Creatine is shaking off its association as a product solely for gym-bros and bodybuilders, as more of us are unlocking the supplement’s benefits for strength and power output during resistance training, as well as for mental health, fatigue and memory. Among one of the most well-studied and effective supplements for improving exercise performance, creatine is a naturally-occurring compound produced in the body from the amino acids arginine, glycine and methionine.

It works by increasing the body’s store of phosphocreatine – the molecule that then helps produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The latter is the body’s primary energy currency during high-intensity or repetitive effort. The compound is found in meat and fish, but to hit the recommended amount (3g to 5g) needed to improve physical performance, you’d need to eat a lot – a 90kg man, for example, would need to consume more than 2kg of red meat or 400 cups of cow’s milk to get 10g of creatine. So like many, I’ve been supplementing my diet with powdered creatine before I hit the gym.

Dr Jenna Macciochi, senior lecturer in Immunology at The University of Sussex, fitness instructor and health coach, explains that “supplementation consistently improves strength, power output, and training volume by 5-15 per cent, leading to greater lean mass gains over time”.

But creatine’s role goes beyond exercise performance, as Dr Macciochi describes. “It’s a fundamental energy molecule used by every cell in your body, especially those that work hard and fast: your brain, muscles, immune cells, and even your bones. So while athletes use it to boost power and recovery, research shows everyday benefits for people who simply want to age well.”

Research also suggests creatine may offer particular benefits for women. When combined with resistance training, supplementation has been shown to help counter the menopause-related decline in muscle mass, bone density and strength.

With its popularity continuing to grow, there's now a huge range of the best creatine supplements to choose from. For this test, I've focused exclusively on creatine monohydrate – the most extensively researched form of creatine, with the strongest evidence for effectiveness, the best safety profile and excellent value for money. Read on to discover which creatine powders came out on top.

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The best creatine supplements for 2026 are:

  • Best overall– Myprotein impact creatine: £29.99, Myprotein.com
  • Best budget option– Protein Works creatine monohydrate: £13.89, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best blend– Ancient and Brave true creatine+: £28. Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for purity– Momentous creatine: £19.49, Healf.com
  • Best for travel– Thorne creatine - travel packs: £28.99, Healf.com

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  • Bestcreatine supplement overall
  • Why we love it- Dissolves smoothly

  • Excellent value for money

  • Take note- Small scoop

A household name in the cupboards of fitness fanatics, Myprotein has an extensive creatine range from creapure creatine and tablets (which are also in this guide) to an electrolyte and protein blend. For this guide, I tested the unflavoured impact creatine.

While its very competitive price is a draw (it’s also often highly discounted on the brand’s website), I was also pleased by how well it dissolved in water, which made it easy to drink. It’s also third-party tested and has the ‘Informed Choice’ badge, meaning that it’s been tested for banned substances and meets strict manufacturing standards.

The packaging is pretty utilitarian and the scoop is small, so it's susceptible to becoming buried. But in terms of quality and testing scrutiny, this promises bang for your buck.

Key specifications

  • Third-party tested:Yes
  • Sizes:From 100g (29 servings) up to 1kg (294 servings)

  • Creatine monohydrate per serving:3.4g

  • BestCreatine supplement blend

  • Why we love it- Dissolves well

  • Blend of beneficial supplements

  • Take note- Doesn't come with a scoop

Ancient and Brave true creatine+ is a blend of creatine, taurine, magnesium and vitamin D. Smartly packaged in a glass copper bottle, the design is a refreshing break from utilitarian packets from other brands.

It comes as a fine, light powder that dissolves fairly easily in 250ml of water, although I did have to swirl the bottom of the glass to get the last bits mixed in. Its taste is distinct – think botanical, and slightly medicinal – but it’s not long until you’re used to it.

While it's hard to separate other factors like sleep and food, when I tested true creatine+, I did notice a boost in my energy levels and strength during sport, consistently breaking my weight personal bests in the gym after taking it.

With science behind its formula, I like that alongside creatine, it has the added benefits of taurine (offers antioxidant and cardioprotective effects), magnesium (robustly linked to improved muscle recovery and performance) and vitamin D (crucial for bone, dental and muscle health). This can help to reduce your daily supplement intake, though it should be noted the amount of vitamin D in one serving (0.75mcg) isn’t enough to cover the daily recommended intake (10mcg).

My only gripe is that it's difficult to measure the product. Unlike other brands, true creatine+ doesn't come with a scoop to portion the amount to take. While Ancient and Brave sells a gold metal scooper (£12, Ancientandbrave.earth), it’s designed to be used with its other supplements like collagen (£32, Ancientandbrave.earth), so I found it hard to precisely measure half a spoon of creatine as required.

Key specifications

  • Third-party tested:Yes
  • Size:180g (30 servings) or 6g sachet box (15 servings)

  • Creatine monohydrate per serving:4.5g

  • Bestcreatine for purity

  • Why we love it- High quality, pure creatine

  • Extensively third-party tested

  • Take note- Grainy

Momentous uses Creapure creatine, a creatine monohydrate that has been developed by a chemical company in Germany that is known for its purity. Creapure creatine undergoes internal and external quality controls and is NSF Certified for Sport, meaning it's confirmed to not contain banned substances for athletes.

