Creatine Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Supplement
Published Updated Ben Law
Reviewed by Sarah Law, Registered Nutritionist
Search "best creatine UK" and you will find hundreds of tubs, dozens of "advanced" forms and a great deal of confident marketing. Choosing well is simpler than it looks. Decades of research keep pointing to the same answer: plain creatine monohydrate, made to a high purity standard and taken at 3 to 5 g a day, is the most effective and best-value creatine you can buy [1]. This creatine buying guide shows how to choose the best creatine: our recommendation first, then a label-checked comparison of eight products with live UK and US prices, then what to look for on any label.
The best creatine for most people is 100% creatine monohydrate from a named source, with published test results, at 3 to 5 g a day. For the lowest price per gram, Myprotein Impact Creatine is hard to beat. For drug-tested athletes, choose a product with a sport certification such as Thorne (NSF Certified for Sport) or Myprotein (Informed Choice). For a named German source with an independent lab report you can read, our Creavitalis powder (£39.95 or $54.38 for 60 servings of 5 g) and Creapure capsules (£35.95 or $48.93 for 150 capsules of 1 g) are what we make and recommend.
- Form wins on evidence: creatine monohydrate is the benchmark every other form is measured against [1] [2].
- Purity you can verify: choose a branded, third-party-tested source such as Creapure or Creavitalis, not an anonymous bulk powder.
- Dose that matters: 3 to 5 g a day is the evidence-based maintenance dose, and loading is optional [1] [3].
- Compare per 5 g, not per tub: many UK tubs use a 3.4 g scoop (3.0 g of creatine), so "servings" are not equal across brands.
Recommended in this guide
Creatine, done properly
Creapure Creatine Capsules
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What is the best creatine to buy?
The best creatine to buy is the one that gives you 3 to 5 g of pure creatine monohydrate a day, from a source you can trace, at a price you will keep paying every month. That rules out most of the marketing on the front of the tub and leaves four questions: what form, where it was made, what was tested, and what it costs per 5 g. Here is how the products we checked answer them, from the best creatine supplement overall to the best creatine powder for value.
- Best overall creatine monohydrate (named source, published lab report): Love Life Supplements Creavitalis Creatine Monohydrate Powder. 300 g, 60 servings of 5 g, unflavoured, creatine monohydrate as the only ingredient. An independent Eurofins report from June 2026 measured 99.9 g of creatine monohydrate per 100 g, with lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic all below detection. 67p per 5 g in the UK, 91 cents in the US.
- Best creatine capsules UK: Love Life Supplements Creapure Creatine Capsules. 150 vegan capsules, 1 g of Creapure per capsule, so 3 to 5 capsules give 3 to 5 g. Capsules cost more per gram than any powder, but there is no scoop and no mixing, which is why many people find them easier to take every day.
- Best value creatine: Myprotein Impact Creatine. A 500 g bag was £12.49 on sale (£29.99 list) when we checked, about 12p per 5 g, and it is Informed Choice certified. The catch: the scoop is 3.4 g of monohydrate (3.0 g of creatine), so you need about one and a half scoops for 5 g, and the source of the creatine is not named.
- Best for drug-tested athletes: a product with a sport certification. Thorne Creatine carries NSF Certified for Sport ($44 for 90 servings on Thorne's US site), and Myprotein's Impact Creatine and THE Creatine (Creapure) carry Informed Choice. None of our creatine products holds a sport certification, so if you are tested, choose one of these.
- Best creatine for beginners: any plain creatine monohydrate at 3 to 5 g a day, without loading. Capsules make the dose foolproof; an unflavoured powder is the cheapest way to start.
We make creatine, so read our picks with the scepticism you would apply to any brand. That is why every number in the table below comes from the product's own page or label, with the date we read it, so you can check it yourself.
Best creatine compared: eight labels checked
This is a creatine comparison across the UK and US: the three creatine products we sell and five widely bought alternatives. Prices are list or on-page prices, read on 23 October 2026, in the currency each store charges. We do not convert currencies. Cost per 5 g is the price divided by the number of 5 g portions of creatine monohydrate in the pack, so a 3.4 g scoop and a 5 g scoop are compared fairly.
