Author, Expert Board Member
Bio:
Alex Stone is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA). He currently practices orthopedics in Bellevue, Washington, and manages an online health coaching business via social media (@dr.alexstone). He is passionate about health science education and general health/wellness optimization.
ByLuke Deszczulka
Fact checked by Dr. Alex Stone, DPT, CSCS.
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In this hands-on Theragun Pro vs. Theragun Elite vs. Theragun Prime vs. Theragun Mini post, we’ll closely compare all 4 percussion massagers, including the Theragun Pro 5th generation.
We’ve used them extensively over many weeks and shot plenty of photos while doing so. Read on to have a bird’s-eye view of the industry giant’s products.
Theragun, all things considered, is probably the prototype of the massage gun and, maybe by a stretch, the percussive therapy industry. They’ve always been innovative with everything, and as the market demand has increased, the brand has had all the answers to their questions.
One of the questions addressed the different needs of different people. They have done this by coming up with different devices.
Today, we take a look at all their 4th generation products, as well as the Theragun Pro 5th generation.
We’ve had all these sports massagers, tested them, and reviewed them thoroughly. Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed some of our product reviews, such as:
Don’t worry. This post is not a repetition of those reviews but a guide to clarify things. And you will need it because:
We will look at everything here. So, tune in!
Theragun Prime, Theragun Elite, and Theragun Pro are full-sized sports massagers. The Theragun Mini, on the other hand, is much smaller. It serves a different niche altogether. It was never part of what Theragun has been doing for a long time until only recently.
In September 2022, Theragun unveiled their new flagship device, Theragun Pro 5th Gen, and announced the smaller Theragun Mini. All 3 large percussion massagers have a lot in common. However, interestingly enough, the Theragun Mini doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
Some features of the Theragun mini are almost similar to what you find in the Theragun Prime. So the Theragun mini makes the cut, if only for this reason.
| Theragun PRO | Theragun Elite | Theragun Prime | Theragun mini | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generation | 5th | 4th | 4th | 2nd |
| Stall Force | 60 lbs. | 40 lbs. | 30 lbs. | <20 lbs. |
| Stroke Length (Amplitude) | 16 mm | 16 mm | 16 mm | 12 mm |
| Battery Life | 2.5 hours | 2.5 hours | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Speed Options | 5 – unlimited with an app | 5 – unlimited with an App | 5 – unlimited with an App | 3 – unlimited with an App |
| Noise (our figures) | 63-66 dB | 66-68 dB | 65-69 dB | 56-51 dB |
| Weight | 2.8 lbs | 2.2 lbs | 2.2 lbs | 1.05 lbs |
| Size | 10 x 7.1 x 3 in (25.5 x 18 x 7.6cm) | 9.5 x 6.7 x 2.8 in (24 x 17 x 7.4cm) | 8.9 x 6.3 x 2.7 in (22.5 x 16 x 7.3cm) | 5.5 x 4.9 x 1.9 in (14.1 x 12.5 x4.9cm) |
| Display | OLED | OLED | LED | none |
| Bluetooth & App Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of Attachments | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Our Rating (1-5) | 4.4 full review | 4.1 full review | 3.7 full review | 4.0 full review |
| Regular Price | $599 | $399 | $299 | $199 |
| Promo Code | X8YZF10 use at checkout | X8YZF10 use at checkout | X8YZF10 use at checkout | X8YZF10 use at checkout |
| Current Price | PRO at therabody.com | Elite at therabody.com | Prime at therabody.com | Mini at therabody.com |
All three full-sized Theragun muscle massagers are similar, apart from minor tweaks, like the build materials.
The Theragun Prime is black (no color variations). It is matte plastic and looks rather basic and a bit uninspiring. But its basic nature makes it practical and very easy to clean.
The Theragun Elite is more refined than its humbler brother. Upon unboxing it, we were immediately struck by its glossy black piano exterior, particularly the gleaming side housing the motor and arm.
Its construction involved two types of plastic: a slick, smooth kind on the inside of the multiple-grip handle and a rubberized exterior that provided a secure grip during our tests.
