Anavar vs. Winstrol: Which Should I Choose?

Anavar (Oxandrolone) and Winstrol (Stanozolol) are oral steroids, and of which Winstrol can also be found in injectable form. Bodybuilders often have a hard time choosing between the two because they are so similar. To help you make the best choice for yourself, we will review the differences and key features of each. 

Anavar
 
Anavar is known to be one of the milder steroids out there. Anavar has been shown to decrease visceral fat during its use but is not known for extreme mass gains and is more often used in cutting cycles. Despite this, Anavar is known for its quality mass gains, meaning that the gains made while using it are likely to stay in the long term, as opposed to a compound like Dianabol. 
 
Anavar is a methylated steroid, so it is toxic to the liver, but less so than Winstrol. Cycle support can not be forgone on an Anavar cycle. You need to monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, liver enzymes, and maintain organ support. Knowing this, Anavar is still known to have minimal side effects compared to other anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), especially when used in smaller doses. Anavar is an extremely popular choice for women bodybuilders because it is less virilizing than other AAS. Average cycles go from 50-100 mg per day for 6-12 weeks for males, and 2.5-10 mg per day for women. Since it is an oral steroid, Anavar is fast acting, and has a half-life of 8 hours, so you should be taking your doses split up throughout the day.
 
Winstrol
 
Winstrol is known for being a potent muscle-builder (but not as powerful as bulking steroids like Anadrol or Dianabol). Winstrol increases free testosterone levels, which helps increase lean muscle mass. It has low androgenic properties and very high anabolic properties. Winstrol produces dry muscle gains because it does not aromatize, meaning no water retention, and does have other diuretic properties. By eating in a caloric surplus, Winstrol can add considerable size. Combine the dryness with the mass increase, you get an enhanced look when it comes to muscle tone and definition, making it extremely popular for cutting phases of training. 
 
People who use Winstrol have reported intense pumps during workouts and gains in vascularity. Winstrol is also a good choice to use with other compounds like Testosterone, Deca, or Tren because of its estrogen and progesterone blocking abilities. Since it is toxic to the liver, cycle support and monitoring liver enzymes and cholesterol levels is important, and it is recommended to take Winstrol in a moderate dosage and limit the cycle duration to no more than 10 weeks. Average cycles go from 40-100 mg per day for 6-8 weeks for males, and only 5-10 mg per day for 4-6 weeks for women (however, Winstrol is not generally recommended for women due to the masculinization that can occur from the free testosterone level elevation). 
 
Anavar vs. Winstrol: Making a Choice
 
Ultimately, the choice is yours. Both are effective for a cutting cycle, but Winstrol tends to allow for more lean muscle building. On the flip side, Winstrol is also much harsher than Anavar. Anavar also seems to be the more popular choice among beginners due to its mild side effects. Women should generally stick with Anavar, unless they are more experienced with gear. It should be noted that Anavar does tend to be more expensive than Winstrol.