The Best BCAA Supplement in 2021 (Buyer’s Guide and Reviews)

Amino acids are a significant product for many fitness freaks and gym-goers, as they can improve endurance, help with muscle soreness, and reduce fatigue. Statistics show that BCAAs are the second most bought type of dietary supplement after whey protein. 

If you’re thinking of getting one, you’re in the right place. We’ve done a series of evaluations and drawn up an in-depth article regarding the best BCAA products on the market with a detailed guide on choosing the best BCAA supplement. It also contains all the necessary information about the essential ingredients, dosage, and effectiveness.

Affiliate Disclosure

The search for the right BCAA supplement can be an arduous process. There are many products on the market, and it’s challenging to decide which one would suit you perfectly and give you the best results. For that reason, we’ve painstakingly analyzed various BCAA supplements to provide you with detailed reviews of the top ten BCAA supplements. 

Let’s check them out.

Naked Nutrition, well known for its high-quality vegan-friendly products, presents us with the overall best bcaa product on the market—Naked BCAAs. 

This fantastic product basically contains only one ingredient—BCAAs. As the product name suggests, this is an altogether “naked” supplement that uses no unnecessary fillers, ingredients, etc., and prioritizes the use of 100% pure plant-based ingredients to give you the best BCAA experience and results. 

Besides amino acids, this product contains only one additional ingredient, sunflower lecithin (less than 1%), added to increase the powder’s solubility. 

Each serving contains about 5 g of BCAAs—2500 mg of leucine and 1250 mg of valine and isoleucine each, in a 2:1:1 ratio.

Naked Nutrition’s top BCAA powder is gluten-free, soy-free, and vegan. It’s also free from artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners. Since it doesn’t have a strong flavor, you can mix it with your favorite beverage instead of water for maximum enjoyment.

Customers reported a rapid improvement in muscle fatigue after consumption. They also hail its natural ingredients, short dissolving time, vegan-friendliness, and swift action.

Pros:

• Dissolves easily 
• Rapid action after consumption
• One of the cleanest BCAAs on the market

Cons:

• Particular consumers reported it tasted like crushed aspirin when dissolved in water
• Unpleasant smell

Another top BCAA supplement comes from Transparent Labs. This product delivers the best high-quality ingredients in powder form to keep you up to speed and re-energize you, ensuring you get the best workout experience possible.

Transparent Labs created this best glutamine BCAA supplement with the idea of speeding up muscle restoration and increasing the muscle’s oxygen-carrying capabilities. Therefore, this product contains a considerable amount of L-glutamine (5,000 mg per scoop), which reduces muscle fatigue and soreness and plays a vital role in muscle synthesis. 

Furthermore, one serving of this product contains about 8 g of BCAAs. A single scoop provides you with 4,000 mg of leucine and 2,000 mg of valine and isoleucine each. Additionally, you get 2 g of carbohydrates, 1,535 g of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and about 515 g of stevia instead of sugar. 

This best-rated BCAA supplement that comes in many different flavors has a vegan formulation that doesn’t include allergens, artificial flavors, or additives.

Consumers generally claim that, other than that it tastes great, it helped them with muscle recovery and attain their fitness goals. However, some noted that stevia makes it leave an odd aftertaste.

Pros:

• Safe for sports drug testing—contains no illegal ingredients
• Their formula is 100% transparent and available to the public
• Tastes great
• Perfectly dosed
• Effective 
• Affordable

Cons:

• May leave an odd aftertaste

If you’re looking for a good BCAA supplement that doesn’t require preparation and allows you to avoid shakers and tiring search for the tolerable flavor, you should resort to pills. 

Performance Lab, a UK-based supplement brand, created some of the best BCAA pills that are vegan-friendly, allergen-free, and contain no artificial flavoring, coloring, or additives. Each capsule contains 1,500 mg of leucine and 750 mg isoleucine and valine each, in a 2:1:1 ratio. It has no other ingredients besides the BCAAs.

This product aids muscle protein synthesis, especially in individuals with low protein intake. It also increases the amount of glucose produced during exercising, thereby delaying fatigue. It supports faster and healthier muscle recovery after workouts and provides immune protection.

