You’ve probably seen athletes using massage guns post-workout and thought, “Hmmm… that looks real nice.”
And trust us, it is. There’s nothing like a deep tissue massage for sore muscles. And it’s even better when you can get one anytime, anywhere (for free — sorta).
A massage gun can turn that soothing dream into a reality. And whether you’re buying your first device or upgrading your current one, we’ve got recommendations for you.
There are massage devices for everyone from beginners to advanced athletes and from the totally broke to those who want to invest in a super powerful, high tech device.
Here are our 10 favorite massage guns.
Best massage guns
- Best overall: Cryotex Massage Gun
- Top rated: Fusion Muscle Massage Gun
- Best for travelers: Hyperice Hypervolt Go
- Best for bodybuilders: LifePro Sonic Handheld Percussion Massage Gun
- Best for the massage gun curious: MKHS Power Percussion Muscle Massager
- Best for newbies: TaoTronics Percussion Massager
- Best for the tech-obsessed: Hyperice Hypervolt Plus with Bluetooth
- Best high end option: Theragun PRO
- Best for competitive athletes: Theragun Elite
- Best budget option: FITPULSE Muscle Massage Gun
What is percussive therapy?
Percussive therapy is a type of massage therapy that may help reduce muscle soreness and promote faster recovery after intense workouts.
Percussive therapy devices (aka massage guns) work by rapidly striking your muscle tissue and increasing blood flow.
Sorta like an in-person massage, this can potentially help ease muscle tension and soreness from sitting at a desk all day or after a workout. And if you’re an athlete, it can give you a quicker recovery time and potentially help your muscles go harder for longer.
Some findings even suggest that regular use could help improve flexibility and range of motion.
That said, there aren’t any clinical guidelines for how to use these devices, and overuse could actually hurt your muscles. So we’d say talk with a medical pro before dropping the dough on a massage gun for yourself. You can talk through any possible downsides and decide if this kind of device is right for you. Got it? Good.
How to use a massage gun
So, how exactly do you use one of these things? As we mentioned above, there aren’t any hard and fast guidelines, so it’s best to start small to make sure you don’t accidentally hurt yourself.
When you’re new to percussive therapy, it’s a good idea to start with the lowest setting on your device and massage a muscle for only 30 seconds.
As you get used to using the massage gun and get a better idea of how it helps you, you can adjust the settings or the length of time to be a better fit for you. Note, though, that it’s rare to massage any single muscle for longer than 2 minutes at a time, and doing so could lead to increased soreness.
To use it, place the head approximately 1 inch away from the muscle you want to target and power on the device, slowly moving it up and down the length of the muscle while it works its tension-melting magic.
Be sure to follow the instructions that are included with the device you buy, too, because instructions may vary among devices (for example, more powerful massage guns may need to be used for a shorter period of time or held slightly farther away from your body).
Which head should you use?
And what about all those different massage heads? Although the products on this list have up to SEVENTEEN different heads each, the most common shapes are round, forked, bullet, and flat (and most other heads are variations on these shapes).
Here are a few general guidelines on how to pick the best one to target certain muscles:
- Round. The round head is the default for most massage guns, and it’s great for larger muscles and general use.
- Forked. Forked heads seem to work best for muscles around narrow bones, like the muscles around your spine.
- Bullet. These tiny heads are better for smaller muscles or very small, targeted areas that need some R&R.
- Flat. Like round heads, these are great for general use with larger muscle groups.
Your massager’s user guide should have an explainer on the different massage heads and how to use them too.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $100
- $$ = $100–$200
- $$$ = over $200
The 10 best massage guns
Best overall
Cryotex Massage Gun
- Price: $
- Weight: 2 pounds (lbs.)
- Force: up to 3,200 rotations per minute (rpm)
- Noise level: 30–50 decibels (dB)
- Customization: 20 speeds, 6 massage heads
- Battery life: 6 hours
- Pros: midrange price, several customization options, 6-hour battery life
- Cons: less powerful motor than more expensive massage guns
With excellent reviews and a price that’ll make you happy, this is a good all-around choice for anyone looking to add a massage gun to their recovery routine.
