Author, Expert Board Member
Bio:
Alex Stone is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and 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.
Fact checked by Dr. Alex Stone, DPT, CSCS.
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Today it is time for the Theragun Pro review! We finally got our hands on Theragun’s top gun – the powerful Theragun Pro G5, or 5th generation.
We were excited and a bit overwhelmed by the thrill of having this top-of-the-shelf device. Teenagers probably get the same feeling when they lay their hands on a new PS5. You’d think, as experts, such thrills wouldn’t carry us away, but we have to admit, we felt something!
But that aside, let’s get down to it and look at the Theragun Pro massage gun.
Key Takeaways
Theragun, as you might be familiar, is the big kahuna of the percussive therapy industry. They hit the ground running with the first massage gun on the market and haven’t looked back since.
Since 2016 they have mesmerized the percussive therapy industry with one innovation after another. They are like the Apple of the massage gun world.
The G5 Pro means that it’s a fifth-generation device already. Their first generation Pro happened about six years ago.
Because they don’t mess about with what they do, their devices are consequently highly priced, and the Pro is the most expensive of them all. So that’s what we’ll be looking at today.
Is the hefty price justified? Looking at the massage gun industry today, many devices have surfaced with the same or even better features than the Pro.
So what is it that makes Theragun Pro the king of the industry, or would you rather go with the competitors? We’ll cover this in our Theragun Pro review below.
Our review score:
4.4
| Feature | Theragun PRO Specs |
|---|---|
| Version | Pro G5 (5th generation) |
| Stall Force | 60 lbs |
| Stroke Length (Amplitude) | 16 mm |
| Percussion Range | 1750 – 2400 ppm |
| Speeds | 5, unlimited with Therabody app. |
| Dimensions | 10 in x 7.1 in x 3 in (25.5 cm x 18.0 cm x 7.6 cm) |
| Weight | 2.8 lbs. |
| Max. Noise (decibel) | 66dB |
| Battery Capacity /Life | 2500mAh / 2.5 hours |
| Number of Attachments | 6 |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| MSRP | $599 |
| Discount Code & Where to Buy | X8YZF10 – 10% off at therabody.com |
We love pulling new massage guns out of quality carrying cases. You feel that you are getting your money’s worth and that the brand cares for you as a customer.
Thankfully the Pro comes in a nicely done carrying case (it would be daylight robbery if they didn’t include one at such a hefty price).
NEW Interestingly, they changed the case for the latest, 5th generation Pro model – they opted for a soft case. While a soft case may be less protective than a hard case (known from the 4th gen. Pro), it makes the whole package much smaller and thus way more portable than before.
The previous model’s case was the biggest we’ve ever seen in a massage gun, and it turned out impractical in daily use. The new case feels like a much better choice. It is highly portable, has pockets for accessories, and the quality of it is outstanding (we love the materials on the inside, they are very soft).
We also found a pouch for the attachments (similar to the one in TheraFace Pro), a USB-C cable with an adapter (yes, USB-C!), and a sample of the QuietForce™ oil for maintenance (more on it later).
Just like in Theragun Prime and Elite, we also noticed an Apple-style envelope with pieces of information like a letter from the founder, a quick-start guide, an actual manual with more information, a Theragun sticker, and warranty information.
The Pro has the same triangular design that has become synonymous with Theragun. With its multiple grips it offers more ways to hold it than any other device.
Theragun Pro feels like a genuine piece and not a power tool. It also offers more than the multiple grips in giving you a quality and stress-free massage, as we’ll see later on.
It’s made of quality plastic, with the handles rubberized. But just like the Elite model, only the outside of the handle is rubberized.
Unlike the Elite, which has a colored ring on its arm, the Pro has a colored circle on the part enclosing the motor.
In our handling of the device, we found that the arm is glossy and quite a magnet for fingerprints, but we didn’t find ourselves touching it as frequently.
Like the Elite, the Pro also features an OLED screen (stylishly done) that displays the speeds, battery level, and the force applied.
NEW What’s changed in the 5th Gen?
The new Pro is nearly identical to its predecessor. The only visual difference is the imprinted logo on the side. On the previous G4, the logo was “Theragun” branded, whereas, on the new 5th-gen Pro, we get the Therabody logo, accompanied by a blue stripe underneath. Other than that, the two devices look identical.
When we tested it, we noted that its mode of operation was similar to the Elite and the previous Pro model:
The Pro comes with 6 attachments, so one more than the Elite and the same as the G4.
We found the attachments to be made from quality rubber. In our hands-on testing, some felt softer than others. We also noticed that the larger the attachment, the softer it feels.
Also, compared to the G4, there have been some minor changes. Let’s take a look.
This one is perfect for large and small muscle groups. You can also keep it attached on the device for a general massage.
