Nutricost is a Utah-based supplement company, and as its name suggests, the company specializes in affordable supplements, like Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate, one of the best creatine supplements we’ve tested. Nutricost offers a wide variety of products, from your standard vitamins and minerals to more niche products like ketogenic diet support and spinach powder.
You might think a less-expensive powder would result in a compromised product, but good old-fashioned creatine is a pretty straightforward supplement. The Unflavored variety of this Nutricost profile packs a clinically-backed dose of 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving — no more, no less. That makes it a solid, cost-effective product for beginners or seasoned athletes looking to reap the benefits of creatine. Our testers, each of whom utilized the BarBend supplement testing methodology, do have some concerns about the artificial sweeteners found in the flavored options, though. Let’s dig deeper in our Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate review.
This extremely inexpensive creatine is micronized for extra solubility.
Medical disclaimer: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate Video Review
Allow former BarBend editor Nick English to break down what he likes and doesn’t about Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate in the below video review.
Main Takeaways
- This creatine powder, among the most budget-friendly we’ve tested, costs between 19 and 48 cents per serving, depending on size and flavor.
- Each scoop contains a clinically-backed dose of 5 grams of creatine monohydrate.
- The four flavored options include sucralose, an artificial sweetener.
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate Specs
| Price Per Serving | Starting at $0.19 |
| Servings Per Container | 71-200 |
| Third-Party Testing | Yes, though not specified |
| Standout Ingredients | Creatine monohydrate |
| Nutrition Per Serving | 5g creatine monohydrate |
| Sweeteners Used | Sucralose (in flavored options) |
| Available Flavors | Blue Raspberry, Fruit Punch, Pineapple Mango, Unflavored, Watermelon |
As its name implies, Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate contains creatine monohydrate, the most research-backed type of creatine on the market, and a great supplement to the many foods with creatine you’ll want to work into your diet.
“There are many forms of creatine, but old-school monohydrate has the most research behind it, and that is what I recommend,” Dr. Charlie Seltzer, a physician and certified strength and conditioning specialist, tells BarBend. “The dose does change based on the form. Some companies say you need less of certain forms as they are more absorbable. But when you look at cost and research, monohydrate remains the best option.”
Registered dietitian nutritionist Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, our expert reviewer, likes the dose of creatine in each scoop of this Nutricost profile. “You get 5 grams of creatine per scoop, a research-backed dose to help increase strength, endurance, muscle mass, and energy,” she says. (1)
She scores the Unflavored variety, which contains no added ingredients, a 5 out of 5 in terms of its formulation. The flavored varieties, meanwhile, get a 4 out of 5. “I love that you can get Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate in fun flavors,” she says. “Just be aware that the flavored options contain sucralose, which may not work for everyone’s gut microbiome.”
This creatine is micronized, meaning it may dissolve better and digest easier than other forms of creatine. It’s also available in bulk options that offer between 71 and 200 servings. Opt for the 200-serving tub — more than half a year’s worth — and you’ll only pay a measly 19 cents per serving. That’s roughly half the cost of most creatine powders we’ve tested.
[Related: Best Creatine for Women]
Who Should Use / Who Shouldn’t Use Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate is a pretty straightforward product, but it’s still not for everyone. Below, see who we think benefits most from this supp and who might want to look elsewhere.
Recommended For:
- Anyone looking for an affordable and clinically-dosed creatine supplement
- People who prefer to buy in bulk
- Individuals who suffer from flavor fatigue and enjoy variety in their supps
Not Recommended For:
- Those looking for creatine HCl, creatine anhydrous, or another type of creatine
- Athletes wanting a creatine supp rounded out with pre- or post-workout ingredients
- Anyone sensitive to (or trying to avoid) artificial sweeteners in their diet
Our Experience Using Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate
Our tester, BarBend editorial member Alex Polish, a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, tried out the Unflavored variety of Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate every day for several weeks. During testing, they scored the product a 1 (oof) to 5 (yay) on a number of different factors, including taste, solubility, and third-party testing. Read on for their thoughts and scores.
