Thorne or ON Creatine? Both 5 g; Thorne Is NSF Certified

Thorne Creatine and Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Powder (Unflavored) each list 5 g of creatine monohydrate per serving, and neither label lists any other ingredient. The main difference is the testing claim: Thorne states NSF Certified for Sport, while Optimum Nutrition says banned substance tested without naming a program. The labels also describe the serving differently. This page sets the panels side by side and leaves the choice to you.

Key takeaways (answer first)

• Both unflavored products list 5 g creatine monohydrate per serving. Optimum Nutrition's panel says “OTHER INGREDIENTS: None.” Thorne's ingredient list shows only Creatine Monohydrate 5g.
• Serving wording differs. Thorne uses 1 scoop with 90 servings listed. Optimum Nutrition's 60-serving label uses 1 rounded teaspoon (5 g), and its 240-serving label uses 1 rounded scoop.
• Thorne states “NSF Certified for Sport.” Optimum Nutrition states “Banned Substance Tested” and does not name a program.
• Neither brand page mentions Creapure, so check the physical label for any sourcing name.

What Are the Core Ingredients in Thorne vs Optimum Nutrition Unflavored Creatine?

Both labels list only creatine monohydrate at 5 g per serving, with no other ingredients on the panel. Only Thorne's and Optimum Nutrition's badge and other-ingredient lines differ.

Label item	Thorne Creatine	Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Powder (Unflavored)
Creatine per serving	Creatine Monohydrate 5g	Creatine Monohydrate 5 g
Other ingredients	No other ingredients listed	“OTHER INGREDIENTS: None.”
Serving size on label	1 Scoop(s)	1 Rounded Teaspoon (5 g) on 60-serving tub; 5 g (1 Rounded Scoop) on 240-serving tub
Servings per container	90 (180-serving size also offered)	60, 120, or 240 depending on tub
Testing wording	NSF Certified for Sport	“Banned Substance Tested” (no program named)
Creapure	Not stated on brand page	Not stated on brand page
Form wording	“micronized form of creatine monohydrate”	“Micronized Creatine Powder”
Badges	Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free	Front badges: 100% PURE CREATINE MONOHYDRATE; BANNED SUBSTANCE TESTED

Optimum Nutrition's flavored versions are described as “made with no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners,” but their full ingredient lists were not disclosed, so flavored versions fall outside this comparison.

How Do Serving Size, Scoop Size, and Servings Per Container Compare?

Thorne lists 90 servings per 1-scoop (5 g) serving; Optimum Nutrition lists 60, 120, or 240 servings of 5 g each. Thorne's label names the unit as “1 Scoop(s),” while Optimum Nutrition's 60-serving panel says “1 Rounded Teaspoon (5 g)” and its 240-serving panel says “Serving Size 5 g (1 Rounded Scoop).”

Thorne's brand page says “Most people take 1 scoop (5 g) of Thorne Creatine once daily” and gives the directions “Mix 1 scoop with at least 8 ounces of water, juice, or preferred beverage daily.” Optimum Nutrition's unflavored sizes are 60 servings (0.66 lb), 120 servings (1.32 lb), and 240 servings (2.64 lb). The serving stays at 5 g across the listed tub sizes.

The physical volume of Thorne's scoop was not disclosed, and whether either tub includes a scoop was not disclosed. Checklist:

• Find the serving size in grams on the panel.
• Note servings per container and tub weight.
• Check the unit name (scoop or teaspoon), which can differ between tubs of the same product.

What Does NSF Certified for Sport Mean Compared With a 'Banned Substance Tested' Badge?

Thorne's brand page states NSF Certified for Sport; Optimum Nutrition's label says BANNED SUBSTANCE TESTED and names no program. NSF Certified for Sport is a named third-party certification program. The Optimum Nutrition label does not name the program, lab, or organization behind its testing, so the two statements are not interchangeable.

This article cannot say which substances either claim covers, because neither brand page describes its test panel. The scope of each claim is a question for the program or brand to answer.

Neither statement is a government approval. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that “FDA does not test or approve performance supplements before they are sold,” and FDA says it does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are sold. Ask whether the program is named, whether you can look it up, and whether the claim refers to the tub you are holding.

Is Creapure Listed on Thorne Creatine or Optimum Nutrition Unflavored Creatine?

Neither brand page mentions Creapure. Creapure is also not among the front badges on the unflavored 60-serving label, so neither page supports an assumption that either product uses it.

The creatine source country for either brand was not disclosed. Check the physical label for any sourcing name.

Is Creatine Monohydrate Safe for Healthy Adults?

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says creatine is safe for healthy adults to take for several weeks or months, and it also seems safe for long-term use over several years. The body makes about 1 gram of creatine a day, and food adds some, such as about 500 milligrams in a 4-ounce serving of beef or salmon. NIH also notes that creatine usually causes some weight gain because it increases water retention.

Optimum Nutrition's label says “SUGGESTED USE: Intended for use in healthy adults.” Thorne's brand page gives its daily scoop directions shown above, and no separate population statement was disclosed in the text.

People with kidney or other medical conditions, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and anyone under 18 should ask a clinician before taking creatine.

What Does 'Daily Value Not Established' Mean on a Creatine Supplement Facts Panel?

The phrase means no Daily Value has been set for that ingredient, so the panel uses an asterisk instead of a percent. Optimum Nutrition's 60-serving panel shows “*Daily Value not established.” beside Creatine Monohydrate 5 g.

Under 21 CFR 101.36(b)(3)(iv), dietary ingredients without a Daily Value carry a symbol that refers to that statement. The footnote does not mean the ingredient is zero or unsafe. Thorne's brand page lists its ingredient as text, and whether its printed panel carries the same footnote was not disclosed.

How Can Shoppers Verify Creatine Labels Themselves Before Buying?

Compare the physical panel rather than relying on web pages, which can change. Look for these items on each tub:

• Serving size in grams and the unit name (scoop or teaspoon).
• Servings per container and tub weight.
• The “other ingredients” line, including whether it says None.
• The testing badge wording and whether a named program appears.
• Any sourcing name, such as Creapure, printed on the label.
• A Daily Value footnote, if one is printed.

If you are weighing a gummy format against powder, see Creatine Gummies vs Powder: Do Gummies Have What the Label Says?. For a sodium and sugar side-by-side in a different category, see Liquid I.V. vs LMNT: Which Has More Sodium and Sugar?.