The Theragun Elite comes in three color variations: black, white, and red—except the one indicated as red, which is not really red but white, with only the ring on the arm being red. That’s a special edition Product (RED), and every purchase contributes to the Global Fund to fight pandemics worldwide.
Speaking of the rings, both the black and white variations have a blue ring on the arm.
Our evaluation showed that the Theragun Pro resembles the Elite in more ways than one, except, instead of a colored ring on the arm, the part covering the motor is colored (blue circle for the black one).
Both the Theragun Pro and the Theragun Elite have glossy parts. However, these are fingerprint magnets and look rather untidy after using the device. They also both look more stylish than the Theragun Prime.
When we compared the new Theragun Pro 5th Gen with its predecessor, the Pro 4th Gen model, we found them nearly identical. What set the Theragun Pro 5th Gen apart during our inspection was the new Therabody logo, distinguished by a blue stripe, a departure from the Theragun imprint on the 4th Gen, which lacked these blue accents.
When we first picked up the Theragun mini, we were pleasantly surprised by its comfortable, rubberized plastic construction. It feels good and comfortable to hold. With two color options, black and desert rose, the Theragun Mini’s uniform color stood out in contrast to the segmented color design of the Theragun Elite and the Theragun Pro models.
In terms of accessories, our inspection revealed that the Theragun Prime and the Theragun Mini do not come with a carrying case—just a simple soft pouch for both. The Theragun Elite has a carrying case, and the Theragun PRO 5th Gen now has a fancy soft shell (a great-quality one). A pouch for the Theragun attachments has been added.
Theragun Prime is the smallest of the full-sized sports massagers, measuring 8.9” x 6.3” x 2.9” (22.5 x 16 x 7.3 cm). The Elite is slightly larger and measures 9.5” x 6.7” x 2.8” (24 x 17 x 7.4 cm).
We found the Theragun Pro to be the largest of all models, measuring 10” x 7.1” x 3” (25.5 x 18 x 7.6 cm) – that makes it slightly larger than the Theragun Elite but observably larger than the Theragun Prime.
One interesting observation was that Theragun Prime, although slightly smaller in size, still weighs the same as the Elite (2.2 lbs.). Now, this is the standard weight for muscle massagers in this category.
The Theragun Pro is not only the heaviest of all Theraguns—at 2.8 lbs—but it’s also one of the heaviest percussion massagers on the market—0.6 lbs heavier than its two counterparts.
The new Theragun Mini, representing a different category altogether, is less than half the size of the Prime. It measures only 5.55″ x 4.92″ x 1.93″ and weighs 1.10 lbs with a ball attachment—a 20% size and 25% weight reduction versus the first-generation Theragun mini.
Now, that makes the Theragun Mini the smallest of all Theraguns. However, we mentioned in our full review of the Theragun Mini that even though it’s the smallest Theragun compared to many mini massage guns, it’s not the smallest we’ve ever tested. In fact, the Mini is one of the heaviest mini massage guns on the market.
That said, all devices take the conventional triangular shape that Theragun is known for. There is a slight tinkering with the Mini, though. It’s triangular but doesn’t have the multi-grip super ergonomic handle.
Theragun obviously had to come up with something unique for its category. But we commend their ingenuity in keeping the triangular shape for the Theragun Mini.
We found the ergonomics superb, especially for the 3 full-sized percussion massagers. The triangular shape and multiple grip handle are something only Theragun can boast of.
We just had a bit of concern with the Theragun Mini. Yes, they may have ingeniously kept the triangular shape, but ergonomically, it falls short, in our opinion. We think a traditional round handle would’ve been the best design choice.
Of course, the Theragun Pro has an adjustable rotating arm that locks in one of four positions. However, our Theragun Pro review mentions that the adjustable arm may be unique and cute, but it’s unnecessary—unless a professional therapist or chiropractor is using it on another person.
The adjustable arm may come in handy for a DIY massage if you want to reach your lower or sore middle back. However, we noticed that both the Prime and Elite can easily reach these areas, too, so in our opinion, it’s not a must-have feature.
