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Oct 14, 2024

Best Massage Guns for 2024 - CNET

Article updated on October 8, 2024 at 9:42 PM PDT There are levels to the massage gun game, and we've tested them to find out which ones are worth the money. CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates

Article updated on October 8, 2024 at 9:42 PM PDT

There are levels to the massage gun game, and we've tested them to find out which ones are worth the money.

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

Factors to consider when shopping for a massage gun

Price

Massage guns can cost about $100 or up to $600. Budget for the type you want and for your needs.

What type of massage gun

There are heavy-duty massage guns that are top-of-the-line and others that are less intense. Decide if your lifestyle requires a massage gun with all the bells and whistles or if you're OK with a basic style.

Vibration vs percussive massage therapy

Massage guns offer either vibration or percussive therapy. Vibration therapy sends vibrations and constantly touches the surface of the skin, whereas percussive therapy uses pressure to get deeper into the muscle and glides on and off of the skin.

Battery life

Battery life can vary depending on the massage gun, so it's something to consider if you're not looking to charge it all the time.

Portability

Some massage guns are designed for on-the-go use. Decide whether you need one that's easy to carry during your travels or if you prefer to keep it at home.

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

Factors to consider when shopping for a massage gun

Price

Massage guns can cost about $100 or up to $600. Budget for the type you want and for your needs.

What type of massage gun

There are heavy-duty massage guns that are top-of-the-line and others that are less intense. Decide if your lifestyle requires a massage gun with all the bells and whistles or if you're OK with a basic style.

Vibration vs percussive massage therapy

Massage guns offer either vibration or percussive therapy. Vibration therapy sends vibrations and constantly touches the surface of the skin, whereas percussive therapy uses pressure to get deeper into the muscle and glides on and off of the skin.

Battery life

Battery life can vary depending on the massage gun, so it's something to consider if you're not looking to charge it all the time.

Portability

Some massage guns are designed for on-the-go use. Decide whether you need one that's easy to carry during your travels or if you prefer to keep it at home.

Massage guns are a good way to massage your neck, back, legs and shoulders after a tough workout or day at work. Massage guns use percussive therapy, which helps relax muscles via a soft-tissue massage. Using a massage gun can also get the blood flow going during a warm-up before a workout, and they have been found to improve your range of motion. Before buying a massage gun, there are some things to consider like its amplitude, speed and noise levels.

We took it upon ourselves to test popular brands like Theragun to choose massage guns that are worth your money. Use this guide to find the best portable massage gun for your lifestyle and budget.

I tested over 17 top-rated massage guns and my favorite was the Theragun Elite. It's easy enough to use for both beginners and experienced fitness enthusiasts. The screen on the handle is simple to follow, so the massage gun speed and battery life are clear. The amplitude -- the ability to get deep into your muscles -- is on the higher side for a massage gun. Therabody is a well-respected brand with a wide range of recovery products, so you know you're getting a top-notch massage gun.

If you're not a fan of the loud percussion noise that's normally associated with massage guns, you may prefer one of the quieter options on this list; for example, the Ekrin Athletics Bantam.

The Theragun Elite is a powerful, easy-to-use massage gun with a comfortable handle. It provides 40 pounds of pressure and has five built-in speeds, ranging from 1,750 to 2,400 percussions per minute. It also has an amplitude of 16 millimeters, which gets deeper into the muscles.

The Elite has five attachments: a dampener, standard ball, wedge, thumb and cone. The Elite lets you access preset guided routines from the Therabody app (available for iPhone and Android) in case you need help getting started with your massage gun.

This massage gun has a 120-minute battery life. Once turned on, the Elite has a screen that indicates its current speed setting and remaining battery. It's a powerful massager, falling between the Theragun Pro Gen 5 and the Theragun Prime. The Elite is more user-friendly, thanks to the simplicity of its features while having more power than the Prime. Both beginners and well-established athletes will get good use from the Elite to break down knots and eliminate sore muscles.

My one gripe with the Elite is that it's supposed to be one of Theragun's quieter massage gun models, but I still thought it was on the louder side, especially as you amp up the power. It also has a shorter battery life than the other guns on this list. If you're content with keeping the massage gun at home and breaking it out when needed, the Theragun Elite is a solid pick.

The Ekrin Athletics B37S Percussion Massager has an eight-hour battery life, the longest out of all the massage guns on this list. The B37S has five adjustable speeds ranging from 1,400 to 3,200 percussions per minute. This includes up to 56 pounds of deep percussive force which gets into those hard-to-reach knots. It also has six head attachments, so you have many options to choose from.

This massage gun is sturdy and less bulky than other massage guns with various features. The power button, found at the top of the handle, controls the speed and is easy to maneuver. Even at the lowest speed setting, the B37S felt powerful.

