The best massage guns for soothing aches and pains in 2026

Score: 98/100

Powerful, easy to use and affordable, our expert tester was blown away by this sleek little massager.

Unlike many of its pocket-friendly competitors, it has five speed settings and five attachments for targeting different areas, plus it comes with a sleek carry case that has plenty of room for all the accessories. In the box, you’ll also find an insightful user guide, packed with step-by-step routines showing you how to soothe all manner of aches and pains.

According to our tester, it’s a pleasure to use from the get-go thanks to its ergonomic design. It’s lightweight (no aching arms here) and the buttons are perfectly placed for easy access mid-pummel. Performance-wise, our massage experience was extremely smooth, with no painful jogging or juddering when it was moved over our joints.

If that wasn’t enough, the device automatically turns off after 10 minutes if it’s not in use to preserve battery, and it supports USB-C charging. For some, the petite handle may feel a bit short, but that was our one and only niggle.

Score: 90/100

This is Therabody’s lightest massage gun and 5kg lighter than the previous Mini 2nd Gen version. It’s 30 per cent smaller too, and the compact size appealed to our expert, making it perfect for travelling with. It even comes in a stylish travel case.

The size also makes it easy to grip, plus it’s straightforward to use and relatively quiet. It did struggle to reach some of the areas of the back, though, so grab a partner to help with these spots. That said, with three speed settings and three interchangeable heads, it provided a deeper massage than most mini massage guns – our expert said it released muscle tension all over the body.

It’s expensive for a compact massage gun, but we liked the accompanying app, with a personalised AI coach that gives treatment recommendations, guiding you through the routines that work best for your achy muscles.

Score: 90/100

If you’re new to percussive therapy and not sure where to begin, the Turonic G5 is a great option. It comes with very detailed instructions, clearly demonstrating the various massages you can perform with the device.

Better still, there are five speed settings and seven interchangeable heads (which you can use with massage oil), allowing you to target different muscle groups and areas of the body. There’s even a head designed to combat and help reduce cellulite – a first in our round-up.

Our tester did experience some discomfort on the lower speed settings due to jolting, and while it does come with a carry case, it’s heavy, so we wouldn’t recommend it for on-the-go massaging. But when you consider the variety of massaging options it provides and how straightforward it is to use, these niggles don't feel like a dealbreaker.

Score: 89/100

This massage gun offers excellent value for money, given that it comes with five massaging heads. It moves rapidly over your muscles, massaging them to great effect without causing any discomfort. The handle vibrates a lot, especially at full power, but the speed can easily be lowered if your arm starts to ache.

It comes with useful instructions, but their translation from Chinese is patchy. A USB cable is included for recharging its sizeable battery on the go too, but there's no charging head.

An updated version of the popular HyperVolt Go series, the Version 3 offers two additional speeds and an additional hour’s battery life. Our expert also found the redesigned pill-shaped body with a slanted ergonomic handle more comfortable to use, allowing them to reach tricky spots, like the lower back, more easily.

The massage gun comes with flat and wedge-shaped attachments, both of which attach quickly and securely. Despite its compact size, the powerful motor impressed us – it didn’t stall once, even when our expert applied significant pressure. The five speed settings, controlled via a rotating dial, made it easy to tailor the intensity for a range of different muscles, while still feeling easy to control at top speed.

Our main criticism was the lack of guidance. While the startup booklet included in the carry case was helpful initially, there’s a lack of online guides explaining which settings are best suited to different muscle groups. Thankfully, after we’d used the gun a few times, we could feel which speed worked best for which muscle.

Score: 87/100

If you’re after a small massage gun that still offers versatility, consider this fuss-friendly Boots design. There are three speed settings and four interchangeable heads (a ball, fork, bullet and flat head) for alleviating aches and pains, whether you need some post-exercise relief or you’ve been hunched over your desk for too long.

It wasn’t the most powerful massager on test – the first speed in particular was extremely gentle – so it’s not one for serious gym-goers, but it’s still great for releasing tension. It moved seamlessly over the skin with no painful snagging, and it scored top marks for noise level, allowing you to treat sore muscles on the go without attracting attention.

We welcomed the compact carry case, which fits all the different attachments and charger neatly inside, and the device itself was easy to operate thanks to a conveniently placed control button and detailed instructions. It’s on the heavy side despite its small stature and the short handle made it trickier to reach sore spots on our backs, but it's a snip for under £50.

Score: 87/100

An updated version of Bob & Brad’s top-rated Q2 device (our runner-up), this comes with new features including a ‘heat and ice’ attachment to supercharge your recovery.

There are two cooling and heated settings to choose from; simply press the button on the attachment to switch between the temperatures. Our tester said they felt pleasant during their massage sessions, but thought they could have been a bit stronger. There are also four other attachments, including a fork, a foam ball and a steel flat head, to target all areas.

Like the original Q2, the pocket-sized device is ultra lightweight and comes with a neat carry case, which is ideal for travel. It also scored highly for noise control – it’s quiet enough to whip out on the train or at your desk without raising any eyebrows – and we found the battery life lived up to its claims.

It’s comfy to grip, but the handle is on the short side, so reaching those tricky areas may be a struggle. For under £100, though, it’s a top choice for those on a budget.

We also tested Bob and Brad's M7 Mini Massage Gun, which combines percussion with infrared heat (to increase blood flow and ease soreness) and blue light therapy (which claims to rejuvenate tired skin). It scored 83/100 in our tests.

Score: 86/100

If you’re after a massager for its relaxing properties, the Theragun Sense offers an affordable alternative to a weekly session with a professional masseuse. Along with standard percussive therapy, it provides breathwork sessions to help you de-stress, unwind and even sleep better.