During our tests, we found the dampener to be effective on bony and tender areas. We also used it for a quick overall massage.
It’s meant to work on trigger points and the lower back.
This works on shoulder blades and IT bands. It’s also the perfect attachment for flushing and scraping when you need to increase blood flow and decrease tension in muscles.
NEW
This is a new attachment that currently comes only with the Pro. We first saw a similar one in Theraface Pro, a.k.a. the “Theragun for face“.
According to Therabody, it maximizes circulation for larger areas. It is made of silicone sticks, so it isn’t a very firm one.
This is a Theragun-unique attachment that has a soft foam attached to it and it’s meant to work on tender, sore, bony, and joint areas.
The foam can be easily detached and replaced. Therabody have a foam tip refill that you can buy separately.
We were excited to try the new Micropoint attachment, but we found ourselves missing the tougher Cone head that isn’t included anymore.
The Cone was the firmest one that was meant to work on pinpoint areas, so if you plan to use the device aggressively, e.g., on ligaments around the hands and feet, you might miss it. But at least there is an option to buy it separately.
Another concern that we also raised when we reviewed the Elite is the lack of variety in the attachments.
We still feel that most of these attachments are pretty similar. The ball, dampener, and thumb attachment are all alike. We wouldn’t mind if they introduced the fork and flat head attachments. That’s just what we feel, having used many massage guns.
Finally, all the attachments can fit perfectly across all fourth and fifth-generation devices, thanks to the universal mount system that’s the same on each and every model.
As we took it out of the box, we found that the new Pro is the same size as its predecessor (still available here, at therabody.com), just as we expected. This means it is slightly bigger than the Elite, but noticeably larger than the Prime.
It’s not the biggest device we have seen, but since it’s the top Theragun device (Pro), it can get away with a tad bit of extra size.
As a result, it is heavy as well. It weighs 2.82 lbs or 1.28kg with a standard ball attachment. They’ve brought the weight down slightly versus the previous G4 model. The new one is 0.13lbs (60 grams) lighter than the old one, not enough to make a noticeable difference.
In our hands, it felt slightly heavier than the Elite and Prime – actually 0.3lbs heavier. We suspected that it’s because it carries the pride of the family – a factor we explore further in our review.
From an ergonomic standpoint, after handling all the models, we can confidently say it’s the best Theragun, and it’s not just due to the multiple grip handle..
The Pro is the only Theragun with an adjustable arm. The arm can lock into four positions to make the massage experience even smoother. To adjust the arm, there’s a button that you press and release once the arm clicks into a position.
Other brands have tried this feature, but the arm doesn’t lock into position as well as the Pro does (looking at you, Lifepro DynaFlex).
The adjustable arm will probably be a huge plus to chiropractors and therapists who may need more options as they massage different people.
In our self-testing, the adjustable arm proved helpful when we wanted to reach the lower and middle back. We don’t think the adjustability is a must-have here, though.
This is how far the head of the massage gun moves back and forth to give you the percussions. Also called amplitude, it is what determines the depth of a massage.
Theragun is the king when it comes to stroke length.
The Pro has a 16mm amplitude, and, as in other full-sized Theraguns, this is still the longest amplitude you can get.
That said, other brands have also started equipping their devices with 16mm amplitude.
A good example is the Achedaway Pro which also happens to be a fierce rival to the Theragun Pro as far as performance is concerned.
With enough stall force, 16mm amplitude guarantees a great punch and a deep tissue massage.
Stall force is the amount of pressure it takes to stop the motor of a device, thereby stalling it. We can never talk of the strength of a massage gun without mentioning its stall force.
The Pro is the strongest Theragun with a 60lbs stall force.
This is often more than enough stall force to get the job done without slowing down percussions upon pressing to a body. There are other devices with more than 60lbs. stall force but we don’t think you’ll ever need more than that.
Because the Pro also has the long 16mm amplitude, the great stall force means you can have a true deep tissue massage. Unlike its two siblings (Prime and Elite), the Pro can guarantee a deep percussive therapy even to a heavily built bodybuilder or athlete.
However, note that even here, the stall force is progressive. In other words, you won’t get 60lbs. across all speed gears. The only time the Pro stalls with 60lbs. of force is when it’s revving at high intensity.
The Pro, just like the Elite, has a force meter that tells you how much pressure you are exerting on your body.
This shows up on the OLED screen as a bar graph.
We feel this is an important feature for therapists or chiropractors who want to achieve consistency with the massage.
However, if you’re just going to use the gun on yourself, we feel that the force meter is not something you’ll have to worry about (there’s no way to check it when using it on your back).
With consistent use, you can quickly master how to use the device effectively.
How does the Theragun PRO compare against its main competitors?
Stall Force (lbs.)
