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What Does a Percussive Therapy Device Do?
What the Experts Have to Say
Best Theragun (and Quietest)
Theragun Elite
Best for Serious Athletes
Theragun Pro (5th Gen)
The Best Theragun Alternative
Yunmai Slim Elegant
Massage guns, also known as percussive therapy devices, help relax and soothe sore muscles, whether you’re an athlete or just hunching over a desk all day. Theraguns (made by Therabody) tend to be some of the most popular. We’ve tested and like the entire range, but they’re expensive. There are plenty of Theragun alternatives out there for hundreds of dollars less. In this guide, you’ll find a mix of both for all budgets—plus helpful information from a physical therapist and athletic trainer on how these devices can help our bodies. These are our favorite massage guns.
If you decide to get a Theragun, there are additional accessories available. Most importantly, you can buy foam tips separately, so don’t think you have to buy the Theragun Pro to get the relief you need. You can currently get the supersoft, wedge, large ball, thumb, standard ball, dampener, and cone attachments separately. You can also purchase a Duo Adapter Set, stands, extra batteries, and wireless chargers.
Updated April 2023: We’ve added the new Gravity Move portable massage gun and notes about Therabody’s TheraFace Pro. We also moved the iLive to the Honorable Mentions and updated prices and links throughout.
Julian Chokkattu and Jaina Grey also contributed to this guide.
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Photograph: Georgii Boronin/Getty Images
What Does a Percussive Therapy Device Do?
What the Experts Have to Say
Jacklyn Plonski, an outpatient orthopedic and pediatric physical therapist, likens percussive therapy devices to using a foam roller or getting a professional physical therapy treatment. Here’s what she has to say:
“As we exercise and challenge our muscles, we cause breakdown within the muscle fibers, which in turn stimulates muscle growth and regrowth, hypertrophy (increased muscle size), and strength. Mechanical stimulation of a muscle [with a device like the Theragun] causes increased blood flow and the release of histamines to the stimulated area. What this does is allow the increased blood flow to decrease the inflammatory response, decrease muscle soreness, and break up knots in athletes’ musculature.” Plonksi has seen anecdotal evidence supporting the use of a Theragun-like device, and no apparent negative effects, but she recommends people always talk to a physician before trying a device.
Shelby Milne, an athletic trainer at the University of Pennsylvania, says athletes at the school swear by massage guns and have used them for both pre- and post-training. “The oscillations can also act as a warming modality for the muscles and tissues before the activity.”
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Photograph: Therabody
Best Theragun (and Quietest)
Theragun Elite
WIRED reviewer Jaina Grey says the Theragun Elite tenderized her muscles like nothing else. With the right foam tip, even on its lowest speed setting, it was able to relieve deep tissue pain and muscle tension with just a few minutes of use. The app integration makes it easy to create and store massage routines for recurring aches, and it’s surprisingly quiet. (It’s Therabody’s quietest device.)
It doesn’t have a rotating arm, but it doesn’t need it. The triangle design allows you to position your hand to reach back and neck muscles. It comes with one battery, as opposed to the two you get with the Theragun Pro, but you’ll get about two hours of use on a single charge. That should be long enough for most sessions.
You don’t need the Therabody app (available on iPhone and Android) to operate any of the Theragun massagers, but if you’ve never used something like this, it can be helpful. The app lets you choose ailments, specific body parts you want to work on, or activities like relaxing your muscles before bed, and you’ll see steps to follow to use the device to its fullest. You can also save your favorite massages to get back to them quickly.
Has 40 pounds of pressure and comes with five attachment heads and a carrying case
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Photograph: Therabody
Best for Serious Athletes
Theragun Pro (5th Gen)
The Pro is the most expensive Theragun and the kind of device used by college athletic departments and professional sports teams. The 2022 version is quieter than the previous generation, but I didn’t notice much of a difference in sound or use. It’s still an excellent gadget. It’s the only Theragun with a rotating arm, which makes it effortless to use on any spot that’s awkward to reach by yourself. There’s also a Supersoft attachment for sensitive areas.
The new carrying case isn’t as nice as what I’ve seen from other competitors—you can typically expect slots specifically for each attachment, but Therabody just has a separate soft case for the attachments so you have to carry two cloth cases. It’s no dealbreaker, but you’d expect a nicer solution at this price. I suggest saving some cash and going with the fourth-generation Theragun Pro, which will net you nearly all the same benefits.
Has 60 pounds of pressure and six attachment heads, plus a carrying case
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Photograph: Yunmai
The Best Theragun Alternative
Yunmai Slim Elegant
Yunmai’s Slim Elegant (SE) massage gun is simple and works well. I particularly like its attachments. They’re firm but coated with soft silicone that feels nice against the skin. Other massage guns are either rigid plastic or soft foam—neither of which feel bad—but these feel better. The SE has five speeds, including two “massage modes.” These modes feel like variations of the first speed, and I would have rather seen more varied speed options (two and three are much more powerful than one). It includes a charging base you can stick to a hard surface if you’d like.
The price has risen since we first tried it, and this model is no longer available on Amazon. We’re not sure if it will be around long-term, but we’ll keep an eye on it as we try other devices.
Comes with four attachment heads, a carrying case, and a charging stand
