Creatine Capsules UK
1 product from 1 brand · free UK delivery · EU 3–7 days
Last reviewed · prices and listings checked by Free Muscle
Creatine, sold here as creatine monohydrate and also known as micronised creatine or N-(aminoiminomethyl)-N-methylglycine, is a compound made in the body from the amino acids arginine, glycine and methionine and found in meat and fish. It is a food supplement, not a research compound, and it is among the most studied ingredients in sports nutrition. This page lists every creatine product stocked at Free Muscle, compared on grams of creatine per serving, servings per pack and independent batch testing.
What is creatine?
Around 95 per cent of the body's creatine is held in skeletal muscle, mostly as phosphocreatine. During very short, maximal efforts such as a heavy set or a sprint, phosphocreatine donates a phosphate group to regenerate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the immediate energy source for muscle contraction. Muscle stores are normally around 60 to 80 per cent of their maximum, and loading studies have measured muscle creatine content rising towards that maximum in participants who supplemented. That is the mechanism behind the authorised creatine claim described below.
Creatine monohydrate is the form used in the overwhelming majority of published trials. Other forms, such as creatine hydrochloride, ethyl ester and buffered creatine, have been marketed as superior, but controlled comparisons have not shown an advantage over monohydrate in muscle creatine content or performance outcomes. Micronised monohydrate is the same molecule milled to a smaller particle size, which changes how it disperses in liquid, not what it does. The product we stock also contains taurine, an amino sulphonic acid found in meat and fish. Taurine has no authorised health claim in the UK or EU, so we make none for it.
Creatine monohydrate has been a widely used supplement since the early 1990s. It is not a medicine and is not on the WADA Prohibited List. Under the nutrition and health claims rules that now apply in Great Britain as assimilated law, one creatine claim concerns physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high intensity exercise; it is for adults performing high intensity exercise and may only be used for a food that provides a daily intake of 3 g of creatine. CREATREN's label gives 2,000 mg of creatine and taurine together per 3-capsule serving, so we do not use that claim for it. The Great Britain register lists one other authorised creatine claim, which may only be used on foods intended for adults aged over 55 who take part in regular resistance training; CREATREN is not sold on that basis, so we do not use it. A claim about creatine and cognitive function was assessed and added to the register as non-authorised in February 2025. No claim about muscle size or recovery is authorised, and this page does not make one.
What the published research reports
- Muscle creatine loading (1996). In 31 men, muscle total creatine measured by biopsy rose by around 20 per cent after six days on a high-intake loading protocol, and a lower intake of 3 g per day reached the same muscle content after about 28 days. After supplementation stopped, muscle creatine declined back to baseline over roughly 30 days. Hultman E, et al. Muscle creatine loading in men. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1996;81(1):232-237. PMID: 8828669.
- Meta-analysis of body composition and performance (2003). Pooling 100 placebo-controlled, blinded human studies reported in 96 papers, the analysis found that creatine supplementation produced small but statistically significant improvements in performance on high intensity tasks lasting under 30 seconds, particularly upper-body and laboratory-based tasks. Effects on running and swimming performance were not significant, and the changes in body mass that were also recorded include water held within muscle. Branch JD. Effect of creatine supplementation on body composition and performance: a meta-analysis. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2003;13(2):198-226. PMID: 12945830.
- International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand (2017). This review summarised the literature on creatine monohydrate in exercise and identified performance in high intensity exercise as the best supported outcome. It described weight gain as the only side effect consistently reported in the literature, and noted that early loading studies recorded short-term fluid retention of about 0.5 to 1.0 litre, roughly in proportion to the weight gained. Kreider RB, et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:18. PMID: 28615996.
- Hair and androgen measures (2025). In a 12-week randomised, placebo-controlled trial, 45 resistance-trained men aged 18 to 40 were assigned to creatine or placebo, and 38 completed it. The groups did not differ in DHT, the DHT-to-testosterone ratio, hair density, follicle count or hair thickness. The trial was short and limited to young trained men, and three authors declared advisory, funding or consulting links with supplement companies, including creatine brands. Lak M, et al. Does creatine cause hair loss? A 12-week randomized controlled trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2025;22(sup1):2495229. PMID: 40265319.
These are summaries of what the studies measured in their participants. We make no health claim for the product on this page.
Brands of creatine we stock
- Free Muscle CREATREN, creatine monohydrate with taurine, 90 capsules. Our own brand, creatine monohydrate with taurine in capsules: 90 per pot, with a labelled serving of 3 capsules giving 2,000 mg. Every Free Muscle batch is assayed by Janoshik Analytical, an independent laboratory, and the certificate for the batch you receive is available by email on request. View CREATREN capsules.
