7 Best Creatine Pills in 2024

Interested in trying creatine? We’ve got you covered.

In this article we’ll be covering the 7 best creatine pills available today. As with any supplement, picking the best option can be difficult because of all the inferior products on the market. This article will help you make the most informed choice possible.

Interested in trying creatine? We’ve got you covered.

In this article we’ll be covering the best creatine pills available today. As with any supplement, picking the best option can be difficult because of all the inferior products on the market. This article will help you make the most informed choice possible.

Our team of experts consisting of numerous professional athletes, PhDs in sports science, certified nutritionists, and more, have tested out 23 different creatine pills on the market. The goal of the research was to create a list of the best ones available.

A total of 320+ hours combined were invested over a time period of 6 months. Each of the 23 creatine pills was ranked based on the following criteria: brand reputation, supplement facts, nutrition label transparency, and value for money. The list of the 7 best creatine pills (below) is the result of the finished research.

Top 7 Best Creatine Pills Reviewed

1. NOW Sports Nutrition, Creatine Monohydrate – Top Pick
2. Huge Supplements CREATINE MONOHYDRATE PILLS – Runner-up
3. Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Monohydrate Capsules
4. Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate
5. Life Extension Creatine Capsules
6. Crazy Muscle Three-atine
7. EFX Sports Kre-Alkalyn

Product	Total	Brand Reputation	Supplement Facts*	Nutrition Label Transparency	Price/ Quality
NOW Sports	39.5	10	10	10	9.5
Huge Supplements	38	10	9.5	9.5	9
Optimum Nutrition	37	10	9	9	9
Nutricost	36.5	8.5	9	9	10
Life Extension	35	9	8	9	9
Crazy Muscle	34.5	8	9	8.5	9
EFX Sports	34	8	8	9	9

Starting off our list and the top overall pick for the best creatine monohydrate pills is NOW Sports Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate pills.

NOW easily has some of the best brand reputation in the business having been around for over 50 years after being founded in 1968. All of NOW’s products are rigorously tested, ensuring a product of the highest quality.

This product is also GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) Quality Assured, meaning every aspect of the product – from the laboratory it was produced into how it was tested – has been approved for the highest standards.

This supplement also contains no unnecessary filler ingredients aside from the hypromellose and stearic acid that form the pills themselves.

The only area this product does fall short is in its serving size. The label states that each 6 capsule serving has 4.5g of creatine in it. This is in the range of an optimal daily dose of creatine of 3-5 grams and even for those who want to stick to the upper dose. The difference between a 4.5 and 5g serving will be minimal, however it is something to consider before making a purchase.

Additionally, at 6 capsules per serving, the 120 capsules will be used up quite quickly especially considering daily use. With that being said, for someone looking to try creatine for the first time, 20 servings is completely reasonable.

Next up on our list, and the runner up for best choice are the creatine monohydrate capsules from Huge Supplements.

While Huge Supplements has only been around for a few years at this point, with its vast lineup of influencer partnerships, it has quickly become one of the most popular supplement brands out there.

Just because it hasn’t been around for long doesn’t mean its products aren’t high quality. Similar to the top spot on our list, this supplement is GMP approved to be of the highest quality. On top of this it is completely manufactured in the USA.

Where this product falls short is the fact that it is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians, and contains some unnecessary ingredients. The tablets are made up of gelatin, which is an animal product, making this product not suitable for those following a vegetarian diet.

While this is not a drawback for most, there are also several ingredients that are likely unnecessary to the product. These include things like titanium dioxide, which acts as a color enhancer. With NOW’s product having no unnecessary ingredients, it’s clear there’s no real need to include things like this in a supplement.

Also, at $1 per serving, it is quite a pricey option. Although it’s certainly a high quality product, you may be paying a premium for the brand name over the actual effectiveness of the supplement.

Coming up next on our list is Optimum Nutrition’s Micronized Creatine Monohydrate Capsules.

One of the most recognized and trusted supplement brands in the whole industry, Optimum Nutrition has been helping lifters meet their goals for well over 30 years. While they’re best known for their iconic whey protein powder, they also offer a great creatine supplement that is completely GMP certified.

While the package size of 100, 200, or 300 capsules may seem to offer tons of servings at first glance, it is actually somewhat deceptive.

With each serving only being 2.5g, and the recommended effective dose of creatine being 3-5g per day, for the upper dose you will need to take 2 servings per day. This does unfortunately give the product a relatively high cost per serving.

