25 Strongest Energy Drinks That Will Kick You Into Gear

Energy drinks are designed to give you a kick start. They can be more powerful than coffee because they contain other stimulants, like sugar, taurine, and guanine. But, while energy drinks can be useful, they’re also confusing. There are so many different types to choose from and plenty of variation between them. How do you find the strongest energy drinks?

One trick is to look at the caffeine content. Caffeine isn’t the only reason that energy drinks give you such a kick, but it is a large part of the equation. However, other things can kick up energy boost you get. Sugar, of course, will give you an instant hit of energy. Natural supplements like taurine also take things to another level.

For bodybuilders, additions like beta-alanine can really shoot you into another plane of reality.

However, when considering the “strength” of energy drinks, you also have to consider the size. A 16oz can may take longer to consume than an 8oz can, so if both have 100mg caffeine, which ones is stronger? If one is sugar free and one isn't, which one is stronger?

So, that’s exactly what we’re going to do with this post. We’re going to rank the common energy drinks, starting from the most caffeine-packed. Most of the details come from Caffeine Informer, and we’re focusing on the common serving sizes for each of the drinks.

With all drinks considered, the highest level of caffeine you're going to get in a mass-production, easy-to-find brand is going to be about 300mg. There are plenty which are higher, but they are often small brands which are not widely available. In the 300mg range, and not talking about specialized drinks for bodybuilders, you will probably not be surprised by the top ranked energy drinks.

• Monster
• Rockstar
• G Fuel

However, there are many others which are gaining popularity like:

• Adrenaline Shoc
• Reign
• Celsius Heat
• C4
• Bang

Since most of these top out at 300mg caffeine, it really comes down to flavor preference. Personally, I prefer Monster Lemonade + Tea and Rockstar PureZero Fruit Punch, but those have lower caffeine levels (160mg/240mg).

Energy drinks are controversial. There’s no denying that. They can be dangerous too if you have an underlying health condition or drink too much. After all, you’re putting a lot of caffeine in your system, not to mention other stimulants.

Heavily relying on them can put far too much caffeine in your system, which isn’t good for your health or your heart. The high sugar content and other ingredients can be a problem too. Some people have even died from energy drinks.

But, most of the problems with energy drinks come from the amount that you’re drinking and the speed you drink it. Don't shotgun it, and don't have more than 1-2 per day, and you should be fine. Healthy adults can still have energy drinks regularly, as long as they don’t overdo it.

Warnings aside, here are the strongest options on the market.  

Strongest Energy Drinks

• Hyde Power Potion
• Spike Energy Drink
• Wired X344
• Loud Energy Drink
• Redline Xtreme Energy Drink
• Bang Energy Drink
• C4 Ultimate on the Go
• Raze Energy Drink
• Adrenaline Shoc
• Celsius Heat
• Reign Total Body Fuel
• G Fuel
• Rockstar XDurance Energy Drink
• Viso Energy Drink
• ABB Speed Stack Pumped N.O.
• Cocaine Energy Drink
• Rockstar 2x Energy Drink
• Quake Energy Drink
• Spider Energy Drink
• Meltdown Keto 1
• Starbucks Triple Shot Energy
• 3D Energy Drink
• C4 Energy on the Go
• Monster
• Red Bull

Hyde Power Potion

16 ounce serving: 350 mg caffeine (21.9 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

This product comes from ProSupps. While it isn’t as well known as brands like Red Bull and Monster, it does have a dedicated following. The caffeine content is one reason for this, as the energy drink contains a whopping 350 mg of caffeine per serving. That’s more than most other products.

In fact, the daily safe caffeine intake for adults is often thought to be somewhere between 300 mg to 400 mg of caffeine (assuming that you’re healthy). You’re getting close to that in a single serving of Hyde Power Potion.

Honestly, the caffeine content is a bit concerning. Some users mention not experiencing any more energy from this than from regular energy drinks, which is interesting. Still, if you want the maximum caffeine from an energy drink – it’s hard to go past this one.

