7 Best Vegan Creatine Supplements For Muscle Building

Updated on  January 23, 2023

18

Products Considered

129

Hours of Research

8

Experts Interviewed

39

Customers Consulted

William Toro

Published By:  William Toro

Fact Checked by: Bridget MacDonald, RDN


Our Methodology

We personally test every products with our researchers, trainers and members. All products are ordered anonymously. We evaluate on point based system to determine ranking under each category. Learn More

Vegan creatine supplement is an all-natural compound that helps restore your body's energy and helps you perform high-intensity workouts efficiently. A vegetarian diet can be incredibly healthy but lacks certain substances such as collagen, Vitamin B12, protein, and creatine.

If you are vegan like me, then I am sure no matter how strict or nutritional a vegan diet we take, the amount of creatine in plants is close to nil or very little if you are into serious muscle building.

Hence, vegan creatine supplements are a convenient way to take these nutrients without deviating from your diet. 

Transparent Labs Creatine HMB

This is one of the best creatine in market by Transparent labs, without any artificial colors or flavors or preservatives.

Key features:

• 7 gms serving size, which has 5 gms of pure mono creatine

• 1.5 gms of HMB blend, also has Black Pepper Extract and daily needs of vitamin D

• Non-GMO


#2nd Best Choice

Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate

Its a pure creatine monohydrate without any frills.

Key features:

• Pure 5 gm of Creatine per serving

• Without any flavor

• Mixes easily


Bulk Supplements Creatine Monohydrate

Bulk supplements is popular for its products, if you need just creatine then this one it is. 

Key features:

• Pure Creatine Monohydrate

• No artificial ingredients

• No flavors

If you want to perfect your gym performance, relying on creatine supplements is a great idea and can help gear you up before your workout session. So read below to learn more about vegan creatine and which supplement you should choose.

What Is Creatine?

Creatine is a substance found inside our muscle tissues that helps them utilize energy (1) more efficiently. It mixes L-arginine, amino acids, L-methionine, and glycine (2). Usually, the body naturally produces this substance in the kidney, pancreas, and liver, but you can externally source it via protein-rich foods. Consuming eggs, meat, and seafood increases the quantity of this substance and helps provide energy when carrying out challenging exercises. 

However, the problem is that our body is designed to store creatine in a minimal amount, which gets used up during intense workout sessions. For this reason, opting for creatine as a supplement is essential and is also quite common amongst fitness athletes and enthusiasts. Creatine helps enhance physical performance, strength, and muscle gains. 

Since creatine is usually derived from animal-based products, it is off-limits to strict vegan diets. Fortunately, vegan creatine supplements also exist, which work just as well and provide a good amount of creatine to your body. This way, you can enjoy its benefits without relying on any animal-derived ingredients. 

Keep reading to learn about the best vegan creatine in the market and pick the one most suited to your needs.

Review of The Best Vegan Creatine Present In The Market

If you want to get your hands on the best vegan creatine in the market with high-quality ingredients, you're at the right place. Below are the top vegan creatine supplements for you to pick from: 

Transparent Labs Creatine HMB

Specifications:

Form: Powder

Number of Serving: 30

Serving Size: 7 gms

Serving: 5 gms Mono Creatine + 1.5 gms HMB + Vitamin D + Black Pepper Extract

Diet type: Vegan, gluten-free, major allergen-free

Transparent Labs Vegan Creatine is a top choice for many people due to its premium-quality ingredients and formulation. This creatine supplement enhances the compound's effectiveness and allows it to absorb into your body more effectively. It promotes strength, prevents lean muscle loss, decreases fat mass, and increases endurance during your workout. 

Moreover, this vegan creatine allows you to lose fat and gain muscles while relying on a vegan diet. The best part about this supplement is that it has no artificial sweeteners, additives, colors, or fillers. This makes it apt for consumers who rely on a vegan diet without any unhealthy stuff. The primary ingredients for this creatine include B-Hydroxy B-Methyl butyrate (HMB), Creatine (Creapure), and BioPerine; all are present in optimal dosage.

Flavors: 

This vegan creatine comes in 11 different flavors; you can choose the one you like the most. Some of the more popular flavors include Black Cherry, Watermelon, Orange, Blue Raspberry, Sour Grape, Tropical Punch, and more. 

