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Oct 17, 2024

The Best Massage Guns of 2024 | GearJunkie Tested

While foam rollers are great, it’s hard to beat the healing power of a massage. Over the past five or so years, percussive therapy has changed how gym-goers and physical therapists treat soreness and

While foam rollers are great, it’s hard to beat the healing power of a massage. Over the past five or so years, percussive therapy has changed how gym-goers and physical therapists treat soreness and chronic pain and relieve the buildup of lactic acid. Best of all, quality percussion massagers (a.k.a. massage guns) are a portable, powerful, one-time investment.

Massage guns are a staple in the fitness world. They are designed to loosen muscle knots, improve blood flow, help alleviate soreness, and reduce inflammation. While scientific evidence of these claims is mixed at best, the anecdotal evidence from athletes of all stripes (skiers, runners, hikers, etc.) makes a good percussion massager worth consideration.

Our testers include personal trainers, competitive athletes, and generally, the kinds of folks whose activity levels result in being sore more often than not. Through hours of research and months of testing, we’ve narrowed down the best massage guns on the market.

If you’ve yet to try one, this is a great place to start. Our buyer’s guide, price & value, and FAQ sections have everything you need to make an informed decision. And if you need more help choosing, be sure to check out the comparison chart.

Editor’s Note: We refreshed this article on October 7, 2024, by adding the Power Plate Pulse 3.0 and beefing up our buyer’s guide content.

Most massage guns on the market look like a power drill and sound about the same. The Therabody team set out to develop a powerful yet quiet option, and they succeeded with the G4 Pro and continued the evolution with the even quieter PRO Plus.

The Fifth generation Theragun PRO Plus ($599) employs a quieter motor than the previous model while still delivering high-quality power (it packs up to 60 pounds of force) and isn’t as loud as other massagers with comparable power. While it’s not silent, it’s the quietest high-powered percussion massager we’ve tested, second only to the Power Plate Pulse 3.0 (see below).

The PRO Plus comes with a multitude of options to personalize percussive therapy. It boasts a rotating arm paired with an ergonomic multi-grip and a customizable speed range between 1,750 and 2,400 ppm (percussions per minute). The rotating arm was a godsend during testing, helping us reach areas on our backs that we couldn’t hit with other massage guns.

In lay terms, this means you can confidently and easily massage any part of your own body with deep tissue force without the motor stalling out. Gone are the days of convincing someone to rub out your shoulders. The PRO Plus includes a Bluetooth connection for app-guided massage routines, and it also has a simple display on the back of the device to aid in your massage progression.

In a first for Theragun, the PRO Plus also offers red light therapy, which lights up and heats the area being massaged with the press of a button. While its effects require more study, initial studies suggest that red light therapy may help improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and stimulate collagen production. While we can’t confirm these benefits, the red light’s warmth did feel good and seemed to help our muscles loosen up during testing.

Six different head attachments deliver complete customization. The Theragun PRO Plus also pairs with the Therabody app, which offers extra support, including a force meter and personalized wellness routines.

The whole package comes with seven head attachments, a carrying case, two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with charger, and the Theragun itself. While you’ll have to pay for the luxury the PRO Plus offers, it’s easily the best massage gun on the market today.

This massage gun isn’t the absolute cheapest on the market, but we think it offers the best overall value. For less than half the price of many leading models, the Turonic GM5 Massage Gun ($160) offers excellent battery life, quiet yet powerful operation, and a high-quality set of seven interchangeable massage heads.

We’ve been using this massage gun daily for several weeks. It’s been a major asset in speeding up recovery after rock-climbing and weight-lifting sessions. Turonic claims that the GM5 can offer up to 8 hours of use on the lowest setting.

We tend to use it for about 15 minutes at a time in a mid-range setting, and it dies after about 3 total hours of use. The GM5’s battery is better than most massage guns on the market, which is impressive given its price tag.

With five power modes up to 3,200 rpm, the GM5 offers decent intensity, though it is noticeably weaker than the Theragun. Still, the GM5 has plenty of power for most users and uses.