There are five flavors to choose from: Island Punch, Winter Blast, Purple Mist, Pineapple Cooler, and Cherry Cola. Hyde seems to be out of production at this point, as I can't find it on the ProSupps Amazon shop or any other supplement website.

Spike Energy Drink

16 ounce serving: 350 mg caffeine (21.9 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Spike energy drink comes from Biotest. It’s not all that well-known, partly because it is marketed to bodybuilders, rather than to everyone.

Along with the caffeine, Spike Energy Drink contains beta-alanine and N-acetyl-L-tyrosine as stimulants. These are both amino acids that could play a role in building muscle. If you aren't familiar with beta alanine, it gives you an itchy tingly feeling which can be uncomfortable, but also really freakin' motivating to push weights, so it's great for heavy lifting at the gym. As a general energy drink for when you're tired? Maybe not so much.

There’s another product from the same brand too – called Spike Shooter. This one contains 300 mg of caffeine. While the caffeine content is lower, Spike Shooter is a much smaller drink, with a serving size of just 8.4 fluid ounces. This makes it a much more concentrated product.

Wired X344

16 ounce serving: 344 mg caffeine (21.5 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

It’s easy to see where Wired gets its name from, as each 16 ounce can contains 344 mg of caffeine, regardless of the flavor. Other potential stimulants include sugar, guarana, taurine, inositol, and white tea extract.

The amount of sugar and caffeine, along with the other stimulants, makes Wired X344 more potent than most.

Wired offers other drinks too, with varying levels of caffeine, like Wired X 3000, which offers 188 mg of caffeine and Wired X Berry Rush, which only contains 100 mg of caffeine. Their online shop seems to have various options sparingly, so I'm not sure how long this brand will be around.

Loud Energy Drink

16 ounce serving: 320 mg caffeine (20 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Loud is another energy drink that is marketed as a workout supplement. The cans are mostly sold at Nutrishop stores, although you might find them online too. Like Spike Energy Drink, this product contains amino acids and B vitamins. There are some nootropics too, which could improve cognition.

There are only two flavors to choose from: Blue Razz Candy and Tropical Sunrise. The caffeine content is the same either way and both flavors are sugar free.

The lack of sugar can be a good thing, as it means you don’t get a sugar buzz and then a sugar crash from the energy drink. Of course, sugar can be a stimulant too, so a sugar free drink mightn’t give the same amount of energy as one with sugar.

Redline Xtreme Energy Drink

8 ounce serving: 316 mg caffeine (39.5 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Redline Extreme is more potent than most, as you’re getting more than 300 mg of caffeine in an 8 ounce serving. In fact, the amount of caffeine per ounce is almost double some of the previous products.

The labeling suggests that you should only drink 4 ounces at a time, although it would be easy to drink the full bottle.

There are five flavors to choose from: Blue Raz, Triple Berry, Lime, Watermelon, and Grape.

This is a drink to be extremely cautious with, as it contains other ingredients too, such as beta-alanine and hordenine. For some reason, St. John’s Wort is included as well, even though that herb is normally used to treat depression.

Ingredients like these can have unexpected effects on your body, especially if you don’t consume them often. Take it slow the first time you have this energy drink to make sure you don’t get any side effects.

The same company has other products too, including Redline Energy Drink, which contains 250 mg of caffeine in an 8 ounce bottle.

Bang Energy Drink

16 ounce serving: 300 mg caffeine (18.8 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Bang Energy Drink is still making inroads into the United States, with PepsiCo signing a North American distribution agreement for the drink in April 2020. The original version of the drink was even more potent, containing 257 mg of caffeine per can. The amount has now been decreased to 300 mg.

The drink is often marketed for people who are working out, as a way to boost fat loss and workout intensity. There are around 20 different flavors of the drink, including Sour Heads, Rainbow Unicorn, Purple Haze, Frose Rose, and Birthday Cake Bash.

