Best Creatine for Women (2024): The Most-Researched Sports Supplement Isn’t Just for the Guys

Creatine is arguably the granddaddy of sports nutrition supplements just because of the sheer amount of research behind its benefits relating to athletic performance, recovery from high-intensity training and its role in helping to build lean muscle mass¹. 

Should women take creatine? Absolutely! It’s my opinion that there are no exercise supplements that are gender restrictive and women can reap the same health benefits from creatine that men can. You could even make the argument that women are even more incentivized to take creatine to help to increase muscle mass, since men’s naturally high levels of testosterone give them a massive (no pun intended) advantage. 

RELATED: Best Pre-Workout for Muscle Gain

Creatine is a supplement that could be taken pre-workout or post-workout, but I consider it as a post-workout supplement considering that studies suggest it may be slightly more optimal to take when the muscles are depleted from exercise as it may have better uptake². That said, without further ado, here are our picks for the best creatine supplements for women. 

Editor’s note: We intend the term “women” to include all women, including trans women. However, we recognize that almost all research on this topic has focused on cis women (i.e., women who are not trans). For that reason, when we reference gender-based research and nutritional recommendations, we will clarify by saying “cis women.” We encourage trans and nonbinary people of all genders to check in with a trans-competent nutritionist regarding their supplements and training needs.

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.

Best Creatine for Women

• Best Creatine for Women Overall: Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
• Best Creatine for Women Over 40: Legion Recharge
• Best-Tasting Creatine for Women: Jacked Factory Growth Surge
• Best Gluten-Free Creatine for Women: XWERKS Lift
• Best Creatine for Women Athletes: Onnit Creatine
• Best Budget Creatine for Women: Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate
• Best Creatine Gummy for Women: Swoly Creatine Gummies
• Best Creatine for Women for Muscle Growth: Crazy Muscle Three-Atine
• Best Creatine Capsules for Women: Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Capsules
• Best Unflavored Creatine for Women: Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate
• Best Creatine Pre-Workout: Gainful Customized Pre-Workout

What Is Creatine?

Before we dive into the details on our top picks for the best creatine for women, let’s discuss what it is. Creatine is both a dietary supplement and a compound found naturally in your muscle cells. This naturally occurring compound is made up of three non-essential amino acids: arginine, methionine, and glycine.

Your natural creatine stores come from eating animal protein and natural production from your liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Supplementing with creatine can help increase creatine stores in the muscles. This is important because creatine stores are essential for your muscles to produce energy during explosive exercise like jumping, running, and lifting.

How to Use Creatine

We have an entire guide on how to take creatine including a loading phase, maintenance phase, and consistent dosing. In short, you may need to start with a slightly higher dose for a short period of time to build your creatinine stores before moving to a consistent dosing phase of about 3 to 5 grams per day.

As a final note, if you’re worried about creatine being bad for your kidneys, stop worrying. Science has pretty much debunked this claim in people with healthy kidney function³.

Types of Creatine

While there are several types of creatine available on the supplements market, creatine monohydrate is the most well-studied form of creatine for its benefits supporting athletics. Creatine monohydrate typically comes in the form of an unflavored powder or capsules. You may find other types of creatine, including: 

• Creatine hydrochloride
• Creatine magnesium chelate
• Creatine citrate
• Creatine pyruvate
• Creatine malate 
• Creatine nitrate
• Creatine ethyl ester

Best Creatine for Women Overall: Transparent Labs Creatine HMB

Good for: People who want evidence-backed ingredients from a trusted brand

Best Overall

Transparent Labs Creatine HMB

GGR Score: 4.5

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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 has been making a splash in the sports nutrition space due to their vocal stance on providing scientifically formulated dietary supplements and clearly labeled ingredients. Their creatine HMB contains zero artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, fillers, or additives. 

RELATED: Transparent Labs Protein Review

In Transparent Labs Creatine HMB, there are 5 grams of creatine, which means it contains the full amount of what studies have shown is the optimal amount of creatine, which is 3-5 grams per day⁴.

Something that’s unconventional, but innovatively intuitive when it comes to the science of muscle gain is the combination of both creatine and HMB in this product. 

One meta-analysis of dozens of studies showed that, out of hundreds of workout supplements studied in a meta-analysis, it was found that HMB and creatine had the most profound effects on muscle mass and increased strength⁵.

There are also 1.5 grams of β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate (HMB) in this powder, but what does it do? HMB is a complex substance by chemical terms in that it’s not an amino acid or hormone, or anything else you recognize. However, scientists somehow stumbled on its positive effects on lean muscle mass a few decades ago.

