The 8 best massage guns 2024 to relieve muscle pain and tension (2024)

The best massage guns are great at aiding recovery and relaxation after exercise without the eye-watering massage therapist fees.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, massage guns deliver targeted percussive therapy directly to your muscles, soothing symptoms of DOMS and improving muscle recovery, range of motion and blood flow.That said, err on the side of caution if you have an injury or lower back pain, and never apply a powerful massage gun directly onto bones or tender joints.

We all skip a cool down now and again but you won't want to skip out on the best massage guns. Handheld percussive therapy combines quick pulses of pressure with vibration, and some models have several attachable heads to target specific muscles, different speed settings, and even extension ranges to increase power, penetrating deeply into muscle tissue to release unwanted tension.

We put some of the best-selling popular massage guns to the test, marking them against performance, noise and battery life. Unsure how to use them? We cover that, too, as well as all the times when you shouldn't use a massage gun at all. Here's our round-up.

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The best massage guns you can buy today

Best massage gun for travel

The Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 is an affordable, lightweight massage gun that packs a powerful punch. It costs around the same as theTheragun Mini, but unlike the mini, it comes with two different attachments, has a 180-minute battery life (compared to the Mini’s 150-minutes), and has a top speed of 3,200 pulsations per minute (compared to the Mini’s 2,400). It’s also got a more traditional massage gun design, which allows you to hold it in different positions to really work into tired, sore muscles.

At 1.5 pounds, the Hypervolt Go 2 is seriously light. Surprisingly light, in fact, when you consider its top speed of 3,200 PPM — about the same as that of far more expensive, and heftier massage guns on the market. It’s lightweight enough to be portable and is approved by the TSA to stow in your carry-on, however, it doesn’t come in a carry case, which is a little disappointing, especially when the likes of the Theragun Mini does.

We were impressed with the battery life and weight of this gun, but there are a couple of downsides — the massage gun doesn't have Bluetooth connectivity, so you can't sync it to your app. The app itself isn't all that helpful, especially for beginners.

Read our Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 review.

Best massage gun for Bluetooth

The Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro is a well-made massage gun, especially suited for athletes and advanced users. The basic yet solid construction of the Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro makes it a good choice for nearly anyone looking to invest in a high-end massage gun. However, a few key factors gear the Pro towards a more experienced user.

The Hypervolt 2 Pro has an exceptional battery life — at three hours, it outlasts the Theragun Elite and the Theragun Mini by 60 and 30 minutes respectively. The Theragun Pro doubles the Hypervolt 2 Pro’s run time with a six-hour life, but you’ll pay $200 more for that extra three hours. Charging the Pro once got me through an entire week’s worth of testing, with plenty of battery left to spare.

The Hyperice App is capable of leading accomplished athletes through comprehensive programing for a competitive edge. A variety of textured attachments combined with a speedy 2700 PPM effectively releases the tightest trigger points and muscle groups.

The downsides here are that the gun is slightly awkward to hold, and doesn't come with a carry case, which could be an issue if you plan on traveling with the gun.Since it’s pretty sturdy, you could most likely get away with cushioning it between some thick sweatshirts and tossing it in your bag. But on the other hand, if I’m going to pay a few hundred bucks for a massage gun, I’d like to know that it could be protected appropriately during transport.

Read our full Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro review.

Best massage gun for beginners

The Bob and Brad C2 Pro Heat and Ice Massage Gun is a beginner-friendly model that's often on sale for less than $100 and comes with a lot of accessories. The most notable of which is a heated/cooled attachment head. You also get four other attachments, a nifty travel case and a charging cable.

The C2 Pro is relatively lightweight at 1.5 pounds and has a large handle, making it comfortable to hold and well-suited for knocking out those hard-to-reach kinks. At around 55 decibels, it's a fairly quiet device with five speed settings ranging from 2,000 to 3,200 PPMs. The battery is good for roughly three hours on its lowest setting.

The stroke amplitude is just 8mm, making this gun less powerful than other options on our list. However, this also makes it a top pick for beginners. The C2 Pro additionally indicates how much pressure is being applied via a series of colorful LEDs on the back giving users plenty of control over their percussive therapy.

As well as being well-priced and fairly versatile, the Bob and Brad C2 Pro's Heat+Ice attachment is truly what sets this product apart from the competition. It charges separately from the massage gun via USB-C, offers an hour of battery life and gets hot/cold nearly instantaneously.

Read our Bob and Brad C2 Pro Heat and Ice Massage Gun hands-on here.

Best massage gun for Theragun

The Theragun Elite may be costly, but it’s a worthwhile investment that can help anyone to move — and feel — better. The Theragun Elite is a Porsche among massage guns, with a price that’s topped only by another Theragun model (the Theragun Pro).One thing we loved about the Elite is that it can be held in various ways, allowing users to apply pressure more efficiently and comfortably. Our tester found this multi-grip design especially helpful when targeting hard-to-reach spots, like the lower back and hamstrings.

