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If you're trying to lose weight, your first plan of action should always be an appropriate diet and exercise regimen. If you haven't started this process yet, we encourage you to check out our list of the best weight-loss apps, our 30-day ab challenge, or any of our other weight-loss content to help get you started. In addition to diet and regular exercise, sometimes fat burners can be beneficial supplements to help you shed those last few pounds or to target the stubborn fat that just won't go away. Fat burners are designed to jump-start your metabolism and help your body use stored fat as energy. Different formulas contribute to this in different ways, so it can be difficult to decide which supplement is best for you. For this reason, it is important to consult your doctor or a registered dietitian before using a fat-burning supplement.
The Best Fat Burners - Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: PhenQ
- Best Pill: Burn Lab Pro
- Best Natural: Phen24
- Best Non-Stim: Transparent Labs Non-Stim Fat Burner
- Best for Men: Testo Lab Pro
- Best for Women: Transparent Labs Fat Burner
- Best for Belly Fat: PhenQ
- Best High-End: Transparent Labs Fat Burning Essential Stack
- Best Thermogenic: Kaged Clean Burn Amped
- Best Budget: Jacked Factory Burn XT Thermogenic Fat Burner
Some supplements designed to burn fat come in powder form that you can mix in an average shaker bottle, others come in pill or capsule form. Everyone is different and has different needs, so it is important to understand what you're looking at when comparing supplements.
To help you on this journey, the ACTIVE Reviews Team has done the research and compiled our own list of the best fat burners on the market and all of the details you need to make an informed decision in one place.
Why Trust Us?
The health and safety of ACTIVE's readers is of the utmost importance to us. To ensure your well-being when consuming fat burners, the ACTIVE.com editorial team prioritizes products that are independently tested by a third-party. We've also consulted with a team of nutritionists and dieticians to ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. This helps us create the most accurate, authentic review content for our readers. More importantly, fitness may be our job, but it is also our passion. Therefore, we strive to bring you products that we trust and would personally use.
Disclaimer: Exercise caution when taking supplements. Always make sure to consult with your doctor before trying a new supplement or pill. Weight-loss supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet and regular exercise. Any supplements taken should be used in accordance with a healthy lifestyle. Any weight loss of more than a pound per week over a long period of time is unusual and should be monitored by a doctor.
Best Overall Fat Burner - PhenQ
SPECS
- Ingredients: Capsimax Powder, Chromium Picolinate, Caffeine, Nopal Cactus, L-Carnitine Fumarate, Magnesium Stearate
- Price: $2.33 per serving
- Flavor options: N/A
- Type: Pill
- Serving size: 2 pills
Our pick for the best overall fat burner is the PhenQ fat burner. This supplement is our pick for the best overall fat burner because it approaches weight loss from multiple angles—five to be exact. PhenQ helps you burn fat as energy, stop your body from accumulating fat, suppress food cravings, boost energy, and balance your mood. The holistic approach is unique, and because the formula for this supplement is a clean list of all-natural ingredients, it can be effective for both men and women.
PhenQ's key active ingredient is the proprietary ingredient a-Lacys Reset, a combination of compounds that includes alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) which has been shown to reduce BMI and body weight.(1) The a-Lacys Reset helps the body oxidize fat and target it for energy production, which is a key to sustainable weight loss. PhenQ does not have any artificial sweeteners, but the 150 milligrams of caffeine per serving is relatively high considering you are directed to take two servings per day.
However, the company also offers a 60-day money-back guarantee if you're not seeing the results you're looking for, which is a huge vote of confidence that their formula really works for most people.
What We Like
- Balanced approach to weight loss
- All-natural ingredients
- No artificial sweeteners
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Discount bundles available
What We Don't Like
- Can get expensive to take two doses per day
- High amount of caffeine
- Uses a proprietary blend
Best Fat Burner Pill - Burn Lab Pro
SPECS
- Ingredients: GTF chromium, Calcium, HMB (hydroxy-methylbutyrate), Forslean, Capsimax Cayenne Pepper Extract, Bioperine Black Pepper Extract
- Price: $1.97 per serving
- Flavor rating: N/A
- Type: Capsule
- Serving size: 3 capsules
Burn Lab Pro is a stimulant-free pre-workout and attempts to help your body break down fat and build muscle and is our pick for the best fat burner pill. Burn Lab is the second supplement on our list to use ForsLean as one of its active ingredients, which may boost hormonal production in the brain to cause fat oxidation. The other five ingredients have been studied to various degrees and support the process of thermogenesis and muscle recovery.
