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In this XWERKS Lift Creatine review, Amanda Capritto, CPT, CNC, CES, CF-L1, personally tested the workout supplement to see what the hype is about. Creatine is a famously researched and effective workout supplement known for its ability to help build lean muscle mass, generate more ATP for energy, and assist with muscle recovery.
With all of that going for it, there’s not always a reason to throw a lot of extra ingredients in a scoop of creatine and XWERKS Lift definitely got that memo. Their creatine has a simple but effective formulation, and we’re here to share our experience using it for ourselves.
RELATED: Types of Creatine
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
Dozens and Dozens of Creatine Brands Tested
Our team of certified personal trainers, nutrition coaches, strength coaches, and athletes has tested over 30 different creatine supplements to determine which are the best creatine supplements (and worst) for you to choose from. As always, we’ll be honest and unfiltered with the information we share, based on our expertise and real-life experience.
Our tester for this product, Amanda Capritto, added it to her fitness routine and rated it on a number of different considerations, such as:
- Price per serving
- Formulation
- Customer reviews
- Solubility
- Third-party testing
XWERKS Lift
Product Highlights
- Pure micronized creatine monohydrate
- Unflavored
- Each bag contains 80, 5-gram servings
- Mixes into your favorite drink
Pros & Cons
Pros
- One simple ingredient
- Easy to digest
- Mixes well
- Combined with strength training it increases the growth of lean muscle
- Subscribe and save 5%
- Free shipping on orders over $75
Cons
- Does not come in flavors
- Some customers don't like the bagged packaging, as it gets messy easily
Bottom Line
Xwerks Lift is an affordable, clean, and effective creatine supplement that provides 5 grams of micronized creatine monohydrate per scoop. Anyone looking for a simple and budget-friendly creatine powder may be pleased with Lift.
A Quick Look at XWERKS Lift Creatine
XWERKS Lift is a supplement company based in Arizona that sells various products for athletic performance along with creatine including grass-fed whey protein powder, pre-workout, branched-chain amino acids, and even Ashwagandha gummies. Most of their products focus on building lean muscle mass and supporting high-intensity resistance training with no-nonsense formulation workout supplements.
RELATED: XWERKS Grow Whey Protein Review
Before You Buy
- The micronized creatine may help with better mixing and less bloating but is not more effective at muscle growth than standard creatine monohydrate.
- There is a 30-day money-back guarantee, but only if you order from the XWERKS website.
- Great mixability for those doing a creatine loading phase and need to take multiple scoops at once.
Is XWERKS Lift Creatine Worth It?
At only $0.61 per serving, this is a pretty affordable and simple unflavored creatine supplement that’s naturally vegan, keto, and gluten-free, which means it will likely work for most people.
Great for:
- People looking for a barebones, unflavored creatine
- Those doing a creatine loading phase who want a more manageable, smaller scoop
- Individuals who value a flavorless creatine supplement that can be mixed in other things like their protein powder or post-workout meal
Not recommended for:
- Those who better tolerate other types of creatine like creatine HCl
- People who want a multi-use creatine supplement that includes other muscle-building ingredients like amino acids
- Those who can only take third-party tested supplements
RELATED: Creatine HCl vs Monohydrate
XWERKS Lift Creatine Specs
Price per serving | $0.61 |
Flavors | Unflavored |
Key Ingredients | Pure micronized creatine monohydrate |
Serving Size | 1 scoop (5 g) |
Other Ingredients | None |
Sweetener | None |
Third-Party Tested? | No |
Experience Using XWERKS Lift Creatine
Our tester for this review on our mission to find you the best creatine supplements was Amanda Capritto, certified personal trainer and certified sports nutrition coach. She generally got plenty of value from this straightforward supplement and gave it ratings in varying categories based on our GGR supplement testing methodology.
Price Per Serving
We rated XWERKS Lift 5 out of 5 for price, since at $0.61 per serving it comes out to about $18.30 for 30 servings or a month’s supply, although the bag is sold with 80 servings for $49. Not too shabby for a high-quality creatine supplement without any fillers or additives.
Formulation
We gave this flavorless creatine a 5 out of 5 for the formulation, mainly because the formulation is all you really need out of a creatine supplement. There are 5 grams of creatine, which means it contains the full amount of what studies have shown is the optimal amount of creatine1, which is 3 to 5 grams per day. With 5-gram servings and 5 grams of creatine monohydrate total per serving, it’s a really good sign they aren’t hiding any fillers to pad the tub weight.
