Best Creatine For Athletes (2024): Third Party Tested

Creatine is one of the best ways for athletes to boost their efforts in a safe and proven way. It can boost strength, power, and lean muscle mass and is the most scientifically backed supplement.

But which one to buy?

Creatine is a simple supplement, and there isn't much to it, despite what some companies would like you to believe.

As an athlete and coach myself, I want to help you avoid some common pitfalls, so I've compiled this list containing the best creatine for athletes for you to choose from.

• Best Creatine For Athletes: Sports Research Creatine Monohydrate
• Runner-Up Creatine For Athletes: Lift Big Eat Big 100% Pure Creapure® Creatine Monohydrate
• Best Budget Creatine For Athletes: Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate
• Best Flavored Creatine For Athletes: Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
• Best Post-Workout Creatine For Athletes: Legion Recharge Post-Workout
• Best Creatine Gummies For Athletes: Novomins Sugar-Free Creatine Gummies
• Best Bulk Creatine For Athletes: Bulk Supplements Creatine Monohydrate

Best Creatine For Athletes

Sports Research Creatine Monohydrate

Pros

• Informed sports tick gives peace of mind to athletes
• Micronized creatine monohydrate mixes easily with beverages
• Very affordable

Cons

• No flavored options.
• Not Creapure which is the purest form of creatine.

Price per serving:

• $0.25 per serving

===>Check Latest Sports Research Creatine Deals<===

The Sports Research creatine monohydrate ticks all the important boxes an athlete can look for in a creatine supplement. Each serving contains 5g of micronized creatine monohydrate and no other ingredients.

The product is vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO verified. Most importantly for athletes, it carries the Informed Sports Tick, which elevates it a step above the runner-up option for athletes.

The Informed Sports mark means the product has been thoroughly tested for substances banned by athletic commissions, and the chance of failing a drug test is non-existent.

The micronized form of creatine monohydrate means the powder has finer particles and mixes with water more efficiently.

Other creatine supplements offer similar qualities, but none at the same price. If you buy the 100-serving tub, the cost per serving is $0.27 without a subscription and $0.23 with a subscription, which is the best price for a creatine carrying the Informed Sports mark.

===>Check Latest Sports Research Creatine Deals<===

Runner-Up Creatine For Athletes

Lift Big Eat Big 100% Pure Creapure® Creatine Monohydrate

Pros

• Transparent testing confirms 100% pure creatine monohydrate. 
• Uses the gold standard Creapure® creatine. 
• Free shipping within the US.
• Bundles allow you to save more money.

Cons

• No flavored options.

Price per serving:

• $0.80 single purchase
• $0.66 when buying in bulk

===>Check Latest Lift Big Eat Big Creatine Deals<===

Pure creatine is uncomplicated and exceptionally potent; therefore, I consistently opt for products with maximum purity and no unnecessary compounds. This simple principle usually leads me to take Lift Big Eat Big creatine.

I've learned to be skeptical of hollow marketing claims and to seek evidence instead. For LBEB creatine, this is the Certificate of Analyses, which certifies the product's absence of needless additives and its complete purity.

The Lift Big Eat Big uses Creapure®, the purest brand on the market, which is widely recognized for its outstanding quality and purity level of 99.9% ^[1][2].

LBEB is among the select few brands that will present their report cards. For instance, testing of the creatine supplements on Amazon amounts to a mere 8% ^[3].

The purest creatine has the highest chance of delivering the promised benefits, including noticeable muscle mass, strength, and stamina increases.

The product provides excellent value for money. A tub with 50 servings costs $39.99, or 80 cents for each dose.

If you order three containers at once, you'll pay $99 for 150 scoops, or 66 cents per serving. Free shipping is included in the United States, making the price very competitive.

If you're searching for a straightforward, high-quality creatine monohydrate to supplement your workouts, Lift Big Eat Big is one of the best.

===>Check Latest Lift Big Eat Big Creatine Deals<===

Best Budget Creatine For Athletes

Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate

Pros

• One of the best value for the price ratios.
• Flavored and unflavored options.
• Natural flavoring.

