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The Highest Quality Creatine Powders of 2024
Winner - Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate
Not sure where to start with Creatine Monohydrate, or looking to change up your supplement routine? Not sure if you should even be taking creatine?
With over 500 research studies on the benefits of creatine, it is one of the most highly documented supplements proven to help support fitness goals.
There’s no doubt about it, creatine is an incredible supplement that can help support power output, improve muscle building, support exercise capacity, and even help support focus and cognitive performance.
But with so many creatine powders available, which one is the best? Which one is the most affordable, providing a great amount of creatine and servings per container? Which specific creatine monohydrate is most suitable for your needs?
After thoroughly reviewing numerous popular creatine brands, as well as a few lesser-known options, I’ve determined a list of 6 for you to consider purchasing.
Let’s get to it!
What I loved:
- Ranks #1 on Amazon as Creatine Bestseller
- Each scoop provides 5g of micronized creatine monohydrate
- 22¢ per serving
- No fillers
- Provides instructions for supplementing loading days and maintenance days
- 3rd Party Tested Product
- Made in GMP Facility
- Non-GMO
- Vegetarian
- Provides a scooper for easy serving measurement
- Available in multiple sizes
- Available in other flavors: Watermelon, Blue Raspberry and Fruit Punch, Pineapple Mango
What could be better:
- This can sell out (but usually restocks quickly!)
What I loved:
For me, Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate is the best option by far. The pro list is really long, great price with tons of quality assurances.
Nutricost has this product 3rd party tested and is formulated in a GMP facility.
GMP, an acronym for Good Manufacturing Practice, refers to the regulations established by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
By adhering to GMP regulations, companies adopt a quality-focused approach to manufacturing.
This safeguards consumers from purchasing products that are ineffective or potentially harmful and is a great feature to look for when choosing a supplement!
Each tub is $21.95, and comes with 100 servings. This competitive price point makes each serving only 22¢ per scoop. Compare this to more expensive creatine monohydrate powders that can range up to 35-38 cents per serving.
In every scoop, you will get a standard, high-quality serving of 5g of creatine monohydrate.
I also think it’s great to have options for unflavored or flavored, and multiple sizes available. And of course, the micronized powder means that you will have no problem dissolving it into your beverage of choice.
What could be better:
This is an incredible creatine monohydrate powder, without many downsides. If I’m being really critical, the only thing I can think of is that since Nutricost is so popular, their products can occasionally be out of stock.
They usually restock pretty quickly, though, so you won’t wait long!
*Individual Results May Vary - Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product's website for more information.
What I loved:
Each scoop provides 5g of micronized creatine monohydrate
- 19¢ per serving
- No fillers
- 3rd Party Tested Product
- Made in GMP Facility
- Non-GMO
- Vegan and Gluten-free
- 3 on Amazon’s Best Creatine Supplements
What could be better:
- No scoop included in bag
- No flavor options
What I loved:
Bulk Supplements is a recognizable brand. They are a real contender for the best creatine supplement. They have a lot of quality assurances with 3rd party testing and the product is made in a GMP facility.
It is always nice to know there are no fillers or additives - this formula is vegan and gluten free, and non-GMO.
Each bag of Bulk Supplements creatine offers 100 servings and costs $21.96. That makes each serving size ~19¢. The micronized powder is a plus, making it easy to dilute into your beverage of choice.
What could be better:
Once again, Bulk Supplements is another great creatine monohydrate product. There aren’t many downsides to it.
That said, if I had to be super critical, I noticed that they don’t provide you with a scooper inside the bag. That means you’ll need to resort to a measuring spoon at home.
Once again, this isn’t the end of the world, but I do prefer having a convenient measuring spoon inside the container.
Last thing is Bulk Supplements doesn’t provide flavored creatine options.
*Individual Results May Vary - Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product's website for more information.
What I loved:
- Highly rated on Amazon’s Best Creatine list
- Non-GMO
- Soy-Free and Gluten Free
- 3rd Party Tested
- Each scoop provides 5g of micronized creatine monohydrate
- Competetive price
What could be better:
- No flavor options available
What I loved:
Naturebell Creatine Monohydrate is a pretty standard creatine product. Each scoop provides 5 grams of pure, micronized creatine monohydrate.
Once again, micronized creatine makes it more soluble and easier to digest.
Also, Naturebell’s creatine powder is 3rd-party tested, as well as GMO free, soy free, and gluten free.
What could be better: Naturebell’s creatine doesn't come with any flavor options that I could find on Amazon.
*Individual Results May Vary - Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product's website for more information.
What I loved:
- 3rd party tested
- GMP certified
- Non-GMO
- Gluten-free
- Small business
- 5g of micronized powder in each serving
What could be better:
- 39¢ per serving
- Only 60 servings per tub
- Ratings
What I loved:
NuiNutra has quality control elements that are important to look for. They are 3rd-party tested, GMP certified, and use non-GMO ingredients. Their creatine powder is micronized for easy mixing and solubility.
I also think it’s cool to consider supporting a small business!
What could be better:
NuiNutra does not have that many reviews, so they are not rated highly on Amazon.
They also have a higher cost per serving price than many other options. One tub of NuiNutra creatine costs $23.95, and only provides 60 servings.
Many other competitors provide 100 servings. The cost per serving for NuiNutra is 39¢, higher than those in the 25¢ range.
*Individual Results May Vary - Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product's website for more information.
