Creatine should be simple. That’s the whole appeal. So when Orgain rolled out a big tub of creatine monohydrate at Costco, basically taking the spot many people used to fill with the old Optimum Nutrition tub, it makes sense that it’s getting attention.
It’s familiar and convenient. And it’s priced like a “throw it in the cart and don’t think about it” supplement.
On paper, it checks the basic boxes: one ingredient (creatine monohydrate) and 5 grams per serving, which is the standard daily dose most lifters run with. No flavors, no fillers, no weird blend trying to justify a markup.
But the internet doesn’t argue about creatine because creatine doesn’t work. It argues because real life gets messy.
Some powders mix like sand. Some sit fine in your stomach, some don’t. And if you care about purity standards or drug-tested certification, those little labels and logos suddenly matter a lot more than you wish they did.
Pros
- Straight-up creatine monohydrate only, no extras
- 5g per serving, the standard effective dose
- Very strong price-per-serving value (especially on sale)
- Comes in a tub with a scoop, which is more convenient than bulk bags
Cons
- Not Creapure, if that matters to you
- Common complaints about mixing/solubility
- A small but real number of people report stomach irritation / reflux
- Not the best choice for drug-tested athletes who need higher certification confidence
Quick Verdict
Orgain Creatine is a strong budget buy: plain creatine monohydrate, the full 5g dose, and Costco-level pricing, especially if you catch it on sale.
If you’re a time-strapped lifter who just wants creatine in the cabinet without overthinking it, this one makes a lot of sense.
But if you want my overall recommendation it is Lift Big Eat Big Creatine. It costs more, but it’s the higher-confidence option, especially if you’re picky about sourcing and purity.
===>Check Latest Lift Big Eat Big Creatine Deals<===
Orgain Creatine Review
Ingredients
This is the cleanest part of the whole review.
Orgain’s own description is very direct: it’s creatine monohydrate and nothing else—no additives, fillers, or preservatives.
Each serving delivers 5 grams of micronized creatine monohydrate, which is the standard daily dose most lifters aim for.
They also market it as vegan and gluten-free, and specifically call out that it contains no soy ingredients and no added sugar.
So if you’re the guy who just wants a simple daily creatine without anything else in it, this is exactly that.
Taste
It’s unflavored creatine, so this section is not really necessary.
In plain water, most creatine monohydrate has a very mild “mineraly” taste, or basically nothing at all, depending on how sensitive you are. In a shake, you’ll never notice it.
Orgain also claims it offers a “smooth taste experience,” which I’d interpret as “doesn’t have weird flavoring.”
If you’ve got a strong stomach and you’re in a rush, you can just toss it in water and chug it. But if you’re even slightly picky, it’s one of those supplements that’s easiest to hide in something like a protein shake, smoothie, or even just juice.
Solubility
This is where the real-life complaints tend to show up.
Orgain says their creatine is micronized and “can dissolve more easily than the typical particle-size of creatine,” and that it mixes easily into water, juice, smoothies, and more.
But online comments tell the other half of the story, as some people are still reporting that it doesn’t mix well, even though it’s micronized, and that it settles or stays gritty. My experience shows it’s mixes relatively well-i’ve seen worse, but also much better.
That doesn’t automatically mean the product is bad, as creatine monohydrate, especially in cold water, often behaves like this in general. Some powders are better than others, sure, but even good creatine can leave a little “sand at the bottom” if you drink it slowly.
If you want the least annoying experience, throw it in a shaker, shake it hard for 20 seconds, and drink it within a few minutes. Or mix it into a shake where the texture is already thicker.
Side Effects
Creatine has one of the strongest safety track records in the supplement world, and at normal doses it’s generally considered safe for healthy adults.
That said, the most common side effects people actually notice are boring but real:
Some people get GI discomfort like bloating, loose stool, or just that an off sensation.
Cleveland Clinic lists digestive issues like nausea/diarrhea among possible side effects, and this lines up with what you’re seeing in real people.
And a lot of guys will see scale weight go up early, often from water retention in muscle (which is actually a good effect for most lifters as the muscles look fuller).
Third-Party Testing
This part matters more than most people think, because “third-party tested” can mean different levels of reassurance.
Orgain states (in their own help documentation) that their creatine is third-party tested through Informed Choice.
That’s a legit program, and Informed Choice also has a listing page specifically for Orgain Creatine Monohydrate.
