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Home » Supplement Reviews » The 4 Best Creatine Supplements for Cutting

The 4 Best Creatine Supplements for Cutting

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By Kyle Risley
Last updated May 8, 2025


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Creatine is a popular supplement among athletes and bodybuilders. It’s often taken as a powder or pill, which is said to improve exercise performance and increase muscle mass.

But what about creatine for cutting? Can this supplement help you lose fat while helping with muscle gain?

The answer is yes. Creatine pulls water into your muscles. If you are trying to get lean, you must take creatine. It does not blur or obscure muscle definition.

We’ll also share our top four picks for the best creatine for cutting. What is the best creatine for cutting?

Creatine HMB from Transparent Labs is our recommended pick, especially if you enjoy flavored creatine.

If you prefer unflavored creatine, go with Creatine HCL from Kaged or Creatine Monohydrate from Bulk Supplements.

Best Flavored Creating for Cutting
Creatine Monohydrate HMB - Transparent Labs
Best Overall Creatine for Cutting
Creatine Monohydrate - Bulk Supplements
Best Creatine HCL for Cutting
Creatine HCL - Kaged
Creatine Monohydrate HMB - Transparent Labs
Creatine Monohydrate – Bulk Supplements
Creatine HCL - Kaged
4.4
4.5
4.4
Servings:
30
Servings:
200
Servings:
75
Creatine Monohydrate:
5 g
Creatine Monohydrate:
5 g
Creatine Monohydrate:
n/a
Creatine HCL:
n/a
Creatine HCL:
n/a
Creatine HCL:
750 mg
Discount code:
LV10 = 10% off Transparent Labs
Discount code:
Discount code:
Shop Transparent Labs
Shop Bulk Supplements
Shop Kaged
Best Flavored Creating for Cutting
Creatine Monohydrate HMB - Transparent Labs
Creatine Monohydrate HMB - Transparent Labs
4.4
Servings:
30
Creatine Monohydrate:
5 g
Creatine HCL:
n/a
Discount code:
LV10 = 10% off Transparent Labs
Shop Transparent Labs
Best Overall Creatine for Cutting
Creatine Monohydrate - Bulk Supplements
Creatine Monohydrate – Bulk Supplements
4.5
Servings:
200
Creatine Monohydrate:
5 g
Creatine HCL:
n/a
Discount code:
Shop Bulk Supplements
Best Creatine HCL for Cutting
Creatine HCL - Kaged
Creatine HCL - Kaged
4.4
Servings:
75
Creatine Monohydrate:
n/a
Creatine HCL:
750 mg
Discount code:
Shop Kaged

Table of Contents

  • 1 The 4 Best Creatine Supplements For Cutting
    • 1.1 1. Creatine Monohydrate – Bulk Supplements
    • 1.2 2. Creatine HCL – Kaged
    • 1.3 3. Creatine Capsules – Huge Supplements
    • 1.4 4. Creatine HMB – Transparent Labs
  • 2 Advice For Buying Creatine
    • 2.1 Good qualities to look for:
    • 2.2 Poor qualities to look for:
  • 3 5 Benefits Of Taking Creatine Supplements
    • 3.1 1. Improved exercise performance/ power output
    • 3.2 2. Increased muscle mass/ Increase strength
    • 3.3 3. Enhanced recovery
    • 3.4 4. Improved brain function
    • 3.5 5. Reducing depression symptoms
  • 4 How To Take/Use Creatine Supplements
  • 5 Effects Of Taking Creatine Supplements Without Proper Hydration
  • 6 About Creatine
    • 6.1 Creatine molecule
    • 6.2 Creatine monohydrate
    • 6.3 Micronized creatine monohydrate
    • 6.4 Creatine nitrate
  • 7 FAQs
  • 8 Conclusion

The 4 Best Creatine Supplements For Cutting

  1. Creatine Monohydrate – Bulk Supplements
  2. Creatine HCL – Kaged
  3. Creatine Capsules – Huge Supplements
  4. Creatine HMB – Transparent Labs

Did you know that creatine is found in most sports drinks and protein shakes? If you’re looking to cut fat and build a lean body mass (and muscle growth/muscle building), creatine is a supplement that can help.

Creatine is an amino acid that helps your muscles produce energy, and it’s been shown to boost strength and performance when taken consistently.

When you’re cutting, you want to be as efficient as possible with your workout routine and diet, and taking a quality creatine supplement can help you do just that. Here are the four best creatine options for cutting.

