Just starting out
Gym basics
Two products, nothing else: protein powder and creatine. The simplest place to start.
$0.74a day
at the lowest prices, quality 75+
$3.12with typical prices
$23
a month
$270
a year, at the lowest prices
What it’s for
The two best-studied gym supplements. Protein gives your muscles the building blocks to repair after training, creatine helps with short, hard efforts like heavy sets.
Not medical advice.
What’s in it
Creatine
5 g creatine monohydrate 5 g is within the 3–5 g a day described for people who exercise (ISSN).Not a recommendation. Not medical advice.
- Lowest
- 9.5¢
- Typical
- $0.51
Protein powder
30 g protein There’s no single daily amount for protein – it depends on body weight: 1.4–2.0 g per kg a day for people who exercise, from food and supplements together (ISSN).Not a recommendation. Not medical advice.
- Lowest
- $0.65
- Typical
- $2.61
Each color is one part of the combo – per day.
| Part | Lowest | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Creatine | 9.5¢ | $0.51 |
| Protein powder | $0.65 | $2.61 |
- Every day
- Creatine
- After
- Protein powder
What we often see on labels and in training plans – not a recommendation.
Not medical advice
We compare prices and label data. The amounts are the ones we compare by – usually the common amount on labels – not recommendations. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before taking supplements, especially if you are under 18, pregnant or on medication.
Prices: our own check of 7,383 products in US online stores (Nov 1, 2026). How we check
