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What is the best creatine in the UK in 2026?

Creatine monohydrate, 3 to 5 grams a day. Every A works just as well; an A+ also has an independent lab report confirming the content of the product as sold.

Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine Powder
Best score · with proof £0.37 per serving SupplementScore A Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine Powder
E · avoidA+ · outstanding
Buy at Optimum Nutrition £47.00

By Red Hooftman · scorecard medically reviewed by Android Health Clinic · updated 19 October 2026

How we rate creatine

  • Does it work? At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. That earns an A.
  • Is the content independently tested? An independent lab report confirming the creatine content of the product as sold, no older than twelve months or covering a batch still on sale. That makes it an A+. A doping register or Creapure licence is listed as a feature; it does not change the letter.
tap a score

An A+ does not work better than an A; the difference is how much you can check yourself. The score cannot be bought. Within the same score our partners come first; we say so openly.

Which creatine has the best SupplementScore?

live price, discount included
  1. 1 Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine Powder According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit SupplementScore A £47.00 ≈ £0.37 / serving To the shop
  2. 2 Myprotein Creatine Monohydrate Elite According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · with code KROTON -43% SupplementScore A £33.29 ≈ £0.17 / serving To the shop
  3. 3 Optimum Nutrition Platinum Creatine Plus Powder – Pineapple According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit SupplementScore A £35.00 ≈ £0.50 / serving To the shop
  4. 4 Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine Sachets According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit SupplementScore A £9.00 £0.90 / unit To the shop
  5. 5 Myprotein THE Creatine (Creapure®) According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · with code KROTON -10% SupplementScore A £38.24 ≈ £0.38 / serving To the shop
  6. 6 Myprotein Impact Creatine According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · with code KROTON -30% SupplementScore A £13.94 £0.46 / unit To the shop
  7. 7 Applied Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate + Peptide 444g According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit SupplementScore A £34.95 ≈ £0.39 / serving To the shop
  8. 8 Kruidvat Creatine Monohydrate Powder According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit SupplementScore A Available at Kruidvat
  9. 9 Kruidvat Creapure Creatine Monohydrate According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit SupplementScore A Available at Kruidvat
  10. 10 Decathlon Creapure Creatine Monohydrate According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit SupplementScore A Available at Decathlon
  11. 11 Accelerate Creatine Monohydrate According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit SupplementScore A Available at Action
  12. 12 BRAZZY Creatine Monohydrate According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit SupplementScore A Available at Aldi
  13. 13 Lucovitaal Puur Creatine Monohydrate According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit SupplementScore A Available at Etos

Questions

What is the best creatine?
Creatine monohydrate with 3 to 5 grams a day. At the top of the list are the products with SupplementScore A+: effective monohydrate with public proof. An A works just as well and is often the best buy when the price is lower. The order cannot be bought: partner or not changes nothing about the score.
What does good creatine cost per month?

At the usual dose of 5 grams a day (no loading phase needed) even the best-rated creatine costs only a few pounds a month. The difference sits in the price per kilo, not in the score.

Product Per serving (5 g) Per month
Myprotein Creatine Monohydrate Elite £33.29 per kilo £0.17 £4.99
Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine Powder £74.13 per kilo £0.37 £11.12
Myprotein THE Creatine (Creapure®) £76.48 per kilo £0.38 £11.47
Applied Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate + Peptide 444g £78.72 per kilo £0.39 £11.81
Myprotein Impact Creatine £81.52 per kilo £0.41 £12.23
Optimum Nutrition Platinum Creatine Plus Powder – Pineapple £100.00 per kilo £0.50 £15.00
Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine Sachets £264.71 per kilo £1.32 £39.71

Calculated from the price per kilo (discount included) × 5 grams per serving, 30 times a month. Prices checked on 22 October 2026.