Unlike some fat-burning supplements, Burn Lab Pro is made to be taken if you are going to be active. If you don't exercise about 30 minutes after taking the supplement, you are likely to see few, if any, of the benefits. That's because this supplement is put together to help your body burn more calories, not to suppress your appetite or stimulate your nervous system.
What We Like
- Stimulant-free
- Good source of calcium
- Contains anti-inflammatory ForsLean
- All-natural ingredients
- 30-day money-back guarantee
What We Don't Like
- Does not suppress appetite
- If you don't exercise fairly soon after taking the supplement you are unlikely to see benefits
Best Natural Fat Burner - Phen24
SPECS
- Ingredients: Day formula - Caffeine, Guarana Extract, L=Phenylalanine, Cayenne Powder, Potassium Iodide, Stearate, Rice Flower. Night Formula - Glucomannan, Ascorbic Acid, Griffonia Extract, Choline Bitartrate, Green Tea Extract, Hops Extract, Calcium D-Pantothenate, Pyridoxine HCl, Thiamine HCl, Chromium Picolinate, Sodium Molybdate, D-Biotin, Magnesium Stearate
- Price: $2.33 per serving
- Flavor options: N/A
- Type: Capsule
- Serving size: Day - 1 capsule, Night - 2 capsules
It's no secret that many dietary supplements include a slew of artificial ingredients that some people may not feel comfortable putting in their bodies. Thankfully there are a number of brands that focus on providing 100% natural supplements. When it comes to the best natural fat burner, we selected Phen24 for its effective natural ingredients and 24-hour formula to keep you burning fat around the clock.
Phen24 is an all-natural fat burner that includes a day and night formula to promote fat loss even while you sleep. The day formula includes guarana, caffeine, and cayenne pepper to boost your metabolic rate and increase the amount of fat you burn during the day. (3, 4) The night formula, on the other hand, provides glucomannan fiber, griffonia, choline bitartrate, and green tea extract to stave off hunger and burn fat during the night. (5, 6) With no artificial ingredients, Phen24 is a suitable choice for those looking for an all-natural fat burner to support weight loss.
What We Like
- Includes both a day and night formula for 24hr fat burning
- Designed to boost your metabolism to support fat loss
- Supplies supplemental vitamins and minerals
- Includes compounds known to reduce hunger levels
What We Don't Like
- Some ingredients have limited research
- On the pricier side
Best Non-Stimulant Fat Burner - Transparent Labs Stim-Free Fat Burner
SPECS
- Ingredients: Vitamin B12, Acetyl L-carnitine, Forslean, 5-HTP, Rhodiola Rosea, Cayenne Pepper, Fucoxanthin
- Price: $0.92 per serving
- Flavor rating: N/A
- Type: Capsule
- Serving size: 2 capsules
While most fat burners contain stimulants such as caffeine to help upregulate your metabolism and burn more calories, not everyone responds well to these compounds.(2) For those looking to avoid stimulants, but still enhance their fat-burning, Transparent Labs makes a stim-free version of their fat burner which includes six key fat-burning ingredients. Transparent Labs is committed to clean ingredients and transparent labeling thus you won't find any unnecessary fillers in this product.
Our favorite part of this fat burner is the lack of stimulants in the ingredients. If you are caffeine sensitive, taking a medication that requires you to avoid stimulants, or trying to avoid stimulants for other reasons, this is the fat burner we recommend for you. To enhance fat burning this product includes acetyl L-carnitine and Forslean, compounds that may help mobilize fat from fat cells, as well as cayenne pepper to boost your metabolic rate.(3, 4) With full transparent labeling and no artificial ingredients, this fat burner is a solid choice for those avoiding stimulants.
