These Are the Best Massage Guns We Tested

The best massage guns help with boosting circulation and loosening up muscles, and honestly, they just plain feel good. There are a ton of different massaging gadgets (like our favorite foot massagers) but we’ll focus on handheld percussion massagers.

How are they helpful exactly? John Gallucci Jr., DPT and CEO of JAG Physical Therapy in New York City, says, “Using one to target sore muscles after a workout can help you recover more quickly. It can also be used before exercise to help warm up and reduce tightness and soreness later.” But even if you’re not an athlete, and you’re just looking to relieve some tension after a long day, they can help with that too.

When looking for a massage gun, it’s important to consider how frequently you’ll use it, Gallucci says. They come at a higher price point (from $100 to $600) than other tools like foam rollers and therapy balls, but if you’re looking to bring down the cost of regular deep-tissue massages, it’ll pay for itself over time. “From there, consider noise level, amplitude or speed settings (40 to 60 Hz is ideal), the interchangeable attachments or massage heads (which typically include ball head, flat head, bullet head, fork head, and an arc-shaped head), and the ergonomics of the unit,” he says. For instance, it’s important to consider a gun that won’t require you to contort your body to reach the areas you want to massage with vibration therapy, says Gallucci. With all of this in mind, we polled fitness experts and then tested some of the most popular ones to bring you this list.

The best massage guns, at a glance

Best Overall: TheraGun Prime

Why we like it: There’s a reason TheraGun is one of the most well-known massage guns. You may be familiar with previous versions including the TheraGun Elite and TheraGun Pro, but this version is our top pick because it offers simplified percussive massage therapy. Take it from me; as I neared the end of my training cycle for the Chicago marathon, I found it effectively provided a deep-tissue-massage-like experience and helped speed up my post-workout recovery.

It features four foam attachments to reach different trigger points, including the hands, feet, and lower back, and has varying speeds and dense cell-foam attachments. The five built-in speeds help treat sensitive areas (such as quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and calf muscles, as well as your upper back) with varying degrees of power for pain relief.