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It’s no secret that a combination of eating in a calorie surplus, a well-structured strength training program, and supplements like creatine can make a big difference in making gains from muscle mass.
Although creatine supplements are widely available, some are lacking in both dosages and quality. So, how does Onnit’s creatine monohydrate powder stack up? For this Onnit creatine review, we had GGR editor Frieda Johson, NASM-CNC, try it out and report back to us about her experience. Here’s what she found.
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.
When It Comes to Creatine, We Have the Scoop
By testing each nutritional supplement personally, our team of fitness professionals, dietitians, and personal trainers provides you with a comprehensive picture of what to expect. Our rating is based on our GGR supplement testing methodology. We give products a rating of 1 to 5 based on:
- Quality of the formulation
- Taste/solubility
- Side effects
- Third-party testing
- Price/value
- Customer reviews/service
A product’s rating is based on the research about the product’s ingredients, our team’s feedback, and our testers’ experience using the supplement.
Onnit Creatine Monohydrate
Onnit Creatine Monohydrate
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
- Unflavored does not leave a 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
Cons
- Gritty
- 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.
A Quick Look at Onnit Creatine
Possibly most well-known for its Alpha Brain pre-workout, Onnit actually offers a myriad of products to help support your high-intensity exercise, whether it be for your lean muscle or your mind. All of Onnit’s products are made in the USA, including their whey protein, the amino acid glutamine, and nootropics like ashwagandha and reishi mushrooms.
Onnit creatine monohydrate is among their third-party tested sports nutrition supplements tested for potency and purity along with being soy-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Before You Buy
- If you aren’t an athlete, you can probably find a better price point with something that’s not third-party tested.
- Take advantage of the “entry-size” supplements that fall under the money-back guarantee if you’ve never had unflavored creatine powder.
Is Onnit Creatine Monohydrate Worth It?
Onnit’s creatine supplement is one of the most uncomplicated products you’ll find. This is a creatine that the most minimalist fitness fanatic will appreciate, featuring only one ingredient and no allergens, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. That said, at $0.50 per serving, its price is slightly higher than the market average for similar products but should provide some value if third-party testing is a must for you.
RELATED: Best Vegan Creatine
Great for:
- Those seeking an unflavored creatine that can be added to protein powder or other beverages
- People who value a pure creatine supplement
- Athletes who want a layer of protection from banned substances
Not recommended for:
- Budget-conscious loading phase participants
- Those who want a creatine powder that is multi-purpose and also contains amino acids, beta-alanine, etc.
- People who are accustomed to only one scoop for their creatine supplementation
Onnit Creatine Monohydrate Specs
| Price per serving | $0.50 |
| Serving size | 2 scoops (5 g) |
| Flavors | Unflavored |
| Key ingredients | Creatine monohydrate |
| Other ingredients | None |
| Third-party tested? | Yes, Informed Sport |
Experience Using Onnit Creatine Monohydrate
Frieda Johson, NASM-certified nutrition coach and GGR editor, tried Onnit creatine monohydrate and had a generally fair experience. “This is exactly what I would expect from a single-ingredient creatine monohydrate, although it is a little more bitter-tasting than many I’ve tried,” says Frieda.
RELATED: Does Creatine Make You Stronger?
In addition, she was confused by the serving size. “It’s 2 scoops to get 5 grams, which is fine but seems a little odd. I have forgotten to do 2 scoops a few times because every other kind of creatine I’ve taken just needs one scoop.”
Price Per Serving
Frieda gives it 3.5 out of 5 stars in this category based on the price breakdown below:
- $14.99
- 30 servings
- $0.50 per serving
While 50 cents per serving isn’t terrible, you can find other single-ingredient creatine supplements for cheaper elsewhere. That said, the bump in price is likely due to Onnit creatine being third-party tested.
Formulation
We gave it 5 out of 5 stars for formulation given the 5 grams of micronized creatine monohydrate; no extra junk, fillers, or sweeteners, just unflavored creatine. Furthermore, 5 grams is the best creatine dosage you can obtain. A daily dose of 3-5 grams1 is recommended for maintaining creatine levels and what studies have shown is the optimal dose to get the various benefits of creatine.
RELATED: Can You Take Too Much Creatine?
According to a large body of science2, what makes creatine among the most popular sports nutrition supplements is its well-established ability to change body composition, particularly by increasing body mass through muscle growth. This is why creatine is so widely used among bodybuilders or those looking to boost their strength training consistently.
Along with supporting muscle gain, creatine may also play a role in boosting explosiveness by generating more energy in muscle cells from ATP, or adenosine triphosphate. ATP is the body’s unit of energy, so studies shows3 that having more of it around in the lean muscle can help you generate greater power, especially for anaerobic performance.
Taste and Solubility
Frieda rated Onnit creatine a 4.5 out of 5 stars for taste. She says, “It has a little bit more of a bitter taste than other unflavored creatine monohydrates I’ve tried, but I still have no problem drinking it plain in water. It does have a tiny bit of an aftertaste, though.”
She also gave it 4 out of 5 stars for solubility. “It settles quite a bit and needs to be stirred several times while drinking,” Frieda notes, which is a common feature of plain creatine powder.
Side Effects
We gave it 5 out of 5 stars for side effects since our tester experienced no negative effects from the nutritional supplement. “I’ve been taking this every day for several weeks now and have not noticed any change, for better or worse, compared to the brand of creatine I usually take daily,” Frieda says.
You should always consult with a physician before taking creatine if you have a medical condition that requires prescription medication or hinders your liver or kidney function.
