4 Reasons Why Creatine Is So Expensive Now + Tips To Save

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If you’ve been faithfully using creatine for years, you’ve probably noticed its price drastically increased. Or, maybe you’re just learning about how great creatine is, but the high cost dissuades you. Either way, you’re left to wonder if it’s worth handing over your cash for this supplement, why it’s so expensive, and whether there are ways to save.

Key Takeaways

• According to data that FeastGood.com obtained from Pure Source, a national supplement distributor, creatine prices have increased by 101% from 2022 to 2024.

• The increased cost of creatine is related to supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues today, and the increased demand as more people are interested in using creatine for their health.

• Creatine products costing more than $1 per serving are considered expensive and do not guarantee additional benefits beyond those costing $0.50 per serving.

• You can save money on creatine by buying in bulk, online (especially on a subscription basis), and shopping for sales and discounts.

The cheapest creatine I could find was from Bulk Supplements, which can be as low as $0.20 per serving depending on the size purchased.

Creatine By The Numbers

Jennifer Vibert is a supplement store manager who does all of our supplement reviews. In her decade at the store, she’s been monitoring price trends for various supplements, including creatine.

Most of Jenn’s data comes from Pure Source, a Canadian supplement manufacturer and distributor. Although this is a Canadian company, the data is comparable to the U.S.  

Here is the data for creatine pricing for November 2022 vs. November 2023:

As you can see, the average cost of creatine doubled.

What Is Considered An “Expensive” Creatine Supplement According To Today’s Standards?

The cost of creatine varies across brands, so you’re probably wondering what would be considered a good deal and what’s considered expensive.

One of the most expensive creatine products on the market belongs to Transparent Labs, with a 60-serving tub of creatine costing $89.99 ($1.50 per serving containing 5 grams of creatine monohydrate).

While this is a high-quality product, I personally wouldn’t want to pay more than $0.50 per serving (5g) for creatine. 

Therefore, anything over $1 per serving is expensive.

• Related: Why Is Protein Powder So Expensive & Is It Worth It?

Top 4 Reasons Why Creatine Is So Expensive

Here are the top four reasons why creatine is so expensive these days.

Reason #1: Supply Chain Issues 

Supply chain issues are mainly why creatine prices have skyrocketed in the past few years. Youtuber Jake Swiatek does a good job breaking down the market fundamentals driving higher creatine prices.

He explains that the supplement industry was similarly impacted by the pandemic lockdowns as many other industries, with higher shipping costs, increased shipping times, and higher costs for raw materials and packaging.  

These increased input costs are passed onto consumers through higher product prices.

Reason #2: Reduced Industrial Output

According to Mark Lobliner, founder of Tiger Fitness, China shut down many manufacturing facilities before the Olympics to reduce air pollution.

This decrease in the supply of Chinese creatine increased demand for the remaining supply, for example, German or American-produced creatine.

Decreased global supply naturally leads to increased prices, just like when OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) decided to reduce oil production, and gas prices increased.

Reason #3: Increased Demand

As more studies have shown the benefits of creatine for mental health, cognition, and sports performance, more people have started taking creatine.  

This higher demand, combined with the lower supply I described above, leads to even more upward pressure on creatine prices.

• Related Article: Is Creatine Good For Older Adults?

Reason #4: Inflation

As a consumer product, Creatine supplements were also affected by general inflation. Inflation peaked at around 9% in mid-2022, just after the factory lockdowns in China ended after the Winter Olympics.

Future Creatine Pricing: Is It Expected To Stabilize, Decrease, or Continue To Rise?

Expect prices for creatine to stabilize (or possibly decrease) in 2024 as additional production capacity comes online in Germany and China resumes prior production levels. 

Remember that many manufacturers and retailers had to raise prices to stay in business. Now that customers are used to paying higher prices, it’s unlikely that companies will lower their prices unless they are forced to.

However, you can “vote with your dollar” by buying only moderately priced creatine supplements, showing that you’re not willing to pay a premium, eventually forcing high-priced brands to lower their prices if enough consumers make this choice.

Cheap vs. Expensive Creatine Supplements: Does More Money Equal Better Quality?