| Product | Form and source | Creatine per serving (label) | Testing stated | Pack and price | Cost per 5 g |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Love Life Supplements Creavitalis Creatine Monohydrate Powder | Monohydrate powder, unflavoured. Creavitalis by AlzChem, Germany | 5 g scoop of creatine monohydrate | Independent Eurofins report published (June 2026) | 300 g (60 servings): £39.95, or £35.96 first subscription order; US $54.38, or $48.94 subscribed | 67p (60p subscribed); US 91 cents (82 cents) |
| Love Life Supplements Creapure Creatine Capsules | Monohydrate in vegan capsules (hypromellose). Creapure, Germany | 1 g per capsule; 3 to 5 capsules daily | Third-party tested; Certificate of Analysis on the product page | 150 capsules (30 days at 5 a day): £35.95, or £32.36 first subscription order; US $48.93, or $44.04 subscribed | £1.20 (£1.08); US $1.63 ($1.47) |
| Love Life Supplements Creapure Creatine Chews (UK only) | Chewable tablets with dextrose, lemon flavour. Creapure, Germany | 5 g per 5 chews (8.78 g of sugars per serving) | Third-party tested | 120 chews (24 servings): £29.95, or £26.96 first subscription order | £1.25 (£1.12) |
| Myprotein Impact Creatine, unflavoured (UK) | Monohydrate powder. Source not named | 3.4 g scoop (3.0 g creatine) | Informed Choice certified | 500 g: £12.49 sale, £29.99 list | 12p sale, 30p list |
| Myprotein THE Creatine (Creapure), unflavoured (UK) | Monohydrate powder. Creapure, Germany | 3.4 g scoop (3.0 g creatine) | Informed Choice certified | 500 g: £42.49 | 42p |
| Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine Powder, unflavoured (UK) | Micronised monohydrate powder. Source not named | 3.4 g scoop | None named on the product description | 187 g (55 servings): £14.00 | 37p |
| Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Powder, unflavored (US) | Micronized monohydrate powder. Source not named | 5 g | None named on the product description | 60 servings: $20.49 | 34 cents |
| Thorne Creatine (US) | Monohydrate powder. Source not named | 5 g scoop | NSF Certified for Sport | 90 servings: $44 | 49 cents |
Sources: each brand's own product page (thorne.com, optimumnutrition.com UK and US stores, myprotein.com) and our own labels, product pages and lab report, all read 23 October 2026. Myprotein's UK prices change often with site-wide codes; we show the price on the page that day. Our first subscription order is 10% off; later orders on the ladder are cheaper.
Three things stand out. First, the big-brand powders are cheaper per gram than ours, and we would rather say so than hide it. Second, three of the five alternatives do not name where their creatine is made, which is the one thing that separates two tubs of the same molecule. Third, a "serving" is not a fixed amount: a 3.4 g scoop gives 3.0 g of creatine, which meets the 3 g a day behind the authorised performance claim but is below the 5 g most research uses [1] [5]. For a brand-by-brand verdict on the big three, read our Thorne vs Optimum Nutrition vs Myprotein creatine comparison.
Best creatine monohydrate: Creapure, Creavitalis or unbranded?
All three are creatine monohydrate, so the molecule is identical. The difference is where it was made and how much you can verify about it. Creapure is a branded creatine monohydrate made in Germany to a purity specification above 99.9%, with tight limits on the manufacturing by-products (such as creatinine, dicyandiamide and dihydrotriazine) that can appear in lower-grade material. Creavitalis comes from AlzChem, the same German manufacturer behind Creapure. An unbranded powder may be perfectly good, but the label gives you no way of knowing where it came from.
You are not buying a different or stronger compound. You are buying traceability and verified purity in the same evidence-based form [2]. If you want the recommended creatine monohydrate with the least guesswork, look for a named source and a lab report you can read.
What our lab report shows
This is the independent result for our Creavitalis powder, from the laboratory's own certificate.
| Test | Result | Method and laboratory |
|---|---|---|
| Creatine monohydrate content | 99.9 g per 100 g | Spectrophotometry, Eurofins, Hamburg, June 2026 |
| Lead | Below 0.05 mg/kg (below detection) | ICP-MS, Eurofins |
| Cadmium | Below 0.01 mg/kg (below detection) | ICP-MS, Eurofins |
| Mercury | Below 0.005 mg/kg (below detection) | ICP-MS, Eurofins |
| Arsenic | Below 0.10 mg/kg (below detection) | ICP-MS, Eurofins |
Eurofins WEJ Contaminants report AR-733-2026-00087325-01. Full documents for every product are on our lab results page. If you were searching for creatine without heavy metals, this is the kind of evidence to ask any brand for.
A note from Ben, founder of Love Life Supplements
I have watched creatine trends come and go for well over a decade. Every year a new "advanced" version appears promising better absorption or fewer side effects, and every year the research keeps bringing us back to the same humble ingredient: creatine monohydrate.
That is why we do not chase the trends. Our capsules use Creapure, a branded creatine monohydrate made in Germany to a purity standard that very few raw materials meet. It is then blended and encapsulated here in the UK in GMP and BRC certified facilities, and third-party tested for purity and heavy metals before it reaches you.
