The Best Massage Guns for 2026: Theragun, Hypervolt, Ekrin and Budget Picks
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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A massage gun is the closest thing to a sports massage you can keep in a drawer. These handheld percussion devices pound a padded head into tight muscles many times a minute, and used for a minute or two per muscle group they can help you warm up, loosen knots and feel less stiff after a hard workout or a long day at a desk.
To sort the good from the noisy, we leaned on three sets of hands-on testing. The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Nutrition and Fitness Lab evaluated more than 20 massage guns and myofascial tools for effectiveness, comfort and ease of use, and recruited testers nationwide. Tom’s Guide’s team, led by a personal trainer, has tested massage guns at home for months per model. And Men’s Health’s fitness editors tested picks for its 2026 guide, with input from physical therapists including Vinh Pham of Myodetox. We didn’t test these massage guns ourselves.
Quick answer: Good Housekeeping’s best overall is the Therabody Theragun Prime, with deep 16 mm amplitude in a durable, well-built body. For the most power, GH points to the Theragun Pro Plus. Tom’s Guide and Men’s Health both like Hyperice’s light, quiet Hypervolt Go 3 as an affordable pick, and GH’s best value is the Renpho Active at under $100.
Our picks at a glance
| Massage gun | Speed range | Amplitude | Battery | Weight | Who recommends it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Therabody Theragun Prime | 1,750-2,400 PPM (5 speeds) | 16 mm | 120 min | 32 oz | GH best overall |
| Therabody Theragun Pro Plus | 1,750-2,400 PPM (5 speeds) | 16 mm | 150 min | 3.6 lb | GH pick for serious athletes |
| Hyperice Hypervolt 3 Pro | 1,700-2,700 PPM (5 settings) | Not listed | 3 hours | 2.6 lb | Men’s Health |
| Theragun Elite | 1,750-2,400 PPM | 16 mm | 120 min | 2.2 lb | Tom’s Guide best value |
| Ekrin Athletics B37v2 | 1,400-3,200 RPM (5 speeds) | 12 mm | 8 hours | 2.2 lb | GH pick, lifetime warranty |
| Hyperice Hypervolt Go 3 | Up to 2,500 PPM | 10 mm | Up to 4 hours | 1.6 lb | Tom’s Guide and Men’s Health |
| Therabody Theragun Mini (3rd Gen) | 1,700-2,400 PPM (3 speeds) | 12 mm | 120-150 min | About 1 lb | GH and Men’s Health |
| Renpho Active | 1,800-3,200 RPM (5 speeds) | 10 mm | 150 min | 1.7 lb | GH best value |
| Bob and Brad M7 Plus Mini | 2,000-3,000 PPM | 9 mm | 60 min | 0.8 lb | Tom’s Guide top pick |
Specs as published by Good Housekeeping, Tom’s Guide or Men’s Health; where outlets differ we show the range. Prices change often, so check current pricing.
How we chose
We chose based on the testing above, favoring massage guns that at least one outlet recommended after real use and that meet Good Housekeeping’s baseline: at least three speeds, at least 10 mm of amplitude, two or more heads, an ergonomic shape for reaching your back and legs, solid battery life and manageable noise. We then balanced power (amplitude and stall force) against weight, portability, warranty and price so there’s a pick for athletes, beginners and travelers. Each pick links to Amazon; where a tester linked a specific listing, we use it.
The best massage guns
1. Therabody Theragun Prime: best overall
Best for: intermediate and advanced exercisers who want deep, reliable relief.
Good Housekeeping’s fitness director, a certified personal trainer, has used the Prime regularly for over a year and singles out its durability and high-quality build. Its 16 mm amplitude digs deep into sore spots, and GH calls the attachments some of the most well-designed it has seen: the dampener suits general use and sensitive muscles, and the optional cone gives a more intense, targeted session.
The 6th-generation Prime has five built-in speeds (1,750 to 2,400 PPM per GH) and LED speed indicators. You can pair it with the Therabody app for guided routines, but you don’t need the app for a great session. GH lists 30 pounds of stall force, 120 minutes of battery life and a weight of 32 ounces.
Pros
- Deep 16 mm amplitude
- Durable, premium build
- Excellent attachments
Cons
- Pricier than mid-range guns
2. Therabody Theragun Pro Plus: most powerful
Best for: serious athletes, physical therapists and recovery devotees.