The first Theragun Mini had (and still has) only one attachment—a ball. The newly released 2022 Mini includes two more.
The Theragun Prime comes with 4 Theragun attachments– one dampener, ball, thumb, and cone. The Elite has 5 attachments – the same as the Prime, plus the wedge head. The Theragun Pro 5th Gen comes with 6 Theragun attachments – the two others are super soft, and the brand new micro point (replaces the cone).
| Pro 5th Gen | Pro 4th Gen | Elite | Prime | Mini 2nd Gen | Mini 1st Gen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 heads | 6 heads | 5 heads | 4 heads | 3 heads | 1 head |
| Standard Ball Dampener Thumb Wedge SupersoftTM NEW Micro-Point | Standard Ball Dampener Thumb Wedge SupersoftTM Cone | Standard Ball Dampener Thumb Wedge Cone | Standard Ball Dampener Thumb Cone | Standard Ball Dampener Thumb | Standard Ball |
In our opinion, all the Theragun attachments are unique and of good quality. The Supersoft is the softest of them all, followed by the Dampener and the Ball attachment.
We found the cone head to be the least soft. It is often used to target pinpoint areas like the feet. Interestingly, the cone head is not included in the recently unveiled Theragun Pro 5th Gen. It got replaced by the all-new Micropoint attachment.
The Supersoft Theragun attachment is our favorite because it is easy to use on bony areas. Despite the general recommendation against using massage guns in these areas, the Supersoft attachment safely allows for it.
While the Supersoft attachment comes standard with the Pro, it and other attachments can be purchased separately. Moreover, all the Theragun attachments are compatible with each of these devices.
It comes with the Pro but can be bought separately (as can other attachments).
All the Theragun attachments are interchangeable between these sports massagers, but Theragun sells them separately in its store. However, note that due to its unique mounting system, it is not interchangeable with massage guns from other brands. More on that in our massage gun attachments guide here.
The only concern we have with the Theragun attachments – which we repeated in our reviews – is that they’re more or less varied. For example, when used, the dampener, the thumb, and the ball attachments feel quite similar in the right direction. Still, having seen and used many other devices, we believe adding flat or fork attachments would vary them nicely.
Ever thought about using two Theragun attachments at once? It might sound odd initially, but if you’re focusing primarily on large muscle groups, using the Theragun Duo Adapter makes sense — it saves time!
Therabody also sells many spare parts, such as Supersoft attachment tops (the foamy part) or single attachments—they’re compatible with all 4th and 5th generation muscle massagers.
The Theragun Prime does not have an OLED screen like the Elite and Pro models. Instead, it has simple LED indicators for speeds and battery charge levels.
But the Prime’s lack of an OLED display isn’t a bummer—it’s an entry-level device with simple controls. It has a power button that you press and hold to turn the device on/off, and up and down arrows that you can use to change the speeds.
Both the Elite and Pro models have an OLED display that indicates battery charge level, speed, and the amount of force applied. Both the Elite and Pro have a few trinkets up their sleeves.
One such trinket is a custom preset feature that allows you to store your favorite routines (settings) within the devices for easy access.
Because of this, the < and > arrows are used to cycle between the presets. There are also up and down arrows that you can use to cycle between speeds.
In addition, the Theragun Pro 5th generation has an updated screen. It now displays visual instructions for four built-in routines: Sleep, Warm Up, Recover, and Relax, so you don’t have to use the Therabody app to follow them.
The Theragun Mini is a simplified device in terms of the screen and controls. LED indicators show 1 of 3 speeds and a battery charge level indicator. These work perfectly, and we think the lack of OLEDs is justified.
Amplitude or stroke length is how far the massage gun head travels back and forth to give you percussions.
Theragun is the king of amplitude. All 4 devices are absolutely stocked with this, and nothing has changed with the September 2022 addition of the Theragun Pro 5th Gen and the new Mini.
Prime, Elite, and Pro all have the industry-high 16mm amplitude massage gun. Although other brands are now equipping their devices with 16mm amplitudes (Bob and Brad D6 Pro), there’s no doubt that Theragun was here first.