Since then, recent science has shown that supplementation can help increase lean body mass, increase strength (especially in the lower body), and even promote weight loss from fat when used in conjunction with a resistance training regimen. For this reason, even sports dietitians recommend HMB to athletes who are injured to help them maintain as much lean body mass as possible while they recover with no training⁶. Studies have also shown that HMB can help improve aerobic exercise performance in active college students⁷. 

Finally, Transparent Labs Creatine HMB contains bioperine, a black pepper extract, which has been shown to optimize the absorption of the natural compounds contained in dietary supplements, like creatine⁸. 

All of this considered, it wasn’t difficult to consider Transparent Labs Creatine HMB among the best creatine supplements for women and people of all gender expressions. It’s an overall thoughtfully formulated supplement without any extra bells and whistles, just clinically effective ingredients and dosages. 

GGR senior staff writer Amanda Capritto and GGR senior editor Nicole Davis both tried Transparent Labs Creatine HMB and neither were big fans of the taste. Nicole said, “I tried Black Cherry and I wasn’t a huge fan of the taste of this one—it tasted a bit watered down, even with the right amount of water. Some people may prefer this though!” 

Amanda added, “I got the Peach Mango flavor and there’s something weird about it. The flavor itself is good and strong enough, but I think the BioPerine, which is a derivative of black pepper, is altering the taste. When you smell it, it smells spicy in a weird way. It’s kind of off-putting. When mixed, it tastes a bit bitter unless mixed with more than the recommended amount of water.”

They both also mentioned that it doesn’t dissolve very well and you can expect some floaties.

Best Creatine for Women Over 40: Legion Recharge

Good for: Those who want more of an all-in-one post-workout drink

Best Post-Workout

Legion Recharge

GGR Score: 4.4

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Product Highlights

• Nature-based post-workout drink designed to improve recovery and increase muscle growth
• Contains 5 grams of micronized creatine, 2.1 grams of L-carnitine L-tartrate, 10.5 milligrams of corosolic acid
• Research-backed levels of ingredients
• Made in a cGMP, FDA-inspected, and NSF-certified facility
• Money-back guarantee

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Great customer service
• Money-back guarantee
• Can view actual lab results
• All natural
• No added sugar
• Subscribe and save 10%

Cons

• Stevia flavor is too sweet for some
• Unflavored is actually sweetened

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for an all-natural post-workout supplement that is made of research-backed ingredients, Recharge post-workout supplement is one worth considering. Its taste and positive impact on performance is appreciated by the vast majority of users.

Legion Recharge is more than just a creatine supplement, it’s a multi-purpose post-workout supplement. Now I’m not saying you should ditch your protein shakes in favor of Recharge, but it’s got nearly every other clinically researched compound that’s commonly used for recovery.

Recharge contains 5 grams of micronized creatine monohydrate which is processed with smaller crystals that make for easier mixing. Along with the maximum efficacious dose of creatine monohydrate, Recharge also contains most of the other common compounds that are beneficial to take post-workout. 

One of those compounds is l-carnitine which science has suggested can help reduce muscle damage and improve recovery when taken post-workout by promoting the repair of muscle cells¹⁰. 

RELATED: Best Muscle Recovery Supplements

There are also 10 grams of corosolic acid, which is a pretty obscure compound I’m sure even some bodybuilders haven’t heard of. That’s probably because it still needs to be studied more long-term. According to the science we do have, corosolic acid appears to increase insulin signaling, thereby enhancing post-workout absorption of other nutrients like creatine and protein¹¹. 

Legion also consistently puts out high-quality products with high-quality ingredients. Recharge is also 100% naturally sweetened and flavored with no artificial dyes or chemicals. Also, not only has it been lab tested for potency and purity, you can even view the lab results on the product page. Not bad for only $0.99 per serving. 

Nicole tried the Strawberry Lemonade flavor and said she liked it, calling it “pretty sweet, but also tart.” She also said it dissolved well.

