Best Creatine Supplements of 2024
Boost your workout performance, recovery and muscle growth with the best creatine supplements.
Our Experts
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What to consider
Form
Creatine comes in various forms: powder, capsules and chews.
Dosage
Know the appropriate dosage of creatine you should be taking daily. 5 grams is usually the recommended amount.
Price
Creatine will sometimes vary per price depending on its concentration.
Flavor
Usually creatine is unflavored, but there are brands that may sell them with certain flavors.
Certification
Supplements like creatine should have a third party sports certification like NSF for Sport, which ensures the product contains no banned substances.
Our Picks
What to consider
Form
Creatine comes in various forms: powder, capsules and chews.
Dosage
Know the appropriate dosage of creatine you should be taking daily. 5 grams is usually the recommended amount.
Price
Creatine will sometimes vary per price depending on its concentration.
Flavor
Usually creatine is unflavored, but there are brands that may sell them with certain flavors.
Certification
Supplements like creatine should have a third party sports certification like NSF for Sport, which ensures the product contains no banned substances.
If you're looking for a way to improve your exercise performance and recovery, creatine may be worth adding to your regimen. Creatine is an amino acid that can enhance exercise performance (and therefore support muscle growth) and has been found to promote brain health. Harvard Health notes there's some evidence that creatine supplementation can even speed up recovery in muscle cells after strenuous workouts when used in conjunction with proper nutrition.
This scientifically backed supplement is offered in a variety of forms, including powders, capsules and chews. However, not all creatine supplements are the same, so you'll want to know which type to opt for and how much creatine you should take. Whether you want to gain lean body mass or boost your recovery, we found the best creatine supplements to support your fitness journey.
What is the best creatine supplement?
I researched and evaluated many brands while making this list, plenty of which impressed me. I found that the best creatine supplement is Thorne Creatine. Throne is one of the most well-known and trusted brands in the supplement industry, thanks to its high-quality ingredients and third-party testing. The only thing you get in Thorne Creatine is 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving, with no additives to worry about.
Reviews support that Thorne doesn't have a taste and mixes easily into drinks. Thorne is a little more expensive than other brands, but you're paying for the quality and reliability of the ingredients.
Best creatine supplements of 2024
Thorne is a popular supplement brand known for the research and development it puts into its products. With Thorne, you know the product is high quality, thanks to the rigorous third-party testing by bodies such as NSF and TGA. That's why Thorne is my pick for the best overall creatine supplement.
It contains only creatine monohydrate, the most well-researched and effective form of creatine on the market. Creatine monohydrate sounds complicated, but it's just a creatinine molecule matched up with a water molecule. Thorne Creatine contains no gluten, dairy, soy and other major allergens. Reviews for this creatine supplement vouch for the powder's ability to mix easily into liquids. When dealing with powder supplements, many brands are known to clump, but not Thorne.
Best pure creatine supplement
Klean Athlete Klean Creatine
If you're looking for a non-additive creatine monohydrate powder with a solid dosage, consider Klean Athlete's Klean Creatine supplement. This best creatine supplement contains only creatine monohydrate, making it a straightforward option if you want high creatine content with no additives.
This best creatine supplement is also NSF Certified for Sport, so it's a trustworthy choice for competitive athletes. It's also pretty affordable at under $33 for around 60 servings. Customer reviews praise the performance of this creatine product, although some note that the texture can be grainy in liquids. To combat this, many people add it to smoothies or oats.
Best budget creatine supplement
BulkSupplements.com Creatine Monohydrate Powder
Budget creatine supplement shoppers should consider BulkSupplements.com's Creatine Monohydrate Powder. It's an unflavored, budget-friendly creatine powder that's free of additives. This best creatine powder has been micronized, which means the particles are smaller, allowing easier mixing into liquids.
Unlike other brands, you have a wider portion range, so you can buy as much as you need. You also can buy creatine capsules, although the serving size is much higher at seven capsules. One thing to consider is that this creatine supplement doesn't come with a scoop, which is standard in the creatine market, given that's how serving size is determined. Instead, the serving size is measured as teaspoons (a serving size is 2 teaspoons). It might not be that big of a deal for some people. Many value the simplicity of having a scoop already in the container.
Best creatine supplement for muscle growth
Bare Performance Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate
If your main goal is adding muscle mass, you'll like Bare Performance Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate. We think it's the best creatine supplement for muscle growth.
Bare Performance Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate contains Creapure, a purified form of creatine with a higher concentration and faster absorption. Serious athletes often favor it. In line with its purified form, this creatine powder has no additives or fillers. It's also third-party tested to ensure that what's advertised is actually in the product. Since it uses the highly purified form of creatine, this creatine powder is on the higher side of the market. It's about $10 more than most brands.
Best vegan creatine supplement
Gnarly Nutrition Creatine Supplement
Creatine is most often found in animal products. Because of this, those who live a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle may have lower creatinine levels in the body. Gnarly Nutrition Creatine Supplement is one of the best vegan creatine supplements you can buy. There's only one ingredient: Creapure creatine monohydrate derived from non-animal byproducts. As a bonus, it's also halal and kosher too.
