The 6 Best Non-Stim Fat Burners, According to Our Testers

Non-stim fat burners are supplements that may help you increase your fat burn without any stimulant ingredients, like caffeine. The best fat burners can potentially help in a fat loss journey when used judiciously — and we emphasize the word ‘judiciously,’ meaning consumed alongside a calorie deficit and exercise routine.

Most fat burner products contain stimulants, like caffeine. But plenty of people are a little sensitive to these ingredients, or they want to take their pills at night without messing up their sleep. Non-stimulant fat burners are out there, but they can be hard to find. Not to worry — we’ve put together a list of the best non-stimulant fat burners on the market to help support all of your fat-burning needs without any of the added stimulants. 

The Best Non-Stimulant Fat Burners

• Best Non-Stim Fat Burner Overall: Transparent Labs Recomp Stim-Free
• Best Non-Stim Fat Burner for Bodybuilding: Jacked Factory Lean PM
• Best Research-Backed Non-Stim Fat Burner: Legion Phoenix Stim Free
• Best L-Carnitine: 1st Phorm L-Carnitine
• Best Berberine: Bulk Supplements Berberine HCL Powder
• Best Green Tea Extract: Thorne Green Tea Extract

Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended to diagnose, prevent, and/or treat health problems. Speak with your physician before undertaking any new weight loss regimen.

How We Chose the Best Non-Stimulant Fat Burners

When selecting the best non-stim fat burners for this list, our team considered a number of factors, including ingredients and dosing, based on research. Fat burners are not a crucial supplement and for some athletes, they’re not suitable at all. But if you want to give them a try, we’re here to help you make the most educated (and effective) purchase.

Dosage

Although some fat burners may have solid ingredients, it doesn’t matter if the dosage is significantly lower than what’s clinically effective. Our team looked closely at ingredients but also the amount of each ingredient that’s provided.

Proprietary Blends

When fat burners consist mainly of proprietary blends, it’s hard to know how much of each ingredient you’re actually getting. Our team favored non-stim fat burners that rely on precise and transparent information over options with proprietary blends. 

Price

Our team aimed to provide a list of non-stim fat burners that are varying in price. Some fat burners can be extremely pricey, as they contain more ingredients and higher doses. Yet, that may not fit into everyone’s budget. So, we made a conscious effort to provide variety. 

Best Non-Stim Fat Burner Overall: Transparent Labs Recomp Stim-Free

Finding the best fat burner for women or men with zero stimulants can be tricky. But with its simple, yet effective ingredient list, Transparent Labs Stim-Free gets the job done — that’s why we named it the best non-stim fat burner overall. 

“Recomp Stim-Free uses research-backed ingredients,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, who gave the formulation a 3.5 out of 5. “Nevertheless, that doesn’t eliminate the risks associated with fat burners. Fat burners aren’t appropriate for everyone butI appreciate that this has been tested by a third-party lab.”

One serving of this non-stim fat burner packs 50 milligrams of capsimax (red pepper extract), which may help provide a thermogenic effect, meaning it can help your body burn more calories, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Nevertheless, no single ingredient can outweigh a poor diet.

We also like that one serving only involves two capsules. However, the brand does recommend that you take two capsules twice daily, which can be challenging for athletes who are constantly on-the-go. For that reason, we had to give the dosage convenience a 3 out of 5. 

When it comes to cost, this is a pricier fat burner than some others on this list. One 60-serving bottle costs $54.99. That amounts to about $0.91, earning Transparent Labs a 3.5 out of 5 in this category. The serving size may be less than $1 but since you do need to take two servings per day, it drives the price up. 

Read our full Transparent Labs Stim-Free Fat Burner Review.

Best Non-Stim Fat Burner for Bodybuilding: Jacked Factory Lean PM

Even when taking the best protein powder supplements, retaining muscle while losing fat is tricky. Thankfully, the ingredients of Jacked Factory Lean PM may help you keep your hard-earned gains. In one dose, you get 200 milligrams of l-theanine, which can help promote mental clarity and focus — a must for bodybuilding workouts, which tend to include long high-rep sets, per the Cleveland Clinic.