Best-Tasting Creatine for Women: Jacked Factory Growth Surge

Good for: People who value taste in their supplement and want a variety of flavors

Best Tasting

Jacked Factory Growth Surge

GGR Score: 3.5

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Product Highlights

• Designed to build muscle and reduce fat
• Three key ingredients: Creatine Monohydrate, Betaine Anhydrous, L-Carnitine L-Tartrate
• The ingredients aide in muscle recovery, muscle building, and are formulated to reduce recovery time and soreness
• Also contains BioPerine, which is said to improve absorption
• Made in a cGMP-certified facility

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Creatine monohydrate is scientifically shown to improve muscle growth
• Tastes good, particularly Cherry Limeade
• Mixes well
• Can be used for recovery and muscle growth
• Overwhelmingly positive reviews
• Subscribe-and-save options

Cons

• Contains sucralose, which can cause digestive issues for some
• No protein
• Some notice a slight aftertaste

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a post-workout drink that tastes good and is designed to promote muscle growth and recovery, Growth Surge could be a good option.

A powder supplement is only as good as its taste, am I right? OK, that’s not entirely true, but it’s definitely a plus if the supplement you’re planning on taking almost daily is a tasty one, and Growth Surge delivers in that department.

RELATED: Best-Tasting Protein Powder

Jacked Factory’s Growth Surge comes in 10 fun flavors and is manufactured in the USA in a cGMP certified facility with no fillers or dyes added. The colors are provided using ingredients like beet root powder for the watermelon flavor. Though it is worth mentioning that sucralose, an artificial sweetener, is used to make the powder sweeter.

Growth Surge’s creatine supplement also contains 2.5 grams of betaine anhydrous. A study conducted in active males who supplemented with betaine for two weeks showed that the betaine group performed significantly more reps than the placebo group, showing improved muscular endurance⁹.

Nicole Davis, our expert tester for this product, says, “The solubility of this one isn’t great, but I tried Cherry Limeade and liked the flavor. I thought there was an aftertaste, though—not horrible, but super noticeable.”

Best Gluten-Free Creatine for Women: XWERKS Lift

Good for: People who want a versatile, minimalist creatine formulation

Best Vegan

XWERKS Lift

GGR Score: 4.5

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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.

Bad news for anyone out there who like to experiment with new flavors: XWERKS Lift creatine only comes unflavored. However, that also means there are less ingredients to worry about. In fact, there’s only one ingredient: creatine monohydrate. That’s it! No sweeteners, artificial or otherwise, colors, flavors, nada—just pure creatine. 

XWERKS is a brand we had to include on this list for its commitment to providing high-quality exercise supplements that are approachable. Not only is creatine the most-researched supplement on the market, but it also may help with hormonal changes people experience during menstruation, pregnancy, post-pregnancy, and menopause.

Creatine may also help improve mood and cognition in some users, according to recent studies conducted on cis women.¹² 

This is also micronized creatine monohydrate and can be more easily mixed, which is good news considering it is unflavored. Plus, you get 80 servings per container so you’ll have plenty of creatine on hand for a while after purchasing this.

Best Creatine for Women Athletes: Onnit Creatine

Good for: People looking for a simple, third-party tested creatine supplement

Best for Athletes

Onnit Creatine Monohydrate

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• Unflavored to mix with your favorite drink
• Dairy-free, soy-free, and vegan
• Designed to improve anaerobic performance, muscle recovery, and explosiveness
• One serving, or two scoops, provides 5 grams of creatine monohydrate
• Third-party tested to be competition-safe and certified by Informed Sport
• Formulated to promote the regeneration of ATP and  increases in muscle mass

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No poor aftertaste when mixed with a flavored drink
• Dairy-free, soy-free, vegan
• Informed Sport Certified
• Affordable
• Website provides studies on the effectiveness of creatine
• Subscribe and save 15%

Cons

• Customer complain of gritty texture
• Small container

Bottom Line

If you're looking for a pure, low-cost creatine monohydrate, Onnit Creatine Monohydrate may be a good fit for you.

Onnit is a brand that I am well aware of as a dietitian who works with college and professional athletes. Having worked in this setting for the last six years, I also have to say that I’ve been brought hundreds of shady supplements from athletes seeking my seal of approval. 

The first thing I always look for? A seal that proves a supplement has undergone third-party testing and Onnit is a brand I rarely have to worry about. LGC, a world-class anti-doping laboratory, tests Onnit’s products as part of the Informed Sport certification. 

In the world of sports nutrition products, it is widely regarded as the gold standard for detecting banned substances. Before being made available for purchase, all Onnit products bearing the Informed Sport logo have been thoroughly tested so that athletes can take it with the peace of mind that an accidentally positive drug test is not in their future.

Here we have another unflavored brand of creatine, so keep that in mind before you buy. You should also know that you do need to take 2 scoops in order to get the full dose of 5 grams. This is important because, if you were to only take 1 scoop, you would only get 2.5 grams of the creatine monohydrate which is not enough to receive the performance and body composition benefits. 