GH calls the Pro Plus a powerhouse and a dream for professional athletes. Its stall force of up to 60 pounds makes it one of the most powerful massage guns on the market, and it comes with a long list of attachments, including a standard ball, dampener, thumb, wedge, micro-point, a vibration attachment and a heated attachment, with heat and cold therapy capabilities. GH lists 16 mm amplitude, 150 minutes of battery and a 3.6-pound weight.
It’s not for beginners or casual users. The price is very high, the size and power can feel intimidating, and the micro-point head isn’t for everyone. GH notes that the Theragun Pro line carries a two-year warranty, where most massage guns offer one.
Pros
- Up to 60 lb stall force
- Heat and cold options
- Huge attachment set
Cons
- Very expensive
- Heavy
3. Hyperice Hypervolt 3 Pro: best quiet full-size
Best for: people who want power without the power-tool noise.
Men’s Health recommends the Hypervolt 3 Pro for anyone looking for a suitably powerful and quiet full-sized model. Compared with the standard Hypervolt 3, it adds two extra power settings, which gives you lower levels to start from. MH lists 1,700 to 2,700 PPM across five settings, five attachments, three hours of battery and a 2.6-pound weight.
Tom’s Guide’s premium pick is the previous Hypervolt 2 Pro, which it praises for Bluetooth, an extensive app and an intense massage, but warns is heavy and expensive. The 3 Pro is the newer model with similar published specs.
Pros
- Quiet for its power
- Wide range of settings
- Five attachments
Cons
- Max power below some rivals
- Premium price
4. Theragun Elite: best mid-range value
Best for: someone who wants Theragun depth without Pro pricing.
Tom’s Guide calls the Elite a ‘Porsche among massage guns’ with Therabody’s ‘felt not heard’ philosophy and rates it the better value than the Pro. It can be held in several ways, which helps with hard-to-reach spots like the lower back and hamstrings, and comes with five attachments (dampener, ball, wedge, thumb and cone), a power adapter and a hard-shell carrying case.
Battery life is up to two hours with a quick recharge, the amplitude is a deep 16 mm, and the Therabody app adds guided routines and a force meter that shows how hard you’re pressing. Tom’s Guide notes it’s bulky, though sturdy.
Pros
- 16 mm amplitude
- Five attachments and hard case
- Multi-grip handle
Cons
- Bulky
5. Ekrin Athletics B37v2: best for home use
Best for: anyone who wants big power and a long warranty.
GH found the angled handle took strain off the wrists and made hard-to-reach spots easier, and liked the gentle round foam head and the fork attachment for the back. It delivers 56 pounds of stall force with five speeds, four attachments and a carrying case, and GH lists up to eight hours of battery life. Ekrin backs it with a lifetime warranty.
Because of its lithium-ion battery, GH says it’s not ideal for air travel and is best at home, and it’s larger than portable models. Men’s Health separately recommends Ekrin’s newer Kestrel for its comfortable grip and six heads.
Pros
- Lifetime warranty
- 56 lb stall force
- Up to 8 hours of battery
Cons
- Not ideal for flying
- Larger than minis
6. Hyperice Hypervolt Go 3: best affordable name brand
Best for: desk-side or gym-bag use.
This is the one both Tom’s Guide and Men’s Health chose. Tom’s Guide’s tester found it released knots, improved range of motion and sped up warm-ups, with up to four hours of battery so you can get a week of sessions between charges. At 1.6 pounds it’s easy to hold, and Men’s Health’s tester keeps one at the desk thanks to its near-noiseless performance and small footprint, saying it packs as much punch as full-size models.
The trade-offs: only two attachments, a 10 mm amplitude, and no Bluetooth link to Hyperice’s app, though the app still offers suggested routines.
Pros
- Light and quiet
- Long battery life
- Effective for its size
Cons
- Only two heads
- No Bluetooth
7. Therabody Theragun Mini (3rd Gen): best for travel
Best for: frequent flyers and minimalists.
GH and Men’s Health both recommend the third-generation Mini. It fits in a jacket pocket or carry-on, has three speeds and three attachments, and Men’s Health’s tester, a frequent traveler, says they’ve never used a massage gun as much. MH cites 150 minutes of battery and a weight under 1.5 pounds.