These pills, dubbed the best BCAA capsules in 2020, continue their success and remain one of the best to the present day. Customers love this product because it’s easy to carry around and doesn’t require lengthy preparation. Some also highly praised its vegan-friendliness, lack of synthetic additives, and non-inclusion of GMO ingredients.

Pros:

• Free from allergens
• No artificial flavor or additives
• Contains only five ingredients

Cons:

• You have to take a whopping six pills per workout session

There aren’t many companies catering solely to females in the supplement industry. IdealFit is one of the few that do. This American-based company created a market for women’s workout programs, clothing, and numerous supplements tailored to ladies’ specific needs.

Consequently, Ideallean BCAAs, one of the best BCAA supplements for women on the market, caters to women’s particular amino acid needs. Each serving of IdealLean has 5 g of BCAAs to promote muscle growth and reduce soreness. There are only 10 calories in a scoop, and a multitude of ingredients that promote weight loss, such as green tea extract. These substances increase fat burn, boost metabolism, and maximize weight loss efficiency. 

Customer reviews of this product regarded as the best amino acids for women are generally positive, with a couple of recent complaints about the change in the product’s taste.

Pros:

• Relatively inexpensive
• Helps with fat-loss
• It has a multitude of flavors
• Zero calories

Cons:

• Some consumers were turned off by the amount of fillers
• Some consumers reported that not all tubs they ordered were equally tasty

AllMax is an American-based company creating great-tasting supplement options for bodybuilders, athletes, and fitness freaks. Besides producing fat burners and mass gainers, they make some of the best BCAAs for both men and women. Therefore, their Aminocore BCAA found its way to our list of top 10 BCAA supplements. 

This product delivers 8.18 g of BCAA per serving, one the highest amounts per scoop on the market in a highly unconventional BCAA ratio of 9:6:5. There are five calories in each serving and a sufficient amount of vitamins to satisfy your daily recommended intake of Vitamin B. It contains no sugar and uses sucralose as a sweetener instead.

This top-rated bcaa supplement has received many compliments on its exquisite taste over the years, despite containing no sugar. It offers a selection of carefully chosen flavors (fruit punch blast, pineapple mango, white grape, blue raspberry, pink lemonade, watermelon candy, and white tea) for maximum enjoyment. 

Finally, Aminocore provides a 350% increase in anabolic activity and causes a rapid increase in muscle growth. When combined with a high-protein supplement, it helps build a complete muscular physique and lean muscle.

Pros:

• A high amount of BCAA per scoop
• Tastes great
• Relatively affordable
• Contains extra vitamins

Cons:

• Contains sucralose

Betancourt is a US supplement company based in Florida. They create products to make athletes’ workout and recovery sessions more efficient. Their products are specifically designed to burn fat, boost testosterone, and aid recovery.

Since their BCAA Plus Series supplement does that and much more, it deserves the title of the best BCAA for bodybuilding and athletic endeavors. One serving contains 6 g of BCAAs in an unconventional 4:1:1 ratio. There are 4,000 mg of leucine and 1,000 mg of isoleucine and valine, each, per scoop.

The focus is on delivering the most anabolic essential amino acid to the body to promote protein synthesis, muscle tissue growth, and speed up recovery. It also contains taurine and sustamine, which help with water absorption.

Zinc is an interesting addition usually not found in BCAA supplements. This mineral could be a powerful addition since it’s been linked to the steady production of testosterone that helps regulate muscle mass and strength, reducing the rate of fatigue during and after workouts.

Customer reviews for this bcaa powder are excellent, users praising the recovery speed and the overall efficiency.

Pros:

• It contains extra leucine
• Supports optimal testosterone function during exercises
• It contains electrolytes and vitamins
• It helps make workouts more efficient by increasing the energy levels

Cons:

• Not all flavors are equally tasty
• Some consumers complained about the product having a smaller number of servings than advertised

Xtend relies on science, innovation, and high-quality ingredients to produce the best BCAA on the market. Consequently, they make top-notch recovery products that enable increased hydration.

This product exploits the best ingredients to fuel and refuel muscles, therefore improving muscle recovery rate. Furthermore, the carefully chosen ingredients are thoughtfully combined to create the optimal product for recovery during and after workout routines. Namely, many ingredients in this top bcaa powder help with performance, and the addition of electrolytes helps you stay hydrated.