What We Like
- No stimulants
- Transparent labeling
- No artificial ingredients
- Affordable price point
What We Don't Like
- May be less effective than stim-containing fat burners
- Some ingredients have limited data to support them
BUY: Transparent Labs Non-Stim Fat Burner
Best Fat Burner for Men - Testo Lab Pro
SPECS
- Ingredients: Vitamin D, Vitamin K1 & K2, Magnesium, ZInc, D-Aspartic Acid Calcium Chelate, Boron, Ashwagandha Extract, Mucuna Pruriens Extract, Luteolin
- Price: $2.30 per serving
- Flavor options: N/A
- Type: Capsule
- Serving size: 4 capsules
Among the numerous factors that influence fat burning for men, proper hormone levels, specifically testosterone, remain high on the list. While a proper diet and exercise will certainly influence fat loss, men with low testosterone levels may experience increased difficulty losing weight. In fact, research shows that increasing testosterone levels, when low, can enhance fat loss success. (7) Our selection for the best fat burner for men, Testo Lab Pro, focuses on raising your testosterone levels to support healthy lean body mass and boost fat loss.
TestoLab's testosterone-boosting formula provides a number of active ingredients known to promote healthy test levels in men which can influence fat loss. These include ashwagandha extract, D-aspartic acid, boron, Mucuna pruriens extract, and luteolin, all of which have research to support their role in testosterone production and supporting lean body mass. For men who are looking to optimize their testosterone levels to support fat loss, Testo Lab Pro may be a useful addition to their nutrition regimen.
What We Like
- Can support healthy testosterone levels
- Includes several ingredients shown to support lean muscle
- Few ingredients; all-natural
- No stimulants
What We Don't Like
- Dose recommendation is 4 capsules per day
- Many testosterone muscle-building claims are not backed by scientific studies
Best for Women - Transparent Labs Fat Burner
SPECS
- Ingredients: Forslean, Green Tea Extract, 5-HTP, L-Tyrosine, L-Theanine, Caffeine Anhydrous, White Willow, Cayenne Pepper, Synephrine HCl
- Price: $0.92 per serving
- Flavor rating: N/A
- Type: Capsule
- Serving size: 2 capsules
The Transparent Labs fat burner is a capsule that you take about an hour before you eat. It's formulated to reduce inflammation, increase your metabolism, and curb any cravings that lead you to make poor dietary choices. This makes it particularly beneficial for women looking to counteract some of the potential diet-sabotaging side effects associated with menstruation. The unique part of this fat burner is that one of its main active ingredients is ForsLean, which has historical uses as an anti-inflammatory and immune system booster. Similarly, green tea extract has antioxidant properties that boost cognitive function and reduce inflammation.
This fat burner is billed as just one part of a healthy lifestyle that helps your body function at its best, but with the added benefit of potential metabolic boosts. For women who struggle with a sluggish metabolism, this may provide a much-needed boost. Transparent Labs recommends taking half the dosage—one capsule twice per day instead of two—at first to give you time to see how your body will adjust to the active ingredients. If you find the typical dose of four capsules per day intimidating, this could be a good place to start.
What We Like
- Ingredients are commonly used to reduce inflammation and boost the immune system
- Relatively low caffeine content
- Clean ingredient list
- No artificial sweeteners
What We Don't Like
- 4 capsules per day recommended dose
- High dose means the bottles don't last as long and can get expensive
BUY: Transparent Labs Fat Burner
Best Fat Burner for Belly Fat - PhenQ
SPECS
- Ingredients: Capsimax Powder, Chromium Picolinate, Caffeine, Nopal Cactus, L-Carnitine Fumarate, Magnesium Stearate
- Price: $2.33 per serving
- Flavor options: N/A
- Type: Pill
- Serving size: 2 pills
Sharing the top spots for best overall and best for belly fat, PhenQ fat burner uses a unique blend of metabolism-boosting ingredients to target five key areas of your metabolism. Theoretically, if you struggle particularly with extra fat around the midsection, this fat burner may help you shed those extra inches when combined with a proper diet and exercise regimen.
PhenQ is designed to help you burn fat as energy, stop your body from accumulating fat, suppress food cravings, boost energy, and balance your mood. While it's difficult to target belly fat specifically, several of the ingredients found in PhenQ may help increase your metabolic rate to aid in losing stubborn body fat. As an added plus, this fat burner uses all-natural ingredients and ships free to most places.
What We Like
- Designed to boost metabolism
- Balanced approach to weight loss
- All-natural ingredients
- Money-back guarantee
What We Don't Like
- Can get expensive to take two doses per day
- High amount of caffeine
- Uses a proprietary blend
Best High-End Fat Burner - Transparent Labs Fat Burning Essentials Stack
SPECS
- Ingredients: See individual product labels
- Price: Varies based on product selection
- Flavor rating: N/A
- Type: Powder and capsule
- Serving size: Varies between products
For those looking to leave no stone unturned when it comes to fat loss, Transparent Labs Fat Burning Essentials Stack supplies a combination of four products to support lean muscle mass and fat burning. These include their Fat Burner, Creatine HMB, Lean Pre-workout, and Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate. When combined, these products provide an excellent foundation for supporting your fat loss goals.
