Creatine, along with protein powders, may be the two most ubiquitous workout supplements around. For good reason, too, since they’re both heavily-researched compounds with long track records of success that have proven safe for continued use many times over.
The research on creatine has been going on since the 1800s. However, it’s only during the golden days of bodybuilding in the 70s and 80s that work on the compound gained a lot more attention. By the 90s, creatine has become a staple in most athletes’ supplement lists, with an estimated 80 percent of competitors at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics believed to be taking it as part of their regimen.
Since then, creatine has only gone on to even greater popularity. In fact, creatine supplements have gone beyond the usual roster of bodybuilders, athletes, and gym rats that have long been its traditional users. Creatine is a mainstream supplement now, with more and more people using it outside of gym settings as a way to fight muscle loss, enhance recovery, and even boost cognitive functions.
Not all creatine supplements are alike, of course. First, there are different types, such as creatine monohydrate, creatine HCl, creatine HMB, creatine nitrate, and more. Each type has its own list of pros and cons, with each individual reacting in different ways to each one. Chances are, you’ll need to try a few to figure out which one works best with your body, especially if you have specific sensitivities. After you settle on a creatine type, it’s all about finding the right combination of flavors, solubility, and price, which can vary significantly depending on brands, so there’s plenty of research to do on that end.
Hopefully, this list can help you narrow down your options for the best creatine supplements.
Onnit Creatine Monohydrate
Pros
- Truly unflavored, so it’s completely neutral with no aftertaste
- Good for people with sensitivities
- Certified by Informed Sport
Cons
- No flavored options
- No bulk options (only 30-serving tub is available)
Net weight: 5.29 oz. (30 servings)
Recommended serving size: Two scoops (contains 5g of creatine)
Flavors: Unflavored
This creatine supplement is dairy-free, soy-free, and vegan, making it a great option for those with plenty of sensitivities. It’s also a good choice for athletes, since it’s certified by Informed Sport, ensuring even small traces of banned substances are not present in the blend. There are also no additional carbs, fats, or calories in the mix, so everything you get is good, clean creatine without any unnecessary fluff. As far as flavor goes, it’s fully neutral, as in it’s the perfect kind to put in your preferred drink mixes or supplement stacks, since it won’t affect the taste, unlike some other “unflavored” brands out there.
Kaged Creatine HCl
Pros
- Good for people who experience gastrointestinal issues with monohydrate
- Certified by Informed Sport
Cons
- Low amount of creatine per serving
- Not as much research has been done on HCl compared to monohydrate
Net weight: 2.65 oz. (75 servings)
Recommended serving size: One scoop (contains 750mg of creatine)
Flavors: Fruit punch, Lemon lime, Unflavored, Capsules
Some people do experience gastrointestinal issues issues when they take creatine monohydrate. If that’s you, then it’s probably a good idea to try creatine hydrochloride, a more soluble form of creatine that should help reduce, if not eliminate, the likelihood of bloat, gas, and cramps. Do note, this advantage is disputed in some studies, although we’ve heard enough anecdotal evidence (including some from people we know) to believe it’s a viable alternative for folks who suffer from stomach issues with the monohydrate version. This is certified by Informed Sport, too, so it’s safe to take for athletes. Do note, this has a much lower amount of creatine per serving (only 750mg), which is a far cry from the three to five grams you typically get with monohydrate blends.
Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Capsules
Pros
- More convenient to consume
- High-quality creatine
Cons
- Creatine dose is only half of some powder brands
- Needs to be taken with a meal
Net contents: 100 capsules (50 servings)
Recommended serving size: Two capsules (contains 2.5g of creatine)
Flavors: Capsules
If you’re not a fan of powdered supplements you’ll need to dissolve in water, creatine supplements also comes in capsule form like this one from Optimum Nutrition. This makes it a lot easier to consume, since you don’t have to worry about how well it dissolves or how good it tastes. There’s also no mess, so you don’t have to clean up specks of powder from the table. The catch is, they recommend taking it with a meal, since this form of creatine, apparently, gets better muscle retention when consumed with some carbs, which shouldn’t be that big of an issue for most folks. Do note, the recommended serving only comes with 2.5g of creatine, so if you’re used to dosing with 5g at a time, you’ll have to double up on the serving size, which effectively halves the amount of servings you get.
Bulk Supplements Creatine
Pros
- Excellent value, especially if you buy in larger volumes
- Pure creatine
- Dissolves quickly and mixes well with any drink
Cons
- No scoop included
- No flavored options
Net weight: 2.2 pounds (200 servings)
Recommended serving size: Two scoops (contains 5g of creatine)
Flavors: Unflavored
Looking for the best value in creatine supplements? We can’t think of better than value than this, especially if you buy the bigger bags. For the purposes of this list, we’re focusing on the 2.2-pound bag, which comes with 200 servings, although it’s available in volumes as large 55 pounds.