Cons

• Flavored options contain 2 g of additives.
• Not Creapure creatine.

Price per serving:

• $0.35 flavored
• $0.18 unflavored

===>Check Latest Nutricost Creatine Deals<===

Nutricost produces one of the best-value creatines on the market, making it a popular choice among amateur athletes. This product is manufactured in an NSF-certified facility and is third-party tested.

Despite having fewer certificates than others, it nonetheless provides high-quality creatine.

In addition to the basic unflavored option, you can choose between two flavors I've tried and enjoyed.

Another advantage of Nutricost creatine is that it comes in larger tubs containing 77, 100, or even 200 doses, allowing you to stock up for many months.

The price is very attractive: $0.35 per serving for the flavored variety and $0.18 for an unflavored 200-serve container.

Only a few companies can compare price-wise. Therefore, Nutricost is a solid option if you are an athlete on a tight budget but still want a high-quality product.

===>Check Latest Nutricost Creatine Deals<===

Best Flavored Creatine For Athletes

Transparent Labs Creatine HMB

Pros

• Includes 5 g of high-quality creatine in each serving.
• HMB, Bioperine, and vitamin D may enhance athletic performance.
• An informed sports mark indicates you will not fail a competition drug test.
• A dozen flavor options.

Cons

• The most expensive product on the list.

Price per serving:

• $1.67 single purchase
• $1.49 with subscription

===>Check Latest Transparent Labs Creatine HMB Deals<===

Transparent Labs is one of the biggest supplement makers on the market, and their Creatine HMB consistently ranks at the top of creatine roundup reviews, especially when considering athletes.

Transparent Labs' creatine monohydrate is not only of great quality, but it also contains HMB and BioPerine, which have been shown to improve workout performance.

Transparent Labs Creatine HMB comprises 5 g of creatine monohydrate, 1.5 g of HMB, 5 mg of BioPerine, and 500 IU of vitamin D in each serving.

HMB may improve body composition and aid muscle rehabilitation ^[5]. The substance is highly marketed for its potential, but the studies showing its potency are highly suspicious, and it's unclear if it works.

What makes this creatine popular among athletes is not only the healthy ingredients but also the third-party testing certification or the informed sports tick.

This represents proof of purity from any forbidden substances, which could result in failed drug tests.

Transparent Labs Creatine HMB is far more expensive than its competitors, but the additional components, different taste options, and, most importantly, the Informed sports tick make it one of the best creatine supplements for athletes.

===>Check Latest Transparent Labs Creatine HMB Deals<===

Best Post-Workout Creatine For Athletes

Legion Recharge Post-Workout

Pros

• Third-party tested for purity and unwelcome substances.
• L-carnitine can improve athletic performance and recovery.
• Natural flavorers and sweeteners.
• Several excellent flavors.

Cons

• Even the unflavored option contains stevia.

Price per serving:

• $1 single purchase

===>Check Latest Legion Recharge Deals<===

Legion Recharge, as the name implies, is an outstanding creatine supplement with additional components for usage after a workout. It meets the most crucial criteria- it contains 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving.

L-carnitine and L-tartrate are the two extra substances, making this a post-workout supplement.

L-carnitine is a popular ergogenic supplement that aids athletic performance in several ways.

L-carnitine supplementation enhances exercise performance while attenuating blood lactate and oxidative stress responses to resistance training ^[14].

Its other proven effects include reduced muscular soreness and enhanced recovery ^[4].

Legion Recharge also comes in various tasty flavors, making it an ideal post-workout treat after leaving the gym.

===>Check Latest Legion Recharge Deals<===

Best Creatine Gummies For Athletes

Novomins Creatine Monohydrate Gummies

Pros

• Two gummies contain 5 g of creatine.
• Great taste and a fun way to take creatine.
• 45 servings per container.

Cons

• The sweetener maltitol is not for everyone.
• No Informed Sport Tick.