This best creatine powder has also been third-party tested for banned substances, heavy metals and pesticides. The downside of this product is the price. For 90 servings, you'll pay around $55. The sourcing and the extra-pure Creapure creatine content are likely driving up that cost.
Best preworkout creatine supplement
Proven4 Sport Pre-workout Powder
If you are looking for simplicity and don't want to take a preworkout supplement and creatine, then try Proven4 Sport Pre-Workout Powder, which contains creatine. We think it's the best preworkout creatine supplement you can get.
Because it's not only a creatine supplement, there are other nutrients in this preworkout powder. Per one scoop, you get 3 mg of vitamin B1 and B2, 15 mg of vitamin B5 and 1 mcg of vitamin B12. Additionally, there are 150 mg of caffeine in this creatine preworkout powder. Studies have shown that caffeine helps improve athletic performance.
This creatine supplement has a robust nutritional content, but it doesn't have the most creatine on the list. There are only 2 grams of creatine per serving, while other brands average 5 grams.
Best creatine powder supplement
Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Powder
Optimum Nutrition Creatine Powder is the best creatine powder because it's micronized for faster absorption and efficiency. It's also easier to mix as it won't clump up when you add it to liquid. It's one of the most popular creatine powders on the list, with more than 71,000 reviews on Amazon.
Products from Optimum Nutrition are made in CGMP-certified facilities, where they are tested for purity and banned substances. The micronized creatine powder has 5 grams of pure creatine monohydrate per serving and nothing else. The packaging instructs the user to use a rounded teaspoon for serving size, which indicates there probably isn't an included scoop.
Factors to consider when choosing a creatine supplement
Like the rest of the supplement market, there are many creatine products out there. All of which vary by price, form and effectiveness. Not all creatine products are created equal, so there are things you should keep in mind when shopping so you find the ultimate creatine supplement for you.
Form
The best creatine supplements can come in various forms, the most popular being powder, capsules and chews. Powders are the most common for athletes but aren't the most on-the-go option. Capsules and chews are often more favored in that case. Additionally, powders typically have a lower serving size. Some creatine capsule supplements have a serving size of as high as seven capsules at once. Many of the capsules or chews do contain gelatin, which makes them unsuitable for vegans or vegetarians.
Flavor
The majority of creatine powders on our list are unflavored, as they are typically added to drinks or food. However, if you're adding it to water, you might want a flavor. Always look through customer reviews to get an idea of the flavor before buying.
Dosage
Depending on your goals, you may want more or less creatine. If you are trying to build muscle, add more creatine to your diet. Most pure creatine supplements average around 5 grams. Preworkout supplements can also contain creatine, although at a lower dose.
Price
As with anything, there is a wide range of pricing options for the best creatine supplements. Higher-concentration creatine supplements typically cost more, but that's not always the case. Check the ingredients and dosage before a high price tag fools you. It doesn't always mean quality.
Certifications
Creatine is a supplement favored by athletes and bodybuilders. If you compete in athletic competitions, all supplements you take must carry sports certifications like NSF for Sport, which ensures the product contains no banned substances.
How we chose the best creatine supplements
Supplements are subjective, and performance varies by person. That's why I did not test these supplements in-house. What works for me might not work for someone else. Instead, I used my expertise to extensively research and evaluate the ingredients, customer reviews and pricing.
Third-party certifications
The FDA does not enforce strict regulations for products in the supplement industry. To compensate for this, I rely on third-party certifications to ensure the supplements on this list have what the label says it does. These certifications are a way to vouch for the product's quality, purity and safety.
Common third-party certifications I came across:
- ConsumerLab: This is one of the highest testing standards and evaluations available. If you see a ConsumerLab certification, you know the product is high quality.
- NSF International: NSF is among the most respected independent product testing organizations. This certification confirms the product meets public health and safety standards.
- Underwriter Laboratories: This is one of the oldest third-party certification companies around. A UL certification confirms that the manufacturer meets standards and products are safe.
- U.S. Pharmacopeia: This nonprofit organization establishes standards for the quality and purity of dietary supplements.
Ingredients
The other factor that is top of mind when assessing supplements is ingredients. Depending on your goals and diet, you may need more or less of a supplement. It's important to highlight the dosage per serving size and what additional ingredients you'll get with each supplement. This is especially important for those who want products with no fillers or have dietary restrictions that rule out specific brands.
What are the benefits of creatine?
Creatine is one of the most researched supplements on the market. A wealth of research spanning decades supports the benefits and effectiveness of creatine supplements. Creatine helps you perform better physically; you're stronger and build both short-term and long-term muscle. There are additional benefits associated with creatine supplements that should also be noted.
Benefits of creatine supplements include:
- Increased muscle mass
- Improved athletic performance
- Healthy bones
- Lower blood sugar
- Improve brain function
What are the potential side effects of creatine supplements?
Creatine supplements are generally considered safe, with no negative side effects on the body. Even for periods up to years, there is no evidence suggesting that taking creatine supplements daily has a detrimental effect on the body.
Remember that serving sizes are there for a reason. Taking too much creatine can result in stomach discomfort, diarrhea, dizziness or muscle cramps.