Other ingredients include various amino acids, electrolytes, B vitamins, and creatine. These are all common choices for workout products, but are less common in regular energy drinks. Bang Energy Drink is another sugar free option. This isn’t surprising, given the workout focus.  

There are a few other drinks from Bang as well, including Bang Energy Shots, Bang Sweet Tea, and Bang Keto Coffee. These all contain 300 mg of caffeine as well.

C4 Ultimate on the Go

11.7 ounce serving: 300 mg caffeine (25.6 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

This energy drink is one of many from Cellucor. It’s a little unusual too, as it isn’t sparking and comes in a plastic bottle. You get an impressive 300 mg of caffeine in an 11.7 ounce serving.

Other ingredients include citrulline malate, beta-alanine, and zembrin. These are all meant to help with athletic performance or mood, with citrulline malate being linked to nitric oxide levels. There is some taurine too, along with B vitamins and plenty of other ingredients.

Reviews are generally positive, although some people don’t like the flavor.

Raze Energy Drink

16 ounce serving: 300 mg caffeine (18.8 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

This energy drink follows a familiar pattern, as it is promoted as a workout-supplement. Once again, it includes amino acids and electrolytes, which might help with hydration and muscle development.

The flavors are unusual, to say the least, as there are options like Strawberry Colada, Sour Gummy Worms, and Phantom Freeze.

It’s another product that contains no sugar. The lack of sugar isn’t all bad. It helps you avoid an energy crash.

Adrenaline Shoc

16 ounce serving: 300 mg caffeine (18.8 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Adrenaline Shoc is yet another energy drink that contains 300 mg of caffeine in a 16 ounce can and is marketed for before a workout.

It contains some of the typical ingredients, like guarana, electrolytes, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). There are some more unusual ingredients too, such as yerba mate and green coffee bean extract. These two have both been linked to metabolism and weight loss, rather than being energy boosters.

There are eight flavors, including Shoc Wave, Sour Candy, Acai Berry, and Frozen Ice. The amount of caffeine and other stimulants is roughly the same across all the flavors.

This is another sugar free energy drink. That seems to be a common trend among workout-focused products.

Celsius Heat

16 ounce serving: 300 mg caffeine (18.8 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Celsius is yet another company that has entered into the pre-workout energy drink field. It’s sugar free and contains 2,000 mg of L-citrulline. The company promotes the citrulline heavily, focusing on the idea that it can help with workout performance.

There are five flavors for these products, including Inferno Punch, Cherry Lime, and Tangerine Grapefruit.

The company also produces Celsius Energy Drink, which is promoted as a fat burning aid. This one comes in 12 ounce cans that contain 200 mg of caffeine. These have around 2 mg less caffeine per ounce.

The regular version comes in seven flavors and can be found in powder packets too. These can be mixed into water or another drink and provide the same amount of caffeine.  

Reign Total Body Fuel

16 ounce serving: 300 mg caffeine (18.8 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Are you starting to see a pattern? The most potent energy drinks tend to be marketed to athletes. They often contain ingredients that can help with performance or muscle development. In this case, key components include CoQ10, B vitamins, BCAAs, and electrolytes.

There’s no sugar present, which keeps the calorie content of the drink low.

This time there are six flavors, including Razzle Berry, Carnival Candy, and Sour Apple. You can sometimes buy packs that contain a combination of flavors, in case you want to try them all.

Flavors like this can seem odd and quite artificial. The use of sweeteners doesn’t make the drink taste particularly natural either. Still, you’ll see the same patterns in most energy drinks.

G Fuel

16 ounce serving: 300 mg caffeine (18.8 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

These energy drinks are the canned version of the G Fuel Energy Drink Mix. However, the two products have dramatically different levels of caffeine, as when mixed with water, the powder only gives 140 mg of caffeine per 12 to 16 ounce serving.

There are also just four flavors of the canned drink, while there are more than 30 different flavors of the powder.

