Have you been working out but don’t seem to be getting the results you seek? You are either too tired or too sore from working out.
It might be time for you to look into creatine supplements. These supplements have many benefits, but the one you may be most interested in is muscle growth.
They could also help you get rid of DOMS and recover faster than before.
But before we go any further, let’s find out more about creatine.
Table of Contents
What is Creatine?
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound in the body. It is beneficial for strength, muscle mass, and growth.
There are various forms of it and several benefits as well.
By the end of this article, you should know all you need about these supplements.
Best Creatine Supplements Currently on the Market
Choosing the best creatine supplement can be a tough call. But that is why we are here.
We give you a comprehensive list of our top ten best creatine supplements.
Let’s dig in.
Transparent Labs Strength Series HMB
Transparent Labs is a popular supplement company based in Utah. As their name suggests, they have a reputation for being 100% transparent about their products.
They created this product as a premium product, but it seems to be a great product from the reviews.
This series combined creatine with HMB. There seems to be scientific evidence that they work better together for strength than separately.
Specifications
This supplement is creatine monohydrate. It works best for boosting strength and is better than most in the market.
One tub of this Transparent Labs creatine supplement goes for $39, and it contains 30 servings, which means that a serving goes for around $1.30.
It’s a bit above the industry average. However, you can save if you buy more tubs. Two tubs go for $68, which saves you $10.
There is an unflavored version and the blueberry-flavored one. We wish they had more flavors, but one is better than none, right?
Key features
- It has no artificial ingredients
- Has Bioperine that helps with the absorption of nutrients
- It is effective for boosting strength
- There are quantity discounts
Conclusion.
The Transparent Labs Strength Series HMB supplement is great for strength. We are impressed that the company decided to add HMB for better performance.
Even though the price is premium, we believe it is worth it if you can afford it.
One thing we would love them to work on is the flavor. It would be best to have several so that many different people can enjoy the taste.
But it made it to number one in our best creatine list because we are confident in the brand, and many other reviewers love it.
If you’d like to check out the finer details yourself, here’s the link:
*Individual results may vary. Please speak with a doctor or physician before undertaking a new weight reduction, supplement, or exercise regime.
Legion Recharge by Legion Athletics
Legion Athletics is a company in Virginia. It has a reputation for making exclusively natural products.
Like all its other products, Legion Recharge also has no artificial ingredients. As the name suggests, this product is a recharge creatine supplement.
It contains l-carnitine l-tartrate, which the company claims helps reduce muscle damage and increases the recovery rate.
Specifications
Like most products on this list, this is creatine monohydrate. It is supposed to help reduce muscle damage.
This supplement comes in watermelon and fruit punch flavors. There is also an unflavored version if you prefer that.
One package of Legion recharge goes for $35. It contains 30 servings, so you’re buying 58 cents.
Key features
- It contains corosolic acid that may improve the absorption of nutrients after a workout.
- It has no artificial ingredients.
- It helps deal with muscle soreness and hastens recovery
Conclusion
Legion Recharge by Legion Athletics is best used as a recovery creatine supplement. We like that they went out of their way to add l-carnitine l-tartrate to help with muscle damage and soreness.
We are also big fans of products that only use natural ingredients. Its price is a bit on the high side, but we believe that it is ultimately worth it given its benefits.
There are also numerous positive reviews online that convince us that it’s a great product. But as always, we’ll leave the decision to you; check it out.
*Individual results may vary. Please speak with a doctor or physician before undertaking a new weight reduction, supplement, or exercise regime.
Creatine Monohydrate by Bulk Supplements
Bulk Supplements is a supplement well known for selling products in bulk. The more you buy, the less you are likely to spend.
The company also prides itself on making supplements from natural ingredients. On top of that, it is also famous for one ingredient supplements.
It has no artificial sweeteners or coloring. The manufacturers also make sure the product is in an allergen-free environment.
This product is specifically meant to help you increase your strength during high-intensity exercises.
Specifications
From the name, you can already tell this is creatine monohydrate.
The supplement comes in several sizes, from 100grams to a 25kilogram. As the company’s name suggests, the more you buy, the cheaper the supplement.
For instance, the 100g packet sells for $10. That is 10 cents per gram, which can be a bit pricy.
