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Creatine Supplements
Compare creatine powders, capsules and tablets by monohydrate dose, daily cost, additives and testing evidence. Read the research on loading, timing, benefits and side effects.
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Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Recognised certification
Manufacturer statement
NSF Certified for Sport listing for "Creatine – Unflavored (US)" shows Brand: Spoken, Product Type: Creatine/Vegan/Vegetarian, Flavor: Unflavored, Package Size: 454 g, Serving Size: 1 Scoop (5 g), and lot numbers A232200525 / A257250626 / A223791124.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Recognised certification
Manufacturer statement
NSF Certified for Sport listing for "Creatine – Unflavored (US)" shows Brand: Spoken, Product Type: Creatine/Vegan/Vegetarian, Flavor: Unflavored, Package Size: 454 g, Serving Size: 1 Scoop (5 g), and lot numbers A232200525 / A257250626 / A223791124.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Peak Supps’ blog says: “At Peak Supps, we’ve sent our creatine for independent third-party testing. Results are now available for: Purity, Heavy metals, Contaminants and impurities” and “View our testing report on our product listing.”
This comparison uses grams of creatine monohydrate consistently. Separately declared creatine base and total scoop weights are recorded on product pages. Creapure is a branded source of monohydrate; a seller claim is separate from verified sport certification. Read the dose guide ↓
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
WeightWorld UK product page says “Third-party lab tested — View Certificate,” and the linked PDF is a Testing Compliance Certificate for “WEIGHTWORLD CREATINE MONOHYDRATE 3000 mg 270 TABLETS - BATCH CODE: SNT25141.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
VitaBright 'Clean Supplements' page: 'All our supplements undergo rigorous quality testing. We normally have every batch tested by an independent laboratory which issues third-party certification.'
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer product page says: "Produced in a GMP-certified UK facility with halal and kosher certification for complete confidence in purity and safety." Amazon listing also says: "Produced in a GMP-certified UK facility with halal and kosher certification for complete confidence in purity and safety."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Peak Supps’ blog says: “At Peak Supps, we’ve sent our creatine for independent third-party testing. Results are now available for: Purity, Heavy metals, Contaminants and impurities” and “View our testing report on our product listing.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer product page says "Warrior Creatine Monohydrate Powder - 500g - GMP Certified" and describes it as "ULTRA-PURE. CLINICALLY PROVEN." and "Clinically proven in 20+ years of research."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Bulk’s own site says “All relevant batches of our products are independently tested for pesticides, heavy metals, microbial activity, and other contaminants.” and the product page says “Our Creatine Monohydrate Powder is rigorously tested to the highest quality standards.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Bandini product pages repeatedly state only generic quality language such as "Tested quality" and "Certified product" plus "Our company uses only high-quality ingredients and a rigorous quality control process throughout every stage of production," but I did not find any independently verifiable third-party lab report or certification for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Amazon listing and Nutricost product page both state the product is 'third-party tested' / 'tested by an independent, accredited lab' and that 'our purity tests ensure it’s free from contaminants'; however I did not find an independently verifiable COA or certification for this specific Nutricost creatine product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
CellFuel’s own site says: “We guarantee purity, potency and safety in everything we do... quality-tested in our lab... We even verify CellFuel products’ purity with third-party, FDA-registered agencies.” It also says: “We have our own cutting-edge laboratory” and “We assay our products.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Optimum Nutrition UK product page states: "INFORMED SPORT CERTIFIED – Tested for banned substances, safe for athletes" for Micronised Creatine Powder - Informed Choice.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
NSF Certified for Sport listing for Bare Performance Nutrition “Creatine Monohydrate” shows: Brand: Bare Performance Nutrition; Product Type: Creatine; Flavor: Unflavored; Serving Size: 1 scoop (5 g); and the page is titled “Official Certified for Sport® Product Certification Listing.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer page says the tablets are "Clinically proven — 20+ years of research backing" and the creatine collection says "Tested, trusted, unstoppable. Made and batch-tested right here in the UK." These are testing-related claims, but I did not find an independently verifiable COA or certification for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nutravita’s product page says: “Clean nutrition you can trust: Nutravita’s supplements are manufactured in certified facilities to meet the highest GMP and BRC quality standards. Each batch is rigorously tested for quality and safety.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Reflex Nutrition’s product information page says Creapure® creatine is “rigorously tested” and “completely free from contaminants,” and that Reflex is an “Informed Manufacturer” whose site is “rigorously tested every six months by LGC” under the Informed Sport/Informed Choice programs.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Amazon listing and SuperSelf product page both say the product is "Laboratory Tested for quality and safety" / "LABORATORY TESTED for quality and safety." SuperSelf also says the capsules are "99% pure" and that they "can start to be absorbed by the body in less than a minute," but I did not find an independently verifiable COA, lab report, or certification registry entry for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Applied Nutrition’s product page for Creatine 3000 says “Informed-Sport Tested,” and the Informed Sport site says certified supplements “have been independently tested and certified for athletes.” I also found Applied Nutrition’s Informed Sport collection page describing its range as “Informed Sport-certified supplements that have been independently tested and certified for athletes.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Amazon listing and Myprotein marketing images/text include claims like “Science backed. Athlete approved.” and “Increase your performance,” but I did not find an independently verifiable statement that this specific product’s contents/purity/potency were tested, verified, or certified by a third party. I also found Myprotein’s quality-assurance pages via search, but they were access-restricted in this session.
