"Top 10 Massage Guns of 2024: Personal Trainer and Marathon Runner Endorsed"

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If there's anything better than the rush of endorphins post-workout, it's the feeling of someone sinking their fingers into your oh-so-sore muscles for a rewarding sports massage. The trouble is, you often need to be willing to drop some major dough on a professional masseuse. Luckily, there's a high-tech alternative you can use at home (and all on your own) to get the job done: a massage gun.

“Massage guns provide a portable and effective solution for pain relief, muscle stiffness reduction, and enhanced athletic performance,” says King Holder, a Master Flexologist with StretchLab. The guns also excel at increasing overall circulation, which means your muscles get more of the nutrient-rich blood they need to recover. 

Interested in trying out one of these buzzy tools? Ahead, you’ll find Shape's rankings of the best massage guns on the market, according to weeks and weeks of real-world testing conducted by marathon runners, and personal trainers, and recommended by professional physical therapists and stretchers. 

In your journey to finding the right massage gun, you have to look for the sweet spot, meaning one that checks all of the necessary boxes. Editors were on the hunt for a gun that offered high no-stall force (without feeling overwhelming), traveled well, wasn’t too heavy, and included an array of attachments (but not so many that decision fatigue would be brought on). In the end, Shape testers were surprised that the Theragun Prime 4th generation hit more of the criteria than the 5th gen. Essentially, there were no qualms with the massager at all.

One Shape editor who tested this device found it easy to select the correct attachment, and the results were amazing. She put the Theragun to work on her shoulders and back muscles post-workout and experienced near-immediate relief. 

The only downside? This product comes in a soft carrying case that didn’t feel sturdy enough to protect a premium product like a Theragun. We wished a hard-shell case had been included instead. 

Maximum No-Stall Force: 30 lb | Attachments: 4 (dampener, standard ball, thumb, cone) | Built-In Speeds: 5 (plus customizable speed) | Total Battery Life: 120 minutes | Weight: 2.2 lb

This lightweight device delivers some heavy-duty recovery. Weighing only 1.5 pounds, this massage gun takes up virtually no physical space and doesn’t eat up the airwaves with loud noise. Testers found that this device stayed quiet and allowed for no-nonsense recovery while watching Netflix — no subtitles needed. 

If you want even more from your recovery, Hyperice offers a heated head attachment for under $60 and a set of five different attachments for just $25. By switching these out, you can soothe muscle groups, explore with sensations, and customize every last second of your rest day. 

That said, no device is perfect, and testers did find one teeny-tiny negative: the Hypervolt’s grip is a bit uncomfortable for smaller hands. There are also fewer attachments than the Theragun Prime.

Maximum No-Stall Force: 60 lb | Attachments: 2 (flat, bullet) | Built-in speeds: 3 | Total battery life: 3 hours | Weight: 1.5 lb

Recovery can often seem like a full-time job, and the sheer amount of time required for your mobility, massages, red light therapy, and more can deter you from even trying new thing in the first place. The Theragun PRO Plus has all the bells and whistles you need to multitask your recovery — and yes, we mean all the bells and whistles. Think near-infrared LED light therapy, heat therapy, cold therapy, and even a breathwork program. Together, these recovery tools can help you reduce inflammation, promote blood circulation, increase focus, and reduce soreness. 

The PRO Plus comes with seven attachments (the most of any massage gun we tested), including an innovative vibrating head and a heat therapy attachment that instantly made testers “ahhhh” when using it. The LCD screen is clear and easy to use, with quickstart options for popular programs. If you’re intimidated by this tricked-out massage gun, the Therabody app helps you navigate the various routines and attachments to find the program that suits your needs.

'Using this massage gun is like stepping into the future and experiencing a bliss like no other,' says Summer Cartwright, Shape's senior commerce editor and marathon runner. 'It targets sore muscles so precisely and helps my legs stay in tip-top shape when marathon builds are peaking. I love using the heat therapy to target inflammation around my hips and feet, and the cold head is fabulous after super hot and sweaty runs.'

Using the PRO Plus feels like you’re on the cutting edge of recovery science — and in a way, you are. Our editors' biggest quibble is that the cold therapy attachment is sold as an add-on. The PRO Plus is already $600, so shelling out extra for the cold therapy attachment feels a little much. Also, the PRO Plus is heavier than most other massage guns we tested, but the ergonomic handle helped compensate for that.

Maximum No-Stall Force: 60 lb | Attachments: 7 (standard ball, dampener, thumb, wedge, micro-point, heat, vibration) | Built-In Speeds: 5 | Total Battery Life: 2.5 hours | Weight: 3.5 lb

At around $70, this gun is one-third of the price of the Therabody Theragun Prime and (almost) half the price of the Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2. It offers six heads and six speeds for an extremely customizable recovery routine. One editor used the Renpho after her weekly spin classes and found that she recovered quicker and performed better on the bike.

