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Best Creatine Supplements
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Effectiveness
Not all creatines will be made the same and you need to look for the most effective brands possible.
So, to really know how effective this stuff is you should first understand what exactly it does. For starters, creatine itself is a compound that supplies your muscles with energy. It has become one of the most popular athletic supplements because of this. So, when you take doses of this substance, your body will be able to be pushed for longer periods of time. In addition to this, it has also been tested to increase strength and lean muscle mass. Without going into the specifics on how exactly the substance works, this pretty much covers the basics.
However, and this is really important, not all supplements are made the same. While we will talk about the actual formula here in a minute, it is wise not to rely solely on the price for this stuff. You really do not want to go cheap as lower-quality ingredients will yield inferior results. To get a better idea if a specific brand actually works, look through customer feedback to see what real users have had to say about the effectiveness.
Product Purity
The main reason why not all brands are the same is due to the formula. Specific types of creatine typically work the best.
As stated, not all supplements will be made the same and if they were then buying a specific brand would be incredibly easy. You already are fully aware that is not the case, however, as each brand is going to be different. Outside of other factors that will be discussed later, the main area that differentiates is the type of creatine that is used and how much is used. Would it surprise you to hear that there are different types? Actually, there are loads and loads of different types. For the most part, creatine monohydrate is the so-called “king” of them all, though. Due to the fact that it is 88 percent pure creatine and 12 percent water, it works extremely well (and has even been tested rigorously). Creapure, which is also common, is also a form of it and one of the most popular forms you will see.
Outside of this, you can also keep an eye out for how much creatine is actually provided per serving. Most of the top-end formulas will include five grams of the substance per one single scoop of powder. As you will find out later, five grams is a very suitable serving size.
Style
Right from the get-go, you need to determine if you prefer powders or capsules.
It is a question that is seemingly brought up with any type of medicine or supplement and it comes to the forefront here. Is it better to take creatine supplements in tablet-form or via powder? It is certainly difficult to provide a definitive yes or no answer here but if we further break down the question, perhaps it will help with the decision process. Starting with pills or tablets, the biggest benefit to them is the lack of any accompanying flavor and their convenience. In addition to being easier to digest (with no worries of mixing), they can also be taken on the go. But, what is nice about powder is the amount of creatine you receive with one serving size. With capsules, it may only be up to 2.5 grams but most powders deliver five grams per one tablespoon.
As for the actual effectiveness of both of them, it depends on the formula and the manufacturer. With pills, they will break down once they hit the acidic contents of your stomach and then will undergo the same digestive process as powders. Really, it just comes down to your preferences, folks.
Potency
This is referring to the potency of the flavor. With pills, this is a non-issue but the same can't be said about powders.
This section is pretty much a byproduct of the last one. And, it is only going to be a concern if you decide to go with powder over capsules. As was mentioned previously, with capsules, the flavor is not going to be an issue as you merely swallow them whole and never look back. The same does not apply with powder as you do not merely consume it by itself. Doing so would be utterly awful, let’s just say that. Instead, powders need to be mixed into either water or other fruit drinks. But, you can also buy them unflavored, if you prefer, and this will eliminate the chance of them leaving a potent aftertaste in your mouth.
Yet, even some unflavored brands are not perfect as there have been some users that claim you can still taste a hint of something (with some unflavored brands). If you do want one that has its own distinct flavor, though, you are in luck as some brands will have this. Although, do not go in expecting any of the flavors to taste amazing as that most likely will not be the case.
Value
It is important to compare brands based on their serving size, creatines per serving and price to achieve the best value.
The best way to determine if a brand has good value is to first come to the conclusion of how you want to consume your creatine supplement. There are two common ways of doing so. Firstly, you can go with what is known as rapid loading. With this method, you will be taking 20 grams of creatine for five to seven days. Then, thereafter, you will be taking five to 10 grams per day. Of course, you can also go with slow loading and this is essentially the same concept without the 20-grams-a-day phase.
Now, each individual brand will come with x amount of servings. This is also where the grams-per-serving comes into play. If you get five grams of creatine with one tablespoon of powder (which is typically one serving) then a 200-serving bottle should last quite a long time. From there, you can then compare prices to find the best value-per-serving.
OUR TOP PICKS FOR THE BEST CREATINE SUPPLEMENTS
1. Optimum Nutrition
As with most of the better brands out there, this one from Optimum Nutrition provides a daily dose of five grams per one teaspoon serving. And, you can buy this bottle with a 2000-gram capacity if you would like.
Read moreEffectiveness
While this is micronized and does require a “loading” phase, this formula will increase your muscle strength and performance during high-intensity exercises.
Formula
With each teaspoon you take of this supplement, you provide your body with five grams of the actual muscle enhancing substance. In fact, it is made with creapure creatine.