Similar to the Huge Supplements product, these capsules do also contain gelatin, making this product unsuitable for vegans and vegetarians. With that being said, it does not contain nearly as many filler ingredients as the Huge Supplements product, with the only extra ingredient being Magnesium Stearate.

Up next on our list is Nutricost’s Creatine Monohydrate capsules.

Compared to many of the other options on our list, Nutricost is one of the lesser known options available. However, they still offer solid products at an affordable price. Alongside their many other vitamins and supplements, this creatine supplement is GMP compliant and third party tested to high quality standards.

While the 500 capsule/125 servings may seem impressive, similar to Optimum’s product, these servings are only 3 grams each, making them suboptimal doses.

However, if you were to take more capsules to reach 5g, the serving size is still significantly cheaper than many of the other options on our list, giving this product a great value for your money. Just keep in mind that the recommended serving size is lower than you may expect.

Although this product is made with gelatin, making it unsuitable for vegans, it does not have any real unnecessary ingredients.

Coming up next are Life Extension’s Creatine Capsules.

Founded in 1980, Life Extension is a longstanding brand in the supplement space, created with the goal of helping people slow down the aging process, prevent diseases, and live longer. This means their brand is focused less on athletic performance, and more on the overall health of their customers.

This may be why Life Extension’s creatine only has 1g per serving. For optimal effects, creatine should be taken at a dose of 3-5g daily, however, there will still be some benefit to taking a lower dose. If you want to take a 5g dose with this supplement, that will require 10 capsules, and there will only be 12 servings per container.

With that being said, this is a very affordable supplement, so that will still be less than a dollar per serving. You will just need to restock quite frequently if this is your plan.

Aside from the low serving size, this product does not have many other flaws. It is completely vegan so it’s suitable for all diet types. It also includes some Vitamin C in the form of Ascorbyl Palmitate.

Overall, this is a great choice for those looking to test the waters with creatine. For those maybe looking to take a smaller dose than 5g a day to see how it will affect them, Life Extension’s product is a high quality choice.

Up next is the first supplement that is not made up entirely of creatine monohydrate. It’s Crazy Muscle’s signature Three-atine supplement.

Founded 20 years ago in 2003, Crazy Muscle is a supplement company that has been around for a while despite not reaching the popularity of many of its competitors. This, however, doesn’t mean they do not deliver a high quality product.

What separates these creatine tablets from competitors is the fact that it contains 3 different types of creatine. While this may seem special, in reality, it likely will not have too much of a different effect than a 100% monohydrate creatine supplement.

This is exemplified by the fact there is no explanation (or any real evidence) of how the different types of creatine will enhance the supplements efficacy in the product description. It’s likely that the concept of “three-atine” is designed to differentiate their product from competitors, despite not being too different.

With that being said, the product does contain efficacious doses of its ingredients at a competitive price. The one major downside here is the fact that this supplement contains more filler ingredients than any other option of our list so far.

The final choice on our list for a creatine pill is EFX Sports patented Kre-Alkalyn pills.

What you may notice right away about this product is its Kre-Alkalyn formula which promises to be better than other creatine. This is something of a red flag, as it is not necessarily better than other similar supplements, even if the branding paints it as such.

The manufacturer states that it requires a smaller dose for maximum effectiveness because of buffered creatine molecules (but we want to see more scientific evidence).

Their marketing also states that it doesn't require a loading phase (again, this is true of all other forms of creatine, unless you are in a hurry to saturate your muscles faster for some reason). Similar to the three-atine listed above, this is likely little more than a gimmick to differentiate EFX sports products from other creatine products.

While Kre-Alkalyn is likely just as effective as creatine, the branding paints regular creatine as unhealthy, or “toxic”, making it seem like their product is the only sensible choice. This is downright untrue.

Another downside of this is product is the heavy use of unnecessary ingredients, specifically dyes like Red #40. Although the health implications of food dyes are up for debate, and it's probably safe, it’s unnecessary for a supplement to be dyed a certain color.

For those who avoid dyes this may be a significant disadvantage of the supplement, for others it does not matter.

Overall, while this will still be an effective creatine supplement, don’t be fooled by the branding that implies it’s the only creatine you should be taking.

What is Creatine?

Creatine is a natural compound that is produced by the body and is found in small amounts in some foods, such as meat and fish. It plays an important role in providing energy to cells, particularly muscle cells, during high-intensity exercise. Creatine is a molecule that “helps provide cellular energy in the body”.

