Our top pick after the latest update:
Handheld massagers are gaining popularity for all the right reasons. They are currently the Swiss army knife of massagers right now and combine lightweight designs that are easy to use and are able to target any part of your body effectively.
If you’re struggling with chronic pain or just need a great massage to relax after the day’s hectic schedule, getting one of these wellness machines might do the trick for you. On our part, we have rounded up the 7 best percussion massage guns you can buy in the market right now.
Top 7 Best Percussion Massage Guns to Recover from Workouts and Release Tight Muscles
- 1. Best overall – Opove Apex Percussion Massage Gun
- 2. Premium option – Theragun G4 PRO Percussive Therapy Gun
- 3. Power option – VYBE Pro Percussion Massage Gun
- 4. Compact pick – Theragun Mini 2.0 – Handheld Electric Massage Gun
- 5. Sonic Handheld Percussion Massage Gun
- 6. VYBE X Percussion Massage Gun
- 7. LifePro DynaMini Percussion Massage Gun
1. Best overall – Opove Apex Percussion Massage Gun
Pros
- Superb build quality
- Runs quietly
- Most powerful massager we tested
- Lifetime warranty
- Long-lasting battery – up to 3 hours
Cons
- heavy and not so suitable for taking around
Featuring 3-speed settings, a superb ergonomic design, 6 interchangeable heads, and controls that are built into the handle for real one-handed operation, the Opove Apex percussion massage gun is a great massager that can target and massage a wide range of pain points all over the body.
While some other models on our list have more interchangeable heads and/or speed settings, none achieves the power (14.5mm massage amplitude at up to 3000 rotations per minute) of the Opove Apex at near-quiet levels.
The build quality is top of the line with a rubberized finish for easy grip and a battery that lasts for up to 3 hours of continuous use. Out of the box, you also get 6 interchangeable heads, a hard carrying case, and a 100% lifetime warranty. When you considered the overall package offered with the Opove Apex handheld massage gun at a great price, it’s very hard to ignore.
2. Premium option – Theragun G4 PRO Percussive Therapy Gun
Pros
- Theragun’s best massage gun yet
- Paired therabody app is a good addition
- 6 bundled interchangeable heads
Cons
- Pricey
- Not as quiet as advertised
Theragun rushes into our list with their top-of-the-line G4 pro percussion massage gun. Considering that Theragun led percussion massage guns to popularity, a lot has to be said about their 4th attempt at delivering a PREMIUM massage gun.
The G4 pro handheld massage gun has the same triangular shape as the previous models with a high-grade rubberized finish for a solid grip. It has the same pro-grade 16mm massage amplitude as our top pick with less intensity (2400rpm). However, some subtle details like a small OLED display, a Therabody app that learns your preferences and customizes the G4 pro settings, and two removable Li-ion batteries that give a combined 5 hours of use cement the premium status of the Theragun.
The Theragun G4 Pro comes with 6 interchangeable heads, a charger, a hard carrying case, 2 years manufacturer warranty, and an expensive price tag that is justified if you want the top premium model.
3. Power option – VYBE Pro Percussion Massage Gun
Pros
- Extremely powerful – up to 3400rpm
- 9 intensity level settings
- 8 included interchangeable heads
- Good build quality
Cons
- Bulky
- May be noisy for some people
If you’re looking for a percussion massage gun with a bit more ‘oomph’ than our top two picks, the VYBE pro with a 12mm amplitude and 3400 rpm are one of the most powerful massage guns you can buy.
It has stunning 9 intensity levels and 8 interchangeable head attachments to choose from ensuring that you will definitely find some combination that suits your need. It is well-built and although it is a lot bulkier than our top two picks, it surprisingly makes less noise than the Theragun G4 Pro despite having more power.
In addition to the included charger, you get a hard carrying case and a one-year manufacturer warranty – all at a very affordable price.
4. Compact pick – Theragun Mini 2.0 – Handheld Electric Massage Gun
Pros
- Amazing value for the price
- Outstanding build quality
- 3 intensity level settings
Cons
- pricey
- Below-average battery life
We found this unit by Theragun and decided to give it a nod as Theragun makes some of the best massage guns. Overall, we liked it enough to crown it as our compact pick although the shape did not make for the most comfortable grip.
The fit and finish of the massage gun are unlike any other massage gun on the market. It has a triangle shape with the massage head on one of the tips and a flat area for handling. It comes with a new padded carry case with 3 interchangeable heads for different types of muscle groups and a USB type C charging cable.
