In terms of flavor and consistency, Thorne Creatine is the winner. It comes in the form of flavorless, micronized creatine monohydrate, and the fine powder blends well into drinks, smoothies and plain water. It has no detectable bitterness, and while the powder is still slightly grainy when mixed with water, it is one of the least grainy powders we have tried. Plus, the product is NSF certified.

In terms of downsides, this product has just a few: the price. A 90-serving bottle costs $42, which is about 47 cents per serving. And if we’re being nit-picky, the scooper tends to get buried in the powder and is difficult to dig out.

What we love about the Designs for Sport Creatine Monohydrate: This micronized powder blends effortlessly into drinks, from water to smoothies. The consistency is the least grainy out of all the powders we tried, and the product is NSF certified.

Like other micronized creatine, this product is expensive. A 90-day supply costs $41, or about 40 cents per serving. In addition, certain drinks bring out the bitterness of the creatine, including plain water and chocolate protein powder mixes. Adding a little salt helped reduce the bitter flavor.

Hoping to find a creatine product that won’t go outside of your budget? If so, try the Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate Micronized Powder. The extremely fine consistency makes it easier to mix into beverages than non-micronized powders. Plus, one bottle contains 100 servings at about $20, or 20 cents per serving. This product is third-party tested at ISO-accredited labs for potency and purity. (An ISO lab is a lab recognized by the International Organization for Standardization as having the capability to test products.)

However, the Nutricost Creatine tends to clump a little bit at the bottom of a glass, so you may need to keep mixing it as you drink. A bitter flavor is also apparent in certain beverages. In addition, the product isn’t NSF certified.

When taste-testing products, we reached for the Create Creatine Gummies the most. They do have a slightly grainy texture from the creatine, but the flavors are great. In our opinion, this is by far the most convenient way to take this supplement. Plus, Create states that third-party labs independently test each batch of gummies for potency and purity accuracy, and the ingredients are sourced from reputable suppliers that guarantee their products have been tested for contaminants.

However, this is one of the most expensive creatine products on the market. A 30-day supply costs $50 on Amazon, which comes out to 60 cents per serving or 20 cents per gummy. (Each gummy contains 1.5 grams of creatine.)

If you’re looking for a classic, no-nonsense creatine supplement at a good price, we recommend Klean Creatine. A 60-day supply costs $29.52, which comes out to about 49 cents per serving. We love that the product is made in the U.S. and NSF certified, and that the only ingredient is creatine monohydrate.

Since this creatine is not micronized, it has a grainier texture than other products. You may also need to re-mix your beverage so that the product doesn’t settle at the bottom of your glass.

Creatine capsules are a great alternative to powders and gummies if you dislike the flavor of powder but don’t want the added sugar of a gummy. We like the Toniiq Creatine Monohydrate Capsules because they’re tasteless, convenient and easy to take. Capsules are made of vegetable cellulose, so vegetarians don’t have to worry about animal-based ingredients. We also like that the product is third-party tested for potency, microbiology and the presence of heavy metals.

The downsides: While it seems like you’re getting a great deal of creatine per container (one container holds 210 capsules), one serving is seven pills. That means that each serving costs about 83 cents, which is pricier than the average creatine serving.

What we like about the Optimum Nutrition Creatine Capsules: One 5-gram serving is just two capsules, so a 100-count container is equivalent to a 50-day supply. (One serving costs about 47 cents). In addition, the creatine in each capsule is micronized, which may make it easier for your body to absorb. We love that this product is independently tested by Informed Choice.

However, these capsules are not vegan or vegetarian because the capsules contain gelatin. Each pill is also large and may be difficult to swallow.

Need a creatine supplement that comes in a small-enough container for a carry-on suitcase? If so, try the Vitalura Labs Unflavored Creatine Monohydrate. One bag weighs 5.3 ounces, which is well under the TSA’s 12-ounce limit. We also like that the product is NSF certified and contains just one ingredient: creatine.

