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Oct 31, 2024

Theragun Alternatives: Best Budget Massage Guns for 2024 - CNET

Article updated on October 29, 2024 at 10:35 PM PDT Say goodbye to muscle soreness without breaking the bank. These affordable massage guns bring relief without a massage therapist. CNET’s expert

Article updated on October 29, 2024 at 10:35 PM PDT

Say goodbye to muscle soreness without breaking the bank. These affordable massage guns bring relief without a massage therapist.

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

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

If you've been experiencing frequent soreness, investing in an affordable massage gun is a great way to bring about some relief to various muscle groups -- without meeting a physical therapist. Massage guns use a percussion technique to help relieve stress and pain in your sore muscles within a few minutes. They come in many shapes and sizes -- from full-size guns that look like hair dryers to mini ones that are easy to store -- and are usually more than capable of easing some of your pain. Plus, they aren't that difficult to use. One model I tested even has an odd, triangular body, while another incorporates two heads.

The Theragun is one of the most popular options out there. However, I tried to get a good sampling of what's out there by putting my muscles on the line -- with an eye toward cheaper massage guns priced $100 or less -- in hopes of finding a Theragun alternative.

I started with the most affordable models from Hyperice and Therabody, the premium and popular massage gun brands. Then, I worked my way down to the most inexpensive, off-brand and budget-friendly options in the massage gun market. It's also worth noting that we are now in the gifting season, and any one of these massage guns will make a great gift if you're looking for something under $300. Here is a short list of the best budget massage guns available in 2024.

Like Therabody, Hyperice is a premium brand with prices to match. And speaking of matching, the Hypervolt Go sells for around the same price as the Theragun Mini. But I like the former more, in part because it comes with two heads instead of one massage gun head and has a more comfortable gun-style design.

It's a compact massage gun when compared to the likes of the MaxKare and Taotronics models, but also larger than the Naipo and Recoverfun. So let's call it "medium."

But, wow, is it powerful -- on par with the Theragun in terms of muscle-punching force. With only three speeds, however, it might prove a little much if you prefer a gentler massage. Hyperice doesn't supply a carrying case, which is inconvenient, and the AC adapter is proprietary.

Between this and the Theragun Mini, I'd choose this. But there are budget-friendly massage guns that are also more versatile, so it's not my top pick.

Naipo's massager is the lightest and most compact model in the group, with a small but comfortable grip and more percussive force than you'd expect.

Other pluses include five speed settings and four different massage heads. Naipo doesn't provide a carrying case, which is a bit disappointing. But my only real complaint is that it's not amongst the quieter massage gun options; the other "minis" in the roundup, the Recoverfun and Sportneer, produce much less noise.

I've seen various coupon or code deals that bring the price down on this massager, so you should get it when it's on sale.

The triangular Mini exerts an impressive amount of force for its portable massage gun size, but the shape makes it hard to hold comfortably. What's more, Therabody doesn't provide multiple head attachments; it only includes a ball head. Other massage guns here come with at least two -- if not four or even six -- for a lower price.

Even at the lowest of its three speeds, the Mini feels stronger than a lot of the other budget massage gun options I tried. In fact, anyone looking for just a light, relaxing massage might find it a little too powerful.

Meanwhile, the unit relies on a proprietary AC adapter, not USB-C. That's one more thing to pack on a trip -- and the adapter doesn't even fit in Therabody's snug zippered carrying case.

While I'd be glad to have this on hand for deep-tissue relief, it's hard to recommend otherwise. There are too many other models with more features and lower prices.

Available in three colors (including a dazzling red), the Recoverfun Mini is among my favorite massagers in the group. Although it's heavier than Naipo's similarly compact model, with a metal barrel that feels a little cold until it warms up, it's also surprisingly quiet. (When you're trying to relax, extra noise doesn't help.)

The gun offers four speed settings and Recoverfun supplies the "big four" attachments: ball, bullet, fork and flat. The flat one is made of aluminum, which offers no clear advantage I can see but which looks cool. You also get a drawstring carrying case, though you'll have to supply your own powered USB port for the USB-C charging cable.

You know the old saying: Two heads are better than one. But is that true of most massage guns? I thought Fishda's Frankenstein was just a gimmick, but damn if it doesn't deliver twice the muscle-punching goodness. For big areas like thighs and glutes, I genuinely enjoyed this "bigger" massage.

Fortunately, it's not twice as loud as other guns; in fact, it's surprisingly quiet. It also has a relatively compact shape, basically a taller version of the Recoverfun Mini. But there's some heft to it: At 1.7 pounds it weighs more than any of the best massage guns in its size class. Expect arm fatigue to set in a bit sooner with this one.

It's also on the expensive side relative to other models, though that's to be expected given the dual heads. However, you can often find coupons that bring the price down considerably.