Price per serving:

• $0.55

===>Check Latest Novomins Creatine Gummies Deals<===

I usually don't advocate creatine gummies because they are expensive and have certain drawbacks. Most athletes already mix powders daily, so adding a scoop of creatine is not a big deal.

But Novomis gummies largely changed my mind about gummies in general as they solve most of the issues typical for this form of creatine.

First, unlike other brands where you need 5 or more gummies, with Novomins, two are enough to provide the daily 5 g of creatine.

Another prevalent issue is that gummies include sugar and other harmful components. Novomins use maltitol as a sweetener, which is a healthier and lower-calorie sugar alternative. 

Novomins also have the advantage of containing 45 servings in a single pack, while other brands provide less than a month's supply in one package.

Novomins creatine gummies are great for people who are constantly on the go, tired of mixing powder, want to try something new or miss their childhood.

===>Check Latest Novomins Creatine Gummies Deals<===

Best Bulk Creatine For Athletes

Bulk Supplements Creatine Monohydrate

Pros

• Orders in bulk provide insane value.
• Lab tested for purity.

Cons

• Packaged in resealable bags, which are not durable.
• No Informed Sport Tick.

Price per serving:

• $0.15- $0.22

===>Check Latest Bulk Supplements Creatine Deals<===

Creatine is generally inexpensive, but certain companies provide even better value, including Bulk Supplements.

I normally avoid suspiciously low-cost items, but Bulk Supplement is a legitimate company with NSF certification and FDA registration as a cGMP manufacturing and distribution center.

This means you're getting high-quality creatine. It may not be the highest quality, but it will provide the advantages you anticipate from creatine.

There are many size options, ranging from a 100-gram test pouch to a 5-kg gigantic bag containing the best deal.

A typical 500-gram bag is affordable, but the 5-kg one with 1000 doses (3 years' worth of creatine) costs $145, making a single serving cost only $0.15.

The only downside is the packing. The resealable bag will eventually cease closing, and you will have to transfer the contents to a new and better container.

If budget is your main concern, Bulk Supplements is your brand. You can even split a big bag with your teammates.

===>Check Latest Bulk Supplements Creatine Deals<===

Benefits Of Creatine For Athletes

Creatine is one of the most popular and effective supplements known for its performance-enhancement qualities. It is one of the few I consider almost mandatory for athletes and casual gym goers alike.

The basis for my opinion is that the supplement has been proven safe and effective, and extensive research (over 500 peer-reviewed studies) on creatine monohydrate has eliminated any doubts.

Here's how creatine can help you.

Increase Strength

All the available literature suggests creatine supplementation boosts strength by allowing you to manufacture more ATP.

Through this mechanism, creatine supplementation improves weightlifting performance by an average of 8% ^[7].

Increases in all aspects of strength training, from 1RM efforts to the number of repetitions at a given load, have been demonstrated in studies. 

Enhance Power Output

Since ATP is mainly required for explosive action, creatine supplementation can boost the alactic system's power and capacity. The increase in power output can be up to 10–15%, which is significant ^[8].

This makes creatine an ideal supplement for athletes like boxers, wrestlers, MMA fighters, and BJJ competitors who rely heavily on their anaerobic capacity.

The benefits are substantial for all athletes needing a solid power output.

Build More Muscle

Creatine works well with resistance training, resulting in increased lean muscle mass. A lot of the gains come from enhanced performance, which allows you to lift more, but creatine also directly impacts lean muscle mass ^[9].

Protect Your Brain

Creatine offers less well-known but no less significant brain health benefits. It may possess a neuroprotective mechanism that prevents neurodegenerative disease ^[10]. This is again linked to combat sports and the need to avoid brain damage.

Other research suggests it may alleviate symptoms in patients suffering from depression, Alzheimer's, or other pathological disorders ^[11].

How To Pick The Best Creatine For Athletes

Purity

A creatine supplement's most important quality is its purity. The quality of the substance is vital because most creatine supplements are not comprehensive formulations that include multiple substances but just creatine.

