The 9 Best Editor-Tested Massage Guns for Sore Muscles

The Bob and Brad A7 Pro Massage Gun combats aches and pains on a budget. It offers high-end features at under $100, since this device seems to be eternally on sale. Like the Theragun Pro Plus, it implements heat and cold therapy to help alleviate pain and swelling. And it’s even more of a bang for your buck since heat and cold attachments are included in one purchase.

Temperatures range from 104 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for heat and 50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit for cold. WH beauty editor Nicole Saunders loves using the heated setting after a long, tiring day to help relax her muscles. “I initially thought this was going to be a gimmick, but it felt particularly relaxing after walking 14 miles around New York and after a 15-hour travel day,” says Saunders. She also adds that she feels less inflamed when using this after a strenuous HIIT workout. Just note that using these settings drains the battery quickly—we noticed it only lasts up to an hour. Otherwise, battery life lasts around four hours, depending on the speed.

Speaking of speed, there are five levels: 1,600 RPM, 2,000 RPM, 2,600 RPM, 3,000 RPM, and an auto mode that cycles through all the speeds. Saunders says the power it delivers is surprising, given that it’s only 1.3 pounds. She also appreciates the integrated LED screen that displays the speeds in real time. As for noise, auto mode and the two highest speed settings are quite noisy, so it’s not ideal to use in tranquil places.

Other attachments include a standard ball for firm pressure, a cone for targeted relief, a flat air cushion that gently covers a larger surface, and a curved arc head attachment that mimics a hand massage. The arc head is the most unique—it feels especially good on sore calves.

If you want a near-weightless device, the Theragun Mini 3.0 weighs only 14 ounces. It’s the lightest massage gun I’ve used and adds almost nothing to my already heavy gym bag when I’m on the go. Plus, it’s slightly more compact all around than the Hyperice Go 3, measuring 4.5 x 5.3 x 3.7 inches.

The Mini has three speed options: 1,750, 2,100, and 2,400 PPM. (People who are sensitive to intense sensations will gravitate toward the first speed level.) It’s impressive that such a small device delivers so much power. For context, its much larger sibling, the Theragun Pro Plus, also features those speeds. Just note, the faster the speed, the louder it is. The first speed setting is relatively quiet, but the sound at higher levels can make it hard to have conversations while you’re kneading out your muscles.

We dig the dampener attachment, which is wide and flat for gentle stimulation. It’s great for tender, smaller areas such as the calves, and doesn’t feel too harsh. For the hamstrings and back, the standard attachment is great. It hits deeper and feels firmer, perfect for relieving tension in larger muscle groups. The trigger point is the smallest and most precise for targeting tiny areas and knots.

The Mini rarely needs to be charged—about once every two weeks—but it depends on usage. Run time is up to 150 minutes.

Read More: Theragun Mini 3.0 Review

The Hyperice Go 3 is the more bare-bones sibling of the Hyperice 3. It still packs a quiet punch to sore muscles, but in a compact design. All speed levels are the same as the Hypervolt 3. Hyperice rolled out the Go 3—an updated version of the Go 2—in March, and there are a few upgrades worth mentioning.

This version has an extra hour of battery life, and two more speed levels than the Go 2. We still think the Go 2 is great, though—and it’s a slightly cheaper version if you’re looking to save a little.

WH style editor Shannen Zitz was shocked by its performance, given its smaller design, and noticed when she missed a session. “It's really great for relieving my chronic back and shoulder pain, and I find myself always asking my partner to use it on those areas,” says Zitz. “I think it has even managed to loosen up a ton of my muscle knots, giving me major long-term relief.” It comes with the flat and bullet head attachments for covering large or tiny muscle groups.

Measuring at 6.8 x 7.5 x 2.4 inches and weighing 1.6 pounds, it fits comfortably in a gym bag or work tote, as well as your own hand. “The size and weight make it so that even during long sessions, my hand never feels fatigued while holding it,” adds Zitz. As for battery life, it holds up the same as the Hypervolt 3.

