Best Massage Guns of 2025
CR evaluated percussive massagers based on handle ergonomics, ease of use, and the postural stress they put on the body
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A massage gun—also known as a percussive massager—offers a way to mimic some aspects of a deep tissue massage at home, without a massage therapist. Whether you want to buy one as a warm-up device or to help with post-exercise soreness, these powered devices have a pulsating tip that can dig into muscles, work out knots, and relieve pain.
- Best Massage Guns
- Choosing the Right Massage Gun
- Our Massage Gun Evaluations: How We Evaluated What We Found
Best Massage Guns
Here are all the massage guns we evaluated, ordered by how they performed in our evaluations. Though we refer to these devices as massage guns, not all of them come with the pistol grip or index finger trigger typically associated with the term.
Adjustable Arm: Yes
Handle Style: Triangle
Weight (lbs): 2.6 lb.
Price: $500
The Therabody Theragun Pro (Gen. 5) is the priciest massage gun we’ve evaluated, but it also has one of the best ergonomic handles and is one of the best at reaching harder-to-access areas on the back. The fifth-generation model is noticeably quieter than its previous version.
It comes with preset massage routines that the OLED screen of the device will walk you through, and a library of other guided routines you can access on the Therabody app. When using guided routines, though, you might not always see the display’s or app’s indications that it’s time to change positions. Paul Ritchey, DrPH, an ergonomics specialist at CR, recommends enabling and adjusting the guided routine preferences for “breaks” and transitions to help you know when it’s time to switch to a new area. To make this change, enable “breaks” in the routine’s settings in the Therabody app. This device charges via USB-C and comes with its own charging block.
While this is the best-performing massage gun that we’ve tested, it’s heavy and can put out more power than many users might need.
Adjustable Arm: Yes
Handle Style: Partial triangle
Weight (lbs): 2.2 lb.
Price: $100
Shop: Amazon
The partial triangle handle and adjustable massage head on the Renpho R4 Pro makes it easy for users to more comfortably target hard-to-reach areas of the body. “The handle on my massage gun is really one of the biggest selling points,” said one of the Renpho R4 users we heard from, who also praised the light weight of the device.
This very affordable device is not particularly powerful, but its moderate massage should still be sufficient for many users. It’s straightforward to use, with one button to change speeds. And while it does very well in our evaluations of handle ergonomics, postural stress, and ease of use, it doesn’t have the premium feel of some of the more expensive devices we’ve tested—changing the attachments feels a little clunky and can take a lot of force.
Adjustable Arm: Yes
Handle Style: Triangle
Weight (lbs): 2.9 lb.
Price: $449
Shop: Amazon
The Therabody Theragun Pro (Gen. 4) is one of the loudest and more expensive devices we’ve evaluated, but this older version of the Theragun Pro still has one of the best ergonomic handles and is one of the best at reaching areas on the back. It has an adjustable arm, and the attachments lock onto the arm in a satisfying way that helps you know they’re well-attached.
“[I love] the intensity of the massage. [I dislike] the noise—it’s loud,” said one participant in our user study. This device is best for those using it in a professional or sports setting, or for people who really want to be able to massage their upper and middle back on their own.
Adjustable Arm: No
Handle Style: Pistol
Weight (lbs): 2.2 lb.
Price: $329
The pistol grip on the Ekrin B37S isn’t quite as maneuverable as the handle on some other devices. But its design allows users to pinch or palm the device, providing another nice option for holding the device, and the length of the handle can help users massage some of those harder-to-reach areas of the back. It’s moderately loud and provides a strong massage. It’s very easy to attach and remove different massage heads, and the B37S also comes with an excellent and well-organized carrying case.
Adjustable Arm: No
Handle Style: Triangle
Weight (lbs): 2.2 lb.
Price: $300
Shop: Amazon, Best Buy, Theragun
Like the Theragun Pro, the Theragun Prime comes with one of the triangle-shaped handles that we considered best for an ergonomic grip. The fixed arm—one of the main differences between the Prime and the Pro models—makes it less adjustable than its Pro counterpart, but the handle still offers a variety of holding options, including two-handed grips. It’s easy to use and has straightforward controls.
One participant in our user study highlighted the model’s ergonomic grip, saying that the design makes “targeting specific spots easier.”
This is a thoughtfully designed device that also comes with a nice carry bag, though it is one of the louder massagers we evaluated.
Adjustable Arm: No
Handle Style: Pistol
Weight (lbs): 2.6 lb.
Price: $330
Shop: Amazon, Best Buy, Hyperice
The Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro is one of the more powerful devices that we’ve tested. It has a sleek, minimalist display and a unique wheel that can be used to adjust speed—once you understand it, it’s one of the most intuitive control systems, Ritchey says. It also can connect to the Hyperice smartphone app, allowing users to follow guided massage routines on the app.
"[I] love how powerful it is, how easy to use it is . . . my main dislike is that it’s a little bit heavy for a massage gun," said one of the users in our user study. “It is heavy-duty and it’s very nice, but . . . it can be challenging to maneuver when tired,” said another.