We appreciate that the Turonic GM5 Massage Gun comes with a high-quality carrying case plus seven varied massage heads. For the price, this is a highly effective option.

The main complaint that many people have with massage guns is how loud they are. And while many massage guns claim to have quiet motors, the bar for noise pollution is set very low for these products. The Power Plate Pulse 3.0 ($250) is the exception to this rule.

The third-generation Pulse offers six vibration intensity levels, a 6-hour battery life, and six different massage heads. Most importantly for this category, it’s the quietest massage gun we’ve ever tested.

To test the noise, we used our patented “Subtitle Test,” where we tried to watch TV while using a massage gun to recover from the day’s workout. So far, the Pulse is the only one that allowed us to watch Yellowstone without having to put on subtitles. At the gun’s highest power level (2,800 ppm, or percussions per minute), Rip Wheeler’s quiet determination was drowned out, but we could hear his gravelly mumbles at levels four (2,100 PPM) and below.

But it’s not all about decibels here. The Pulse comes with a speed range between 1,300 and 2,800 ppm. The shutoff timer kills the gun after the recommended 10 minutes of run time, and at level one, you get a full six hours of use. We primarily used the gun at levels four, six, and one, and we got several weeks of use with each charge.

It also has a stall force of 50 pounds, so you can dig into your muscles for a deep-tissue massage. We would advise not testing the limit, as pushing too hard can increase soreness, cause bruising, and will hurt like hell. The six head attachments deliver different stimuli to different muscle groups. We especially loved the large ball attachment for massaging larger muscles like the quads and glutes.

For travel, the Power Plate Pulse 3.0 has a padded carrying case with organizational slots for the gun and its attachments and accessories. It’s a small perk, but when you’re traveling, it’s far better than the random sack that some massage guns come with.

This extremely compact and portable device is one of the smallest massage guns on the market, coming in at 6 x 5.3 inches and only 1.43 pounds. Regardless of its size, the Theragun Mini ($199) still packs quite the punch.

The Mini has three options for speed — 1,750, 2,100, or 2,400 ppm — placing it in the same power class as Therabody’s other fourth-generation products. While not as beefy as other massage guns, the Mini’s compact size made it easy to pack on trips to CrossFit competitions, especially compared to the huge Theragun PRO Plus.

Where the Mini comes up short is its ability to put up only 20 pounds of no-stall force. This means the massager will stop moving if you press it into your muscles with more than 2 pounds of force. If you want a deep-tissue massage, other options on this list will suit you better. But for most people, this is plenty of force, and considering its minuscule size, it definitely punches above its weight.

It comes with a protective carrying case, and the rechargeable battery lasts 2.5 hours. While none are included, additional head attachments can be purchased separately. All of this brand’s offerings meet the industry standard for massage guns, and the Theragun Mini is no exception.

And now for something completely different: The Chirp RPM ($250) — that’s Rolling Percussive Massager, by the way — takes an absolute left turn on the traditional idea and fuses the foam roller with a rolling impact technique. The result? A truly novel experience that does things other percussion massagers dream of.

Employing eight independent rollers and five different speeds, the RPM literally rolls away muscle soreness and fatigue, much in the same way that foam rolling does. Going handheld allows you to target tough-to-reach areas (hello, glutes) and moderate your pressure.

Then there’s the included cradle, where you can station the massager and go hands-free to massage feet, legs, hips, and more. One of our testers used the RPM in this way to go after a nagging hamstring injury that had been dogging him for years — and to great success. Used like a stationary foam roller, the RPM works away for as long as you can bear.

Because the Chirp RPM goes wide with its massage (its rollers are about 7 inches long), this massager is better for targeting broad and large muscle groups, rather than pinpointing knots. Paired with a massage ball, there’s little it can’t loosen up. You’ll pay a pretty penny for it — this is the second most expensive roller in our review — but for the versatility, it’s well worth it.

We jumped on an opportunity to test out this updated, already popular Hyperice Hypervolt 2 ($199). Lighter, quieter, and more ergonomic than the last model, the Hypervolt 2 offers excellent features in an affordable package.