It’s got tons of customization options and some interesting settings — like Flow Mode, which delivers random waving rotation speeds to your muscles.
Top rated
Fusion Muscle Massage Gun
- Price: $$
- Weight: 3.6 lbs.
- Force: up to 3,300 rpm
- Noise level: less than 45 dB
- Customization: 6 attachment heads, 20 speed levels
- Battery life: 4 hours
- Pros: 4-hour battery life, several customization options, travel case
- Cons: less powerful motor than some other massage guns
This massage gun is another solid choice for anyone from beginners to massage gun skeptics to competitive athletes. It’s moderately priced and has a whopping 4.8 stars on Amazon (from nearly 3,000 reviews).
Best for travelers
Hyperice Hypervolt Go
- Price: $$
- Weight: 1.5 lbs.
- Force: up to 3,200 rpm
- Noise level: “whisper quiet operation,” according to the manufacturer
- Customization: 3 speeds, 2 heads
- Battery life: 2.5 hours
- Pros: cordless, easy to use
- Cons: limited speed and attachment head options
This massage gun is perfect for travelers because it’s compact, cordless, and rechargeable. It’s also a good option for new massage gun users because it’s reasonably priced and easy to use and has only two attachment heads (rather than the mind-boggling six or more that some come with).
Hypervolt is a trusted high end percussion massage gun brand, and this model is the least expensive and simplest they have to offer (since it was designed with portability in mind). Their other models have more features, such as app connectivity, more powerful motors, and more attachment heads.
Best for bodybuilders
LifePro Sonic Handheld Percussion Massage Gun
- Price: $
- Weight: 4 lbs.
- Force: 1,200–2,800 rpm
- Noise level: 55–75 dB
- Customization: 5 intensity levels, 8 attachment heads
- Battery life: 3-6 hours
- Pros: carrying cases, several attachment heads, cordless and rechargeable
- Cons: learning curve for multiple attachments, louder than most other massage guns
This massage gun from LifePro comes with eight different attachments, so you can target any muscle group that may benefit from massage — that’s why we recommend it for serious athletes. It’s also got stellar reviews from lots of happy users.
LifePro also carries several other massage guns, including mini options for recovery on the go and — get this — HEATED massage guns. Their new Dynaflex gun also has an adjustable arm to make it easier to reach any muscle you need to. So don’t sleep on this brand!
Best for the massage gun curious
MKHS Power Percussion Muscle Massager
- Price: $
- Weight: 2.2 lbs.
- Force: 1,200–3,200 rpm
- Noise level: 35–50 dB
- Customization: 20 speeds, 6 attachment heads
- Battery life: 6 hours
- Pros: inexpensive, variety of speeds and attachments
- Cons: sketchy Amazon sales page
With solid reviews, a great price, and a plethora of speed options (along with six different attachments), this massage gun is great for anyone who’s curious about percussive therapy but doesn’t want to make a big investment — even if all the misspellings on the Amazon page don’t exactly inspire confidence.
Best for newbies
TaoTronics Percussion Massager
- Price: $$
- Weight: 2.1 lbs.
- Force: 1,400–3,200 rpm
- Noise level: 42–52 dB
- Customization: 10 speeds, 6 attachment heads
- Battery life: 10 hours
- Pros: variety of attachments, travel case, auto shutoff
- Cons: weaker motor than some higher-end models
This massage gun from TaoTronics is great for new massage gun users. It’s reasonably priced and has excellent reviews and a super simple three-button operation. It’s also got six heads, so you can work all dem muscles.
On the TaoTronics website, you can buy this device in several colors, too, like gray, silver, blue, and black. They also offer an upgraded version that has 20 speeds instead of 10 and comes in gray or dark green.
