Author: Oleksandr Maksymenko (5 years as FPA-Certified Nutritionist, MS in Sports Dietetics)
You may have hit the proverbial wall with your current workout routine and have heard creatine can be what moves you to the next level. Surely your research and advice from friends at the gym have indicated that this supplement should help you to improve athletic performance. So, you check out GNC, either online or at a physical location, but are overwhelmed with all the creatine products. Which one should you buy? Which one is best for you? Let's find out!
In a hurry?
In a hurry?
In a hurry and can’t keep reading? How about you check out the GNC Pro Performance.
GNC Pro Performance comes in both capsule and powder forms which allows you to choose what is comfortable for you. Our recommendation is powder, it has a lower cost and is easier to dose. You need 3-5g of creatine per day, the jar contains 100 servings of 5g, which is very convenient.
In a hurry?
In a hurry?
In a hurry and can’t keep reading? How about you check out the GNC Pro Performance.
GNC Pro Performance comes in both capsule and powder forms which allows you to choose what is comfortable for you. Our recommendation is powder, it has a lower cost and is easier to dose. You need 3-5g of creatine per day, the jar contains 100 servings of 5g, which is very convenient.
Top 4 Best Creatine Supplements at GNC Reviewed
To help you find the best creatine at GNC, specifically GNC creatine monohydrate, we are going to take a look at 4 popular brands on the market. All 4 products are available at GNC (as of this article date).
First, I’ll provide a brief overview of the main specs, including form, servings per container, vegan-friendly or not, price per serving, supplement facts, etc. Next, you’ll get an easy-to-read breakdown of each product’s main specs in graph form. You won’t have to spend all day reading through each product and clicking on the nutrition labels, trying to determine which product to buy. After reading this article and becoming better informed on creatine supplements, you can decide which product from GNC is best for you in no time.
Below are 4 creatine products that are available at GNC, scored in 4 different areas. There is a summary of each product following the main specs, providing several highlights. They are ranked in order from highest to lowest scores. Note the price per serving is 5 grams of creatine in all of the supplements. Also included (not ranked) are athlete recommendations and the dates the companies were founded. Click on each product name to learn more, including current price per serving, customer reviews, and more.
*We evaluate such characteristics as creatine type, additional ingredients, third-party safety tests and doping control.
- Form: Capsule or Powder
- Servings per Container: 24 (Capsule), 100 (Powder)
- Type: Monohydrate
- Suitable for Vegans: No
- Other Ingredients: Gelatin (Capsule), Silicon Dioxide (Powder)
- Price per Serving (5g): $1.00 (Capsule), $0.44 (Powder)
- Company Founded: 2022
The company was founded in 2022, so is a newer creatine producent. However, a product with great value for the money! It is pure monohydrate, exactly what you need to support muscle size, strength, and power.
It does have a couple of added ingredients: the capsule form contains gelatin (not suitable for vegans), while the powder form contains silicon dioxide. Silicon dioxide is an anti-caking agent, which is considered safe to consume. The manufacturer states that the product is manufactured in a plant that produces milk (again, may be not suitable for vegans) or peanuts (common allergen) and therefore may contain compounds in small doses.
Photo by @wthpetey
GNC Pro Performance comes in both capsule and powder forms which allows you to choose what is comfortable for you. Our recommendation is powder, it has a lower cost and is easier to dose. You need 3-5g of creatine per day, the jar contains 100 servings of 5g, which is very convenient. With 5 capsules you will get 3.5 g of creatine, and if you need to increase the dose, the portions in the container will be small.
Positives:
Available in capsule and powder forms
Powder form dissolves well
Powder form is low cost
Could be better:
Capsule form contains less creatine (3.5 g vs 5 g powder)
Contains extra ingredients
In capsule form, 5 tabs for 3,5 g serving
- Form: Capsule or Powder
- Servings per Container: (60), 100 (Powder)
- Type: Monohydrate
- Suitable for Vegans: No (Capsule), Yes (Powder)
- Other Ingredients: None (Powder), Gelatine, Magnesium stearate (Capsule)
- Price per Serving (5g): $1.20 (Capsule), $0.62 (Powder)
- Company Founded: 2006
Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine also comes in both capsule and powder forms.
There are no additional ingredients - just the creatine. And it uses CreapureⓇ, a special creatine known for its exceptional purity and potency. It has been carefully produced by AlzChem in Germany. It is third party tested through the Banned Substance Testing. This shows they went above and beyond to back the quality of their product, and you can be assured that there are no illegal substances contained in this supplement.
Photo by @dmitrij_personal_trainer
The powder form is suitable for vegans. Given that gelatin is used to make the capsules, this form is not suitable for strict vegans.
The price per serving is high in the capsule form, but low in the powder form. In addition to branded components of the highest quality, the company has been around since 2006, so is a solid choice that is well known for its quality.
Positives:
Available in 2 forms: capsule and powder
- Uses CreapureⓇ
- Third party tested
Could be better:
In capsule form, 2 tabs equal 1 serving (massive pills)
Capsules are expensive
Only the powder form is suitable for vegans
- Form: Powder
- Servings per Container: 50
- Type: Monohydrate
- Suitable for Vegans: Yes
- Other Ingredients: None
- Price per Serving (5 g): $0.80
- Company Founded: 2022
Bucked UpⓇ Creatine comes in only the powder form. What can I say about this product, only good quality pure micronized monohydrate creatine and nothing extra.
