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Thorne vs Optimum Nutrition Creatine (2026)
Disclosure: We earn commissions on purchases made through our links. This never influences our scores. Editorial policy
The Verdict
These two are essentially tied on our rubric - Thorne posts a 92 execution score to Optimum Nutrition's 91 on our 0-100 scale - but Optimum Nutrition is far cheaper, at about $0.23 per 5g dose versus Thorne's $0.49, roughly half the price. Both use Creapure monohydrate. Thorne's advantage is NSF Certified for Sport (versus Informed Choice for Optimum Nutrition). In our view, if you are a tested athlete who needs NSF Certified for Sport, Thorne is worth the premium; for everyone else, Optimum Nutrition delivers the same Creapure monohydrate at half the cost.
Creatine (Creapure)
Thorne
Micronized Creatine Monohydrate Powder
Optimum Nutrition
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | Creatine (Creapure) Thorne | Micronized Creatine Monohydrate Powder Optimum Nutrition |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Score | 92/100Winner | 91/100 |
| Dosing & Form | 25/25Winner | 25/25 |
| Purity | 23/25Winner | 20/25 |
| Value | 21/25 | 23/25Winner |
| Transparency | 23/25Winner | 23/25 |
| Cost/Day | $0.49 | $0.23Winner |
| Dose/Serving | 5000mg | 5000mg |
| Form | Micronized Creatine Monohydrate (Creapure) | Micronized Creatine Monohydrate (Creapure) |
| Third-Party Tested | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Proprietary Blend | No | No |
Why This Comparison Matters
Thorne and Optimum Nutrition both use Creapure creatine monohydrate, so the molecule and the ingredient source are the same. The split is certification and price: Thorne carries NSF Certified for Sport, the certification most widely accepted by drug-tested athletes; Optimum Nutrition carries Informed Choice at a lower price.
Both deliver the full 5g clinical dose. For a single-ingredient supplement with identical sourcing, the decision is which certification you need and how much you want to pay.
We scored both on evidence, quality, cost per effective dose, and transparency.
Detailed Score Breakdown
Creatine (Creapure)
Thorne
Standard creatine monohydrate with the full evidence base behind it
NSF Certified for Sport, uses Creapure (German-manufactured, highest purity grade available)
$0.49/day at 5g dose - much more reasonable now for an NSF Certified for Sport, Creapure creatine
Single ingredient, full disclosure, NSF certification displayed prominently
Creapure is manufactured in Germany by AlzChem and is considered the purest creatine source available
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
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.
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.