GGR editor Frieda Johnson said, “It has a little bit more of a bitter taste than some of the other unflavored creatine monohydrates I’ve tried over the years, but I still have no problem drinking it plain in water.” She also noted that she thought it was odd that the product requires 2 scoops, saying, “I have forgotten to do 2 scoops a few times because every other kind of creatine I’ve taken just needs one scoop.”

Best Budget Creatine for Women: Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate

Good for: People who use a lot of creatine at once, such as during a loading phase

Best Budget

Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate

GGR Score: 4.2

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Product Highlights

• Powder creatine monohydrate supplement 
• 5 g of creatine per serving 
• Improved strength and muscle growth 
• May help prevent injuries
• Supports cognitive and bone health

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Subscribe and save options
• Non-GMO and gluten-free
• Manufactured in cGMP-compliant facility
• Affordable at under $0.40 per serving
• Unflavored variety has 1 ingredient, micronized creatine monohydrate

Cons

• Some flavors sold out
• Flavored versions contain sucralose which may cause stomach upset
• Mixed reviews on mixability not dissolving entirely
• Mixed reviews on some flavors, saying sweetener was overpowering

Bottom Line

Nutricost Creatine Powder contains 5 grams of creatine per serving and is available in both flavored and unflavored varieties. Nutricost shares that their creatine supplement can help with muscle building and strength, injury prevention, and cognitive and bone health. There are mixed reviews on the taste of certain flavors, saying that the sweetener used was too much.

Now, I’m sure anyone looking to supplement with creatine won’t say no to $0.32 per serving, as that’s affordable enough to fit almost anyone’s budget. However, another great benefit to using a more cost-effective creatine powder is you won’t break the bank if you use a lot of it. A good example of this is people who engage in a creatine loading phase.

Creatine loading is a strategy used to flood the body with an excess of creatine in order to increase the muscle creatine stores by taking high doses of creatine. Now, studies have shown that it doesn’t really make a difference in terms of athletic performance or muscle gain if you load with creatine or not¹³. 

However, there is a benefit for participating in a loading phase with creatine. For example, if an athlete needs to gain a ton of weight in a short period of time for a weight class sport or other similar competition in which weight is a qualifying factor, this method can work by pulling enough water into the muscle cells to inflate body weight numbers.

Athletes may also be able to benefit from very short-term (30 days or less), creatine-specific benefits by loading with high doses of 20-25 grams of creatine a day, which could be useful for an upcoming competition. Important note: If you decide to do this, studies say you should not consume more than 10 grams at once as it can cause significant GI distress. 

In any case, the amount of creatine needed for a loading phase is a LOT of creatine and would add up to about 4-5 scoops per day of Nutricost. So, if the cost is low, this would be the smartest way to save your wallet from the pain of an expensive supplement regimen.

GGR editor Frieda tried this creatine and said that it was actually tasteless, even just mixed in water, and that, “it settles as much as every other kind of creatine monohydrate I’ve ever tried—which is to say, it settles quite a bit.” 

Best Creatine Gummy for Women: Swoly Creatine Gummy

Good for: Those who want a tasty supplement they can chew on

Best Gummy

Swoly Creatine Gummies

GGR Score: 4.25

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Product Highlights

• Creatine in gummy form
• Strawberry-flavored
• 4 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving
• 5 gummies per serving

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Yummy way to get your creatine in
• Some may prefer over the powder
• Customers say flavor is just like gummy bears
• Subscribe and save 30%

Cons

• Does contain added sugar
• Only 4 grams of creatine per serving
• 5 gummies per serving

Bottom Line

Swoly's creatine gummies are a delicious way to take your creatine daily, especially if you don't care for the powdered form. You'll need five of these to reach a serving, and a serving is only 4 grams of creatine (not the research-backed dose of 5 grams that we like to see), but they taste great nonetheless.

Supplement candies? Yes, ladies, it is a reality. Get ready to look forward to taking your supplements every day, because these strawberry-flavored guys are well-reviewed for being just plain yummy. 

Kate Meier, GGR head of content, tried these and was majorly impressed: “Friggin’ delicious. Dangerously delicious. Like, need-to-make-sure-my-child-doesn’t-find-these-or-she-will-eat-them-all kind of delicious! They remind me of the BEST fruit snacks ever (Annie’s Homegrown Organic). I’d eat these as a snack every day.”

One great thing about having your creatine in a gummy form is that you can make your creatine supplementation portable. No shaker or water chaser needed. Just throw the jar in your car you don’t have to make that pit stop home from the gym on your way to brunch.

