Best Creatine for Men – Top 6 Muscle Building Supplements
If you’re looking to make gains in the gym, creatine is widely used by bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts to help them achieve their goals — whether that means increasing muscle mass or surviving long endurance workouts.
A natural supplement that burst onto the fitness scene in the 1990s, today there are hundreds (if not thousands!) of brands who claim that they make the best creatine for men on the market.
It can be hard to sift through all the options, so that’s why this list was born — so we could do the heavy lifting when it comes to research, and you can save those gains for the gym.
Best Creatine Supplements for Men
- Onnit - Best Creatine
- BulkSupplements - Close Second
- Promix - Runner-Up
- Optimum Nutrition - Worthy Mention
- PI Nutrition - Honorable Mention
- Transparent Labs - Informational
Best Creatine for Men - Reviews & Analyses
1. Onnit - Best Creatine for Men
- Trade your email for 10% off
- Unflavored formula
- Subscribe to save 15% off
- Vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free
Cons:
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Shipping is free but you first need to spend at least $150
About the Brand
Onnit operates with the belief that you’re the one in control of all aspects of your mind, body, and spirit, and when you start improving in one area of your life, those changes reverberate into every aspect of your life. Certainly, they work with elite performers, but Onnit isn’t just about those engaging in extreme sports. They’re for everyday heroes too. You have questions about how to improve certain aspects and you need support along the way.
With Onnit, you can count on a team that focuses on total human optimization (THO). Not a destination and always a journey, being optimized is really about reaching your potential with each new moment that passes. It’s also about recognizing that your mind, body, and spirit all work together, and you must pay attention to all three.
About the Creatine
Our choice for best creatine for men is one of Onnit’s most popular products and it’s also one of the most popular sports nutrition supplements throughout the whole world. It’s formulated to help support your muscle gain, increase your strength, and boost your anaerobic performance. It comes in a 5.29-ounce tub and it’s unflavored—meaning you can add it to any beverage of your choice. There are 30 servings per tub.
If you’re working on making changes to your body composition, this is one of the best creatine supplements to have in your corner. You’ll start seeing those lean muscle gains and you’ll feel the difference in your power when you’re tackling those tough workouts. The ingredients list is simple. It’s just micronized creatine monohydrate. For a one-time purchase, you can pick this up for $14.99 but if you subscribe, you get 15% off which brings that price down to $12.74.
About the Reviews
If you’ve tried different creatine products, you know that sometimes they just don’t blend well. Customers are calling this the best creatine monohydrate supplement on the market and not just because it blends so seamlessly. Some people use it in their coffee and can’t taste a difference, but ultimately what they rave about are the physical effects. One customer offers a warning that this powder is very fine and will get everywhere, so be careful the first time you open it. Overall, customers rate this creatine supplement with five stars all around.
2. BulkSupplements - Close Second
- Micronized powder
- Helps to increase muscle mass
- Energy and endurance booster
- Subscribe to save 5% off
Cons:
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Serving size is seven capsules, which may be a lot for some who struggle with swallowing capsules
About the Brand
Bulk Supplements is a nutritional supplement company that carries over 500 products and delivers them to hundreds of customers on a regular basis. They are based out of Henderson, Nevada, and have a staff of over 70 full-time employees.
They are dedicated to ensuring that they’re always in compliance with all health codes and government regulations. Plus, they make sure to test each one of their supplements including their best creatine supplements via a third-party laboratory before they move forward with distribution. Their aim is to make sure that all their products are safe for consumption, and they take every measure necessary to ensure you only receive the best of the best.
About the Creatine
The micronized creatine monohydrate that Bulk Supplements offers is available in several different sizes ranging from 3.5 ounces to 55 pounds. They also offer gelatin capsules.
This supplement is designed to help increase muscle mass, support your brain health, and boost your exercise performance. You’ll notice improved recovery time, better anaerobic strength, and improved cognitive function. Some customers purchase it solely because it has the potential to help with Parkinson’s disease.
