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Hello and welcome! Today, we will look at the best budget massage gun. Believe it or not, you can get a decent massage gun today for about $50, which was unheard of when massage guns first came out.
We have always insisted on buying a massage gun that is decent enough to massage muscle properly. Finding one such percussion massager at a cheaper price isn’t anyone’s cup of tea.
So today, we will tell you how to find the best budget massage gun for percussive therapy.
We know there are plenty of cheap massage gun on Amazon. We will not list any of those here – we know most are crap. Instead, we will list sports massagers we tested and proved ourselves.
Also, look out for our reasoning behind the picks and how the cheap massage guns differ from their expensive counterparts.
Key Takeaways:
- Our top pick for the best cheap massage gun is the Taotronics TT-PCA004. Its impressive performance, robust motor, good ergonomics, and long-lasting battery make it an exceptional value, especially at the discounted price with code BF50.
- Many of the least expensive massage guns have a low stroke length and deliver a vibrational feel.
- Despite the low price, this percussion massager can still be effective if it offers ample stall force and a high percussion per minute (PPM).
- The key to an effective budget massage gun is its ability to maintain a fast-revving speed, even when pressed against the body.
- Beware of cheap brands overstating their performance features such as amplitude, stall force, and percussion range.
Read on to learn more, or jump straight to our best picks.
In This Article
- Budget Massage Gun vs. Premium Ones – Where’s the Catch?
- How Cheap Massage Gun Brands Try to Wow Customers – Know the Tricks
- Best Cheap Massage Gun Alternatives
- Pro Massage from Ekrin Athletics Sports Massagers: One Great Option for Those Willing to Increase Their Budgets
- Budget Massage Guns Wrap-Up
Budget Massage Gun vs. Premium Ones – Where’s the Catch?
Are budget massage guns any good? It’s not unusual to see a cheap massage gun pitting themselves against their premium counterparts, claiming to be just as powerful and capable of the best deep tissue massage.
However, they simply aren’t what they promise. In this ‘Cheap vs. Expensive Massage Gun‘ post, we discuss every possible detail, answering all the questions related to this muscle massager class. You may want to pause your reading and check out this post.
Now, let’s just briefly talk about this to understand some important nuances better and why we featured those sports massagers here.
Most inexpensive massage guns we’ve seen rarely have anything to stand against a +$150 massage gun. The best these brands can do is overstate the specifications to try to match those of the expensive guns.
They mostly exaggerate the three crucial massage gun aspects:
- Amplitude,
- stall force, and
- percussions per minute.
Here, let us explain…
Amplitude
AKA stroke length is the distance traveled by the massage gun head during percussions.
Many cheap massage guns tend to have low amplitudes—often between 6 and 9 mm or, at best, 10 mm. If a cheap massage gun promises 16 mm or even 12 mm, it is probably lying.
These percussion massagers tend to be more vibrational than percussive. They do not deliver punchy hits like high-amplitude massage guns.
But what is the implication of this? Is it a bad thing?
No. In our view, shallow hits are equally effective as punchy hits; you just need to know where to apply them. In fact, it’s not just the cheap massage guns that have low amplitude; even the best massage gun brands employ low amplitudes on some of their sports massagers for vibration therapy benefits – a good example is Ekrin Athletics.
However, in our experience, the low amplitude must be matched with good stall force for a massage gun to be effective for trigger point massage and muscle relaxation. It also has to have high percussions per minute.
Percussions
A low-amplitude hand-held massager has to rev fast to be effective. This is because percussive therapy works by overriding pain signals to the brain, thereby releasing muscle tension1. The rapid strokes of a sports massager greatly impact this process.
The same intensity can be drawn from hard and deep hits from high-amplitude guns. Such guns don’t have to rev fast – the Theragun Elite is a good example of such a setup.
Since most budget massage guns have a low amplitude, they must have a high percussion rate of at least 3000 RPM—this number should also be reflected in their specs and practicality.
But there is a catch with this as well.
Even though most inexpensive massage guns will tend to rev high, they may not maintain that intensity when pressed against the body, for example, when treating trapezius muscle pain. This is where you have to check for stall force.
Stall Force
Stall force is a massage gun’s motor ability to withstand pressure.
You need the percussive therapy intensity of a budget massage gun to be consistent for it to be effective. This is especially crucial when you press the gun hard against a body part, like when treating glute muscle pain.
You need the pressure to penetrate the muscle (deep tissue massage) and relieve clogged blood vessels2,3 that cause muscle tension.