Now, here’s the nuance that matters if you’re drug-tested. Informed Sport and Informed Choice are related programs, but Informed Sport tests every batch/lot before release, while Informed Choice uses a different testing frequency approach.
So if you’re a normal lifter, Informed Choice is a nice confidence boost.
If you’re a tested athlete where your career or eligibility is on the line, you may still prefer the “every batch” style certification (or another sport-specific certification).
Orgain Creatine Price
Costco same-day listing: $22.69 (~$0.17 per serving) with 135 servings.
On sale: $15 (~$0.11 per serving) with 135 servings.
If you’re buying purely on cost per serving, Orgain is doing what it’s supposed to do, especially when Costco runs a promo.
Who Is Orgain Creatine For?
People who want the simplest “set it and forget it” creatine
If your schedule is already packed, Orgain makes sense because it doesn’t ask much from you. It’s plain creatine monohydrate, dosed at 5 grams, in a big tub that’s easy to keep out and actually use.
People who are on a real budget
This is where Orgain shines. If you’re a college student, a newer lifter, or a dad trying to keep supplements from eating into the grocery budget, the value is the point.
Creatine is one of the few supplements that’s genuinely worth taking for strength and performance, but it’s also one of the easiest places to overspend. Orgain gives you the core benefit without the premium markup.
People who like convenience and Costco-style practicality
A tub with a scoop sounds like a small thing, but sometimes small things can become annoying when you run into them in everyday life.
Bulk bags are fine on paper, but in real life they’re messy, easy to mis-measure, and way easier to forget in the pantry. If you want low-friction, Orgain fits that lifestyle.
People who should probably skip it
If you’re specifically looking for Creapure because you want the highest-confidence sourcing and purity standard, Orgain isn’t positioned that way. Same thing if you’re a drug-tested athlete and you need the strictest certification.
And if you already know you have a sensitive stomach, Orgain might still work, but it’s not the most predictable option.
Between the mixing complaints and the GI/reflux comments, you may be better off choosing a brand you already tolerate well, or at least being extra careful with how you take it (with food, plenty of water, maybe split doses at first).
Orgain Creatine Benefits
More strength and power in the gym
Creatine shines in the kind of training most busy lifters actually do—heavy sets, hard reps, short bursts where you’re trying to move real weight with intent.
The simplest way to explain it is this: it helps your muscles recycle energy faster during high-intensity efforts.
In real life, that often looks like a little more “pop” on your working sets. Or a slightly heavier top set.
Or just feeling more stable and explosive when you’re pushing hard.
It’s rarely a dramatic effect, but it adds up fast when you’re consistent.
Better training volume (more quality reps over time)
This is the benefit I see most often with guys who don’t have perfect recovery.
Creatine helps you repeat hard efforts with less drop-off.
So you might squeeze out an extra rep on your last set, or your third set feels more like a real set instead of a survival mission.
When your week is packed, and you can’t afford to feel crushed for two days after leg day, that matters.
More quality work across weeks and months is what drives strength and muscle. Creatine supports that quietly in the background.
Muscle-building support (with a small “scale weight” caveat)
Creatine helps create a better environment for building muscle because it supports harder training and higher volume.
That’s the real mechanism from a lifter’s point of view. One thing to expect, though, is that some people see the scale jump early.
Often, that’s water pulled into the muscle. It doesn’t mean you gained fat overnight. It means your muscles are storing more fluid as creatine stores increase.
Potential “brain energy” upside (don’t overhype it)
You’ll sometimes see creatine marketed as “mind and body,” and there is research interest in creatine’s role in brain energy metabolism.
The key is expectations.
If you take creatine primarily for strength and performance, you’re playing the main game. Any cognitive benefit, if you notice it at all, is more like a small bonus than the reason to buy it.
How to Take Orgain Creatine
Here’s the simplest, most realistic way to do creatine. Take 5 grams a day, every day. That’s it.
If you do that consistently, your muscle creatine stores build up over time and you get the performance benefits you’re looking for.
Now, there are two common approaches people talk about:
One is a “loading phase,” where you take a higher amount for a few days to saturate faster.
It works, but it also increases the chance of stomach issues and a bloated feeling early on. If you’re already seeing comments about GI discomort with this Orgain powder, loading is basically the easiest way to make that worse.
The other is the no loading approach, which means simply daily consistency. That’s the one I recommend for most time-strapped lifters. You still get the same destination. You just take a slightly longer road to get there. And the road is smoother.
Timing-wise, don’t overthink it. Take it when you remember.
