--- title: "Chief vs Optimum Nutrition Creatine: Honest Comparison | Chief" description: "Chief and Optimum Nutrition both sell pure micronised creatine monohydrate at a 3g serve. We compare testing, certification, sizes and price, with an honest ver" lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Compare", "item": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/au/compare" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Chief vs Optimum Nutrition Creatine: An Honest Comparison", "item": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/au/compare/chief-vs-optimum-nutrition-creatine" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is Chief or Optimum Nutrition creatine better?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Both are 100% pure micronised creatine monohydrate at a 3g serve, so the creatine is essentially the same. Optimum Nutrition is Informed Choice banned-substance tested, which matters if you are drug tested. Chief is third-party tested in Australia and has a clear, checkable price." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which one is banned-substance tested for athletes?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Optimum Nutrition's creatine is certified to Informed Choice, which batch tests for substances banned in sport. Chief does not hold Informed Choice or HASTA. If you compete under drug testing, choose Optimum Nutrition or another certified product." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are the serve sizes the same?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. In Australia both serve 3g of creatine monohydrate. Optimum Nutrition's AU label states a 3g serve, the same as Chief, so a per-gram comparison is like for like." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which one is cheaper?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Chief lists its 300g at $49.95 AUD, about $0.17 a gram. Optimum Nutrition's own AU store did not show a price on the day we checked, listing the product out of stock. It is sold through many AU retailers where the price varies, so check the current retail price before deciding on cost." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is Optimum Nutrition creatine made in Australia?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Optimum Nutrition is a US-owned global brand, and its AU page does not state a country of manufacture. Chief is made in Australia and third-party tested here." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are both suitable for vegans?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Both are creatine monohydrate made synthetically rather than from animals, so both suit vegans and vegetarians." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Optimum Nutrition offer flavours?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Optimum Nutrition sells a Blueberry Lemonade creatine as well as unflavoured, and larger 600g and 1.2kg sizes. Chief's creatine is unflavoured only, in a 300g tub. The unflavoured tubs are the like-for-like comparison here." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/au/compare/chief-vs-optimum-nutrition-creatine#article", "headline": "Chief vs Optimum Nutrition Creatine: An Honest Comparison", "description": "Chief and Optimum Nutrition both sell pure micronised creatine monohydrate at a 3g serve. We compare testing, certification, sizes and price, with an honest verdict.", "image": "https://wearechief.com/cdn/shop/files/f58df285f31026366fa15051b2bf6c7be05a7457_600x.png?v=1765526408", "inLanguage": "en-AU", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Chief Nutrition", "@id": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/#organization" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/#organization" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/#website" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowledge.wearechief.com/au/compare/chief-vs-optimum-nutrition-creatine#webpage" }, "mentions": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Chief Nutrition", "alternateName": "Chief" }, { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Optimum Nutrition" } ], "datePublished": "2026-07-20T05:57:56.139Z", "dateModified": "2026-08-26T05:46:47.282Z" } ] --- [![Chief Nutrition](/assets/chief-logo-fUVXozRx.png)](/) [Home](/) [Products](/products) [Ingredients](/ingredients)[Health Topics](/health-topics)[Guides](/guides)[Trust and Proof](/trust)[About](/about)[FAQs](/faqs) [Visit Chief Store](https://wearechief.com) # Chief vs Optimum Nutrition Creatine: An Honest Comparison On the creatine itself there is nothing between them, both 100% pure micronised monohydrate at a 3g serve, so it comes down to Optimum Nutrition's Informed Choice banned-substance testing against Chief's Australian testing and transparent per-gram price. ## At a glance On the creatine itself there is nothing between them. Both are 100% pure micronised creatine monohydrate at a 3g serve, with nothing else in the unflavoured tubs. The real split is certification and assurance. Optimum Nutrition holds Informed Choice banned-substance certification, which Chief does not, so a drug-tested athlete should choose Optimum Nutrition. Chief answers purity with Australian third-party testing, is made in Australia and lists a clear price. Optimum Nutrition's own AU store, by contrast, showed no price and was out of stock on the day we checked. Choose Optimum Nutrition for banned-substance certification and range, Chief for local testing and a transparent per-gram price. ### Chief - • a price you can actually see, about $0.17 a gram on the 300g - • Australian third-party testing for heavy metals, impurities and microbiological safety - • buyers who want an Australian-made, single-ingredient tub Per 45 g bar Chief Optimum Nutrition Form Pure micronised creatine monohydrate, unflavoured 100% pure micronised creatine monohydrate, unflavoured Serve size 3g 3g (AU serve) Added ingredients, fillers or sweeteners None, creatine only None in the unflavoured tub; a Blueberry Lemonade flavour is also sold Testing and certification Third-party tested in Australia for purity, impurities, heavy metals and microbiological safety Banned-substance tested to the Informed Choice certification Banned-substance certification None stated, no HASTA Informed Choice Made in Australia US-owned global brand, country of manufacture not stated on the AU page Pack sizes and serves 