Biogen vs USN creatine: which is better in South Africa?

How do Biogen and USN creatine compare?

Both are single-ingredient creatine monohydrate from South African brands, and both work the same way: 3-5 g a day (ISSN). The differences are price per dose, pack sizes and what each seller says about testing.

Which has the better testing credentials?

Biogen. Its Dis-Chem listing carries an Informed Sport entry, and Informed Sport tests batches for a long list of banned substances. We did not check the certificate, so a drug-tested athlete should look up the batch number on the Informed Sport register rather than trust a retail page. USN's Pure Creatine pages in our research state no third-party certification; USN's separate XTS Hyperdrive pre-workout cites Informed Choice, which is a different product and a retail-sampling scheme. SAIDS does not certify any supplement; see what Informed Sport means.

Which is cheaper?

At the largest comparable sizes Biogen 500 g is about 10% cheaper per dose than USN 300 g (R4.45 vs about R4.98). USN's price varies the most by retailer: the 410 g tub was R269 at Faithful to Nature and R439.99 at Dis-Chem, a gap of more than 60%, so shop around. Neither is the cheapest on the market: Nutritech 500 g can be R2.50 to R3.99 per 5 g, and ATP Fitness 600 g is R4.17.

Which should you buy?

• Biogen: if you want the most creatine for the money from a mainstream shelf brand, or a tested-product claim to verify.
• USN: if you want a small first tub (200 g) from a widely stocked brand, or a vegan or halaal tag. Remember the tag is a brand claim; see is USN creatine good.
• Alternatives: ATP Fitness 600 g (R500) is a micronised single-ingredient option at R4.17 per 5 g, with the trade-offs that it is a young brand and publishes no third-party certification.

Compare more brands in the best creatine in South Africa. Brand pages: Biogen and USN.

Products mentioned