Swoly Creatine Gummies are 5 gummies per serving, with 4 grams of creatine in each serving. These gummies are gluten-free, gelatin-free, and are low in sugar for those who were immediately concerned about that detail. There are only 2.5 grams of sugar per serving, which adds up to the same amount of sugar as 5 tic-tacs, for perspective. 

Finally, we looked into it and while there isn’t any science that confirms or denies that creatine works any differently being in gummy form, it’s likely safe to assume there is no difference—as long as the correct serving is consistently consumed. 

Best Creatine for Women for Muscle Growth: Crazy Muscle Three-Atine

Good for: Those who want to take their muscle mass to the next level with a multi-form supplement

Best for Muscle Gain

Crazy Muscle Three-Atine

GGR Score: 3.7

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Product Highlights

• Clinically-recommended dose of creatine monohydrate
• Three types of creatine
• Under $1 per serving
• May not be as easily absorbed as powdered creatine

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Research-backed dose of creatine monohydrate
• Three types of creatine in every serving
• Portable
• Under $1 per serving
• Subscribe-and-save options

Cons

• Multiple capsules per serving
• May not be absorbed as well as powdered creatine

Bottom Line

Crazy Muscle Three-Atine is an affordable and easy to take supplement with a research-backed dose of one of the most effective muscle-building ingredients, creatine monohydrate.

For anyone here who are hardcore about wanting to increase muscle mass, you’ll want to give Crazy Muscle Three-Atine a look. It contains 4.8 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving, which falls between the 3 to 5 grams of creatine monohydrate recommended by most studies, and it doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients or fillers. For those reasons, we’re giving it a 5 out of 5 for formulation.

Another reason we like these creatine capsules are because they’re easily portable, so you can keep them in your gym or work bag and take them whenever works best for your schedule. Certified personal trainer and nutrition coach Anthony O’Reilly took these with him on an international trip. “I loved being able to have creatine with me without needing to worry about powder spilling over my clothes,” he says.

We’ll be honest, we’re not recommending it because of the three types of creatine in each serving—in fact, registered dietitian Bob Iafelice says creatine monohydrate is the only one you need.

“The monohydrate is clearly the best creatine, no need for the other unproven forms,” he says. “Plus, the amounts of these other creatine forms are way too low to be meaningful.”

At around $0.83 per serving, we’re rating these a 3 out of 5 for pricing because there are more affordable creatines out there—but it’s still a fairly good price for one of the most-proven muscle-building supplements.

A warning: Each serving is 3 to 6 capsules, depending on which container you purchase. Anthony notes each capsule is about the circumference of a quarter, so they get a 4 out of 5 on swallowability. If you can’t take a full serving at once, we can divide it up between all of your meals, or take half before your workout and half afterwards.

Best Creatine Capsules for Women: Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Capsules

Good for: Those who would rather get their creatine in capsule form instead of a powder

Best Capsules

Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Capsules

GGR Score: 3.8

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Product Highlights

• Supports muscle growth, recovery, and overall performance
• Provides 2.5 grams of creatine monohydrate per 2-capsule serving (5 grams recommended daily)
• Easy to take on the go
• Should be taken with a meal
• Receives great reviews for its effectiveness

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Capsule form is more convenient for some
• No need to worry about mixability or taste
• Main ingredient is high-quality creatine monohydrate
• Fewer reported digestive side effects
• Multiple size options
• Free shipping on orders over $75

Cons

• Must take four pills for 5-gram dose
• More expensive than powder form

Bottom Line

If you prefer capsules over powder, the Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Capsules provide the same dosage and affect on performance as seen in the traditional powder supplement.

If you’re not someone who particularly loves drinking a creatine concoction, blue raspberry-flavored or otherwise, then creatine capsules may be the way to go for you. Don’t worry, they don’t work any differently than the powder form. It’s the same good stuff, just contained in a pill. Many people also prefer the capsule form if they don’t want to have to taste their supplements. 

Optimum Nutrition is another great brand for athletes, as most of its products, including these creatine capsules, are third-party tested by Informed Sport. Here’s the thing though: nearly every creatine supplement I come across that is in capsule form has the weirdest recommendations for dosing.

When it comes to this one from Optimum Nutrition, you’ll have to take 2 capsules two times a day to get the maximum effective dose because each capsule only has enough space for about 1.25 grams of creatine. Nicole does note that these are fairly large capsules, so consider if taking four a day is something you’re up for. We need to also note that the actual capsule is made from gelatin, so be warned that this is not a vegan-friendly supplement.