GH’s caveats: without a traditional handle some areas are tricky to reach, and with 20 pounds of stall force it isn’t ideal for deep muscle work. The case holds the gun but not the extra heads.
Pros
- Pocketable
- Surprisingly powerful for its size
Cons
- Low stall force
- No handle
8. Renpho Active: best under $100
Best for: beginners and budget-conscious gift buyers.
GH’s best value pick is a lightweight but surprisingly powerful gun that reaches up to 3,200 RPM, with five attachments, a carrying case, a standard handle that’s easy to maneuver and a built-in 10-minute auto shut-off. With 45 pounds of max force, GH says it has enough punch for most sessions.
Serious athletes may want more than its 10 mm amplitude, and it takes about 90 minutes to recharge. Men’s Health also recommends Renpho’s Active Thermacool 2, a sub-$100 model with heating and cooling.
Pros
- Under $100
- Five attachments plus case
- Good power for the price
Cons
- Shallower amplitude
9. Bob and Brad M7 Plus Mini: Tom’s Guide’s top pick
Best for: value shoppers who want a portable gun with heat.
Tom’s Guide’s personal trainer picks this as the massage gun to buy: portable, versatile and inexpensive, with a heated head attachment. In Tom’s Guide’s comparison it has the highest top speed of its three picks (2,000 to 3,000 PPM) but the least amplitude (9 mm) and the shortest battery life (60 minutes), and it weighs just 14 ounces with five attachments.
Pros
- Very light
- Heated head
- Five attachments
Cons
- Shallow amplitude
- Shorter battery
Massage gun buying advice
Amplitude and stall force beat speed
Speed (percussions per minute) matters, and Tom’s Guide wouldn’t go below 1,400 PPM. But amplitude, how far the head travels, has a bigger effect on depth; Tom’s Guide suggests 14 to 16 mm if you like a deep-tissue feel. Men’s Health adds that stall force, how much pressure the motor can take before stalling, determines how hard you can press. Theragun’s Prime, Elite and Pro Plus all offer 16 mm; budget and mini guns typically run 9 to 12 mm.
Noise, weight and battery
Physical therapist Vinh Pham, quoted by Men’s Health, puts noise first: if it sounds like a power tool, you won’t use it in public. Weight matters because you’ll hold it at awkward angles; Tom’s Guide’s test is simple: if it feels heavy within 20 seconds, skip it. For battery, Tom’s Guide wants at least 60 minutes, and its picks range from 60 to 180.
Attachments and apps
Three heads cover most needs: a large flat or ball head for big muscles, a dampener for sensitive areas and a smaller point for targeted work. Men’s Health notes most people end up using one or two favorites. Apps can help beginners with guided routines, but Tom’s Guide advises not to pay for features over fundamentals.
Warranty and knock-offs
Massage guns vibrate hard for a living, and Men’s Health warns about knock-off brands with sub-par build quality. GH says most carry a one-year warranty, Theragun Pro two years and Ekrin’s B37 a lifetime warranty. Buying from a reputable brand and seller is worth it. Men’s Health also lists its picks as FSA/HSA eligible, which can soften the price.
Use it safely
GH recommends limiting use to one to two minutes per muscle group, not pressing too hard, and stopping if you notice swelling, redness, irritation or pain. Massage guns are for sore muscles, not strains or sprains, and GH advises people who are pregnant or have deep vein thrombosis to check with a health care provider first. Tom’s Guide adds that research is mixed: a study it cites found short-term gains in range of motion and flexibility, but advised against use right before strength or explosive activities.
FAQ
Do massage guns really work?
They can help short-term with soreness, range of motion and warm-ups, according to the testers and research Tom’s Guide cites, but they aren’t a cure-all. Sleep, mobility work and sensible training matter more.
How long should I use a massage gun?
Good Housekeeping suggests one to two minutes per muscle group, using lighter pressure and lower speeds to start.
Which is better, Theragun or Hypervolt?
Both brands make excellent guns. Theraguns tend to offer deeper 16 mm amplitude and a multi-grip handle; Hyperice models are often lighter and quieter. GH’s top pick is the Theragun Prime, while Tom’s Guide and Men’s Health like the Hypervolt Go 3 for value.
Can I take a massage gun on a plane?
Often, but check first. GH notes the Hypervolt Go 2 is TSA-approved for carry-on, while it says the Ekrin B37v2’s battery makes it better for home use.