Adjustable Arm: No
Handle Style: Pistol
Weight (lbs): 1.5 lb.
Price: $84
The Renpho Active (which used to be called the R3) massage gun is a good all-around device for most average users: It is small and lightweight, and relatively quiet compared with other devices. However, it’s not the ideal choice for people who want the most intense massage or those who often massage areas on the back.
“I love that it is not very big, and lightweight. I love the case that I have to carry it in and that it came with five different attachment heads,” one user said. “Since it is smaller, it can be difficult to reach areas on your back if you’re doing it yourself.”
The pistol grip could add some postural stress, compared with some of the other devices, says Ritchey, though its light weight and small form factor could help alleviate stress for some. As an added bonus, this can be charged with a standard USB-C charging cable.
The main difference between the Renpho R4 Pro and the Renpho Active is that the R4 Pro is an overall larger device that has an adjustable massage head and a handle design that offers users more options for how to hold and use the device.
Adjustable Arm: No
Handle Style: Pistol
Weight (lbs): 1.5 lb.
Price: $129
Shop: Amazon, Best Buy, Hyperice, Target, Walmart
This travel-sized Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 offers a strong massage—and is relatively quiet for a device this powerful. It’s lightweight, and despite being a smaller device, it does a pretty good job of massaging some of the harder-to-reach areas on the back, though some parts may still be difficult to reach. It has a minimalist design with a single button that powers the device on and changes speeds. Even though the size makes it seem made for travel, it does not actually come with a case or a storage bag for different massage heads. This device charges via USB-C.
“I’ve only used it on the lowest setting, and I feel like that’s strong enough,” said one user in our user study. “I like whatever material [the handle is] made out of, feels like you’ve got a good strong grip on it.”
Adjustable Arm: No
Handle Style: Pistol
Weight (lbs): 2 lb.
Price: $50
Shop: Amazon
The Toloco EM26 is the cheapest device that we’ve tested, making it a decent budget purchase. It offers a weaker massage than other devices, but it is pretty quiet as a result. This device charges via USB-C.
The interface on this device can be cumbersome. And while it comes with 10 attachments and a case, the attachments often come loose and get jumbled up inside the case, making it hard to fit the massage gun in.
“Even on low it gets the job done,” said one participant in our user research. “One thing that could be improved is that . . . the [massage head] attachments really get stuck on [the device] sometimes. And on the display, there’s a thumbprint that you use to turn it on, and I don’t really care for that. I wish there was a clear on/off."
Adjustable Arm: No
Handle Style: Wedge
Weight (lbs): 1 lb.
Price: $200
Shop: Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Theragun
The Therabody Theragun Mini (Gen. 2) is a top pick for portability and noiselessness. This is the lightest model we evaluated, making it an excellent travel-sized option. For its size, the updated Theragun Mini delivers an impressive massage while still being one of the quietest devices we’ve tested. The wedge-shaped handle makes it easy to hold the device in a number of ways, but it still won’t be able to reach certain parts of your back.
“What I like most about my Theragun Mini is the size of it,” said a user of this device. “It fits into your hand really well, so you can really get it to maneuver much better than full-sized massage guns can.”
"I think it is quite durable and has been working well. I think that the [Theragun Mini] could be better at reaching areas such as my back, but I don’t need it for that reason," said another.
This new version comes with two additional attachments and can also connect to the Therabody app for guided routines. This device charges via USB-C.
Adjustable Arm: No
Handle Style: Wedge
Weight (lbs): 1.4 lb.
Price: $200
Shop: Amazon
This ultraportable device—the original Theragun Mini—is one of the quietest we’ve tested. It has a wedge-shaped handle and was one of the best devices for reducing problematic wrist postures. But it doesn’t come with any attachments, and it won’t be able to reach most of the back.
“I like the fact that it is small to hold, I love how easy it is to use and charge. It’s compact and easily transportable,” one user said. “The mini does a great job on the muscles. My only issue is that I can’t reach the lower shoulders.”
Adjustable Arm: No
Handle Style: Pistol
Weight (lbs): 3 lb.
Price: $229
Shop: Amazon
The Hyperice Hypervolt Plus has a large, pistol-grip-style handle. It’s somewhat unbalanced, but the length could help some users massage hard-to-reach areas on the back.
In terms of ease of use, this is one of the best devices we evaluated. But the weight could make it the wrong choice for people who have issues with grip, arm, or shoulder strength and mobility.
Adjustable Arm: No
Handle Style: Pistol
Weight (lbs): 1.1 lb.
Price: $150
The Ekrin Bantam is a good travel-sized massager with a nice storage case that offers a moderately powerful massage at moderate noise levels. It’s simple, and most users should find it easy to use, with a nice pistol-type handle that can be pinched in your palm as an additional way of holding the device. This device charges via USB-C.
“I specifically like the size, I like the ergonomic shape, and I like the weight . . . It’s very convenient to hold and very convenient to travel with,” said one user.
Choosing the Right Massage Gun for You
While the ideal way to choose a massage gun would be to try it out in person, that’s not easily doable for all. Finding the best massage gun for you depends in large part on defining your needs.