Check out our full Optimum Nutrition Creatine review.

Best Unflavored Creatine for Women: Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate

Good for: Those who want a tasteless supplement to add to any drink

Best Unflavored

Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate

GGR Score: 4.4

Product Highlights

• Featuring 5 grams of unflavored, pure creatine monohydrate per serving, Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate is a top quality supplement formulated to enhance athletic performance, muscle growth, and recovery. 
• The unflavored powder has well-respected mixability and users appreciate how tasteless it actually is. 
• Although only available as unflavored, Jacked Factory Creatine can be used on its own or combined with your favorite pre-workout drink. 
• Manufactured in a cGMP-certified facility here in the United States, Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate has a whooping 85 servings per tub.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clean, pure source of creatine
• Manufactured in a cGMP-certified facility
• No added chemicals, ingredients, or flavors
• Mixes well
• Tasteless
• 85 servings per container
• 100% money-back guarantee

Cons

• Only available as unflavored

Bottom Line

Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate is a solid choice for anyone looking to enhance their athletic performance with a high-quality, pure creatine powder.

The formulation of Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate is as simple as gets with the only ingredient being 5 grams of pure creatine monohydrate. A pure creatine monohydrate supplement makes it easier to build stacks without having to worry as much about side effects and other interactions, but you should still consult a physician before buying if you’re concerned about that sort of thing. 

RELATED: Best Supplement Stacks

Also, when it comes to stacks that include multiple powders, if you do want some flavor in your life, you can mix this creatine with some BCAAs, your protein shakes or smoothies, and anything else you may be taking. Kate said that she had no issues or concerns with this creatine and it’s a great option for a straight, unflavored creatine mixed with any liquid.

Best Creatine Pre-Workout: Gainful Customized Pre-Workout 

Good for: Ladies want an effective dose of creatine included in a pre-workout supplement 

Best Creatine Pre-Workout

Gainful Customized Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• Pre-workout with stim-free or caffeinated options
• Two flavor options
• No artificial sweeteners
• Low sugar content
• Non-GMO and plant-based ingredients

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Low sugar content
• No artificial sweeteners
• 30-day money back guarantee

Cons

• Almost $2 per serving
• Subscription model only
• Not third-party tested
• Non-caffeinated variety does not have customizable creatine content

Bottom Line

Gainful offers a stim-free pre-workout and an option with 150 or 200 mg of caffeine. You can select between two flavors and some options come with or without creatine.

Let’s be clear: Creatine and pre-workout are not one in the same. But together they can be a butt-kicking combination. Creatine is sometimes added to pre-workout for added performance and power, but creatine taken alone is not equivalent to a pre-workout supplement. 

Now that we’ve established a little more about creatine and pre-workout, let’s talk about our top pick for a pre-workout supplement that contains creatine: Gainful Customized Pre-Workout. It’s one of our favorites because you can choose between two flavors, your preferred level of caffeine (or none at all), and different doses of creatine (or none at all). 

When making selections on the Gainful website, you’ll have three formulation options. There are two that contain creatine—one dosed with 3 grams and one with 5 grams. With either formulation you’ll be getting an effective dose (which is 3 to 5 grams per day)⁴. 

It’s worth noting that Gainful is a subscription-based service and you’ll be automatically enrolled into monthly deliveries until you delay, skip, or cancel your subscription. Our testers gave the price per serving a 2.5-out-of-5-star rating for the 14-serving container costing $1.85 per serving. 

Other Creatine We Tested 

• Klean Athlete Klean Creatine: This is another single-ingredient creatine product with nothing that sets it apart from others on our list.
• Alani Nu Creatine: This creatine is a bit on the expensive side and our testers didn’t feel like it was worth the price compared to other creatine already on our list.
• BPI Sports Best Creatine: This creatine supplement is VERY sweet and our tester was not a big fan. However, if you prefer very sweet supps, this may be a good choice for you.
• Genius Creatine: The inclusion of beta-alanine makes this creatine supplement possibly not a good fit for people who already use a pre-workout and are looking specifically for a creatine supplement.
• Evlution Nutrition Creatine5000: This is another single-ingredient creatine product with nothing that sets it apart from others on our list.
• Swolverine: This unflavored creatine works as it should, but we found more affordable unflavored creatine monohydrate supplements.