Depending on the size you select, you’ll have a different price, but the most popular option is the 500-gram option that is listed for $30.96 if you’re making a one-time purchase. However, if you choose to subscribe, you can save 5%, which brings your total down to $29.41.
About the Reviews
Verified buyers feel that this is an incredible product at a great price point. They comment that they love that there are no fillers—it’s a product they can trust. They also notice they’re stronger with their lifts and that their muscle endurance has gone through the roof. They call this a high-quality creatine supplement and couldn’t ask for something better. They also comment about how quickly shipments arrive and how their shopping experience is always a breeze.
Find out more at BulkSupplements
3. Promix - Runner-Up
- Non-GMO formulas
- Unflavored and flavored options
- Subscribe to save 10% off
- Mixes smoothly and easily
Cons:
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Packaging could be a little bit better
About the Brand
Promix is a science-driven and performance-proven brand. Every one of their products is formulated based on cutting-edge research to ensure that the athletes who use them are getting the results they’re looking for. In fact, the founder and CEO, Albert Matheny, made athlete nutrition his entire career. He and his team work with athletes to make sure that their products live up to their promises. They ensure that their products follow through even in the most intense conditions to make sure that they’re delivering on everything athletes need, especially during the peak of performance.
This company only manufactures in GMP-certified facilities and always follows through with batch testing. 97% of their packaging is plastic free and 94% of their ingredients are sourced from North America.
About the Creatine
The non-GMO micronized creatine monohydrate comes in unflavored and certified sport unflavored options. This formula is best for helping to improve your performance and helping you increase your muscle mass. Each one of the bags is filled by weight so you will see a little bit of extra space per bag.
This is one of the best creatine supplements on the market and it mixes smoothly and easily. It’s 100% non-GMO micronized creatine and Promix offers a 100% risk-free guarantee.
For a one time purchase, you can expect to pay $59 but if you subscribe, you get 10% off which brings your total down to $53.10. Plus, you also get a free Promix team water bottle, free shipping, and VIP rewards. Even if you subscribe, you can always pause or cancel at any time.
About the Reviews
Customers who have tried this product rate it 4.94 out of five stars. It works amazingly and they were impressed by how many servings they got for a great price. They mix it with the beverages of their choice and find that there is no residual taste at all.
This has quickly become a go-to creatine monohydrate supplement because the mixability is incredible, and they notice the difference it makes in their performance. A few customers noted that they love the product itself but would prefer the packaging to be a little bit better.
4. Optimum Nutrition - Worthy Mention
- 15% off when you sign up for the newsletter
- Zero calories and carbs
- Five grams of pure creatine monohydrate per serving
- Boost muscle size, strength, and performance
Cons:
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This product is so popular, sometimes it goes out of stock. Select “notify me” to be the first to know when it’s back in stock.
About the Brand
Optimum Nutrition is a sports nutrition brand that creates a variety of different, trusted products. They operate with a commitment to quality because they believe that what you put in is what you get out. They start with the highest quality raw materials ensuring that before they ever even turn on a machine, they are already working with premium materials to make sure that they get the best product for distribution.
They use state-of-the-art manufacturing and have been doing so for the past three decades. Their approach is hands-on to make sure that they’re always testing for the highest quality. The final stop before they send out their products to be distributed is testing. Optimum Nutrition tests and retests their products throughout every step in the process because they know that you care about what you’re putting into your body, and they want to make sure that they always follow through with their promise to deliver the best creatine supplements you can rely on.
About the Creatine
The micronized creatine powder that Optimum Nutrition offers is formulated to increase your muscle mass, improve your strength, and boost your performance. It contains five grams of pure creatine monohydrate per serving, and it works toward helping ATP recycling and explosive movements. If you’re going hard, you need to have this unflavored pure creatine supplement as part of your routine.