When taking the creatine, I found it on the grainy-side and I had to work to get the last bits out. But if you’re after a safe and assured product, the texture is a small downside.

Key specifications

  • Third-party tested:Yes, NSF Certified for Sport
  • Sizes:150g (30 servings) or 450g (90 servings)

  • Creatine monohydrate per serving:5g

  • Bestcreatine for easy blending

  • Why we love it- Blends very well

  • Subtle taste

  • Take note- Small scoop

  • Bulky packaging

Budget friendly Optimum Nutrition has long been a go-to amongst gym goers and athletes. The brand is known for its huge black tubs of supplements and the creatine is no different.

As it's been micronised, the creatine blended really well into water and taste was very subtle. Plus, while the scoop is small, it’s a light grey colour makes it easy to identify in the tub.

This creatine isn’t third party tested, so if you’re after one that is, you might want to consider the version that’s part of the brand’s elite series (£40, Optimumnutrition.com).

Optimum Nutrition’s creatine comes in three flavours: blue raspberry, fruit punch and orange. I tend to favour less additional ingredients in my supplements, so went for its unflavoured version.

Key specifications

  • Third-party tested:No
  • Sizes:187g (55 servings), 317g (93 servings) or 643g (186 servings)

  • Creatine monohydrate per serving:3g

  • Bestbudget creatine supplement

  • Why we love it- Dissolves well

  • Good value for money and often on sale

  • Take note- Not third-party tested

It’s one of the cheapest on this list, but Protein Works creatine monohydrate doesn’t scrimp on good quality ingredients. When I dissolved it in water, the creatine mixed smoothly and dissolved almost completely.

The packaging is sleek and subtle, bridging the gap between products targeted to athletes and general supplement users. The scoop is small so can get lost amongst the powder, but being black, it’s easier to spot.

Those who are looking for a third-party tested brand may want to look elsewhere, but Protein Works does say each supplier must pass a quality test and products are EU Food Legislation compliant.

Key specifications

  • Third-party tested:No, but products are compliant EU Food Legislation
  • Sizes:From 100g (33 servings) to 1kg (333 servings)

  • Creatine monohydrate per serving:3g

  • Bestcreatine for buying in large quantities

  • Why we love it- Comes in different forms

  • Good value

  • Take note- Small scoop

  • Grainy texture

Gym lovers favourite, Bulk offers what it says on the tin: lots of good value, large quantity products that suit different fitness targets from building muscle to weight loss and endurance. Its creatine offering is no different with a list including tablets, gummies, an electrolyte blend and pre-workout powders. I gave the unflavoured creatine monohydrate powder a whirl, trying two scoops in water.

I didn’t particularly enjoy taking this creatine; I found the texture grainy and it was hard to take my full dose as some of the powder stuck to the side of my glass. The scoop is also tiny so you have to dig around to find it in the pile of powder, which doesn’t feel very hygienic.

But all being said, for those who get through lots of creatine it’s a good option: it’s cheap, you can buy it in 1kg size for less than £50 and it’s third-party tested.

Key specifications

  • Third party tested:Yes
  • Sizes:From 100g (20 servings) to 1kg (200 servings)

  • Creatine monohydrate per serving:5g

  • Bestvalue creatine for travel

  • Why we love it- Smooth texture

  • Convenient for travel

  • Take note- Packaging produces more waste

The first travel sachet creatine on my list, Thorne has a strong reputation for rigorously tested products that are used by athletes, sports teams and health professionals. The sachets offer a handy way to take the supplement while travelling or on the go, each containing 5g of creatine monohydrate – this more than most brands in this list, which tend to have around 3g per serving.

Thorne is NSF Certified for Sport, while Pure Sport (the other creatine travel sachet I tested) carries an Informed Sport certification. Comparing the two, NSF’s scope is larger as it has a background in public health and sanitation, so not only tests products intended for use in sports, but also functional foods, cosmetics, and personal care products. Informed Sport solely tests products to be used in competitive sports. NSF also tests for roughly 40 more contaminants than Informed Sport. That being said, both are great labels to look out for and ensures the product you are taking is exactly what it says it is.

In terms of everyday use, I preferred taking Thorne’s creatine to Pure Sport as I found it lighter and less grainy. Thorne’s packs are cheaper, too. If you prefer a product with less waste, Throne’s creatine is also available in tubs (£31.99, Healf.com).