The Theragun Mini has a 12mm amplitude, which is still perfect if you consider its purpose. Actually, a mini massage gun doesn’t need anything more. At 12mm, the Mini tops most (if not all) mini massage guns on the market. Most have between 6 and 10mm of amplitude.
But as we highlight in our Theragun reviews, the long amplitude doesn’t necessarily mean good performance. Unless it’s accompanied by enough stall force, then it’s a bit of a waste, to be honest. We did have some interesting findings, as explained in the reviews for all 4 muscle massagers.
Stall force is the amount of pressure it takes to stall the motor of a massage gun. It’s important to determine how effectively a massage gun delivers deep tissue massage.
Here, Theragun varies the stall force for all 4 muscle massagers. Just a glimpse of what we felt about the stall force for all 4 percussion massagers.
We found the stall force of the Theragun Prime model to be somewhat underwhelming. With a stall force of only 30 lbs., the Prime falls short by about 3-10 lbs. of what we’d expect from a high-quality entry-level percussion massager. It tends to stall relatively easily and struggles to keep revving fast when the pressure is exerted. We feel that the Prime fails to take advantage of its long, 16 mm amplitude.
Yes, the 16 mm stroke length is impressive, but sometimes it may be more beneficial to compromise a little on head length in favor of additional motor power. Several devices, such as the Ekrin B37 and Ekrin B37s, have greatly adopted this approach.
We believe reducing the amplitude to around 12 to 13 mm and boosting the stall force to at least 40 lbs. could enhance Prime’s effectiveness. With a device like that, you can get the best deep tissue massage, even on large muscle groups – pecs, hamstrings, glutes, etc. It would still be below the Theragun Elite but hit with better intensity when pressed against the skin.
Theragun Elite, on the other hand, felt somewhat more reliable in our hands. It’s not the best with 40 lbs. of stall force, but the long stroke length is finally justified. While not the best, the ample stroke length finally feels justified. An additional 10 lbs. of pressure can significantly affect the results compared to the Theragun Prime. In our Theragun Elite review, given its hefty price, we still decry the Elite’s stall force. However, it’s still slightly harder to stall compared to the Prime.
The Theragun Pro boasts an impressive 60 lbs. stall force – the highest among all Theraguns. Given its status as the flagship sports massager of the Therabody brand, we expected the Pro to be this powerful. While there are a few more powerful massage guns with even more stall force, in our opinion, 60 lbs. is more than you’ll ever need. You’ll have to be intentionally forceful to stall the Pro’s motor. In our tests on large muscle groups, it seemed almost impossible to stall.
The Theragun mini is the weakest of all Theraguns as far as the stall force is concerned. It stalls with about 15-20 lbs. of pressure applied. While this may be expected for the least powerful Theragun, we expressed our disappointment while reviewing it.
We argued that 15-20 lbs. stall force does not justify the long, 12 mm stroke length. There are best mini massage guns with shorter amplitudes but way better stall force. However, we made a case against Hypervolt Go, which is even weaker.
Finally, before we close the argument on stall force, it’s important to note that all these percussion massagers have progressive stall force: lower at a lower speed and higher at a higher speed. That means you only get the advertised stall force at the highest speed.
Stall Force (lbs.)
Stall Force: This is how Therabody decided to vary stall force across the Theragun range.
Our Take: It would have been perfect if they had added at least 5-10 lbs to the mini, Prime, and Elite (especially to the first two, which lag behind the competition).
Stroke Length (mm)
Stroke Length: 16 mm in Theraguns Prime, Elite, and Pro is the industry-highest. The same goes for the 12 mm in the Theragun mini, as most small massage guns usually have between 8 and 10 mm.
Our Take: It’s a pity that the high amplitude feels a bit wasted in the Prime and the Mini (due to the low stall force available).
Percussions refer to the number of hits per minute delivered by the massage gun head. The more hits per minute, the more effective the massage muscle. Different brands approach this area differently from other performance features on their muscle massagers.
