The Very Best Massage Guns
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My favorite feature of massage guns is how intuitive they are. You probably don’t need to read an instruction manual to understand how to use one: You turn it on and blast a tight shoulder, calf, or other sore muscle, much like you’d knead yourself with afoam rolleror aback massager, and afterwards, those areas will hopefully feel looser or more relaxed. But you might be curious about how these devices work and what they’re actually doing to your body beyond making you feel good. A massage gun delivers a percussive massage: Its motorized head pulses back and forth as it drums into you, causing your blood vessels to dilate.
“All of these tools — such asfoam rollersand massage guns — are all trying to do some version of the same thing, which is to amplify what the body already does well, and so they’re trying to increase blood flow to the area that is sore,” says Ben Rosario, co-founder and CEO ofThe Marathon Project.
Therabody and Hyperice make the best-known massage guns, but there are now numerous competitors in the space, offering a wide range of price points and different features. To compile this list, my colleague Jeremy Rellosa and I tested over a dozen different massage guns, using them to help with post-workout soreness and general recovery from various activities we do, including running, cycling, climbing, and weight training. Then we spoke to athletes, coaches, and other Strategist staffers about their favorite devices. Here, you’ll find our picks for all kinds of preferences.
Updated on May 7, 2026
Our favorite massage guns have been updated with the latest stock and availability. We’ve named Hyperice’sHypervolt 3 Proour new best massage gun overall and theHypervolt Go 3our new (less expensive) portable massage gun (read my full review of themhere).
Our top picks
Whatwe’relookingfor
Speeds
A massage gun will likely have a series of different speeds, each of which has a different rate of percussions per minute (PPM), or the amount of times the massage gun head moves back and forth in a minute. These settings vary from model to model, but lower speeds will likely feel less intense than higher ones.
Grip
We might refer to these devices as massage guns because a majority of them look like the blasters you’d see inStar Wars. While most of them have a grip that fits in your palm, others have multiple handles that allow you to point the head at different angles.
Battery Life
How long a massage gun lasts on a full charge can determine how long or frequently you use it for a session. I’ve noted each device’s listed battery life — and this will fluctuate depending on which speed setting you’re using.
Noise
The motors on these devices can get quite loud, and that might affect how you watch a TV show or use it around another person in a quiet area. I’ve noted how quiet each device is on three levels, based on sound-pressure levels I measured with a sound-meter app, recording each massage gun’s range from its lowest to highest speed settings. Fifty to 60 decibels, around the noise level of an electric toothbrush, is quiet; 60 to 70 dB, which you might associate with the noise of a dishwasher, is noisy; and 70 dB and up, which is the level of a vacuum cleaner, is loud.
Accessories
Some devices will be compatible with interchangeable head attachments, which can create a different sensation by using different-shaped pressure points or make it easier to pinpoint a particular spot that needs working on. I’ve noted how many attachments come with each device (although some interchangeable heads will be compatible with devices from the same brand, like the Hypervolt and Theragun lines).
Weight
How heavy a massage gun is can determine how easy it is to hold and use during a session. Heavier models might feel unwieldy to some, while lighter ones will be generally easier to carry. I’ve listed each device’s weight.
Best massage gun overall
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Speeds:6 |Grip:Pill-shaped |Battery life: 4 hours |Noise: Quiet |Accessories:5 interchangeable heads, including Heated Head Attachment |Weight:2.6 lbs.
In March, Hyperice launched an entirely redesigned line of products to replace the Hypervolt Generation 2 massage guns. The Hypervolt 2 Pro was our previous best massage gun overall, but the new premier model, the Hypervolt 3 Pro, is my top pick because it has a tremendously powerful motor and it’s the quietest device I’ve ever come across. It’s my most-used massage gun for deep-tissue soreness and my top recommendation for someone who is looking to invest in a device they’ll use frequently. For the past two months, I’ve been using it four to five times a week on all of my muscle groups, mainly after workouts or while resting. The handle has a soft, rubbery grip that’s easy to hold, and you can switch between six different speeds via a big dial on top of the gun.
Using a noisier device, like the Theragun Prime Plus (below), can often sound as though you’re attacking your muscles with a power tool, but the Hypervolt 3 Pro’s motor creates a smooth hum as it operates, especially on its lowest setting, which is already quite strong. The power of the Hypervolt’s motor is more concentrated into the massage head, though the weight of the device feels evenly distributed, even for someone like me with small hands and average wrist strenght. I never have to stabilize it by changing my grip, so using the Hypervolt 3 Pro feels effortless.