Ingredients: 

The formulation for this creatine supplementation is designed to provide easy absorption of the supplement and relies on the best ingredients on the market. It has no unnatural additives, making it perfect for a vegetarian and vegan diet.

  • HMB

HMB provides a very similar effect as creatine monohydrate (3), and it aids in increasing lean body mass and strength. Most importantly, it helps with high-intensity exercises. Also, this particular ingredient is used for burning fat and has synergistic effects with Creapure. It is also proven (4) that taking HMB with Creapure provides extra 30% strength during your workout sessions.

  • Creapure

Creapure is a very common form of creatine that is not only safe but incredibly effective (5). It is certified by IFS, which indicates its high and premium quality. Moreover, this substance is present in the Cologne List (which is a list that catalogs products that are free of any banned substance), so if you are a bodybuilder or an athlete, you can use this supplement freely.

  • BioPerine

Bioperine is another excellent ingredient that helps your body absorb creatine. It also helps make the supplement more effective (6) in your body, and its presence in Transparent Lab allows you to rely on this product without any second thought. 

Pros:

HMB synergizes with the other ingredients and provides better strength.

It is free from any additives.

It contains very effective Creatine.

Dissolves easily


Cons:

The blue raspberry flavor is not a favorite amongst some users. 

Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate

Specifications:

Form: Powder

Number of Serving: 85

Serving Size: 5 gms

Serving: 5 gms Creatine Monohydrate, unflavoured

Diet type: Vegan, gluten-free, major allergen-free


Jacked Factory is a well-known company, and it understands the wants and needs of athletes clearly, which makes its products incredibly high-quality and top-notch. Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate is a hard-hitting and effective supplement and is formulated using perfectly vegan and highly effective ingredients. 

If you are looking for a gold standard creatine monohydrate, Jacked Factory has your back. This supplement is designed to increase strength, aid muscle growth, and boost energy to achieve your desired results. It also comes with a 100% money-back guarantee which further increases your trust in this brand. This powder mixes in any liquid easily without forming lumps, and it can even be added to your favorite powder supplements for a pre-workout drink. The most surprising part about this supplement is that it is a single ingredient product; all it contains is Creatine Monohydrate! 

Flavors: 

Since this single-ingredient supplement contains only creatine monohydrate, it has no actual flavor. You can only get this supplement in a "no flavor" option and add it to your other pre-workout drinks for taste and added benefits of creatine. 

Ingredients:

Jacked Factory vegan creatine is one of the best options you can choose. It is formulated to be incredibly healthy and clean, making it ideal for vegan use. While it is unflavored, the single ingredient for its formulation makes it pure and effective. 

  • Creatine Monohydrate

There are many different forms of creatine, but creatine monohydrate is the most commonly used form and is very effective. Creatine monohydrate provides exercise and health benefits (7), such as better workout performance and muscle gain. Also, this form of creatine is incredibly safe to consume and has no detrimental effects (8). Another advantage of this product is that it helps with weight gain making it perfect for skinny people.  

Pros:

It is made with a single ingredient.
Provides muscle gain and better performance. 

Comes at a reasonable price.

It is easily blended into any liquid you want.


Cons:

Has no flavor

Bulk Supplements Creatine Monohydrate

Specifications:

Form: Powder

Number of Serving: 20

Serving Size: 5 gms

Serving: 5 gms Creatine Monohydrate, unflavoured

Diet type: Vegan, gluten-free, major allergen-free

If you are looking for Vegan creatine that comes at an affordable price and provides you with good creatine powder, then Bulk Supplements Vegan Creatine is what you need. This is a super budget-friendly supplement that gives you 400 servings per container. It is a 100% fuss-free and effective product hidden behind its simple and plain packing. 

The formulation for this creatine is top-notch and gets absorbed into your body easily. While its flavorless option may be a drawback for many consumers, you can get creative with it. You can blend this supplement with water, milk, and even other supplements, and the flavors won't clash with one another. Its fine texture allows this supplement to disappear into the liquid without any lumps forming. You can add it to savory, plain, or sweet drinks and gulp it down without noticing its presence.

Flavors:

This vegan creatine supplementation does not have any flavor, giving you versatility in consuming it. You can add it to your shakes and drinks and enjoy their taste while being enriched with the added benefits of creatine.

