Anavar vs. Winstrol: A Detailed Comparison of Two Popular Steroids

Many gym-goers are excited to have a toned body when they go to the beach during the summer. Some individuals, both men and women, prefer steroids as an aid to their diet and exercise routines. Anabolic steroids can help them reduce body fat while quickly building muscle.

Therefore, those who regularly go to the gym can feel confident when they take off their shirts at the beach or wear their bikinis. Steroids that specifically target burning fat and improving muscle definition are known as cutting steroids.

During the cutting phase, bodybuilder aims to decrease their body fat percentage while maintaining their muscle mass. For this goal, they consume calories, engage in cardio exercises, and may consider using steroids. Steroids can also promote muscle growth when individuals consume more calories than usual.

Anavar and Winstrol are two of the most popular steroids used by bodybuilders. Both compounds build muscle and burn fat. However, there are differences between them. We provide a list of pros and cons for each steroid with a side-by-side comparison. Ultimately, we strongly advise against using steroids. Consider natural testosterone boosters or legal alternatives instead.

Please note: Information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

Check your local laws and regulations before you buy anything. Sometimes we, refer to research chemicals that are not for consumption. Always talk to your doctor before purchasing any product.

About Anavar (Oxandrolone)

Advantages

• Minimal side effects
• Increased fat loss
• Muscle building
• Strength building
• Orally
• Suitable for women

Disadvantages

• Expensive
• Danger of virilization women
• Risk of infertility in men
• At high doses, there is a risk of liver strain

What is Anavar?

Anavar stands as one of the most popular oral anabolic steroids ever introduced in the market.

Both men and women can use it with relative safety. Anavar, which contains the active ingredient oxandrolone, has gained popularity since the 1960s. It is a hormone derived from dihydrotestosterone, where an extra oxygen atom has been added and carbon 2 in the A ring has been replaced.

• Significantly increased strength and power during training
• The ability to train longer and with higher intensity
• Reducing calories and fat while maintaining muscle mass and avoiding water retention
• Improving the appearance of veins

Benefits of Anavar

Anavar increases muscle mass. It doesn’t aromatize, so you gain weight through lean, anhydrous muscle tissue.

However, it doesn’t give you massive muscle gains. Steroids like Anadrol and Dianabol can build more muscle mass than Anavar.

Anavar may be best for women’s muscle building because it’s less virilizing.

When you’re resting, Anavar boosts metabolism, so you burn more fat.

Anavar is also a good cutting agent. It is the best compound for keeping muscle tissue during cutting.

Athletes also like it because it increases endurance & they can train longer and harder in the gym.

Improved fat loss

Anavar burns fat in various ways. You will lose significant fat with it.

First, it profoundly affects thyroid hormones. It increases T3 levels, which stimulates lipolysis and significantly boosts metabolism.

Anavar is a form of exogenous testosterone. It can help with fat loss like other anabolic steroids.

The fat-burning effect of Anavar is a little different from other steroids because it also reduces visceral fat (and subcutaneous fat).

Other anabolic steroids often increase visceral fat, making you look bloated. Therefore, Anavar is an excellent choice for men and women who want a narrow/tight waist.

Muscle building

When you take Anavar, you get dry and pumped muscles.

The muscle gains with Anavar are modest but still noticeable. So, Anavar is for people who want muscle without mass.

Anavar increases testosterone levels, protein synthesis, and nitrogen retention. As a result, the body has a better chance of building muscle.

For this reason, Anavar is not classified as a bulking steroid. It doesn’t build muscle like other classic bulking steroids.

With Anavar, you’ll build lean muscle and pump your muscles constantly (without bloating).

Users of other muscle-building compounds often have smooth and swollen muscles. Anavar prevents this by relocating water inside the muscle cell. This creates a dry and full appearance.

When women take Anavar, their testosterone levels are lower, so they gain more muscle than men. Anavar increases exogenous testosterone and stimulates their muscles to grow. 

Strength building

Cutting steroids aren’t as good as bulking steroids for increasing strength.

There’s an exception to this rule, Anavar. It exhibits power-building properties without causing significant weight gain.

As a powerful male hormone, it’s typical of DHT-derived steroids. Anavar boosts strength by absorbing ATP and fluid into muscles.

Orally

Anavar is an oral steroid (available in tablet form). Therefore, it is ideal for those afraid of needles.

Anavar dosage

For optimal fat loss, muscle retention, and athletic performance, men should take 40 and 50 mg per day. The cycle length should be 4-6 weeks.

