Optimum Nutrition’s Micronized Creatine Powder is one of those products that’s stayed popular for a simple reason: it’s easy to buy, easy to use, and it doesn’t try to turn creatine into a science experiment.
The formula is straightforward. You’re getting 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving, in a micronized form which is easier to mix, with an unflavored option that can go into water or a protein shake without changing the taste much.
In the rest of this review, I’m going to keep it practical: how it mixes, how it feels day to day, what the testing claims actually mean, and whether it’s worth the price compared with other alternatives.
Quick Verdict
Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine is a safe, reliable “default” pick: 5g of micronized creatine monohydrate per serving, easy to use, and it’s banned substance tested and Informed Choice certified, which adds another layer of reassurance compared with random marketplace powders.
That said, if you want my overall recommendation, I still lean Lift Big Eat Big Creatine because it’s explicitly Creapure, which is produced in Germany and has higher purity standards.
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Pros
- 5g micronized creatine per serving
- Unflavored option that mixes into shakes easily
- Banned substance tested
- Informed Choice certified listing (useful confidence boost)
- Widely available and consistently formulated (practical long-term buy)
Cons
- Not using Creapure
- Usually not the cheapest cost-per-serving compared with true bulk brands
- If you’re under strict drug-testing rules, you may still prefer an “every-batch” sport program, depending on your risk tolerance (even with Informed Choice)
Optimum Nutrition Creatine Review
Ingredients
The core formula is exactly what you want from a basic creatine: creatine monohydrate, at 5g per serving, and in micronized form for easy mixing.
Optimum Nutrition also gives you options: Unflavored (the most common pick) and at least one flavored version, like Blueberry Lemonade, depending on size/region.
It’s used as any other creatine monohydrate- add one rounded teaspoon to a drink or shake and mix.
That matters because if a supplement requires a “system” to take it, most people don’t stick with it. Creatine works best when it’s consistent.
Taste
With the unflavored Optimum Nutrition creatine, the “taste” is basically the absence of taste, which is exactly what I want from daily creatine.
In plain water, it’s mostly neutral, with a faint mineral note if you really pay attention. The bigger point is that it doesn’t fight your shake.
In a protein shake, it blends in without changing the flavor, which lines up with how ON positions the unflavored version: something you can add without it taking over your drink.
If you go with the Blueberry Lemonade, the experience is more like a dedicated drink mix than something you “hide” inside a shake.
So taste-wise, the unflavored one is the practical choice: it stays out of the way, which makes it easier to take consistently.
Solubility
This is where expectations matter.
Optimum Nutrition uses micronized form (the norm in almost all creatine today), which mixes easier than the non-micronized form.
In practice, it mixes well enough in a shaker bottle, but it’s not one of those powders that fully disappears in cold water. If you let it sit, you can get that familiar creatine “settle” at the bottom.
Some describe it as gritty with residue left in the glass, which matches what you see when creatine is more suspended than truly dissolved.
Side Effects
At appropriate doses, creatine has a strong safety profile. Most research notes that creatine is “likely safe” when used orally at recommended doses for up to five years, with only weight gain as a potential side effect.
For real-world side effects, the most common ones are the boring ones: some water retention/scale weight changes, and some GI discomfort in certain people.
One important caution is that creatine might be unsafe for people with preexisting kidney problems, so if you have kidney disease, you should definitely talk to a clinician before supplementing.
Third-Party Testing
This is one of ON’s stronger points versus random “marketplace” creatine.
ON’s product page highlights that its products are tested for banned substances and are certified by Informed Choice.
Optimum Nutrition also has an Elite Series creatine product page that explicitly calls out Informed Sport Certified, which is typically the stricter, athlete-focused program.
So the smart move is to verify the exact certification on the label of the specific product/version you’re buying, depending on your needs.
For most people, Informed Choice is more than enough, but for frequently drug-tested athletes, the Informed Sports tick is the safer bet.
Optimum Nutrition Creatine Price
Optimum Nutrition Price: $17.99 ($0.29 per serving) 60 servings
Who Is Optimum Nutrition Creatine For?
People who want a reliable “default” creatine
If you don’t want to play supplement detective, Optimum Nutrition is one of the safer picks. It’s a straightforward micronized creatine monohydrate product with a standard 5g serving, from a brand that’s consistent year to year.
For most lifters, that’s the entire point: buy it once, keep taking it, move on.
People who care about extra quality-control reassurance
This is one of ON’s stronger advantages versus random marketplace powders. The Informed Choice certification provides peace of mind, especially when more and more news comes out about tainted supplements.
That doesn’t make it “bulletproof for every testing scenario,” but it is a meaningful confidence boost for a mainstream creatine.
People who want something easy to fit into a daily routine
The unflavored version is designed to mix into water or a shake without changing taste, which makes it easier to use consistently.
And consistency is what makes creatine work well—daily dosing over time, not perfect timing.
People who should consider something else
If your #1 priority is Creapure specifically, Optimum Nutrition doesn’t use this ultra-clean type, so you’re better off with a product that clearly states that ingredient.
Optimum Nutrition Creatine Benefits
Increased strength and power output
This is the core reason creatine is worth your attention in the first place. Optimum
Nutrition is still “just” creatine monohydrate, but when you take it consistently, it supports the kind of short, high-intensity output that shows up in heavy lifting, hard sets, and repeated efforts.