Sadly, many cheap massage guns drastically fail to withstand considerable pressure—most have extremely low stall force. Even though the manufacturer advertises it as a high stall force, the handheld massager easily collapses under the least amount of pressure, resulting in ineffective massage muscle treatment.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for these affordable percussive massagers. We found some of them reasonably strong in our tests, and we list them below.
Fact: This is how we verify amplitude, percussions, and stall force:
- We use a high-precision digital caliper to confirm the real stroke length (amplitude).
- For percussions, we use a laser tachometer that tells us the actual percussions for different speeds.
- Stall force is tricky to verify. We compare the stall force of budget massage guns using benchmark devices that we know their real stall force.
How Cheap Massage Gun Brands Try to Wow Customers – Know the Tricks
Our experience has shown that many brands selling budget massage guns may attempt to mislead customers to make a sale. We’ve observed numerous instances where the critical aspects of their devices are overstated.
These are some of the marketing tricks they use (and even more in this post):
- They will tell you how their sports massager has many speeds, often 20-30 speed gears. This creates the impression of a high-performing massage gun with probably a high percussion range. But in our opinion, the opposite is true.
In a real sense, you don’t need that many speed levels on a massage gun – 5 to 6 speeds are enough (why do you think a Theragun Prime has fewer speed levels?). We can live with maybe 10, but not more. The bottom line is not to pay much attention to speed levels. - They promise many massage gun attachments. Our perspective is that there’s nothing wrong with this, except it doesn’t necessarily make a device better.
You will probably only need 5 massage gun attachments to massage the entire body. If a brand promises 10 massage gun attachments, the likelihood is that they are probably different variations of well-known attachments.
In practice, they just don’t offer a different effect. So instead, we prefer to evaluate the quality of the massage gun attachments and how varied they are. - Many inexpensive massage guns tend to only come with rigid attachments. However, based on our experience with more than 70 massage guns, you need one or two soft or semi-soft massage gun attachments for bony and sensitive areas. Our advice then: Don’t go for quantity; rather, go for quality and good variety.
What can you expect from most budget massage guns?
- You will hardly get any fancy features with highly affordable massage guns. Don’t expect to find pressure sensors, dynamic modes, OLED screens, and Bluetooth connectivity.
- Many budget massage guns tend to wear off quickly—often within months of purchase. This has happened to us many times (but not only with cheap sports massagers).
- Many have short warranties. The best you can find is a 1-year warranty or, as is often the case, no warranty at all. Customer support and care are often lacking, as we found out with such brands as Legiral and Chirogun – it’s very difficult to find support in case something goes wrong (we tried).
- Many are no-name brands that sell from China. So, you often won’t get decent customer support, or contacting the brand may otherwise prove difficult. Of course, there are exceptions, but since the massage gun market is highly fragmented, many no-name brands offer nothing but a product itself.
Luckily, there are a few brands that try to do things differently.
We combed the market for this before writing this article. We even found a cheap massage gun with a lifetime warranty from one of the famous brands.
Best Cheap Massage Gun Alternatives
In our research and testing, we found 3 sports massagers that stand out from other “Best Budget Massage Gun” titles in the market. These deliver good performance at very affordable prices.
BEST Alternative
Bob and Brad Q2 Pro mini
Hot and Cold Therapy
• Enjoy a quiet massage! 30 dB
• 7 mm amplitude +35 lbs Stall Force!
• Small massage gun
• Now only $89.99 and $69.99 with coupon.
• 7 mm amplitude +35 lbs Stall Force!
• Small massage gun
• Now only $89.99 and $69.99 with coupon.
Learn more about all the above massage guns down below.
Bob and Brad Q2 Pro – Cheapest Mini Massage Gun
In our search for a budget massage gun (or cheap massage gun), we couldn’t overlook the Bob and Brad Q2 Pro mini massage gun. Bob and Brad are renowned as the best physical therapists on the internet, with a YouTube following of over 4 million.
We also have a YouTube channel here (you should subscribe; maybe we will hit the 4 million mark one day, too 😉), and you can see our Bob and Brad Q2 Pro mini massage gun on video here:
So, priced at an attractive $79.99 with an Amazon coupon, the Bob and Brad Q2 Pro stands out for its affordability and compact, highly portable design, measuring just 5.7″ x 3.4″ x 1.8″.
Despite being a small massage gun, it packs a punch because of its 35 lbs stall force and adequate performance for its size. It also boasts a surprisingly solid build quality.
