The 11 best massage guns, tested by editors and experts

Massage guns can be helpful tools for relieving sore muscles and preventing soreness when used before and after workouts. They target muscles with rapid-fire pulses, aiming to provide the benefits of massage therapy from the comfort of your home. When choosing a massage gun, take into consideration your personal noise tolerance, the device’s stall force—which is how much pressure you can apply before it shuts off—the gun’s weight and shape, and customizing options such as multiple speed selections and head attachments for hitting different muscle groups so you’re receiving targeted benefits. When choosing a massage gun, take into consideration your personal noise tolerance, the device’s stall force—which is how much pressure you can apply before it shuts off—the gun’s weight and shape, and customizing options such as multiple speed selections and head attachments for hitting different muscle groups so you’re receiving targeted benefits. A massage gun uses the force of percussive therapy — also known as vibration therapy — to manipulate your body’s soft tissue. They’re essentially backed by the same extensive exercise that supports therpy as the optimal tool for treating a sore muscle after a workout.

There are tons of options out there when it comes to shopping for a new massage gun, and finding the best one for your needs can certainly be a challenge. So let’s break down the ins and outs (so to speak) of how these percussive massagers work and why they can be so helpful.

The right massager can pain and stiffness while aiding in muscle recovery, reducing lactic acid buildup, enhancing circulation, improving your range of motion, and lowering stress. Best of all, you no longer have to rely on a pal or partner’s elbow grease for relief.

Best Overall: above M3 Pro Massage Gun

We gave this massage gun a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars for effectiveness, comfort, ease of use, and value, which is why it was an easy choice for our best overall spot. Our tester noted that this massage gun was very effective at reaching specific trigger points and particularly sore spots. A fan of deep tissue massage, our tester also loved that the device comes with a thumb attachment for more intense kneading. The OPOVE M3 Pro is one of the quieter massage guns on the market. Its 24-volt, high-torque brushless motor keeps noise between 45 and 63 decibels. Even on the highest of its three available speed settings, it’s quieter than the lowest setting of many other massage guns.

Its battery life is also competitive, clocking in between three and four hours on one full charge. And at 2.3 pounds, it’s a pretty lightweight option as well. Plus, we love that it comes with a convenient carrying case so you don’t have to worry about misplacing its various attachments.

Our tester found the M3 Pro to be compact and lightweight but still powerful enough to offer deep relief due to its 55-pound stall force and 15mm amplitude.

 Theragun Mini

If you’re looking to take your tool with you to the gym or when you travel, consider this compact pick. Just because it’s small, though, doesn’t mean it lacks power.

Choose from three-speed settings, knowing that the battery will last for 150 minutes. And if for some reason you do run out of juice, the charger is small enough to fit into the gun’s carrying case.

Best Overall: Hyperice Hypervolt

When it comes to at-home massage, Hyperice isn’t messing around. The Hypervolt uses state-of-the-art percussive technology to address alleviate tension, and improve mobility. It boasts three-speed settings to deliver as many as 3,200 percussions per minute, all while staying notably quiet. This Bluetooth-enabled handheld massager connects to the Hyperice app to guide you through custom massages and recovery programs. It runs on a lithium-ion battery and offers three hours of ultra-relaxing massage on a full charge. Though it’s not particularly cheap, we appreciate that the Hypervolt isn’t as exorbitantly expensive as some other deep-tissue massage guns on the market.its companion app to control it via your phone. And while the 90-watt motor provides a good amount of force on the muscles that need it most, you can also scale it back for more sensitive areas.

Best Theragun: Theragun Prime Massage Gun

Theragun is a powerhouse in the massage gun market, and, after testing the brand’s most popular massage gun models, the Theragun Prime was our favorite. The Prime massage gun earned 5 out of 5 stars on four of our six testing attributes, which gives it an overall higher rating than the more expensive Theraguns we tested. Our tester felt it was very effective at relieving sore muscles after a workout as well as easy to hold, and quiet. It’s a budget-friendlier option from the brand that still provides all the features you need for sore muscle relief. It comes with four head attachments and a smart app that our tester noted was very helpful with initial setup, and even provides how-to video guides.

We love that the brushless motor contains QuietForce Technology that keeps this massage gun pretty quiet while in use without losing power. The device comes with five built-in speeds, but you can also select any speed between 1750-2400 percussions per minute to customize your treatment on manual mode.

Best Budget Theragun: Theragun Mini Percussive Therapy Device

For an even budget-friendlier Theragun that is also easily portable, we recommend this Mini version. We gave the Theragun Mini Massager a perfect score of 5 out of 5 for effectiveness, ease of use, stall force, portability, and value. The Mini is perfect for working out knots and tight spots while on the go. Its lightweight, compact design makes it easy to stash in your gym bag or hiking pack so you can use it anywhere. Mini massage guns are particularly useful for people who have weaker hands or struggle with chronic arthritis pain and can’t hold heavier devices comfortably for an extended period of time. We like that the Theragun Mini has a sleek, ergonomic grip that helps reduce the strain on your hands.

TimTam Power Massager Pro

If you need a heavy hitter, you’ve met your match with this best deep tissue massage gun. It can make as many as 2,800 strokes per minute, making it a force to be reckoned with.

“It’s a good option for those who opt for a more aggressive deep tissue massage,” Waldman says.

While it’s a bit bulkier than most other options, it still fits in a small carrying case.

 

Best for Shoulders: Naipo Shoulder & Neck Massager

The Shoulder & Neck Massager drapes over your shoulders and gets deep into your muscles, thanks to eight kneading nodes.

You can adjust the intensity level, switch the direction, and even turn on a heated mode for soothing massage therapy. This deep-tissue massager plugs into an outlet or a car adapter and can be used at your desk, in the car, on an airplane, or while streaming a show.

Sonic LX Percussion Massage Gun

If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, this gun just might be your perfect fit.

“It’s a great price point,” Waldman says. “And it offers a lot of versatility with nine-speed intensity levels and seven massage heads. It’s pretty quiet, too.” Plus, a single charge lasts up to four hours.