Quick answer
Creatine helps replenish rapid muscular energy and can improve repeated high-intensity performance over time. Our recommendation is the cheapest reputable 100% creatine monohydrate per 5g dose. Creapure is a traceability upgrade; gummies, HCl and branded blends rarely justify their premium.
What creatine is
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound made from three amino acids, arginine, glycine and methionine. Your body synthesises it in the liver, kidneys and pancreas, and approximately 95% of your body's creatine is stored in skeletal muscle in the form of phosphocreatine.
It is also found in food, primarily in meat and fish. A 100g serving of raw beef contains roughly 400mg of creatine. Vegetarians and vegans have lower baseline muscle creatine stores because they consume no dietary creatine, which is one reason they often see the largest performance improvements from supplementation.
Live comparison
Creatine products
| Add to compare list | # | Retailer | Product | Flavour | Size | Servings | Protein per 100g | Calories per 25g protein | Price | Buy | More | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALLMAX |  creatineALLMAXCreatine Monohydrate Powder | – | 100g | – | – | – | CA$14.99 | – | |||
| 2 | ALLMAX | creatineALLMAXCreatine Monohydrate Powder | – | 400g | – | – | – | CA$29.99 | – | |||
| 3 | ALLMAX | creatineALLMAXCreatine Monohydrate Powder | – | 1kg | – | – | – | CA$54.99 | – | |||
| 4 | ANS Performance |  creatineANS PerformanceCREATINE MONOHYDRATE | – | 300g | – | – | – | CA$29.99 | – | |||
| 5 | ANS Performance | creatineANS PerformanceCREATINE MONOHYDRATE | – | 1kg | – | – | – | CA$59.99 | – | |||
| 6 | BioX Performance Nutrition |  creatineBioX Performance NutritionCreatine CrunchChocolate Brownie | Chocolate Brownie | 540g | – | – | – | CA$32.99 | – | |||
| 7 | BioX Performance Nutrition |  creatineBioX Performance NutritionCreatine RushUnflavoured | Unflavoured | 250g | – | – | – | CA$24.99 | – | |||
| 8 | BioX Performance Nutrition | creatineBioX Performance NutritionCreatine RushUnflavoured | Unflavoured | 1kg | – | – | – | CA$54.99 | – | |||
| 9 | BulkSupplements |  creatineBulkSupplementsCreatine Monohydrate (Micronized) Powder | – | 100g | – | – | – | CA$27.00 | – | |||
| 10 | BulkSupplements | creatineBulkSupplementsCreatine Monohydrate (Micronized) Powder | – | 250g | – | – | – | CA$31.00 | – | |||
| 11 | BulkSupplements | creatineBulkSupplementsCreatine Monohydrate (Micronized) Powder | – | 500g | – | – | – | CA$34.00 | – | |||
| 12 | BulkSupplements | creatineBulkSupplementsCreatine Monohydrate (Micronized) Powder | – | 1kg | – | – | – | CA$44.00 | – | |||
| 13 | BulkSupplements | creatineBulkSupplementsCreatine Monohydrate (Micronized) Powder | – | 5kg | – | – | – | CA$203.00 | – | |||
| 14 | BulkSupplements | creatineBulkSupplementsCreatine Monohydrate (Micronized) Powder | – | 25kg | – | – | – | CA$392.00 | – | |||
| 15 | BulkSupplements |  creatineBulkSupplementsCreatine Monohydrate Capsules | – | 100g | – | – | – | CA$24.00 | – | |||
| 16 | BulkSupplements | creatineBulkSupplementsCreatine Monohydrate Capsules | – | 250g | – | – | – | CA$28.00 | – | |||
| 17 | BulkSupplements | creatineBulkSupplementsCreatine Monohydrate Capsules | – | 500g | – | – | – | CA$29.00 | – | |||
| 18 | BulkSupplements | creatineBulkSupplementsCreatine Monohydrate Capsules | – | 1kg | – | – | – | CA$45.00 | – | |||
| 19 | Canadian Protein |  creatineCanadian ProteinBulk Creatine Monohydrate | – | 3kg | – | – | – | CA$143.98 | – | |||
