Creatine is the one supplement category where the math is refreshingly simple: every reputable tub holds the same proven molecule — 5 g of creatine monohydrate — so what you are really shopping for is certification and price per serving. Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine is our best-value pick (81/100) for exactly that reason. We pulled its published pricing, checked July 2026, and turned it into the two numbers that matter: cost per serving and cost per year.
The per-serving math
A 600 g tub runs about $27.99 and holds 120 servings of 5 g each. That is $27.99 ÷ 120 = ~$0.23 a serving. Taken daily, one tub lasts about four months, so a full year of creatine costs roughly $84 — genuinely one of the cheapest evidence-backed habits in the supplement aisle. There is also a smaller 300 g / 60-serving tub at about $19.94, which works out to ~$0.33 a serving; the big tub is the better buy per gram. Figures from Optimum Nutrition’s pricing, checked July 2026.
| 600 g tub (120 servings) | ~$27.99 | ~$0.23/serving |
|---|---|---|
| 300 g tub (60 servings) | ~$19.94 | ~$0.33/serving |
| Four-month supply (one big tub) | ~$28 | daily 5 g |
| Cost per year (big tub, daily) | ~$84 | daily 5 g |
What that buys next door
The number that makes Optimum Nutrition the value default is the per-serving comparison. The two picks above it on our rubric — Thorne (85/100) at about $0.49 a serving and Momentous (82/100) at about $0.48 — charge close to double for a molecule that is chemically identical to this one. What that premium buys is the NSF Certified for Sport mark, a real credential if you are drug-tested; it does not buy a better dose of creatine. Going the other way, Nutricost (79/100) edges it on raw price per gram (~$0.17–$0.22 a serving) but carries only facility-level testing, not a batch sport certification. Optimum Nutrition sits in the sweet spot: a real banned-substance credential in Informed Choice, a mainstream brand, and the identical proven molecule for about half the premium price. The full field is in our creatine roundup, and the ingredient guide explains why monohydrate is the form worth paying for — cheaply.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Optimum Nutrition creatine cost per serving?
About $0.23 a serving, checked July 2026: roughly $27.99 for a 600 g tub that holds 120 servings of 5 g each. Taken daily that tub lasts about four months, so a year of creatine costs roughly $84 — about half the per-serving cost of the premium certified tubs.
Is Optimum Nutrition the cheapest creatine?
It is the best value, not the outright cheapest. A budget label like Nutricost edges it on raw price per gram (~$0.17–$0.22 a serving), but Nutricost carries only facility-level testing. Optimum Nutrition adds a real Informed Choice banned-substance credential and mainstream-brand scale for a few cents more — the value default for most people.
Why is Optimum Nutrition creatine so much cheaper than Thorne or Momentous?
Because the creatine itself is identical — 5 g of monohydrate either way. The premium tubs charge nearly double for the NSF Certified for Sport mark, not a better molecule. If you are not specifically drug-tested, you are paying twice as much for the same dose of the same thing.
Sources
- Optimum Nutrition — official product and pricing pages (5 g micronized creatine monohydrate per serving; ~$27.99 for a 600 g / 120-serving tub, also 300 g / 60 servings). Checked July 2026. optimumnutrition.com
- The Ingredient Report — Optimum Nutrition Creatine review (81/100), scored reviews of Thorne (85/100), Momentous (82/100) and Nutricost (79/100), and the creatine roundup. Checked July 2026.
Update history
- July 17, 2026 — Page first published. Facts checked this date. Next check: August 2026.
Content is for informational purposes only and is not medical or financial advice. Medical disclaimer.