You can purchase either 240 servings or go for 400 servings of Optimum Nutrition micronized creatine. The prices start at $101.99. Since delivery is free for orders over $75, you can expect free shipping. Since this is Optimum Nutrition micronized creatine, it means that mixing is easy. It’s also tested for banned substances and all you need is one teaspoon of this micronized creatine powder into a protein shake or glass of your favorite flavored drink. Just use the spoon to mix and you’re good to go.
About the Reviews
Customers frequently rate this creatine monohydrate supplement five stars. They find that Optimum Nutrition micronized creatine works well and recommend it to their friends and family. Some have made this their go-to brand and wouldn’t even dream of trying anything else.
Whereas customers tend to have at least one complaint, whether it be about the packaging or even any aftertaste, when you read through the reviews of this dietary supplement you see that there aren’t any complaints. You’re getting a very straightforward response from verified buyers who rate it highly, say it works, and have decided to make this their creatine supplementation product of choice.
Find out more at Optimum Nutrition
5. PI Nutrition - Honorable Mention
- Supports lean muscle growth
- Zero fillers or additives
- Micronized for increased absorption
- Made in world-class GMP facilities
Cons:
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No option to subscribe and save
About the Brand
PI Nutrition is what happens when high standards meet all-natural formulas. This company was started by Mark Wahlberg and Tom Dowd who decided to help people live healthier and more active lifestyles. They also put this company together because they wanted to give back to their communities through their charity commitment.
When they started PI Nutrition, they noticed there was a void in the market for natural, clean, high-performance, and active lifestyle nutritional products at a great value. They wanted to soar right past overhyped claims and unproven ingredients and just deliver something that you can appreciate at face value. They work hands-on with their team to make sure that every aspect of the brand is always operating as it should. The company started with a friendship that grew into a partnership and then expanded into even more businesses.
About the Creatine
The pure micronized creatine powder that PI Nutrition has created supports lean muscle growth, increases strength, is micronized to create optimal absorption, and contains zero fillers or additives. If you’re looking for pure creatine, you’ve found it with this product. It’s 100% micronized creatine monohydrate. This has been a well-researched ingredient and has been proven safe time and time again throughout the history of sports nutrition.
You get real value with a net weight of 500 grams and a total of 100 servings per container. The cost is $43 though the list price is $47.99. Right off the bat, you are getting a discount. Unfortunately, they haven’t set up a subscribe and save option but still, you are getting incredible value when you pick up this pure creatine monohydrate supplement.
About the Reviews
On average, 92% of reviews give five stars. The other 8% are four-star ratings. Customers love not just this creatine monohydrate product but also all of their other supplements. They love that these creatine supplements dissolve completely with little effort. They’ve tried others and they were always grainy which made for an unpleasant experience. One customer says he’s 54 years old and in the best shape of his life thanks to PI products.
6. Transparent Labs - Informational
- Tropical punch flavored
- Muscle and strength building formula
- Subscribe to save 15% off
- No artificial sweeteners, coloring, or preservatives
Cons:
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Shipping is free but only when you first spend $99.99
About the Brand
At Transparent Labs, you have a team that is dedicated to delivering science-backed formulas. They recognize that in this market, it’s not uncommon to find a snake oil product. There are brands that overpromise and underdeliver. Since the supplement industry is not regulated, you have to be very careful whom you do business with.
Transparent Labs takes—well, a transparent approach to all of their processes. They’re not just being transparent about their ingredients and their lab results, but they want to educate you about every ingredient they use in their products. They link to clinically published research so that you can review all of their products independently as well. They’ve even put together a panel of experts that help to keep them accountable with their products and their claims. This team of experts helps to critique and substantiate the information they present. The panel is made up of certified personal trainers, registered clinical exercise physiologists, and medical doctors.
About the Creatine
The creatine supplement that Transparent Labs has developed is a muscle and strength-building formula. It comes in a 288-gram tub and is available in different flavors like tropical punch, sour grape, black cherry, strawberry lemonade, and more. There’s even an unflavored option you can select.
The ingredients include creatine monohydrate, vitamin D, black pepper extract, and HMB. Not all creatine supplements have added ingredients, but Transparent Labs has decided to put together a unique formula.