The company is proud of the fact that it is manufactured in a GMP compliant plant that is FDA registered. It is suitable for vegans. The price per serving is on the low end, or less than $0.50 per serving. It is relatively new to the market, originating in 2022 however, ranked athletes and ordinary users pay attention to this brand.
Positives:
Dissolves easily
Lower price
Manufactured in a GMP compliant plant
Could be better:
Not Third Party Tested
Can mix worse than competitors
- Form: Powder
- Servings per Container: 60
- Type: Monohydrate
- Suitable for Vegans: Yes
- Other Ingredients: None
- Price per Serving (5 g): $0.67
- Company Founded: 2020
REDCON1 Basic Training Creatine comes in only powder form. There are no additional ingredients - just pure creatine, which is suitable for all types of athletic purposes or types of diets, including vegans. Given that the protein is not micronized, it may mix a little worse and cause stomach discomfort for some people, which is worth considering. The price per serving is moderate, or over $0.50 per serving.
The company was founded in 2020, so it’s been on the market for over 2 years now.
Positives:
Reasonable price
Could be better:
Moderately expensive
Non-micronized
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What is Creatine?
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound that is synthesized in the body from the amino acids glycine, arginine, and methionine. It is primarily stored in the muscles and plays a role in providing energy during high-intensity exercise. It is found primarily in animal sources, like beef, pork, chicken, and fish. A typical omnivorous diet provides about 1-2 g of creatine a day. Also, the average person produces an additional 1-2 g a day from the liver, kidneys, and pancreas, which is stored primarily in the liver.
Creatine helps your body produce energy, especially during heavy lifting or high intensity exercise. It also has been shown to increase muscle mass. Other benefits are enhancing post-exercise recovery, injury prevention, and rehabilitation. Because of this, it has become a popular supplement among many athletes and bodybuilders. Practically speaking, creatine is used to help build muscle, increase strength, and improve overall performance. It is also being researched for other benefits, such as healthy aging and brain health.
Which Form of Creatine is the Most Studied and Safest?
There are several different types of creatine, but the most common are creatine monohydrate and micronized creatine.
Creatine monohydrate is the original form of creatine that has been on the market for decades. The majority of studies are done using creatine monohydrate. The purest form available is CreapureⓇ, originally produced in Germany and is 99.8% pure.
Tips From the Champ
Olympic Weightlifting Champion
How to Find the Best Creatine at GNC?
Which Form of Creatine is the Best Value for the Money?
FAQ
Is GNC Creatine Safe?
Even though creatine has been well-tested for over 20 years and has been proven safe consistently in hundreds of studies, questions often come up about its safety. All available evidence suggests creatine is safe to use, with little to no side effects. Per the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Sports Medicine, Creatine is not recommended for children under the age of 18 as any other performance-enhancing supplements.
Is it Okay to Take GNC Creatine Every Day?
As with most supplements, it is important to know the recommended dosage amounts and how long to take them for maximum effectiveness. Multiple studies have shown no detrimental health effects of taking creatine supplements over the long term, up to 5 years even with high doses (up to 30 g per day). Studies have also shown creatine supplements are well tolerated in a variety of patient populations. If you stick to the recommended dose of 3-5 grams per day, it is the daily use of creatine that will allow you to accumulate and maintain a constant concentration in the muscles, it is effective and safe.
Conclusion
After reviewing different creatine supplements at GNC, we concluded that all products give you pure creatine monohydrate, which is what you need to enhance your athletic performance, which means you can focus on their additional pros and cons when choosing. Look at the first two positions in our ranking for an example.
Our Top Pick for the best creatine supplement at GNC goes to GNC Pro Performance because this product provides excellent value for money, comes in both capsule and powder forms, it was third party tested, and it was micronized, so it dissolves easily.
Not far behind was Optimized Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate with CreapureⓇ, the gold standard for creatine quality. It’s been on the market the longest and has been third party tested. It also comes in both capsule and powder forms. But you have to spend a little more, whether it's worth it is up to you to decide.
Hopefully, this will help you make a clear, confident decision next time you are ready to try out a new creatine product. You got this!
So what product are you ready to try? Leave a comment below to share the creatine supplement that you plan to use to boost your athletic performance. Any questions? Share that below in the comments as well.
Also read:
References:
- Creatine for Exercise and Sports Performance, with Recovery Considerations for Healthy Populations // MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/6/1915
- International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand // NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5469049/
- Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation // JISSN: https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-021-00412-w
- Oral creatine monohydrate supplementation improves brain performance // NCBI: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33557850/
- International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand // JISSN: https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-017-0173-z
- Creatine Supplementation // NCBI: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34234088/
Why Trust Us?
Experience: 7 years
Specializing in: Weight management, Fitness / Sports nutrition
Oleksandr is a professional fitness nutritionist, certified by FPA (Fitness Professional Association). Oleksandr adheres to the principles of evidence-based dietetics and instills in his clients a healthy relationship with food - without strict prohibitions on favorite foods and regular disruptions. His main task – not only get a result for you, but also maintain it for many years, enjoying tasty and delicious food.
If you have any questions/suggestions/any other inquiry, you can reach out to us via email - reviews@torokhtiy.com
This article was written by our qualified author and proofread by an expert with proven experience. When writing the article we've used our expertise and data from authoritative, scientific, and evidence-based sources. The list of references is provided at the end of the article.
Our team of authors and experts includes professional athletes (Olympians, winners of European and World titles), PhDs in Sports Science, certified coaches, sports nutritionists, CSCSs, physiotherapists, and others. Read more about the team here, and more about how we test here.