Creatine HCl is a hydrochloride salt of creatine marketed as 'more soluble, smaller dose needed.'
It IS more water-soluble, 38 times more than creatine monohydrate in laboratory testing, but no human trial has shown it is more effective per gram than monohydrate.
The one head-to-head trial we identified found no benefit over monohydrate on strength, hypertrophy or hormonal outcomes.
The commonly claimed advantages, less water retention and less GI bloating, have not been demonstrated for the hydrochloride salt against monohydrate at equal doses in any study cited here.
What the evidence does support is that GI complaints track the size of an individual serving, and splitting a monohydrate dose addresses that directly.
Monohydrate is the form that has been most extensively studied, and it remains the only source with substantial evidence supporting bioavailability, efficacy and safety.
Our assessment: use monohydrate. Save your money.