The energy drink also offers amino acids, antioxidants, and ketones. The ketones could be relevant for anyone on a keto diet.

Once again, this is a sugar free product. It’s low in carbs too, so it could be relevant for anyone on a keto diet.  

Rockstar XDurance Energy Drink

16 ounce serving: 300 mg caffeine (18.8 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Some claim that this Rockstar product was brought out to compete with Bang Energy Drink. That’s not far-fetched, as the Rockstar XDurance Energy Drink is the same size as Bang Energy with the same amount of caffeine.

There are seven flavors. Most have unusual names, like Blue Razz and Super Sours Green Apple. There are plenty of athletic-focused ingredients, like BCAAs and electrolytes, while the sugar content is low (just 2 grams per 16 ounce can).

While 300 mg of caffeine in a 16 ounce drink isn’t unusual, it is a decent amount of caffeine, especially if you have a low tolerance. The product can also be a problem because Rockstar is a familiar brand that might feel safe.

Yet, if you swap to this Rockstar drink straight from Monster, Red Bull or a regular Rockstar product, the difference in caffeine kick would be dramatic.

There is even a 24 ounce version of this, with a whopping 400 mg of caffeine.

Viso Energy Drink

17 ounce serving: 300 mg caffeine (17.6 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Viso has recently gone through an overhaul in their approach to energy drinks, and the company was a little unusual even before that. They focus on high-quality energy drinks that rely on real ingredients rather than artificial colors and sweeteners.

The fruit flavors in their drinks come from cold-pressed fruit, rather than from flavoring ingredients. For example, their flavor Vigor focuses on lemons, limes, and strawberries, while Dynamo uses concord grapes as the main type of fruit, and also includes grapefruits, lemons, and strawberries.

The drinks all offer 300 mg of caffeine per serving and should taste more like juice than a typical energy drink.

ABB Speed Stack Pumped N.O.

22 ounce serving: 300 mg caffeine (13.6 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

This energy drink comes from the American Body Building Association, so the focus on exercise is easy to see. Key ingredients include L-arginine, taurine, and guarana. There’s no sugar present, which keeps the drink down to 30 calories per serving.

The flavor selection isn’t amazing. You only have four to choose from: Black Cherry, Grape, Blue Raspberry, and Watermelon.

There are other ABB Speed Stacked drinks, including Adrenalyn Stack, Ripped Force, Speed Shot Intensity, and Nitric Force. Reviews about the flavors are mixed, with reviewers finding some flavors odd or artificial.

The ABB drinks can be a little difficult to find and they’re not easily purchased online. However, some health stores and places with a bodybuilding focus should be able to help you out.

Cocaine Energy Drink

8.4 ounce serving: 280 mg caffeine (33.3 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

At 280 mg of caffeine per serving, Cocaine Energy Drink might seem less powerful than the previous entries. That’s not really the case, as Cocaine Energy Drink comes in a much smaller can.

In fact, a 16 ounce serving of the energy drink contains more than 530 mg of caffeine. That’s insane.

The energy drink is also controversial, partly because of its name. This is why the products are sometimes called No Name instead. Not surprisingly, the controversy has only made the energy drink more popular.

Interestingly, the energy drink is sweetened with dextrose, rather than sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Taurine and guarana are present too, which add to the drink’s stimulating effect.

There are three flavors: Original, Black, and Mild. The Original version has a cinnamon ‘burn’, which is left out of the Mild one, while the Black version uses black cherry flavoring.

Rockstar 2x Energy Drink

12 ounce serving: 250 mg caffeine (20.8 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

There are many energy drinks in the Rockstar range now and this is one of the most notable (although Rockstar XDurance contains more caffeine). It is the same flavor as the original version of Rockstar, but has twice the amount of caffeine and less sugar.

Watch out for the serving size with this one, as there are some 16 ounce cans out there. These have 320 mg of caffeine per can, which puts them much higher on this list.