For example, some massage guns can have a longer amplitude but fewer percussions per minute, which is okay. The opposite can also be okay: a shorter amplitude but more percussions per minute is still acceptable.
All Theraguns have a similar percussion range. That is, they all rev from 1750 RPM to 2400 RPM. Standard massage guns have up to 5 speeds to cycle through.
They all have similar calibrations:
You can still get custom speeds for Theragun Prime, Elite, and Pro when you use the Therabody app. In the app, you can use the slider to select your preferred intensity.
The Theragun mini has the same percussion range but only 3 speeds to cycle through. 3 speeds are standard for most mini massage guns on the market.
The speeds are calibrated as follows:
As we mentioned above, some devices have a higher percussion-per-minute rating. For example, Hypervolts have a percussion range of up to 3200 RPM, and some rev up to 3800 RPM. However, these do not have the long stroke length of the Theraguns.
There are a few exceptions, but generally, the shorter the amplitude, the more intense the device will get. However, we always warn you to beware of devices with shorter amplitudes. These offer vibrational therapy rather than percussive therapy.
Only the Elite and Theragun Pro have a force meter on their OLED screens. Using a simplified bar scale, the meter shows how much force is being applied to the body.
However, as we mention in our reviews of these devices, this feature is only useful if you’re massaging another person. We feel it’s something only professional therapists and chiropractors would be interested in.
One of Theraguns’ best selling points is the Therabody App. The app is available for all 3 full-sized sports massagers and the Theragun Mini 2nd Gen, and it can be downloaded for Android and iOS systems.
It connects via Bluetooth and guides you on how to use the device for the best effect. You can discover a lot of routines within the app. They include body parts routines, general, warm-up, recovery, and sleep routines.
When you start on any particular routine, the app automatically adjusts the intensity of the device as you massage different body parts. You can also track your progress as you massage away. The massaged areas are marked within the app.
The Theragun App also recommends what grip to use for what part of the body – this is only available on the Elite and Pro models. The force to be applied is also recommended within the App. You can also adjust the speed of the percussion massager using the slider within the App.
Another important feature of the Elite and Pro devices is that you can save your favorite customized routines on your smart phone. This allows you to quickly access these routines whenever you need to use the device.
Each routine can be customized with different speeds, times, and forces applied. You can use the < and > arrows to cycle through these routines. We think that this is an amazing feature to have.
For a long time now, noise has been Theragun’s Achilles heel. As we indicate in our reviews, this remains tricky for Theragun devices.
We simply cannot excuse Theragun in this area, not because they are a premium brand and charge a premium price. The bar is pretty high for them; they must live up to this reputation.
However, it seems they have been well aware of the criticism and decided to improve things on the noise front. A prominent example is the recent introduction of their Theragun Pro 5th Gen model. Our tests confirmed the marked improvements in noise reduction in this latest device.
The Theragun Pro 5th Gen is now the quietest of all 3 full-sized sports massagers. It’s perhaps the smoothest of them all as well – the unpleasant rattling sound is now largely gone, although it still sounds somewhat rough.
The brand says the Pro 5th Gen is 20% quieter than the predecessor, and that is about right (our noise meter recorded an 8 dB difference at the top speed). However, remember that the previous Pro was (still is) the loudest of their muscle massagers, so don’t expect the hushed and smooth sound known from a Bob And Brad D6 Pro.
The Theragun Elite now ranks second quietest. The sound it makes is reasonably smooth, per Theragun standards. We tested it, and it was a few decibels quieter than the Prime – about 67 dB.
The Theragun Prime comes third in ranking for smooth sound at 69 decibels. There’s a roughness to its sound that makes the Elite just a bit less intrusive in comparison.
The Theragun Mini falls under a different category; we tested it with this in mind. Obviously, it’s relatively quiet compared to its bigger siblings, but perhaps not more than the new Pro 6th Gen.
However, rated against other mini massage guns, it’s not the quietest. It also vibrates quite a bit and often forces you to re-adjust the grip as you use it.
