Top 11 Best Ways To Boost Energy (2026)

Ranked Solutions

Ranked by how much each one actually moves the needle — our SAC Efficacy Score™, explained further down.

1. #1

   Iron

   Supplement

   resolves a leading, fixable cause of fatigue when ferritin is low

   ⚑ only if iron-deficient

   7.3/10SAC Efficacy Score™ⓘ

   • Effect size45%Moderate
   • Evidence40%Strong
   • Reliability15%Specific cases

   Low iron is one of the most common — and most fixable — causes of constant tiredness, especially in women. Test ferritin before supplementing.

   See the Best Iron Supplements →
2. #2

   Vitamin B12

   Supplement

   restores energy + clears brain fog when B12 is low

   ⚑ biggest if B12 is low (vegans, older adults)

   6.9/10SAC Efficacy Score™ⓘ

   • Effect size45%Moderate
   • Evidence40%Strong
   • Reliability15%Specific cases

   Deficiency causes genuine fatigue and brain fog — common in vegans, older adults and metformin users. 500-1,000 mcg daily.

   See the Best Vitamin B12 Supplements →
3. #3

   Creatine Monohydrate

   Supplement

   replenishes cellular ATP for a broad, reliable anti-fatigue effect

   6.8/10SAC Efficacy Score™ⓘ

   • Effect size45%Modest
   • Evidence40%Strong
   • Reliability15%Works for many

   Refuels cellular ATP — a real, broad anti-fatigue effect on top of the strength + cognition benefits. 5 g/day.

   See the Best Creatine Supplements →What is Creatine Monohydrate?
4. #4

   Pre-Workout

   Supplement

   acute caffeine-driven energy + focus boost

   ⚑ acute, and caffeine tolerance builds

   6.5/10SAC Efficacy Score™ⓘ

   • Effect size45%Moderate
   • Evidence40%Moderate
   • Reliability15%Works for many

   Caffeine plus L-citrulline and tyrosine deliver an acute, reliable lift in energy and focus for training.

   See the Best Pre-Workout →What is Pre-Workout?
5. #5

   Rhodiola Rosea

   Supplement

   reduces stress-related fatigue + burnout in trials

   6.5/10SAC Efficacy Score™ⓘ

   • Effect size45%Moderate
   • Evidence40%Moderate
   • Reliability15%Works for many

   Adaptogen with real trial evidence for stress-related fatigue and burnout. 200-400 mg standardised (3% rosavins).

   See the Best Rhodiola Rosea Supplements →
6. #6

   CoQ10 (Ubiquinol)

   Supplement

   mitochondrial energy support, clearest in older / statin users

   6.4/10SAC Efficacy Score™ⓘ

   • Effect size45%Modest
   • Evidence40%Moderate
   • Reliability15%Works for many

   Mitochondrial energy cofactor; most useful for older adults, statin users and the chronically fatigued. 100-200 mg with fat.

   See the Best CoQ10 Supplements →What is CoQ10 (Ubiquinol)?
7. #7

   Electrolyte Powder

   Supplement

   restores energy specifically when the cause is dehydration / electrolyte loss

   ⚑ only when fatigue is electrolyte-driven

   5.2/10SAC Efficacy Score™ⓘ

   • Effect size45%Modest
   • Evidence40%Moderate
   • Reliability15%Specific cases

   When fatigue is driven by dehydration or low sodium — common on low-carb, fasting or in heat — replacing electrolytes restores energy.

   See the Best Electrolyte Powder →What is Electrolyte Powder?
8. #8

   Multivitamin

   Supplement

   fixes the fatigue that comes from genuine micronutrient gaps; no energy boost if you are already replete

   ⚑ energy lift mainly if you were deficient

   4.8/10SAC Efficacy Score™ⓘ

   • Effect size45%Small
   • Evidence40%Limited
   • Reliability15%Specific cases

   Cheap dietary-gap insurance that can lift energy only where a real shortfall (iron, B12, D) exists — not a stimulant and not an energy drug for the already-replete.