The 1kg packet goes for a measly $18, which brings the price per gram down to 1.8 cents.
Key features
- Fairly priced
- Vegan and vegetarian friendly
- Micronized
- All-natural ingredients
- Dairy-free
Conclusion
This creatine monohydrate is best for increasing your workout time and intensity. It gives you more endurance.
Other than that, it has also been seen to help increase muscle mass.
The supplement is also micronized. This only means it is easier to dissolve in water than most other powder supplements.
We really like that this supplement’s price is fair. You get value for your money.
Like most other supplements on this list, this one also has many fans. A majority of the reviewers cannot stop singing this supplement’s praises.
For more information on this amazing product check out the product link:
*Individual results may vary. Please speak with a doctor or physician before undertaking a new weight reduction, supplement, or exercise regime.
Creatine HCl Powder by Kaged Muscle
Kaged Muscle is a supplement company based in Idaho. This product is different from most on this list.
It contains a mixture of creatine and hydrochloride (HCl). There has been talking that mixing the two makes the supplement easier to dissolve in liquids, which is a plus.
Specifications
This supplement is a patent by Vero called the C-HCl™. A 75 serving tub goes for $20.
One serving is 750mg, which makes it 26 cents per serving. The price is a bit on the high side when compared to other creatine supplements.
But when compared to creatine hydrochlorides, it is one of the cheapest.
It has an unflavored version and a lemon-lime flavor. The unflavored version has a strong taste.
The flavoring on the lemon-lime version is excellent. It has some artificial flavoring but a decent type.
Key features
- Is easy to dissolve
- It is easier on the stomach than most supplements
- It is third party tested
- You can skip the loading phase
Conclusion
This creatine HCL supplement is best for increasing muscle energy and growth. What’s more, it brings these benefits without gastrointestinal discomfort.
The price is a bit above the market price. However, we should credit the company for adding the HCl.
The HCL makes the powder easy to dissolve in liquids and to digest as well.
In the event that you are convinced and want to try out the product, check out the link below:
*Individual results may vary. Please speak with a doctor or physician before undertaking a new weight reduction, supplement, or exercise regime.
Micronized Creatine Monohydrate Powder by Optimum Nutrition
Optimum Nutrition is a famous bodybuilding supplement manufacturer. You may have already noticed we love companies that have made a good name for themselves.
This company makes its products in “current good manufacturing practices” compliant premises.
The product also has no artificial sweeteners, ingredients, or dyes. This creatine monohydrate is supposed to help with strength and more energy for your workouts.
Specifications
As the name suggests, this one is creatine monohydrate. It is also micronized, which makes it more soluble than most powder supplements.
The creatine monohydrate comes in powder and capsule form, which gives you options.
This one doesn’t come with any flavors. There are five package sizes to choose from.
You can either buy the 150g, 300g, 600g, 1200g, or 2000g packet. You get more value for money when the package is more significant.
For instance, the 150g pack goes for $9.35, which is 6 cents per gram for the powder. The 2000g packet goes for about 44.99, which is 2 cents per gram for the powder.
The capsules are higher priced. The 100 capsule pack goes for $20.89, the 200 one $33.43, and the 300 capsules one for $64.97.
Note that these prices may vary from time to time. And not all these options are available all the time.
Key features.
- Easy to dissolve in liquids
- It is easy to stack
- Has several size options to choose from
- The price is fair
Conclusion
This creatine monohydrate is best used for increased energy output and strength. We love that it has many sizes to choose from.
We also love that it comes in both powder and capsules. It caters to more people that way.
The price is also right. It is cheaper than many creatine monohydrates.
We are big fans of natural products. But maybe they should try some natural flavoring.
This product can be hard to swallow, literally.
However, it works; it is a great product. The numerous reviews online can attest to that.
Don’t hesitate to check out the product link below:
*Individual results may vary. Please speak with a doctor or physician before undertaking a new weight reduction, supplement, or exercise regime.
Muscletech Platinum Creatine Monohydrate Micronized
Muscletech is part of Lovate Health Sciences that is based in Ontario. It is one of the companies that manufacture pocket-friendly supplements.
But don’t let their prices fool you. They are also big on quality as well.
This product is micronized, which we have already seen is an aid for solubility. The company promises that this product should boost your energy output.