No proprietary blends, no cheap buffering agents, no marketing dressed up as science. Just the most studied form of creatine, made properly, so you can take it every day with confidence.
Stay strong,
Ben Law
Founder, Love Life Supplements
What to look for when buying creatine
When buying creatine, check five things: the form (100% creatine monohydrate), the source (a named manufacturer), the dose per serving (3 to 5 g), the testing (an independent report, not a promise) and the price per 5 g. Get these right and you have a great creatine, whatever the label on the front says. It works for any brand, ours included.
| What to check | What good looks like | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Form | 100% creatine monohydrate | The most researched form and the benchmark every other form is measured against [1]. |
| Purity and source | A named, branded source (for example Creapure or Creavitalis) with published purity | Tells you the raw material is traceable and independently specified, not an anonymous bulk powder. |
| Dose per serving | 3 to 5 g of creatine per daily serving | The evidence-based maintenance dose. Check the scoop size, not just the tub size. |
| Third-party testing | Independent batch testing for identity, heavy metals and contaminants, or a sport certification if you are drug tested | Confirms what is on the label is in the tub. |
| Price per 5 g | The price divided by the number of 5 g portions | A bigger tub or a lower headline price can still cost more per day. Compare like for like. |
1. Form: monohydrate wins on evidence
Creatine comes in several chemical forms, but only one has the deep research base, and that is creatine monohydrate. It is the form used in the large majority of published trials, and the International Society of Sports Nutrition names it as the reference standard [1]. When newer forms are tested head to head, none has reliably outperformed monohydrate for strength, power or lean mass [2]. We compare the alternatives directly in creatine monohydrate vs HCl vs ethyl ester.
2. Testing: how to tell if creatine is good quality
The best quality creatine can show its working. Purity claims mean more when an independent lab has checked them. Look for a report that confirms identity and creatine content and screens for heavy metals, or for a sport certification such as NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Choice if you are drug tested. A certification screens for banned substances; a batch report shows what one batch contained.
On price, divide by the number of 5 g portions: our 150-capsule tub at 5 capsules a day is a 30-day supply, while a 300 g powder at 5 g a day lasts 60 days. If a brand cannot tell you who makes its creatine or whether it is tested, see that as a red flag.
How much creatine per day? UK and US guidance
Creatine has no official daily reference intake in either market, because it is not an essential nutrient: your body makes some, and meat and fish supply more. The amounts that matter are the 3 g a day behind the authorised performance claim and the 3 to 5 g a day used in research.
| Reference | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Daily reference value | No NRV. Creatine is not one of the vitamins and minerals given a Nutrient Reference Value [7]; labels show "No NRV established" | No RDA, AI or Tolerable Upper Intake Level. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements covers creatine in its fact sheet on supplements for exercise and athletic performance [6] |
| Amount behind the claim | 3 g a day: creatine increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high-intensity exercise (GB nutrition and health claims register) [5] [8] | US structure and function statements are not pre-authorised in the same way |
| Research maintenance dose | 3 to 5 g a day; loading (about 20 g a day for 5 to 7 days) is optional [1] [3] | |
| Who should check first | Our labels state the products are not intended for under-18s. If you have a kidney condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take regular medication, speak to your GP or pharmacist (in the US, your doctor) first. | |
For timing and daily use, see how to take creatine: timing, loading and daily use, and for the loading evidence, do you need to load creatine.
Does it matter what creatine you buy?
Yes, but less than the marketing suggests. Form, source, dose and testing matter. Flavours, "advanced" forms, loading kits and a premium price tag mostly do not.
"Advanced" forms: HCl, ethyl ester, buffered and nitrate forms usually cost more, and when tested against plain monohydrate under the same conditions they have not delivered better results for strength or lean mass [1] [2]. Loading: optional; 3 to 5 g a day reaches the same muscle stores within a few weeks [3]. Flavours, blends and gummies: you often pay for sweeteners rather than creatine, so check the creatine per serving and the sugar. Our own chews carry 5 g of Creapure with 8.78 g of sugars per 5-chew serving, which suits some people and not others. We compare formats in creatine gummies vs powder vs capsules.
Best creatine capsules, powder or tablets?
The best creatine on the market comes in every format, so pick the one you will take. Capsules, powder and the best creatine tablets or chews deliver the same creatine at the same daily dose [1].
Capsules, powder or chews: which fits you?