300g, 100 serves 300g, 600g and 1.2kg, so 100, 200 and 400 serves at 3g Price $49.95 AUD (300g) Not listed on Optimum Nutrition's AU store at time of writing, shown out of stock; stocked at AU retailers, price varies Price per serve about $0.50 (3g serve) Not verifiable from Optimum Nutrition's own AU store Price per gram about $0.17 Not verifiable from Optimum Nutrition's own AU store Suitable for vegans Yes, creatine monohydrate is made synthetically Yes, creatine monohydrate is made synthetically ## The cost, and why we cannot give Optimum Nutrition's price in full Chief's price is straightforward. The 300g tub is $49.95 AUD, which is about $0.17 a gram, or about $0.50 for a 3g serve. Optimum Nutrition's is not, at least not from its own store. On 6 July 2026 the Optimum Nutrition AU site listed this creatine out of stock, with every size showing no price, so there was no Optimum Nutrition figure to compare. We will not quote a retailer's price as though it were Optimum Nutrition's own. In practice Optimum Nutrition is sold across many Australian retailers, and its scale often makes it competitively priced, especially in the larger sizes. If cost is your deciding factor, check the current price at a retailer you trust before you buy, and compare it per gram against Chief's $0.17. ## Where Chief is the better choice ### You want a price you can see and a low per-gram cost Chief lists its 300g tub at **$49.95 AUD**, which is about $0.17 a gram, or about $0.50 for a 3g serve. On 6 July 2026 Optimum Nutrition's own AU store listed this creatine out of stock with no price, so we cannot put an Optimum Nutrition figure next to Chief's. Chief gives you a clear, checkable price where Optimum Nutrition, on the day, gave none. ### You want Australian third-party testing Chief has its creatine third-party tested in Australia for purity, impurities, heavy metals and microbiological safety, and describes the result as pharmaceutical grade. That covers the contamination question directly. Optimum Nutrition's assurance is a different one, banned-substance testing, which is covered in its own section below. ### You want an Australian-made, single-ingredient tub Chief is made in Australia and its unflavoured tub is creatine and nothing else. Optimum Nutrition is a US-owned global brand, so if buying local with published testing is part of the decision, that side is Chief's. ## Where Optimum Nutrition is the better choice ### You compete under drug testing This is the clearest reason to choose Optimum Nutrition. Its creatine is banned-substance tested to the **Informed Choice** certification, which checks batches against a list of substances banned in sport. Chief does not hold Informed Choice or HASTA. If you are drug tested, a certified product is important, and here Optimum Nutrition has the certification and Chief does not. ### You want the widest availability and larger sizes Optimum Nutrition is one of the most widely stocked supplement brands in Australia, carried across chemists, supermarkets and sports retailers, so it is easy to find and easy to reorder. It also sells larger 600g and 1.2kg tubs, up to 400 serves, where Chief's creatine is a single 300g size. For a heavy, long-term user the bulk sizes are convenient. ### You want a flavoured creatine Optimum Nutrition offers a Blueberry Lemonade creatine as well as the unflavoured tub, so if you would rather not mix plain creatine into water it has an option. Chief's creatine is unflavoured only. This is a small thing, but it is a genuine choice Optimum Nutrition gives and Chief does not. ## Which one is right for you You compete under drug testing and need banned-substance certification Optimum Nutrition, it is Informed Choice certified You want a verifiable, low per-gram price on a standard tub Chief, about $0.17 a gram, clearly listed You want Australian third-party testing and local making Chief, tested and made in Australia You want the largest bulk size Optimum Nutrition, up to a 1.2kg tub You want a flavoured creatine Optimum Nutrition, it has a Blueberry Lemonade option You want an unflavoured, single-ingredient tub from an Australian brand Chief ## Testing and certification: the real difference Both tubs hold the same thing, pure micronised creatine monohydrate at a 3g serve, so the difference is the assurance around it. Optimum Nutrition holds Informed Choice certification, a banned-substance testing programme that checks batches against substances prohibited in sport. That is built for competing athletes. Chief does not hold Informed Choice or HASTA. Chief's assurance is Australian third-party testing for heavy metals, impurities and microbiological safety, which answers the contamination question rather than the drug-testing one. They are two different guarantees, so match the one you need. ## Before you buy Creatine is not a fix for poor training, patchy sleep or a poor diet, whichever brand you choose. Some people hold a little extra water in the first week or two, which settles. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or you have a kidney condition, check with your doctor first. Prices, stock and certifications change, so confirm each on the brand's own site before you buy. If you compete under drug testing, check the current banned-substance certification of the exact product and batch. ## Common questions ## Is Chief or Optimum Nutrition creatine better? ## Which one is banned-substance tested for athletes? ## Are the serve sizes the same? ## Which one is cheaper? ## Is Optimum Nutrition creatine made in Australia? ## Are both suitable for vegans? ## Does Optimum Nutrition offer flavours? ## A note on why we wrote this Chief makes one of these products, so read this with that in mind. Chief's figures come from Chief's own product data. Optimum Nutrition's come from optimumnutrition.com/en-au, read on 6 July 2026, where the product was listed out of stock with no price, so no Optimum Nutrition price is stated here. Prices change, so check both before you buy. ## Related reading - [Chief Knowledge Centre](https://knowledge.wearechief.com) - [Creatine](https://knowledge.wearechief.com/creatine) - [What is creatine, and how to choose one](https://knowledge.wearechief.com/creatine/what-is-creatine-and-how-to-choose-one) - [How Chief tests its products](https://knowledge.wearechief.com/trust) Chief Nutrition AI Knowledge Centre Real food. 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