Simply place your finger on the biometric sensor tucked into the inner arm of the device and follow the guided routine via the LCD screen. Haptic vibrations act as breathing cues, letting you know when to inhale and exhale, and there’s soothing music to help you get in the mood. Afterwards, you can compare your pre- and post-session heart rate to see if your body really is more relaxed – our tester was a big fan of this feature.

Our expert also rated the range of guided massage routines – including Sleep, Back Pain and Tension Relief – available via the screen, with clear instructions on where to place the massage gun and how long to target each area for.

Score: 86/100

Not your typical massage gun, the Vyper 3 is more of a vibrating foam roller, designed to “accelerate your warm-up, speed recovery time and keep you moving better”.

Ideal for those who are after an intense foam rolling experience, it has a smooth shell and diamond-shaped ridges that allow you to get deep into your muscles and address any knots or trigger points.

What’s more, it offers three speed settings so you can vary the intensity, depending on how sore you’re feeling. As it is on the bigger side, we’d say it’s best suited to targeting large muscles.

Note, the Vyper 3 device is rather loud when placed on the floor due to the vibrations, so you’ll have to time your massaging sessions carefully to avoid disturbing others.

Score: 85/100

Heat helps to reduce inflammation and muscle soreness, so we were excited to try Therabody’s only travel-sized integrated heat therapy massage gun on our sore muscles. With three heat settings, as well as three speed settings, our expert said it helped relieve pain in the legs and upper arms after a particularly hard workout.

The compact device was easy to set up and start using, while the app is on hand to personalise your recovery routines. It’s heavier than some of the brand’s other mini massage guns, but it makes up for it in performance. The quiet percussion was smooth, while the settings were powerful enough for a deep massage in all areas of the body.

It's fairly pricey, especially as the extra attachments, including the cold therapy attachment, are sold separately, although they aren't essential. However, it’s perfect for travelling, thanks to the compact design, the travel lock feature and carry case included.

Score: 83/100

Dedicated athletes, look no further. Though a considerable investment, the Theragun Pro Plus comes with a host of clever features to take your recovery to the next level.

We’re talking near infrared LED light therapy to penetrate deep into the muscles and boost circulation, a heated head to loosen up stiff areas, and a biometric sensor for heart rate readings and breathwork sessions – ideal when you’re in need of some stress relief. There’s also a cold therapy attachment, but this must be bought separately.

Our tester heaped praise on the range of attachments for handling all types of aches and pains. They were particularly impressed with the heated head, which has three temperature settings ranging from 45C to 55C, and liked how powerful the device was, saying they felt “thoroughly massaged” after using it.

There’s an LCD screen for following pre-set routines, plus myriad personalised massages available on the Therabody app.

Score: 81/100

Lightweight and versatile, this is the ideal massage gun for those hard-to-reach spots, like your back, and it’s small and light enough to travel with (in the included travel case). It has five easily adjustable speed settings and comes with five interchangeable attachments, including a heated red-light head.

Our expert liked that it was quiet in use and while the attachments took a little time to remove and swap over, they stayed securely in place throughout testing. The gun glided smoothly over the skin and performed well on most muscle groups, with each speed increase feeling noticeable. However, although the heated red-light attachment was a great addition, our tester found it didn’t get warm enough for any noticeable benefits.

Where this massage gun really shines, though, is its eight-inch extension handle. When paired with the adjustable head, it offered six positions across a 90-degree range, making it much easier to reach awkward areas. Our expert said it allowed them to work on their upper and lower back without having to twist their arm into an uncomfortable position.

Score: 80/100

Feeling intimidated by some of the heavy-duty massage guns on our roundup? Try this gentler model, which has a variable speed dial for adjusting the intensity of your massage. Its long handle makes it easy to massage all body parts, even if you have mobility issues.

Its laudable range of massage heads includes a four-finger attachment that mimics a human hand (it sounds creepy, but it’s effective!). For casual use, this tool is a winner, but committed sporty types may find it lacks oomph. Its length makes it a tad tricky to store, too, and it doesn’t come with a case.

Score: 79/100

This aesthetically pleasing device from up-and-coming massage gun brand Lola is popular on Instagram and after testing it, we can see why. Not only does it look the part, but it also scored highly for design, ease of use and performance. Note, it comes in baby pink, blue and pale mint shades, as well as black.

It has four interchangeable heads for providing relief in different areas, including a flat head to target niggly spots such as the neck, ankles and calves, and a cone to get deep into your muscles and hit your pressure points. Our experts found it easy to operate and switch between the four speed settings thanks to the responsive, user-friendly buttons on the handle.

They also said it was sufficiently powerful, providing instant relief from soreness, even at lower speeds. There were no issues with jolting or juddering over their skin, making for an extremely smooth massage experience.

Even better, it’s the same size as an iPhone and comes with a sleek travel pouch, so it’s a great one to take on holiday or to the gym. The quiet motor means it won’t attract any unwanted attention, either. Lola offers a 30-day money back guarantee for peace of mind when investing.

Score: 75/100

If you’ve been lusting after a Theragun but the price has put you off, you’ll be delighted to know the premium brand has launched its most affordable model yet. At under £100, the Relief is cheaper than the Mini, yet still brimming with impressive features.

It scored top marks for its attractive, lightweight design – according to our tester, they were able to pummel their muscles for lengthy periods, without their arms aching. Thanks to the ergonomic triangular handle, it was also a cinch to reach tricky areas like the lower back and shoulders. There are three interchangeable heads (a standard ball, thumb and dampener) and three speed settings, which should be sufficient for most.

While the PRO above, above packs an almighty punch, this petite device is ideal for those who prefer a gentler massaging experience. It’s also super quiet, so you can happily watch TV and massage at the same time. We’re sold.

Read our full Theragun Relief massage gun review.