Top 6 compared
The best massage guns
For tight calves after a run and a stiff back after a day at a desk.
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The top 6 at a glance
A massage gun is a handheld, battery-powered massager with a head that pulses rapidly into a tight muscle, like a quick, firm massage you can give yourself. Full-size guns are heavier, with more heads to choose from, and suit use at home; minis are lighter in the hand and fit easily in a gym bag.
More speeds and heads don’t make a better gun: how it feels in the hand, and whether you can get it to the middle of your back, matter more day to day. Some add extras, such as a head that warms or chills, or an auto mode that picks the speed for you, and several charge by USB-C.
What matters
- A soft, cushioned head for tender or bony spots.
- A battery gauge you can see while it’s running.
- A weight you can comfortably hold at arm’s length.
- A case that keeps the heads together.
#1Wattne W2 Deep Tissue Massage Gun
£20–£30
- Auto mode sets the speed
- Up to 8 hours a charge
- Carry case included
Full-size, with 20 speeds, an auto mode and 10 heads, for working on a stiff back and shoulders as well as legs. The Bob and Brad below beats it on score but is a pocket-sized mini with fewer heads.
What owners say: Owners say it takes the tension out of necks, shoulders and lower backs straight away, and find it easier going than a foam roller. They also mention it arrives charged, recharges quickly and feels solidly built.
A closer look: The auto mode takes the speed choice out of your hands, which helps when you’re not sure what a sore muscle needs. At 0.94kg it’s heavier than a mini, so it suits home use more than a gym bag. The screen flashes while charging, so it’s obvious when it’s done.
Best for: Lots of heads
- Speeds
- 20
- Heads
- 10
- Weight
- 0.94kg
- Battery
- 2600mAh, 3–8 hrs
- Heated head
- No
- Carry case
- Yes
#2Bob and Brad Q2 Mini Massage Gun
£50–£75
- Light at 0.43kg
- Quiet, under 40dB
- Switches off after 10 minutes
Bob and Brad are the Minnesota physical therapists who became YouTube favourites, and their mini gun is phone-sized and still strong enough for calves and quads. The maker puts its noise under 40dB, quiet enough to use on the sofa with the television on.
What owners say: Owners are surprised by how much power there is in something so small, and many reach for it after a run. They mention a battery that lasts, USB-C charging and a useful spread of heads.
A closer look: It’s small enough for a kit bag or hand luggage, so it tends to get used after every run or gym session rather than living in a cupboard. It switches itself off after 10 minutes, and a USB-C charger you already own does the charging (there’s no plug in the box). Very bony or sensitive spots are better left to the softer heads.
Best for: Light to carry
- Speeds
- 5
- Heads
- 5
- Weight
- 0.43kg
- Battery
- 2500mAh, USB-C
- Heated head
- No
- Carry case
- Yes
#3arboleaf Mini Massage Gun (CM20C)
£30–£50
- Light at 0.47kg
- Up to 8 hours a charge
- Full-metal body
A full-metal mini weighing 0.47kg, with four manual speeds and a fifth auto mode that picks up the pace as you press harder. Small enough to live in a desk drawer or gym bag, and its four soft silicone heads wash clean after a sweaty session.
What owners say: Owners rate the build and the compact size, and praise its power. They also like its weight, the choice of settings and a battery that holds its charge.
A closer look: Give it a full charge before the first use, as the maker asks. The auto mode is the easy setting for beginners: rest the head on the muscle and it speeds up as you lean in, then eases off as you lift. It drops to standby after 10 minutes, a sensible cap for one area.
Best for: Pressure-sensing speed
- Speeds
- 4 + auto
- Heads
- 4
- Weight
- 0.47kg
- Battery
- 2000mAh, up to 8 hrs
- Heated head
- No
- Carry case
- Carry bag
#4Zerolia Massage Gun with LCD Touch Screen
£20–£30
- Shows battery left while running
- Quiet, under 35dB
- No carry case
Thirty speeds, ten heads and a touch screen that shows both the speed and the battery left, so it’s simple to work out which heads and speeds suit you. A charge lasts up to six hours.
