Buying creatine should be straightforward. Yet a quick search brings up plain powders, flavored blends, different serving sizes, and prices that are difficult to compare.
For a healthy adult considering creatine for strength training, creatine monohydrate is a sensible starting point. It is the most widely studied form, with evidence supporting its use for repeated bursts of intense exercise. Individual results vary. NIH exercise supplement guidance
The buying decision comes down to a few practical questions: What is in the container? How much creatine does each serving provide? What testing can you verify? And what will your daily serving actually cost?
This guide compares six options from Thorne, Optimum Nutrition, Nutricost, Sports Research, Momentous, and Transparent Labs to help you answer those questions.
Research disclosure: We have not personally tested these products. This comparison uses manufacturer information, available certification records, and published research. We have not scored taste, texture, or individual training results. The recent product details were checked on September 20, 2026, and may change.
If you need a structured routine to follow, start with our three-day full-body workout guide.
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Creatine Supplements Compared at a Glance
The products below are options to compare, not a ranking of which produces the most muscle growth. The table focuses on unflavored powders, with the Transparent Labs blend identified separately.
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| Product | Creatine per serving | Main reason to consider it | Main buying consideration |
| Thorne Creatine | 5 g | Plain powder with an NSF Certified for Sport listing | Compare its price with other certified powders |
| Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Powder | 5 g on the US product page | Several container sizes for comparing ongoing cost | Choose the exact size and flavor before comparing prices |
| Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate Powder | 5 g | Multiple tub sizes, including a 500 g unflavored option | Manufacturer testing claims should be distinguished from a verified sport certification |
| Sports Research Creatine Monohydrate Unflavored | 5 g serving in the NSF listing | Another powder with an NSF Certified for Sport listing | Match the product and lot to the certification record |
| Momentous Creatine Monohydrate | 5 g | Plain powder with an NSF Certified for Sport listing | Compare the final purchase price and ordering terms |
| Transparent Labs Creatine HMB | 5 g, plus 1.5 g HMB | A combined formula for buyers specifically seeking both ingredients | Assess the full formula and cost rather than assuming extras improve results |
Sources and product-specific qualifications appear in the individual sections below. Country versions, flavors, package sizes, and certification records can differ.
How We Compared These Products
We assessed the six products from our shortlist using four criteria:
- Formula: The form of creatine and any additional ingredients.
- Serving information: Whether the amount of creatine is clearly stated.
- Testing evidence: What the manufacturer says and which independent records are available.
- Purchase value: Cost for an equivalent quantity, plus realistic factors such as delivery and subscription terms.
This is a comparison of the information available to a buyer. It does not establish that one brand outperforms another in the gym, or that these are the only worthwhile products available.
Six Creatine Supplements to Consider
1. Thorne Creatine: A Straightforward Certified Powder
Thorne lists 5 g of creatine monohydrate per scoop and 90 servings in the container reviewed here. Its manufacturer page displayed a price of US$44 when checked. That works out to approximately US$0.49 per 5 g serving before shipping and taxes. Thorne product details
Thorne’s unflavored powder also has an NSF Certified for Sport listing covering 450 g and 900 g packages. The record shows specific lots, so athletes ought to match their purchase to the current entry.
Why consider it: The serving information is easy to understand, and an independent certification record is available for consultation.
What to weigh up: Certification is a useful purchasing feature, but it does not demonstrate greater muscle gains than another suitable creatine product. Compare the delivered cost with other certified options.
2. Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine: Several Container Sizes
The US product page lists 5 g of creatine monohydrate per serving. The unflavored powder is offered in 60-, 120-, and 240-serving containers. When checked, the 60-serving option displayed US$20.49, approximately US$0.34 per serving. Optimum Nutrition product details
Several container sizes make it possible to compare a smaller initial purchase with a larger supply. The largest tub is only the better purchase if its cost per serving is lower and you expect to use it.
Why consider it: It offers a clearly stated creatine dose and several purchase sizes.
What to weigh up: Select the flavor and size before checking the price. Flavored versions have different total powder serving weights, so compare the amount of creatine itself. We have not tested the mixing or taste claims.
3. Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate: A Candidate for Budget Comparison
Nutricost lists 5 g per serving and offers several sizes and flavors. Its 500 g unflavored option provides 100 5 g portions. The manufacturer’s product data showed US$23.97 for that variant when checked, approximately US$0.24 per portion. Nutricost product details
Nutricost states that its products undergo independent laboratory testing. We have not independently reviewed a batch report for the container discussed here, so this should be understood as a manufacturer statement.
Why consider it: The 500 g unflavored option is worth including when comparing the cost of a regular creatine routine.
What to weigh up: If sport certification is essential for you, request or locate the relevant product record. A general testing statement should not be treated as proof of a particular certification. Compare flavoured products separately because their added ingredients affect servings per tub.
Check out the current Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate Micronized Powder 500G, unflavored pricing
4. Sports Research Creatine Monohydrate: Another Certified Option
NSF lists a Sports Research unflavored creatine monohydrate powder in a 450 g package, with a 5 g scoop and specified lots. That package contains 90 portions of 5 g each. Sports Research certification record
The value of this option depends on the price available to you and whether the exact product corresponds to the record. We could verify the certification entry, but could not confirm a reliable current manufacturer price during this review.