| 20 | Canadian Protein | creatineCanadian ProteinBulk Creatine Monohydrate | – | 5kg | – | – | – | CA$224.96 | – | |||
| 21 | Canadian Protein | creatineCanadian ProteinCreatine Monohydrate | – | 454g | – | – | – | CA$39.99 | – | |||
| 22 | Canadian Protein | creatineCanadian ProteinCreatine Monohydrate | – | 1kg | – | – | – | CA$59.99 | – | |||
| 23 | LEANFIT |  creatineLEANFITCREATINE MONOHYDRATE Blue Raspberry | – | 375g | – | – | – | CA$28.79 | – | |||
| 24 | LEANFIT | creatineLEANFITCREATINE MONOHYDRATE Blue Raspberry | – | 625g | – | – | – | CA$40.79 | – | |||
| 25 | LEANFIT |  creatineLEANFITCREATINE MONOHYDRATE Cherry Berry | – | 379g | – | – | – | CA$28.79 | – | |||
| 26 | LEANFIT | creatineLEANFITCREATINE MONOHYDRATE Cherry Berry | – | 632g | – | – | – | CA$40.79 | – | |||
| 27 | LEANFIT |  creatineLEANFITCREATINE MONOHYDRATE Pineapple Punch | – | 373g | – | – | – | CA$28.79 | – | |||
| 28 | LEANFIT | creatineLEANFITCREATINE MONOHYDRATE Pineapple Punch | – | 622g | – | – | – | CA$40.79 | – | |||
| 29 | LEANFIT |  creatineLEANFITCREATINE MONOHYDRATE Unflavoured | – | 300g | – | – | – | CA$28.79 | – | |||
| 30 | LEANFIT | creatineLEANFITCREATINE MONOHYDRATE Unflavoured | – | 500g | – | – | – | CA$40.79 | – | |||
| 31 | LEANFIT | creatineLEANFITCREATINE MONOHYDRATE Unflavoured | – | 1kg | – | – | – | CA$59.99 | – | |||
| 32 | LEANFIT |  creatineLEANFITCREATINE MONOHYDRATE Unflavoured 1kg | – | 1kg | – | – | – | CA$59.99 | – | |||
| 33 | Magnum Nutraceuticals |  creatineMagnum NutraceuticalsCreatine 100 (CAD) | – | 400g | – | – | – | CA$26.99 | – | |||
| 34 | Magnum Nutraceuticals | creatineMagnum NutraceuticalsCreatine 100 (CAD) | – | 1kg | – | – | – | CA$49.99 | – | |||
| 35 | Mammoth Supplements |  creatineMammoth SupplementsCREATINE | 60 Serve | – | 300g | – | – | – | CA$19.99 | – | |||
| 36 | Myprotein |  creatineMyproteinCreatine Monohydrate PowderUnflavored | Unflavored | 227g | – | – | – | CA$20.99 | – | |||
| 37 | Myprotein | creatineMyproteinCreatine Monohydrate PowderUnflavored | Unflavored | 499g | – | – | – | CA$31.49 | – | |||
| 38 | Myprotein | creatineMyproteinCreatine Monohydrate PowderUnflavored | Unflavored | 998g | – | – | – | CA$55.99 | – | |||
| 39 | Naked Nutrition |  creatineNaked NutritionNaked Creatine | 499g | – | – | – | CA$29.99 | – | ||||
| 40 | Naked Nutrition | creatineNaked NutritionNaked Creatine | 998g | – | – | – | CA$49.99 | – | ||||
| 41 | Organika |  creatineOrganikaCreatine Powder | 600g | – | – | – | CA$35.99 | – | ||||
| 42 | Organika | creatineOrganikaCreatine PowderUnflavoured - 500 g | Unflavoured - 500 g | 500g | – | – | – | CA$35.99 | – | |||
| 43 | PVL |  creatinePVL100% Pure Creatine - Micronized Creatine MonohydrateUnflavoured | Unflavoured | 300g | – | – | – | CA$19.99 | – | |||
| 44 | PVL | creatinePVL100% Pure Creatine - Micronized Creatine MonohydrateUnflavoured | Unflavoured | 1kg | – | – | – | CA$44.99 | – | |||
| 45 | Revolution Nutrition |  creatineRevolution NutritionCreatine MonohydrateCreatine Monohydrate 100g | Creatine Monohydrate 100g | 100g | – | – | – | CA$12.95 | – | |||
| 46 | Revolution Nutrition | creatineRevolution NutritionCreatine MonohydrateCreatine Monohydrate 1kg | Creatine Monohydrate 1kg | 1kg | – | – | – | CA$39.95 | – | |||
| 47 | Revolution Nutrition | creatineRevolution NutritionCreatine MonohydrateCreatine Monohydrate 250g | Creatine Monohydrate 250g | 250g | – | – | – | CA$24.95 | – | |||
| 48 | Revolution Nutrition | creatineRevolution NutritionCreatine MonohydrateCreatine Monohydrate 500g | Creatine Monohydrate 500g | 500g | – | – | – | CA$29.95 | – |