Compared to our top picks, this Theragun mini massage gun has 3 adjustable intensity levels and can go exert a force of up to 20lb which is more than powerful enough for most people. The only caveat we noted was that the vibrations seemed a bit less controlled when it was running low after about 2hours of use.
If you’re looking for a great percussion massage gun that is stylish, compact and packs a serious point, this mini massage gun by Theragun is highly recommended.
5. Sonic Handheld Percussion Massage Gun
Pros
- Solid build quality
- Pro-level performance
- Good battery life
- Runs quietly
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Single-button operation is a bit difficult
Featuring 5 intensity levels that max out at 2800rpm, our next pick, the sonic percussion massage gun is a good buy for those looking for a middle option between power and price. It comes with 5 interchangeable heads, a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 4 hours on a single charge, and a hard carry case.
We like that it has a very stable build and runs comparatively quietly. The build quality is also very good as it sports a rubberized finish for a solid grip, and a single button to adjust the intensity positioned at the trigger-finger spot. This massage gun feels smooth and easy to use!
Finally, you get a lifetime warranty with this device from Lifepro (the same company that produced our top pick) making it a great alternative option for most users.
6. VYBE X Percussion Massage Gun
Pros
- Swiveling head design can target harder-to-reach spots
- Good battery life
- Powerful intensity
- 7 interchangeable heads
- 6 intensity levels
Cons
- Runs really loud
- ‘Plasticky’ and bulky construction
The Vybe X percussion massage gun makes our list with speeds up to 3000rpm and 6 levels of adjustment. It has a good ergonomic rectangular design that is a bit ‘plasticky’ and bulky, but easy to use. A single button is located conveniently at the trigger spot for power and speed adjustments. It also has a 90-degree swiveling head that can target hard-to-reach spots.
Out of the box, you get 7 interchangeable heads, a hard carry case, a removable rechargeable battery that lasts up to 5 hours on a single charge, and a charger. It is the loudest massage gun on our list and has a bit of a rattle. However, the included one-year warranty is enough to comfort even the most skeptical buyers.
7. LifePro DynaMini Percussion Massage Gun
Pros
- Powerful massager with up to 3200rpm
- Solid, lightweight build
- Carry on case
- Good battery life
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- pricey
- No heated options
The last entry on our list, the DynaMini percussion massage gun, is a lightweight, well-built, and powerful massager. It features a stable and quiet motor that can go up to 3200rpm with 5 intensity adjustment levels. It is a portable-sized massage gun that you can take anywhere, although it lacks a heated massage head.
Out of the box, it includes 4 interchangeable heads, a hard carry case, a wall charger, and instruction manuals. You also get a lifetime manufacturer warranty when you purchase the LifePro DynaMini massage gun.
The DynaMini massage gun offers 5 hours of use on a single charge and the tiny size means you can carry it along with you anywhere. It definitely merits a spot on our top picks and on your shopping list if you want a bit more from your percussion massage gun.
How we picked the best percussion massage guns
The best percussion massage guns, unlike shiatsu back massagers and foot massagers, work by sending rapid vibration pulses into the muscles to mainly increase blood flow to the muscles, loosen tight muscle knots, and reduce inflammation and muscle tension.
For this reason, we think that being able to control the strength of those vibrations should be a key feature of the very best percussion massage guns. All the massage guns that checked this box were now tested for their finer qualities. We preferred models with a rechargeable battery over those that needed to be plugged into an outlet to work. We also preferred models that operated with little or no noise to those that sounded like we were operating a drill.
Another key feature we considered was the overall stability of the handheld massage gun. i.e how well does the construction handle the vibration? Some models rattled at peak vibration settings while others remained calm and channeled all that vibration adequately to the massage heads. We also considered build quality, portability, easy-to-access and use controls, and manufacturer warranty.
Our list of the best percussion massage guns is ordered from our very best options to good ones and you’ll not be out of place buying any of our top picks based on several deciding factors.
Are massage guns better than shiatsu massagers?
Generally speaking, shiatsu back massagers and calf massagers use different massage mechanisms to achieve the same goal as a percussion massage gun. A shiatsu massager uses rollers to that move in a “kneading” motion while the percussion massage gun uses strong percussive force.
Your choice will largely depend on your need. If you’re just starting out with getting massages, or you don’t like to feel the vibration of a percussion massager on your hands, then a shiatsu massager might be the better option. On the other hand, if you’re a pro athlete, or you need a massage that can target specific and “hard to reach” parts of your body, then a percussion massage gun is your best bet.
Last update on 2024-11-21. Affiliate links and images from Amazon product advertising API
