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- Best overall: Thorne Creatine
- Best overall — runner-up: Klean Athlete Klean Creatine
- Best for post-workout: Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate Powder
- Best for muscle growth: Genius Creatine Power Matrix
- Best flavored: Muscle Feast Creapure® Creatine Monohydrate
- Best unflavored: BulkSupplements.com Creatine Monohydrate
- Best vegan: Naked Creatine
- Best capsules: Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Capsules
- Best for athletes: 1st Phorm Micronized Creatine Monohydrate
- Best pre-workout: Proven4 Sport Pre-Game Formula
Creatine is a compound produced by the body and found naturally in a variety of foods.
Creatine supplements are often used to enhance athletic performance, increase strength, and reduce muscle damage (
Creatine monohydrate, which consists of a creatine molecule paired with a water molecule, is the most common and the best-researched type of creatine supplement (
Other types are also available. They combine creatine with other compounds intended to increase absorption or boost performance, such as magnesium, citric acid, malic acid, or hydrochloride.
However, not all creatine supplements are created equal, and with so many options available, finding a high quality supplement can be challenging.
The products included in this article were selected based on the following criteria:
- quality of ingredients
- lack of additives, fillers, and artificial colors or flavors
- the use of third-party testing for banned substances and contaminants
- adherence to good manufacturing practices
Here are 10 of the best creatine supplements.
Best overall
Thorne Creatine
Price: $
Thorne Research is a company focused on producing high-quality, sustainably sourced supplements.
This unflavored product contains 5 grams of creatine per serving and is free of gluten, soy, dairy, yeast, and other major allergens.
It’s also NSF Certified for Sport, meaning that it has undergone third-party testing to ensure that it’s free of harmful contaminants and specific substances that are banned for athletes.
Best overall — runner-up
Klean Athlete Klean Creatine
Price: $
With 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving, this product from Klean Athlete is ideal for those seeking a simple yet high-quality creatine supplement.
Like most other Klean Athlete products, Klean Creatine is NSF Certified for Sport to ensure that it meets strict quality standards.
It’s also unflavored and can be easily mixed into smoothies, shakes, and juices.
Best for post-workout
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate Powder
Price: $
Formulated specifically as a pre- and post-workout supplement, this product from Nutricost contains 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving and is free of artificial additives, fillers, or preservatives.
Not only is it made without any genetically modified organisms (GMOs), but it’s also gluten-free and manufactured in a GMP-certified facility, meaning that it adheres to strict safety and quality standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It has also gone through third-party testing at an ISO accredited lab.
In addition to the unflavored version, it’s also available in flavors like fruit punch and blue raspberry, which can be mixed into your favorite beverage after you workout.
Best for muscle growth
Genius Creatine Power Matrix
Price: $$
If increasing muscle mass is your main goal, this creatine supplement from The Genius Brand is a great option.
It contains 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving, along with beta-alanine, an amino acid that has been shown to improve exercise performance and increase levels of carnosine in the muscle (
It’s also naturally sweetened with stevia and monk fruit extract and is available in both unflavored and green apple varieties, which can be easily added to protein shakes and smoothies.
Best of all, all products from The Genius Brand are free of fillers, artificial ingredients, and banned substances for athletes.
Best flavored
Muscle Feast Creapure® Creatine Monohydrate
Price: $$
Available in eight different varieties ranging from tangerine to blue ice pop, Creapure® is a high-quality product that scores the top spot as the best-flavored creatine supplement on the market.
It contains 5.4 grams of creatine in each serving and is made from Creapure, which is a highly purified form of creatine monohydrate.
Muscle Feast Creapure® is also free of fillers and all ingredients undergo third-party testing to ensure safety, purity, and potency.
What’s more, this creatine supplement is also certified vegan, kosher, and gluten-free, making it a good choice for those with dietary restrictions.
Best unflavored
BulkSupplements Creatine Monohydrate
Price: $
This high-quality supplement is a convenient and cost-effective way to help ramp up your intake of creatine.
It contains 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving and is formulated without any additives or extra ingredients, such as gluten, sugar, soy, dairy, or yeast.
Plus, BulkSupplements can also provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA) upon request, which is a detailed document that provides information on the quality, strength, and specifications of a product.
Best vegan
Naked Creatine
Price: $
This product is not only free of artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners but also made without any GMOs and contains just one ingredient. It’s also independently third-party tested for any heavy metals.
It’s likewise certified vegan and certified gluten-free, making it a great option for those with food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Additionally, Naked Creatine by Naked Nutrition contains 5 grams of creatine monohydrate and can be easily dissolved in your favorite pre- or post-workout beverage.
Best capsules
Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Capsules
Price: $
If you prefer the convenience and ease of pills over powders, these creatine capsules from Optimum may be a good choice.
All Optimum Nutrition supplements are lab tested and manufactured in GMP-certified facilities.
Each serving contains approximately 2.5 grams of pure creatine per two capsules, and capsules contain zero calories or carbohydrates.
Optimum Nutrition creatine capsules are sold in three bottle sizes, 100-, 200- and 300-count.
Best for athletes
1st Phorm Micronized Creatine Monohydrate
Price: $-$$
This micronized creatine product from 1st Phorm is made for athletes looking to increase endurance, strength, and stamina.
It features 5 grams of monohydrate creatine per serving and can be mixed in water, juice, or your favorite beverage.
All 1st Phorm products are third-party tested for quality, potency, and allergens.
1st Phorm also suggests that customers consume at least 120 oz of water daily if they are using this creatine supplement.
Best pre-workout
Proven4 Sport Pre-Game Formula
Price: $$$
Whether you’re a casual gym-goer or competitive athlete, this pre-workout supplement from Proven4 Sport can help boost your exercise routine.
Each serving contains 2 grams of creatine monohydrate, along with a blend of other ingredients like B vitamins, caffeine, and amino acids.
What’s more, this product is NSF Certified for Sport and available in a variety of flavors, including blue raspberry, cherry limeade, fruit punch, and watermelon.
When selecting a creatine supplement, be sure to check the ingredient label carefully and look for products free of artificial flavors, sweeteners, colors, and fillers whenever possible.
However, note that some supplements may contain added carbs or protein, which can help increase the retention of creatine (
You should also pay close attention to the dosage of creatine supplements.
It’s generally recommended to start with a loading phase of 20 to 25 grams per day for 5 to 7 days to increase muscle stores of creatine, followed by a maintenance dosage of 3 to 5 grams daily thereafter (
If possible, you should also choose supplements that have undergone third-party testing and are certified by organizations like NSF or Informed-Choice to ensure safety and quality.
Some companies may also provide a COA upon request, which offers detailed information about the purity and potency of products.
Creatine supplements are available in a variety of forms, flavors, and dosages.
When picking the right product for you, be sure to check the ingredient label and dosage carefully.
Ideally, you should also purchase products that have undergone third-party testing or provide a COA available upon request.