Key specifications

  • Third-party tested:Yes, NSF Certified for Sport
  • Sizes:30 sachets

  • Creatine monohydrate per serving:5g

  • Bestcollagen and creatine product

  • Why we love it- Provides creatine and collagen in one
  • Dissolves well

  • Marine collagen doesn't have a fish taste

  • Take note- Expensive

Bio-Synergy’s comprehensive catalogue of supplements includes nine creatine products – including its active woman energise powder, which is independently tested. This combines 4g of creatine monohydrate and 1g of marine collagen in a serving. Like Zooki’s product in this list, I’m sceptical about creatine designed for women but if you already take, or are looking to supplement, collagen then this is a great two-in-one supplement to buy.

Its only ingredients are creatine monohydrate and marine collagen peptides, so there’s no unnecessary sweeteners or fillers. As someone who is pescatarian, I’m pleased about a product that uses marine collagen rather than bovine, but for vegetarians this won’t work.

The powder is fine and dissolves fairly well and best of all, there’s no fishy taste or aftertaste. It’s only when you really tune into the taste that you can tell it’s not just creatine. My only gripe is that it doesn’t come with a scoop, so you need to weigh it out into your glass.

Key specifications

  • Third-party tested:Yes
  • Size:15g (30 servings)

  • Creatine monohydrate per serving:4g

  • Bestcreatine for travel

  • Why we love it- Travel-friendly

  • Informed Sport certification

  • Take note- Difficult to dissolve

Each individually measured and packaged up, Pure Sport’s creatine offers a convenient option for those who wish to have a dose handy while on the go or travelling. Each sachet has 5g of creatine monohydrate inside, the exact same as Thorne’s packs.

While I found it rather gritty and difficult to dissolve, I’m satisfied by the testing Pure Sport’s creatine has undergone. It’s gained an Informed Sport certification, meaning it’s been tested for safety among professional athletes.

When using sachets, waste is a big downside and the convenience comes at a higher price point compared to buying tubs. But I can imagine it working well whilst travelling, sparing me from taking a huge load of heavy creatine in my suitcase.

Key specifications

  • Third-party tested:Yes
  • Sizes:30 sachets

  • Creatine monohydrate per serving:5g

  • Bestflavoured creatine for travel

  • Why we love it- Pre-measured travel packs
  • Contains vitamin B6, B12 and zinc

  • Flavoured for those who prefer that

  • Take note- Extra waste from sachet design

These travel packs from Zooki deliver 5g of premium, highly purified creatine, Creapure, that has been independently tested. Blending the powder into a glass of water, I found it gathered at the bottom quite a lot so I needed to stir as I drank, but it’s not gritty and pleasant to drink (although the summer berries taste was a bit too sweet for me).

Setting it apart from others on the market, it labels itself as a creatine for women. I’m always a bit dubious of so-called “pink marketing”, but it does include vitamin B6. This may reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), but the studies are limited at the moment.

It also includes zinc which and vitamin B12, which might be useful for those deficient for reasons like having a vegan or vegetarian diet. The pre-measured travel packs are good for on the go and if you take the additional vitamins already, it takes a step out of your routine.

Key specifications

  • Third-party tested:Yes
  • Sizes:Pack of 30

  • Creatine monohydrate per serving:5g

  • Bestflavoured creatine

  • Why we love it- Natural colourings
  • Tasty drink

  • Value for money

  • Take note- Contains sweetner

While labeled tasteless, creatine can be unpalatable leading some to seek flavoured versions. While I wouldn’t reach for creatine that contains other non-supplement ingredients, if I were to pick one I’d go for a product with minimal ingredients. The best example I found of this comes from Protein Works, with its two flavoured creatines that use natural colourings like beetroot powder and curcumin.

When I added the orange burst flavour to water, it dissolved into a bright orange liquid and like its unflavoured version, the fine powder broke down well into the liquid. The taste was very reminiscent of orange squash and a bit like Berrocca. I also sampled the berry blitz flavour, which was stronger tasting and far too was too sweet for me, though my sister, who also gave it a sample, enjoyed it.

For those who like a tasty pre-workout drink and struggle with unflavoured creatine, this is very drinkable.

Key specifications

  • Third party tested:No, but products are compliant EU Food Legislation
  • Sizes:250g (62 servings), 500g (125 servings) or 1kg (250 servings)

  • Creatine monohydrate per serving:3g

  • Bestcreatine tablets

  • Why we love it- Convient

  • Easy to swallow

  • Take note- Not a pure product

  • Not third-party tested

A poorly dissolved creatine drink can become quickly tiresome, so for those who prefer to take their supplements in tablet form, then Myprotein’s creatine monohydrate tablets might be your choice.

The tablets are fairly large, which might put some off, though I found them easy to take. For those unfazed, the pill form can be a convenient alternative to powder on the go. I can imagine popping some in a container to take before my workout or while travelling.

To get 3g of creatine monohydrate, you need to take three tablets. And for those who like to take more creatine, this does mean quite a few to swallow. Plus, of course, it’s not a pure creatine monohydrate product as there are bulking, anti-caking and glazing agents in the ingredient list. However these tablets don’t contain sweetener, unlike most gummies.

Key specifications

  • Third-party tested:No
  • Sizes:250 tablets (83 servings)
  • Creatine monohydrate per serving:3g