What owners say: Owners find it eases pain and tension after exercise, with plenty of power, a sturdy build and lots of speed settings, and it isn’t too heavy. Battery life divides them: some get long sessions, others find it drains quickly.
A closer look: Ten heads is more than most people need, so it’s worth starting with the round ball and the flat head and saving the pointed ones for knots. A full charge takes 1.5 to 2 hours, so it can go on the charger after one session and be ready well before the next.
Best for: Fine speed control
- Speeds
- 30
- Heads
- 10
- Weight
- 1.26kg
- Battery
- 2500mAh, up to 6 hrs
- Heated head
- No
- Carry case
- No
#5AERLANG Hot and Cold Massage Gun (EM9)
£50–£75
- Head heats or chills
- Screen shows your pressure
- Carry case included
The head heats or chills at three settings each, so you can warm a stiff shoulder before working on it or cool a calf after a hard run. Twenty speeds, seven heads and a touch screen that shows how hard you’re pressing round it out.
What owners say: Owners find it powerful and easy to use, and good for relaxing tight muscles. The gripes are battery life and reliability, with some units simply stopping, and several owners say the heads fall out too easily.
A closer look: The battery may arrive low, so plan on a full six-hour charge before the first session. Keep the cold head moving in short passes rather than resting it on one spot, and press each head firmly home before you start. At 1kg it suits the sofa more than a gym bag.
Best for: Heating and cooling
- Speeds
- 20
- Heads
- 7
- Weight
- 1kg
- Battery
- USB-C, 6-hr charge
- Heated head
- Hot and cold, 3 levels each
- Carry case
- Yes
#6Therabody Theragun Relief Massage Gun
£100–£150
- Triangle handle for different grips
- Dampener head for tender spots
- About 2 hours per charge
- Three speeds only
- No carry case
The simplest Theragun: one button, three speeds and a triangle handle that makes it easy to reach your own back. The Thumb attachment is made for trigger points and the lower back.
What owners say: Owners find it works well on aching muscles and loosens tense ones quickly, and like how simple it is to use. Battery life gets mixed reports: it lasts well for some, while others say it gave out in less than a year.
A closer look: The triangle handle is the clever bit: it can be held in different positions, which makes more of your own back reachable without help. The Dampener attachment is the one to use on tender spots. It suits someone who wants a well-known name and no fiddling with settings.
Best for: Back massage without help
- Speeds
- 3
- Heads
- 3
- Weight
- 0.62kg
- Battery
- Up to 120 min, USB-C
- Heated head
- No
- Carry case
- No
Side by side
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 6.
| Feature | #1Wattne W2 | #2Bob and Brad Q2 Mini | #3arboleaf Mini CM20C | #4Zerolia | #5AERLANG EM9 Hot and Cold | #6Theragun Relief |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best premium | |||||
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Price | £20–£30 | £50–£75 | £30–£50 | £20–£30 | £50–£75 | £100–£150 |
| Speeds | 20 | 5 | 4 + auto | 30 | 20 | 3 |
| Heads | 10 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Weight | 0.94kg | 0.43kg | 0.47kg | 1.26kg | 1kg | 0.62kg |
| Battery | 2600mAh, 3–8 hrs | 2500mAh, USB-C | 2000mAh, up to 8 hrs | 2500mAh, up to 6 hrs | USB-C, 6-hr charge | Up to 120 min, USB-C |
| Heated head | No | No | No | No | Hot and cold, 3 levels each | No |
| Carry case | Yes | Yes | Carry bag | No | Yes | No |
| Best for | Lots of heads | Light to carry | Pressure-sensing speed | Fine speed control | Heating and cooling | Back massage without help |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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