The supplement contains 7 g of BCAAs per serving, which is how it got its catchy “7G” name. BCAAs occur in a 2:1:1 ratio, with 3,500 mg of leucine and 1,750 mg of valine and isoleucine, each. It also contains 2,500 mg of glutamine per serving, along with 1,000 mg of citrulline malate. Additionally, there’s an electrolyte blend of 1,140 mg for hydration, making it one of the best BCAA for men and women on the market.

Customer reviews are generally positive, with many people satisfied with the range of delicious flavors.

Pros:

• Hastens recovery and energy replenishment
• Tastes great
• A large number of servings

Cons:

• Some consumers didn’t like the recent change of formula in terms of flavor
• Might contain allergens

Cellucor is a Texas-based supplement company producing some of the best BCAA pre-workout products in the industry. 

This candidate for the best BCAA amino acid supplement contains electrolytes that perfect for optimal muscle development and recovery, as they promote hydration. 

The product contains many different amino acids and a plethora of extra ingredients. Amino acids like taurine and L-alanine, as well as electrolytes, are essential for reducing fatigue and boosting endurance for optimal performance, which is this product’s primary function.

There are 5 g of BCAAs per serving with a 2:1:1 ratio in this zero-calorie powder BCAA supplement. It features 2,500 mg of leucine, 1,250 mg of valine and 1,250 mg of isoleucine. There are also an extra 3,750 mg of other essential amino acids and 1,750 mg of an alpha amino hydration blend with coconut water and electrolytes per serving.

Customer reviews on Alpha Amino Performance BCAAs, one of the top BCAA powder supplements, are favorable, with many praising its flavor and refreshing quality.

Pros:

• It can be used before and after workouts
• Exquisite taste
• Decreases incidence of sore muscles, thereby increasing workout time
• It has a lot of extra amino acids

Cons:

• Contains sucralose
• The powder can get clumpy after a while

Thorne is an expert in human health that provides innovative solutions backed by science in the field of supplements. It aims to create high-quality products using natural ingredients to provide you with the best supplement experience, and this product is no exception.

This BCAA powder contains a variety of essential amino acids that promote muscle mass building and enhance energy production in the most natural way. One serving of this product contains 2.5 g of BCAAs in a 2:1:1 ratio. Besides BCAAs, there’s also 1,500 mg of other essential amino acids, such as L-lysine, L-threonine, etc. Additionally, a single serving of this product has 25 calories and 1 g of carbohydrates. 

This high-quality BCAA supplement contains natural flavors and colors derived from natural ingredients like cinnamon, cocoa, and monk fruit. It’s NSF-certified and comes in two flavors—Lemon and Berry.  

Consumer reviews are generally favorable, relating to an increase in performance and muscle development. However, some consumers find this product too sweet for a supplement.

Pros:

• High-quality product
• NSF-certified
• It contains extra amino acids
• Made with natural ingredients

Cons:

• Several complaints about the product being too sweet
• It leaves an odd aftertaste
• Relatively pricey

Pure Encapsulations is a supplement brand with over 30 years of experience, partnering with various experts to create the best products for its customers. They’re currently producing over 400 uniquely developed products made with the best-quality laboratory-tested ingredients.

As likely the best BCAA supplement in the bodybuilding world, the Pure Encapsulations BCAA promotes healthy muscle mass growth, supports the energy in working muscles, and prevents protein breakdown during workouts. It was specially produced for workout enthusiasts after an optimal lean muscle mass and nutritional support since it’s regarded as the best BCAA for muscle growth and muscle mass building. 

Customers generally describe it as efficient. Some even claim it helped them with tardive dyskinesia. 

It’s available in powder and capsule form, giving the customers choice on how they wish to ingest their BCAA. In the powder variant, there are 3 g of BCAAs per scoop. Similarly, two capsules that you should take 1–2 times a day contain only 1.2 g of BCAAs. 

The final reason why this product made it to our best BCAA review list is that it’s safe, hypoallergenic, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly. Additionally, there are no additives, GMOs, or artificial flavors, making it a very healthy BCAA powder and capsule supplement.