Ingredients:

This high-quality product has no hidden ingredients; it is exactly as advertised. Bulk supplements vegan creatine provides you precisely what it promises: pure creatine monohydrate.

  • Creatine Monohydrate

Bulk Supplement has an impressive reputation for its vegan creatine powder due to the use of a single ingredient which is creatine monohydrate. Creatine monohydrate is a clinically studied supplement (9) and is a very effective form of creatine. 

It helps with better strength, endurance, and lean muscle gains and is also great for enhancing weightlifting performance (10). This single ingredient is perfect for fueling your muscles when carrying out high-intensity training and helps increase your overall muscle mass.  

The best part about this creatine is that it is micronized, which gives it a fluffier texture and helps it disperse in liquid quickly as compared to regular creatine. 

Pros:

Helps improve your speed and strength. 
It is made with a single ingredient and has no additives added to it.

It can be blended with other drinks easily. 

Each serving has an ample amount of creatine to meet your daily requirements.


Cons:

Flavorless.

Doesn't come with a scoop.

Naked Nutrition Creatine

Specifications:

Form: Powder

Number of Serving: 200

Serving Size: 5 gms

Serving: 5 gms Creatine Monohydrate, unflavoured

Diet type: Vegan, gluten-free, major allergen-free

Nake Creatine is a rapidly dissolving and very effective creatine monohydrate present in the market. This creatine is designed without artificial sweeteners or colors, making it perfect for a vegan lifestyle. Naked Creatine is a raw, untampered, and unflavored creatine powder. It contains a single ingredient which is creatine monohydrate. 

Due to the lack of additives, you can be assured of the benefits this supplementation will provide and how effective it will be for your athletic performance and endurance. But that's not all! This creatine powder is also tested independently for heavy metals via a third party. This makes it the most reliable and transparent creatine supplement present, giving customers the peace of mind they need. 

This creatine is free from additives and is designed for 100% vegan-friendly diets. It is gluten, dairy, and GMO-free and is marked with a modest price tag. If you are a vegan and love weightlifting, this creatine supplement can benefit you.

Flavors: 

Naked Creatine relies on raw and untampered creatine monohydrate and has no additives. Due to this reason, it comes without any flavor. If you prefer your supplement drinks and shakes to have a sweet or savory taste, you can add this powder to your drink and enjoy it without any unpleasant flavors. 

Ingredients:

Since this is a single-ingredient supplement, it has only creatine monohydrate added to it. This is a very effective form of creatine that you can enjoy and has many benefits when consumed daily. 

  • Creatine Monohydrate

Creatine Monohydrate is the ingredient that allows you to get that jacked and stripped look. This ingredient gives your muscles a strong and fuller appearance, which is why most bodybuilders consume it daily. It also helps with more strength and better endurance during your workout sessions (11). If you want to increase the creatine levels in your body and get faster brain function, creatine monohydrates can help you out.

Pros:

Has a single-ingredient formulation. 
It is tested independently for any heavy metals.

It comes at a reasonable price, making it affordable for all.

Assists with muscle recovery after a high-intensity workout session.


Cons:

It contains no flavor, which may not be ideal for everyone. 

Muscle Tech Vegan Creatine

Specifications:

Form: Powder

Number of Serving: 80

Serving Size: 5 gms

Serving: 5 gms Creatine Monohydrate, unflavoured

Diet type: Vegan, gluten-free, major allergen-free

MuscleTech Platinum Creatine is another exceptional creatine supplementation designed to provide you with the perfect muscle creatine levels in your body. This synthetic creatine is ideal for vegan diets and is made with a single ingredient. With this vegan supplementation, you can get the essential amino acids in your body and enhance your athletic performance.  

MuscleTech Platinum allows you to consume an essential nutrient needed for resistance training and is a nutritional supplement perfect for bodybuilders and athletes. It gives a very fluffy texture to your shakes due to the extra fine powder formulation, and since it is pure, this supplement is perfect for vegetarian diets. Furthermore, MuscleTech produces its synthetic creatine in a Good Manufacturing Practices certified facility, so it is not contaminated with any other product. Its pure formula allows you to consume it without any doubts or questions. 

