Pre-Workout · head-to-head
C4 Original vs Gorilla Mode
Pre-Workout head-to-head, graded on doses and price
by Cellucor
F
A+
Formula · Deal
by Gorilla Mind
A+
A
Formula · Deal
Our pick
Our pick: Gorilla Mode — better formula on the numbers.
Side by side
| C4 Original | Gorilla Mode |
|---|
| Formula grade | F | A+ |
|---|
| Deal grade | A+ | A |
|---|
| Price | $29.99 / 30 srv | $59.99 / 20 srv |
|---|
| Per serving | $1.00 | $3.00 |
|---|
| DIY bulk cost/serving | $0.66 | $1.09 |
|---|
| Markup over DIY | 1.5× | 2.8× |
|---|
| Ingredients at clinical dose | 0 of 3 | 6 of 6 |
|---|
| Bottom line | Skip it | Worth it |
|---|
C4 Original verdict
The mass-market default, and it shows: beta-alanine is underdosed, the "pump" comes from an inferior arginine form, and the actives are buried in a proprietary "Explosive Energy Blend" so you can't verify the caffeine and creatine amounts. Cheap to buy, but you're guessing at the doses — Formula grade is capped for the hidden blend.
Gorilla Mode verdict
Genuinely well dosed and fully transparent — citrulline, betaine, tyrosine and alpha-GPC are all at or above clinical levels. This is a Formula-A tub. What you're paying for is the mega-dosing plus the "tub tax": the same actives cost a fraction bought as raw powders.
Full C4 Original review →
Full Gorilla Mode review →
More Pre-Workout grades
Educational only — not medical advice. Grades and clinical doses are computed from public labels against sourced research (citations on the main site); prices last verified 2026-07-21. Expensive Powder has no sponsors; bulk links may earn an affiliate commission, which never affects a grade. Talk to a clinician before starting any supplement.