- If you want maximum adjustability and the ability to reach your back by yourself—and price and loudness are no concern—the Theragun Pro might be the choice for you. However, this is a premium product that may be somewhat more positioned for professional use, Ritchey says.
- If you are looking for a straightforward, easy-to-use, and relatively inexpensive percussive massager, check out the Renpho R4 Pro.
- People with smaller hands or limited grip, arm, or shoulder strength should check out one of the more lightweight devices, like the Renpho massage guns, Theragun Minis, Hypervolt Go 2, or Ekrin Bantam. The Theragun Mini (Gen. 2) is a great choice for people most interested in portability and basic use, and if you don’t need the extra attachments or the ability to charge using USB-C, the first-generation Theragun Mini should still work well.
- If grip strength is no issue, you have larger hands, and you want better reach, take a look at the Ekrin B37S, Hypervolt 2 Pro, or Hypervolt Plus, which have longer handles.
@consumerreports We evaluated 14 percussive massagers based on handle ergonomics, ease of use, and the postural stress they put on the body. See the best of 2023 through the link in our bio. #massagegun #massageguns #percussivemassagegun #deeptissuemassage
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No matter which device you opt for, make sure to check the instructions that come with the box and online. Start with the lightest setting on each device, because you may not need as much pressure as you think. It’s best to keep your wrist in a neutral non-bent position when holding devices, as much as you can. Our buying guide contains more tips on how to use a massage gun safely.
If you’re still on the fence about these devices, you have other options—sometimes simple items like a lacrosse ball or foam roller can apply pressure to your body tissue and help work out knots.
How We Evaluated Massage Guns
When comparing these devices, we focused on the experience of using each product, conducting expert evaluations of the handle ergonomics and the postural stress when using the devices. We also looked at how well each device can reach body areas that can be difficult to reach on your own, like the back. Our experts also considered ease of use and noise while in use.
Notably, our evaluation is not meant to measure whether or not these devices are effective in a therapeutic sense. Research on the overall efficacy of massage guns is limited, but experts have told CR that when used safely, they may help alleviate muscle pain.
To inform our expert evaluations, we first conducted two online studies of massage gun users to understand which body parts users target with these devices, and to gather relevant impressions of certain devices. From the results, we generated a list of 10 body areas that users might target with a massage device, so we could see—using a standard ergonomic assessment—how well devices could reach certain areas, and assess whether or not trying to use the devices would stress the body in an uncomfortable way.
“These are supposed to make you feel better, so we thought it would be interesting to see whether you were adding stress to your body while using them,” Ritchey says.
To measure postural stress, we’ve photographed several participants using each device to try to reach the 10 target areas. Devices that scored better on our postural stress measurement made it easier to reach target areas without needing to bend or flex the wrist or arm in an uncomfortable way. A neutral posture—which puts the least amount of stress on the body—receives the best score.
We also examined the handle on each device, comparing it with an ergonomic checklist used to evaluate hand tools. This assesses how comfortable and easy it is to grip the device’s handle during use. Device weight also factors into handle ergonomics—it can be harder to grip or manipulate a heavier device, especially for people with limited grip, arm, or shoulder strength and mobility.
Our ease-of-use measures are meant to assess various aspects of the user experience, including how easy it is to control the device, check battery life, change attachments, and understand the instructions provided with each device. We also evaluated how loud these devices were in comparison with one another because, according to Ritchey, users frequently note that these devices can be quite loud.
What We Found Through Our Evaluations
From an ergonomic perspective, the more options users have to hold a device, the easier it is to reach various parts of the body without undue stress. We found that grips shaped like a triangle or partial triangle were the easiest to hold in a variety of positions. An adjustable arm also reduces postural stress. The more adjustable and longer devices were overall better at reaching the upper and middle back, but even with these devices, those areas aren’t easy to reach on your own.
“I wouldn’t get a percussive massager if I were trying to mainly get my upper and middle back areas by myself,” Ritchey says.
Lighter devices tend to score better on handle and posture ergonomic measures because they can be more comfortable and easier to hold during use.
When it comes to ease of use, all of the devices we evaluated scored relatively well, though some had better instructions or more straightforward designs. While the expensive Theragun Pro models we’ve tested come with an OLED display, which adds a certain coolness factor, that doesn’t improve the usability of the device in any substantive way, according to Ritchey.
In talking with some current massage gun users, Ritchey learned that some of these devices can generate more force than the average person may need or want. Some users said they just use them on the lowest setting, he says. But that range of power could mean that these are well-suited to a wide range of users, from someone who casually works out to a more serious competitive athlete.
The attachments that come with each device tend to be pretty similar, Ritchey says, though it’s still worth taking a look at each device to ensure that it has whatever attachment you might want to hit a specific body region. Once you have a device, try different attachments to see what works best for you and the body area you are massaging—like a “bullet” attachment for a trigger point like the trapezius shoulder-area muscle, or a “fork” attachment for a region like your calves or hamstrings.