Why consider it: It gives you another certified powder to compare against Thorne and Momentous.
What to weigh up: Match the name, package, and lot rather than assuming every Sports Research creatine variant has identical certification coverage. Check the final cost per serving before choosing it.
5. Momentous Creatine Monohydrate: A Plain Powder With Certification
Momentous lists an unflavored powder containing 5 g of creatine monohydrate per scoop, 90 servings per container, and no other ingredients. Momentous product details
Its unflavored creatine monohydrate powder also appears in the NSF Certified for Sport directory.
Why consider it: It combines a simple formula with an independent certification record.
What to weigh up: Compare the one-time purchase cost with any subscription offer, including shipping and renewal terms. We could not confirm a reliable current price on the manufacturer’s page we retrieved, so we have not assigned it a price ranking.
6. Transparent Labs Creatine HMB: For Buyers Seeking a Combination
Transparent Labs lists 5 g of creatine monohydrate and 1.5 g of HMB per serving. Its formula also includes vitamin D3 and BioPerine black pepper extract. Transparent Labs ingredient details
This makes it a different buying decision from a plain creatine powder. You are selecting a combination of ingredients, so the question is whether you actually want that combination.
Why consider it: It may suit someone who has already decided to include both creatine and HMB in their routine and who prefers a single product.
What to weigh up: We have not established that this finished formula produces better results than plain creatine monohydrate. Do not treat the extra ingredients or the higher price you may encounter as proof of higher performance. Check the complete label and the flavour you intend to buy.
How to Compare Creatine Prices Fairly
A container’s sticker price can be misleading. Start by comparing equal amounts of creatine.
Cost per 5 g = product price ÷ total grams of creatine in the container × 5.
For a blend, use the grams of creatine, not the total weight of all ingredients.
These three manufacturer prices illustrate the calculation. They are not a complete price ranking of all six products.
| Exact option checked | Price in US dollars | Number of 5 g portions | Approximate cost per 5 g |
| Nutricost unflavored, 500 g | $23.97 | 100 | $0.24 |
| Optimum Nutrition unflavored, 60 servings | $20.49 | 60 | $0.34 |
| Thorne, 90 servings | $44.00 | 90 | $0.49 |
Prices were checked on September 20, 2026, using the manufacturer sources linked above. They exclude shipping, taxes, subscriptions, and promotional discounts. Prices and stock can change
For Canadian buyers, compare the total delivered price in Canadian dollars. Currency conversion, shipping, and possible import charges can change which option offers the better value.
What Third-Party Testing Tells You
NSF Certified for Sport includes checks related to label contents, contaminants, banned substances, and manufacturing standards. That gives a buyer more specific information than an unexplained testing badge. NSF’s explanation of its certification
It does not prove that a product will build more muscle than a competing powder. Certification addresses defined quality and testing standards, not a personal training outcome.
Before relying on a badge, look up the exact product. Check the country, flavor, package, and lot information where provided. A certification held by one product should not automatically be applied to everything sold under that brand.
What to Expect From Creatine
Creatine can support strength, power, and repeated high-intensity efforts. It is a supplement to training rather than a replacement for it. Early weight changes can include water retention, so a heavier scale reading is not proof of new muscle. NIH guidance on creatine
No product comparison can tell you exactly how much stronger you will become or how quickly your physique will change. Judge your training progress over time rather than using the first week’s body weight as a verdict on the brand.
Check out the Micronized Creatine unflavoured 60 servings powder pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
How much creatine do adults usually take?
Common maintenance procedures use 3-5 g daily. Follow the product directions and seek individual advice if you have a medical condition or take medication. Creatine research review
Do you need a loading phase?
No. A loading phase raises muscle creatine stores faster, but lower daily doses also work. Research comparing protocols found similar increases after 3 g daily for 28 days and 20 g daily for six days. These are storage timelines, not guarantees of visible muscle growth. Loading research explained
Is creatine safe for your kidneys?
Research supports a reassuring kidney safety record at recommended doses in healthy adults. Creatine can affect creatinine measurements without necessarily indicating kidney damage. If you have kidney disease, discuss supplementation with your clinician, and tell them about creatine use when interpreting blood tests. Kidney safety discussion
Does a more expensive creatine powder work better?
The price alone cannot tell you that. A higher cost might reflect certification, packaging, ingredients, or commercial pricing decisions. This comparison provides no evidence that the most expensive option produces the greatest strength gains.
Should you choose plain creatine or a blend?
Choose according to the ingredients you actually want. Using plain powder makes it easier to compare creatine costs directly. With a blend, review every ingredient and its amount before deciding whether the combined product is worth buying.
Which Option Fits Your Priorities?
If cost is your first consideration, start by comparing Nutricost and Optimum Nutrition in the exact sizes you can buy. The examples above show why cost per serving is more useful than the tub price alone.
If verifiable sport certification matters most, compare the listed Thorne, Momentous, and Sports Research powders. Match the certification record to your purchase, then compare delivered prices.
If you specifically want creatine with HMB, examine the full Transparent Labs formula and decide whether combining those ingredients is useful for your routine.
Choose the product whose formula, testing information, and ongoing cost you can justify. There is no need to turn a straightforward supplement purchase into a search for a guaranteed shortcut.