To kickstart the fat loss process, the Transparent Labs Fat Burner supplies a unique formulation of several thermogenic agents to boost your metabolism and promote weight loss. Next up in the stack, their Creatine HMB packs 5 grams of creatine and 1.5 grams of calcium HMB, two compounds shown to support lean muscle maintenance during a fat loss phase.(8, 9) The third product in the lineup is Transparent Labs Lean fat-burning pre-workout supplement. This product is designed to unlock additional energy and fat-burning potential when taken before working out. Last but not least in the stack, their Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate supplies an excellent source of protein with 28 grams per serving to help preserve your lean body mass while dieting. (10)
What We Like
- 4 products that work synergistically to boost fat loss
- All products include transparent labeling
- No artificial ingredients
- Science-based dosing
What We Don't Like
- May be too pricey for some users
- Not the best option for those who are caffeine sensitive
BUY: Transparent Labs Fat Burning Essentials Stack
Best Thermogenic - Kaged Clean Burn Amped
SPECS
- Ingredients: Caffeine (from organic green coffee bean), Svetol Green Coffee Bean Extract, Green Select Phytosome Green Tea Extract, Grains of Paradise Seed Extract, Asparagus Stem Extract, Juniper Fruit Extract, Parsley Leaf Powder, Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
- Price: $0.58 per serving
- Flavor rating: N/A
- Type: Capsule
- Serving size: 2 capsules
Kaged Clean Burn Amped is a fat burner designed to provide whole-body energy burning by stimulating thermogenesis, the use of energy through the production of heat. The key ingredients are naturally-derived sources of caffeine and metabolism-boosting plant compounds. For example, one of the main ingredients of Kaged is grains of paradise seed extract, a ginger-like plant species that has shown promise for boosting fat loss.(11)
One thing to be careful of when taking this fat burner is that it has 248 milligrams of caffeine per dose on the label, but it also has 200 milligrams of green coffee bean extract and 150 milligrams of green tea extract both of which also contain caffeine. When combined, this is quite a high dose of caffeine therefore if you are caffeine sensitive it's best to start with one capsule and work your way up to two.
What We Like
- Packed with plant-derived ingredients
- Has ingredients designed to boost thermogenesis
- Transparent labeling and simple ingredient panel
What We Don't Like
- High in caffeine
- Some ingredients may be unnecessary
Best Budget Fat Burner - Jacked Factory Burn-XT Thermogenic Fat Burner
SPECS
- Ingredients: Acetyl L-Carnitine HCl, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Caffeine Anhydrous, Capsimax Cayenne Pepper Extract, Bioperine Black Pepper Extract
- Price: $0.50 per serving
- Flavor rating: N/A
- Type: Capsule
- Serving size: 1 or 2 capsules
Jacked Factory's Burn-XT Fat Burner is a great option if you're looking to try weight loss supplements but have a tight budget. The standard-size bottle comes with 60 capsules and you can take one to two capsules per day depending on your tolerance level. Jacked Factory recommends taking one per day for at least a week before upping the dose to two, and you don't want to take this fat burner on an empty stomach. Also, make sure you're drinking plenty of water with it.
The key active ingredients in Burn-XT are acetyl-L-carnitine, green tea extract, and caffeine. This combo is designed to suppress appetite, give you a shot of physical and mental energy, and give your muscles amino acids to maintain strength despite the calorie deficit. This fat burner is meant to be taken in conjunction with an exercise regime and a balanced diet.
What We Like
- No artificial sweeteners
- Affordable
- Formula designed to support exercise
- Option to double the dose if your body responds well
- Reasonable caffeine content
What We Don't Like
- Won't give many benefits if you're not already living a healthy, active lifestyle
- Shouldn't be taken within 5-6 hours of bedtime
BUY: Jacked Factory Burn-XT Thermogenic Fat Burner
How We Chose The Best Fat Burners
When sorting through the top products on the market there were several factors we took into consideration to bring you the best fat burners to help you lose weight.