1. Creatine Monohydrate – Bulk Supplements

Best Bulk Creatine for Cutting
Creatine Monohydrate - Bulk Supplements
Creatine Monohydrate - Bulk Supplements

Just a big bag of creatine monohydrate at a reasonable price. If only everything could be this easy.

Servings: 200
Creatine Monohydrate: 5 g
Shop Bulk Supplements
Lift Vault earns a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

Creatine Monohydrate from Bulk Supplements is the best overall creatine for cutting. If you’re looking to bulk up and cut down on fat, creatine monohydrate is one of the best supplements you can take. It’s the cheapest and most effective form of creatine, and it’s backed by a wealth of scientific research. This is available in powder and capsules.

Creatine helps your muscles produce energy, allowing you to lift weights and build muscle mass. It also helps your muscles recover faster, so you can get back in the gym sooner and keep building those gains. As a supplement, bodybuilders and other athletes often use creatine monohydrate to increase muscle mass and improve performance.

Creatine monohydrate is the purest form of creatine.

  • Dosage: If you are taking this as a dietary supplement, you should take around 2 teaspoons of Creatine Monohydrate per serving. This should preferably be taken before your workouts. As with all creatines, you should drink plenty of water.
  • Key Ingredient: Pure creatine monohydrate powder.

2. Creatine HCL – Kaged

Best Creatine HCL for Cutting
Creatine HCL - Kaged
Creatine HCL - Kaged
4.5

High quality, patented, pure creatine HCL with zero fillers.

Available in unflavored powder (for mixing into other drinks), lemon lime powder, or vegetable capsules (vegan).

Creatine HCL: 750 mg
Servings: 75
Shop Kaged Take Kaged Supplement Quiz
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This is the best overall creatine HCL for cutting. Kaged Creatine HCL is a popular form of creatine that is often used by bodybuilders and other athletes. It has 2 flavors. It is a highly concentrated form of creatine that is designed to be absorbed by the body more easily. It also absorbs really well and mixes easily for a smooth taste.

It is the only creatine that is patented. This means Kaged has a right or title for this specific mix, and nobody else can sell it. HCL has been shown to be more effective than other forms of creatine at increasing muscle mass and strength. It is also less likely to cause gastrointestinal issues.

  • Dosage: If you are not taking any other creating supplements, take 2 servings with 6-8 ounces of water before and after your workout.
  • Key ingredient: Creatine Hydrochloride (patented C-HCL).

3. Creatine Capsules – Huge Supplements

Best Creatine Monohydrate Pills
Creatine Monohydrate Pills - Huge Supplements
Creatine Monohydrate Pills - Huge Supplements

Creatine pills can be a convenient alternative to traditional creatine powder supplements. Conveniently packaged at 1 gram of creatine monohydrate per pill, creatine pills from Huge Supplements contain 150 pills, or 30 full 5 gram servings.

Servings: 30
Creatine Monohydrate: 5 g
Shop Huge Supplements
Lift Vault earns a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

Creatine Capsules by Huge Supplements are one of the best creatine pills for cutting. They help you maintain a high level of energy and stamina during your workout and improve your recovery time. Creatine capsules by Huge Supplements are a great way to get the benefits of creatine without having to mix it with water or other beverages.

This creatine supplement is perfect for someone who is bulking or cutting. In fact, we have a list of the best creatine for bulking.

  • Dosage: Take 5 tablets in the morning or evening with 8-12 ounces of water per serving.
  • Key ingredients: Creatine monohydrate, gelatin, titanium dioxide, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and magnesium stearate.

4. Creatine HMB – Transparent Labs

Best Flavored Creatine for Cutting
Creatine Monohydrate HMB - Transparent Labs
Creatine Monohydrate HMB - Transparent Labs
4.5

Combining a clinical dosage of the tried and true creatine monohydrate with β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate (aka HMB), Transparent Labs delivers a cutting edge supplement for bulking.

Creatine Monohydrate: 5 g
HMB: 1.5 g
Flavors: Sour Grape, Peach Mango, Fruit Punch, Watermelon, Black Cherry, Blue Rasperry, Orange, Tropical Punch, Hawaiian Splash, Strawberry Lemonade, Unflavored
Shop Transparent Labs
Lift Vault earns a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

This creatine has the best flavors (11 flavors). Creatine HMB from Transparent Labs is one of the best creatine supplements for cutting. Transparent Labs creatine is a clean, pure product that contains no fillers or artificial ingredients. Creatine HMB has been shown to increase strength, and it can also help improve recovery from exercise.