Flavors: 

This nutritional supplement is made with a single pure ingredient which is creatine monohydrate. Besides that, it has no additives or artificial sweeteners added to it; hence it has no flavor. While this may seem like a drawback at first, you can easily use its lack of flavor to your advantage. The unique advantage is that you can easily add this creatine supplementation to your protein powder, mass gainer, or any healthy shake or drink. This way, you get the benefits of creatine in your body while enjoying your favorite drink. 

Ingredients:

This product is made with a single ingredient: creatine monohydrate, and allows you to enhance your muscle growth and athletic performance. By supplementing with it, you can increase your creatine stores and creatine levels for better and more effective workout results. 

  • Creatine Monohydrate

Just like most supplements mentioned above, MuscleTech creatine supplementation also contains a single ingredient that works to enhance your physical performance. Creatine is naturally found in our body, but you must consume more of it via creatine supplements to reap its actual benefits. Meat lovers can eat meat to increase the body's creatine level (12), but vegans must rely on other creatine sources, such as this creatine supplement. 

Creatine monohydrate allows you to get an adequate amount of creatine in your body, which your plant-based diet cannot provide. It also enhances your muscle function and immune system, and evidence suggests (13) that it helps with heart issues.

Pros:

Perfect for a plant-based diet. 

Helps with better exercise performance.

Assists you in building muscle mass. 

Enhances your brain function. 


Cons:

It can be too intense for some people and lead to an upset stomach.

Creatine Capsules by ON

Specifications:

Form: Powder / Capsules

Number of Serving: 120 / 240

Serving Size: 5 gms

Serving: 5 gms Creatine Monohydrate, unflavoured

Diet type: Vegan, gluten-free, major allergen-free

Optimum Nutrition is another excellent creatine supplementation you can rely on. This supplement assists you with excellent muscle recovery and helps boost muscle growth, endurance, and strength. Its benefits make it ideal for professional athletes and help assist with high-intensity exercise performance. 

Its available in both capsule as well as powder form.

Creatine is known to help produce ATP (14), which produces the primary energy our body consumes during high-intensity training sessions, and this supplement aids just that. 

Optimum Nutrition Vegan Creatine is a high-potency powder that is a pure creatine monohydrate designed for vegetarian use and is extremely pure. It comes in a ready-mix formulation, and you can simply add it to your protein powder, beverage, or juice to consume a more effective drink. You should consume this creatine supplementation before a strenuous workout session since the phosphate molecule will help you with better energy production. 

Flavor:

Like most creatine, this supplement is also flavorless, so you can add it to anything you want. A single scoop of serving does not impart a lot of texture or taste, which makes it a versatile additive to any other shake or protein powder. 

Ingredients:

This creatine supplementation comes in powder form and is free of contaminants or impurities. It is micronized, which makes it easier to mix. Also, it doesn't bloat your stomach after consumption. Furthermore, the supplement stays in a liquid form longer after being mixed with other creatine products that are non-micronized.

  • Creatine Monohydrate 

Optimum Nutrition contains creatine monohydrate, which is micronized and is 100% pure. A single scoop of this product provides you with five grams of pure creatine and is ideal for your daily needs. This ingredient focuses on muscle-building and prioritizes muscle recovery and strength. It is easily blended and has no additives added. A single scoop of this supplement will enhance the ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production in your body and allow you to increase your workout strength and endurance drastically. 

Pros:

Great for resistance training. 
Allows the creation of new muscle fibers. 

Assist with optimal performance during workout sessions. 

A single scoop allows you to consume five grams of creatine.


Cons:

Has a hefty price tag. 

EFX Creatine

Specifications:

Form: Capsules

Number of Serving: 120 / 240

Serving Size: 5 gms

Serving: 5 gms Creatine Monohydrate, unflavoured

Diet type: Vegan, gluten-free, major allergen-free

KRE-ALKALYN EFX is a very popular creatine supplementation manufactured by EFX sports and comes at an affordable price. This creatine supplement is different from the regular creatine monohydrate because it has a pH level of 12. There is a single ingredient present in this product which is Kre Alkalyn, and it contains no other additives or artificial flavoring. Kre Alkalyn EFX is also gluten-free, making it perfect for vegan consumption. 

With this creatine supplement, you can reap benefits such as better exercise performance, less bloating after consumption, and excellent muscle strength and endurance. Moreover, this creatine supplement comes in a capsule form instead of the regular powder formulation. As recommended, you can consume four capsules per day. It is advised to take two capsules before and after a workout to get optimal results. You can also consult a professional to get the proper dosage recommendation for your needs.