Laboratory
Not recorded
Certification body
Not recorded
Batch
Not recorded
Batch-specific report
Not established in this record
Report date
Not recorded
Evidence checked
2026-09-14 17:15:15
Why this score?
Testing & evidence
3/25
Ingredient/formulation quality
15/20
Value
8/20
Dose transparency
9/15
Manufacturer transparency
3/10
Label/ingredient transparency
4/10
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Multiple UK retailer listings state this product line is "Informed Sport Certified." Informed Sport's own registry confirms Applied Nutrition as a certified brand, but the specific listed certified products are named "AN BLACK SERIES Creatine Monohydrate", "AN PERFORMANCE Creatine + Peptide" and "Creatine Monohydrate Professional" - none of which clearly match this plain retail "Creatine Monohydrate Powder" line, and the brand registry page itself returned 403 when fetched directly. Recorded as a claim, not a confirmed certification for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Powder
Daily dose
5 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Recognised certification
Manufacturer statement
NSF Certified for Sport listing for "Creatine – Unflavored (US)" shows Brand: Spoken, Product Type: Creatine/Vegan/Vegetarian, Flavor: Unflavored, Package Size: 454 g, Serving Size: 1 Scoop (5 g), and lot numbers A232200525 / A257250626 / A223791124.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Tablet
Daily dose
3.372 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Verified independent evidence
Manufacturer statement
WeightWorld UK product page says “Third-party lab tested — View Certificate,” and the linked PDF is a Testing Compliance Certificate for “WEIGHTWORLD CREATINE MONOHYDRATE 3000 mg 270 TABLETS - BATCH CODE: SNT25141.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Powder
Daily dose
3.5 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
VitaBright 'Clean Supplements' page: 'All our supplements undergo rigorous quality testing. We normally have every batch tested by an independent laboratory which issues third-party certification.'