The creatine monohydrate helps you increase lean muscle and overall strength. The HMB also helps increase your strength and your lean body mass while it helps to decrease your fat mass. When you use it together with creatine monohydrate, you notice a greater increase in your lean body mass and a decrease in your fat mass.
For a one-time purchase, you pay $49.99 but if you subscribe, you save 15% off and get free shipping, which brings your total down to $42.49 before taxes.
About the Reviews
On average, Transparent Labs creatine monohydrate supplement receives 4.5 out of five stars. Customers call it a great product and highly recommend it. They love exploring the different flavors, which is also a unique element that Transparent Labs offers because you typically find creatine monohydrate in an unflavored powder.
Customers who have given this product a try were also surprised to find that Transparent Labs threw in a couple of free samples. They’re seeing great results and have become believers in creatine monohydrate and in Transparent Labs as a reputable supplier.
Find out more at TransparentLabs
How We Decided Which Creatine Supplements are the Best
If you’re looking for creatine supplements and you know what creatine monohydrate is, chances are you have experimented quite a bit in the supplement industry. You know that the best creatine supplements require the best raw materials, cutting edge research, and an honest supplier who follows through with third-party lab tests.
To give you a look into how we put this list together, we highlight some of the aspects of creatine monohydrate supplements that we considered.
Clean Ingredients
You care about your nutrition and certainly you care about all of your supplements. What that means is that choosing a creatine supplement requires you read the ingredients label. Not all creatine monohydrate supplements are created equally, and some suppliers unfortunately cut corners, delivering subpar products (which is why you usually see subpar results).
Instead of recommending products that would make you question whether or not it’s safe to take the creatine monohydrate, we decided to put together a list of products that only have clean ingredients.
Most of the creatine supplements in this list just have creatine monohydrate listed. Typically, it’s micronized to aid with absorption, and we also included a formula that incorporates a few other helpful and healthful ingredients.
Reputable Suppliers
Like we said, having a reputable supplier is everything in this market. Creatine monohydrate works wonders and slapping a label on a product with catchy marketing copy doesn’t mean that the product is any good. When you’re dabbling with creatine supplementation, it’s really important that you select products from suppliers that know what they’re doing.
The suppliers we selected have built a brand and are in it for the long term. They’re not just one of those brands that happen to show up when a specific ingredient becomes popular in the wellness industry. No. Instead, they focus on creatine supplements that do what they’re meant to. They have pride in what they do, and it shows.
Customer Reviews
Word of mouth has always been a reliable way to get solid recommendations. You probably get recommendations from your buddies at the gym, and you know that you don’t purchase any products you haven’t tried yet without reading through some reviews.
People are honest in reviews. If they’ve gone and tried a product and didn’t like it, they don’t hesitate to express that. Even people who rate a product highly share their complaints and suggestions to make a product better. There’s a lot of transparency in real reviews that we consider important, especially when you’re trying out a new creatine monohydrate supplement.
What is Creatine?
Creatine monohydrate has become a very well-known supplement that helps to improve your athletic performance, whether it’s in the gym or outdoors. There are plenty of studies that show that it can help to increase your muscle mass, your overall brain function, your strength, and of course, your performance. That’s why creatine supplementation has become such a hot topic for men looking to see better gains and challenge themselves further with some support.
A creatine supplement can help with lowering your blood sugar as well, which delivers plenty of amazing benefits. Creatine monohydrate is naturally found in muscle cells. It is responsible for helping your muscles produce the energy you need during those intense lifting sessions and also during really high-intensity exercise.
What to Look for When Buying Quality Creatine
When looking for creatine monohydrate, make sure to consider the list of factors that we used to put this list together. That means looking at the ingredients, making sure that you’re always purchasing from a reputable supplier, and taking a look at what other customers who have tried the product say.
