How SuppBench Scores Supplements
SuppBench compares supplements using a consistent, published scoring framework.
Our goal is simple: make it easier to understand what you are buying, what you are paying for, and how products differ beyond marketing claims.
Each product can receive a SuppBench Score from 0 to 100, based on five areas:
- 30 points — Quality & Verification
- 25 points — Value
- 20 points — Formula
- 15 points — Transparency
- 10 points — Convenience
Scores are based on product data, manufacturer information, publicly available testing or certification evidence, pricing, ingredient labels, and standardized calculations.
A SuppBench Score is a buying comparison score. It is not a medical recommendation, a guarantee of safety, or a prediction of how well a supplement will work for an individual.
The SuppBench Score
We use the same scoring framework for every product within a category.
90–100 — Exceptional
A product that performs extremely well across quality, value, formula, transparency, and convenience.
80–89 — Excellent
A strong product with relatively few meaningful weaknesses.
70–79 — Good
A solid option, although there may be trade-offs in price, verification, formulation, or convenience.
60–69 — Fair
A usable product with notable compromises.
Below 60 — Weak
A product with significant disadvantages relative to other options we track, or substantial gaps in the information available to verify it.
A lower score does not necessarily mean a product is unsafe or ineffective. In some cases, a product may score lower because important information could not be independently verified.
Quality & Verification — 30 points
This category measures the strength of the evidence available to verify what a product claims to be.
We look at three areas.
Product verification — up to 15 points
Higher scores are awarded when a product has strong, independently verifiable testing or certification.
Examples include recognized third-party certification programs, independent laboratory testing, and clearly documented product-level verification.
A manufacturer simply stating that a product is “third-party tested” does not receive the same credit as independently verifiable evidence.
Public laboratory evidence — up to 10 points
We look for evidence such as:
- batch-specific Certificates of Analysis (COAs)
- public laboratory reports
- product-specific testing documentation
- clearly described testing procedures
Products with easily accessible, current evidence receive more credit than products where testing is claimed but not shown.
Manufacturing and traceability — up to 5 points
We also consider how much useful information is available about:
- manufacturing standards
- production facilities
- ingredient sourcing
- traceability
- quality-control procedures
More transparent and traceable manufacturing receives a higher score.
Value — 25 points
Sticker price alone can be misleading.
SuppBench converts products into a standardized cost per effective dose wherever possible.
For creatine, our main comparison unit is:
Cost per 5 grams of creatine
For example, a $20 tub and a $35 tub cannot be fairly compared without knowing how much creatine each contains.
If one provides 100 standardized 5g doses and the other provides 50, their real value is very different.
For creatine, our current value scale is:
| Cost per 5g | Value points |
|---|---|
| $0.20 or less | 25 |
| $0.21–$0.30 | 23 |
| $0.31–$0.40 | 20 |
| $0.41–$0.50 | 17 |
| $0.51–$0.75 | 14 |
| $0.76–$1.00 | 11 |
| $1.01–$1.25 | 8 |
| $1.26–$1.50 | 6 |
| $1.51–$1.75 | 4 |
| $1.76–$2.00 | 2 |
| Above $2.00 | 0 |
This allows powders, capsules, gummies, and chews to be compared on the same underlying quantity of creatine.
Convenience differences are scored separately.
Prices change frequently, so we record when pricing data was last checked.
Formula — 20 points
This category looks at what the product actually contains.
For creatine products, we consider:
Creatine form — up to 10 points
Creatine monohydrate receives the highest score because it is the standard form against which other creatine products are commonly compared.
Products using alternative forms are scored according to how clearly the form is identified and how straightforward the formulation is.
We do not award extra points simply because a product uses marketing terms such as “advanced,” “ultra,” or “matrix.”
Creatine per serving — up to 6 points
Products receive more credit when a normal serving provides a useful quantity of creatine without requiring an unreasonable number of scoops, capsules, gummies, or chews.
Our current scale:
- 4.5g or more: 6 points
- 3–4.49g: 5 points
- 2–2.99g: 3 points
- 1–1.99g: 1 point
- Below 1g: 0 points
Formula simplicity — up to 4 points
Straightforward formulas receive more credit when the product clearly states what is included and why.