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Powder
Daily dose
5 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
No public evidence located
Manufacturer statement
Manufacturer product page says: "Produced in a GMP-certified UK facility with halal and kosher certification for complete confidence in purity and safety." Amazon listing also says: "Produced in a GMP-certified UK facility with halal and kosher certification for complete confidence in purity and safety."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Powder
Daily dose
3 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Peak Supps’ blog says: “At Peak Supps, we’ve sent our creatine for independent third-party testing. Results are now available for: Purity, Heavy metals, Contaminants and impurities” and “View our testing report on our product listing.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Powder
Daily dose
3 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
No public evidence located
Manufacturer statement
Manufacturer product page says "Warrior Creatine Monohydrate Powder - 500g - GMP Certified" and describes it as "ULTRA-PURE. CLINICALLY PROVEN." and "Clinically proven in 20+ years of research."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Powder
Daily dose
5 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Bulk’s own site says “All relevant batches of our products are independently tested for pesticides, heavy metals, microbial activity, and other contaminants.” and the product page says “Our Creatine Monohydrate Powder is rigorously tested to the highest quality standards.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Tablet
Daily dose
3 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Bandini product pages repeatedly state only generic quality language such as "Tested quality" and "Certified product" plus "Our company uses only high-quality ingredients and a rigorous quality control process throughout every stage of production," but I did not find any independently verifiable third-party lab report or certification for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Powder
Daily dose
5 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Amazon listing and Nutricost product page both state the product is 'third-party tested' / 'tested by an independent, accredited lab' and that 'our purity tests ensure it’s free from contaminants'; however I did not find an independently verifiable COA or certification for this specific Nutricost creatine product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Powder
Daily dose
5 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
USN’s product page for Pure PRO Creatine Monohydrate Powder states: “Batch tested and certified to meet Informed Sport's standards and requirements.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Tablet
Daily dose
4 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
CellFuel’s own site says: “We guarantee purity, potency and safety in everything we do... quality-tested in our lab... We even verify CellFuel products’ purity with third-party, FDA-registered agencies.” It also says: “We have our own cutting-edge laboratory” and “We assay our products.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Powder
Daily dose
3.4 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Optimum Nutrition UK product page states: "INFORMED SPORT CERTIFIED – Tested for banned substances, safe for athletes" for Micronised Creatine Powder - Informed Choice.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
5 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Recognised certification
Manufacturer statement
NSF Certified for Sport listing for Bare Performance Nutrition “Creatine Monohydrate” shows: Brand: Bare Performance Nutrition; Product Type: Creatine; Flavor: Unflavored; Serving Size: 1 scoop (5 g); and the page is titled “Official Certified for Sport® Product Certification Listing.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Tablet
Daily dose
3 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Manufacturer page says the tablets are "Clinically proven — 20+ years of research backing" and the creatine collection says "Tested, trusted, unstoppable. Made and batch-tested right here in the UK." These are testing-related claims, but I did not find an independently verifiable COA or certification for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Capsule
Daily dose
3 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Gym Guru’s own site says: “Every batch tested for purity and potency” and “Batch tested, premium ingredients only.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Tablet
Daily dose
3 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Nutravita’s product page says: “Clean nutrition you can trust: Nutravita’s supplements are manufactured in certified facilities to meet the highest GMP and BRC quality standards. Each batch is rigorously tested for quality and safety.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
5 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Reflex Nutrition’s product information page says Creapure® creatine is “rigorously tested” and “completely free from contaminants,” and that Reflex is an “Informed Manufacturer” whose site is “rigorously tested every six months by LGC” under the Informed Sport/Informed Choice programs.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Capsule
Daily dose
3 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Amazon listing and SuperSelf product page both say the product is "Laboratory Tested for quality and safety" / "LABORATORY TESTED for quality and safety." SuperSelf also says the capsules are "99% pure" and that they "can start to be absorbed by the body in less than a minute," but I did not find an independently verifiable COA, lab report, or certification registry entry for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Capsule
Daily dose
3 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Applied Nutrition’s product page for Creatine 3000 says “Informed-Sport Tested,” and the Informed Sport site says certified supplements “have been independently tested and certified for athletes.” I also found Applied Nutrition’s Informed Sport collection page describing its range as “Informed Sport-certified supplements that have been independently tested and certified for athletes.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Powder
Daily dose
3 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Amazon listing and Myprotein marketing images/text include claims like “Science backed. Athlete approved.” and “Increase your performance,” but I did not find an independently verifiable statement that this specific product’s contents/purity/potency were tested, verified, or certified by a third party. I also found Myprotein’s quality-assurance pages via search, but they were access-restricted in this session.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Format
Powder
Daily dose
5 gcreatine monohydrateWithin commonly studied range
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Multiple UK retailer listings state this product line is "Informed Sport Certified." Informed Sport's own registry confirms Applied Nutrition as a certified brand, but the specific listed certified products are named "AN BLACK SERIES Creatine Monohydrate", "AN PERFORMANCE Creatine + Peptide" and "Creatine Monohydrate Professional" - none of which clearly match this plain retail "Creatine Monohydrate Powder" line, and the brand registry page itself returned 403 when fetched directly. Recorded as a claim, not a confirmed certification for this specific product.
One-time purchase prices; delivery and conditional discounts excluded. Daily cost uses the recorded label serving. Comparison amounts are not personal dose recommendations. Unknown Prime eligibility is not treated as confirmed.