Our Take:
We believe that in 2023, the noise aspect can still be handled better, as other massage gun brands have shown us.
Ekrin massage guns (Ekrin B37 and Ekrin B37S) and the Bob and Brad D6 Pro, are powerful sports massagers with similarly powerful features – 16mm amplitude and powerful motor – are good examples of devices that are hushed down.
Fortunately, the outlook is positive as Theragun percussion massagers become more hushed with every new generation. We are pretty sure the anticipated 2023 Elite and Prime 5th gen will follow the new, quieter Pro.
Theraguns Prime and Elite have non-removable batteries lasting up to 2 hours (continuous usage) on a single charge.
We found the Pro a little more juiced up – enough to last 2 – 2.5 hours on a single charge. It’s the only Theragun with a removable battery. That said, the Theragun Pro 5th Grn comes with only one battery included (the previous model had two).
The Theragun Mini is advertised as delivering 150 minutes of usage per single charge.
The Theragun PRO 5th Gen and the Theragun mini both have convenient USB-C charging, so this is a major change versus the 4th Gen percussion massagers that all came with dedicated wall chargers (we know that these kinds of chargers can be pretty bulky and a bit of a bother).
Elite and Pro have wireless charging ability. The wireless chargers can be purchased separately from the Therabody store.
Here’s what we think about Theragun’s battery performance:
Theraguns are exorbitantly priced. As of writing this post, the Theragun Mini costs $199, the Prime goes for $299, the Elite retails at $399, and you’ll have to cough up $599 for the Pro 5th gen.
Fortunately, the X8YZF10 promo code may give you up to 10% Off at checkout. The coupon only works at Therabody’s store (for EU customers, the discount might not be that high).
There’s also a way to get a Theragun 20% discount code, but it might not be for everyone. Check out this page for more info.
Even with the high prices, Theragun disappoints greatly with its warranties. Apart from the Theragun Pro, which has a 2-year warranty, the rest only give a 1-year guarantee.
Therabody introduced an Apple-style ProCare warranty that offers free repair or replacement within the first year and other benefits.
This is bought separately. It’s $40 for the Mini, $55 for Prime, $75 for Elite, and $100 for Pro. Customization can only be applied to the Pro model for an extra $50. This is only accessible when you buy via the Therabody store—more details here.
Our Thoughts:
Theragun is a premium brand and there are extras to pay for and this definitely increases the cost even further.
We think the warranty is somewhat disappointing. Especially when you consider that brands like Ekrin Athletics and Lifepro give you a lifetime warranty when you buy their sports massagers. They also guarantee you lifetime customer support. Theragun asks you to pay extra for extra coverage for just 1 year.
Great devices but comparing to their best alternatives, they don’t offer great value for money. Not anymore.
Holding an HSA or FSA card and eyeing a Theragun purchase with tax advantages? Now you can.
Therabody recently declared its Theragun devices FSA and HSA eligible, opening a pathway to using FSA/HSA funds for purchases.
To do this, simply visit therabody.com and use your card at checkout. It’s that easy!
Ensure to read their FAQ section beforehand for clarity.
Read More: For a deeper dive into acquiring FSA and HSA-eligible massage guns, explore our dedicated post on this topic.
Similarities:
Theragun Mini vs Theragun Prime advantages:
Theragun Prime over Mini Advantages:
Our Take: on Theragun Mini vs Prime
Both are entry-level muscle massagers that are good for low to semi-intensive muscle massage (percussive therapy) i.e. warming up, relaxation, etc. However, they might not be strong enough to do a good job massaging large muscle groups or for people with a lot of muscle mass.
If it comes down to portability for when you’re on the move (hiking, biking, or kayaking for a few days), the mini is the better portable mini massager option because it’s smaller, lighter and now also USB-C enabled – these features make it perfect for those wanting the benefits of a massage gun whilst traveling.
If you are looking for performance, gym goers, the Theragun Prime is the better option. It’s bigger than the Theragun Mini but smaller than the Elite. Also, it has a better amplitude and higher stall force.
