Choosing The Best Massage Guns to Speed Up Your Recovery

Updated Oct 8, 2024 8:06 am ET


We might earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of the links. The McClatchy Commerce Content team, which is independent from our newsroom, oversees this content.

Are you sick of sore muscles and desperate for some stress relief? The best massage guns can help you dig deep into those tense, painful spots and finally loosen up!

Not sure which massage gun is right for you? No worries. We’ve done some digging and have found 12 excellent options for you to choose from. Check them out below.

Best Massage Guns of 2024

Best Overall: Bob and Brad X6 Pro Massage Gun

Key Specs

  • Battery powered
  • 0.9 kilograms
  • Silicone/titanium/plastic
  • 120-watt motor

What We Love About It

The Bob and Brad X6 Pro massage gun stands out as one of the best massage guns because it was designed to promote muscle recovery. It features a specially developed metal massage head that strengthens and deepens the gun’s percussion impact and promotes faster recovery. It also boasts a 120-watt motor and 55 pounds of stall force for deeper massages and more noticeable muscle relaxation.

We love the effectiveness of this massage gun, as well as its longer-than-average battery life. Its 2500mAh lithium-ion battery can run up to four hours on a full charge. The massage gun also has a 10-minute smart shut-off feature that prevents muscle damage from prolonged massage — in other words, there’s no way to overdo it with this tool!

Best Splurge: TheraGun Prime Quiet Deep Tissue Therapy Massage Gun

Key Specs

  • Corded electric
  • Polycarbonate material
  • 3.8 pounds

What We Love About It

When most people think of the best massage guns, they think of TheraGuns. TheraGun changed the game as far as massage tools go, and it’s still one of the top options on the market — and if you have the extra funds, we think it’s definitely worth the splurge!

One of our favorite features of this TheraGun massager is how quiet it is. We love that we can get into tense muscles and reduce tightness without it sounding like we’re running a power drill! We’re also big fans of the four high-quality foam attachments that come with the TheraGun. Users can choose from the Thumb for trigger points and low back pain, the Cone for foot and hand massages, and the Standard Ball and Dampener for large and small muscle groups.

Best on a Budget: Genkigold Mini Massage Gun

Key Specs

  • Rechargeable battery
  • Cordless
  • 4.53” L x 4.53” W x 2” H

What We Love About It

You don’t have to spend tons of money to get a high-quality massage gun. You also don’t have to take up a lot of space in your suitcase if you want a massage on the go. The Genkigold Mini Massage Gun is the perfect solution for those who travel frequently and need help working out the aches and pains that come from flying on a plane or cramming yourself into the backseat of a car.

We love how compact the Genkigold Mini Massage Gun is, as well as the fact that it delivers 2300 RPM to target the neck, back, arms, legs, and more. It may be small, but it packs a punch and works perfectly for long travel days or any other time when you need a little extra self-care — and at under $10, it’s accessible to just about everyone!

Best for Hard-to-Reach Spots: Deestop Massage Gun

Key Specs

  • Battery powered
  • Silicone/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
  • 490 grams

What We Love About It

With a regular massage gun, it can be difficult to reach specific areas, such as your shoulders and upper back. That’s where the Deestop Massage Gun shines. This massage gun features an ergonomic non-slip handle that makes it easy for you to reach your back and enjoy a more thorough and relaxing massage.

We love the extended handle on this massage gun, which separates it from many other models and makes it extra convenient. That’s not all, though. We also love that it comes with four interchangeable heads and allows you to choose from five different speeds. With all these options, you can quickly customize your massage to meet your specific needs. As a bonus, the Deestop Massage Gun comes with a 15-minute automatic power-off setting that lets you rest easy, knowing the battery won’t run out in between uses.

Best Mini Massage Gun: MAGELUX Mini Massage Gun

Key Specs

  • Battery powered
  • 12.8 ounces
  • Silicone

What We Love About It

If you’re in the market for a mini massage gun and don’t mind spending a little extra, we love the MAGELUX Mini Massage Gun as an alternative to the Genkigold Mini Massage Gun mentioned above. This massage gun features four silicone massage heads and five speeds that range from 1800 to 3200 RPM. It also boasts noise levels of just 35-45 dB, making it a great choice for those who need a quiet, discrete massage tool.

If you need more reasons to try out this massage gun, consider the fact that it has a powerful 2400 mAh lithium battery. On a full charge, it can last up to 15 days! It also has a 10-minute automatic shut-off function that saves you from running out the battery.

Best Lightweight Massage Gun: Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2

Key Specs

  • 680 grams
  • Battery powered
  • USB A- USB C- compatible

What We Love About It

Some massage guns can feel a bit bulky or be difficult to fit in a bag when you’re going on a trip. If you need something more compact and lightweight (but don’t want to downsize to a mini massage gun), we recommend the Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2. This massage gun weighs in at just 680 grams (1.5 pounds), making it one of the easiest options to carry with you wherever you go (bonus — it’s a TSA-approved carry on item!).