The B37S is on par with elite massage guns like Theragun and Hypervolt. It's just as expensive (at over $300), but it has both brands beat on battery life. This is important if you're not looking to constantly charge your massage gun. So if battery life is important to you, you'll be satisfied with the Ekrin Athletics B37S.

Mini massage guns have gained popularity because they're compact. The Ekrin Athletics Bantam is the best option for traveling. It's sleek, slim, lightweight, compact (the size of an iPhone) and comfortable to hold. It also has a six-hour battery life, which is long for most massage guns, let alone a mini.

The Bantam comes with a travel case and four head attachments. You have more options than its competitor the Theragun Mini second generation, which only has three. The Bantam has three speeds ranging from 2,000 to 3,200 percussions per minute and provides 10 mm of amplitude and up to 35 pounds of pressure.

It's quiet yet powerful even at the lowest settings. My only problem with this massage gun is that the design was simpler than I would've liked. The power button, which is on the bottom of the handle, controls the speed as well. Unfortunately, there's no way to see what speed level the massage gun is on unless you click through each one. If you want a reliable massage gun to take to the gym or while traveling, look no further than the Bantam.

Similar to its siblings, the second-gen Theragun Mini packs a powerful punch. It's the improved Mini in the Theragun collection and it's a solid upgrade from the original. The second-gen Theragun Mini is quieter than the original Mini, 20% smaller and 30% lighter. This time around you get three attachments with your Mini instead of just the one that the original had.

This massage gun has three speeds ranging from 1,750 to 2,400 percussions per minute. It has 12 mm of amplitude, which is deep for a mini massage gun. By comparison, the Bantam massage gun only has 10 mm of amplitude.

The Theragun Mini second generation maintains the same solid ergonomic handle that the original Mini has to make up for its compact shape. The Mini's power button also controls the speed and uses lights to indicate the speed level. Another plus is that it's Bluetooth enabled, so you can connect it to the Therabody app.

The problem with this design is that there's no way of knowing when it's time to recharge the massage gun. If you're looking for a small yet powerful massage gun that's portable, the Theragun Mini is a good choice.

The fifth generation of the Theragun Pro has an upgraded design compared to the previous model. It's 20% quieter, smaller and slightly lighter than the original (2.76 pounds vs. 2.91 pounds). Therabody kept the important features of its predecessor: an adjustable head angle, five speeds, a 150-minute battery life, 16 mm of amplitude and 60 pounds of pressure.

New upgrades include customizable speed ranges and visually guided built-in routines through the OLED screen: Sleep, Warm Up, Recovery and Theragun Break. Other additions include a new attachment, the Micropoint, intended to increase stimulation. It also has a Bluetooth connection, so it's easy to manage from the Therabody app.

Once turned on, it's noticeable that it's significantly quieter than the previous version. It's still powerful even at the lowest speed. Therabody kept the rotating arm, which makes it easy to target hard-to-reach areas.

The downside to the newest Pro is that it's still the most expensive massage gun on this list. This may not be the best option for everyone since you can get a similar experience with a less expensive device. Athletes and others who are physically active all day would benefit the most from this full-featured massage gun.

Lifepro's Sonic Handheld Percussion Massage Gun is less intimidating than other heavy-duty massage guns. It's also on the quieter side. The battery lasts three to six hours and consists of five speeds ranging from 1,200 to 2,800 revolutions per minute. The LED panel on the Sonic has all the speeds and battery life listed in one place, so it's easy to read.

The Sonic has the most massage head attachments of all the massage guns on this list. It's on the bigger side so it's not suitable for traveling. An issue I had with the Sonic was that I had to set it at the highest setting to feel the power of the massage gun. This is less common with heavy-duty massage guns, like the Theragun, because you can feel the intensity at the lowest setting. Another aspect that could be improved is the design of the body of the gun. It's made up of plastic, which makes it appear less durable.

Otherwise, if you're new to percussive therapy this is a good option that gives you the full experience without breaking the bank.

The Renpho R4 Pro Massage Gun doesn't look as sophisticated as the other massage guns on this list, but it is still effective. The R4 Pro has a rotating head that can be adjusted into five positions by pressing a large button on the side of the massage head. This feature reminded me of the Theragun Pro, which functions similarly. Being able to change the angling of the massage gun is key because you can target hard-to-reach areas. The R4 Pro also comes with six attachments: L ball head, M ball head, fork, bullet, flat and air-cushioned head.

The power button has a panel that reads the four speeds (ranging from 1,200 to 3,200 percussions per minute) and the battery level. This battery lasts up to two hours, similar to the Theragun Pro's two-and-a-half-hour battery life. It has 10 mm of amplitude so it doesn't penetrate as deep as the Theragun Pro. If you want a massage gun that isn't expensive but has the features of a high-end one (minus the app function), the Renpho R4 Pro Massage Gun is a solid pick. After all, $80 is reasonable compared to spending hundreds of dollars on a massage gun with similar features.

