James has been writing about technology for years but has loved it since the early 90s. While his main areas of expertise are maker tools — 3D printers, vinyl cutters, paper printers, and laser cutters — he also loves to play board games and tabletop RPGs.
- 6 years working professionally in the 3D printing space / 4 years testing consumer electronics for large websites.
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Massage guns can help ease muscle soreness and support post-workout recovery. Popular options — like those from Theragun, a brand now nearly synonymous with at-home deep tissue massage — are effective, but often pricey. If you’re looking for relief without breaking the bank, here are our top picks for the best budget-friendly alternatives.
Like Therabody, Hyperice is a premium brand with prices to match. And speaking of matching, the Hypervolt Go sells for around the same price as the Theragun Mini. But I like the former more, in part because it comes with two heads instead of one massage gun head and has a more comfortable gun-style design.
It’s a compact massage gun when compared to the likes of the MaxKare and Taotronics models, but also larger than the Naipo and Recoverfun. So let’s call it “medium.”
But, wow, is it powerful — on par with the Theragun in terms of muscle-punching force. With only three speeds, however, it might prove a little much if you prefer a gentler massage. Hyperice doesn’t supply a carrying case, which is inconvenient, and the AC adapter is proprietary.
Between this and the Theragun Mini, I’d choose this. But there are other budget-friendly massage guns that are also more versatile if that’s what you prefer.
- Weight: 1 pound, 8 ounces
- Charging method: Proprietary
- Number of heads included: Two
- Carrying case included: Drawstring
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Naipo’s massager is the lightest and most compact model in the group, with a small but comfortable grip and more percussive force than you’d expect.
Other pluses include five speed settings and four different massage heads. Naipo doesn’t provide a carrying case, which is a bit disappointing. But my only real complaint is that it’s not amongst the quieter massage gun options; the other “minis” in the roundup, the Recoverfun and Sportneer, produce much less noise.
I’ve seen various coupon or code deals that bring the price down on this massager, so you should get it when it’s on sale.
- Weight: 14.11 ounces
- Charging method: USB-C
- Number of heads included: Four
- Carrying case included: No
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