Ingredients
Fat burners vary greatly in the ingredients that they provide. We sought out products that supplied science-backed ingredients in the proper doses to provide you with the most effective options.
Price
Depending on the ingredients and brand, you'll typically see quite a difference in price between various fat burners with some being astronomically expensive. We made an effort to include fat burners that catered to all budget levels, striking a balance between cost and quality.
Research
Of the countless fat burners available on the market, only a handful of them prioritize research-backed ingredients. We chose fat burners that had research to back up the ingredients they provide to ensure maximal effectiveness.
Stimulants
Fat burners are notorious for supplying large amounts of stimulants. While they can certainly help boost your metabolism, some people simply prefer to avoid them. We provided both stimulant and non-stimulant fat burner options to cater to everyone's needs.
What to Look for When Choosing the Best Fat Burner
With any supplement, the first thing you need to consider before purchasing is the ingredient list. Fat burners typically have ingredients that fire up your nervous system—mainly caffeine and green tea extract—in a process called thermogenesis which raises the temperature of your body with the intention of burning fat. If you know you're sensitive to these types of stimulants, make sure you're checking the ingredients and doses before consuming any fat burners.
Vitamins and minerals are also common components of fat burners. Many of these ingredients can be found in much smaller, less concentrated doses in the food you eat. However, make sure you understand the amount per serving in the different supplements because many will have over 100% of the recommended daily intake which can cause possible side effects, especially if you already get some from food.
After you have a handle on the ingredient lists of different products, here are a few more things to keep in mind:
- Cost. Consider your budget when shopping for a fat burner as they can vary greatly in cost. Find the highest quality fat burner that you can afford to ensure you are getting the best value.
- Flavor options. Typically, supplements are flavorless if they come in capsule or pill form. However, supplements in powder form typically do have flavors. Consider if you value a supplement that is available in multiple flavors or if just one is fine.
- Serving size. The nutritional content of a certain supplement may look good, but if it takes 3-4 doses to reach a serving size, you will struggle to get a good bang for your buck.
- Calories. If you're trying to burn fat, your body needs to be in some sort of calorie deficit. High-calorie supplements can sabotage your efforts before you even begin.
- Sweeteners. Much of the supplement industry is going sugar-free. However, always pay attention to what sweeteners are used in place of sugar because some artificial sweeteners have different long-term effects than others.
- Stimulants. Most fat burners contain some sort of stimulant to increase your metabolic rate. The most common stimulant is caffeine, but be aware of what stimulant and how much of it is in what product before you make your decision.
FAQs About Fat Burners
Do fat burners work?
The FDA monitors but does not evaluate or test the claims of dietary supplement companies, which means these companies can make a lot of claims based on nothing or studies that are only semi-related to their product. There are hundreds of fat burners you can find online and some are more honest than others in their claims.
The truth is, there is no guarantee the ingredients in fat burners will make you lose weight. However, there are studies that suggest most of the active ingredients in the fat burners we've included on our list will help promote weight loss when paired with other healthy habits like diet and exercise. If you are scouring the internet for a magic pill to lose weight and burn fat without putting in the work, it does not exist—and any company worth your time will inform you of this.
Are fat burners safe to take?
The best fat burners are made of all-natural ingredients you consume on a regular basis in your food, just in higher concentrations. Because they've been extracted, refined, and concentrated in a pill, powder, or capsule, these ingredients may have big, scientific names, but don't be afraid to look up any ingredient you don't recognize.
The main thing you need to pay attention to is the stimulants used in a given product, particularly caffeine. These stimulants can cause adverse effects like increased heart rate, anxiety, and jitteriness when consumed in high doses. If you use them as directed and only take ones with research-backed ingredients, fat burners are safe to use. However, you should always check with your doctor before taking any new supplements, as some people have allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients.
Are fat burners good for weight loss?
The best way to lose weight is to eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. However, fat burners are meant to supplement this process in different ways depending on the particular product. If you experience low energy during your exercise routine, a fat burner with caffeine or another stimulant could help boost your results. Similarly, if you find yourself snacking too much or overeating at meals, fat burners that suppress your appetite could give you the edge you're looking for to finally see results.
How to Lose Weight Fast | Workouts to Lose Weight | How to Lose Weight Without Exercise | How to Eat to Lose Weight | How to Burn Belly Fat | Best Weight Loss Apps | Fat-Burning Foods | Best Fat Burners | Best Weight-Loss Supplements
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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