Although creatine can be found naturally in foods like seafood and red meat, and bodies replaces about 1 to 3 grams a day to keep usual creatine stores, if muscle growth is a priority for you, then you may need a helping hand with your consumption.
Creatine stands out as a highly reliable supplement for supporting muscle growth, with a large catalogue of research to back its effectiveness. A staple for both athletes and gym goers, the supplement boosts the energy your muscles can generate during short, intense efforts. This means you can lift heavier, push further, and make steady progress over time.
After weeks of testing the best creatine supplements on the market, our fitness expert, Georgie Darling, recommended several creatine supplement options – from options to take on the go to those with added vitamins. Thorne creatine, which comes in unflavoured, pineapple and orange and strawberry options, was picked as “the best for being the best you”. As a pure creatine formula, this blend promotes muscle performance and lean body mass, as well as cellular energy production and improved cognitive function.
But, during rigorous tests, there was one creatine supplement that stood out amongst the rest. Claiming the top spot as the best for overall performance, Optimum Nutrition’s micronised creatine powder was touted as “one of the finest options around - both physically and metaphorically.”
Optimum Nutrition micronised creatine powder
When The Standard writer, Georgie Darling, tested the best creatine supplements on the market, she found that Optimum Nutrition’s powder blended “easily without any unnecessary texture or gritty taste” and that the brand’s “pure creatine is a great choice just after finishing a CrossFit class or a long workout session.”
As one of the most popular brands in the world of creatine, it’s fair to say that you’re in safe hands when buying from Optimum Nutrition. One pack also contains 186 servings, so you won’t need to stock up again for a while, either.
What is creatine?
Lily Chapman, Performance Coach and Nutritionist for P3RFORM, told Standard Shopping: "Creatine is a natural substance that the body both produces itself and takes from protein-rich foods or supplementation. Creatine supplements work by maximising the body’s natural creatine stores, meaning individuals can potentially increase muscle strength and size, stimulate phosphocreatine resynthesis, or improve cognitive functioning.”
What should people keep in mind before adding it to their routine?
Chapman explained: "Creatine is widely studied and considered safe to use by the International Society of Sports Nutrition. However, creatine can promote water retention, which can be disruptive if your goal is weight loss (this should not be an issue, as your real goal is fat loss, not weight loss!) With this, I’d still recommend creatine even when seeking to lose fat, as the benefits (increased muscle strength, etc) are extensive."
Discover more of the best creatine supplements for clean, consistent muscle growth in 2026