Furthermore, you can opt for different amounts depending on your use. Some standard sizes of this capsule supplementation are available, including 120, 240, and 400 capsules. While many prefer powder form, this capsule formation is convenient for people with a hectic schedule. So if you do not have time to prepare a proper supplement drink for yourself, this capsule form is perfect for getting your required creatine dosage quickly. 

Flavors:

Since this creatine supplement comes in capsule form, you do not have to worry about flavor mixing it in with a liquid. You simply have to gulp it down with a glass of water like any other medication/capsule and let it do its job inside your body. 

Ingredients:

As mentioned above, this creatine supplement is made with a single ingredient which is a patented KRE ALKALYN (pH 12). This ingredient has many benefits, which makes this a premium quality product. 

  • KRE ALKALYN

Kre Alkalyn is a stable form of creatine molecule with a pH level of 12, achieved after a buffering process. Since it remains fully stable (15), your body can utilize it efficiently and assimilate it, providing exceptional benefits before and after your workout sessions. But that's not all! Due to the adjusted pH level, you can put all issues such as bloating, upset stomach, and cramping behind you and enjoy the full benefits of a creatine supplement. 

Pros:

It is excellent for people in a rush who do not have time to mix powder forms of creatine.
Comes in a good serving size.

It is a unique formulation that has exceptional benefits.

It keeps bloating and issues such as stomach upset and cramps away.


Cons:

It costs more than other supplements.

Does Creatine Cause Any Side Effects?

While creatine supplements provide you with many benefits, they also have some nasty side effects if you do not use them properly. The number one rule you must remember while consuming creatine supplements is to increase your water intake. 

Creatine helps transport more water to your muscle cells, increasing their endurance. However, this will cause your body to have less water to carry out other vital processes. If you do not hydrate appropriately after taking creatine supplements, you could become susceptible to issues such as dehydration, kidney stones, and even organ failure.

Other side effects of creatine include bloating and an upset stomach; however, with proper water intake, these side effects can be handled easily. If you are not sure whether you are consuming ample amounts of water, look at the color of your urine; if your urine is whitish-yellow, it is a clear indication of a good amount of water in your body. (16)

FAQs

Does Creatine Help With Neurological Disorders?

Studies indicate (17) that creatine plays a role in neurological disorders and helps improve brain function. Higher creatinine levels in the body assist you with better memory recognition and reduce mental fatigue. It also deals with neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, and Huntington's.

What Animal Products Is Creatine Present In?

Creatine is abundant in animal products and is an amino acid that helps with muscle growth, recovery, and strength. You can get creatine from a non-vegan diet by consuming red meat, dairy products, poultry, and fish. These are the primary sources of creatine, whereas our body makes up the rest. 

Does Creatine Help With Protein Synthesis?

The more creatine present in the body, the higher the formation of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate), which leads to enhanced performance and a higher rate of protein synthesis. (18)

How Much Creatine Is Ideal For Your Diet?

A typical dose of around three to five grams of creatine daily is ideal for you. However, you can take a maximum of twenty grams for five consecutive days to elevate the creatinine stores for better workout results. Most creatine supplements help you achieve this level in your body quickly.

Is Creatine Good For Muscle Cells?

Creatine is excellent for muscle cells and provides them with many benefits. It is known to improve strength, increase muscle mass, and help muscle recovery after an intense and active physical performance session (19). Creatine also provides athletes with a muscular boost, increasing speed and energy, especially when carrying out resistance training, sprinting, or weightlifting. 

Conclusion

If you are struggling to get an adequate amount of creatine in your diet due to your vegan lifestyle, then this article is perfect for you. With the help of the reviews mentioned above, you can quickly get the best Vegan Creatine supplementation for your use and enjoy its benefits pre and post-workout. So what are you waiting for? Take your high-intensity workout sessions to a whole new level with the help of this supplement, and enjoy its benefits whenever you want!

William Toro

William Toro ‧ CPT & Nutritionist


William is a certified personal trainer from NASM, he has also been a rehab physiologist for sports persons. He has more than 15 years of experience training people. And has featured in multiple publications like FoxNews, CNBC, Bustle, and other. 


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