RELATED: Creatine Myths
Third-Party Testing
Frieda rated Onnit creatine monohydrate 5 out of 5 stars for third-party testing as it has been tested by Informed Sport. Because of this, it would be safe for elite and professional athletes who might be subjected to drug testing or otherwise have concerns regarding the ingredient’s safety and potency, given that supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Onnit Creatine Monohydrate vs Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Monohydrate
ON Creatine Monohydrate
Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Capsules
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
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.
We’ve tested and reviewed Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Monohydrate in the past as we are big fans of Optimum Nutrition’s third-party tested whey protein powder. ON’s creatine also contains only one ingredient: 5 grams of creatine monohydrate. Both products are similarly priced, likely due to them both being third-party tested by Informed Sport.
Micronized creatine doesn’t provide more benefits, but it may help to make the creatine powder more soluble in water. That said, the most significant difference between the two brands is that the creatine monohydrate from Optimum Nutrition only requires 1 scoop for creatine supplementation, while you need to take 2 scoops of Onnit for the same dose.
Check out our full Optimum Nutrition Creatine review to learn more.
| Onnit Creatine Monohydrate | Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Monohydrate | |
| Price per serving | $0.50 | $0.46 |
| Serving size | 2 scoops (5 g) | 1 rounded teaspoon (5 g) |
| Flavors | Unflavored | Unflavored |
| Key ingredients | Creatine monohydrate | Micronized creatine monohydrate |
| Other ingredients | None | None |
| Third-party tested? | Yes, Informed Sport | Yes, Informed Sport |
Customer Experience
Frieda gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars here because she liked that Onnit offers a money back guarantee. The way that their “Keep-It™ guarantee” works is you have to order the product for the first time and relay to Onnit why the dietary supplement wasn’t a good fit for you.
As long as you submit your request within 90 days of your purchase date, Onnit promises to give a refund on the spot with no return necessary. Onnit just asks that you keep your supplement for two weeks before returning to give it a fair chance.
Ordering Onnit Creatine Monohydrate
Online ordering follows the same flow as most online orders and you don’t need to make an account.
Shipping costs are as follows:
- USPS, 3-8 business days – $8.15
- UPS, 7-10 business days – $8.54
- UPS, 3-5 business days – $11.51
Using subscribe and save will qualify you for free standard shipping as well as a 15% discount. There are several recurring delivery options available, ranging from every 7 days to every 90 days, which could be useful if you’re going through a creatine cycle. Keep in mind that if you purchase from Amazon, dietary supplements are not eligible for return.
Customer Reviews
On the Onnit website, the overall rating is 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 150 customers who opted to write a review. People generally like the effects and solubility, but there was mixed feedback about the price.
On Amazon, Onnit creatine is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 702 reviews. Performance and quality are generally rated positively in the reviews. However, opinions differ on value.
Final Verdict of Our Onnit Creatine Review
Onnit, known for its Alpha Brain product, also offers a creatine monohydrate that checks all the qualifying boxes to make it a part of a routine for bodybuilders and anyone else needing some assistance to build muscle. It contains the maximum effective dose of the most effective form of creatine. So, if it fits your budget, there aren’t a lot of downsides to Onnit creatine.
RELATED: Creatine HCL vs Monohydrate
- Based on third-party testing and high customer reviews, this supplement is highly credible
- Considering the money back guarantee, it makes sense to give it a try if you’ve never taken an unflavored creatine
Full Rating
Onnit Creatine
If you're looking for a pure, low-cost creatine monohydrate, Onnit Creatine Monohydrate may be a good fit for you.
Product Brand: Onnit
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 14.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.5
Onnit Creatine: FAQs
What is the most effective creatine?
If you want help to improve your body composition and fitness, there are a lot of great creatine supplements you can try. From our list of the best creatine supplements, here are our top picks:
-Best Creatine Supplement Overall: Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
-Best Creatine Gummy: Swoly Creatine Gummy
-Best Creatine Supplement for Post-Workout: Legion Recharge
-Best Creatine Monohydrate: Xwerks Lift
-Best Creatine Supplement for Cutting: Kaged Creatine HCl
-Best Creatine Supplement for Athletes: Onnit Creatine Monohydrate
-Best-Tasting Creatine Supplement: Jacked Factory Growth Surge
-Best Unflavored Creatine Supplement: Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate
-Best Pre-Workout with Creatine: Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
-Best Creatine for Bulking: Crazy Nutrition CRN-5
-Best Creatine Supplement for Beginners: BulkSupplements Creatine Powder
-Best Creatine for Muscle Growth: Redcon1 Tango Creatine
-Best Budget Creatine Supplement: Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Monohydrate
-Best Vegan Creatine Supplement: Naked Nutrition Naked Creatine Monohydrate
-Best Creatine Supplement Capsules: Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Capsules
Where is Onnit creatine made?
Onnit creatine is made in the USA.
What are 3 cons to creatine?
Though creatine is among the most popular sports nutrition supplements due to its proven safety, some potential downsides to creatine include:
-Extra expense from the supplement budget
-Causes water retention, which can make it difficult to track weight if you are going for weight loss
-Will not deliver optimal benefits if you struggle with taking supplements consistently
How do you take Onnit creatine?
Onnit recommends taking up to two scoops of their creatine with 8 ounces of water or your favorite drink.
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
- Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:18. Published 2017 Jun 13. doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0173-z
- Wu SH, Chen KL, Hsu C, et al. Creatine Supplementation for Muscle Growth: A Scoping Review of Randomized Clinical Trials from 2012 to 2021. Nutrients. 2022;14(6):1255. Published 2022 Mar 16. doi:10.3390/nu14061255
- Volek JS, Ratamess NA, Rubin MR, et al. The effects of creatine supplementation on muscular performance and body composition responses to short-term resistance training overreaching. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004;91(5-6):628-637. doi:10.1007/s00421-003-1031-z
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