RELATED: Creatine Monohydrate Dosage
There’s just one ingredient: micronized creatine monohydrate powder. Micronized powder sounds very fancy, but studies have shown that the effect of micronized powder on bioavailability is not superior2 to standard creatine monohydrate powder.
So what’s the difference? The processing of micronized creatine monohydrate makes this form of creatine mix better than non-micronized creatine because the large crystals usually present are removed.
Taste and Solubility
Amanda rated XWERKS Lift creatine monohydrate powder 5 out of 5 for taste and 4.75 out of 5 for solubility.
Amanda rated it so high for taste because she prefers the unflavored option, but notes it’s probably not best tolerated in water, flavor-wise. “There’s only one option: unflavored. This is ideal for creatine in my opinion, because it means you can mix it into your protein shake or smoothie or even coffee and it won’t alter the taste,” Amanda says.
“Alone in water, it tastes a little bitter, but it’s not too bad—definitely manageable and not bitter enough to knock off points. I found it completely undetectable in protein and coffee with cream.” Amanda notes that it also has a nearly perfect solubility when mixed with plain water. She notes, “I give this an almost perfect score because it does leave some grainy residue in the bottom of the glass when mixed with plain water. However, it doesn’t have a grainy mouthfeel going down the hatch.”
RELATED: Do You Take Creatine Before or After Workout?
Side Effects
Amanda had no negative side effects with XWERKS’ creatine supplement, so she rated it a 5 out of 5. She says, “No side effects, and that’s saying a lot for me, because I am someone who is prone to bloating from creatine, unfortunately.”
Despite not using the creatine supplement long-term, Amanda still gives XWERKS Lift a 5 out of 5 in effects. “I didn’t take this for long enough to see effects, and even if I did, it would be hard to attribute any effects directly to this because I also take protein and other supplements.”
Despite that, Amanda still confidently endorses the creatine monohydrate powder. She continues, “That said, because it is a simple creatine monohydrate and provides proper dosing, I can say with confidence it will produce effects when used in accordance with proper dosing protocols.”
RELATED: How to Use Creatine
Third-Party Testing
We had to rate XWERKS Lift a 2 out of 5 in this category as the product is not presently third-party tested, but it does have a simple formulation with brand transparency. It also helps that the flavorless, pure micronized creatine monohydrate is the only ingredient, so you don’t have to sweat about what’s in the fillers, sweeteners, or even flavors that you may need to worry about.
XWERKS Lift Creatine vs Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Product Highlights
- Uses research-backed doses
- Available in more than 10 fruit flavors and an unflavored option
- Free from artificial sweeteners, colored dyes, fillers, and harmful additives
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 10+ flavors, 1 unflavored option
- Includes B-Hydroxy B-Methylbutyrate (HMB)
- 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving
- Contains no added sugar, artificial sweeteners, dyes, or fillers
- 10% off and free shipping with subscription
Cons
- No stimulant (for those looking for pre-workout boost)
- Some reviews say supplement is overly sweet
- Mixed reviews on solubility (not dissolving thoroughly)
Bottom Line
Transparent Labs’ Creatine HMB puts a unique twist on the more traditional creatine monohydrate by adding HMB to more effectively build strength, stamina and recovery. It's available in a dozen different flavors, including an unflavored option; some reviews criticize the taste of some flavors, though, saying that they're overly sweet.
Transparent Labs creatine is a creatine supplement we have reviewed before and though it’s the same price as XWERKS, at around $50 a container, you only get 30 servings compared to 80, making it nearly three times the price per serving. However, Transparent Labs creatine also comes in multiple flavors with minimal additives, is third-party tested for sport, and contains both HMB and bioperine.
Studies show that the combination of both creatine and HMB had more effect3 on muscle gain and exercise performance. Additionally, Transparent Labs Creatine contains bioperine, an extract of black pepper that improves the absorption4 of natural compounds in dietary supplements.
Read our full Transparent Labs Creatine review to learn more.