What is the difference between SupplementScore A and A+?
A means form and dose are right: at least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. A+ meets that and also has an independent lab report confirming the content of the product as sold, no older than twelve months or covering a batch still on sale. A doping register or Creapure licence is listed as a feature but, since 21 October 2026, is no longer a route to A+.
Did Dr Diederik Smit test every creatine?
No. He reviewed the medical criteria of the creatine scorecard. The editors applied those criteria to the variants sold in the UK.
Is Creapure better than ordinary creatine?
Creapure is creatine monohydrate from a raw material the manufacturer tests per batch, not a different active ingredient. A confirmed licence on the official Creapure list adds verifiability of the raw material (a feature next to the letter, not a route to A+), but it is not an independent test of the finished product and does not prove the product works better.
What is the difference between monohydrate, HCL and kre-alkalyn?
Monohydrate is the form almost all the research was done with. HCL and kre-alkalyn cost more and promise better absorption, but that has never been convincingly shown. Save the money and choose monohydrate.
How much creatine a day?
Three to five grams a day, every day. Timing barely matters; consistency counts more than the moment you take it.
Do I need a loading phase?
No. With three to five grams a day you reach the same saturation after a few weeks as with a loading phase. A loading phase is only faster, not necessary.
Where do I find the cheapest creatine?
That changes with every round of discounts. The page cheapest creatine sorts every monohydrate by price per kilo, discount already included.
Full explanation, proof per product and sources

The best creatine is creatine monohydrate: the best-researched sports supplement there is, with hundreds of studies behind it. The International Society of Sports Nutrition concludes in its position stand (source 1 at the bottom) that monohydrate is safe and effective for strength and muscle mass at 3 to 5 grams a day. The active ingredient is identical for every brand, which is why two checks decide the score: does a daily dose deliver at least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate (an A), and is there public, independent proof such as a lab report per batch or a doping test in the Informed Sport register (an A+)? Below, every rated creatine sold in the UK in the order of the SupplementScore, partner or not, with its dose, the reason for the grade and today’s price. Only interested in the price per kilo? See the cheapest creatine.

What do SupplementScore A and A+ mean for creatine?

The difference is not a bigger training effect. The difference is how much quality control you can check publicly yourself.

ScoreWhat we establishedWhat it gives you
AAt least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right.An effective basic choice. Often also the best buy when the price is low.
A+Everything of an A, plus an independent lab report confirming the content of the product as sold (no older than twelve months, or covering a batch still on sale).Certainty that the tub contains what the label promises. Not more effect.
No scoreThe product cannot be linked safely and unambiguously to the scorecard (another form, a bundle, a combination) or key data is missing.Better no badge than a rating on the wrong product.

An A is not a rejection. Choose A+ if public quality proof matters to you and the price difference makes sense. Choose A if you mainly want effective monohydrate at a sharp price. Read the full method and check the released ratings in the open score feed.

Monohydrate, HCL or kre-alkalyn: what is the difference?

FormWhat the evidence saysOur verdict
Creatine monohydrateHundreds of studies; the ISSN concludes it is safe and effective at 3 to 5 grams a day (source 1).The best choice: the active ingredient is the same for every brand.
Creatine HCLBetter absorption or effect than monohydrate has never been convincingly shown (source 3).Skip it: more expensive per gram of active ingredient, without proven benefit.
Kre-alkalyn (buffered)In a head-to-head comparison (Jagim 2012, source 4) not better than monohydrate.Skip it: you pay for a promise, not for proof.
Creatine gummiesIndependent lab tests (2024) found hardly any creatine in some gummies.Skip them: little creatine per gummy, far more expensive per gram.