Who is creatine for? Best creatine for men and women
Creatine works the same way in men and women, so the best creatine for men is the best creatine for women: plain monohydrate at 3 to 5 g a day. Creatine has an authorised claim that it increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high-intensity exercise, at a daily intake of 3 g [5]. Taken alongside resistance training, research also associates creatine with improvements in strength and lean muscle over time [1].
- Women: females have naturally lower creatine stores, and research supports creatine for strength and exercise performance, with emerging work across the lifespan [4]. See is creatine safe for women.
- People who do not train much: see can I take creatine if I don't exercise, and for differences by sex, creatine for men and women.
"Creatine is one of the few supplements where the evidence is genuinely settled. For most of my clients it is a sensible daily foundation, and the research on strength, recovery and healthy ageing keeps growing. The key is simply to use a pure, well-made monohydrate and take it consistently."
Sarah Law, Registered Nutritionist
Frequently asked questions
What is the best creatine to buy in the UK?
For most people the best creatine in the UK is 100% creatine monohydrate from a named source, with published test results, taken at 3 to 5 g a day. Myprotein Impact Creatine is the cheapest per gram we found; for a named German source with an independent lab report, our Creavitalis powder (£39.95 for 60 servings of 5 g) and Creapure capsules (£35.95 for 150 capsules) are what we recommend. If you are drug tested, choose an Informed Choice or NSF certified product. [1]
What should I look for when buying creatine?
Check five things: the form (100% creatine monohydrate), a named source such as Creapure or Creavitalis, 3 to 5 g of creatine per daily serving, independent testing for content and heavy metals, and the price per 5 g rather than per tub. Ignore absorption claims for newer forms, which have not beaten monohydrate in head-to-head research. [1] [2]
Does it matter which creatine you buy?
The molecule in every creatine monohydrate is the same, so the form matters less than the marketing suggests. What does differ is where it was made, whether a batch has been independently tested, how much creatine each scoop gives (3.0 g or 5 g) and the price per 5 g. Those are worth checking; flavours and "advanced" forms are not. [2]
How can I tell if creatine is good quality and third-party tested?
Ask for evidence you can read. A good-quality creatine names its source and has an independent report showing creatine content and heavy metals, or carries a sport certification such as NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Choice. Our Creavitalis powder's Eurofins report measured 99.9 g of creatine monohydrate per 100 g with lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic below detection.
Is Creapure better than other creatine monohydrate, such as Creavitalis?
Creapure, Creavitalis and unbranded powders are all creatine monohydrate, so the molecule is identical. Creapure is made in Germany to a published purity specification above 99.9%, and Creavitalis comes from the same German manufacturer, AlzChem. You are paying for traceability and verified purity, not a stronger compound. [2]
What is the best creatine for beginners or someone taking it for the first time?
Start with plain, unflavoured creatine monohydrate at 3 to 5 g a day and skip loading. Capsules make the dose foolproof (our Creapure capsules are 1 g each), while an unflavoured powder is the cheapest way to start. Give it a few weeks, because stores build gradually without loading. [3]
Ready to choose? Creapure Creatine Capsules: 150 vegan capsules of 1 g Creapure, third-party tested and made in the UK. No loading, no measuring, just a daily dose. Not for you? The 60-serving Creavitalis powder is the better value.
Shop Creapure Capsules
About the Reviewer, Sarah Law
Sarah Law is a registered nutritionist and functional practitioner specialising in evidence-based nutrition, hormonal health and gut health. She holds a Diploma in Naturopathic Nutrition from the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM, London) and is a Certified Functional Health Coach. Sarah combines functional nutrition science with a practical, research-led approach to help clients make informed health decisions. Learn more about Sarah.
About the Author, Ben Law
Ben Law is the founder of Love Life Supplements and host of the Optimised Health Show. A qualified Advanced Dietary Supplement Advisor and Primal Blueprint Certified Expert, he has spent over a decade helping UK customers optimise performance and recovery with transparent, research-led formulations made to UK GMP and BRC standards. Learn more about Ben.
References
- Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:18.
- Antonio J, Candow DG, Forbes SC, et al. Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show? J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021;18:13.
- Hultman E, Soderlund K, Timmons JA, Cederblad G, Greenhaff PL. Muscle creatine loading in men. J Appl Physiol. 1996;81(1):232-237.
- Smith-Ryan AE, Cabre HE, Eckerson JM, Candow DG. Creatine supplementation in women's health: a lifespan perspective. Nutrients. 2021;13(3):877.
- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to creatine and increase in physical performance during short-term, high intensity, repeated exercise bouts. EFSA Journal. 2011;9(7):2303.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (as retained in Great Britain), Annex XIII: Reference intakes.
- Department of Health and Social Care. Great Britain nutrition and health claims (NHC) register.
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