How We Picked and Tested the Best Creatine for Women

Our team of certified personal trainers, competitive triathletes, certified nutrition coaches, and registered dietitians spent countless hours developing our GGR supplement testing methodology. We look at factors such as:

• Ingredients and formulation: Does the product contain strictly creatine, and how much? If there are other ingredients included, are they research-backed and included with a purpose?  Also, consider the type of creatine—different forms have different benefits but may be more likely to cause digestive issues.
• Taste: This is subjective, but based on the views of the internal testers, as well as what the general consensus is in customer reviews online. A lot of creatine is unflavored, but there are options that are flavored, or even in pill or gummy form. 
• Solubility: If powdered, how well does this product dissolve in the suggested amount of liquid? Are there floaties? Is it grainy? Is it super thick or super thin?
• Side effects: This, again, is based on internal testers as well as customer reviews. Any digestive issues? Water retention? Any other issues? Also, take into account positive effects as well—has this been helping you make gains?
• Transparency and third-party testing: Since dietary supplements are not approved by the FDA, having an independent third-party lab verify that what’s on the label is what’s in the creatine is super important, especially for athletes. Transparency also plays a part in this—does the company provide COAs, not use proprietary blends, and generally seem very upfront about what’s in their creatine and why?

Benefits of Creatine for Women

So, why should women take creatine? Or anyone regardless of their gender? For the same reason anyone should take creatine—the science says it works! Let’s go over the highlights of what science has to say about the benefits that come with creatine and what we can expect from it:

Help Build Muscle

Studies have shown that creatine can help people who engage in consistent resistance training to build muscle, especially when creatine is taken along with a diet high in carbohydrates and animal protein like red meat¹. 

Assist in Strength Gains

Studies conducted on athletes performing isometric exercises found that those who took creatine were able to generate more force than athletes who did not take creatine. In the same study, the athletes who supplemented with creatine experienced less muscle soreness and even were observed to have greater arm circumference¹. 

Great for Vegans

Given that creatine is highest in animal products like red meat, poultry and seafood, it’s safe to say that vegans likely don’t get a consistent dose of creatine from their diet. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that studies have found that vegans have significantly less muscle creatine than omnivores who are equally as active. 

Therefore, it seems that vegans supplementing with creatine may be more likely to see significant increases in muscle creatine levels than their omnivorous counterparts, but they are still able to experience the same performance benefits as omnivores¹.

RELATED: Best Vegan Protein Powder

May Prevent Muscle Catabolism

Creatine is often recommended to athletes who are injured, recovering from surgery, or otherwise immobile. Due to the lack of training and the inflammatory state the body is in while healing from an injury, the rate of muscle breakdown is increased exponentially. 

There is good evidence to suggest that supplementing with creatine can assist in attenuating the loss of muscle mass and strength following a period of upper arm immobilization in people who are otherwise healthy and active¹.

Dosing and Interactions 

Before starting any dietary supplement, talk to your doctor, especially if you take prescription medications. When it comes to creatine, it puts a particularly heavy load on the kidneys. So, if you have any sort of renal condition or impaired kidney function, you should not take creatine supplements, no matter how high-quality they are. 

Also, creatine when combined with caffeine, such as if you are taking your creatine with a pre-workout, can increase the risk for dehydration. So, always be sure to stay up on your hydration when taking creatine, especially when you are stacking it.

Despite the myth that creatine increases the risk for muscle cramps, science has long since debunked this. In fact, some studies show that, due to its ability to induce water retention in the muscles, creatine powder could have favorable effects on hydration¹⁶. 

Third-Party Testing

We at GGR recommend choosing third-party tested supplements when possible. Since the FDA does not regulate dietary supplements, it’s one of the best ways to ensure purity, potency, and safety of the ingredients of your chosen supplement. This is especially important for athletes who can’t afford to fail a drug test because of some “proprietary blend” that is adulterated with banned substances. 

So, when shopping for your next creatine supplement, look for a certification from organizations like NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Choice if this is a concern for you.

Buying Guide: What to Look for in Creatine for Women

Some people may find themselves intimidated by looking for supplements casually inhaled by bodybuilders. Even if you don’t fall under this category, allow us anyway to give some pro tips on the most important things to look for while shopping for creatine. 

Creatine Dosage

The main thing you want to look for in any creatine supplement is the dose. Unfortunately, many supplement companies bank on consumers being oblivious to how much creatine they actually need to see benefits. 

Just so you know up front, the optimal dose seems to be somewhere between 3 to 5 grams of creatine per day¹⁷. However, it may be listed on the label as 3,000 milligrams or 5,000 milligrams—please know this is the same amount, just in different units. Also, make sure the amount is for pure creatine and not a total of multiple ingredients that just add up to 3-5 grams of something. 