The Hypervolt 2 has five unique attachments for various situations. The tool also offers soft, medium, and hard speeds and pressures via its 60W brushless motor. While this massage gun is not as powerful as some others on the list (looking at you, Theragun PRO Plus), it’s significantly quieter.

During the testing period, the Hypervolt 2 rarely, if ever, stalled out — even under the most intense pressure. Battery life is 3 hours, and users can accurately gauge the charge level via a vibrant light ring at the bottom of the handle which glows and transitions from green to yellow to red, letting you know it’s time to plug it in. Our tester clocked recharge time at right around 1 hour.

At 1.8 pounds, the new Hypervolt is lighter than the previous model, and its small footprint and weight make it easy to travel with. But for those seeking ultimate portability, the smaller and lighter Hypervolt Go 2 might be a better option.

Folks who aren’t sure about how to best use their Hypervolt can follow along with guided routines in the Hyperice App which includes activation, flush, and recovery routines. These routines last anywhere from 3-25 minutes, and guide you through different muscle groups and even tell you which attachment is best for the muscles you’re working on. Our tester particularly liked the forearm and hand modules after a day of rock climbing, as well as the quad and hamstring release modules.

Hyperice has done an excellent job with the Hypervolt 2, making it lighter and sleeker while keeping functionality at the top of its class. For those of you looking for a high-quality, well-made massage gun with top-of-class performance — look no further than the Hyperice Hypervolt 2.

As a bonus, it works with Hyperice’s new Heated Head attachment ($59, sold separately), which offers 3 heat levels topping out at 113 degrees. During testing, the Heated Head attachment heated up in less than a minute, adding another layer of comfort to our massages. The heated head was a nice touch during testing — it heated up quickly and provided a hot rock spa vibe to our massages.

The Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 ($129) offers many of the same options and features as the Hypervolt 2 in a smaller and more portable package. The Hypervolt Go 2 weighs in at 1.5 pounds and comes with two basic attachments to meet your travel massage needs. Like the Hypervolt 2, the Go 2 offers three speeds via a 40W brushless motor.

Our tester found the Go 2 to be a little bit undergunned for more intense recovery sessions, but still plenty powerful for warming up and loosening tight muscles in the neck and shoulders before heading to the gym. The Hypervolt Go 2 has a 3-hour battery life and charges in about an hour. It features a transitioning light at the base of the handle to let users know how much charge is left and when to plug it in.

The ergonomics of the Hypervolt Go 2 are top-notch. It’s comfortable in the hand and never felt clunky or unwieldy. At 1.5 pounds, it’s light enough to throw in the bag to take with you to the gym, the crag, or on trips. All of Hyperice’s massage guns are TSA-approved, which means there is one less thing to worry about while traveling. The lack of a carrying case makes it difficult to keep everything together in your luggage — the attachments are small and easy to lose.

Unlike the full-sized Hypervolt 2, the Go 2 does not offer Bluetooth connectivity with the Hyperice App, though users are still able to follow along with different routines. At $129 the Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 is a competitively priced travel massager with an excellent fit and finish. Though it’s less powerful than other models on the list, the Go 2 will certainly meet most folks’ needs.

Looking for a sleek, lightweight, packable recovery tool? The Roll Recovery R1 massage gun fits the bill. A runner-up for our “most portable” pick, and by far our favorite for those who frequently travel, the R1 uses the force of percussive therapy to improve performance and accelerate recovery. But the R1 is tiny.

Nonetheless, the R1 comes with four different attachment heads, has four different speeds, and has up to 7 hours of battery life — all at an accessible price of $129.

Despite its small size, the R1’s traditional gun shape kept it from receiving our “most portable” award. For packability purposes, we found that the triangular Theragun Mini fit much better into into smaller spaces.

Also one of the most competitive price points for massage guns on this list, the Roll Recovery R1 massage gun is definitely worth looking into.

Read review: Roll Recover R1 massage gun.

The VYBE Pro Muscle Massage Gun ($90) delivers impressive variety. It can reach up to 3,400 ppm with nine different speed options, meaning you can get really specific with the type of treatment/massage you’re looking for.

The Pro comes with eight different head attachments. Certain heads will give you 12 mm of amplitude and 30 pounds of resistance, while others will provide 10 mm and 20 pounds.