Compared to other products, more money usually does NOT equal better quality regarding creatine supplements.

Not all creatine products are created equally, so knowing what to look for in a high-quality product is essential.

Look for a creatine product that meets the following criteria:

• Made in a facility certified for Good Manufacturing Practices
• Has been third-party tested and certified
• It contains pure creatine monohydrate
• It does not contain sugar alcohols, artificial flavors, or fillers

Beyond these specifications, there is no evidence to show that you will get additional benefits from a higher-priced product.

For example, Transparent Labs offers a 60-serving tub of creatine for $89.99 ($1.50 per serving containing 5 grams of creatine monohydrate), and Optimum Nutrition offers a 60-serving tub of creatine for $39.99 ($0.67 per serving – also 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving).

Both products contain pure creatine monohydrate, are single-ingredient, and have been third-party tested. Therefore, the products are identical, yet the Optimum Nutrition product costs $50 less.

4 Ways To Save Money On Creatine

To save money on creatine, you can:

1. Buy In Bulk

Buying creatine in bulk is the best way to save money over time, as the cost per serving will decrease. 

For example, Bulk Supplements sells various sizes of creatine monohydrate micronized powder. They have 250 grams (50 servings) for $21.40 ($0.43 per 5-gram serving), or you can order a 5-kg bag (11 pounds) or 1,000 servings for $195.69 ($0.20 per serving).

Getting 1,000 servings might be a little extreme, but this can be a significant cost-saving if you’ve got 1-2 gym buddies (or other friends or family members) who want to split the package and the cost with you.

To achieve the benefits of creatine supplementation, you need to take it daily, so it makes sense to stock up.

2. Buy Online / Price Match

Buying creatine online is another excellent option because many online companies have lower overhead costs, translating into lower product prices (e.g., Amazon). 

Online retailers also typically offer free shipping if you hit the minimum order threshold, which you can do by buying in bulk or purchasing other supplements you use in the same order.

If you prefer to “shop local” in your community, see if your local supplement store will price-match online offers.

3. Subscribe & Save

When you know that you will use a supplement on a long-term, ongoing basis, it makes sense to sign up for a subscription, where the product is sent to you regularly. 

Most companies offer a discount when you place a recurring order because it’s cheaper for them to provide you with a discount and keep you as a loyal customer than spending the time and money to entice a new customer.  

For example, Transparent Labs offers 10% off and free shipping when you subscribe for creatine. Bulk Supplements offers 5% off on a subscription purchase.

4. Take Advantage Of Sales & Discounts

Another way to save money is through coupon codes, sales, and discounts. Watch for seasonal promotions like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Boxing Day deals.

Also, check out the “Specials” or “Clearance” sections for discounted creatine supplements, both in-store and on websites (but don’t compromise quality by getting a brand that isn’t third-party certified).

Lastly, check to see if the brand has sponsored athletes who offer discount codes on their products. Discount codes can save you 10-15% off your order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Cost Of Creatine Worth It?

Yes, the cost of creatine is worth it if you already have solid nutrition, training, and recovery practices in place, and you’re committed to taking creatine consistently to reap its benefits.

If you don’t already eat, workout, and sleep well, creatine won’t magically compensate for these areas.

What Is The Most Expensive Creatine?

The most expensive creatine I’ve seen is Transparent Labs’ Creatine HMB supplement, with bioperine, vitamin D, and HMB.

Prices vary but exceed $1.50 per serving for 5 grams of creatine.

What Is The Least Expensive Creatine?

The least expensive creatine is Bulk Supplements Creatine Monohydrate Micronized Powder. 

They have a 3rd-party certified facility, and you can be sure you are getting pure creatine monohydrate.  Any cheaper creatine likely is not pure and may contain fillers or contaminants.

References

Buford TW, Kreider RB, Stout JR, Greenwood M, Campbell B, Spano M, Ziegenfuss T, Lopez H, Landis J, Antonio J. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: creatine supplementation and exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2007 Aug 30;4:6. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-4-6. PMID: 17908288; PMCID: PMC2048496.

Pure Source Natural Wellness Products Distributor. Retrieved from https://puresource.ca/