Design: Although massage guns have a standard shape, we looked at the designs and materials that make up each massage gun. Even if they look similar, the knobs, buttons and screens can vary per product.

Amplitude: The amplitude or the depth of the massage is the key to owning a solid massage gun. The higher the amplitude, the deeper the massage gun can target your muscles. We looked at the amplitude and observed how the massage gun felt in use.

Noise: Massage guns are known for their loud vibrations, therefore we observed the level of noise generated by each massage gun. Although you can't eliminate the noise created by the massage gun, we took into account the size and decibels.

Features: We looked at any unique features the massage guns offered such as apps, screen display, attachments available, carrying cases and more.

If you're new to massage guns there are some things to keep in mind so you're getting the most out of them. We spoke with sports chiropractor and Hyperice ambassador, Dr. Julia Morgan for advice on the best massage gun practices.

Choosing the right massage gun: There are different types of massage guns on the market so it's helpful to know if you want something heavy-duty because you're very active or if you don't need the massage gun with all the bells and whistles because you're only going to use it occasionally. Setting a budget for yourself is important too because some massage guns can go upwards of $100.

Know what specs to look at: When choosing a massage gun, there are a couple of features you want to look at: The amplitude and stall force. "Stall force simply means how much pressure the motor of the massage gun can withstand before the motor 'stalls' with us," explains Morgan. Amplitude refers to how deep into the region it can go. You'll typically see amplitude in the range of 8mm, 12mm, or 16mm as the deepest. Usually, heavy-duty massage guns have the highest amplitude.

Know the attachments: Most massage guns will come with a few different attachments that you can switch up depending on the area you're targeting. For example, the common attachments may include a standard ball which is good for large and small muscle groups, a bullet which is meant to target legs and back muscles, a forked head which is intended to target the spine, shoulders and neck, and a flat head which offers a gentler massage on the larger muscles.

How often to use: Massage guns are safe to use regularly as long as there are no health concerns to address first. Morgan says, "Those with thin skin, who have underlying musculoskeletal or vascular conditions, or who are pregnant, should consult their doctor before use." Although massage guns are safe to use daily to soothe sore muscles or as part of a warm up, it's important to make sure you're not experiencing chronic pain. "If you’re using it every day on a pain that is not going away or getting better after 2-3 days it may require another intervention," warns Morgan.

Start slow: It may be tempting to put your massage gun at the highest setting, but the key is to start slow. Morgan says, "Gently glide the massage gun over the area not holding for too long in one position." Use the massage gun in different directions and work on that area for about a few minutes, and taking a break as needed.

There are different ways to use a massage gun whether you're an athlete or are simply looking for some muscle relief. These are some effective ways to use a massage gun.

Use it before bed: Some people find using a massage gun before bed to be soothing. Morgan says, "a massage gun when used on a low setting can be super relaxing due to the increased blood flow and decreased perception of pain it results in."

Don't forget your upper body: Because many people have jobs that require them to sit, the upper body usually ends up tense. Morgan advises, "I think everyone can use a little love on their upper trapezius, quads, and glutes a few times a week." She says spending about 2 minutes per body part at the beginning or end of your day can help bring awareness, decrease pain perception, and improve range of motion in the area.

Use before or after workout: Crank up a massage gun for a few minutes soothe your sore muscles after a workout or beforehand as part of your warm up routine.

Massage guns work by sending fast and powerful pulsating strokes that penetrate deep into muscle tissues. They increase muscle stimulation, reduce soft tissue pain and improve blood circulation, speed up recovery and improve your physical performance.

Massage guns typically use percussive therapy, which has been found to help with recovery after a workout, relieving muscle aches, soreness and pain. Some people like to use a massage gun to warm up and promote circulation to a specific area before their workout.

You can use a massage gun on big muscle groups like your quads, hamstrings, glutes, back muscles and even your neck, hips and calves. You want to avoid using a massage gun on any injured areas, bones or joints. Remember that harder and faster isn't always better. Derrickson advises, "Start on the lowest setting and find your tolerance and what you need in the moment." He says you should never be forceful with a massage gun, adding, "You don't want constant pressure on one area the entire time, instead let it glide over the muscles."

Typically it's OK for anyone to use a massage gun. If you have a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, it may interfere with the circuitry. If you're pregnant, you should also avoid massage guns or first get clearance to use one from your doctor.

Massage guns are safe to use every day, as long as you use the proper technique, but you don't want to overdo it since it can reduce the benefits of the therapy. Dr. Grant K Radermacher, a sports chiropractor, says, "Start with a small region of soft tissue and work with it for a maximum of 2 minutes." Anything longer than two minutes or static work can irritate the region, and/or create an adverse reaction of restricted blood flow due to compression.