Better training volume (more quality reps)
A lot of guys don’t feel creatine in the way they feel caffeine. What they notice instead is that hard sets stay hard, but they don’t fall apart as quickly.
You may hold output better across multiple sets, or squeeze out an extra rep here and there.
It sounds small, but that’s the stuff that builds momentum over months, especially when you’re time-strapped and every session needs to count.
Improved recovery between efforts
This is closely related to volume, but it matters enough to call out separately. Creatine supports energy availability in muscle, which can translate into better repeatability. Creatine also has a small but positive effect on muscle recovery.
Possible cognitive support (secondary benefit)
Creatine isn’t a nootropic, and I wouldn’t buy it primarily for “focus.” But it is commonly discussed in reputable health sources as something people take not only for strength, but also for potential brain-health support. Consider this a possible secondary upside, not the main selling point.
Optimum Nutrition Creatine Alternatives
Lift Big Eat Big Creatine
If your main goal is better sourcing, this is the cleanest upgrade from Optimum Nutrition.
Lift Big Eat Big uses 100% Creapure creatine monohydrate, with a 5g per serving dose.
That matters because Creapure is a very specific ingredient identity. If a brand uses it, they usually say it clearly, and you’re buying into that tighter sourcing story.
Who this fits best: lifters who take creatine year-round and would rather pay more to reduce uncertainty.
It’s not that Optimum Nutrition is “low quality.”, but rather that Creapure-based products are typically bought for peace of mind and consistency over the long haul. Check the latest Lift Big Eat Big Creatine deals here.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
This is less of a direct creatine replacement and more of a “creatine-plus” option.
Transparent Labs’ Creatine HMB combines creatine monohydrate and HMB, and at 1 serving provides 5g creatine and 1.5g HMB, plus extras like BioPerine and vitamin D.
The important point here is that you’re not paying for the cheapest way to saturate creatine stores.
You’re paying for a combined formula that’s marketed toward strength and recovery support at the same time.
That can make sense if you specifically want HMB included (for example, during harder blocks, dieting phases, or when recovery is tight), but it’s not the most efficient buy if your only goal is daily creatine.
You can read my experience in my Transparent Labs Creatine HMB review.
BulkSupplements Creatine Monohydrate
BulkSupplements is the go-to alternative when your priority is lowest cost per serving.
You’ll usually see it sold in large sizes like b, and one current listing shows 1kg / 200 servings for $26.97.
That math is hard to beat if you’re consistent and you don’t care about branding or premium positioning.
The tradeoff is convenience. Bulk formats tend to be less “grab-and-go” than a tub with a scoop.
You’re more likely to deal with messy packaging, inconsistent scoops, and generally a slightly higher chance of human error when you’re rushing.
You can read my experience in my Bulk Supplements Creatine review.
How to Take Creatine
For Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine, and every other pure creatine, the routine is the same.
Add 1 rounded teaspoon of creatine to a protein shake or a glass of your favorite beverage and mix. That rounded teaspoon is intended to land you at the standard 5g creatine monohydrate per serving.
From a practical standpoint, here’s the approach most lifters should stick to:
- Take 3–5g daily, consistently.
- Don’t stress about timing. Creatine works by saturating stores over time, so the best time is the time you’ll actually remember.
- If your stomach tends to be sensitive, take it with food, and if needed, split your dose into smaller amounts. Cleveland Clinic notes GI issues can happen for some people and suggests splitting doses if side effects show up.
- “Loading” (high-dose for a few days) can saturate faster, but it also tends to increase GI complaints. If you want the low-friction route, skip loading and just stay consistent.
Frequently Asked Optimum Nutrition Creatine Questions
Is Optimum Nutrition creatine monohydrate or something different?
It’s creatine monohydrate. ON lists 5g creatine monohydrate per serving and markets it as micronized for easier mixing.
Is it actually “banned substance tested”?
ON’s markets its product as banned substance tested and is Informed Choice certified, so the chance of it not actually being tested is very slim.
Informed Choice vs Informed Sport — what’s the difference?
The key difference is testing frequency. Informed Sport certification means every batch/lot is tested before release, while Informed Choice means the product is tested at random a few times per year.
How much should I take?
Most people do well with 3–5g per day consistently. ON’s suggested use is 1 rounded teaspoon mixed into a drink or shake.
Do I need a loading phase?
Not necessary for most people. A steady daily dose works, and higher “loading” intakes are more likely to cause GI issues.
Why does it sometimes feel gritty?
Creatine monohydrate often doesn’t fully dissolve in cold water. Micronization helps, but you can still get settling if it sits.
Summary
Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine is a strong “default” creatine providing 5g creatine monohydrate per serving, and clear quality-control.
It also has Informed Choice certification, which is a meaningful reassurance compared with random marketplace powders.
Price-wise, ON sits in the middle of the pack. It’s not the cheapest bulk buy possible, but it’s reasonable for a widely available, consistently produced product.
If you want a creatine you can buy anywhere and use daily without much thought, ON is a safe pick.
But if you want my overall recommendation, I’d still point you to Lift Big Eat Big Creatine, mainly because it’s explicitly Creapure, which is the cleaner sourcing standard for long-term daily use.