one day is considered an overdose (12).
Summary: Responses to a course of caffeine pills differs between people depending upon the age of the user and the lifestyle followed. The dosage of these caffeine pills according to the health goals of the individual.
The Side-Effects and Risks of Using Caffeine Pills
Given the fact that caffeine is a powerful stimulant for the brain and body, an overdose of this substance can cause side-effects.
Side-effects include headaches, nausea, sleeplessness, and restlessness. It can even cause rapid heart-beats (13).
Overdosing on caffeine can become extremely unsafe when other in-use caffeine dietary intake is not taken into account. For example, weight loss supplements have caffeine as one of its main components (14).
One of the most attractive qualities of this substance is that it aids people in remaining awake. The flip side of this quality is that many users, especially the elderly find it difficult to get sufficient sleep.
The effects of caffeine take many hours to subside. It is very important that its consumption in various forms is spread out throughout the day.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued industry guidelines and recommendations for the use of caffeine (15). According to the FDA, It is unlawful to sell caffeine in bulk.
Summary: Caffeine pills are beneficial in many ways. However, it is important that you follow all instructions given for its proper use. It is advisable to consult your physician before starting a course on caffeine pills.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Long is the Effect of a Caffeine Pill?
The maximum effect takes place in about an hour. Thereafter it may take about 5 to 6 hours to wear off completely.
This duration may extend further if you are a woman on birth control pills. Care should be taken on the timing of the next pill in this case.
The effects of this stimulant may be longer for those who are sensitive to caffeine.
Will Caffeine Consumption Cause Addiction?
No, caffeine does not cause addiction. Though it can create slight physical dependence, there is no comparison to drug-causing behaviors.
The light physical dependence may cause withdrawal symptoms when caffeine intake is stopped. Headaches, tiredness, and irritability are the symptoms (16).
Should Pregnant and Habitual Caffeine Pills Consuming Women Reduce the Quantity of Caffeine?
Yes, this is because caffeine can increase the heart rate of pregnant women. Doctors in such cases recommend that the amounts of caffeine intake be reduced (17).
High amounts of caffeine could affect the development of the fetus. It can also cause birth defects, miscarriages, and premature delivery.
Is There a Set Limit to the Amount of Caffeine Available in Energy Drinks?
No, there is no set limit to the amount of caffeine in energy drinks. Caffeine is not considered as a nutrient and so manufacturers do not have to list it on the product label. Adults can consume up to 400 mg caffeine a day.
Should Singers and Voice Professionals Avoid Caffeine Pills?
This has not been scientifically researched. The choice to avoid caffeine dietary options by singers and voice professionals was based on hearsay. More studies are required to confirm it.
The Final Note
Caffeine Pills are natural or synthetic caffeine in a pill form. They are stimulants that work on the central nervous system of the body. Caffeine increases alertness, focus, and even the physical performance of the user.
Caffeine pills are popular among officer goers for increasing their focus and productivity while bodybuilders or athletes take it to boost their workout performance. There are many who turn to caffeine supplements for weight loss.
Up to a maximum of 400 mg caffeine through pills can be taken in a day. A highly concentrated form of caffeine pills is a health concern when the measurement of servings is not duly followed.
However, it is highly recommended that you consult your doctor before starting on a course of caffeine pills. This becomes even more important if you are under 18, pregnant, or lactating. A doctor’s consultation is advisable if you suspect or have a medical condition.