In fact, we like this product so much that we’ve also included it on our list of the best HMB supplements!

Creatine is a compound that helps to increase energy levels, while HMB is a metabolite of leucine that helps to prevent muscle breakdown.

  • Dosage: If you use this dietary supplement (creatine supplement), you can mix one leveled scoop with 10-12 ounces of cold water per serving. This should be done 30 minutes after your workout. On non-training days take 1 leveled scoop for recovery in the morning.
  • Key ingredients: Creatine monohydrate, Hydroxy Methylbutyrate (HMB) 1,500 mg, Bioperine 5 mg, and Vitamin D 12.5mg.

Advice For Buying Creatine

If you’re looking to add pure creatine to your supplement regimen in order to help with cutting, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

  • Be sure to buy high-quality creatine supplements from a reputable company. Go with a brand you trust. There are many subpar products on the market, so doing your research is important. The brand must have reviews, a website with a phone number or email address, and be available at multiple retailers.
  • There must be a fully disclosed ingredient label.
  • Consider what form of creatine you want to take (creatine powder or pills). Creatine monohydrate is the most common and effective form, but there are also creatines that come in powder or capsule form. Pills can be more convenient. Creatine powder is usually cheaper, can be flavored, or can be added to any shakes you already take.
  • Be sure to take creatine consistently and as directed by the manufacturer in order to see results.
  • Don’t forget that diet and exercise are still the most important factors in cutting body fat and achieving the physique you want. Creatine can help give you an edge, but it’s not a miracle supplement – dedication and hard work are still required!
  • Determine if you want unflavored or flavored creatine.

Good qualities to look for:

  • The minimum dosage of 5,000 mg for creatine monohydrate
  • The minimum dosage of 750 mg for HCL creatine (per 100 lb of body weight)
  • Third-party testing may be important to some readers

Poor qualities to look for:

  • Underdosed

5 Benefits Of Taking Creatine Supplements

Creatine is a popular supplement among athletes and bodybuilders because it can help to improve exercise performance and increase muscle growth. Although creatine is naturally found in the body, supplements can help boost levels and enhance the effects.

Creatine has a bad reputation related to bloating, but these concerns are misunderstood and unfounded. Creatine helps muscleshold water, but this water is not under the skin. The water retention from creatine doesn’t cover up muscle definition. It may even help muscles look bigger. Any good creatine is also a good creatine to use while cutting.

Creatine is stored in the muscles, as is the water that can be retained as a result of creatine supplementation. It does not blur or obscure muscle definition and therefore does not interfere with a cut. There are a number of potential benefits of taking creatine supplements, including:

1. Improved exercise performance/ power output

Creatine has been shown to improve performance during high-intensity exercise by providing extra energy for muscles. This can help you to work out harder and for longer, leading to better results.

2. Increased muscle mass/ Increase strength

Creatine supplementation can lead to an increase in muscle mass, as well as improved strength and power. This makes it a great option for those looking to build muscle or improve their athletic performance. It can also increase lean muscle mass.

3. Enhanced recovery

Creatine has also been shown to help with post-exercise recovery (enhanced recovery) by reducing muscular fatigue and soreness. This means that you can hit the gym more frequently without feeling too rundown or experiencing excessive soreness afterward.

4. Improved brain function

Some research suggests that creatine may also have cognitive benefits, such as improved memory function and reduced brain fog. This makes it a good option for students or working professionals who want to stay sharp mentally.

5. Reducing depression symptoms

An interesting fact is that creatine has been found to help depression in females. All the females needed was 8 weeks to feel the results.

How To Take/Use Creatine Supplements

If you want to take creatine supplements to help with cutting, there are a few things you need to know. First, creatine is most effective when taken in powder form. You can mix it with water or juice and drink it before (pre-workout) or after your workout.

Second, you need to make sure you’re taking enough creatine. The recommended dose is 3-5 grams per day. Lastly, be sure to stay hydrated by drinking a lot of water when taking creatine.

Effects Of Taking Creatine Supplements Without Proper Hydration

There are a few potential side effects to be aware of when taking too many creatine supplements. That said, many of these side effects are avoidable or can be mitigated by properly hydrating before and during your creatine supplementation regimen. As always, talking to your doctor before starting any new supplement regimen is best. These include:

  • Gastrointestinal issues like bloating and diarrhea
  • Increased risk of dehydration
  • Cramping
  • Kidney damage (in rare cases)
  • Nausea

About Creatine

Creatine molecule

The molecule is a glycine derivative with methyl and amidino groups on the nitrogen. It plays the roles of a neuroprotective agent, a nutraceutical, a human metabolite, a mouse metabolite, and a geroprotector. Creatine is a type of amino acid and is naturally almost flavorless.