XWERKS Lift Creatine | Transparent Labs Creatine HMB | |
Price per serving | $0.61 | $1.67 |
Flavors | Unflavored | Unflavored, Blue Raspberry, Sour Grape, Tropical Punch, Fruit Punch, Watermelon, Black Cherry, Orange, Hawaiian Splash, Peach Mango, Strawberry Lemonade |
Key Ingredients | Pure micronized creatine monohydrate | Creatine Monohydrate, HMB, Bioperine, Vitamin D |
Serving Size | 1 scoop (5 g) | 1 scoop (9.9 g) |
Other Ingredients | None | Citric acid, natural flavors, malic acid |
Sweetener | None | Stevia |
Third-Party Tested? | No | Yes, Informed Choice |
Customer Experience
A standard Amazon return policy applies when purchasing XWERKS Lift creatine on Amazon. Due to the nature of this supplement, returns and refunds are not accepted. Contact Amazon’s customer service by phone, chat, or email if you have other inquiries. If you order through the brand’s website, however, you can email support@xwerks.com within 30 days to get a full refund if you are not satisfied.
Ordering XWERKS Lift Creatine
XWERKS Lift Creatine can be ordered through Amazon and the checkout process is the same as with any other item, though shipping may vary depending on your Amazon membership. If ordering through XWERKS Lift, you can save 5% with the Subscribe and Save feature (a much smaller discount than similar sites) which delivers every 30, 45, 60, and 90 days.
The cost of shipping is $5 flat to anywhere in the continental U.S. with free shipping for orders over $75. International shipping is extra with the cost varying depending on the country.
Customer Reviews
XWERKS Lift Creatine is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon based on 321 customer reviews. Customers like how it mixes with minimal clumping, is truly flavorless, doesn’t make you feel bloated, and has value for the price.
On the XWERKS product page, the product is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 116 customer reviews. Some reviewers say it works even better than pre-workout and they notice better muscle recovery, but most people love how it mixes in water and their whey protein powder without clumping.
Final Verdict of XWERKS Lift Creatine Review
XWERKS Lift’s creatine has the clinically effective dose of creatine monohydrate to help you in your muscle-building efforts and resistance training performance—and that’s all the supplement contains. If you’re looking for a clean, simple supplement with great reviews and an even greater price, this is the creatine for you. Despite its simplicity, it’s not third-party tested, so athletes beware.
- Customer reviews insist there’s absolutely zero flavor if you intend to mix it with other supplements or beverages
- Naturally gluten-free and vegan creatine, and suitable for low-carb diets
- In the creatine loading phase, when multiple servings are required per day, the 80 servings per bag is convenient and cost-effective
Full Rating
XWERKS Lift Creatine
Xwerks Lift is an affordable, clean, and effective creatine supplement that provides 5 grams of micronized creatine monohydrate per scoop. Anyone looking for a simple and budget-friendly creatine powder may be pleased with Lift.
Product Brand: XWERKS
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 49.00
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.15
XWERKS Lift Creatine: FAQs
Is Xwerks creatine safe?
The supplement is not third-party tested, so there is no independent lab that has tested it for safety. However, our tester did not experience any negative side effects and creatine monohydrate is generally known as a safe supplement to take.
What is the best creatine for weightlifting?
Creatine monohydrate powders with minimal additives and fillers along with at least 5 grams of creatine monohydrate are the best creatine supplements you can take for weightlifting.
What is the best form of creatine to take?
There are other common types of creatine such as creatine hydrochloride (creatine HCl), creatine nitrate, and creatine ethyl ester. However, the most studied form of creatine with the most established effect on athletic performance is creatine monohydrate, making it likely the best out of the prevalent types of creatine available.
How much creatine is safe for kidneys?
If you are a healthy adult without chronic diseases or disorders, taking creatine as directed at the recommended dose is safe for the kidneys. However, those with kidney disease should not take any form of creatine at any dose.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Antonio J, Candow DG, Forbes SC, et al. Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021;18(1):13. Published 2021 Feb 8. doi:10.1186/s12970-021-00412-w
- Kreider RB, Jäger R, Purpura M. Bioavailability, Efficacy, Safety, and Regulatory Status of Creatine and Related Compounds: A Critical Review. Nutrients. 2022;14(5):1035. Published 2022 Feb 28. doi:10.3390/nu14051035
- Nissen SL, Sharp RL. Effect of dietary supplements on lean mass and strength gains with resistance exercise: a meta-analysis. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2003;94(2):651-659. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00755.2002
- Khajuria A, Thusu N, Zutshi U. Piperine modulates permeability characteristics of intestine by inducing alterations in membrane dynamics: influence on brush border membrane fluidity, ultrastructure and enzyme kinetics. Phytomedicine. 2002;9(3):224-231. doi:10.1078/0944-7113-00114
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