“Lean PM contains evidence-based ingredients in small amounts,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, who gave the formulation a 3 out of 5. “Also, sleep aids aren’t suitable for everyone in the long term, which is good to know.”

This formula has a variety of ingredients with zero fillers or dyes, including 300mg of green tea extract, which can help promote weight loss, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Paired with five milligrams of melatonin and 150mg of magnesium — two ingredients that may help promote good sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation — this non-stim fat burner is ideal before bed.

You only have to take two capsules per serving once daily right before bed, making it easy to consistently take this supplement. Our team gave the dosage convenience a 5 out of 5, as many other fat burners involve multiple servings daily.

When it comes to cost, this isn’t the most budget-friendly pick. One 30-serving bottle costs $34.99, which is about $1.16 per serving. Our team gave the value category a 3 out of 5, as you can find cheaper products on this list.

Best Research-Backed Non-Stim Fat Burner: Legion Phoenix Stim-Free

If you’re putting something in your body and spending your hard-earned money on a supplement, you probably want to ensure that the ingredients are backed by research. That’s why we really like Legion Phoenix Stim Free.

“The caffeine-free version of Legion Phoenix scores a 3.75 out of 5,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN. “For a fat burner, it contains an impressive list of ingredients with science-backed doses.”

This fat burner from Legion is about as good as it gets when looking for a product that is supported by the literature. The combination of ingredients is supported by 26 peer-reviewed studies and features seven ingredients with clinically effective doses. There are ingredients meant to reduce appetite like caralluma fimbriata (1,000mg) and 5-HTP (150mg). 

You’ll also find ingredients to potentially aid in calorie burning — 50mg of forskolin, 100mg of black ginger, and 153mg of manuca pruriens. Phoenix is free of caffeine, so you don’t have to worry about becoming jittery or disturbing your sleep. If you want to read the research, Legion has it readily available on their website. And here’s good news for vegetarians — they’re vegetable capsules, so they’re acceptable for people avoiding animal products. 

When it comes to dosage, though, we had to give this product a 3 out of 5, as it’s not the most convenient. You need to take three capsules per serving, which can be a lot of pills to take at once, especially if you’re taking other supplements.

If you won’t settle for just any fat burner and want only ingredients that are supported by the research then you will like Legion Phoenix Stim Free. Its seven clinically dosed ingredients are supported by 26 peer-reviewed studies and priced well to boot.

[Related: Nutrition For Bulking: 10 Tips For Intelligent Muscle Gain]

Best L-Carnitine: 1st Phorm L-Carnitine

1st Phorm’s L-Carnitine isn’t solely a fat burner-focused supplement, though, with a caloric deficit and exercise routine, it may be able to help promote fat loss. Larger studies are still needed to directly associate carnitine with weight loss, though, according to the NIH. That being said, the 1,500-milligram serving does meet the clinically-supported dose.

“The 1,500 milligrams of l-carnitine is very close to the researched recommendation of 2,000 milligrams daily,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, who gave the formulation a 3.5 out of 5. “However, it may be overdoing it, as l-carnitine is found in various food sources. Plus, it contains artificial sweeteners that many people cannot tolerate.”

Unlike the other products on this list, 1st Phorm’s L-Carnitine is a powder, which comes in five different flavors, including Grape, Berry Lemonade, Strawberry Mango, Orange Sunrise, and Pineapple Coconut. We gave the convenience a 4 out of 5, as you can combine it with other powders.

The price point for this product is budget-friendly. One 60-serving container costs $42.99, which is about $0.71 per serving. Our team gave this one a 4.5 out of 5 for cost per serving, though it is recommended to take two scoops per day.

Best Berberine: BulkSupplements Berberine HCL Powder

This product contains only one ingredient with zero additives: berberine. BulkSupplements keeps this product simple without any artificial ingredients or sweeteners. Berberine is found in a variety of plants and has been thought to have weight-loss-benefit properties. Right now, research has found that berberine may help decrease fat levels, however these preclinical studies were conducted on rats, making it difficult to assess how berberine supplements may affect humans. (32)

“There’s still so much to learn about berberine and its effects on fat loss,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, who gave the formulation a 2.5 out of 5. “In addition to the limited research, the potential for medication interactions really gives me pause. Plus, it’s not third-party tested.”