Creatine has been rigorously tested in labs and has been found to be safe as long as you do not go over the recommended doses, as this is when the bad side effects of creatine would come about.

Creatine monohydrate

It’s the most common form of creatine. This can be used as a dietary supplement that promotes the performance of your muscles in short bursts for high-intensity workouts. The increase of energy in the muscle cells results in muscle growth.

You may notice that you are not gaining weight while you have been taking creatine. You may need to increase your daily water intake to see the creatine’s full effects.

Micronized creatine monohydrate

There are a few different types of creatine on the market for you to choose from, obviously some better than others. Micronized creatine monohydrate powder is one of the better options for you to choose from.

No clumps are formed when you are mixing micronized creatine monohydrate with your preferred drink, your body absorbs it quicker, and there are no bad side effects for your stomach. There is no need to worry if micronized creatine is a steroid, as this is not a steroid.

No matter what creatine you have, it is actually not the creatine that increases the size of your muscles. It is actually the fact that creatine causes your muscles to hold water. Therefore you can say that creatine does promote muscle growth.

Creatine nitrate

Creatine nitrate is a more soluble form of creatine monohydrate.

There are many more things to look up about creatine, such as buffered creatine, creatine magnesium chelate, and creatine hydrochloride.

FAQs

Is it okay to take creatine while cutting?

Yes, it is perfectly fine to take creatine while cutting. In fact, many people find that taking creatine helps them to cut more effectively. The main concern with taking creatine in a cut or caloric deficit is that it may make you look “bloated,” “puffy,” or “soft.” These concerns are unfounded. In reality, if anything, creatine would make your muscles look bigger.

Can you get ripped on creatine?

The short answer is yes. Creatine can help you get ripped. This is because creatine can help you build muscle and lose fat. In one study, it was shown to help people build more muscle and lose more fat than those who didn’t take creatine.

What type of creatine is best for losing weight?

Studies have shown that creatine monohydrate is the most effective type of creatine for losing weight. Creatine monohydrate has been shown to increase fat loss and help improve body composition when used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise program.

Do I need to go through a loading phase?

With creatine HCL, you don’t have to. With creatine monohydrate: you don’t have to, but you can if you want to see faster results.

How much creatine should I take?

You should take around 3-5 g per day of creatine monohydrate. You should take 750 mg per 100 pounds of body weight with Creatine HCL. To load, take 20 grams of creatine monohydrate per day in four doses spread throughout the day. Do this for 5-7 days.

Which creatine is best for cutting?

Kaged Creatine HCL is our favorite creatine HCL formulation. In the cutting phase, commonly called “shredding,” bodybuilders gain weight while still maintaining lean muscle. For creatine monohydrate, Bulk Supplements is our go-to supplier.

Is creatine good for getting cut?

Creatine is helpful when cutting to help keep muscle tissue healthy and helps in providing a good source of water to a person’s skeletal system. This increases muscle strength by protecting it against damage. So water should always be taken when trimming. This helps prevent muscle breakdown during your cutting process.

Conclusion

Creatine is a safe and effective way to help improve your performance in the gym and can also help promote recovery after workouts. There are many different types of creatine supplements on the market, so it’s important to do your research before choosing one.

The best creatine for cutting is Creatine Monohydrate by Bulk Supplements. It has pure micronized creatine monohydrate, making it fluffier in texture and easier to disperse in water than your regular creatine. Also, no artificial flavors or natural sweeteners and colors.

It’s got the edge on Creatine Capsules by Huge Supplements because powder absorbs into your system quicker than capsules. Also, Creatine Monohydrate is the purest form of creatine.

Creatine HMB by Transparent Labs is the runner-up for best creatine because the company has 11 flavors. Creatine HCL by Kaged only has 2 flavors. Another reason is that this creatine supplement has HMB, a metabolite of leucine that helps prevent muscle breakdown.

We hope that our list of the four best creatine supplements for cutting has helped you narrow down your options and find the right product for you.

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About Kyle Risley

Kyle Risley founded Lift Vault in 2016 to make finding great powerlifting programs easier. Since then, the site has grown to include hundreds of programs for strength, bodybuilding, Olympic weightlifting, and more. He currently lives in Massachusetts and continues to compete in powerlifting.

Filed Under: Supplement Reviews




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