Creatine sourcing explained
Nearly all creatine products use the same monohydrate form, so there isn't a form comparison to make here - the one thing worth understanding is a specific branded, sport-tested source some sellers use.
An ingredient trademark does not certify the finished product for sport
A "Creapure claimed" label means the seller states their product uses it - like any sourcing claim, that has not been independently verified against a certificate here
Creatine dosage and loading: understand the grams
Read three different label quantities
Quantity
Example from the researched set
How we use it
Monohydrate per serving
Optimum Nutrition: 3.4 g powder serving
The active quantity used for this comparison.
Separately declared creatine base
Dymatize: 3 g creatine from 3.4 g monohydrate
Kept separate; not silently mixed into the monohydrate column.
Capsules or tablets per serving
WeightWorld: three tablets supply 3.372 g monohydrate
The full serving count determines pack duration and daily cost.
These are recorded label examples. Product analyses link to the Amazon or manufacturer source. For a powder with additives, scoop weight is not automatically active weight; ambiguous records stay out of the published comparison.
Daily use and optional loading
Research commonly uses 3–5 g monohydrate daily after any loading phase. A typical loading protocol is 20 g daily in four portions for five to seven days; lower daily intake without loading builds stores more gradually. NIH describes these protocols. This is research context, not an instruction to exceed your label or an individual prescription.
Daily price and serving size
The table shows daily cost alongside daily monohydrate grams, using the recorded label serving. A tablet product’s total pack weight includes other material, so its active total comes from the declared amount and tablet count. Variable serving ranges are noted on each product.
Monohydrate, Creapure, powders and capsules
Monohydrate is the most studied form. Alternative forms have not established superior performance, stability or safety in the NIH evidence summary. “Micronised” describes the powder, not an independently verified clinical advantage.
Choose by the label and practical format
Option
Check before comparing
Testing distinction
Plain powder
Declared active grams, weighed serving, ingredients and pack weight.
An unflavoured listing may still include an anti-caking ingredient.
Capsules / tablets
Full serving count, active grams and capsule shell or tablet excipients.
Convenience does not verify purity.
Gummies / flavoured products
Active amount per full serving, sugar, flavours and other ingredients.
No gummy passed through this research set; no gummy verdict is being invented.
Creapure
A branded source of creatine monohydrate. Compare the label claim and price.
A source trademark and sport certification answer different questions.
Trials often combine supplementation with resistance training
Benefits depend on outcome and training; not a retail-product guarantee
Women in exercise or training
Possible small effects; low certainty
Mostly creatine monohydrate
2026 female-specific review
Mixed protocols and outcomes; no universal recommendation
General cognitive improvement
Claim not established at the assessed dose
Creatine at up to 3 g/day
UKNHCC 2024 assessment in healthy adults
Specific claim and dose; not a conclusion about every cognitive research setting
Read the full evidence-by-goal detail
Strength and power
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis found improvements in several strength and power outcomes when creatine was combined with resistance training. This does not promise the same result for every person, exercise or product.
Women in exercise and training
A September 2026 review found possible small benefits in selected performance and lean-mass-related measures, with low or very low certainty across domains. Variation in studies limits sport-specific conclusions.
Brain-health claims
The UK Nutrition and Health Claims Committee’s 2024 assessment did not establish the submitted general cognitive-improvement claim at up to 3 g daily in healthy adults. This was a defined claim assessment, not a verdict that every cognitive study is negative. Brain-health marketing is not used in our product score.
When to take creatine: before or after a workout?
The 2022 timing review found insufficient evidence for a clear pre-workout versus post-workout advantage. A 2026 acute pilot trial reported a pre-exercise strength effect, but a single-session result does not establish a superior long-term schedule. Consistent use and the actual recorded dose remain the practical comparison points.
Study protocols generally use daily intake, including rest days; creatine is not simply an acute stimulant to take before a session. Review of common creatine questions.
Creatine side effects, water weight and hair loss
Who should be cautious?If any of the following apply to you, speak to a healthcare professional before taking Creatine - see the full detail below for why.