Taste
According to Polish, the Unflavored option didn’t disappoint. “With plain water, it tastes… well, like creatine,” they said. “It’s not bitter or overpowering, but it’s noticeable that you’re not just drinking water. With flavored pre-workout or a protein shake, it’s unnoticeable taste-wise.” As such, they scored the taste a 4.5 out of 5.
While we can’t speak to the flavored options, we do like that Nutricost offers them. Flavored creatine supplements aren’t rare, but there are fewer of them than there are flavored protein powders or pre-workouts, so we appreciate the variety.
It’s worth pointing out, though, that Nutricost’s flavored creatine products contain the artificial sweetener sucralose. While artificial sweeteners are generally considered safe in moderation, they can be associated with negative health effects like “weight gain, insulin resistance, and an increased risk of chronic disease,” per BarBend expert Dr. Raj Dasgupta.
[Related: Best Creatine for Men]
Solubility
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate is micronized, which ostensibly means that it dissolves better and digests easier than other forms of creatine. Unfortunately, Polish didn’t find it that much more soluble than its non-micronized competitors.
“It’s micronized, which is a fancy way of saying it’s a finer powder than other creatines,” they say. “But, unfortunately, that doesn’t mean it settles and mixes better for me. I’d say it settles like all the other creatine monohydrates out there. It’s not bad by any means, but also not great.”
Scoring solubility a 3.5 out of 5, they add, “If I didn’t know this were micronized, I wouldn’t be disappointed by the solubility. But since it is, I guess I’m sad it’s not more undetectable.”
Third-Party Testing
Since the supplement industry is unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), conducting third-party testing is one way for manufacturers to show that you’re getting exactly what’s on the label. Nutricost declares this creatine supplement to be third-party tested for “purity and safety,” but further details about who tested it and for what is unclear. As such, we score it a 3.5 out of 5 for third-party testing.
All that said, Polish experienced no side effects or bloating after several weeks of taking this product in recommended doses.
Bulk Options
We love that Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate is available in multiple sizes, with containers packing between 71 and 200 servings. The cost varies depending on the size and flavor, but you can expect to pay between 19 and 48 cents per serving, which puts it on the low end of the average creatine supp. We like those numbers.
What to Consider Before Buying Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate
Before picking up a tub of this Nutricost profile, there are a few things you’ll want to think about in regards to its formulation, bulk options, and fitness goals. Read more below.
- Your Goals: “When considering whether to take creatine, I always advise understanding your specific goals and what results you’re hoping to achieve by supplementing,” says Melissa Boufounos, CHN. “It can enhance strength, boost muscle mass, aid recovery, and even offer neuroprotective benefits.” It’s important to remember, though, that you’ll only see creatine’s benefits by pairing it with resistance training and a healthy diet. Before supplementing, be sure you’re ready to commit to a sustainable fitness routine.
- Your Health: “Creatine is very safe and effective, but may make pre-existing kidney issues worse,” Dr. Charlie Seltzer, a physician and certified strength and conditioning specialist, tells BarBend. “Therefore, before starting, ask your health care provider to order a blood creatinine level and a urine ‘microalbumin/creatine ratio.’ If those are normal, you’re good to go.”
- Artificial Sweeteners: Nutricost’s flavored varieties include sucralose, an artificial sweetener. If you’re sensitive to artificial sweeteners or trying to stick to a clean diet, you’ll want to stick to the Unflavored option or look at another creatine supp.