Similarities:
What Theragun Prime has that Elite doesn’t:
What Theragun Elite has that Prime doesn’t:
Our Take: on Theragun Prime vs Elite
For a light massage that won’t go deep into bigger muscles, the Theragun Prime should be good enough. However, for the best deep tissue massage and especially when you want to work on your quads and hamstring, the extra 10 lbs. stall force on the Theragun Elite can make a huge difference. Also, the long amplitude is justified on Elite.
We prefer an intensive and hard massager and in this case we will pick Elite over Prime. It has more power, more features, and more accessories – the extra $100 is justified.
Similarities:
What Elite has that Pro doesn’t:
What Theragun Pro has that Elite doesn’t:
Our Take: on Theragun Elite vs. Pro
Unless you’re a top massage therapist or a chiropractor, or you need to give a massage to another person, or you’re looking for plenty of stall force (bodybuilders, pro athletes, and weightlifters), Elite will be good enough for the job. It’d be a chiropractor massage gun.
The Theragun Pro 5th Gen is definitely suited to people who need it as a workhorse (removable batteries) or to demanding users. Even though the Theragun Pro is a tad quieter than the Elite, we would rather go with Elite for personal use.
Better yet, we’d seriously consider more affordable yet fantastic alternatives to Theragun Pro.
After hours of testing and exploring Theraguns’ different functionalities, we have experienced first-hand why these devices are so highly praised. They also represent a well-known brand and consistently deliver premium-quality performance.
However, their status has become relatively common over time, so much so that sports massagers from competitors have overtaken them with better features and accessories. These competitor percussion massagers are quieter, sometimes more powerful, twice as affordable (a budget massage gun), and jammed with more features and accessories.
We have a dedicated post for the best Theragun alternatives where we elaborate even more, but to save you time, let’s take a quick look at some top recommendations.
One muscle massager alternative device for each Theragun:
After personally testing numerous mini massage guns, we found Ekrin Bantam to be the best in the market due to its superior performance and versatility.
Through our hands-on use, we discovered that it’s smaller, lighter, better equipped with more massage gun attachments, more cost-effective, and also comes with a lifetime warranty.
Best of all, it will only cost you $119.20 with the MGA20 code.
Read More: Check out our in-depth Ekrin Bantam review for more information.
In our hands-on testing, the Ekrin B37 impressed us with its 56 lbs. stall force, elegant look, compact design, and well-equipped feature set.
It has a lifetime warranty and only costs $183.99 when the MGA20 discount code is applied, which is 38% cheaper than the Prime.
Read More: Read our hands-on Ekrin B37 review to learn more.
Deal Alert: It is reasonably priced. It normally costs about $250, but if you apply the Amazon coupon and the MGAD6PRO code at checkout, it’s cheaper than our top pick.
When we tested the Ekrin B37S, we estimated it delivers a maximum stall force of 56 lbs., significantly more than the Elite. Additionally, it proved much harder to stall, even at lower speeds.
It has 5 well-varied massage gun attachments, 8 hours of battery life (Samsung battery), a force meter, and a lifetime warranty.
It costs $263.99 when the MGA20 coupon is applied—more power and a better warranty for a third of the price. You can get it here.
Read More: Find out more in our hands-on B37S review.
We conducted a side-by-side comparison test between the Bob and Brad D6 Pro and the Theragun Pro 5th Gen, using both for consecutive days.
We found that the Bob and Brad massage gun closely matched the Theragun Pro 5th Gen’s performance. We felt a powerful, hard massager during our muscle recovery sessions for myofascial muscle release, and it offered comparable features.
It has the same 16mm amplitude and stall force. It’s an incredibly powerful gun but pretty quiet, just like the new generation of Theragun Pro. No removable battery here, but the arm can be adjusted in five lockable positions (Theragun has four).
It has great accessories and is more than half the price of Theragun Pro. Plus, you can cut it by a further 10% with the code MGAD6PRO – simply apply it at the Amazon checkout).
Read More: Read our Bob and Brad D6 Pro review for more details.