While certainly quite powerful, we didn’t love how this gun felt in hand after 15-20 minutes of body work. Other options, like the Theragun PRO Plus or the Turonic GM5 Massage Gun were easier and more comfortable to hold for longer periods.

When looking for a multitude of options, the VYBE Pro Muscle Massage Gun is the best massage gun on the market for precisely that. However, it does weigh a whopping 4.5 pounds, which also makes it one of the heaviest out there.

TriggerPoint’s first attempt at a massage gun is the Triggerpoint Performance Impact ($200). This compact gun falls into the mid-tier price range, and we think it’s a fair price for what it offers.

This gun’s positives include its capability to hit 3,300 ppm, along with three other lower-speed options, giving you the opportunity to warm your muscles up to more vigorous, deep-tissue massages.

Unlike other massage guns on the market, the Triggerpoint Performance Impact comes with only one head attachment that is not interchangeable. If this is an essential area for you, it may be worth looking into something like the Theragun PRO Plus or Power Plate Pulse 3.0.

Note: The seams on the handle can cause mild irritation when working for long periods of time.

This powerful massage gun from Legiral is among the most affordable options on our list. Many users find the Lerigal Le3 Silver ($90) to be just as effective as the Theragun PRO Plus — at a significantly lower price point. It may not offer the same long-term durability, but the comparison says a lot.

Adding to the value, a carrying case and six different attachments are included in the price. You can access 20 different speed strengths via a simple LCD touchscreen, and the stroke depth of 16 mm allows the massager to reach deep underlying tissue.

Legiral outfits all their massage guns with brushless motors, which are impressively quiet without sacrificing power. The high-quality motor is powered by a 2,500mAh rechargeable lithium battery, which provides over 6 hours of working time when fully charged.

Some users find the handle slightly uncomfortable to hold throughout long massage sessions, which kept it out of our awards section. Still, the Lerigal Le3 Silver offers massaging performance and recovery-assisting utility on par with some of the best massage guns on the market.

The GearJunkie team is full of mountain bikers, climbers, trail runners, and recreators of all types. We live our best moments in the outdoors, but we aren’t as young and spry as we used to be.

For us, the value of recovery tools is increasing with each passing season. As massage gun technology has improved over recent years, they have become a staple of our active lives.

GearJunkie Affiliate Managing Editor Billy Brown is a competitive fitness athlete and has spent countless hours recovering from long days in the gym and long adventures in the mountains.

He’s spent decades looking for the best ways to prepare for his next event, and massage guns have always been on the vanguard of his recovery methods. In 2024, Billy tested various massage guns at CrossFit competitions like the Never Forgotten Games in Redding, Calif., and the Northern California Classic in Sacramento. Over time, Billy settled on a few go-to’s that made the top of this list.

Other testers include GearJunkie contributors Austin Beck-Doss, Paul Mandell, and Mallory Paige.

For us, the value of recovery tools is increasing with each passing season. As massage gun technology has improved over recent years, they have become a staple of our active lives.

To identify the best massage guns on the market, we’ve tested dozens of models and carefully observed their long-term effectiveness. When testing, we pay careful attention to design, power, customizability, battery life, and more.

The best massage gun for you depends on a variety of factors. Most importantly, start by thinking about how you plan to use it.

Is it for daily sports recovery? Or do you just need a shoulder massage every now and then? Once you understand how you’ll use it, you can easily prioritize the considerations outlined below.

A massage gun’s speed is normally measured in percussions, or strokes, per minute (ppm). Typically, these will range anywhere from 1,200 to 3,400 ppm.

In general, the speed will increase the intensity of the massage. Having a wide range available can also be a great benefit for different aims.

When using a massage gun, it seems obvious that the harder you press, the deeper the massage will get.

Some massage guns will give up to 60 pounds of pressure without stalling, while others can only handle up to 20 pounds. If you’re looking for a more surface-level massage, lower power can suffice.

If you apply too much pressure with a low-power massage gun, the percussion will stall, which can be harmful to the motor over time.