The Bob and Brad Q2 Pro mini massage gun offers great value with features like five-speed gears for up to 3000 percussions per minute and five massage gun attachments for a versatile massage experience, one of which is for hot and cold therapy. Though its amplitude is modest at ~7mm, it’s the best travel massage gun for those seeking relief from muscle pain, lactic acid buildup, or just a relaxing massage after a long day.
The battery capacity is a 2500 mAh battery that lasts 3-4 hours.
With its well-known brand backing and the quality it delivers, the Q2 Mini is a standout choice for anyone looking for an effective, budget-friendly massage gun.
Read More: Our full Bob and Brad Q2 Pro mini massage gun review here.
Taotronics TT-PCA004 – Best Cheap Massage Gun
This Taotronics is the best cheap massage gun, and we didn’t need a long debate to figure it out. It is insanely cheap – only $29.99 (after discount). However, it has incredible specs that will surprise many users.
We’ve had our unit for almost a year now and are loving life with it – it still works like it’s new. Check our video below:
So first, we love its compactness. It looks like a mini massage gun and a full-sized hybrid. It weighs a paltry 1.67 pounds and will be very easy to maneuver.
You’ll also appreciate its ergonomic design—something you rarely see with cheap massage guns. The handle is a good size—not as thick as many others. It’s squared with rounded corners. The entire handle is rubberized, which adds more grip.
It’s not just the handle; the whole design looks flashy for something that costs very little. We love the metal finish at the top.
But we love the performance of this thing even more. If you ever thought you couldn’t get a performing cheap massage gun, this one’s different.
80% of similar-priced guns have a lower stall force than this Taotronics.
We measured amplitude at 9 mm. This sounds a bit on the lower side, but we’re glad it’s not lower than 9 mm. With this stroke length, you’ll still only get light percussion therapy, but the stall force will help improve it.
This gun has a stall force of 30 lbs, and we found it pretty accurate in our test lab. So this is impressive. For comparison, Theragun Prime, which costs way more, has the same stall force.
What about the actual percussions per minute? Well, you get a range of 1000 RPM to 3000 RPM – we also verified that this is indeed true.
With this setup, you get fast hits that will not slow down even under pressure. It is a good massage gun for your back, arms, and neck. It should also occasionally help you massage large muscle groups like the quads and hamstrings or glute muscle pain.
There’s just one bit we didn’t like about this device in our test: the 20-speed setup! These are way too many to cycle through. Even so, it makes sense when you have enough stall force and a wide percussion range.
We also found our Taotronics well-equipped. It comes with 6 decent-quality attachments, one of which is soft and useful for massaging muscle in sensitive areas. It also comes with a carrying case—a nice touch for a budget device, right?
We also measured the sound level (the photo above), which doesn’t have a noise issue. The battery has a capacity of 2600 mAh, which is on par with the bigger and heavier guns.
It comes with a 1-year warranty. We know Taotronics has a robust customer support system that handles all issues smoothly.
Deal Alert Taotronics Sale. You can get 50% off the Taotronics massage gun now! It will cost you a mere $39. Get it right here
Read More: Check out our full, in-depth Taotronics TT-PCA004 review.
Renpho R3 Active – Budget Massage Gun; Also a Solid Choice
Renpho R3 Active is another budget massage gun that we have tested extensively. We also know the manufacturer – a Chinese-American brand that is rooted in the US.
Having tested several of Renpho’s massage guns, the R3 Active model really stood out. Its versatility and affordability, especially with the discount coupon that brought it down to a mere $73.99, made it an exceptional value proposition.
When we tested the Renpho R3 Active, we found its performance was surprisingly comparable to our top two budget picks. The device demonstrated a solid stall force of ~30 lbs, which we felt was quite satisfactory for an entry-level device.
We also measured the amplitude, 10 mm, a millimeter more than what we experienced with the Taotronics gun.
Its percussion range is 1800 RPM to 3200 RPM. It has 5 speeds, which, in our opinion, makes it a better setup than Taotronics’.
When we tested the R3 Active, we loved its compact size and lightweight—much like the Taotronics model, it weighed just 1.5 pounds on our precision scale.
The oval-shaped handle, wrapped in rubber, was comfortable to grip and made the massage experience smoother.
The 2600 mAh battery also impressed us with its longevity, keeping the device powered on a single charge for a week.