Another thing to consider is whether you prefer an unflavored or flavored option. Seems simple enough but if you go the flavored route and realize that you prefer taking it in your coffee, then that won’t work. It’s all about looking at your lifestyle and the times when you will be taking the creatine monohydrate. If you do prefer it in your coffee, unflavored is 100% the way to go. If you want to add it to a smoothie and create a flavor explosion, then pick a flavor that works for you.
The point is to make sure that you are making it easy to take so that you can follow through with all of your goals.
What are the Benefits of Creatine
Creatine supplements that have creatine monohydrate in the formula work in a variety of ways. Some of the benefits include greater endurance which allows you to get more done in a single training session. You can boost your workload with a solid creatine supplement and it’s why many men seeking gains make this a part of their routine.
Creatine monohydrate also helps with faster muscle recovery and with new muscle growth. You’ll notice that when you take creatine supplements, your muscle mass increases in a way it can’t without creatine monohydrate. This is also in part because it helps to reduce muscle breakdown.
When you incorporate creatine supplementation, you experience a decrease in the protein myostatin, which helps to increase the growth potential of your muscle gains.
How to Take Creatine
When you start taking creatine supplements, you should first adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions. In some cases, creatine monohydrate requires a loading phase. This can help to get that rapid increase of muscle stores, but it may not be suitable for all.
It’s also important to consider your nutrition when taking creatine monohydrate. For example, making sure that you eat a carb, or protein-based meal can help with the absorption process. Increasing creatine monohydrate bioavailability can be helped by incorporating creatine ethyl ester. Creatine ethyl ester is known to help maximize creatine monohydrate absorption. Not all creatine supplements contain this but it’s something to consider.
For most, creatine monohydrate at 5 grams per day is a sufficient dose. Make sure that you take a look at the creatine supplement you’ve chosen and what the suggested dose is. Creatine monohydrate does pull water from your muscle cells so make sure that you’re also prioritizing maximum hydration.
Does Creatine Have Any Side Effects?
If you plan to take creatine monohydrate, you should understand that there are some side effects for you to consider. Any creatine supplement does have potential side effects and without considering those and only looking at the benefits, you would be doing yourself a disservice. Creatine monohydrate is incredibly well researched, and you can find so many clinical studies that back up the claims many supplement suppliers make.
In most cases, there are no adverse effects; however, if you have a pre-existing kidney or liver disease, you should always consult with your medical provider and let them know that you plan on taking creatine monohydrate.
Since creatine monohydrate does contribute to dehydration, you may also experience cramps and the effects of dehydration if you do not hydrate appropriately. It doesn’t matter what kind of creatine supplement you decide on, you should make sure that you’re always drinking tons and tons of water not just to replenish yourself after endurance exercises, but also to ensure that you are taking care of your body after introducing creatine monohydrate.
FAQ
Which creatine is most effective?
Micronized creatine monohydrate is the most effective creatine supplement because ultimately, it’s easier to take. Creatine monohydrate is well-researched, so you have evidence readily available about all its benefits. However, a grainy texture or gross aftertaste can dissuade you from following through with your supplement routine. Micronized creatine monohydrate is perfect because it’s so fine, it mixes with ease, and is more bioavailable to keep you on track.
Is it OK to take creatine every day?
This is a very well-studied supplement, and the answer is yes. If you have chosen to incorporate a creatine supplement into your regular routine, it’s a great choice. You can take up to 20 grams per day for up to five years and still be within the safe range. However, it’s advised you stick with the manufacturer’s dose to start.
Which creatine is best for bulking?
Any time you pick a creatine supplement, research the ingredients and ensure they’re all optimal for building muscle. There are some that help with reducing fat mass while also working toward building lean muscle mass. Make sure the product you choose is packed with the ingredients you need to meet your goals.
Conclusion
There’s only so much you can do to build muscle, improve strength, and discover killer performance on your own. Knowing which supplements to count on is key. The ones we’ve highlighted above give you the boost you need to continue on your fitness journey stronger and better than ever. With the top picks at your fingertips, all you have left is to choose.