All products worth your money should have evidence of third-party testing and a mark or certificate.

Third-Party Testing

Third-party testing means an independent from the manufacturer company tests the supplement to see if the label matches the actual constituents and for the presence of contaminants.

This is especially important for athletes, who are frequently tested for banned substances, and a failed test can be disastrous for a career.

The best mark you can look for is the Informed Sports tick, which tests every product batch for ingredients and compounds prohibited in sports.

The Sports Research and Transparent Labs creatines are the products carrying this mark from this list.

Another solid proof for clarity is the CoA used by some brands, such as LBEB.

Type

In most circumstances, creatine monohydrate is the only type of creatine to consider. It's been around for decades and has become the most extensively tested supplement ever.

All features and scenarios have been tried and researched, and the positive and negative effects are thoroughly understood.

However, this doesn't stop companies from attempting to sell you at least a dozen alternative types of creatine, each of which is advertised as superior in some way.

Unsurprisingly, none of the apparently novel types has been found to work better than monohydrate ^[12].

Micronized monohydrate and HCL are noteworthy because their advantage is the better solubility in water. However, outside of this, they do not deliver any more benefits than regular monohydrate.

Powder vs. Capsules vs. Gummies

While capsules are portable, they are more expensive for everyday use. To get the necessary amount of 3-5 grams, you must swallow several capsules, which might be pricey and inconvenient.

Daily use of powder is the most practical and cost-effective solution. It costs less, and each pouch has a longer shelf life. Combining it with a drink allows you to swallow the recommended quantity in a single serving.

Gummies contain additional ingredients such as sugar or other sweets, are more expensive, and require a larger quantity to meet the recommended daily intake.

However, brands like Novomins have resolved most of these issues and are a good way of taking creatine in another form.

Price

Creatine is not only incredibly effective but also reasonably priced. Unflavored creatine in larger containers is cheap, even on a student's budget, at around $0.20 to $0.30 per serving. Even the Creapure kind used in LBEB costs less than $1 per serving.

The more expensive options always include extra ingredients and flavors. Although they may be beneficial or improve the taste, a simple creatine powder will get you the desired results even if you are on a tight budget.

Each product on this list has the price per serving price listed, so you can make quick comparisons.

How To Take Creatine For Athletes

If you are new to the supplement and unsure how to proceed, there are two ways to begin taking creatine: with or without a loading period. Your decision should reflect the urgency with which you need results.

The loading technique requires consuming 20 grams of creatine daily for the first six days.

This is usually done in little dosages throughout the day to make it easy on the stomach. Following this period, consume 3-5 grams per day to maintain optimal muscular creatine levels ^[13].

Most people should opt for the non-loading option if they are not in a haste. Simply take 3-5 g of creatine per day. In about a month, you will achieve maximum creatine saturation and reap the full benefits ^[13].

Frequently Asked Creatine For Athletes Questions

What is The Best Form of Creatine For Athletes?

The best form of creatine for all needs is creatine monohydrate. It is the most well-researched and cost-effective option. There are many other types, but none provide more powerful effects.

Creatine HCL and micronized creatine have better solubility, but the overall effect on performance is the same as monohydrate.

Do Athletes Use Creatine?

Many amateur and pro athletes use creatine to aid their performance. Creatine enhances power output, strength, and maximal effort endurance, all essential for athletes from different disciplines.

Creatine is also a safe substance, and it is not banned by anti-doping agencies.

What Professional Athletes Use Creatine?

Many fighters, weightlifters, and football players use creatine. The substance benefits everyone but is usually associated with sports where strength and power are more important, such as weightlifting and contact, collision, and combat sports.

Summary

The Sports Research creatine monohydrate offers a rare combination of low-price, micronized creatine and Informed Sports tick, rightfully placing it at the top of the best creatine for athletes list.

I've put the Lift Big Eat Big Creatine in second place, but the list is full of worthy options for different needs.

The Legion Recharge and Transparent Labs products have extra ingredients with performance-boosting potential, while Bulk Supplements offer the best price.