Best (less expensive) overall massage gun
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Speeds:5 |Grip:Round |Battery life: 8 hours |Noise: Quiet |Accessories:7 interchangeable heads |Weight:1.7 lbs.
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 writerLiza Corsillosays 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,” shewrites.
Most versatile massage gun
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Speeds:5 |Grip:Three-handle triangle grip |Battery life:2.5 hours |Noise:Quiet |Accessories:4 interchangeable heads |Weight:1.95 lbs.
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. A previous version of this story mentioned theTheragun Elite, which Therabody has since discontinued (although it can still be ordered on Amazon), with its main drawback being its loud whirring and rattling on higher-speed settings.
This year, the brand added the Theragun Prime Plus to its lineup, which features a heated percussive attachment and is more lightweight, plus has a longer battery life of 150 minutes than the Elite. I’ve been testing the Prime Plus for the past few months to massage my leg muscles before and after runs and Pilates. Its triangle handle lets me grip the device close to its head, so I can massage the areas around my hip joint and reach behind to my lower back, which is hard to do with the shape of a regular massage gun. For those reasons, I’ve found the Theragun Prime Plus to be super-versatile. 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).
In terms of noise level, the Prime Plus has an improved anti-stall motor, according to the brand, which I’ve found to be quiet enough to use while watching a movie or TV show without it becoming a distraction. Though if I’m being honest, I’m able to look past the noise level aspect if I’m extra sore or in dire need of a powerful massage. Along with the heated attachment, it comes with a standard ball, dampener, and wedge. Additionally, you can purchase four other attachments, including one withcold therapyand another that’s shaped like ahuman thumbfor extra precision.
Best massage gun for targeted massage
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Speeds:4 |Grip:Angled |Battery life: 2 hours |Noise: Noisy |Accessories:None |Weight:2.4 lbs.
You might recognize Trigger Point from its other recovery-product offerings (the brand makes our best overallfoam-rollerpick). This simple massage gun features a smaller, rounded head for targeting particularly tight areas with precision. Other devices on this list have interchangeable heads with pointed tips, but we haven’t found them as effective at precise targeting compared to the Trigger Point. “I reach for this gun when I have a particularly tight area that needs a laser-focused drill. It has a handle that’s slightly angled forward, which makes it a bit easier to push into my legs or my arms,” Rellosa says.
The most obvious drawback is that the Impact only comes from one massage head, so if you’re looking for multiple sensations, you should consider a device with interchangeable attachments. It also makes a slightly rattly sound when it’s on, but it’s not too disruptive. Another note: This device is frequently on sale, so this might be a budget-friendly pick, depending on how much you snag it for.
Best portable massage gun
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Speeds:3 |Grip:Triangle (hand-held) |Battery life: 2 hours |Noise: Noisy |Accessories:3 Interchangeable heads |Weight:1 lb.
We recommend theTheragun Minifor our best portable option because it delivers an effective massage for its small size (about five by five by two inches). Rellosa has been testing theMinifor the past two years and loves it for traveling or for using at his desk while working from home.He notes that it’s easy to use, saying that “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, and because the grip is close to the head, you’ll be able to get closer to the muscle and apply more pressure to your body. The grip location also helps give you 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.
Best (less expensive) portable massage gun
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Speeds:5 |Grip:Angled |Battery life: 4 hours |Noise: Quiet |Accessories:2 |Weight:1.6 lbs.
When it comes to choosing the best portable massage gun, we were torn between giving the Theragun Mini or the Hypervolt Go 3 first place. Both are equally effective at relieving tightness, but a few features might make the Go 3 a better pick for you (in addition to its lower price) — namely, the handle style and intensity.
I’ve been testing the Go 3 for the past two months, and I love using it on my hips and smaller muscle groups, such as my calves. Its motor is whisper quiet, and it’s just as compact as the Mini, plus the battery lasts up to four hours (much longer than the Mini). The most significant difference is the grip. The Go 3 features an angled, gun-style grip, similar to theTriggerPoint Impact, which makes it effective for pushing in and applying more pressure to your muscles and tight spots. The Go 3 is also about $20 cheaper (as of this writing) compared to the Mini and the least expensive option on this list. Ultimately, if you like the feeling of holding a traditional massage gun but want a smaller, more packable version, then the Go 3 is your best bet. To boost your recovery that much more, you can also order the brand’s newHeated Head Attachment 3for $59.
Our experts
•Liza Corsillo, Strategist senior writer
• Ben Rosario, a co-founder and CEO ofThe Marathon Project
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