This is pure creatine powder, by the way, with no other ingredients included, which is why it dissolves so easily, allowing you to enjoy your creatine without floaties or clumps. Do note, it’s also unflavored, so you’ll want to mix it with your preferred mixes if you want to drink something with a little taste. And yes, it mixes well with most anything we’ve tried, so you should able to enjoy it as you like. Do note, it doesn’t come with an actual scoop in the bag, so make sure you keep from your previous supplements.
Redcon1 Tango Creatine
Pros
- Packs more creatine per serving than other brands
- Helps with muscle-building and recovery
- Good taste
Cons
- May trigger some dietary sensitivities
Net weight: 13.86 oz. (30 servings)
Recommended serving size: One scoop (contains 7g of creatine)
Flavors: Rocket bomb, Strawberry kiwi
Why take just one type of creatine when you can take them all? That’s the idea behind this supplement, which combines 5g of creatine monohydrate, 1g of creatine HCl, and 1g of creatine nitrate per serving. That last one, by the way, supposedly promotes increased blood flow to the muscles during exercise, which should help your muscles recover sooner. This combo, basically, surpasses the typical functions of creatine supplements, allowing you to see better results over time, especially since it’s also mixed with betaine, taurine, l-ornithine, and a few other ingredients. Our own experiences with this supplement have been great, as it does feel like it packs more punch compared to your standard creatine powders. The taste is actually pretty good, too, although it does have quite a lot of ingredients, which probably helps on that end (yeah, it doesn’t feel very clean).
Jacked Factory Growth Surge
Pros
- Combines creatine with a post-workout formula
- Keeps you building muscle after training
- Generous selection of flavors
Cons
- A bit expensive, especially with only 3g of creatine per serving
- Tends to leave some clumps
Net weight: 10.79 oz. (30 servings)
Recommended serving size: One scoop (contains 3g of the active ingredient)
Flavors: 11 choices plus an unflavored option
If you like taking creatine supplements with your post-workout, you might be interested in this formula, which combines creatine monohydrate with betaine, l-carnitine, l-tartrate, and bioperine. This is a good combination of ingredients that promote muscle recovery and strength gain, so you’re getting a well-rounded blend that can keep you building muscle for the rest of the day. We love the wide selection of flavors, although the ones we tried do tend to have some aftertaste, which is pretty common in drinks with artificial sweeteners. It’s also a bit hard to dissolve, so you definitely want to shake and mix vigorously to minimize any clumps.
XWerks Lift
Pros
- Pure creatine (no blend)
- Dissolves very well
- Tastes neutral
Cons
- No flavor options
- No smaller packages for people who want to sample
Net weight: 14.1 oz. (80 servings)
Recommended serving size: One scoop (contains 5g of creatine)
Flavors: Unflavored
With 5g of creatine monohydrate per serving and 80 servings per bag, this is actually really great value. It also contains nothing other than micronized creatine monohydrate, so no dairy, no soy, no gluten, and no sugar, making it safe for people with dietary sensitivities. Because of the lack of other ingredients (it doesn’t even have flavor), it dissolves easily (there are occasional small clumps, but very rare), making it easy to mix with your favorite drinks and supplement stacks. If you like keeping your supplements simple, it doesn’t get simpler than pure creatine powder and nothing more.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Pros
- Great muscle-building creatine blend
- Plenty of flavor options
Cons
- Doesn’t dissolve well
- No stimulant, so you still have to take your preworkout if you need the caffeine
Net weight: 10.4 oz. (30 servings)
Recommended serving size: One scoop (contains 5g of creatine)
Flavors: 13 flavors plus an unflavored option
Designed for bulking, this creatine supplement combines creatine monohydrate with beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), helping promote muscle growth while reducing muscle damage and muscle protein breakdown. It also contains bioperine to help with absorption and vitamin D3 to promote muscle recovery. We find this an interesting blend – one that some people we know swear by, as well, as far as muscle-building is concerned. Too bad it can’t take the place of your pre-workout, though, since there’s no caffeine (or any other stimulant) included.
There’s a good variety of flavors available, all sweetened using stevia extract, so there’s neither sugar not artificial sweeteners here. Taste is fine, although not particularly great. Do note, this will require some extra mixing, since it tends to leave clumps often, so you’ll want to drink this fast to keep the chunks from settling at the bottom.