Best for the tech-obsessed
Hyperice Hypervolt Plus with Bluetooth
- Price: $$$
- Weight: 7 lbs.
- Force: up to 3,200 rpm
- Noise level: features “Quiet Glide” technology, per manufacturer
- Customization: 5 attachment heads, Bluetooth programmable
- Battery life: 3 hours
- Pros: app connectivity, powerful motor, trusted brand
- Cons: heavier than most others, expensive
Early adopter? Here’s the massage gun you’re gonna want. The Hypervolt Plus has the most powerful motor in the whole Hypervolt line, and it’s got Bluetooth connectivity. That means you can add custom recovery programs via the Hyperice app or just use their presets. No button pressing for you!
With the Hyperice app, which the device connects to via Bluetooth, you can start preset recovery or warmup programs right from your phone or create your own routines. That way, you won’t have to fiddle with the device’s controls. You can just sit back and be pampered (or pummeled, depending on how you like it).
The app’s HyperSmart technology also connects with other fitness apps, like Apple Health and Strava, to customize recommendations for you based on your activity data.
The Hypervolt Plus is the most high end and feature-packed massage gun in the Hypervolt line. The line also features the made-for-travel Hypervolt GO (mentioned above) and the basic Hypervolt, which has a slightly less powerful motor than the Plus but many of the same features.
Best high end option
Theragun PRO
- Price: $$$
- Weight: 2.9 lbs.
- Force: 1,750–2,400 rpm
- Noise level: “QuietForce” technology, per manufacturer
- Customization: 5 speeds, or complete speed customization through Theragun app; 6 attachment heads
- Battery life: 2.5 hours per battery
- Pros: extra-long battery life (because it comes with two batteries), Bluetooth connectivity, rotating arm and multigrip
- Cons: very expensive
This thing is hypnotically pretty, and it packs a punch (literally). It’s definitely an investment, but if you’re looking for a super powerful, tricked-out massage gun with app connectivity and several attachment heads for a totally custom experience, then this is it!
Therabody, the Theragun app that allows the device to connect to your phone via Bluetooth, is pretty dang cool. It has a library of routines you can start with just a tap of your phone. It can also sync with other health apps like Apple Health and Samsung Health to recommend massage gun routines that would be beneficial for you based on your activity data. We are *thera* impressed.
Theragun, like Hypervolt, is a trusted name in high end massage guns and other recovery equipment. They have four massage guns in their lineup, and the PRO is what they consider “professional grade.” (Gettin’ serious, y’all.)
They also have the Elite, which is powerful but not quite as bougie; the Prime, which can be considered a base model Theragun; and the Mini, which is a tiny and adorable Theragun designed to be extra-portable.
Best for competitive athletes
Theragun Elite
- Price: $$$
- Weight: 2.2 lbs.
- Force: 1,750–2,400 rpm
- Noise level: “QuietForce” technology, per manufacturer
- Customization: 5 speeds, or full customization with Theragun app; 5 attachment heads
- Battery life: 2 hours
- Pros: powerful motor, Bluetooth connectivity
- Cons: expensive
Hey, another gorgeous work of art from Theragun! This one is slightly less technologically advanced — but it also has a less eye-popping price tag. It can still connect to the Theragun app via Bluetooth, so you can use custom recovery programs made for your workout style and your muscles.
Best budget option
FITPULSE Muscle Massage Gun
- Price: $
- Weight: 4.3 lbs.
- Force: up to 3,200 rpm
- Noise level: 60 dB or less
- Customization: 30 speed levels, 17 attachment heads
- Battery life: 6 hours
- Pros: very inexpensive, 17 attachment heads, carrying case
- Cons: Some reviewers report that the unit broke quickly.
On a tight budget? Since it’s one of the least expensive massage guns on this list, it’s a bit surprising that this gun also offers the most speed options and attachment heads.
FYI: The reviews are overwhelmingly positive. But a common theme among the negative reviews is that the massage gun broke shortly after purchase. Womp womp.
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