What we leave out, and why

We deliberately keep whole product groups out of the list. Not because they do not sell, but because the science is not behind them:

  • Creatine HCL: More expensive per gram of active ingredient, and better absorption or effect than monohydrate has never been convincingly shown (source 3). You pay for a promise, not for proof.
  • Kre-alkalyn (buffered creatine): In a head-to-head comparison (Jagim 2012, source 4) not better than ordinary monohydrate: not in muscle creatine, not in strength, not in body composition.
  • Creatine gummies: Little creatine per gummy, so you need a lot of them and pay far more per gram. Independent lab tests in 2024 also found that some creatine gummies contained hardly any creatine.
  • Blends and pre-workouts "with creatine": The creatine dose in mixes is almost always below the effective 3 grams a day. If you want creatine, buy plain monohydrate and dose it yourself.

What should you look out for?

Three things. One: choose pure monohydrate, the best-researched form. Two: decide whether you want to pay extra for public quality proof. An A does what it should; an A+ adds public proof, such as a lab report or a doping test. Three: micronised creatine dissolves more easily, but works the same. Only comparing on price? See the cheapest creatine per kilo.

How this list is put together

The list sorts first by SupplementScore (A+ before A). Within the same score our partners come first, then the other brands, each on user rating; the score itself cannot be bought and the same public rules apply to partners and non-partners. We only link products that we can tie unambiguously to the scorecard; in doubt we show no score. The criteria were medically reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit, endocrinologist; he did not assess each of these British products separately. Prices are measured daily; the scores change only when the label or the proof changes.

What proof sits behind each score?

Every product in the list above has a proof passport: dose and form, the reason for the grade, and whether we earn a commission. Partner or not changes nothing about the score.

Medical review: The creatine scorecard (v6.8: two checks, effective and content independently confirmed) was medically reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit, endocrinologist. He did not assess each of these products sold in the UK separately: the editors applied his criteria to the British variants.
Product Score Dose and form Why this score? Public proof
Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine PowderAccording to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Partner: we earn a commission if you buy through our link A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.
Myprotein Creatine Monohydrate EliteAccording to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Partner: we earn a commission if you buy through our link A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.
Optimum Nutrition Platinum Creatine Plus Powder – PineappleAccording to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Partner: we earn a commission if you buy through our link A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.
Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine SachetsAccording to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Partner: we earn a commission if you buy through our link A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.
Myprotein THE Creatine (Creapure®)According to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Partner: we earn a commission if you buy through our link A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.
Myprotein Impact CreatineAccording to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Partner: we earn a commission if you buy through our link A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.
Applied Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate + Peptide 444gAccording to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Partner: we earn a commission if you buy through our link A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.
Kruidvat Creatine Monohydrate PowderAccording to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Not a partner: no commission A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.
Kruidvat Creapure Creatine MonohydrateAccording to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Not a partner: no commission A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.
Decathlon Creapure Creatine MonohydrateAccording to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Not a partner: no commission A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.
Accelerate Creatine MonohydrateAccording to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Not a partner: no commission A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.
BRAZZY Creatine MonohydrateAccording to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Not a partner: no commission A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.
Lucovitaal Puur Creatine MonohydrateAccording to the criteria reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit · Not a partner: no commission A At least 3 grams of creatine monohydrate a day. Form and dose are right. No public, product-specific proof route found. That is not a sign of poor quality; the brand simply does not (yet) stand out with verifiable proof.

Last tested on 21 October 2026 by the editors; creatine scorecard SupplementScore v6.8 applied to the products sold in the UK, criteria medically reviewed by Dr Diederik Smit; scientific claims checked against the sources at the bottom

Sources

  1. Kreider RB et al. ISSN position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation. Journal of the ISSN, 2017
  2. Antonio J et al. Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation. Journal of the ISSN, 2021
  3. Fazio C et al. Efficacy of alternative forms of creatine supplementation on improving performance and body composition: a systematic review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2022
  4. Jagim AR et al. A buffered form of creatine does not promote greater changes than creatine monohydrate. Journal of the ISSN, 2012
  5. SupplementScore method and creatine scorecard v6.8

See the cheapest creatine →

SupplementScoreIndependently rated · how the score works · open data feed (JSON)

Optimum Nutrition · SupplementScore A £47.00
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