Morning coffee time. Post-workout shake. With lunch. Before bed. Creatine isn’t like caffeine, where timing changes the whole experience. The real driver is saturation and consistency.
Orgain Creatine Alternatives
Lift Big Eat Big Creatine
Lift Big Eat Big is the upgrade pick if your priority is ingredient sourcing and purity standards rather than lowest price.
The key difference is that Lift Big Eat Big is positioned around Creapure creatine monohydrate.
Functionally, you’re still getting the same category of supplement—creatine monohydrate at a standard daily dose—but with a more premium sourcing standard that a lot of lifters prefer when they’re buying something they plan to take daily for months or years.
If you’re the type who doesn’t want to wonder where the creatine is coming from, this is the simplest “higher confidence” option.
Check the latest Lift Big Eat Big Creatine deals here.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Transparent Labs is less of a direct substitute because their most popular creatine product is typically Creatine + HMB, not plain creatine monohydrate by itself.
That matters because you’re no longer paying for creatine only. You’re paying for a combined formula that’s positioned more toward recovery and body composition support in addition to performance.
It can be a good fit if you specifically want HMB included and you’re comfortable paying a premium for a more complex product.
If your only goal is saturating creatine stores as cost-effectively as possible, this usually isn’t the most efficient route.
You can read my experience in my Transparent Labs Creatine HMB review.
Bulk Supplements Creatine Monohydrate
BulkSupplements is the value alternative for people who care most about cost per serving and don’t mind a simpler buying and storage experience (larger bags, less “nice” packaging, sometimes less convenience).
In general, buying creatine in larger bulk sizes tends to reduce the cost per 5g serving compared with smaller tubs. The trade-off is convenience: measuring is less foolproof, the powder can be messier, and you’re relying more on your own routine.
If you’re purely optimizing for price and you’re consistent with dosing, bulk formats are often hard to beat.
You can read my experience in my Bulk Supplements Creatine review.
Frequently Asked Orgain Creatine Questions
Does Orgain creatine actually work?
Yes, because it’s creatine monohydrate at 5g per serving, which is the standard daily dose most lifters use to saturate muscle creatine over time.
Is Orgain creatine “drug tested”?
Orgain states their creatine is third-party tested through Informed Choice, and their Costco listing also highlights “banned substance tested.”
That’s meaningful for general consumers. But if you’re a drug-tested athlete, understand the difference: Informed Sport tests every batch/lot before release, whereas Informed Choice does not necessarily test every batch.
Why does it not mix well even though it’s “micronized”?
Orgain claims micronization can help it dissolve more easily and mix into liquids.
In practice, creatine monohydrate often doesn’t fully dissolve in cold water and tends to suspend and then settle. If texture bugs you, using a shaker bottle and drinking it sooner (or mixing it into a thicker shake) usually helps.
Can Orgain creatine cause stomach issues or reflux?
Some people do get GI discomfort from creatine, especially with larger doses or when taken on an empty stomach. Creatine is generally safe when used appropriately, but side effects can happen, and GI discomfort may be a possible mild issue.
If your stomach is sensitive, the simplest fixes are: take it with food, avoid loading, and consider splitting 5g into two smaller doses for a week.
Do I need a loading phase?
No. Loading (often ~20g/day for several days) can saturate stores faster, but it also tends to increase GI issues for some people. A steady 3–5g daily approach is simpler and usually better tolerated.
Summary
Orgain Creatine Monohydrate delivers exactly what most lifters want from creatine: a simple, single-ingredient powder (creatine monohydrate) at the standard 5g per serving dose, packaged in a convenient tub that’s usually priced aggressively for the number of servings.
That value proposition is real. If you’re shopping with a strict budget, or you just want a basic creatine you can take daily without thinking about it, Orgain is a sensible choice.
The limitations are also clear.
Orgain does not have Creapure sourcing, and it’s not the best fit for buyers who prioritize the highest-confidence sourcing standard.
It also gets consistent real-world complaints around mixing/solubility and occasional GI irritation, which doesn’t mean it’s unsafe or ineffective, but it can affect adherence if you’re sensitive to texture or digestion.
And while Orgain states Informed Choice third-party testing (a meaningful positive for general consumers), drug-tested athletes may still prefer a stricter “every batch/lot” sport certification depending on their ruleset and risk tolerance.
My overall recommendation is still Lift Big Eat Big Creatine. The main reason is straightforward: it’s explicitly built around Creapure creatine monohydrate at the standard daily dose, which makes it the higher-confidence option for long-term daily use.