The massage gun has a convenient USB-C charger, something we haven’t seen with other guns in this category thus far. We also appreciated the generous kit, which includes five varied massage gun attachments (one pleasingly squishy) and a carrying case.
It’s well-equipped, with 5 attachments (including a squishy one) and a carrying case.
Overall, this device proved to be an excellent companion for soothing massage sessions, aiding recovery, and tackling muscle soreness.
Read More: Check our hands-on Renpho R3 review for more details.
Pro Massage from Ekrin Athletics Sports Massagers: One Great Option for Those Willing to Increase Their Budgets
Check out these two guns with a lifetime warranty if you have slightly more cash to spend.
Ekrin Massage Guns – What’s The Cheapest One?
Ekrin Athletics is a well-known US brand that makes great massage guns. It is known not just for its top-quality devices but also for its lifetime warranty and impeccable customer support.
We voted them the number one brand of 2024 for the above reasons and their fantastic quality-price ratio. Their entry-level devices are not in the category ‘best massage gun under $100,’ but they’re totally worth it if you have more cash to spend.
Ekrin 365
This is a light, full-sized device with superb ergonomics. Ekrin Athletics calls it an entry-level gun, but in our hands-on review, it proved more powerful than all the guns we just discussed above.
It has really fantastic attachments that screw on rather than push in and out – you don’t have to worry about the massage gun attachment coming off. It comes with a pressure sensor like the top sports massagers.
It costs $143.99 if you use the coupon MGA20 (20% off) to buy it. You can get it right here.
Ekrin Bantam
It’s even cheaper than the 365 model. We tested it on multiple occasions, and it never let us down. We recently voted it the best mini massage gun on the market.
It has so much to offer and only costs $119.99 if you use the coupon MGA20 – a 20% discount. Buy it at ekrinathletics.com
New Opove M3 Pro – High-Quality & Pocket-Friendly
This is a relatively new massage gun with a sleek, modern look. It’s also very affordable.
Opove is a respected brand best known for its budget massage guns and Hypervolt alternatives.
When we tested the new M3 Pro, we found it to offer more power than any of the devices we have mentioned thus far (except for the Ekrin 365).
It has a stall force of 40 lbs. It also has a 12 mm stroke length to be punchier than the guns above. It can rev up to 2600 RPM, which we think is awesome with a 12 mm amplitude.
It’s also a quiet massager machine on our list. It has fantastic massage gun attachments that vary in shape and materials – soft and semi-soft massage gun attachments are included.
It costs $119, which we believe is a steal for what this gun offers. You can buy it here at opove.com.
Budget Massage Guns Wrap-Up
If you want the best budget massage gun, you must look really hard at what is already available on the market. Even then, you might not succeed in finding the best one.
Luckily, we have done the job for you, and you can find the right one among our picks.
We recommend the Taotronics TT-PCA004 massage gun as the best and cheapest massage gun. However, other guns perform really well, such as the Bob and Brad Q2 Pro mini massage gun.
If you have a little more to spend, you can check out our other recommendations on sports massagers, which cost a little over $100 but are totally worth every penny.
Until next time!
References
- 1.Considering a massage gun? Here’s what you need to know about percussive therapy. UCLA Health. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/considering-a-massage-gun-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-percussive-therapy
- 2.Konrad A, Glashüttner C, Reiner M, Bernsteiner D, Tilp M. The Acute Effects of a Percussive Massage Treatment with a Hypervolt Device on Plantar Flexor Muscles’ Range of Motion and Performance. J Sports Sci Med. 2020;19(4):690-694. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33239942
- 3.Do Massage Guns Really Work? NorthwestCareerCollege.edu. https://www.northwestcareercollege.edu/blog/do-massage-guns-really-work/
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Post Update History
Here's a quick rundown of all the tweaks and edits we've made to this article to keep it accurate and up-to-date!
Current version.
February 6, 2024 Recommendation update following Bitfinic’s discontinuation. The Q2 Mini takes its place with great price and features. Some text tweaks and internal linking changes were also made. Video insights added. (Author: Greg)
May 13, 2023 Updated pricing information, minor edits and corrections. (Author: Luke)
May 2, 2023 Added more photos and updates after long-term test of the Taotronics, Opove M3 Pro (Author: Luke)
January 7, 2023 Replaced Lifepro device with Sportneer Elite D9 (after hands-on review performed). (Author: Greg)
November 14, 2023 Updated Taotronics TT-PCA004 overview with more photos and information. (Author: Luke)
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Luke Deszczulka
Luke Deszczulka
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