You should also have increased strength when you use it as a pre, post-workout.
Specifications
This is creatine monohydrate. It has been micronized to help it dissolve faster and stay dissolved for longer.
The 400g tub has 80 servings and goes for $11. That’s about 2.8 cents per gram.
That’s a reasonable price for these kinds of supplements.
This creatine monohydrate comes unflavored but is easy to stack.
Key features
- Free of banned ingredients
- Pocket friendly
- Comes with a scoop
- Micronized
Conclusion
Muscletech’s creatine monohydrate is best for building muscles.
We like the natural ingredients approach that the product takes. We, of course, love the price. I mean, who doesn’t like saving?
We would like some flavor to make the supplement more comfortable to take. But the fact that it works more than makes up for the lack of taste.
This is an easy product to recommend. It ticks all the boxes.
The internet also loves it. Open any review, and there’s a 98% chance it’s a positive one. That’s a great way to go for any product.
We know you are itching to find out more. Check out the link below:
*Individual results may vary. Please speak with a doctor or physician before undertaking a new weight reduction, supplement, or exercise regime.
Creapure by Muscle Feast
Muscle Feast has gone the extra mile by using Creapure®. This is a high-quality patented form of creatine.
The supplement has also been third-party tested by Labdoor. This creatine supplement promises to help you build muscle.
You should also recover faster from your workouts than you usually would.
Specifications
Creapure is a creatine monohydrate. It should help increase your workout intensity.
The 300g tub contains 54 servings and goes for $15.99. You pay about 30 cents per serving, which is fair.
As with most of the supplements we have seen here, this one is also unflavored.
Key features
- Third-party tested
- Gluten-free
- Fair price
- Doesn’t cause bloating
Conclusion
This creatine monohydrate is best for muscle building and fast recovery. You can use it as a post or pre work out.
We like that the company had this supplement third-party tested. It shows they value building customer confidence.
This product also has so many positive reviews online. Many people found that it worked well for them.
The price also makes us happy. It is affordable, all the more reason you should try it out if it’s the creatine for you.
If you’d like to find out more, check out the product and the reviews below:
*Individual results may vary. Please speak with a doctor or physician before undertaking a new weight reduction, supplement, or exercise regime.
MuscleTech Cell Tech Creatine
MuscleTech is under the umbrella of Lovate Health Sciences Limited. Its sister companies include Six Star Pro nutrition, Hydroxycut, and many others.
This creatine supplement from MuscleTech should help you gain muscle and strength. This supplement, unlike the others we have seen here, is not a one ingredient supplement.
You are supposed to get muscle strength and performance. It has many other benefits that we will see below.
Specifications
Unlike the other supplements on this list, this one has several ingredients. It contains creatine monohydrate, creatine citrate, and taurine.
It also contains the BCAA trio l-valine, l-leucine, and l-Isoleucine. On top of those, it has l-alanine, alpha-lipoic acid, and artificial sweeteners.
There are also vitamins C and Vitamin B6.
It comes in four lovely flavors; fruit punch, icy rocket freeze, grape, and orange.
Three pounds will cost you $23, which is about 82 cents per serving. The price is a bit higher compared to other creatine monohydrates.
Key features
- Third-party tested
- Effective in increasing muscle creatine
- Has several other ingredients
Conclusion
This creatine monohydrate can be best used for maximizing the creatine in the muscles. It is also effective for strength, muscle size, and performance.
We like that it contains Taurine, which is beneficial for recovery. Vitamin C is also great for preventing muscle damage.
The only concern some of you may have is a large amount of calories. It also contains some sugars.
If you can get past that, it is one of the most effective supplements on this list.
We would highly recommend it given the fact that the company that makes it has a good reputation. The internet also doesn’t lie; most people who have used it have many good things to say about it.
If you’d like to start shopping, here is a link for this supplement:
*Individual results may vary. Please speak with a doctor or physician before undertaking a new weight reduction, supplement, or exercise regime.
Cellucor Micronized Creatine
Cellucor is a popular Texan supplement company. It is known for whey proteins and BCAA supplements.
We came across this creatine supplement, and we liked what we saw and decided to dig a bit deeper.
This will be another product on this list with other ingredients. It contains silicon dioxide as a caking agent.
