The 10 Best Massage Guns Of 2023

We Also Tested

In total, we tested 32 massage guns but only included 12 in our final list of recommendations. While these four didn't make our top picks list, the devices have some note-worthy features worth mentioning.

• The Hypervolt 2 is a powerful massage gun that effectively loosens tight muscles and works deeply on our knots. We noticed that the percussion has quite a high intensity, even on the lowest setting, so it may be best to try it out only on big muscle groups to determine your comfort level. Ultimately, we found it too intense and uncomfortable to include in our list of top picks.
• The Musclegun Carbon is a travel-sized massage gun that's comfortable to use and easy to wield. During testing, we found it quieter than other options we tried. But we also noted that it wasn't as powerful as massage guns with a higher stall force, and we ultimately reached for a more powerful massage gun in order to relieve muscle tension. This, along with some other flaws, ultimately led us to dock points for its overall value.
• VYBE's Percussion Massage Gun scored high marks for portability and stall force, but ultimately we found it to be too noisy and shaky to use effectively, which ended up leading us to dock points from its overall rating.
• Wahl's Deep Tissue Percussion Massager is an atypical massage gun that scored well for stall force and effectiveness, but lost points for ease of use. We found the unusual size of this massager not as effective as a typical massage gun, docking points for overall value.

How We Tested the Massage Guns

To narrow down the best massage guns, we consulted board-certified Orthopedic physical therapist Theresa Marko for expert guidance on safety precautions, best practices, and what features to look for in a massage gun. We tested 32 different devices at home and in the Verywell Testing Lab. Testers in the lab were accompanied by onsight physical therapist Monica Saliu.

Seventeen testers—including a certified personal trainer, a certified barre instructor, and a certified yoga teacher—used each massage gun at least four times and at least once a week: Once before and after an upper-body workout and once before and after a lower-body workout for 3-5 minutes a session. We took note of whether our muscles felt more warmed up when using the massage gun before a workout and if doing so also helped increase our range of motion.

We made sure to use the massage gun directly after a workout. In the following days, we took note of whether using the massage gun helped prevent or alleviate muscle fatigue. We also used the massage gun any time we felt sore or stiff or had muscle tightness and took note of how our muscles felt afterward.

We then wrote detailed descriptions and rated each massage gun, both from our experience using it in the Lab and after using it at home for at least a month. We then scored each massage gun on a scale of 1 (would not recommend) to 5 (highly recommend) in the categories of effectiveness, comfort (handle shape and weight), ease of use, stall force, portability, and value. We also gave each massage gun an overall rating reflecting whether we would recommend it to a friend or family member. We were then asked to evaluate the safety and noise level of the device and if the included instructions were clear and helpful.

What to Look For in a Massage Gun

Noise

The motors that power massage guns can be surprisingly loud, so it can be a rather unpleasant experience to use them on neck and shoulder muscles. “When you use a massage gun, noise is generated by the motor units, which is important to consider when you plan to use the device on muscles closer to the ears,” Latoya Julce, a fitness professional and registered nurse in New York City, says. Luckily, lots of the newer models prioritize decreasing this motor noise.

Stall Force

This term refers to the amount of pressure you can apply to the head of the massage gun before the motor stalls. “It’s important because if you want to add the pressure of the massage gun on the tissues and the unit stops moving, then it’s not helpful and the massage gun isn’t doing what you need it to do,” Dr. Karena Wu, DPT, board-certified physical therapist and owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy in New York City and India, says.

Weight

Because these devices are often held with one hand, weight is a vital factor. “Weight is important because you have to hold the unit in your hand and be in a position to have the massage gun hit your tissues,” Dr. Wu says. She notes that if a unit is too heavy, you can end up with a fatigued arm, unable to target the correct tissues.

You want to feel confident that you can hold the massage gun steadily and safely on the targeted muscle while it’s running at top speed.

Customization

Consider customization as you think about which muscles you typically need to target and what type of massage therapy you enjoy using on those muscles. Some massage guns come with a handful of head attachments, some offer an adjustable head angle on the device itself, some provide both of these features, and some neglect both. Dr. Wu says that pinpoint, flat, and curved attachments help target a variety of different muscles and tensions. “If you’re really tight and tender, then starting with a flat head attachment would be best to warm up the tissues without discomfort,” she says.

Why Trust Verywell Fit

Jen Zeltwanger, ACSM-EP, is an ACSM-certified exercise physiologist and long-time fitness writer. Jen has been involved in the fitness industry for over 25 years and has written articles and tested products for a variety of fitness and wellness publications, like Sass Magazine and Field Hockey Life Magazine. She uses the TOLOCO Massage Gun to relax her stiff back and uses it after training and runs to loosen her tight hips. She considers it an essential part of her training program.

Additional reporting by Alena Hall

As a former personal trainer, seasoned health writer, and avid exerciser, Alena Hall understands how critical a quality recovery practice is to a person’s overall fitness routine. She's always exploring the latest and greatest health gadgets as they enter the market, but more importantly, she looks for scientific research that validates their claims.