We love the size of this massage gun, as well as the fact that it has three speeds, a brushless high-torque 40-watt motor, and patented QuietGlide technology that allows you to work out the kinks without cranking up the volume. It has a three-hour battery life, too, and is compatible with USB A-USB C chargers, so you can easily recharge it with cables you already have on hand.

Massage Gun with the Most Speeds: Elefor Massage Gun

Key Specs

  • Battery powered
  • 1.8 pounds
  • LCD touchscreen

What We Love About It

Most of the massage guns on this list feature four to five speeds. However, the Elefor Massage Gun features 20 — as well as 10 different massage heads. There are practically endless combinations that you can choose from to customize your massage and make it as effective as possible. We also love how easy it is to switch speeds with the convenient LCD touchscreen.

The Elefor Massage Gun also has a high-quality, ultra-quiet motor that allows you to enjoy a massage with virtually no noise, so you don’t have to worry about disturbing others while you work on your knots and aching muscles. We also like how lightweight and portable it is — it comes with its own carrying case, too — so you can easily take it with you to the gym, on a trip, or anywhere in between.

Massage Gun with the Most Massage Heads: DACORM Massage Gun

Key Specs

  • Battery powered
  • 3.7 pounds
  • Silicone

What We Love About It

In addition to speed limitations, many of the massage guns on this list also only come with a few different massage heads for you to pick between. For those who love a little extra variety, we’re big fans of the DACORM Massage Gun. This massage gun comes with 15 different heads that you can easily pop on and off to customize your massage and tailor it to your specific needs.

No matter which massage head you’re using, you never have to worry about overdoing it because this massage gun comes with a 10-minute automatic shut-off feature. It protects you from damaging your muscles and also ensures the battery lasts as long as possible — and it already lasts 8-15 hours on a single charge!

Best Heated Massage Gun: Performance Guru Massage Gun

Key Specs

  • Battery powered
  • Acrylic
  • 1.1 pounds

What We Love About It

If you’ve ever used a standard massage gun and thought that it could be improved with some heat therapy, you’re in luck. The Performance Guru Massage Gun is equipped with a soothing heat feature that adds an extra element to your massages and allows you to get deeper into stubborn knots and extra achy muscles.

The heat feature is just one of many exciting elements this massage gun offers. It also boasts 6 different speeds ranging from 1000-2800 RPM, plus seven hours of battery life and a 10-minute automatic shut-off function. We love that it features noise-reduction technology, too, so you don’t have to worry about making a racket while you enjoy a relaxing massage after a long day!

Best Cooling Massage Gun: KIGASSENZIO Massage Gun

Key Specs

  • 2 colors
  • 1.36 pounds
  • Cordless

What We Love About It

If you like the idea of a heated massage gun but would appreciate the added feature of cooling technology, the KIGASSENZIO Massage Gun has got you covered. This massage gun offers both hot and cold technology to help you get more out of your massages and promote maximum relaxation and recovery.

In addition to its different temperature settings, we love that this massage gun offers three speeds and four unique massage heads and weighs in at just 1.36 pounds. It lasts for up to four hours on a full charge, too, so you can get plenty of use out of it before it’s time to plug back in. It comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee as well!

Best Foldable Massage Gun: BONDIR R2 PRO+ Massage Gun

Key Specs

  • Metal
  • 3.64 pounds
  • Corded electric

What We Love About It

For those who prefer a more portable option, we love the BONDIR R2 PRO+ Massage Gun. It folds up easily so you can toss it in a suitcase, slip it in a gym bag, or simply store it out of sight until you need it. It features an extra-long 6-inch handle, too, allowing you to access hard-to-reach spots and make your massages a little more enjoyable!

We love the flexibility (literally) of this massage gun and the fact that it comes with six different attachment heads. You can adjust the temperature between 112 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, too, so if you want an extra soothing massage, you can easily get one.

Best Dual-Head Massage Gun: First Health Dual Head Deep Tissue Massage Gun

Key Specs

  • 1.5 pounds
  • Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
  • Battery powered

What We Love About It

Have you ever wished that you could target multiple muscles at once with your massage gun? Well, with the First Health Dual Head Deep Tissue Massage Gun, you can! We love that this massage gun features two vibrating heads that allow for pinpoint precision and help you target more than one muscle at a time, making your massages more efficient and effective.

This massage gun features six speeds, reaching up to 3600 RPM, and comes with four different massage heads, making it easy to tailor your massage to your needs. It’s highly versatile and the perfect complement to your existing self-care and wellness routine.

Natalie Thongrit

Natalie Thongrit

Author Commerce Writer

Natalie Thongrit is a freelance writer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. She graduated from Utah Valley University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in English and has spent the last 9 years writing for numerous brands, primarily in the health, wellness, and beauty spaces.

Chase Clements

Chase Clements

Editor McClatchy Commerce

Based in Kansas City, Chase Clements is the Commerce Content Operations Manager. He has many years of experience as a Commerce Writer and Editor for McClatchy.