What I loved:
- Each scoop provides 5g of micronized creatine monohydrate
- 3rd Party Tested
- No fillers
- Vegetarian and Kosher
- Produced in-house by Nutrabio
- GMP Compliant
- Non-GMO
- 100 servings per tub
- Can purchase in smaller quantities
- Ranks #6 on Amazon for Best Creatine Supplements
What could be better:
- 36¢ per serving
- No flavor options
What I loved:
Like all of the other options on this list so far, Nutrabio offers micronized powder to make the creatine easy to mix and dissolve. They are highly ranked on Amazon, up at number 6.
Also, it’s always great to find a product that is 3rd party tested, GMP compliant, and produced in-house like Nutrabio.
You can also get Nutrabio creatine in smaller quantities, which could be a nice option if you are just trying creatine for the first time.
What could be better:
The whole tub is $35.99 for 100 servings.
This breaks down to about 36 cents per serving, which is much higher than other options at the 23 cents per serving range.
*Individual Results May Vary - Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product's website for more information.
What I loved:
- Made in a GMP compliant, FDA registered facility
- 5g of micronized powder in each serving
- Includes a scoop
What could be better:
- Price - 41¢ per serving
- Only 60 servings per tub
What I loved:
Each serving provides the standard 5 grams of pure creatine monohydrate. Additionally, their creatine is also micronized for improved solubility and to make it easier to digest.
Also, it's great to see that Transform HQ makes their creatine in a GMP compliant, FDA registered facility. I always look for that in a supplement.
Lastly, TransforHQ includes that convenient scooper with the creatine monohydrate tub.
What could be better:
TransformHQ Creatine Monohydrate is a great creatine product as far as formula and manufacturing goes.
At 41¢ per serving, this is the most expensive price per serving on this list. Each tub costs $24.99 and provides 60 servings, coming to a total of $24.99.
Lastly, TransformHQ doesn’t provide flavored creatine options. That said, TransformHQ still provides a high quality product.
If you’re already a fan of the brand, or looking for a smaller serving size to start out, TransformHQ may be worth looking into.
*Individual Results May Vary - Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product's website for more information.
Why I Chose Nutricost
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate Is the Clear Winner
From the cost-per-serving ratio and the 5 grams of micronized creatine monohydrate powder per serving, to the 100 servings per container and laundry-list of quality assurance certifications behind it, Nutricost Creatine is the winner.
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate is an extremely affordable, high-quality product.
If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck when it comes to creatine monohydrate, I definitely recommend checking them out.
Ranking Criteria
Based on the research, it’s clear creatine monohydrate can help with fitness goals. That said, I wanted to find which options out there are the best!
I checked out 6 creatine monohydrate options, including some big name brands, some up-and-coming brands, and maybe some you’ve never heard of before.
For this review, I tried out unflavored creatine monohydrate and mixed them each with water. I wanted to limit the variables so I could give you the most accurate results. Keep in mind, you can always mix this in with your favorite fruit juice or smoothie.
That said, for this review, I also took into consideration whether the brand offered flavored creatine monohydrate options as well, as that can be a big benefit to those who want to change things up once in a while.
As I tested these out, I considered the following criteria:
- Formula: The biggest thing I was looking at was the amount of creatine monohydrate in the powder, and the amount of creatine monohydrate per serving.
- Price: Let's be realistic, no one wants to spend an arm and a leg on supplements. That's why I heavily prioritized overall price of the creatine supplement in my rankings.
- Flavor Variations: Another factor that influenced my ranking was if this powder came in flavored variations, especially since it is nice to have some options.
- Brand Recognition: The last factor I considered was how reputable the brand was to me. The more products the brand offered, the more high-quality and number of Amazon reviews, the more assured I felt about that brand.
What's the Big Deal with Creatine, Anyway?
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound found in small amounts in certain foods like meat and fish, and is also produced by the human body.
It plays a vital role in energy metabolism, especially during high-intensity and short-duration activities.
Creatine is stored in the muscles, and can be rapidly converted into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary source of cellular energy.
Here are some reasons why someone might use creatine:
Increased strength and power: Creatine supplementation has been shown to increase muscle strength and power output, improving performance in activities that rely on explosive movements.
Enhanced muscle mass: Creatine supplementation can promote an increase in muscle mass by boosting protein synthesis and reducing muscle protein breakdown.
Improved exercise capacity: By replenishing the ATP stores more rapidly, creatine can delay fatigue during high-intensity exercise, allowing individuals to train at a higher intensity or for longer durations.
Faster muscle recovery: Creatine may help reduce muscle damage and inflammation, leading to faster recovery after intense workouts.
Cognitive benefits: Some research suggests that creatine supplementation might have cognitive benefits, such as improved memory and cognitive function, although further studies are needed to confirm these effects.
How should you use Creatine?
The most popular ways to supplement with creatine involve either a loading phase and transitioning to a maintenance phase, or just starting and keeping a maintenance dose.
Loading Phase: The idea behind the loading phase is that it is a way to get creatine into your muscles faster, so you are essentially front-loading your body with it.
A typical loading phase is taking 5 grams 4x a day for about 5-7 days. Then taking 3-5 grams per day to maintain levels after.
Maintenance Dose: Another popular way to supplement with creatine monohydrate is to simply just start taking 3-5 grams of creatine 1x per day, without a loading phase.