Many of the classic stimulant ingredients are included too, such as guarana, ginseng, and taurine. The combination of stimulents and caffeine is what makes the drink so potent – and means you should be wary with it.

Rockstar's other energy drinks include the original Rockstar Energy Drink, Rockstar Burner, Rockstar Boom! and Rockstar Coconut Water, which all come in at 160 mg of caffeine per 16 ounce serving.

Quake Energy Drink

16 ounce serving: 250 mg caffeine (15.6 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Quake Energy Drink is similar to the pre-workout drinks that we talked about earlier, as it contains BCAAs, B vitamins, COQ10, and electrolytes, while being sugar free. Still, the pre-workout focus isn’t obvious from its marketing. The drink looks like a regular energy drink.

The most interesting feature is that 7-Eleven created and distributes these energy drinks. This makes the drinks easy to find. While the caffeine content is lower than many of the pre-workout drinks on the market, Quake Energy Drink does contain more caffeine than key competitors like Monster, Red Bull, and some Rockstar drinks.

The difference in caffeine could be reason enough to try Quake. 7-Eleven also has specials from time-to-time to try and hook people into the drink.

There are just four flavors to choose from this time: Original, Orange Fusion, Tropical Lemon, and Berry Blast. Artificial flavors aren’t used, so these drinks should taste more natural than many competing options.

Spider Energy Drink

16 ounce serving: 240 mg caffeine (15 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Spider Energy Drink stands out because of the price. You can sometimes pick a can up for $0.99. That’s pretty impressive for a 16 ounce energy drink with 240 mg of caffeine.

However, the drink isn’t sold everywhere in the United States. It’s easy to find in some places and almost impossible in others. Whether you have any luck will depend on where you live.

The original version of the drink contains 30 grams of sugar per can. It includes other stimulants too, such as ginseng, guarana, taurine, and green tea extract.

Some of the alternate flavors are full of sugar too, but there are a couple of sugar-free options.

Meltdown Keto 1

12 ounce serving: 225 mg caffeine (18.8 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

This energy drink comes from the same brand as Bang Energy Drink and Redline, but there are quite a few differences between the products.

As the name suggests, Meltdown Keto 1 is designed for keto dieters. It is rich in ketones. These should help people reach ketosis faster and stay there longer. There is a caffeine-free version too, for those who want the ketone benefits without the energy boost.

The range was revamped and relaunched in 2020. This relaunch changed the drink's ketone balance, with the new versions containing fewer goBHB ketones and more goBHB D-ketones. The parent company, VPX Sports, claims that the goBHB D-ketones are more easily absorbed.

Starbucks Triple Shot Energy

15 ounce serving: 225 mg caffeine (15 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

This drink has been a way for Starbucks to get in on the energy drink market. Starbucks calls it an energy coffee beverage, as it falls somewhere in between coffee and an energy drink.

In fact, brewed coffee is one of the main ingredients. Sugar, ginseng, guarana, and some of the B vitamins are there too. You’re looking at 29 grams of sugar in a 15 ounce serving, which is pretty high.

The three flavors are French Vanilla, Caramel, and Caffe Mocha. They all have the same amount of caffeine and taste as you would expect.

Starbucks has a doubleshot energy product too. This takes a similar approach and ends up with around 145 mg of caffeine per serving. It can be a decent choice if the triple shot feels a little too strong.

3D Energy Drink

16 ounce serving: 200 mg caffeine (12.5 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

3D Energy Drink has taken a minimalist approach. Their 16 ounce cans tend to be plain, with just a few pieces of information on the front. There are no pictures and no need for them either. 

There are currently ten flavors to choose from, including options like Green (Citrus Mist), Orange (Sunburst), Pink (Cotton Candy), and Chrome. You can order the energy drinks online or find them in local stores like Walmart or GNC.

The drinks are all sugar free, and they contain guarana, ginseng, B-vitamins, and taurine. That combination should give you quite a kick, so be careful when you’re trying the drink for the first time.