It may be an investment, but we swear Theragun Pro Plus is worth it. It shoots a beam of near-infrared light at your muscles while massaging, which can reduce inflammation and boost circulation for recovery, according to a study by the Journal of Athletic Training.

It has five speed levels, ranging from 1,750 to 2,400 PPM. It’s also relatively quiet on the lowest speed setting.

The attachments include a dampener, wedge, micro-point, standard ball, and thumb, along with integrated heat therapy. The heat feature releases a relaxing warm sensation when vibrating. It feels like a spa-like experience when it glides across my muscles, specifically my hamstrings and calves. WH fitness and reviews editor Natascha Grief compares this massage gun to having an on-call massage therapist, because that’s how effectively it loosens up her tight muscles.

It has three temperature levels: 113, 122, and 131 degrees Fahrenheit. It can overheat if used for too long, though, so I wouldn’t leave it on for too long. As for battery life, it has to be charged relatively frequently (it tops out at 150 minutes). The heat and near-infrared light settings drain the battery faster.

There is a cold therapy attachment, but it has to be purchased separately. The PRO Plus already has a very steep price tag, so it’s disappointing that it’s not included (it costs an extra $100).

There are a few massage guns out there with price tags that hover around $100, but few offer the perks of the Mebak 3. The touchscreen controls are clear and easy to use, so even massage gun newbies can get up and running almost immediately.

This device offers five speeds ranging from 640 to 3,200 PPM. That’s a lower range than most other massage guns, but a pro for people like me who like to start low and ease into percussion massage sessions. It shuts off automatically after 10 minutes—a handy feature for people who are newer to percussion massages and may be a little over-eager as a result. (You can restart it right away if you want to keep going, though.)

I appreciate the battery life indicator, which makes it clear when this massager needs a recharge. But this machine really shines with all of the attachments. There are seven total—two more than most. That includes a shovel, which is specially designed to target your shoulders and low back.

The Mebak 3 is impressively quiet at nearly every speed. The two- to three-hour battery life is considered middle of the road for a massage gun, but what do you expect for $100? While it’s a little bulkier and heavier than most, this is still a solid option, whether you’re on a budget or trying to see if you’ll actually use a massager before upgrading to something more premium.

When it comes to massage gun battery life, four hours is considered impressive. The Ekrin Athletics B37v2 delivers eight hours, which is jaw-dropping by most standards. That means you only need to charge this every month or so, depending on how often and how intensely you use it.

This massager has a grippy handle that’s at a slight angle, making it a little easier to hit hard-to-reach places. Just be aware that the handle is thick and can be tricky to hold comfortably if your hands are on the smaller side.

The Ekrin serves up five speeds, ranging from 1,400 to 3,200 PPM. It’s a little intense at higher speeds and may not be used by everyone, but it’s nice to know they’re there if you need them. You can pick from four different attachments, too. This massager comes with a lifetime warranty, which is rare in this field.

Something that’s worth pointing out: A previous version of this massager required a special charger, but Ekrin Athletics has tweaked the design to allow you to fire this up with the help of any USB-C charger.

Massage guns can get big, but sometimes you just want something petite you can toss in a bag. The Renpho Mini Thermal Massage Gun is here to help. This massager is lightweight (under 1 pound!) and small size-wise, making it easy to put in your gym bag and forget about until recovery time strikes. Renpho refers to this as “pocket-sized,” but that’s a bit of a stretch.

But don’t mistake this massager’s small size for a lack of usability. The Mini Thermal serves up four levels of speed, from 1,800 to 3,000 PPM, giving you plenty to work with. It also has four attachments—a claw, sphere, cone, and flat head. The battery life lasts up to three hours, too.

If you like a little heat with your massager, you’ll appreciate that this device warms up to 114 degrees Fahrenheit in just a minute. While it’s probably not high on your priority list, Renpho offers the Mini Thermal in your choice of nine different shades, allowing you to match your massager to your gym bag. Is this the heftiest, most powerful massager you can find? Nope. But it still gets the job done, especially for people who don’t require or like intense massages.