We consider factors such as:
- added sugars
- proprietary blends
- unnecessary ingredients
- additional active ingredients
- ingredient disclosure
A more complex formula is not automatically worse. It simply needs to justify what has been added.
Transparency — 15 points
Transparency measures how easy a company makes it for consumers to understand and verify the product.
Product-data consistency — up to 6 points
We check whether information such as:
- package quantity
- serving size
- number of servings
- ingredient quantities
- price
- nutritional information
is clear and internally consistent.
If a manufacturer lists conflicting serving counts or quantities, the score may be reduced.
Where possible, SuppBench performs its own calculations from the underlying product quantity instead of relying only on marketing claims such as “90 servings.”
Testing disclosure — up to 5 points
More credit is given when testing information is specific and accessible.
A vague statement such as “quality tested” carries less weight than a clearly identified testing program or public laboratory document.
Source and manufacturing disclosure — up to 4 points
We also consider whether the brand provides useful information about where and how the product is made.
Convenience — 10 points
Not every buyer wants the cheapest powder.
Convenience is scored separately so formats such as gummies, capsules, and chews can receive credit for the advantages they provide.
We consider:
Preparation — up to 4 points
Ready-to-consume products generally score higher for convenience than products that require mixing.
Portability — up to 3 points
Capsules, gummies, and chews are generally easier to carry than a large tub of powder.
Serving burden — up to 3 points
We consider how many scoops, capsules, gummies, or chews are needed to obtain the intended dose.
For example, a gummy product requiring three pieces may be more convenient than one requiring eight.
Standardized doses vs manufacturer servings
Manufacturers do not always define a “serving” in the same way.
One creatine product might provide 3g per serving while another provides 5g.
To make products comparable, SuppBench calculates a standardized 5g equivalent for creatine products.
We still show the manufacturer’s stated serving size, but our standardized metric allows visitors to compare products on an equal basis.
Example:
Product A: $20 for 500g creatine
500g ÷ 5g = 100 standardized doses
$20 ÷ 100 = $0.20 per 5g
This calculation is one of the core principles behind SuppBench.
How we handle missing evidence
SuppBench distinguishes between:
“We found evidence that this is not present”
and
“We could not verify that this is present.”
Those are not the same thing.
If we cannot locate a public COA, certification, or testing document, we do not automatically claim that the product has not been tested.
Instead, we mark the information as unverified based on the evidence available to us.
This approach is especially important when comparing smaller brands and manufacturers that publish different levels of information.
Data confidence
Some products have much more publicly available information than others.
For this reason, SuppBench may also display a confidence level alongside a score:
High confidence
Most important product, pricing, formulation, and verification information has been independently checked.
Medium confidence
The main product information is available, but some secondary verification or manufacturing information is missing.
Low confidence
Meaningful information remains unavailable or contradictory.
A low-confidence score should be interpreted cautiously.
Affiliate independence
SuppBench may earn a commission when visitors purchase products through some links on the site.
Affiliate commissions do not affect SuppBench Scores, rankings, or which products we recommend.
A product that pays a higher commission does not receive additional points.
A product may also be included or recommended even when SuppBench has no affiliate relationship with the manufacturer or retailer.
Our scoring process comes first. Monetization comes afterward.
Prices and product information change
Supplement prices, formulations, package sizes, certifications, and retailer availability can change.
We therefore record when important product information was last reviewed.
If we discover an error or a manufacturer updates a product, we may update the product record and recalculate its score.
Scores are not intended to remain permanently fixed.
Corrections
We want the SuppBench database to be accurate.
If you are a reader, manufacturer, retailer, or testing organization and believe information on SuppBench is incorrect, contact us at:
Please include the product name and supporting documentation where possible.
We will review credible corrections and update the database when appropriate.
One final note
SuppBench is designed to help consumers compare products, not replace professional medical advice.
Individual health needs, medications, medical conditions, pregnancy, age, and other factors may affect whether a supplement is appropriate for a particular person.
When personal medical advice is needed, consult an appropriate healthcare professional.