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If you work out or are an athlete, you probably already know that your body needs plenty of rest to heal and build the muscle you’ve earned from your workouts. You can eat well, rest and get plenty of sleep to recover. One of the best ways to relieve sore muscles or prep them before a workout is to use a massage gun. These devices are known for their percussive therapy, a form of soft tissue massage that uses vibrations to relieve muscle tension. Percussive therapy can relieve aches, sore muscles, knots, tension and other pains.
I enjoy using a massage gun for maintenance in between my workouts or when I wake up with sore muscles. Since there are so many massage guns on the market, we took it upon ourselves to test various brands over a month. During testing, we looked at the quality of the massage gun, the amplitude, noise levels, variability of settings, its other features and more. Use this guide to help you find the best massage gun to fit your lifestyle, budget and needs.
Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro – Best Overall Massage Gun
The Theragun is the massage gun that most people know, but the Hypervolt 2 Pro is my top pick because it feels just as powerful, but is so much quieter. It’s my most-used massage gun and my top recommendation for someone who is looking to invest in a device they’ll use frequently.
I’ve been testing the Hypervolt 2 Pro for the past six months, using it four to five times a week on all of my muscle groups, mostly after workouts or when I’m resting. The handle has a soft, rubbery grip that’s easy to hold, and you can switch between different speeds via a big dial on top of the gun.
Using a noisier device, like the Theragun Elite (below), can often sound like I’m attacking my muscles with a power tool, but the Hypervolt Pro 2’s motor creates a smooth hum as it operates, especially on its lowest setting, which I think is already quite powerful (I often don’t go above the second or third speed). Compared to the Theragun, the power of the Hypervolt’s motor feels more concentrated into the massage head, and I don’t have to stabilize the device with my grip, so using it feels effortless. The Theragun, on the other hand, especially at higher speed settings, can feel unstable and shaky in my hand, and requires a little more effort to guide it. I like how I can use the Hypervolt while I’m watching TV and not have to strain to hear dialogue. To be clear, you can still tell that it’s on (I probably wouldn’t want to use it in an open-floor office setting), but it’s still quiet enough to use without drawing attention from those around you. Plus, it gets the stamp of approval from professional surfer Kelly Slater and drag queen Katya Zamolodchikova.
Turonic GM5 Massage Gun – Best (less expensive) overall massage gun
For a more affordable massage gun, consider the Turonic GM5, which has all of the features of the Hypervolt Pro 2 but at a more affordable price.
If you’re comparing the GM5 to a model like the Hypervolt or a Theragun, you might consider durability as a trade-off. The GM5’s body is plastic and its handle doesn’t have a rubber/grippy coating on top of it, unlike the other devices in this list. But if you won’t be using a massage gun every day (and you’re generally not too rough with your gear), then the GM5 is a great choice. Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo says the GM5’s battery lasts such a long time that she hardly has to charge it. When it comes to noise, she describes it as having a “low vibration sound” that’s not loud enough to be remarkable. But Corsillo says the best part about the GM5 is that it lets her and her husband give each other massages that are “actually effective, without getting bored or wearing out our hands,” she writes.
Therabody Theragun Elite- Best Versatile Massage Gun
If you’ve researched massage guns online or know people who have one, you’ve likely seen or heard that Therabody’s products are frequently top-recommended. What makes the brand’s Theragun line distinct is its triangle-shaped grip, which allows you to point the head at different angles, rather than being limited by a single handle like a typical massage gun.
I’ve been testing the Theragun Elite for the past two years, using it similarly to how I’ve used the Hypervolt 2 Pro: by hitting my leg muscles after runs and workouts that leave me extra sore. Its triangle handle lets me grip the device close to its head, so I can reach behind me and massage my back, which is hard to do with the shape of a regular massage gun. For that reason, I’ve found the Theragun Elite to be super versatile, and if you’re looking specifically for a massage gun that you can use on your back (without the help of another person), I’d recommend this one, or the Theragun Mini (below).
The Elite’s biggest drawback is how noisy it is. It makes a loud, high-pitched whir and rattles on higher-speed settings, which makes it hard to watch shows or movies or hold conversations. But it’s still a powerful tool that gets rid of my tightest knots, and if noise won’t matter that much to you, then the Theragun Elite’s versatility will be worth the investment.
Therabody Theragun Mini – Best portable massage gun
The Theragun Mini is a product I always recommend because it delivers an effective massage for its small, packable size (about five by five by two inches), although newer models are even smaller than the one I own — about 20 percent smaller, according to the brand. I’ve been testing the Mini for the past two years, and I like it for traveling or using at my desk when I’m working from home. Its handle recalls the heft of a DSLR camera: It’s chunky, but ergonomic, so my fingers can wrap around it. The surface has a soft, slightly rubbery coating. Because the grip is close to the head, I can get closer to the muscle and apply more pressure to my body, and in this way it gives me more control than other massage devices with gun-style handles. When it comes to noise, the Mini makes a subtle, pulsing sound (around 61 decibels) on its lowest setting, but the two higher speeds are much louder, between 70 and 73 decibels. It comes in a stretchy, soft zip-up case that stows super easily in my carry-on luggage.