How creatine works
During high-intensity exercise, sprinting, heavy lifting, explosive movements, your muscles use ATP as their primary energy currency. ATP is depleted rapidly, typically within 8-10 seconds of maximal effort.
Phosphocreatine stored in muscle acts as a rapid reservoir for regenerating ATP. It donates a phosphate group to ADP to recreate ATP, extending the duration of high-intensity output before fatigue sets in. Supplementing with creatine increases the phosphocreatine stored in muscle, directly expanding this energy buffer.
What creatine does in practice
More phosphocreatine means more ATP can be regenerated quickly during short, intense efforts. This translates to more reps at a given weight, faster sprint times, and reduced fatigue during high-intensity repeated efforts.
Over time, the ability to train at higher volumes produces greater muscular adaptation. This is why creatine's muscle-building effect is indirect. It works by improving training quality and recovery, not by directly stimulating muscle protein synthesis.
Who benefits most from creatine
People who perform resistance training, sprint-based sports, or any activity requiring repeated high-intensity bursts benefit most. Creatine's mechanism is specific to the phosphocreatine energy system, so it is most relevant for activities lasting under about 30 seconds of maximal effort.
Vegetarians and vegans tend to see larger improvements than meat-eaters because their baseline muscle creatine is lower, giving more room to increase stores with supplementation.
Endurance athletes doing pure steady-state work see less benefit, since the phosphocreatine system is not the primary energy source for low-intensity sustained activity. However, creatine still supports high-intensity efforts within endurance training sessions.
Cheapest Creatine
Creatine Monohydrate (Micronized) Powder
BulkSupplements · 25 kg
Creatine and the brain
Creatine is not only stored in muscle, the brain also contains phosphocreatine and relies on it for rapid ATP regeneration during demanding cognitive tasks. Emerging research suggests creatine supplementation may support cognitive performance, particularly during sleep deprivation or mental fatigue.
This area of research is less mature than the athletic performance evidence but is growing. For now, cognitive benefits are a plausible secondary effect rather than a primary reason to supplement.
Watch what buyers found
Hands-on opinions
The BEST Creatine Supplements of 2023 — GROW Your Muscles!
BarBend
A topic-specific video selected for additional practical context on What is Creatine: Top Picks, Prices and What to Buy.
References
Sources and further reading
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Frequently asked questions
Is creatine a steroid?+
No. Creatine is a naturally occurring compound found in food and made by the body. It has no structural or hormonal relationship to anabolic steroids. It is legal, unscheduled, and approved for use in all sports.
Does creatine work immediately?+
Muscle creatine saturation takes time. With a loading protocol, saturation can be reached in 5-7 days. Without loading, gradual daily supplementation reaches saturation in 3-4 weeks. Benefits typically become noticeable once saturation is achieved.
Do vegetarians benefit more from creatine?+
Yes. Vegetarians and vegans have lower baseline muscle creatine due to no dietary intake from meat or fish. They typically experience larger performance improvements from supplementation than omnivores.