Creatine monohydrate is the most studied sports supplement in the world. Creatine HCL is a newer form marketed as more soluble and easier on the stomach. The honest answer on which to buy in the UK: creatine monohydrate wins on cost, evidence, and results for almost every user. The solubility advantage of HCL is real but does not translate into better strength, muscle gain, or absorption in human trials.
What are creatine monohydrate and creatine HCL?
Creatine monohydrate is creatine bonded to a water molecule. Creatine HCL is creatine bonded to hydrochloric acid. Both deliver the same active compound to muscle tissue. Creatine monohydrate has been the subject of hundreds of peer-reviewed studies since the 1990s. Creatine HCL entered the supplement market in the 2000s and carries a much thinner research base.
The two forms are marketed differently. Creatine monohydrate sells on price and clinical track record. Creatine HCL sells on solubility and the claim that smaller doses work as well as larger monohydrate doses. The second claim is the one buyers should scrutinise.
Is creatine HCL more soluble than monohydrate?
Yes. Creatine HCL is approximately 41 times more water-soluble than creatine monohydrate. This is the one measurable claim that HCL marketing gets right. Creatine monohydrate leaves visible grit at the bottom of a shaker when mixed in cold water; creatine HCL dissolves fully. Users who find creatine monohydrate gritty or unpleasant to drink often cite this as their reason for switching.
Micronised creatine monohydrate closes most of the solubility gap. The particle size is reduced so the powder mixes into water, protein shakes, or juice without clumping. MyProtein Impact Creatine and Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine both use this form, and both mix cleanly enough that solubility is rarely a genuine deciding factor.
Does better solubility mean better results?
Better solubility does not translate to better absorption or better strength gains. This is the finding across every head-to-head human trial to date. The 2024 PubMed study cited above found no significant difference between HCL and monohydrate on strength, power output, body composition, or anabolic hormone response. A 2019 ScienceDirect trial (S0765159719302011) in young trained men reached the same conclusion.
The mechanism explains the result. Creatine saturation in muscle is determined by total daily creatine intake, not by how quickly a single dose dissolves in water. Once muscle creatine stores hit saturation (typically 3 to 4 weeks at 3 to 5 grams per day), adding more creatine produces no further benefit. Solubility affects drink texture, not the biology.
How much more does creatine HCL cost?
Creatine HCL costs 2 to 3 times more per gram than creatine monohydrate in the UK. A 500g tub of MyProtein Impact Creatine typically retails at around £15 to £20. MyProtein Creatine HCL in a comparable size retails at around £25 to £35. Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine Powder sits between the two on price but uses monohydrate, not HCL.
The cost delta compounds over a year. A daily creatine user spends around £30 to £40 per year on monohydrate versus £80 to £120 per year on HCL for the same result. The price premium buys improved solubility and nothing else that the research supports.
Which form should you pick?
Pick creatine monohydrate unless one specific criterion applies:
- You have previously tried monohydrate and experienced persistent digestive discomfort that did not resolve when switching to a micronised version. Creatine HCL does have anecdotal reports of better GI tolerance.
- You strongly prefer clean drink texture and find micronised monohydrate still grittier than you can tolerate.
- You are willing to pay the 2 to 3x price premium for the above with no performance return.
If none of those apply, creatine monohydrate is the rational pick. For competitive athletes subject to banned-substance testing, choose a Creapure-certified monohydrate (MyProtein THE Creatine, for example) over generic monohydrate or HCL. The third-party purity verification matters more than the creatine form.
UK creatine picks
The cheapest monohydrate per 5g dose on the UK market sits around 15 to 20 pence per serving. The WheyWise creatine comparison table ranks current UK options by cost per 5g, Creapure status, and third-party testing. Three products to start with:
MyProtein Impact Creatine
500g bag
Budget creatine monohydrate from MyProtein. 3g per scoop, cheapest per gram during Impact Week sales. No third-party certification, but pharmaceutical-grade purity.
See cheapest price →MyProtein Impact Creatine
500g bag
Budget creatine monohydrate from MyProtein. 3g per scoop, cheapest per gram during Impact Week sales. No third-party certification, but pharmaceutical-grade purity.
See cheapest price →Quick verdict
Pros
- + Cheapest per 5g dose during MyProtein sales
- + Micronised for clean mixing
- + Pharmaceutical-grade monohydrate
- + Flavoured variants available (Vimto, Chupa Chups)
Cons
- – Only 3g per scoop below the 5g benchmark
- – No Informed Sport certification
- – Full retail price less competitive
Quick verdict
Pros
- + Cheapest per 5g dose during MyProtein sales
- + Micronised for clean mixing
- + Pharmaceutical-grade monohydrate
- + Flavoured variants available (Vimto, Chupa Chups)
Cons
- – Only 3g per scoop below the 5g benchmark
- – No Informed Sport certification
- – Full retail price less competitive
Optimum Nutrition Creatine Powder
634g bag
5g Informed Choice certified creatine monohydrate from Optimum Nutrition. The default mainstream pick: clean mixing, widely stocked, banned-substance tested.
See cheapest price →Optimum Nutrition Creatine Powder
634g bag
5g Informed Choice certified creatine monohydrate from Optimum Nutrition. The default mainstream pick: clean mixing, widely stocked, banned-substance tested.
See cheapest price →Quick verdict
Pros
- + 5g creatine monohydrate per serving
- + Informed Choice certified for banned substances
- + Mixes cleanly without gritty texture
- + Most consistently recommended on Reddit r/Supplements
Cons
- – Tub does not include a scoop
- – Premium price vs generic monohydrate
- – Unflavoured only in the standard line
Quick verdict
Pros
- + 5g creatine monohydrate per serving
- + Informed Choice certified for banned substances
- + Mixes cleanly without gritty texture
- + Most consistently recommended on Reddit r/Supplements
Cons
- – Tub does not include a scoop
- – Premium price vs generic monohydrate
- – Unflavoured only in the standard line
MyProtein Creatine HCL
100g bag
Creatine HCL from MyProtein. The only meaningful use case is digestive tolerance when monohydrate failed. Same performance outcomes, higher price.
See cheapest price →MyProtein Creatine HCL
100g bag
Creatine HCL from MyProtein. The only meaningful use case is digestive tolerance when monohydrate failed. Same performance outcomes, higher price.
See cheapest price →Quick verdict
Pros
- + 41x more water-soluble than monohydrate
- + Reddit users report better GI tolerance
- + Clean mixing in water without residue
- + Useful for users who failed on monohydrate
Cons
- – 2-3x more expensive than monohydrate
- – No performance advantage in head-to-head studies
- – Weaker research base than monohydrate
Quick verdict
Pros
- + 41x more water-soluble than monohydrate
- + Reddit users report better GI tolerance
- + Clean mixing in water without residue
- + Useful for users who failed on monohydrate
Cons
- – 2-3x more expensive than monohydrate
- – No performance advantage in head-to-head studies
- – Weaker research base than monohydrate
