Can You Mix Creatine With Protein Powder? Cost Per Day
Whether creatine and protein powder can go in the same shake, what the research says about taking them together, when to drink it, and what the combination costs per day, checked September 2026.
Kevin, founder of WheyWise
Quick answer
Yes, you can put creatine in your protein shake. It is safe, and taking creatine with protein and carbohydrate may even help your muscles hold on to more of it. Use 3g to 5g of plain creatine monohydrate a day and drink the shake soon after mixing. Buying the two separately is the cheaper way to do it: 25g of protein from Protein Works Whey Protein 360 Black plus 5g of Myprotein Impact Creatine costs about 79p a day, checked 23 September 2026.
Creatine and protein powder are the two supplements most people take, so it makes sense to ask whether they can share a shaker. This guide covers what the research says about taking them together, how to mix them, when to drink it, and what the combination costs per day. Prices were checked on each brand's own site on 23 September 2026.
Is it safe to mix creatine with whey protein?
Yes. There is no known interaction between creatine monohydrate and whey or plant protein. The International Society of Sports Nutrition's 2017 position stand calls creatine monohydrate the most effective supplement available for high-intensity exercise capacity and lean body mass, and reports no adverse effects on kidney function in athletes taking it for up to five years. Mixing it into a protein shake is just a convenient way to take it.
Does mixing creatine with protein reduce how well it works?
No, and it may help a little. A 2000 study by Steenge and colleagues in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that taking creatine with about 50g of protein and 50g of carbohydrate increased how much creatine the body retained, compared with creatine on its own. The effect comes from the insulin response to the food. A normal protein shake on its own has less carbohydrate than that, so do not expect a big boost, but it certainly does not get in the way.
Does creatine dissolve properly in a protein shake?
Not completely, and that is normal. Creatine monohydrate dissolves to only about 13g per litre of water at 25°C, so 5g in a 300ml shake is more than the liquid can fully dissolve. You may see a little grit at the bottom. Shake it well, drink it straight away, and swirl in the last mouthful. Creatine slowly breaks down to creatinine once it sits in liquid, so do not mix it the night before.
When should you drink a creatine and protein shake?
Whenever you will remember to take it every day. Creatine works by building up the store in your muscles over weeks, so a daily habit matters much more than timing. After training is a good slot if that is when you have your protein shake anyway. On rest days, keep taking your 3g to 5g of creatine, in a shake or simply in water. For more on the dose, read how much creatine per day.
How much does 5g of creatine plus 25g of protein cost per day?
About 79p a day, bought separately. 25g of protein from Protein Works Whey Protein 360 Black costs 65p in the 4.8kg bag at £73.49 on theproteinworks.com. 5g of Myprotein Impact Creatine costs 14p, from the 500g bag at £13.99 on myprotein.com. Both were checked on 23 September 2026, and the Myprotein price was a sale price, down from £29.99.
| Daily dose | Product and bag | Cost per day |
|---|---|---|
| 25g of protein | Protein Works Whey Protein 360 Black, 4.8kg, £73.49 | 65p |
| 5g of creatine | Myprotein Impact Creatine, 500g, £13.99 | 14p |
| Total | 79p |
One-off prices with no code applied, checked 23 September 2026. Protein Works Whey Protein 360 Black contains 59g of protein per 100g.
65p per 25g of protein
Protein Works Whey Protein 360 Black
1.2kg bag
A cheap whey to carry your daily creatine, with the lowest cost per 25g of protein of any Protein Works whey.
or compare all UK prices →65p per 25g of protein
Protein Works Whey Protein 360 Black
1.2kg bagPros
- + 65p per 25g of protein in the 4.8kg bag, checked 23 September 2026
- + A plain base that creatine mixes into easily
- + WW12 takes 12% off at Protein Works
Cons
- – 59g of protein per 100g, lower than premium wheys
- – The cheapest price needs the biggest 4.8kg bag
●Nutrition per scoop · 17.7g protein in 30g▼
Protein makes up 59%
of this 30g scoop · 109 kcal total
Plain creatine monohydrate
Protein Works Creatine Monohydrate
500g bag
Straight creatine monohydrate to add to your daily shake, bought alongside your protein.
or compare all UK prices →Plain creatine monohydrate
Pros
- + Plain creatine monohydrate, the form with the most research behind it
- + Sold in 250g, 500g and 1kg bags
- + Easy to add to a Protein Works order with your whey
Cons
- – Unflavoured, so it leaves a little grit in a cold shake
- – Check the live price per 5g against Myprotein before you buy
Is a protein powder with added creatine cheaper?
Not in the one we checked. Bulk All In One Recovery gives 35g of protein, 5g of creatine monohydrate and 20g of carbohydrate in each 60g shake, according to bulk.com. The 1kg bag cost £26.99 in a sale on 23 September 2026, down from £44.99, which is about £1.62 a shake. The same 35g of protein from Protein Works Whey Protein 360 Black plus 5g of Myprotein Impact Creatine costs about £1.05, so the all-in-one shake cost 54% more, even at its sale price.
The all-in-one does add carbohydrate, glutamine peptides and extra leucine, which is why it costs more. If you want carbohydrate after training, a banana does that job for much less. For how creatine brands compare on price, see the best creatine UK guide and the creatine price comparison. To rank every whey by cost per 25g of protein, use the whey concentrate comparison or line up two products in the comparison tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put creatine in my protein shake?
Yes. Creatine monohydrate is a plain, unflavoured powder that mixes into a whey or vegan protein shake without changing the taste much. Stir or shake it well, because some of it will not fully dissolve, and drink the shake soon after mixing.
How much creatine should I add to my protein shake?
3g to 5g a day. The International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand on creatine describes 3g to 5g a day as the maintenance dose once your muscles are saturated. A level 5g scoop in one shake a day is enough. Take the same dose on rest days.
Should I take creatine before or after my protein shake?
It does not need to be either: put it in the same shake. What matters most with creatine is taking it every day, because it works by slowly building up the store in your muscles. The exact time of day matters far less than not missing days.
Does creatine have protein in it?
No. Creatine is made in the body from three amino acids, but a scoop of creatine monohydrate adds no protein to your shake. Count your protein from the protein powder and your food only.
Is protein powder with creatine worth it?
Usually not on price. Bulk All In One Recovery gives 35g of protein and 5g of creatine per shake for about £1.62 at its sale price on 23 September 2026. The same protein and creatine bought separately cost about £1.05, so the all-in-one shake cost 54% more. It does add 20g of carbohydrate and other ingredients, which some people want after training.
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