Ask any number of fitness experts, and most will tell you that the best Theraguns really are a cut above the rest. “I’ve used them since they hit the market years ago,” Darleen Marshall, CPT, a NASM-certified personal trainer, tells SELF. “I’ve had other brands and they’re just not as good. The quality of the tool, the depth, and power of the movement are all superior.”
If you’re looking for a splurge-worthy massage tool to add to your recovery routine, Theragun seems like the obvious choice. But when you consider just how much the brand’s selection has expanded recently, making your pick may be a bit harder than expected. With models that come with lots of attachments, travel-friendly massagers, and devices that target precise areas of the body, Theragun has a ton of high-quality options—and we’ve narrowed them down to the very best here. Read on for our picks and to hear from experts about what makes these tools—and percussive massagers in general—so popular.
Our top picks
In this article
Shop the best Theraguns
Sore calves? Tender shoulders? Knotty back? The solution to the aches and pains awaits.
Best Overall: Theragun Prime
The Prime is exactly what we think of when we think of a Theragun: powerful, simple to use, and highly effective. “My neck and shoulders are constantly tense—one quick session with the Prime can unravel a week’s worth of knots in minutes,” Sarah Felbin, SELF’s senior commerce editor, says. “I always feel refreshed and relaxed after using it.”
Experienced massage gun users will appreciate the Prime’s triangular shape, which is far easier to maneuver than traditionally shaped models (“I can target my upper back without doing my best contortionist impression,” Felbin says). And folks who want more guidance around using their Prime can explore its capabilities through Therabody’s app, which seamlessly connects to the device.
Weight: 2.18 pounds | Battery life: 120 minutes | Attachments: Ball, dampener, micro-point, thumb
Best for Theragun Newbies: Theragun Relief
If you don’t need all the bells and whistles but still want the full Theragun experience, go with the Relief. It has the same user-friendly shape, but less power—perfect for newcomers who might find the Prime overwhelming on the maximum setting.
“My dad is a licensed massage therapist and swears by the OG Theragun Relief for myofascial release after working out, long days where you feel a little sore, or just recreationally when you feel like you need a massage,” Paige Levinson, SELF’s special projects coordinator, says.
Weight: 1.37 pounds | Battery life: 120 minutes | Attachments: Ball, dampener, thumb
Best for Travel: Theragun Mini
Multiple SELF staffers, as well as SELF Home Fitness Award testers, consider the Mini their holy grail for on-the-go muscle relief. Clocking in at less than a pound and operable with one hand, it won’t weigh down your gym bag or feel exhausting to use for more than a few minutes. “The device makes it easy to work on stubborn tight or achy areas while you’re just sitting around,” one of our Award testers said. “No need to get on the floor and fight with a foam roller.”
Like the Relief, the Mini is another great option if you’ve tried standard-sized massage guns and found their settings to be too intense. “[The Mini could] do everything the larger version did, but it was more compact and felt a little gentler,” Christa Sgobba, SELF’s director of fitness and food, says.
Weight: 14.10 ounces | Battery life: 150 minutes | Attachments: Ball, dampener, thumb
Best for Unwinding: TheraBody SmartGoggles
We tried the SmartGoggles when they first came out in 2022—our tester found them seriously sleek, easy to use, and genuinely soothing. Worn like a regular sleep mask, they contain inner massaging nodes that target your temples, brow bones, and in between the eyebrows. They also provide vibration, compression, and heat therapy all over.
“I found the massage nodes to be just firm enough to ease tension without creating more pain points, and the addition of heat felt so soothing—especially after a long day,” our tester wrote in her review.
Weight: 14.80 ounces | Battery life: 150 minutes | Attachments: N/A
Best for Facial Massages: TheraFace Pro
Part red light therapy device, part microcurrent tool, part massager, all-around luxe personal gadget, the TheraFace Pro is a real treat for your self-care routine. It won a 2023 Healthy Beauty Award for just how much it could do for our tester in one fell swoop. They noted its smoothing and depuffing effects, as well as its gentle massaging power.
“The percussive attachment really helped relieve some TMJ pain I was having,” they said. “It was super easy to use and comes with a high-quality organizing pouch that makes it perfect for both storage or travel. It’s so versatile—I love it!”
Weight: 3.95 ounces | Battery life: 38 minutes | Attachments: Cleansing ring, LED light therapy ring, microcurrent ring, three percussive attachments (cone, flat, micro-point)
Frequently asked questions about Theraguns
What are the benefits of percussive massage?
Percussive massage is notably different from other massage tools in the sense that it feels like something is rapidly hammering into your muscles. “Unlike foam rollers or basic vibration tools, percussive massagers offer deeper muscle activation and more precise targeting,” Ben LaNeve, a personal trainer at Life Time Annapolis in Maryland, tells SELF. You feel an actual impact from the device as it pulls away and punches back into your muscles, rather than maintaining constant contact with them, Marshall notes.
The result of this propulsive massage is more relaxed, broken-up scar tissue in our muscles and increased blood to the area that’s being massaged, Eric Busi, DPT, an orthopedic physical therapist at Maven Physical Therapy & Performance in Santa Monica, California, tells SELF. That’s why experts consider massage guns to be so useful for warm-ups and recovery routines: Before your workout, they can stimulate circulation and help your muscles loosen up. Afterward, they can break down trigger points and ease soreness, Dr. Busi says.
What makes Theragun so special?
Theragun was one of the very first names in massage guns—they did it early, they did it well, and they work with experts on an ongoing basis to vet and refine their technology.
“Theragun is the gold standard when it comes to being the lead innovator of massage guns and other wellness products,” Dr. Busy says. “They were the first company to introduce this type of product and have continued to evolve their line, continuously improving through the development of new attachments, vibration modes, and model sizes.”
Of course, their price point can’t be ignored. There are plenty of other, less expensive massage guns out there that’ll get the job done. But if you’re firmly set on buying a Theragun, Therabody offers certified refurbished models at reduced prices.
Your Theragun will be most effective on knots in your upper back and shoulders, as well as large muscle groups prone to soreness like your quads, glutes, hamstrings, calves, and forearms, LaNeve says.
Models that come with multiple massage heads can provide different sensations and levels of intensity. Rounded heads work well for general muscle groups; thumb- or bullet-shaped heads target knots; and cushioned or dampened heads work well with more sensitive or tender areas, LaNeve explains. “Match the tool to your needs: softer heads for recovery, firmer ones for tight spots,” he says.
On the whole, massage guns are considered safe for most people to use—just don’t use one directly on your neck or over your bones, Marshall says. And if you’re currently bruised or dealing with an injury, avoid using your massager in those affected areas too.
Related:
Get more of SELF’s great product recommendations delivered right to your inbox (for free!).
