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Optimum Nutrition vs NOW Sports Creatine (2026)
Disclosure: We earn commissions on purchases made through our links. This never influences our scores. Editorial policy
The Verdict
NOW Sports edges Optimum Nutrition on our rubric (93 vs 91 on our 0-100 execution score) and is cheaper - about $0.11 per 5g dose versus Optimum Nutrition's $0.23, roughly half the cost. NOW Sports carries Informed Sport; Optimum Nutrition carries Informed Choice and uses Creapure. Both are excellent. In our view NOW Sports is the slight value pick on cost and score, while Optimum Nutrition is the choice if you specifically want Creapure-sourced monohydrate. Either is a strong, tested creatine.
Micronized Creatine Monohydrate Powder
Optimum Nutrition
Sports Creatine Monohydrate Powder
NOW Sports
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | Micronized Creatine Monohydrate Powder Optimum Nutrition | Sports Creatine Monohydrate Powder NOW Sports |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Score | 91/100 | 93/100Winner |
| Dosing & Form | 25/25Winner | 25/25 |
| Purity | 20/25Winner | 20/25 |
| Value | 23/25 | 25/25Winner |
| Transparency | 23/25Winner | 23/25 |
| Cost/Day | $0.23 | $0.11Winner |
| Dose/Serving | 5000mg | 5000mg |
| Form | Micronized Creatine Monohydrate (Creapure) | Creatine Monohydrate |
| Third-Party Tested | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Proprietary Blend | No | No |
Why This Comparison Matters
Optimum Nutrition and NOW Sports both sell clean, single-ingredient creatine monohydrate at a value price, and both carry banned-substance certification. Optimum Nutrition uses Creapure (the German-made benchmark monohydrate) with Informed Choice; NOW Sports carries Informed Sport. For a supplement whose active ingredient is a single well-defined molecule, cost per 5g dose and certification are the whole game.
Both deliver the full 5g clinical dose with no proprietary blends. The molecule is identical, so this comes down to price and which certification you want.
We scored both on evidence, quality, cost per effective dose, and transparency.
Detailed Score Breakdown
Micronized Creatine Monohydrate Powder
Optimum Nutrition
Standard creatine monohydrate - supported by the full 500+ study evidence base
Informed Choice certified, Creapure source, GMP facility
$0.23/day at 5g dose - excellent value for a Creapure product with third-party certification
Single ingredient, no fillers, Creapure source clearly labeled on packaging
One of the best-selling creatine supplements globally, Creapure sourced with third-party testing
Sports Creatine Monohydrate Powder
NOW Sports
Standard creatine monohydrate with full evidence support
Informed Sport certified, GMP facility, NOW is a well-established brand with NPA A-rating
$0.11/day at 5g dose from the real 200-serving 2.2lb container - the cheapest third-party-tested creatine here
Single ingredient, full disclosure, Informed Sport logo displayed on packaging
Strong value with Informed Sport certification from a trusted brand. A 2026-07-02 correction found the real container is 200 servings, not 120, making this the cheapest third-party-tested creatine in this comparison.
How We Compared These Products
Every product in our database is scored on four equally-weighted pillars: dosing accuracy and form quality, purity verification (third-party testing), cost per clinically effective dose (not cost per pill), and label transparency. Each pillar is worth 25 points for a total of 100.
Cost per effective dose is calculated using the clinically studied dose from published research, not the manufacturer's suggested serving. If a product requires multiple servings to reach the dose used in clinical trials, that cost is reflected in the value score.
For a full explanation of our scoring methodology, see our methodology page. Prices were last checked on the dates listed for each product and may have changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Optimum Nutrition or NOW Sports creatine better?
NOW Sports scores slightly higher on our rubric (93 vs 91 on our 0-100 execution score) and costs about half as much - roughly $0.11 per 5g dose versus Optimum Nutrition's $0.23. Both are pure creatine monohydrate at the full 5g clinical dose with banned-substance certification (Informed Sport for NOW Sports, Informed Choice for Optimum Nutrition). NOW Sports is the value pick; Optimum Nutrition is the choice if you want its Creapure-sourced monohydrate.
Does Creapure creatine work better than regular monohydrate?
No - Creapure is a high-purity brand of creatine monohydrate, not a different or more effective molecule. It is made to tight purity specifications in Germany, which is a quality-control assurance, but the creatine itself performs identically to any other pure monohydrate at the same 5g dose. You are paying for verified purity, not a stronger effect.
More Creatine Monohydrate Comparisons
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FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.