C4 Energy on the Go

11.7 ounce serving: 200 mg caffeine (17.1 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

There are multiple products in this range, including a juice-like energy drink and a carbonated one. The first comes in a plastic bottle with a serving size of 11.7 ounces. There are six flavors, including Ice Blue Razz, Strawberry Lemonade, and Cherry Limeade.

The drink includes beta-alanine, vitamin B12, N-acetyl-L-tyrosine, and niacin, but it lacks many familiar energy ingredients, like guarana and taurine. This is partly because the drink targets people who are working out.

The carbonated version has a similar balance of ingredients and contains 200 mg of caffeine as well. The biggest difference is size, as the carbonated drinks contain 16 ounces rather than 11.7.

Monster

16 ounce serving: 160 mg caffeine (10 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Monster isn’t as excessively high in caffeine as the earlier entries on this list. But, it contains 160 mg of caffeine in a 16 oz can. That’s no laughing matter. It’s also a well-known energy drink, one that is very easy to find. It’s American market share is second only to Red Bull.

Other ingredients include guarana, taurine, ginseng, and plenty of sugar.

The caffeine content mentioned above is for the classic Monster energy drink, but this isn’t the only one that the company produces. There are others too, like the Java Monster drinks, which are coffee-based. The caffeine content varies, but some contain up to 200 mg of caffeine per serving.

You’d often get a similar amount of caffeine, if not more, in the same serving of brewed coffee. Many coffees from Starbucks contain even more caffeine. Still, energy drinks tend to contain higher amounts of sugar and other stimulants. They’re also very convenient and can be consumed quickly.

This makes it easy to lose track of your consumption and overdo it with energy drinks.  

In fact, the largest Monster can contains 32 ounces of energy drink, which gives you 320 mg of caffeine. That’s a huge size for an energy drink. You shouldn’t drink it all in a single serving, but some people probably do.  

Red Bull

8.4 oz serving: 80 mg caffeine (9.5 mg caffeine per fluid ounce)

Red Bull deserves a mention in this list because it is one of the most well-known and popular energy drinks. Yet, with 80 mg of caffeine in an 8.4 ounce serving, Red Bull contains less caffeine than many other energy drinks.

The 12 ounce can, which has now become more common, contains around 114 mg of caffeine. Even then, the amount of caffeine is low compared to competing products.

Still, this amount of caffeine isn’t a bad thing. You’re still getting enough to give you an energy boost, but not so much that you put your health at risk.

The main other stimulants are sugar (except in the sugar free versions) and taurine.

There are now many Red Bull variations, including Cherry Edition, Yellow Edition, Peach Edition, and Winter Edition, along with some sugar free flavors. Some of these variations can be found all the time, while others are seasonal. The caffeine content and other stimulants remain the same per ounce regardless of the type that you choose.

The Strongest Energy Shots

It would be remiss to avoid energy shots when talking about energy drinks. After all, the shots are basically the same thing. They’re just much more concentrated.

Some shots even contain more caffeine than full sized energy drinks. This means that you should be very careful with them, especially if you’re consuming caffeine from other sources too.

10 Hour Time Release Energy Shot

1.93 ounce serving: 422 mg caffeine

This little bottle is one of the highest sources of caffeine that you’ll find. 422 mg of caffeine in a serving is no laughing matter. That’s more than the amount that many adults are meant to have in a day.

Still, this shot is unusual.

The company uses a caffeine encapsulation approach, which allows some of the caffeine to be released over time. You get an initial hit of around 222 mg of caffeine (which is still a lot), then the remaining 200 mg is released over time.

It’s one of the few energy shots that could, theoretically, keep you going all day. Of course, the actual effect will vary depending on your caffeine tolerance. The caffeine's slow release nature means you should drink the shot as early in the day as you can. Otherwise, it could seriously mess up your sleep.