At present this is the only creatine product we stock.
How to compare them
Compare creatine products on grams of creatine per serving and servings per pack, then divide the price by total grams of creatine for a cost per gram. Ignore the headline pack weight, since flavourings, sweeteners and fillers add weight without adding creatine, and ignore claims for novel forms unless they are backed by a controlled comparison against monohydrate. Check that the label states the form of creatine and the amount per serving in grams, and check the batch certificate for identity and purity.
Batch testing and certificates of analysis
A certificate of analysis (COA) reports what an independent laboratory found when it tested a sample from a specific batch: identity, confirming that the powder is creatine monohydrate, and purity, the proportion of the sample that is creatine. Check whether a result is expressed as creatine or as creatine monohydrate: creatine makes up 87.9 per cent of creatine monohydrate by mass, so a pure sample reported as creatine reads about 88 per cent, which is not a shortfall. The CREATREN product page walks through its certificate field by field. Every Free Muscle batch is tested by Janoshik Analytical, which we neither own nor control. To request the certificate for your pack, email us with the batch number printed on it and we will send it.
A generic PDF with no batch number, no date or no named laboratory is not a batch certificate. For third-party brands we show a certificate only where the manufacturer supplies one for the batch we hold. See our lab testing page for how to read one.
Where to buy creatine capsules in the UK: how to check a supplier
Whichever shop you buy creatine capsules from, check these five points before you order:
- A complete label. The label should name every ingredient and state the amount per serving, the serving size in capsules and the number of capsules in the pack. CREATREN: creatine monohydrate and taurine, 90 capsules per pot; the label gives 2,000 mg of the two together per 3-capsule serving.
- A batch number and a certificate for that batch. The pack should carry a batch number, and the seller should be able to show a certificate of analysis for that batch from a named laboratory. Every Free Muscle-brand batch is assayed by Janoshik Analytical, and we send the certificate for your batch on request.
- The price per capsule or per serving. Divide the price by the number of capsules or servings, so that packs of different sizes can be compared. At the price on 16 October 2026, CREATREN is £39.99 for 90 capsules: about £0.44 per capsule, or £1.33 per 3-capsule serving.
- Prices in pounds sterling and tracked UK dispatch. UK delivery from us is free and tracked on every order, with no minimum spend, and usually arrives 2-3 working days after dispatch; orders placed before 2pm Monday to Friday are processed the same working day.
- A clear returns policy. Unopened items can be returned to us within 30 days.
Brand on this page: Free Muscle. How we test and how to read a certificate of analysis explain these checks in more detail.
Legal status in the UK
Creatine is a legal food supplement in the UK, sold under the Food Supplements Regulations and labelled in line with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims (now assimilated law in Great Britain), and this page makes no performance claim for the product it lists. It is not a medicine and is not regulated by the MHRA. Creatine is not on the WADA Prohibited List. For athletes subject to testing, the anti-doping risk with any supplement is contamination with a prohibited substance; a batch certificate of identity and content is not an anti-doping screen, so they should check what their governing body requires. Free Muscle sells to adults aged 18 or over. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Storage and handling
Keep the pot tightly closed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. Creatine monohydrate is stable when kept dry, but it degrades to creatinine in solution over time, one reason it is sold as powder or capsules rather than as ready-made drinks. Keep the batch number until the pot is finished, and keep out of the reach of young children.
Delivery and returns
Free Muscle is the trading name of FreeMuscle, a business registered in Andorra, with UK operations and dispatch in Scunthorpe. Every order ships with free tracked UK delivery in plain packaging. Orders placed before 2pm Monday to Friday are processed the same working day. EU delivery takes 3 to 7 working days. Unopened items can be returned within 30 days. Customers must be 18 or over. See shipping and our guarantee for the full terms.
Related reading
- Creatine and Taurine: What the Evidence Actually Supports
- How and When to Take Creatine
- How Much Protein Do You Need to Build Muscle?
- What Is Janoshik Analytical? Third-Party Testing Explained
- How to Read a Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Related collections: Pre-workout, Performance nutrition, Free Muscle brand.
Creatine monohydrate is a food supplement for adults, not a medicine, and has not been evaluated by the MHRA, EMA or FDA. This page makes no health claim for the product it lists. Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. You must be 18 or over to order. Nothing on this page is medical advice.