Suitable for women

Women tolerate Anavar better than other steroids, so it’s called the “girls’ steroid.”

Some powerlifters and bodybuilders have success with Anavar, so it’s not just for women.

Anavar can still masculinize women, such as:

• Deepened voice
• Smaller breasts
• Hair growth
• Enlargement of the clitoris

When women take Anavar with other steroids, its side effects are more common.

However, Anavar alone can cause virilization side effects if women take excessive doses.

Women shouldn’t take more than 10 mg per day for more than 6 weeks.

You can start Anavar at 5 mg and slowly increase the dose to reduce virilization risk.

Expensive

The price of Anavar is another major downside. It can cost men a few hundred bucks for a longer cycle.

Anavar side effects

The FDA has approved Anavar (Oxandrolone), emphasizing its safety.

It is known for its mild properties, making it suitable for women and children. Anavar helps them achieve amazing results without side effects.

However, it’s important to note that Anavar may still cause side effects. Research shows that it can temporarily lower natural testosterone levels. But this decline is modest and will bounce back after the cycle ends.

There might be a slight increase in cholesterol levels and liver enzymes, although these changes are expected to be minimal.

Although Anavar is an oral steroid that typically puts stress on the liver, oxandrolone is processed differently. It undergoes breakdown not only in the liver but also in the kidneys before entering the bloodstream. This reduces strain on the liver and causes less liver stress than other oral forms.

Some individuals opt for an Anavar-only cycle because of its perceived safety profile rather than using other potentially risky steroids.

During a cycle, many users may not experience any noticeable side effects. Generally, significant side effects only occur when Anavar is abused.

About Winstrol (Stanozolol)

Advantages

• Builds muscle
• Burns fat
• Orally

Disadvantages

• Hard steroid
• Liver strain
• Suppressed natural T
• sterility
• Not female friendly
• Increase in blood pressure and cholesterol

What is Winstrol?

Winstrol is the street name for Stanozolol, known for its rigid, ripped look.

It comes in both oral and injectable forms. Injectables can be white, milky, watery, or oily.

Oil-based Winstrol works better than water-based or oral Winstrol.

• Get faster and stronger, reduce body fat, and maintain lean muscles
• See increased vascularity
• Achieve significantly improved muscle definition and tone

Benefits of Winstrol

• Not converted into estrogen
• Muscle growth
• No water retention
• Makes you slim without looking bulky
• Increases endurance
• Improves speed, strength, and agility
• Relatively few side effects
• Extremely high bioavailability

Builds muscle

Winstrol is a powerful muscle builder, but it’s not as strong as bulking steroids like Anadrol and Dbol.

Increases free testosterone and boosts muscle mass. Winstrol doesn’t aromatize, so it doesn’t cause water retention, and leads to dry muscle growth.

Winstrol helps you maintain or gain muscle while cutting. When a person consumes a lot of calories, Winstrol increases height more.

Burns fat

Winstrol burns fat and increases muscle mass at the same time. The drug also has diuretic properties and flushes out water retention.

It adds muscle tone and definition making you look even better.

There’s only one downside to Winstrol’s diuretic effect: you might look tired (since your muscles absorb less water). Winstrol is one of the best steroids for fat loss.

Orally

Winstrol comes in tablet form. Therefore, it’s better for people who don’t like needles.

Winstrol dosage

Winstrol dosage for men is usually 50 mg/day, but it can be double that.

Winstrol cycles last between 6 and 8 weeks. You may get high LDL cholesterol levels if you take it for a long time.

Winstrol is not best for women.

Winstrol side effects

Winstrol’s main disadvantage is its harsh nature. Beginners shouldn’t use Winstrol because of its severe side effects.

These are:

• Shut down testosterone production
• Elevated (LDL) cholesterol levels
• Increase in blood pressure
• Joint pain
• Toxic to the liver

After taking Winstrol, users usually have low testosterone production for a few months.

HDL levels will probably fall while LDL levels rise. The blood pressure can go up a lot as a result.

If you have heart problems or high blood pressure, you shouldn’t take Winstrol.

Winstrol can cause joint pain because it reduces the fluid around the joints. It’s more serious in older people.

Like many oral steroids, Winstrol is hepatotoxic and strains the liver.

Although AST/ALT enzymes increase, this is unlikely to cause permanent liver damage due to their self-healing properties. Taking Winstrol for a long time (without stopping) can cause serious liver damage.

