The 12 Best Massage Guns to Soothe Your Tired, Achy Muscles

Best Overall

The facts:

• Comfortable, ergonomic handle
• 60 percent deeper amplitude than previous models
• Five built-in speeds with additional custom speed options
• Four angled arm positions and six attachments

There’s a reason Theragun is one of the most well-known massage gun brands: Its products have a reputation for being high quality and effective—something ONE37pm fashion editor Madison Russell confirms. “I didn’t know how much I’d enjoy owning the Theragun until its percussive hammer burrowed into my aching lower back. With five built-in speed settings and multiple attachments, your entire body will thank you. There have been imitators, but there really isn’t another product like the Theragun PRO,” she explains.

Highest Rated

The facts:

• Anti-drop shell
• Three speed levels
• Convenient carrying case

It may not be a Theragun, but customers seem to love the OPOVE M3 Pro. The ideal compromise between affordability (it’s only $129) and quality, this baby has four different attachment heads that are specifically designed to work each muscle group in different ways. It's got three different speeds can be used to warm up, relax or deeply massage muscles, and it also comes with a convenient carrying case, which we love for runs to the gym.

Best Heated

The facts:

• Heated handle base
• Color signals each gear
• Three attachments

This quick-charging massager (a couple hours and it's ready to go) gets high marks for being lightweight yet pulses butterfly-quick (3200 pulses per minute). And besides three speeds, it has three levels of heat that emanate from the base of the handle, from warm to almost-hot, so that you can massage the heat into a particularly tight or sore area to prep it for a pounding.

Easiest to Use

The facts:

• Quiet brushless motor
• Five levels of intensity and eight massage heads

If this is your first foray into the world of massage guns, LifePro has you covered. Its easy-start guide and included video library will show you exactly how to use this machine. Before you know it, using the eight interchangeable heads to improve recovery, loosen tight muscles and release knots will become second nature. The round tool works to reduce soreness post-workout, and the spinal head loosens tight back tissues. For more heavy-duty relief, the bullet-shaped heads are designed to release knots, while the flat tool will simulate a no-nonsense deep-tissue massage.

Sleekest Design

The facts:

• Touchscreen guidance
• Extension handle
• All-in-one docking station

For those of us who need in-our-face reminders to keep up with self-care, this sleek and effective handheld device is a slam dunk. That's because the attractive charging station, in whichever of five matte colors you choose (terracotta, blueprint, stone, slate and granite), will be a welcome design object right on your countertop or bedroom dresser. Then it'll be automatic to deploy it, using on one of the three-minute guided pre-sets or on manual to really get at a particular sore spot. The Lyric is Wi-Fi enabled, and its designers promise a forthcoming app that will enhance its use.

Best Mini

The facts:

• Ultra-Lightweight
• 5 speeds
• 10 minute automatic shutoff

In the portable category, this little massage gun has enough power to soothe muscle aches without being a whole heavy production like some of the bigger models. The lowest speed is recommended for warming up tight muscles before exercise, while the higher speeds are good for circulating lactic acid post-exercise and pounding any clenched muscles. This palm-sized model is quiet enough (under 45 decibels) for you to keep in your desk drawer after long stretches bent over a computer.

Quietest

The facts:

• QuietGlide technology
• Three speed settings
• Five massage heads

If you've ever used a massage gun, you know that they can be pretty loud. Not this one. With QuietGlide technology that was developed in collaboration with aerospace engineers, the Hyperice Hypervolt massage gun delivers tension-relieving percussion of up to 3,200 percussions per minute—all while remaining nearly inaudible. That means you can use it without waking your finally-asleep baby or even disrupting your partner's Netflix binge. At 5.89 pounds, it is on the heavier side, however, so keep that in mind if you need something light.

Longest Battery Life

The facts:

• Small, palm-sized frame
• Five levels of intensity and six massage heads
• 10-minute timer prevents overuse

No need to wield a heavy-duty piece of machinery when your muscles are already fatigued. Medcursor's 2.5-pound massage gun fits in the palm of your hand, making it easy to hold and use without strain. But just because it's small, doesn't mean it isn’t effective. This device features five levels of intensity (up to an 11-millimeter amplitude) and comes with six interchangeable massage heads to target everything from achy joints to painful back knots. It also has an extra-long battery life of what the company claims is up to eight hours!

Most Attachments

The facts:

• 17 massage heads included
• 30 adjustable speed levels
• Fast-charging and long-lasting battery

The Fitpulse massage gun offers the most customizable experience of them all, with a whopping 17 different massage heads of varying shapes and sizes, plus 30 adjustable speed levels. In short? It's like having a personal masseuse on hand for every type of muscle ache or pain. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery not only claims to hold a charge for up to six hours depending on the settings, but juice up super quickly if you're on-the-go.

Most Powerful

The facts:

• 90-degree articulating head
• Delivers 2,500 strokes-per-minute

If you've tried other massage guns and need something more powerful, the TimTam power massager is the device for you. It's been tweaked and refined based on customer feedback, and gets approval from MMA coaches for its ability to reportedly relieve muscle tension in as little as 60 seconds. Unlike other models with fixed heads, this massager features a 90-degree articulating head, which rotates to allow for ideal placement no matter what muscles you're trying to reach. Plus, it has an instant-on trigger, so you won't have to hold the button to keep it powered up.

Best Intuitive

The facts:

• Stand-up charging port
• Carrying case
• Quiet operation

The Yunmai SE (aka "Slim Elegant") is targeting the sweet spot in the market between weekend warriors and pro athletes with not only three speeds of pulse (from the lightest for pre-workout activation to the heaviest pounding for muscle recover) but also an "intelligent mode." This setting lets you control how strong the device massages depending on how hard you press into whatever area you're focusing on. Combined with four interchangeable heads, this means users get infinite massage possibliities.

Best Value

The facts:

• Rotating arm
• Up to 2,400 strokes per minute
• Grip handle

This well-priced gadget has a bright blue rectangle body that sets it apart from other massage guns. The grip handle and 90-degree rotating head make it easier to maneuver than some first-gen massagers, and the dual batteries mean when your first battery runs out of juice, it's easy to pop in another one to continue massaging. Six vibration speeds start at a gentle 500 strokes per minute, which super-sore exercisers will appreciate.