Creatine

Monohydrate beats every other form. Buying guide.

#1Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Monohydrate Powder
$25-$40 / 600g · 4.7★

Plain unflavored micronized creatine monohydrate. The benchmark for cost-per-gram.

  • Pure monohydrate — the only form with hundreds of trials behind it
  • Micronized = dissolves faster, less grit
  • ~$0.10 per 5g serving
#2Thorne Creatine Monohydrate
$40-$55 / 90 servings · 4.7★

NSF Certified for Sport monohydrate. Practitioner-grade purity.

  • NSF Certified for Sport — safe for tested athletes
  • Single-ingredient, no fillers
  • Trusted by Mayo Clinic and several pro teams
#3Bulk Supplements Pure Creatine Monohydrate Powder
$20-$30 / 1kg · 4.6★

Bulk bag of plain micronized monohydrate. The cheapest verified option.

  • Cheapest verified monohydrate per gram
  • Third-party lab tested
  • Single ingredient, nothing else
#4Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate
$20-$30 / 1lb · 4.6★

Plain micronized monohydrate — transparent label, rock-bottom cost.

  • Very cheap per 5g serving
  • Pure micronized monohydrate
  • Third-party tested facility
#5MuscleTech Platinum Creatine Monohydrate
$18-$28 · 4.6★

Mainstream HPLC-tested micronized monohydrate from a big-box brand.

  • HPLC-tested for purity
  • Micronized, mixes easily
  • Cheap and widely stocked
#6Naked Nutrition Naked Creatine Monohydrate
$25-$35 · 4.6★

Single-ingredient micronized monohydrate with a clean-label focus.

  • One ingredient, nothing else
  • Micronized for easy mixing
  • Third-party tested

Frequently Asked Questions

Is creatine safe?

It's the most studied supplement in sports nutrition. 30+ years of trials show no kidney, liver, or hair-loss effects in healthy adults at 5g/day.

Will I gain water weight?

Yes — 2–4 lb of intramuscular water in the first month. That water is what makes muscles look fuller and supports the strength gain; it's not bloat.

Does creatine work for women?

Yes, identical mechanism. Some women see slightly less weight change because baseline muscle creatine stores are closer to saturation, but strength and recovery benefits are the same.