Different head attachments are designed for different muscle groups. Each massaging head delivers specific outcomes with each unique shape.

These attachments are just another factor that allows for customization and, if used correctly, can provide more relief to sore muscles. There are five baseline head attachments to choose from — though some products come with more options.

A cushioned head is recommended for those just starting to get the feel for their massage gun. It doesn’t allow for very deep penetration and utilizes a lot more vibration therapy tactics for more sensitive areas such as the neck. This is a great option to warm up muscles before starting to get into deep tissue.

For bigger muscle groups, grab the round head attachment. It has more give than other attachments but can still provide deeper penetration. The glutes or hamstrings are ideal candidates for this attachment.

This head is specifically designed to reach into smaller muscle groups and provide some precision pressure. It has a two-prong shape that applies pressure to both sides of the spine, targeting the muscles that wrap around your spinal cord.

It’s also great to use on forearms around the bone for providing deep relief after an intense forearm workout (specifically, climbing).

A flathead attachment mainly focuses on the vibration therapy aspect of massage guns. The contact area of the flathead allows you to cover a higher surface area, making this another great attachment for large muscle groups.

It still has the capacity to reach deep into those muscle groups, providing the power needed for serious relief and an increase in range of motion.

Compared to a flathead attachment, a bullet is on the opposite end of the head attachment spectrum. It brings all the percussion and vibration into one specific point. The ability to target with immense precision gives it the most intense power.

There are several additional head attachments that a lot of massage guns will offer, while others come with only one head and don’t even allow you to switch it up. On our list, the Hyperice Hypervolt 2 and the Theragun PRO Plus both bring all of the basics in head attachments with no fluff.

Your massage gun should be able to join you in all your travel plans. Many of the massage guns on our list come with a handy carrying case that can make them incredibly easy to travel with. Most of the options here come in under 3 pounds, which won’t add too much to the gym bag or carry-on.

For the best portability, the Theragun Mini delivers all of the power most of the other products have but at a fraction of the weight. It’s easy to pack and bring wherever you may go.

Long workouts often lead to long massage sessions, so make sure you have the battery to handle it. The Theragun PRO Plus undoubtedly has the best battery options, with each of the two included batteries lasting up to 2.5 hours. When one runs out, popping the second in will save your session from an abrupt end.

Massage gun prices can range from under $100 to $500 and more. If you’re looking for the most powerful, full-featured massagers, expect to pay closer to that higher range. Fortunately, there are effective massage guns in every price range. Here’s what to expect in the budget, mid-tier, and premium price ranges.

All of our picks under $100 sacrifice features like top-end power, long battery life, and some ergonomic comfort. But options like the VYBE Pro Muscle Massage Gun ($90) offer nine speed settings and enough power to work out tough knots.

If you’re willing to spend $100 to $200, you can expect more power, lighter guns, multiple massage heads, and lower noise levels. Options like the Triggerpoint Performance Impact ($200) offer speeds of up to 3,300 PPM and a weighted head, so you don’t have to press down to dig into muscle fibers.

Spending over $200 gets you into the top range of features, power, ergonomics, and battery life, as well as quieter operation. For $250, you can snag the Power Plate Pulse 3.0, which offers more power than most people need but is one of the quietest guns on our list.

At the top end of the price range sits the Theragun PRO Plus ($599), which, in addition to a powerful, quiet motor and long battery life, comes with features like a red light therapy setting, plenty of power and speed settings, and an app that allows you to customize your recovery.

The best massage gun for you depends on a lot of variables. If you regularly train hard or want a massager that can stand up to daily use, the Theragun PRO Plus is the best massage gun on the market.

If you’re looking just to try it out, the VYBE Pro Percussion Massage Gun may be right up your alley.

A percussion massager is an incredibly versatile tool. Use it when you wake up with a sore neck because of a rough night’s sleep, after a big training session, or as a daily part of your self-care routine.

When getting into percussive and vibration therapy, a cushioned head is often suggested as the first attachment to use. It offers a lot of forgiveness and doesn’t penetrate too deeply, too quickly.

From there, you can move on to a round head for a deeper massage, whereas more pointed attachments work well for targeting very specific knots.