Research guides
Frequently asked questions
Is creatine legal in the UK?
Yes. Creatine monohydrate is a legal food supplement in the UK, sold under the Food Supplements Regulations. It is not a medicine and not a controlled substance. It is not on the WADA Prohibited List, so it is permitted in tested sport; the risk for athletes is contamination, and a batch certificate of identity and content is not an anti-doping screen. Free Muscle sells to adults aged 18 or over.
Is creatine a SARM or a research compound?
No. Creatine is a food supplement, made in the body and found in meat and fish. SARMs are unlicensed compounds that act on the androgen receptor and are sold for laboratory research only. Creatine and the pre-workout on this site are food supplements sold for consumption; the research compounds are not, and the two categories are regulated completely differently.
What health claims can legally be made for creatine?
Two creatine claims are authorised in Great Britain. The first concerns physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high intensity exercise and may only be used for a food that provides a daily intake of 3 g of creatine; CREATREN's label gives 2,000 mg of creatine and taurine together per 3-capsule serving, so we do not use it. The other may only be used on foods intended for adults aged over 55 who take part in regular resistance training, which is not how CREATREN is sold. A cognitive-function claim was assessed and listed as non-authorised in 2025.
What is the difference between creatine monohydrate and other forms?
Creatine monohydrate is the form used in nearly all of the published trials. Hydrochloride, ethyl ester and buffered forms have been marketed as better absorbed or gentler, but controlled comparisons have not shown an advantage over monohydrate in muscle creatine content or performance. Micronised monohydrate is the same molecule milled finer so it disperses more easily in liquid.
Does creatine cause water retention or weight gain?
Weight gain is the only side effect that the 2017 International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand describes as consistently reported. Early loading studies recorded short-term fluid retention of about 0.5 to 1.0 litre, roughly matching the weight gained. A 2021 review added that total body water did not change in several training studies of 5 to 10 weeks, so the water gain appears to be short term.
How do I verify a batch of creatine?
Find the batch number printed on the pack and email us with it. For Free Muscle brand products we will send the Janoshik Analytical certificate for that batch, which reports identity and purity. Check that the batch number, date and laboratory name on the certificate match your pack. A generic PDF without a batch number is not a batch certificate.
Is creatine detectable in sport drug tests?
Creatine is not on the WADA Prohibited List, so its presence in a sample is not a doping offence, in or out of competition. The relevant risk for tested athletes is contamination: a 2004 international study found undeclared anabolic steroids in about 15 per cent of the non-hormonal supplements it analysed. A batch certificate confirms identity and content but is not an anti-doping screen, so check what your governing body requires.
What side effects have been reported with creatine?
The effect reported most consistently is weight gain, largely from water held in muscle during the first days. Creatine also raises creatinine in blood and urine, and because creatinine is the usual marker for estimating kidney function, results need careful interpretation; a 2021 expert review found no evidence that the intakes studied harmed the kidneys of healthy people. Anyone with a medical condition, taking medication, pregnant or breastfeeding should speak to a doctor first.
Does creatine cause hair loss?
The concern comes from a 2009 study of 20 rugby players in which DHT, a hormone linked to hair loss, rose with creatine but stayed within normal clinical limits; hair itself was not measured. A 2025 randomised trial measured both over 12 weeks in 38 trained young men and found no difference from placebo in DHT or in hair density and thickness. Three of its authors declared links with supplement companies.
Where can I buy creatine capsules in the UK?
On this page: at present we stock CREATREN, our own creatine monohydrate and taurine capsules, 90 per pot. Every UK order ships free with tracking, with no minimum spend, and usually arrives 2-3 working days after dispatch. CREATREN is a food supplement sold to adults aged 18 or over.
How fast is UK delivery?
UK delivery is free and tracked on every order, with no minimum spend, and usually arrives 2-3 working days after dispatch. Faster tracked UK delivery costs £6 and usually takes 1-2 working days. Orders placed before 2pm Monday to Friday are processed the same working day.
Do you deliver to Romania and the rest of the EU?
Yes. Orders to Romania and other EU countries travel by our paid, tracked international service and usually arrive 3-7 working days after dispatch; delivery to the rest of the world usually takes 5-14 working days. Prices are in pounds sterling (GBP).
Can I return an order?
Yes: unopened items can be returned within 30 days. Our guarantee page has the full policy.
Is there a discount when I buy more than one?
Yes, on Free Muscle-brand products: 5% off automatically when your cart holds 2 of them and 10% off with 3 or more, applied in the cart. The offers do not combine.