It also has citric acid for natural flavoring and other artificial sweeteners.
Specifications
This is a micronized creatine monohydrate. It comes in the Icy Blue Razz and fruit punch flavors.
You will part will $18 for 50 servings. That translates to 26 cents per serving.
If you prefer not to take the flavored version, you can take the unflavored.
Key features
- Easy to dissolve in liquids
- Made in a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Facility
- It has two flavors and an unflavored version
Conclusion
Cellucor is the best creatine supplement for muscle power, endurance, and growth.
It is becoming increasingly popular for companies to produce micronized creatine. We feel this is part of the company, increasing customer satisfaction.
The only concern you may have is that it contains Splenda® and acesulfame.
Other than that, we feel this supplement for all the benefits above. We’d want you to check it out for yourself at the link below:
*Individual results may vary. Please speak with a doctor or physician before undertaking a new weight reduction, supplement, or exercise regime.
BPI Sports Micronized Creatine
BPI Sports is based in Hollywood, Florida, and is a sports nutrition company. Despite being in a high-end neighborhood, it has very affordable products.
It is supposed to help promote muscle energy and strength. It is also great for reducing fatigue during high-intensity training sessions.
This product doesn’t have many ingredients. It only contains micronized creatine.
Specifications
This is a creatine monohydrate like most creatines on this list.
A 600g pack has 120 servings and goes for 13.85. That is 2.3 cents per gram and 11.5 cents per serving.
This supplement doesn’t have any flavors to choose from, but the taste is bearable.
Key features
- Micronized
- Has no artificial ingredients
- Pocket-friendly
Conclusion
This micronized creatine is best for high-intensity training. It helps you deal with the fatigue that comes with the training.
We like its simplicity. It doesn’t have any filler ingredients.
You know we love to save here, of course, we are happy about the price.
This is an easy product to recommend. Nobody has a bad word to say about it.
If you are already convinced and you need to buy this supplement, here’s a link:
*Individual results may vary. Please speak with a doctor or physician before undertaking a new weight reduction, supplement, or exercise regime.
How Does Creatine Work?
Creatine works in the form of creatine phosphate. It works to create adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is key for producing energy for the cells.
There have been studies that have suggested that creatine can improve performance during exercise. [1, 2].
Some other research also has that creatine can reduce mental exhaustion [3].
There is a consensus that creatine can help improve power production and strength during exercise.
Creatine can also play a part in how much effort you can put in an exercise during a short time.
What are the benefits of Creatine?
We have already established that creatine is good for energy production. But that’s not all it’s good for.
Let’s check out what else you can milk out of creatine.
- Improves performance in high-intensity exercises
Creatine helps in the production of ATP. This means your performance in high-intensity exercises can increase significantly.
- Increases body mass
When you exercise and use creatine. You should lose the extra fat and gain lean mass. Science says creatine helps the body retain water [4].
- May alleviate the effects of Parkinson’s disease
A study [5] that combined creatin and the coenzyme Q10 showed that it might help deal with Parkinson’s disease.
- Increases the pace of muscle growth
Creatine is the best supplement for increasing muscle mass. When you take it for about a week, you will start seeing the growth.
In the beginning, the increase is due to water retention in the muscles. But as you continue to take it, it begins to improve the growth of muscle fiber. [6]
- Shortens reaction time
When an athlete has a good start in short races, they are likely to finish well.
One study [7] showed that athletes that use creatine improved their first 30-second performance by 10%.
- Creatine can reduce fatigue and tiredness
We have seen several creatine supplements that are great for increased strength output. They also increase strength when you are working out.
- Helps repair damage after injuries
Research [8] shows that creatine supplementation can help prevent muscle damage. It may also help one recover after an athletic injury.
- It helps improve cognitive ability
In one study [9], 25 participants took 5 grams four times a day. The conclusion was that supplementing with creatine aids cognition in older adults.
- Creatine can help deal with symptoms of depression
A South Korean study [10] on 25 women with depression showed that their symptoms reduced after just two weeks.
They had been using 5 grams of creatine daily.
Types of Creatine Supplements
There are several types of creatine. They all have the same composition, but they have different preparation methods.
Sometimes they are mixed with other products. Let’s take a look at the most common types of creatine supplements.