Yes. From our extensive hands-on experience, we can confidently say that Theraguns are worth the investment. These premium sports massagersfrom a top brand have demonstrated exceptional quality, attention to detail, and use of high-quality materials. Although they are among the more expensive massage guns we’ve tested, their superior performance, reliability, and overall user experience with these sports massagers often justify the higher price tag. However, if the cost is a concern, there are also some good alternatives.
Based on our comprehensive testing of various models, we found that deciding which Theragun to buy depends on your individual needs, as each model has unique pros. The Theragun PRO 5th Gen is the choice for the most demanding users due to its advanced features and performance. The Theragun Mini is your best travel massage gun if you need an on-the-go option. For all others who prefer a good balance of size, specifications, and value, the Theragun Prime is a reasonable choice. Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with any Theragun model, as each caters to different preferences and requirements.
Having tested all models, we can confirm that all Theragun models now feature Bluetooth connectivity (including Theragun mini 2.0). With Bluetooth enabled, each Theragun device seamlessly integrates with the Therabody App, allowing you to control speed settings and access guided treatment plans for a personalized massage experience.
Yes! Many pro athletes use Theragun and other Therabody attachments and products for their recovery needs. They often share their experiences on social media and can be seen using sports massagers during sports broadcasts, such as NBA games. Therabody also partners with athletes like James Harden, Tyler Herro, Paul George, DeAndre Hopkins, DeVonta Smith, Chase Claypool, DK Metcalf, Johnny Gaudreau, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Felipe Gustavo, Maro Itoje, and Crystal Dunn to promote their products. Additionally, Therabody collaborates with teams like Red Bull F1 Racing Team, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Duke Athletics and is the Official Recovery Partner of NRG.
Based on our experience, a Theragun cannot entirely replace a professional massage, but it is a fantastic complement to traditional massage therapies. Percussion therapy devices like Theraguns provide effective, at-home, do-it-yourself massage therapy, which can help with muscle recovery and relaxation. However, they should be used instead of as a substitute for professional massages performed by trained PTs. To ensure the safe and effective use of Theraguns, it’s crucial to understand how to use the sports massager.
We wrap up our Theragun Pro vs. Elite vs. Prime vs. Mini comparison article.
Having tested a wide range of products, we can vouch for Theragun, an industry giant that consistently offers premium quality devices. We’ve noticed they keep iterating on their devices, and we’ve found the recently introduced features extremely useful.
However, their premium pricing means there must be some extra scrutiny before a choice is made, and because of that, we think they still have a way to go – especially with the Prime and Elite, the only two devices that have not been updated this year.
Hopefully, you will know which Theragun will suit your needs. Check the latest prices here at therabody.com
If you’re not as impressed with the Theraguns as we were during our testing, we recommend exploring the alternatives we’ve personally tested and listed above.
Still confused or need more information? Drop a comment below or ask us a question.
Thank you, and goodbye!
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.
November 18, 2023 More changes made to the FSA/HSA purchases section according to therabody.com updates. Black Friday deals section added. (Author: Greg)
October 5, 2023 FSA/HSA information changes. Some internal and external linking corrects. (Author: Greg)
September 7, 2023 Minor updates. (Author: Greg)
May 26, 2023 Minor updates to the article. (Author: Luke)
April 17, 2023 FAQ section added, answering common questions about Theragun devices. (Author: Greg)
January 2, 2023 Added Bob and Brad D6 Pro as an alternative, following our in-depth test. (Author: Luke)
November 28, 2022 Added Theragun Mini second generation, compared it to the first generation. (Author: Luke)
October 20, 2022 Article updated with information about Theragun Pro G5, following the hands-on review we’ve done. (Author: Luke)
March 12, 2022 Updated with more photos of the Theraguns we own (Author: Greg)
January 10, 2022 Added more practical information about Theraguns (Author: Luke)
October 27, 2021 Fact-checked by Dr. Alex Stone, DPT, CSCS.
Published on:
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Written by:
Luke Deszczulka
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This is the best written and most comprehensive review I’ve seen of percussive massage tools. Well done!