While it can be found in many animal products, it is commonly supplemented for athletic performance.

Supplementing dietary creatine with creatine monohydrate has been shown to measurably improve physical performance specifically in short bursts of high intensity exercise. This has made it one of the most popular supplements on the market for bodybuilders, powerlifters, and weightlifters.

However, the positive effects of creatine are not limited to strength sports. Its positive effects on health, nervous system function, including recovery for injuries, and improvement of mental performance, which is especially important for the elderly.

While there may be some concern over the safety of the supplement, it is a very well studied supplement and it has been shown to be safe even in significantly higher doses than are recommended (up to 30g a day for 5 years).

How to Find the Best Creatine?

1. Brand Reputation

When choosing a creatine, it’s a good idea to pick a supplement that comes from a brand that is well-established and trustworthy. The longer a supplement brand has been around, the more likely it is that they have a longstanding track record of providing quality products to their customers.

2. Supplement Facts

This not only includes the serving size of the product, but any other ingredients that may be included alongside the creatine. This is crucial to consider as many products on the market have both suboptimal serving sizes and plenty of filler. You should ideally be seeking a product that has as few ingredients other than creatine as possible.

3. Nutrition Label Transparency

This essentially means what type of creatine you’re getting, where it’s manufactured and packaged, and how it’s been tested. Depending on preference, you may want a creatine supplement manufactured in the USA, or one that is GMP certified.

4. Value for Money

Finally, as with any supplement, you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Calculate for yourself how much each serving will cost you compared to the total servings in the package.

You can then use this as a guideline to decide the creatine supplement with the best value for your cash. The range for creatine supplements based on our list is anywhere from $0.5 to $1 per serving.

Capsules or Powder? Which is Better for You?

There is no significant difference in the effects of the supplement based on whether you’re taking creatine in pill form or as a powder. This will come down to a matter of personal preference. Pills may be more convenient to you as you do not need to mix the powder into a drink.

However, you may prefer a powder if you do not enjoy taking multiple pills at a time. Either way, you will be getting the same benefits from supplementing with creatine. Whether you’re taking powder or creatine pills for muscle growth, both will be equally effective.

FAQ

Are Creatine Pills As Effective?

Yes, creatine pills are just as effective as powder. Both will give you the same effects, they are just a different means of ingesting the same substance.

Do Creatine Pills Make you Bigger?

Research suggests that creatine can help to increase muscle mass in some people. It works by increasing the amount of energy available to the muscles, which can help to improve performance during exercise and increase muscle growth over time.

In particular, creatine supplementation has been shown to be effective for increasing muscle mass in younger individuals who engage in high-intensity resistance training.

Creatine also helps retain some extra water in the muscles, which can increase an athlete's weight. In addition, not everyone responds to creatine supplementation in the same way, and some individuals may not see significant gains in muscle mass even with regular use of the supplement.

It's important to note that creatine does not directly cause muscle growth. Rather, it helps to enhance the body's ability to perform high-intensity exercise, which in turn can lead to greater muscle growth.

While taking creatine pills for weight gain will produce some results, it won’t be the same as maintaining a caloric surplus for a long period of time.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to start taking creatine, capsules are a great way to easily incorporate the popular supplement in your diet. Our top pick for the best creatine capsules available are NOW Sports Nutrition, Creatine Monohydrate. These creatine tablets are not only effective, but cost friendly and from a trustworthy brand as well.

What’s your experience with creatine? Do you have a go-to brand? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Also read:

• Best Creatine Supplement at Gnc
• Best Creatine for Bulking
• Best Creatine for Glute Growth
• Best Creatine for Athletes
• Best Creatine for Cutting
• Best Creatine for Women
• Best Creatine Sources
• Creatine Pills vs Powder
• Micronized Creatine vs Monohydrate
• Is Creatine Safe for Teens

References:

1. Creatine: What The Research Says // Kansas State university: https://blogs.k-state.edu/fit/2019 /11/08/creatine-what-the-research-says/
2. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine // NIH: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov /28615996/
3. Long-term creatine supplementation does not significantly affect clinical markers of health in athletes // NIH: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov /12701816/
4. Use of creatine in the elderly and evidence for effects on cognitive function in young and old // NIH: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov /21394604/
5. The Effects of Creatine Supplementation Combined with Resistance Training on Regional Measures of Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis // MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/ 2072-6643/15/9/2116
6. Effects of creatine supplementation and resistance training on muscle strength and weightlifting performance // NIH: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ 14636102/