1. Creatine Monohydrate
This the most common types of creatine. In fact, most of the studies done to prove the benefits of creatine have used creatine monohydrate.
This type of creatine is composed of a creatine molecule and a water molecule.
Micronized creatine is usually a chemically refined form of creatine monohydrate. The micronized version is more comfortable to dissolve in liquids and stay dissolved.
2. Creatine Hydrochloride
This usually is creatine that has been mixed with hydrochloride. Hydrochloride is said to help with solubility [11].
Other than that, the HCl also makes the creatine easier to digest. It, therefore, doesn’t cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Other creatine supplements may help in the beginning.
3. Creatine Anhydrous
This is very similar to creatine monohydrate. It comes about as a result of removing the water molecule from the creatine monohydrate.
This then ends up being a more concentrated and pure form of creatine. It is about 94% creatine and sometimes even more.
4. Creatine Ethyl Ester
Some people say this is a better form of creatine than creatine monohydrate. Even a study suggests that this form of creatine is more natural to absorb [12] than the others.
5. Creatine malate
When you bind creatine to malic acid, you get creatine malate. Malic acid, on its own, can increase stamina.
Creatine malate has been observed to help sprinters to improve their anaerobic production.
6. Liquid Creatine
Most creatine supplements come in powder or capsule form. But some manufacturers make ready-to-drink creatine that has been mixed with water.
This form has been found with less effective than the powder. There is even a study [13] to back that up.
7. Buffered Creatine or Kre-Alaklyn
This a form of creatine that comes about when an alkaline is added to creatine. This happens because it is believed to more potent in this form.
Buffered creatine is also believed to reduce the side effects of creatine, such as gastrointestinal discomfort.
8. Creatine Magnesium Chelate
When you add magnesium for creatine, you get creatine magnesium chelate.
There was a belief that it is more effective than creatine monohydrate. However, there are no studies that have proved the theory.
9. Creatine AKG
Creatine AKG is Alpha-ketoglutarate in full. It is a mixture of creatine and alpha-ketoglutarate.
This combination brings benefits like better absorption. It is also believed that the creatine AKG also ensures you have more creatine in the bloodstream.
What you need to look for in creatine supplements
There are a few things we considered when making this list. You will also need to put them in mind when trying to find the creatine supplement that works for you.
Here goes.
- The form it comes in
Creatine supplements will come in tablet or powder form. The one you buy depends on your preference.
If you have no issue taking pills or aren’t patient enough to mix, the powder pills are for you.
- The manufacturing company
This is very important. If a company is shady, there is a high likelihood it also makes a shady product.
The reverse is also true. Always do your due diligence on the manufacturing company of a supplement before purchasing it.
- How much does it cost?
Price is an important factor. It is even more important for the first purchase.
Different people react differently to various products. Buy a product you can afford. If you haven’t used it before, you can try a smaller size until you are sure it works for you.
You can also look around for coupon codes and discounts before making a purchase. Don’t say I didn’t tell you.
- What’s in it?
The ingredients are the most important thing in a supplement. For creatine supplements, it’s important to check for allergens and artificial ingredients.
You will notice that there aren’t any banned substances in the supplements on the list. Make sure you do some due diligence on the ingredients.
Any mess you make on your body may take a really long time to deal with.
- The type of creatine
Different creatine forms have different benefits. When choosing a creatine supplement, look for one that will meet your needs at the time.
The Final Word
We always have, and we will continue to stress that supplements are just aids. Creatine supplements aren’t any different.
There are different types of these supplements with different uses. Now that you have reached the end, you should know the kind of supplement you should use.
But remember, none of them is going to be a magic bullet. You will have to work out or just stay active.
Your diet is also essential. The more natural your diet, the better the results will be for you.
We haven’t come across any severe side effects of these supplements. However, if you are under 18 or any medication, you should see a doctor before taking them.
These creatine supplements are not just for athletes and bodybuilders. They are also for you who just want to be active and energetic at the end of the day.
Try them out. Who knows, you just may never stop using them.
**Last updated April 2021
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2048496/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27328852
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11985880
- https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/873.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19476553
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/26-muscle-building-foods
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9298778?dopt=Abstract
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3407788/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22864465
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22864465
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22432515
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4469200/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15142023