Pros:

• Hypoallergenic and gluten-free
• No additives and additional flavoring or colors
• Available in powder and capsule form

Cons:

• It might taste and smell a bit strange
• Some users complained about it not mixing well in water

BCAAs are important nutrients for various processes in the body. However, finding the best BCAA supplements for you might be pretty tricky if you don’t know what to look for. 

We wrote this section to bring to your attention the most important things you need to know about the highest quality BCAA supplements and how to find them.

What are BCAAs and BCAA Supplements?

Amino acids are essential for muscle-building processes, such as muscle production, muscle repair, intracellular activity, and energy production. There are 20 amino acids in total that can be categorized into two types—essential (9) and nonessential (11). Nonessential amino acids can be produced by our own body, while the essential ones can‘t and have to be sourced from food and dietary supplements.

BCAA is an abbreviation for branched-chain amino acids, a type of essential amino acids. They’re the main ingredient of good BCAA supplements. Since our bodies can’t synthesize them, we have to obtain them from external sources. They are a group of three amino acids called leucine, isoleucine, and valine. 

Leucine is the most critical for synthesizing new muscle protein and preventing muscle breakdown. In combination with isoleucine and valine, it ensures muscle synthesis, muscle repair and prevents muscle catabolism. Additionally, they aid fat burning and help improve training times and fitness levels.

The best time to take BCAA supplements might depend on the type of supplement and the user’s goals. For example, gym-goers typically take them before and after workout sessions.

Benefits of BCAA Supplements

The main BCAA health benefits include:

• Increased muscle growth
• Decreased muscle soreness
• Muscle wasting prevention
• Reducing fatigue from exercise
• Improved aerobic and anaerobic performance
• Improved immune system

Sources of BCAAs

BCAAs can be sourced from supplements, as well as from food. Natural dietary sources of BCAAs include:

• Whey and soy proteins
• Milk and cheese
• Baked beans
• Corn
• Chickpeas
• Beef and chicken
• Fish
• Eggs
• Almonds and cashews
• Brown Rice
• Lentils
• Pumpkin

These are protein-rich foods that offer both essential amino acids and branched-chain amino acids in adequate amounts.

Dosage

There’s no standard recommended dosage for BCAA supplements. The dosage usually depends on individual choices or and the users’ goals. 

The amount of branched-chain amino acids in the high-quality bcaa products may range from as little as 2.5 g to 8 g of BCAAs per serving. It varies according to the manufacturer, so it’s best to follow the recommendations and instructions on the product label.  

Form

Top BCAA supplements come in several different forms—powder, capsules, and tablets. All forms are equally efficient, so the choice comes down to personal preference. While tablets and pills are easier to carry around (to the gym), BCAA powders can be mixed with water, sports drinks, or smoothies, to quickly move amino acids to the muscles. 

Proportion/Ratio

BCAAs in different supplement brands come with varying proportions of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. There is usually more leucine than other essential amino acids in the blend since it’s crucial for muscle tissue growth. The most common ratio in BCAA supplements is 2:1:1. 

Purity

It’s also imperative to check the ingredients to make sure the product is a good BCAA supplement for you. There are different thresholds for the use of extra ingredients and artificial filler additives in the supplement. Therefore, it’s always good to check the product for allergens, fillers, additives, etc. 

We made sure that the products on our list are pure and safe to use.

Cost

This is a significant factor to consider when it comes to selecting dietary supplements. There are many brands currently on the market with ranging prices, so it can be challenging to make the right choice. We made sure that only the best BCAAs for women and men made our list and that every product provides the best value for the money.

Side Effects

BCAA supplements are generally safe and don’t cause any side effects if taken according to the instructions. They won’t make you gain weight or affect your nutrition adversely on their own. However, consuming BCAAs in excess can cause adverse effects such as fatigue, stomach upset, loss of coordination, depression, and sleep cycle disturbances.

Conclusion

BCAAs are important essential amino acids that help with protein synthesis and the development of lean muscle mass. Therefore, they’re a go-to dietary supplement for people who take bodybuilding and fitness seriously.

Selecting the best BCAA supplement to use might be tedious due to the abundance of products on the market, but it should get easier with the help of our reviews and guides. In them, we outlined the most important factors to note regarding product selection, such as BCAA ratio, dosage, etc to help you pick the best bcaa on the market.