People with past liver problems or who drink a lot should avoid Winstrol.

Winstrol for men

Men can take Winstrol in injectable or oral form. The injectable form will give better results, although infections are common with Winstrol injections.

Winstrol for women

Women sometimes use Winstrol for its muscle mass, fat-burning ability, and endurance.

Due to its positive effects, athletes often use it without water gain.

However, it often results in virilization side effects, making women look and sound male.

This is because Winstrol increases free testosterone and binds strongly to SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin). Increasing free testosterone in women causes masculinization.

Therefore, Winstrol is not recommended for women. 

Winstrol for cutting

Winstrol is usually used for drying and tensioning. It flushes out water, creating hard, dried muscle.

It’s a great supplement to keep muscle mass while getting stronger and avoiding water retention during the cutting phase.

For a super tough look, guys put it in a batch about four weeks before the competition.

Winstrol for bulking

Winstrol is not an effective sole filler.

When combined with Dianabol or testosterone, it can be used as a secondary compound.

Use it at 100 mg per day during the last 4 weeks of your cycle.

Winstrol cycle

Here is a popular Winstrol cycle that enriches Winnie with testosterone:

• Week one: Winstrol – 50 mg per day; Testosterone Enanthate – 250 mg per week
• Week two: Winstrol – 50 mg per day; Testosterone Enanthate – 250 mg per week
• Week three: Winstrol – 50 mg per day; Testosterone Enanthate – 250 mg per week
• Week Four: Winstrol – 50 mg per day; Testosterone Enanthate – 250 mg per week
• Week Five: Winstrol – 50 mg per day; Testosterone Enanthate – 250 mg per week
• Week Six: Winstrol – 50 mg per day; Testosterone Enanthate – 250 mg per week
• Week Seven: Winstrol – 50 mg per day; Testosterone Enanthate – 250 mg per week
• Week Eight: Winstrol – 0 mg per day; Testosterone Enanthate – 250 mg per week
• Week Nine: Winstrol – 0 mg per day; Testosterone Enanthate – 250 mg per week
• Week ten: Winstrol – 0 mg per day; Testosterone Enanthate – 250 mg per week

Winstrol vs Anavar

Let’s take a look at the key features of each before deciding which is better:

Winstrol

• Fat loss
• Muscle gain
• Strength increase
• No water retention
• Oral and injectable
• Lean mass
• Few side effects
• Relatively cheap
• Not suitable for women

Anavar

• Fat loss
• Muscle gain
• Strength increase
• Orally
• Suitable for women

Verdict: Anavar vs. Winstrol?

Anavar and Winstrol are both potent oral-cutting steroids.

Both steroids burn fat and build muscle without increasing estrogen levels. They give you a dry, muscular look.

Winstrol is the stronger steroid and the results are likely to be slightly better; users gain slightly more muscle than Anavar.

Although Winstrol may improve body composition, its side effects are significantly less severe than Anavar.

Winstrol is certainly not safe and suitable for beginners, while Anavar is often recommended as a first-line treatment.

This is why Anavar has become more popular than Winstrol.

It increases blood pressure, reduces testosterone production, strains the liver, and stresses joints.

Anavar, however, can reduce testosterone production on its own. It also has androgenic side effects like acne and oily skin.

Winstrol can also speed up hair loss on the scalp. The androgenic value of Winstrol is deceptively low, but it doesn’t match reality.

If someone uses Winstrol, they should think about a PCT that restores endogenous testosterone. And taking liver support medication.

Studies have shown that TUDCA protects the liver when taken in large doses.

It takes 1-3 months to see a positive effect, so you can take TUDCA during and after a cycle.

Anavar may not need TUDCA because of its mild hepatic effects.

Due to a loss of intracellular water, Winstrol users’ muscles are likely to look deflated.

The volume of fluid inside muscle cells increases when users take Anavar.

Winstrol, however, has superior muscle-building properties, so this difference may not be noticeable.

Anavar is better for women because it’s less virilizing. On the other hand, Winstrol slowly turns women into men in moderate doses. A very small dose of Winstrol, however, is safer for women.

Winstrol is the “poor man’s Anavar”, it’s cheaper. It’s a good option if you’re not too health-conscious and don’t have a lot of money.

Summary: Winstrol is the most effective steroid in raw performance. However, Anavar wins when you weigh the pros and cons.

Sources/Clinical Study:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10443664/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5979936/