HomeGear8 Best Massage Guns and Theraguns (2023): Top Alternatives and Tips

8 Best Massage Guns and Theraguns (2023): Top Alternatives and Tips

April 27, 2023

8 Best Massage Guns and Theraguns (2023): Top Alternatives and Tips

  • Person wearing athletic clothes stretching and using massage gun on their forearm.
    Photograph: Georgii Boronin/Getty Images

    What Does a Percussive Therapy Device Do?

    What the Experts Have to Say

    Jacklyn Plonski, an outpatient orthopedic and pediatric physical therapist, likens percussive therapy devices to using a foam roller or getting a professional physical therapy treatment. Here's what she has to say:

    "As we exercise and challenge our muscles, we cause breakdown within the muscle fibers, which in turn stimulates muscle growth and regrowth, hypertrophy (increased muscle size), and strength. Mechanical stimulation of a muscle [with a device like the Theragun] causes increased blood flow and the release of histamines to the stimulated area. What this does is allow the increased blood flow to decrease the inflammatory response, decrease muscle soreness, and break up knots in athletes' musculature." Plonksi has seen anecdotal evidence supporting the use of a Theragun-like device, and no apparent negative effects, but she recommends people always talk to a physician before trying a device.

    Shelby Milne, an athletic trainer at the University of Pennsylvania, says athletes at the school swear by massage guns and have used them for both pre- and post-training. “The oscillations can also act as a warming modality for the muscles and tissues before the activity.”

  • Photograph: Therabody

    Best Theragun (and Quietest)

    Theragun Elite

    WIRED reviewer Jaina Grey says the Theragun Elite tenderized her muscles like nothing else. With the right foam tip, even on its lowest speed setting, it was able to relieve deep tissue pain and muscle tension with just a few minutes of use. The app integration makes it easy to create and store massage routines for recurring aches, and it’s surprisingly quiet. (It’s Therabody’s quietest device.)

    It doesn’t have a rotating arm, but it doesn’t need it. The triangle design allows you to position your hand to reach back and neck muscles. It comes with one battery, as opposed to the two you get with the Theragun Pro, but you’ll get about two hours of use on a single charge. That should be long enough for most sessions.

    You don't need the Therabody app (available on iPhone and Android) to operate any of the Theragun massagers, but if you've never used something like this, it can be helpful. The app lets you choose ailments, specific body parts you want to work on, or activities like relaxing your muscles before bed, and you'll see steps to follow to use the device to its fullest. You can also save your favorite massages to get back to them quickly.

    Has 40 pounds of pressure and comes with five attachment heads and a carrying case

    $399 at Amazon
    $400 at Target
    $399 at Therabody

  • Photograph: Therabody

    Best for Serious Athletes 

    Theragun Pro (5th Gen)

    The Pro is the most expensive Theragun and the kind of device used by college athletic departments and professional sports teams. The 2022 version is quieter than the previous generation, but I didn't notice much of a difference in sound or use. It's still an excellent gadget. It's the only Theragun with a rotating arm, which makes it effortless to use on any spot that's awkward to reach by yourself. There's also a Supersoft attachment for sensitive areas. 

    The new carrying case isn't as nice as what I've seen from other competitors—you can typically expect slots specifically for each attachment, but Therabody just has a separate soft case for the attachments so you have to carry two cloth cases. It's no dealbreaker, but you'd expect a nicer solution at this price. I suggest saving some cash and going with the fourth-generation Theragun Pro, which will net you nearly all the same benefits. 

    Has 60 pounds of pressure and six attachment heads, plus a carrying case

    $599 at Amazon
    $600 at Target
    $599 at Therabody

  • Photograph: Yunmai

    The Best Theragun Alternative

    Yunmai Slim Elegant

    Yunmai's Slim Elegant (SE) massage gun is simple and works well. I particularly like its attachments. They're firm but coated with soft silicone that feels nice against the skin. Other massage guns are either rigid plastic or soft foam—neither of which feel bad—but these feel better. The SE has five speeds, including two “massage modes.” These modes feel like variations of the first speed, and I would have rather seen more varied speed options (two and three are much more powerful than one). It includes a charging base you can stick to a hard surface if you'd like.

    The price has risen since we first tried it, and this model is no longer available on Amazon. We're not sure if it will be around long-term, but we'll keep an eye on it as we try other devices.

    Comes with four attachment heads, a carrying case, and a charging stand

    $180 at Yunmai

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