   See the Best Multivitamins →What is Multivitamin?
9. #9

   Cordyceps (C. militaris)

   Supplement

   mechanistically coherent energy story; human trials are small, mixed and lack replication

   ⚑ militaris fruiting body with disclosed beta-glucan only

   4.3/10SAC Efficacy Score™ⓘ

   • Effect size45%Small
   • Evidence40%Preliminary
   • Reliability15%Narrow

   Bought for natural energy on a coherent mitochondrial mechanism, but the human energy data is limited and mixed — buy the best-made militaris extract without expecting a transformation.

   See the Best Cordyceps Supplements →What is Cordyceps (C. militaris)?
10. #10

    NMN / NAD+

    Supplement

    raises NAD+; subjective energy benefit not demonstrated in humans

    ⚑ early / mixed human evidence

    4.3/10SAC Efficacy Score™ⓘ

    • Effect size45%Small
    • Evidence40%Limited
    • Reliability15%Narrow

    Raises NAD+, the coenzyme behind cellular energy metabolism — but the subjective everyday-energy benefit is unproven in humans.

    See the Best NMN Supplements →What is NMN / NAD+?
11. #11

    Bee Pearl / Bee Pollen

    Supplement

    popular energy/vitality claims rest on small, preliminary or test-tube studies, not human RCTs

    ⚑ bee/pollen allergen — spot-test first; royal jelly riskiest

    3.3/10SAC Efficacy Score™ⓘ

    • Effect size45%Small
    • Evidence40%Preliminary
    • Reliability15%Narrow

    A whole-food micronutrient matrix taken for natural energy, but the energy and vitality claims are traditional or backed only by small/preliminary studies — promising, not proven.

    See the Best Bee Pollen & Royal Jelly Supplements →What is Bee Pearl / Bee Pollen?

Our methodology

How every score on this page is calculated — transparent and free to cite.

Best-Of Buyer Guides

Curated product roundups for energy — every pick tested for evidence, quality, and price-per-active-mg.

Head-to-Head Comparisons

Stuck between two options for energy? These comparisons break down what wins where and why.

Research & sources

The key human trials behind the rankings above — every PMID verified against its primary source.

1. Creatine MonohydrateKreider 2017 (ISSN Position Statement) — International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · PMID 28615996
2. Creatine MonohydrateChilibeck 2017 — Effect of creatine supplementation during resistance training on lean tissue mass and muscular strength in older adults: a meta-analysis · Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine · PMID 29138605
3. Pre-WorkoutPérez-Guisado 2010 — Citrulline malate enhances athletic anaerobic performance and relieves muscle soreness · Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research · PMID 20386132
4. Pre-WorkoutHobson 2012 — Effects of β-alanine supplementation on exercise performance: a meta-analysis · Amino Acids · PMID 22270875
5. CoQ10 (Ubiquinol)Mortensen 2014 (Q-SYMBIO) — The effect of coenzyme Q10 on morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure: results from Q-SYMBIO: a randomized double-blind trial · JACC: Heart Failure · PMID 25282031
6. CoQ10 (Ubiquinol)Banach 2015 (statin myopathy meta) — Effects of coenzyme Q10 on statin-induced myopathy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials · Mayo Clinic Proceedings · PMID 25440725
7. Electrolyte PowderSawka 2007 — American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and fluid replacement · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · PMID 17277604
8. Electrolyte PowderBaker 2017 — Sweating Rate and Sweat Sodium Concentration in Athletes: A Review of Methodology and Intra/Interindividual Variability · Sports Medicine · PMID 28332116
9. MultivitaminGaziano 2012 (PHS II — cancer) — Multivitamins in the prevention of cancer in men: the Physicians' Health Study II randomized controlled trial · JAMA · PMID 23162860
10. MultivitaminSesso 2012 (PHS II — cardiovascular) — Multivitamins in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in men: the Physicians' Health Study II randomized controlled trial · JAMA · PMID 23117775