Price Per Serving

Price is always something to look out for when shopping for supplements, but of course you should choose the right one according to your individual budget. When it comes to creatine specifically, the unflavored ones with minimal ingredients tend to be the cheapest. 

However, those with less fillers and additives along with those that contain additional compounds that can be beneficial for post-workout can be on the higher end. Just make sure that what you choose provides the value for what you’re paying for. 

There is also a good rule of thumb to calculate the price per serving, rather than the price per scoop, as some supplements might look as if they offer a lot of scoops for the price, but one serving of the full dose of creatine could be equal to more than one scoop.

Form of Creatine 

Creatine can come in so many forms, with the most common being creatine powder, capsules, or gummies. Be sure to choose the right form according to your taste preference, any other supplements you may be taking, and your lifestyle. For example, as mentioned earlier, if you want a good-tasting, portable creatine supplement that doesn’t require you to add or take liquid with it, gummies would be a great choice.

The only thing you should be aware of is that if you choose a pill, since they can only fit a finite amount of powder in those little capsules, you’ll have to get used to taking multiple capsules and usually multiple times a day.

Potential Side Effects

Although there are some creatine side effects you should be aware of it’s very rare to experience any adverse side effects—you might experience some weight gain and bloating. It should be noted that most of these side effects, which can also include muscle cramps and digestive issues, were only experienced when people took high creatine doses. People who stuck to a 2-5 gram dose experienced no side effects.

FAQs About Creatine for Women

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

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2. Ribeiro F, Longobardi I, Perim P, et al. Timing of Creatine Supplementation around Exercise: A Real Concern?. Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2844. Published 2021 Aug 19. doi:10.3390/nu13082844
3. Poortmans JR, Francaux M. Adverse effects of creatine supplementation: fact or fiction?. Sports Med. 2000;30(3):155-170. doi:10.2165/00007256-200030030-00002
4. 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
5. 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
6. Thomson JS, Watson PE, Rowlands DS. Effects of nine weeks of beta-hydroxy-beta- methylbutyrate supplementation on strength and body composition in resistance trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2009;23(3):827-835. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181a00d47
7. Lamboley CR, Royer D, Dionne IJ. Effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate on aerobic-performance components and body composition in college students. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2007;17(1):56-69. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.17.1.56
8. 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
9. Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Kang J, Rashti SL, Faigenbaum AD. Effect of betaine supplementation on power performance and fatigue. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2009;6:7. Published 2009 Feb 27. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-6-7
10. Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, French DN, et al. The effects of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation on hormonal responses to resistance exercise and recovery. J Strength Cond Res. 2003;17(3):455-462. doi:10.1519/1533-4287(2003)017<0455:teolls>2.0.co;2
11. Fukushima M, Matsuyama F, Ueda N, et al. Effect of corosolic acid on postchallenge plasma glucose levels. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2006;73(2):174-177. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2006.01.010
12. Smith-Ryan AE, Cabre HE, Eckerson JM, Candow DG. Creatine Supplementation in Women’s Health: A Lifespan Perspective. Nutrients. 2021;13(3):877. Published 2021 Mar 8. doi:10.3390/nu13030877
13. 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
14. Selsby JT, DiSilvestro RA, Devor ST. Mg2+-creatine chelate and a low-dose creatine supplementation regimen improve exercise performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2004;18(2):311-315. doi:10.1519/R-13072.1
15. França E de, Avelar B, Yoshioka C, et al. Creatine HCl and Creatine Monohydrate Improve Strength but Only Creatine HCl Induced Changes on Body Composition in Recreational Weightlifters. Food and Nutrition Sciences. 2015;06:1624. doi:https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2015.617167
16. Dalbo VJ, Roberts MD, Stout JR, Kerksick CM. Putting to rest the myth of creatine supplementation leading to muscle cramps and dehydration. Br J Sports Med. 2008;42(7):567-573. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2007.042473
17. Naderi A, de Oliveira EP, Ziegenfuss TN, Willems MT. Timing, Optimal Dose and Intake Duration of Dietary Supplements with Evidence-Based Use in Sports Nutrition. J Exerc Nutrition Biochem. 2016;20(4):1-12. doi:10.20463/jenb.2016.0031

Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD

Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD is a sports dietitian and the head of performance nutrition for the NBA G League Ignite. In addition to working with pro athletes, Destini has ghostwritten four weight loss and wellness cookbooks. She also authors online content covering fitness and nutrition topics.

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