The drink is sugar free, but it does contain other ingredients and potential stimulants, including L-theanine, guarana, green tea, extract, taurine, and niacin.

With this combination of caffeine and stimulants, the shot is one to be very careful with. You could get side effects even if you have a high tolerance for caffeine.  

Cocaine Energy Shot

2 ounce serving: 280 mg caffeine

This shot comes from the same brand as Cocaine Energy Drink and shares the same controversial name. With 280 mg of caffeine in a 2 ounce serving, the amount of caffeine is impressive and a little scary.

The energy drink is basically just a concentrated version of the Cocaine Energy Drink. It has the same strong peppery kick found in the full-sized energy drink.

Phoenix Energy Shot

2 ounce serving: 280 mg caffeine

Phoenix Energy Shots use a 3-in-1 formula designed to improve mood, energy, and focus at the same time. There are 12 active ingredients, 4 for each of the target areas.

I like that the nutrition label provides each ingredient's names and quantities, so you know precisely what you’re getting. Some users say that the extra ingredients help balance out the caffeine, so you get an energy hit without jitteriness.

And, if nothing else, Phoenix Energy Drinks use a different combination of ingredients than most other energy drinks and shots. That’s an appealing feature

7-Select Extra Strength Energy Shot

2 ounce serving: 260 mg caffeine

These shots are 7-Eleven’s entry into the energy shot market and can be found at 7-Eleven stores across the country. The term Extra Strength is slightly misleading, as 7-Eleven doesn’t have lower strength caffeine shots.

The shots contain typical ingredients, along with yerba mate extract, green tea extract, B vitamins, and a few others. It also relies on natural caffeine, while some other brands use synthetic caffeine instead.

These shots are also a little cheaper than competitors, which might be a reason to try them over other options. 

Rhino Rush Energy Shot

2 ounce serving: 250 mg caffeine

This energy shot contains a little less caffeine than competing products, but it is rapidly growing in popularity. There are six flavors and most have unusual names, like Blue Berry, Mood Drop, and Ghost.

The company focuses on quality and transparency, avoiding all banned ingredients and offering an American-made product. The Rhino Rush site also offers details about the various ingredients and their benefits, like agmatine for mood improvement and choline for focus.

e6 Energy Shot

2 ounce serving: 235 mg caffeine

These shots are promoted as one-of-a-kind due to their combination of vitamin B12, caffeine, and green tea extract. The four flavors are straightforward: Berry, Fruit Punch, Peach, and Grape.

The shots are easy to find, as they’re sold in many convenience stores, gas stations, and some grocery stores. You can order them online too.

The ingredients are similar to other energy shots, although e6 shots have phenylalanine and tyrosine added too. These are both amino acids.

e6 shots have been through a recent reformulation, which upped the caffeine content from 185 mg to 235 mg. This change puts the shots roughly on par with the 5-Hour Energy Extra Strength shots.  

5-Hour Energy Extra Strength

2 ounce serving: 230 mg caffeine

With 230 mg of caffeine in a 2 ounce serving, these energy shots contain less caffeine than some of the others, but the amount isn’t too shabby.

The brand is also well-known and sold in many places. It’s often easier to find these energy shots than some of the competing products.  

The caffeine content is a little higher than the regular 5-Hour Energy shots, which offer 200 mg per serving. Both energy shots contain only 4 calories per serving. They’re sugar free and are promoted as having no sugar crash.

There are many regular flavors to choose from and a different set of extra strength flavors. Some of these include Blue Raspberry, Sour Apple, Cool Mint Lemonade, and Grape.  

Red Thunder Extra Strength

2 ounce serving: 230 mg caffeine

These energy shots were once one of the cheapest options on the market and are sold through Aldi supermarkets. The shots' price has gradually increased over time, so they’re not as competitive as they once were. Still, the shots do the job and some people find that these taste better than other brands. There is a lower caffeine version of the shot too, which contains 138 mg of caffeine.