The downsides: This product is expensive at $32.99 for a 30-day supply, which comes out to about $1.09 per serving. In addition, the creatine is not micronized, so it has a grainy texture. (Fortunately, we thought this product had no bitter flavor.)

Looking for a high-quality creatine powder that’s easy to add to a pre-workout drink? If so, try NatureBell’s Creatine Monohydrate Powder. The fine powder is easy to mix into all beverages with just a few stirs or shakes, including plain water. It’s also third-party tested for purity and potency. The price is reasonable as well; one container costs $21.95 and holds 100 servings, which comes out to about 22 cents per serving.

On the other hand, the powder has a slightly bitter flavor, though a pinch of salt helps. You may also need to re-stir or shake your drink to prevent the creatine from collecting at the bottom of your glass.

Creatine monohydrate may upset the stomach, and if this is your experience, you may want to try the milder creatine HCl instead. If so, Kaged’s Creatine HCl is a great place to start. The product comes in unflavored, fruit punch and lemon-lime flavors, and the powder dissolves quickly in water despite its crystallized consistency. In addition, the price is reasonable — $38.44 for 75 servings comes out to roughly 51 cents per serving. All Kaged products are independently and pre-release tested in the LGC Testing Laboratory (Laboratory of the Government Chemist) and certified by Informed Sport.

Note that the serving size for HCl creatine is just 750 milligrams, and many customers aren’t convinced that this is enough to see a difference. In addition, some buyers wish that the product were more affordable.

What we like about the CON-CRET Creatine HCl Powder: It may be easier on the stomach than creatine monohydrate and be less likely to cause water retention. One 750-milligram scoop dissolves quickly in water, and the product is sold in unflavored, hibiscus, lemon-lime, pineapple and raspberry flavors. The price tag is also reasonable; a 64-day supply costs $22.49, which is about 37 cents per serving.

As with other creatine HCl products, CON-CRET Creatine comes under fire for its small serving size (though this is the recommended dosage). In addition, many of the flavors have a vinegar-y flavor and a slightly chalky texture.

On the hunt for creatine HCl pills? If so, try the CON-CRET Creatine HCl Capsules. We like that the serving size is just one 750-milligram capsule and that each container holds 90 pills. (So, each serving costs about 30 cents.) Capsules are also easy to swallow, flavorless and made in an NSF-certified facility.

As with other creatine HCl supplements, buyers and experts are concerned about creatine HCl’s efficacy (though others swear by it). A few customers have also experienced shipping issues when purchasing through Amazon.

Products that combine creatine and pre-workout mixes make it easier to take all your supplements. If you prefer a combination product, we recommend the Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite Advanced Pre-Workout. It comes in five flavors: caribbean sunrise, fruit punch, glacier grape, orange mango and strawberry lemonade.

Note that each serving contains 3,000 milligrams of creatine monohydrate — as opposed to the standard 5,000 — though it also contains 2,000 milligrams of creatine nitrate (a form of creatine that may be more soluble and bioavailable than creatine monohydrate). Also, each serving contains 344 milligrams of caffeine. While it’s derived from organic green coffee and is designed to prevent jitters or a crash, it may upset your stomach or still cause jitters.

Looking for a creatine-containing pre-workout that has a less complicated ingredient list? If so, opt for Naked’s Pre Workout Supplement. The vegan powder contains 10 ingredients, five of which are vitamins and minerals, as well as creatine monohydrate and l-arginine (an amino acid that helps the body build protein). We also like that the product is third-party tested for potency, efficacy and safety.

However, one two-scoop serving contains just one gram of creatine monohydrate — which may not be enough depending on your supplement routine. It also contains 200 milligrams of caffeine from unroasted coffee beans, which may cause jitters. (Fortunately, you can purchase a stimulant-free, flavor-free version instead.) This product is pricey at about 85 cents per serving.