Creatine Cost Comparison
Here's a secret the supplement companies don't want you to know: creatine is creatine. That's not marketing talk—it's chemistry. Whether it costs $15 or $50, if it's pure creatine monohydrate, your body uses it the exact same way. The fancy labels, the "patented blends," the German pharmaceutical grade—it's all the same molecule doing the same job.
I've seen guys drop serious coin on "enhanced" creatine with fancy names. Don't be that guy. This table shows you what you're actually paying for—and spoiler alert, the cheapest option on this list works exactly as well as the most expensive one.
| Brand | Product | Price | Size | Servings | $/Serving | $/g Creatine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built Daily Supply BDS | Creatine Monohydrate → | $19.95 | 250g | 50 | $0.40 | $0.080 |
| BulkSupplements | Creatine Monohydrate | $24.96 | 500g | 100 | $0.25 | $0.050 |
| Optimum Nutrition | Micronized Creatine Monohydrate | $27.99 | 600g | 120 | $0.23 | $0.047 |
| Thorne | Creatine | $46.00 | 378g | 90 | $0.51 | $0.102 |
| Transparent Labs | Creatine HMB + HMB | $49.99 | 510g | 30 | $1.67 | $0.333 |
Sorted by total price (lowest to highest). All products contain 5g creatine per serving unless noted.
What Actually Matters
Monohydrate vs. Everything Else
You'll see creatine hydrochloride, creatine ethyl ester, buffered creatine, micronized this, enhanced that. Here's what the research says after 30 years of studying this stuff: creatine monohydrate is just as effective as any of the fancy versions. Sometimes more effective. And it's almost always cheaper.
Micronized just means they ground it finer so it mixes better. That's fine, but it doesn't change how it works in your body. The "buffered" versions claim to reduce bloating or improve absorption—neither of which holds up well in head-to-head studies.
Loading Phase: Do You Need It?
You've probably heard you need to "load" creatine—take 20g a day for a week to saturate your muscles. Here's the truth: loading works faster, but it's not required. If you take 5g a day, you'll hit full saturation in about 3-4 weeks. If you load, you'll get there in a week.
Loading doesn't hurt, but it also doesn't give you better results in the long run. It just speeds up the process. Some guys get stomach issues with 20g a day, so if that's you, just skip the loading phase and be patient. You'll get the same results.
Maintenance: How Much to Take
Once you're saturated (whether after loading or after 3-4 weeks of regular use), you only need 3-5g per day to maintain. That's it. Taking more doesn't help—it just makes expensive urine. Your muscles can only hold so much creatine, and anything extra gets flushed out.
And no, you don't need to cycle off creatine. That's old-school thinking. Your body doesn't "get used to it" or stop responding. Take it consistently, year-round, and you're good.
Timing Doesn't Matter
Pre-workout, post-workout, with carbs, without carbs—studies show it all works about the same. The only thing that matters is consistency. Pick a time you'll remember and stick with it. Morning with coffee? Fine. Post-workout shake? Also fine. Just take it every day.
Why We Feature Built Daily Supply
Creatine is creatine—but not all products are created equal in terms of purity and what else they throw in the tub.
Built Daily Supply Creatine Monohydrate keeps it simple:
- Pure creatine monohydrate — No fillers, no "creatine blends" mixing cheaper forms.
- Unflavored — Mix it with anything. No artificial sweeteners or dyes.
- 50 servings per tub — Nearly two months at standard dosing.
- Transparent sourcing — You know exactly what you're getting.
At $19.95, it's not the absolute cheapest option, but it's competitively priced for a clean, no-nonsense product. Sometimes paying a few extra bucks for quality you can trust is worth it.
The Bottom Line
Buy the cheapest pure creatine monohydrate you can find. Right now, that's BulkSupplements or Optimum Nutrition on this list—both under 5 cents per serving. Your muscles don't know the difference between a $15 tub and a $50 tub. The molecule is the molecule.
Built Daily Supply's creatine comes in at 40 cents per serving—solid mid-tier pricing. It's a fine product if you're already ordering from them and want to consolidate shipping. But if you're strictly watching your budget, you can save money elsewhere.
The Transparent Labs Creatine HMB costs more because it includes HMB (a muscle-preserving compound). That's a different product entirely—if you specifically want HMB, that's your pick. But if you're just looking for creatine, stick with plain monohydrate.
One more thing: Drink water. Creatine pulls water into your muscles. If you're dehydrated, you might get cramps or headaches. Half your bodyweight in ounces per day is a good target. If you're 200 lbs, aim for 100 oz of water. Your kidneys will thank you.