Style
This is a powder and as most powders are, it is difficult to mix. As this is unflavored, though, you can mix it with fruit juices or simply water (whatever you prefer).
Flavor
There is no actual flavor that is provided from the powder but you can make the drink flavorful if you mix it in with a drink that you find tasty.
Value
To fit any buyer’s needs and budgets, Optimum Nutrition sells their supplement in various sizes ranging from 150 grams to 2000 grams (with options for 300 grams, 600 grams and 1200 grams).
Overall
Ironically, and this has not been discussed yet, the bottle of this model is arguably the worst aspect of it. The actual formula is stupendous, though, and that is the main thing.
2. Crazy Muscle
Most of the best options are powders but you know what, some people will still prefer capsules and that is exactly what you get here. Plus, this delivers three types of creatine in one formula.
Read moreEffectiveness
What is interesting to note here is due to the innovative three-atine formula, the loading phase that is not necessary with this.
Formula
The three-atine formula, which consists of a blend of creatine monohydrate, pyruvate, and alphaketoglutarate, creates one of the most effective supplements out there. Also, it delivers five grams of it per serving.
Style
Unlike the other options on this list, this is a tablet-form supplement. So, all you need to do is swallow the pills. Problem is this can be tough due to the sheer girth of the tablets.
Flavor
Do not chew into these tablets as the produced flavor would be awful. Instead, swallow them with a glass of water to eliminate any flavor.
Value
Each tablet is one serving and delivers five grams. But, you can choose either a 90-count bottle or a 180-count bottle.
Overall
Some of you may not be able to overlook how hard these are to swallow but if you can, you can enjoy one of the most unique formulas available on the market.
3. MuscleTech Platinum
MuscleTech is responsible for one of the most popular and proven formulas out there. Granted you do not have a sensitive stomach, which can be a problem with creatine anyway, you should love this stuff.
Read moreEffectiveness
Due to the formula that has been put forth here, this can help to increase strength, improve your recovery time, and also build lean muscle.
Formula
No fillers or added sugars are present here and, instead, with each serving you take your five grams of premium micronized creatine monohydrate that has been HPLC-tested.
Style
As opposed to other powders out there, this one actually mixes surprisingly well. All you need to do is mix it with an eight-ounce glass of water and you will be good.
Flavor
Okay, so this is unflavored but there have been many reviewers who have claimed this has not rested easy in their stomach. This can be a common problem anyway but be sure you do not have a sensitive stomach.
Value
There are quantity options available but the bottle that comes with your purchase is 14.1 ounces in size. For the record, this is right around 80 total servings.
Overall
This type of supplement can be hard to stomach for some users, in the first place, but this one seems to be ideally suited for those with non-sensitive stomachs.
4. BulkSupplements
Truth be told, all you need to see to understand the quality of this formula is the review score it has compiled on Amazon. While this does not tell the story all the time, the sheer amount of positive feedback this has received is astonishing.
Read moreEffectiveness
Due to the fact that this has been lab-tested and verified to have 99.99 percent purity, you can rest easy knowing this is quite an effective supplement.
Formula
On top of only containing pure creatine monohydrate (99.99 percent), this is also free of any additives or dairy. Oh, and it is also free of any gluten, soy, sugar, and yeast.
Style
This is yet another powder but one factor that sets this apart is the fact that it can actually be mixed with liquids without clumping too badly.
Flavor
Let’s just say you should mix this in anything but water because when you do this, the resulting flavor is not pleasant (based on user feedback).
Value
In total, there are eight different sizes that you can choose from. No matter which size you select, though, the value here is fantastic.
Overall
Not only is this a great choice for users who suffer from common food allergies but it is also great for anyone looking to gain some muscle.
5. RSP Nutrition Monohydrate
As with most powders on the market, this does not mix the best but when it comes to its effectiveness, it can’t be matched. This is thanks to the 100 percent pure micronized supplement that is provided.
Read moreEffectiveness
This is one of the most popular pre-workout and post-workout supplements out there as it has been shown to increase strength and also lean muscle gains.
Formula
The reason this formula is so effective is due to the fact that for each serving, you receive five grams of 100 percent pure creatine monohydrate.
Style
Because this is a powder, you will need to dissolve the substance into a liquid drink. But, as some buyers have alluded to, it can be hard to mix and can result in a gritty drink.
Flavor
Now, this is unflavored so you can choose other liquids besides water. Doing so in water will literally yield no flavor (or maybe a touch of a bad flavor).
Value
There are two capacity options that you can choose from. Either 300 grams or 500 grams and the latter yields right around 100 servings which is pretty good for the price.
Overall
This supplement succeeds in the main area it needs to and that is the bottom line. Can it be gritty to get down? You better believe it but that is a common problem.