However, the design of this affordable massage gun seemed a bit off. Certain buttons seemed to be placed counterintuitively, like the power button next to the speed buttons. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it does mean that the Renpho takes longer to get acquainted with.

Maximum No-Stall Force: 50 lb | Attachments: 6 (bullet head, flat head, air cushion, ball head, shovel head, u head) | Built-In Speeds: 6 | Total Battery Life: 4 hours | Weight: 1.9 lb

“Beginner users should prioritize features that make the massage gun easy to use and safe,” says Brittany Steindl, PT, DPT. If you’re just wading into the massage gun waters or you’re someone who always tells the massage therapist to use less pressure, the Theragun Relief can help you ease into percussive recovery.

With a simple, one-button design, we appreciate that this Theragun is stripped down to only the must-have features (including the three most versatile attachments: a standard ball, a dampener, and a thumb).

The intensity is also lower than other massage guns, at just 10mm percussive massage therapy; others we tested were in the 12 to 16mm range, for comparison. Together, you get a comfortable, easy-to-use massage gun. At under $150, it’s also the most affordable Theragun (although still more expensive than the options we tested from Renpho). Editors agree that it would be a fantastic gift for any new fitness lover or anyone taking on a big goal or race for the first time.

Maximum No-Stall Force: 20 lbs | Attachments: 3 (standard ball, dampener, thumb) | Built-In Speeds: 3 | Total Battery Life: 2 hours | Weight: 1.3 lb

This one-pound device is perfect for stashing in a small bag or carry-on. With three speed settings and three attachments, the Theragun Mini offers a level of customization that isn’t overwhelming. It’s also so portable and slides easily into a gym bag or purse.

Editors love that you can pack this baby for a destination race or to stave off that post-plane neck soreness. And, seriously, what could be better than getting back from a long day of exploring a new destination than treating yourself to a mini-massage in your hotel room?

Because of its small size and minimal design, the Mini doesn’t reach some crucial muscle groups—notably those on the back of the body. One editor who tested the Mini noted that she experienced the best pain relief when she used the device on her quads, hamstrings, and calves — so bear that in mind.

Maximum No-Stall Force: 20 lb | Attachments: 3 (standard ball, dampener, thumb) | Built-In Speeds: 3 | Total Battery Life: 120 minutes | Weight: 1 lb

The Theragun PRO 5th generation is made for those who place their sport at the center of their lives. If this sounds like you, Dr. Steindl recommends investing in a heavy-duty device like this. “High amplitude and stall force are essential to effectively target deep muscle tissues and provide intense relief after strenuous workouts,” she says. “Multiple speed settings allow for customization of recovery sessions based on the intensity of workouts and specific muscle needs.” She also recommends stocking up on attachments to target muscles of all sizes.

The Theragun PRO 5th Generation fits all these criteria: With fully customizable speed options and six distinct attachments (standard ball, dampener, thumb, wedge, supersoft, micropoint), the device is made for those who take every aspect of their workouts seriously — from warm-up to cool-down. According to one Shape editor, the overall feel of this Theragun is beefy and powerful, so it’s great for those with mega-muscles who need mega-recovery.

Many testers agreed that this massage device's price point is a bit high, particularly since the 5th Generation’s signature feature — a touchscreen that replaces the buttons on other devices — seems a little unnecessary. Those who aren’t touchscreen fans should opt for the 4th Generation instead.

Maximum No-Stall Force: 60 lb | Attachments: 6 (standard ball, dampener, thumb, wedge, supersoft, micropoint) | Built-In Speeds: Fully customizable | Total Battery Life: 150 minutes | Weight: 2.76 lb

For sweet dreams and waking up on the right side of the bed, try the Theragun Sense. This massage gun is the first Therabody device to incorporate breathwork, using haptic cues to cue the user to inhale or exhale. The LCD screen features quick stars for a Sleep Routine and a Breathwork routine that NASM-certified personal trainer Kristen Geil uses as part of her nighttime routine. “I start with the Sleep prep routine, which focuses on muscles that are generally tense at the end of the day — like my forearms, calves, and even the soles of my feet,” she explains. “Then, before I put my phone down for the final time, I turn on the Breathwork routine for two minutes of guided breathing.” She notes that she does place her finger on the biometric sensor to track her heart rate, but the sensor doesn’t always pick up her heart rate correctly.

The Sense is also more lightweight and compact than other options we tested, so it can easily rest in a nightstand drawer or at the side of your bed. At 12mm percussive massage therapy, it’s also less intense than other options we tested (several other Theraguns hit the 16mm mark, for example).

Maximum No-Stall Force: 40lbs | Attachments: 4 | Built-In Speeds: 5 | Total Battery Life: 2 hours | Weight: 1.6lbs

This massage gun is for those who spend a lot of time sitting at the computer and experience back, neck, and shoulder aches. Testers loved having the Renpho Extend Massage Gun on hand to iron out the hard-to-reach kinks so we could tackle workouts, walks in the park, and our email inboxes. Editors agree that anyone who enjoys a nice back massage will enjoy having this device nearby.