Our team gave the dosage convenience a 3.5 out of 5, though, as this doesn’t come with a scooper. And considering the serving size is one fifth of a teaspoon, a food scale may be needed.However, as its an unflavored supplement, it can mix well with others.

When it comes to cost, this product earned a 5 out of 5. One 50-gram container contains 100 servings and only costs $21.96. That’s about $0.21 per serving, which is probably manageable for most athletes.

Best Green Tea Extract: Thorne Green Tea Extract

Green tea extract is probably one of the most popular fat-burner ingredients and this one is actually decaffeinated, making it suitable for all times of the day. For athletes who want a non-stim product without diving into a full-on fat burner, Thorne’s green tea extract may be a good first step.

“The research has shown that green tea may offer many benefits for the average healthy adult,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RND, who gave the formulation a 4 out of 5. “However, it doesn’t come without risks and should be discussed with your doctor before adding it to your supplement routine.”

While green tea is safe for most, some experts warn that green tea extracts can have negative effects on the liver for some individuals, Bourgeois says. So, if you’re taking any other medications or have any concerns, it’s best to first consult your doctor.

When it comes to dosage convenience, we gave this product a 3.5 out of 5. Although the serving size is only one capsule, Thorne does recommend taking multiple servings, which isn’t the most convenient.

One bottle of 60 servings only costs $30, which is only $0.50 per serving. However, seeing as you need to take up to three servings per day, that’s really more like $1.50 per day. So, in this category, our team gave Thorne a 3.5 out of 5.

The Benefits of Stimulant-Free Fat Burners

While there are many potential benefits to supplementing with a fat burner, non-stim fat burners offer their own unique benefits. Whether you’re looking to increase thermogenesis, boost fat oxidation, achieve a higher metabolic rate, decrease appetite, or just avoid the poor sleep that may occur when you take stimulants, we detail each potential benefit below.

Non-Stim Benefits

When you opt for a stim-free fat burner, you choose to forego the caffeine or stimulants that are often utilized as fat-burning ingredients. There are many potential benefits to choosing the non-stim route, and it may be the best choice for you if you enjoy getting your stimulants from a caffeine source like coffee, or if you’re on medications that are already loaded with stimulants. It’s also a great choice for those who are easily affected by stimulants but still want a fat-burning supplement to assist them in their fat-burning quest. 

Increased Thermogenesis

Thermogenesis is the process of heat generation in the body, which may help burn more calories through increased heat. A thermogenic aid may increase thermogenesis, and therefore, potentially increase calories burned. This includes energy expenditure from ingesting, digesting, and processing the food we eat. (13) 

Not all fat burners are created with thermogenesis in mind, but if you’re interested in the potential benefits of thermogenesis, make sure you pick a supplement that states it is a thermogenic aid. It is worth noting you probably won’t burn a ton of extra calories, but if your end goal is fat loss and your diet, cardio, and resistance training set you up for success, this can be a potentially helpful tool for that extra push. 

Increased Fat Oxidation

Fat oxidation is the process that breaks down fat stores in the body (triglycerides) that we accumulate from taking in excess fat that we do not burn throughout the day in our daily activities. In order for the body to target fat oxidation over other types of energy releases, you may have to work out at higher intensities — specifically, endurance training that lasts less than two hours can help facilitate fat oxidation. (14) Fat oxidation may also be a byproduct of some fat-burning supplements. 

Increased Metabolic Rate

The metabolic rate — also known as the basal metabolic rate — is the number of calories that are necessary for the body to perform its various functions while it’s at rest. Some fat burners have the potential to increase metabolic processes and in their wake, help you burn more calories. 

Decreased Appetite

The science-backed way to lose weight is by burning more calories than you are taking in. Many know this as CICO, or calories in versus calories out. By supplementing with a fat burner that aims to decrease your appetite, you may have fewer cravings, food binges, or desires to consume an excessive number of calories.