6. Integrated Supplements
With 200 servings provided, you definitely get a good bang for your buck here. Also, this supplement is produced using a patented process to ensure the highest purity and potency possible.
Read moreEffectiveness
As mentioned, this is manufactured using a unique patented process and this guarantees the highest amount of purity and potency.
Formula
In addition to the fact that this is 100 percent creapure powder, each batch that is created is produced using GMPs in an FDA-registered plant.
Style
This is yet another powder and, you guessed it, it can also be a little hard to mix and can result in a chalky and gritty texture.
Flavor
For the record, this is unflavored and as was just mentioned, the resulting drink can be a bit chalky and gritty (which is not the most pleasant drink, admittedly).
Value
Though this is steep in price, the one bottle you receive is 1000 grams and does yield 200 servings. That is quite a lot of substance when you think about it.
Overall
Is this a bit overpriced? You could definitely make that argument but you do get a ton of supplement. For certain, though, the attention to detail with this formula is apparent.
7. Beast Sports Nutrition
At either 30 servings or 60 servings, depending on the size you select, this is one of the smaller bottles out there. The benefit of this is you will waste less of your money if you find this ineffective.
Read moreEffectiveness
There have been several users who have felt this was simply okay. Many claim that it certainly does not provide you with some special turbo boost.
Formula
Each scoop you take of this stuff yields you four grams of five different cutting-edge creatines. Without question, this is one of the most unique formulas on the market.
Style
As with most powders, this is intended to dissolve quickly. The key word there is intended and, surprisingly, not too many buyers have had negative words to say about the mixing.
Flavor
Not too many formulas actually produce a good flavor but this is one of those rare instances. Plus, there are different types of flavors available such as citrus and cherry limeade.
Value
When comparing this to other options, it tends to qualify as small. There are two serving capacitors available, though (either 30 servings or 60 servings).
Overall
Not only does this powder actually mix well but it also tastes surprisingly adequate. If it had a better track record with its effectiveness, it probably would be even higher on this list.
8. Cellucor Micronized
Really, this formula right here is a powder and it very similar to other powders out there. It is quite effective at what it sets out to do but it can be very difficult to mix.
Read moreEffectiveness
In terms of its effectiveness, this is where the COR-Performance Series shines the brightest. All things considered, that is the most important thing.
Formula
One individual scoop of this powder is going to contain five grams of creatine monohydrate. Also, while this is gluten-free, it may have been manufactured in a plant that also handles gluten-containing foods.
Style
A few buyers have claimed that this powder can be very difficult to mix. You may end up with a clumpy mess which is a bit unfortunate (but almost a bit expected).
Flavor
This is actually flavorless but if you desire, there are a few options available that are specific flavors (such as icy blue razz).
Value
For the price of admission, the servings it provides is pretty stellar. There are other options available but it looks like the maximum you can receive is a bottle with 72 servings.
Overall
As with most of the other powders on the market, if you can live with the odd texture (thanks to the fact that it is very difficult to mix) then you can receive five grams of the muscle-enhancing substance with each scoop.
9. Universal Nutrition
With the variety of capacities and flavor options available, it is nice that you have a little bit of a selection here. Not all sellers will give you these options so that is nice.
Read moreEffectiveness
This list is filled with a lot of them and this is another highly-popular choice and the main reason is due to its patented and tested effectiveness (it has been manufactured in Germany).
Formula
As with most of the other options on this list, with each scoop, you provide your body with five grams of creapure creatine.
Style
Just go in expecting the powder to be very gritty and you will be all set. The main reason is reviewers have commented on this brand’s inability to mix well in liquids.
Flavor
There are three flavor options to choose from. You can either go with blue raspberry, fruit punch or unflavored.
Value
Though some buyers have commented on the bottles being small, you can get a 100-serving container and a 200-serving container for a decent price.
Overall
It is almost a broken record at this point but, once again, this is help back a little by its gritty texture. Although, the formula does yield very good results.
10. MET-Rx
What else could you say about this powder here? While there are some users out there who have expressed they have tried better supplements, MET-RX seems to get the job done for most.
Read moreEffectiveness
This is another formula that has been met with mixed feelings. Some users have had great success with it, while others feel it is poor in its results.
Formula
One of the best pure sources of this enhancer is used in this formula and that is creatine monohydrate.
Style
Who would have guessed it? Indeed, another powder has made its way on this list and it can be mixed with any type of juice and other glucose-containing liquids.
Flavor
This has no flavor but you can change that. As mentioned, you can mix this with flavored drinks to make it go down a bit easier.
Value
Per each container you buy, with this being 14. 1 ounce in size, you receive 80 servings of this creatine supplement. Not bad for the price, not bad at all.
Overall
In spite of the mixed results, this powder is still a very popular choice. Again, not all buyers have felt that the formula utilized here is ineffective.
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