The Best Massage Gun for You, Based on Your Level of Activity
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The daily aches and pains that come from life, liberty, and the pursuit of a fitter bod don't go away as you get older. If you haven't got the memo yet, massage guns are one of modern technology's best solutions to the pains of life. A handheld alternative to seeing a massage therapist or having your partner rub your back. For targeted relief, there's really nothing better.
You've probably heard of the Theragun and its many offspring, like the TheraGun Mini or Prime Plus or Relief. Truly, the list goes on and that's just the leading brand. Beyond Therabody, there's a ton of options out there on Amazon and many of them are even worth your money. Right now, I'm loving the Hypervolt 3 Pro from Hyperice, but my colleague is perfectly happy rocking the Gadget Award-winning Renpho Active Thermacool, which rings up to less than half the price.
Nerdy-sounding names aside, the point is at pretty much any price between $100 and $1,000, there's a massage gun waiting for you. And a damn good one at that. These are the five best massage guns to soothe your tired muscles.
1) Theragun Relief
The Theragun Relief is deceptive. It's really just a massage gun that's easy to hold, has a few simple speed settings, and just three attachments. No bells and certainly no whistles and somehow I wrote nearly a thousand words about how much I love it .
Really, it comes down to the simplicity and affordability. It's an entry-level massage gun at an entry-level price that doesn't sacrifice performance. Seriously, if you just need something to ease those aching glutes, calves, and shoulders post-workout, this is the easy buy.
- Easy to pick up and use
- Ergonomic and lightweight
- Three attachments
- Not as powerful
- Fewer speed options
2) Hyperice Hypervolt 3 Pro
I was all in on Therabody until I tried this massage gun. Not to say I prefer one or the other, but you've got to admit the Hypervolt 3 Pro is, for $350, a helluva bargain. It even includes a heated massage attachment, which might not sound like a lot, but it's really the next evolution for this tech. Regular percussive massage is nice, but heat really takes the relief to the next level. End of the day, I'm not wanting for a single feature.
In terms of the design, the heads are easy to pop on and off and the speed wheel makes it easy to adjust the speed without having to press a button. My only real complaint about the design is that, coming off a Theragun with its triangular handle, the Hypervolt can feel a bit unwieldy or top heavy at times. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's one area where I prefer the competition.
- Heated massage head
- Wheel makes it easy to adjust speed on the fly
- Four other useful attachments and a carrying case
- Top heavy
- No cold therapy
3) Therabody Theragun Mini
All of these massage guns are technically handheld, but there's only one that is perfect for taking on airplanes, road trips, and even just to the school's gym. The Theragun Mini has, since its inception in 2020, consistently been the smallest one with the best shape for easy solo use and easy travel storage. The new third-generation iteration is no different. It has three heads you can attach and can be set to three different speeds. Make sure it's charged and you are one press and a hold away from instant relief, no matter where life takes you.
- The best, most compact massage gun there is
- Comes with a soft travel bag
- Still delivers the massage you need
- Over $200
4) Renpho Active Thermacool 2
Theragun and Hyperice are the names I trust the most with massage guns. But recently I've been trying some of the other brands out there to discover there are some more than decent alternatives. That's how I found this Renpho massage gun that comes with a ton of attachments and does heat and cool therapy (no other purchase necessary) for less than $100. In terms of power, this holds a candle to my Theragun Relief and this device wins on both speed levels—there are five—and number of attachments. Plus, a carrying case for travel. Not all the attachments are winners (some weird ones in there), but the value can't be beat.
- A compact and powerful massage tool
- Heat and cooling attachment
- Great price
- Strange assortment of other attachments
5) Therabody Theragun Pro Plus
This is it, the Theragun that Josh Allen (supposedly) uses. He uses the JetBoots Pro too (I've tried 'em, seriously amazing), but that's beside the point. For $650, I genuinely only recommend the Theragun Pro Plus if your day job is sports—or if you're one of those freaks who does Ironman triathlons for fun. This one has an LCD screen that lets you follow along to guided routines and meditations. With other Therabody devices, you need to open the app on your phone for this.
In addition to five attachments for percussive therapy, it also offers vibration therapy. It's the only one of these devices to offer LED light therapy, which can be paired with the light for more targeted relief on specific joints and areas that are bothering you.
- The strongest percussive therapy you can get - plus heat
- LED light and vibration therapy
- Guided routines on the screen
- Real athletes are the only ones who need it
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