Although sticking to a diet plan, macro breakdown, or good program will be your best friend here, a supplement that may help decrease your appetite can be a helpful tool, as well.

What to Avoid in Non-Stimulant Fat Burners

As with the best pre-workout supplements, sometimes, even non-stim fat burners can contain ingredients you may want to avoid. For example, some non-stimulant fat burners have mild doses of caffeine, which can have a negative effect on people who are very sensitive to it. Also, keep an eye out for substances you might be allergic to, since ingredient lists don’t always contain an ingredient’s common name. Finally, athletes should keep an eye out for banned substances.

Small Doses of Stimulants

Occasionally, you’ll find smaller amounts of caffeine even in non-stim fat burners. They’re included to help provide a boost of energy, however small, to the mix. While 50 to 80mg may not affect most people, those who are sensitive to caffeine should keep an eye out for it when shopping for a fat burner.

Allergens

Two common ingredients in fat burners are cayenne pepper and black pepper extracts. Both of these ingredients can help speed up metabolism; black pepper has the added benefit of potentially helping the body’s digestion and absorption. However, some people are allergic to one or both of these ingredients, and should look for fat burners that don’t contain them. Be careful when reading ingredient lists, because often, they’ll be listed as the ingredients’ brand names or active chemicals like bioperine or capsaicin.

Banned Substances

If you’re an athlete or anyone else who may be tested for banned substances, you should know that some fat burners contain substances that could get you popped. For instance, Hordenine HCl, a chemical naturally found in barley, is a common ingredient in fat-burners, but is banned in many competitions, as well as by the Department of Defense. 

How Much Do Non-Stim Fat Burners Cost?

Non-stim fat burners vary in their design, purpose, and ingredient list, which will affect the price point of each product. This list ranges in price from around $0.33 to $2.00 per serving, with many of the higher-priced products offering a more robust ingredient list.

The average price of non-stim fat burners lies right around $1.12 per serving. If an ingredient list is extensive, high-quality, and third-party tested, the price tag will most likely be higher to match the perks of the supplement. You can assess your needs and desires in a non-stim fat burner, and it’s likely you’ll be able to find a non-stim fat burner that’s within your budget to match.

What To Consider Before Buying Non-Stim Fat Burners

These products are prone to exaggeration on the part of the manufacturers and wishful thinking by consumers. Make sure you’re mindful of these points.

Know Your Calories

Way too many people think adding a fat burner, with no other changes to their diet, will produce a six-pack. Fat burners might help burn some extra calories, but if you don’t know how many calories you’re burning, it’s a moot point.

Find out your ideal calories with a macro calculator — then adding a fat burner might give you some support.

Manage Your Expectations

It’s generally understood that a pound of fat loss per week is very fast, and you can maybe get to two pounds if you’re quite overweight or obese. Anyone who says they lost 20 pounds in a month is exaggerating — you need to be patient.

Exercise Regularly

Many of the ingredients linked to fat oxidation produce their best results with a solid exercise routine: They’re meant to increase the amount of fat burned during exercise.

In addition, exercise helps to burn more calories and improve body composition. Taking a fat burner without a workout routine may produce suboptimal results.

Speak to a Physician

This is absolutely key. It would be best if you never made any changes to your diet or exercise regimen without first speaking to a doctor. This is especially the case with easily misunderstood supplements like fat burners.

Final Word

Fat burners are meant to act as an aid for fat-burning goals in conjunction with a solid diet or meal plan, resistance training, and a cardio routine. Fat burners are not magic pills that will land you a top spot on the before and after picture list, but they can be a helpful tool to get you closer to your goals. If you’re sensitive to caffeine or just prefer to get your caffeine from a source outside of your fat burner, this list is chock full of excellent fat-burning supplements sans the stimulants. 

As you can see, there are many things to keep in mind when choosing the best non-stim fat burner, even when you’re trying to uncomplicate the ingredients list by removing caffeine. The right product totally depends on your own preferences, but we’ve found many non-stim products that operate on multiple fronts: potential appetite suppression, fat oxidation, and increased thermogenesis. Whatever your preference, there’s likely an option for you on this list.

FAQs

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