Pick and choose depending on your needs and budget. Every option on this list can be beneficial for you.

===>Check Latest Sports Research Creatine Deals<===

References

1. Kreider, R. B., Jäger, R., & Purpura, M. (2022). Bioavailability, efficacy, safety, and regulatory status of creatine and related compounds: A critical review. Nutrients, 14(5), 1035.
2. Jäger, R., Purpura, M., Shao, A., Inoue, T., & Kreider, R. B. (2011). Analysis of the efficacy, safety, and regulatory status of novel forms of creatine. Amino acids, 40, 1369-1383.
3. Escalante, G., Gonzalez, A. M., St Mart, D., Torres, M., Echols, J., Islas, M., & Schoenfeld, B. J. (2022). Analysis of the efficacy, safety, and cost of alternative forms of creatine available for purchase on Amazon. com: are label claims supported by science?. Heliyon, 8(12).
4. Fielding R, Riede L, Lugo JP, Bellamine A. l-Carnitine Supplementation in Recovery after Exercise. Nutrients. 2018 Mar 13;10(3):349. doi: 10.3390/nu10030349. Erratum in: Nutrients. 2018 Apr 26;10(5): PMID: 29534031; PMCID: PMC5872767.
5. Phillips, S. M., Aragon, A. A., Arciero, P. J., Arent, S. M., Close, G. L., Hamilton, D. L., … & Willoughby, D. S. (2017). Changes in Body Composition and Performance With Supplemental HMB?FA+ ATP. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 31(5), e71-e72.
6. Tayebi, H. Arazi, Is creatine hydrochloride better than creatine monohydrate for the improvement of physical performance and hormonal changes in young trained men? Science & Sports,Volume 35, Issue 5,2020

7. Rawson, E. S., & Volek, J. S. (2003). Effects of creatine supplementation and resistance training on muscle strength and weightlifting performance. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 17(4), 822-831.
8. Wax B, Kerksick CM, Jagim AR, Mayo JJ, Lyons BC, Kreider RB. Creatine for Exercise and Sports Performance, with Recovery Considerations for Healthy Populations. Nutrients. 2021 Jun 2;13(6):1915. doi: 10.3390/nu13061915. PMID: 34199588; PMCID: PMC8228369.
9. Nissen SL, Sharp RL. Effect of dietary supplements on lean mass and strength gains with resistance exercise: a meta-analysis. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2003 Feb;94(2):651-9. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00755.2002. Epub 2002 Oct 25. PMID: 12433852.
10. Beal MF. Neuroprotective effects of creatine. Amino Acids. 2011 May;40(5):1305-13. doi: 10.1007/s00726-011-0851-0. Epub 2011 Mar 30. PMID: 21448659.
11. Roschel H, Gualano B, Ostojic SM, Rawson ES. Creatine Supplementation and Brain Health. Nutrients. 2021 Feb 10;13(2):586. doi: 10.3390/nu13020586. PMID: 33578876; PMCID: PMC7916590.
12. Kreider, R.B.; Jäger, R.; Purpura, M. Bioavailability, Efficacy, Safety, and Regulatory Status of Creatine and Related Compounds: A Critical Review. Nutrients2022, 14, 1035. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14051035
13. Hultman, E., Soderlund, K., Timmons, J. A., Cederblad, G., & Greenhaff, P. L. (1996). Muscle creatine loading in men. Journal of Applied Physiology, 81(1), 232-237.
14. Koozehchian MS, Daneshfar A, Fallah E, Agha-Alinejad H, Samadi M, Kaviani M, Kaveh B M, Jung YP, Sablouei MH, Moradi N, Earnest CP, Chandler TJ, Kreider RB. Effects of nine weeks L-Carnitine supplementation on exercise performance, anaerobic power, and exercise-induced oxidative stress in resistance-trained males. J Exerc Nutrition Biochem. 2018 Dec 31;22(4):7-19. doi: 10.20463/jenb.2018.0026. PMID: 30661327; PMCID: PMC6343764.