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate Vs. Competitors
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate is a solid supplement, but we also wanted to give you an idea of what else is out there. Below, we compare Nutricost’s creatine to a couple of our other favorite creatine supps: Transparent Labs Creatine HMB and Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate.
| Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate | Transparent Labs Creatine HMB | Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate | |
| Price Per Serving | Starting at $0.19 | Starting at $1.50 | Starting at $0.25 |
| Servings Per Container | 71-200 | 30-60 | 85-200 |
| Third-Party Testing | Yes (not specified) | Yes (Informed Choice) | Yes (Informed Choice) |
| Standout Ingredients | Creatine monohydrate | Creatine monohydrate, HMB (hydroxymethyl butyrate), vitamin D3, BioPerine | Creatine monohydrate |
| Flavors | Blue Raspberry, Fruit Punch, Pineapple Mango, Unflavored, Watermelon | Blue Raspberry, Unflavored, Sour Grape, Tropical Punch, Peach Rings, Cherry Kiwi, Fruit Punch, Watermelon, Black Cherry, Orange, Hawaiian Splash, Peach Mango, Strawberry Lemonade, Blueberry Pomegranate | Unflavored |
As you can see, Nutricost’s price, bulk options, and flavor variety remain some of its most appealing features. While Jacked Factory’s profile is comparable in terms of price, it offers a smaller range in terms of bulk options and only one flavor. It does, however, have a stamp of approval from Informed Choice, one of the leading third-party labs in the supplement space.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMD is much more expensive, but it packs more than just creatine monohydrate in its formulation. Also included is hydroxymethyl butyrate (HMB), which studies suggest has the potential to help relieve muscle soreness, and BioPerine, a black pepper extract that can potentially help increase bioavailability. (2)(3) If you’re looking for a robust formulation with more potential benefits, this super-powered creatine may be for you.
Places to Buy Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate
You can buy Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate via the brand’s website and online marketplaces like Amazon.
Customer Experience and Brand Reputation
We’ve tried 17 different Nutricost products — including one of the best protein powders we’ve tested — and have found the brand’s customer service to be responsive and helpful. We also like that Nutricost manufactures its products in a GMP-compliant facility. They offer a 60-day money-back guarantee and free shipping on orders over $59. You can reach them at 866-438-3694 or at support@nutricost.com.
Our Final Verdict on Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate is a budget-friendly, no-nonsense supp that delivers a clinically-backed dose of 5 grams of creatine monohydrate in every serving. Ideal for bulk buyers, this product is available in a variety of different sizes, including a 200-serving tub that costs just 19 cents per serving — less than half the cost of the average creatine supp.
Nutricost offers this creatine in five flavors, though we’d recommend the Unflavored option ahead of the others, as it contains no artificial sweeteners. We wish Nutricost was more transparent about its third-party testing — and that this “micronized” creatine mixed as well as promised — but those are easy factors to overlook with a price this low.
Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate FAQs
Is Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate FDA-approved?
Since the FDA doesn’t regulate fitness supplements, Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate is not FDA-approved. Nutricost claims the product has undergone third-party testing for “purity and safety,” though it provides little transparency in regards to that testing.
What are the benefits of Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate?
When paired with a healthy diet and resistance training, Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate can potentially enhance muscle gain, physical performance, and brain health. (1) Just be sure to stick to the recommended dosages of 3 to 5 grams of creatine per day.
How much does Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate cost?
Depending on size and flavor, Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate can cost anywhere from 19 to 48 cents per serving, which places it on the lower end of the cost spectrum in regards to creatine monohydrate supplements. For further savings, check out our guide to Nutricost discount codes.
References
- Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, Ziegenfuss TN, Wildman R, Collins R, Candow DG, Kleiner SM, Almada AL, Lopez HL. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017 Jun 13;14:18. doi: 10.1186/s12970-017-0173-z. PMID: 28615996; PMCID: PMC5469049.
- Rahimi, M. H., Mohammadi, H., Eshaghi, H., Askari, G., & Miraghajani, M. (2018). The effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate supplementation on recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 37(7), 640–649.
- Fernández-Lázaro D, Mielgo-Ayuso J, Córdova Martínez A, Seco-Calvo J. Iron and Physical Activity: Bioavailability Enhancers, Properties of Black Pepper (Bioperine®) and Potential Applications. Nutrients. 2020 Jun 24;12(6):1886. doi: 10.3390/nu12061886. PMID: 32599787; PMCID: PMC7353321.