The Elite, its five attachments, and a power adapter come boxed inside of a hard shell carrying case with various storage compartments. It’s bulky and would take up a considerable amount of room in your gym bag or suitcase. That being said, if we're paying almost $400 for a massage gun, we'd prefer to have a case that’s bulky and protective over one that’s flimsy and compact. If you’re looking for a massage gun with better portability, take a look at the Theragun Mini.

The battery life is also pretty impressive on the Elite — one full charge of the battery can get you up to two hours of operation. We also found it doesn't take the Elite long to fully charge, making it a handy option for anyone using the massage gun as a regular part of their recovery routine.

You might think a hefty price tag would indicate that the Theragun Elite should be reserved for those ready to run their fifth triathlon, but we would argue the opposite. Because of the Therabody App, which provides step-by-step guidance and personalized programming, the Elite is an excellent choice for someone who hasn’t thought about their muscles since high school anatomy class.

Can't decide between the Theragun Elite and the Theragun Pro — read our face-off here.

Read our full Theragun Elite review here.

Best massage gun for value

The Legiral has 20 speeds and five interchangeable heads so you can target every inch of your body that ails you. The massage gun boasts a 16mm amplitude (the distance the shaft and attachment travel away from the gun and into your muscle), the same as you’d find on the much pricier Theragun Pro and Theragun Elite. While this is impressive considering its low price, we have to admit that the Le3 didn’t pack quite as powerful a punch as the Theragun models during testing — we had to apply a lot more pressure to get an equivalent massage. That said, we'd also assume having to use more force is worth saving hundreds of dollars.

For a gun that costs under $100, you’d expect the Legiral Le3 to lack a lot of the high-quality properties of its more expensive competitors. But with a well-above-average amplitude, lengthy battery life, an incredibly wide PPM range, and twenty different speed settings, the Le3 holds its own among the more well-known brands.

However, there are a few aspects that reveal why the Le3 is priced the way it is — namely, a less powerful motor and very light stall force threshold. If you’re a professional or recreational athlete, these weaknesses may be pretty glaring. Even a CrossFit devotee or amateur powerlifter would probably be happier with one of the Theragun or Hyperice models.

Read our full Legiral Le3 Massage Gun review here.

Best massage gun for athletes

It’s serious athletes the Theragun Pro (Gen 5) might best be suited for, with the premium $599 price tag delivering premium features the average person might not need. That said, new on-screen guidance and an added micro-point attachment, plus 20% less sound, make the latest Theragun Pro one of thebest massage gunsyou can buy.

Though we can’t overlook the cost, it truly is the only qualm to consider. Power, portability and a long-lasting battery life make for another great Theragun percussion device for penetrating those sore muscle tissues. It comes with 6 total attachments, offering options for the recovery you need. In fact, if you're someone who takes their recovery seriously, the high-end Theragun model might be be worthwhile investment for you.

Read our full Theragun Pro (Gen 5) review.

Best massage gun for back pain

The Mighty Bliss Cordless Massager is more “massage wand” than “massage gun,” and that difference comes with a few advantages. The long, slim handle makes it easy to target spots that are difficult to address with traditional massage guns, like your lower, mid, and upper back. It’s also a great option for seniors or those with mobility concerns, for whom typical massage gun usage might be challenging.

But as a general use massage gun, the Mighty Bliss Cordless Massager is lacking. A short amplitude and incredibly low stall force threshold means that the Mighty Bliss’ percussive massage isn’t so mighty after all. While the sensation might feel nice, it’s doubtful that the gun could elicit any real therapeutic results on thicker muscle tissues like the quadriceps, glutes, or even calves.

According to the user manual, you should expect up to four hours of continuous use from the Mighty Bliss before the battery dies. During testing, we got roughly half that, about two hours. Recharging took a respectable 60 minutes (and unlike most massagers, we were still able to use the gun during charging). That’s nearly identical to the far costlier Theragun Elite’s battery life and charge times. So all in all, the Mighty Bliss’ battery performance isn’t too bad.

Read our full Mighty Bliss Cordless Massager review.

Best massage gun for travel by Theragun

The Theragun Mini takes all the benefits of percussive massage and wraps everything in a very small and light package. Shaped like a thick and oversized guitar pick, the Mini fits comfortably into your palm and allows you to apply adequate pressure to the muscle groups you’re targeting. The Mini has three speeds: 1750, 2100, and 2400 PPM (percussions per minute). Adjusting the speed is done through a sole button on the side of the device, with three lights indicating the current PPM.

One of the downsides with the Mini is that it only comes with one ball attachment, however, all things considered though, the standard ball is a good catch-all attachment that can be used effectively on most parts of the body. The Mini is also compatible with all of Theragun’s 4th generation attachments, so if you own another current Theragun model, you could always pop any of their attachments onto your Mini. If you don’t, attachments can be purchased separately.

Where the Mini really excels is in its portability — it can easily fit in most purses, backpacks, and gym bags, and makes taking the massage gun with you to the gym, or to your next overseas marathon a joy.

Read our full Theragun Mini review here.

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