Kidney disease, abnormal kidney results or ongoing clinical care
Pregnancy, breastfeeding or use by children: outside this adult comparison
Competitive sport requiring batch-specific certification
Water weight and stomach symptoms
Body weight can rise partly through water retention. Nausea or diarrhoea can occur; healthy-adult safety findings do not apply automatically to someone with kidney disease. NIH safety overview and the clinical research review.
Does creatine cause hair loss?
A 2025 randomised trial found no significant differences in measured hair or androgen outcomes over 12 weeks; 38 men completed it. This is reassuring short-term evidence, not proof about every person or years of use. It should not be turned into a guarantee of zero risk.
Discuss use with your clinician if you have kidney disease, abnormal results or regular medicines. Seek individual advice for pregnancy or breastfeeding; this comparison does not provide doses for children.
Creatine, protein and overlapping ingredients
Check creatine already supplied by pre-workouts or multi-ingredient products. Compare the active grams in each serving before adding a separate powder.
A protein shake, a pre-workout and a creatine product are not equivalent ingredient lists. Inspect the product analysis for additives and other actives. Combination marketing does not tell you which ingredient was studied.
Creatine for women and men
Training goal, diet and the actual formulation matter more than a men’s or women’s label. The female-specific review supports cautious, outcome-specific interpretation; it does not establish a distinct branded formula for all women. Neither a gummy format nor a premium price demonstrates better results.
Use the comparison to choose a disclosed serving, format and cost that fit your needs. Scores describe the product record and value; they do not predict your training response.
Creatine testing and sports certification
Check each product’s current Testing status and evidence links. Seller mentions of laboratory testing, GMP, purity, Creapure or sports certification do not by themselves establish verified evidence. A pending entry is not a failed test and does not mean no testing exists.
A useful evidence review checks the finished product, batch, laboratory identity, creatine/purity assay, contaminants and relevant sport-certification registry. A report for a raw ingredient is not automatically a report for every finished product using it.
Provisional scores exclude testing and normalise the reviewed dimensions. The initial formulation score measures disclosure of the named form, not a measured purity advantage. Dose transparency, label completeness, recorded manufacturing information and cost per 5 g supply the remaining components. Read the scoring method and how we verify testing.
Creatine versus creatinine: blood-test context
Creatine and creatinine are different: creatinine is a breakdown product used in kidney assessment. Supplement use can affect its interpretation; tell the clinician arranging tests what you take. An abnormal result should not be dismissed as “just creatine”. Creatine metabolism and renal-function discussion.
Testing evidence in this comparison
A testing claim is not the same as a verified report. No public evidence located does not mean a product has not been tested.
Testing review pending0
Recognised certification2
Verified independent evidence1
Manufacturer COA0
Testing claimed17
No public evidence located2
What does creatine cost?
Current UK comparison set, based on the daily serving shown on each label.
£0.05Lowest daily cost
£0.20Median daily cost
£0.79Highest daily cost
Your questions, answered
How much creatine should I take each day?
The dose guide describes common research protocols and distinguishes monohydrate from separately declared creatine base. A research protocol is not a personal dose recommendation.
Do I need a creatine loading phase?
Loading is optional in the protocols reviewed by NIH. A smaller daily amount builds stores more gradually. See the loading context and source.
Should I take creatine before or after a workout?
Evidence does not establish a universal best long-term schedule. The timing section separates the reviews from a newer acute pilot result.
Should I take creatine on rest days?
Research protocols commonly use daily intake, including rest days. Read the daily-use context; follow the chosen product’s instructions rather than doubling a missed amount.
Does creatine cause hair loss?
A 12-week trial found no significant difference in the measured outcomes. That cannot settle every long-term risk. Read the hair-loss trial summary and limitations.
Does creatine cause water weight gain?
Water retention can contribute to weight gain; a scale change is not automatically new muscle. The side-effects section links to the evidence.
Is creatine different for women?
The population guide discusses the female-specific evidence. A women’s label alone does not establish a different requirement or a better product.
Are creatine gummies as good as powder?
Compare declared active grams, the full serving and verification of the finished product. No gummy was included in this researched set, so we have not awarded a gummy score or inferred its purity.
Is Creapure the same as creatine monohydrate?
Creapure is a branded monohydrate source. Our form guide separates that claim from finished-product testing and sport certification.
