Should you power up or evolve first in Pokémon GO?

Check the full evolution requirement

The summary shows the Candy cost and any additional condition. Some evolutions require an item, a buddy task, a location or another specific action. More Candy does not bypass a missing requirement.

An eligible trade evolution can reduce the Candy cost, but a Pokémon received in a trade cannot simply be traded back like a console trade-back. Decide what you are willing to send before using that route.

Do not spend Stardust without a purpose

If the goal is filling the Pokédex, you may only need the evolution. If the goal is a raid attacker, check whether the evolved species and available moves fit the raid. If the goal is a CP-capped league, check the resulting CP before upgrading past the limit.

Evolution and powering up are not methods of repairing an unfavorable appraisal. Review the candidate first rather than expecting enough upgrades to turn its individual stat bars into perfect ones.

Think about moves and events

Certain event opportunities can affect which moves an evolution receives. Check a current official event notice before making a time-sensitive decision. An old Community Day guide is not a promise that the same move is available today.

Use the preview information

Read the displayed costs and outcome information before confirming. Keep an important favorite marked so a storage-cleanup session does not accidentally remove the Pokémon you were saving to evolve.

There is no universal requirement to power up every Pokémon before evolving it. Plan the final role, inspect the requirements and avoid spending shared Stardust merely because the button is available.