Stall Force: Only Achedaway Pro and Ekrin B37S can match Theragun Pro’s 60 lbs. The former has advertised 80 lbs. but felt closer to 60lbs. in our review, while the latter is stronger on the first 4 gears and almost as strong on the top one.
Stroke Length (mm)
Stroke Length: Theragun’s 16mm is the best-in-business and only Achedaway Pro can match it. Ekrin B37s may only have 12mm but instead has plenty of stall force on all gears and offers more intensity. Hypervolt 2 Pro and Opove Apex both have 14mm.
Like the Prime, Elite, and previous generation models, the new Pro has the same percussion range of 1750-2400rpm.
You can cycle through these using the 5 built-in speeds:
You can also get custom speeds using the Therabody app.
There are devices that rev with much more intensity compared to the Pro. However, such devices rarely boast a long amplitude as the Pro does. The Pro delivers a true deep percussive therapy massage with its long stroke.
True To Specs
We love that Therabody didn’t overstate the above range, as some brands tend to do. We verified the actual percussions on each gear with a high-precision laser tachometer, and the Pro turned out very accurate to the specs (both the new model and predecessor).
The one new feature of the Pro model that is also found in the Elite model is that you can save customized routines within the device. Now, in the latest 5th generation Pro, things get even better.
NEW FEATURE The predecessor, G4 Pro, allowed you to save up to 3 routines. The latest Pro has 4 preset routines, and an upgraded OLED screen now gives you visual instructions on how to use the device for each routine. Those visually-guided, built-in routines are Relax, Warm Up, Recover and Sleep.
This excellent feature lets you quickly access your favorite custom programs without staring at the smartphone screen to get instructions from the Therabody app.
Furthermore, you can customize these routines with different speeds, amounts of time, and the force applied. You can cycle between the speeds using the < and > arrows on the device.
Here’s where things haven’t been so hunky-dory for Theragun. With all their glamor and innovativeness they just can’t seem to solve the noise problem with their devices.
They’ve compounded matters by running ad campaigns that seem to imply that their 5th-gen devices are quieter. They claim that compared to the 4th generation Theragun Pro, the 5th-gen model is 20% quieter. Luckily we could test this for ourselves.
We pitted the fourth-generation Pro against the new Pro. We actually did notice a difference. The Pro G5 is noticeably quieter than before. Why?
When we tested the decibels, the new Pro gave us about 63 dB at first speed and 66 dB at the highest speed, 5 decibels less than the 4th generation Pro (71 dB, first photo below). Now, as the decibel scale is logarithmic, a 10 dB reduction is perceived as 50% quieter, so the 5 dB difference we observed is definitely halfway there and clearly noticeable.
The thing is that the G4 Pro has been pretty loud, and when compared to most other devices available in the market right now, the new Pro is still far from being the quietest massage gun.
Then there’s the sound itself. While it is now perfectly acceptable in terms of decibels, it still makes its signatory rough sound when operating.
To ensure the new Pro won’t get any louder over time, Therabody folks included a single-use sample of what they call the “Quietforce Solution“, a WD40-like lubricant, packed stylishly like it was a high-end SPA lotion (or something).
They advise adding a few drops of oil inside the arm piston every four months. It’s perhaps not the most user-friendly way to maintain a $600 device, but at least they’ve been creative in preventing it from getting louder over time. So we’ll give them credit for that.
Our Take
Therabody did attempt to resolve the noise issue, which shows us they’ve been listening to the feedback and likely did their best to address some of the pain points.
The noise has indeed been reduced by about a fifth. The latest Pro is now even quieter than the Elite. However, we still think a top-shelf and the most expensive device on the market should be one of the quietest ones – and this one is definitely not.
We’ve seen people argue that the loud noise is a tradeoff for the increased power of the Pro vs. the Elite or Prime. However, this doesn’t necessarily hold water. We have reviewed many devices that are just as powerful that are quieter.
A good example is the Achedaway Pro, which, despite having over 60lbs. of stall force, is still one of the quietest massage guns in the market. It’s also half the price of the Theragun Pro, which at $599 should be a bit more hushed down.
Theragun isn’t messing about here. They’ve introduced some major changes in the new 5th Gen Pro model.
Fortunately, the battery remained detachable, so those who need more juice can purchase a spare one.
First, the new Pro no longer comes with two batteries. There is just one. That’s perhaps the biggest surprise, and it may feel like a downgrade for some users – think of busy chiros and physios. Also, the dual-battery setup was probably one of the things that somewhat justified the Pro’s hefty price.
We noticed that the battery’s shape has changed from the 4th Gen model, which appears to prevent users from using the 4th Gen batteries in the new model, and vice versa.
To sweeten things a little:
In our testing, we pushed the device to its limits with high speeds and heavy pressure, and found that the battery lasted a little over an hour and a half.
Is 1.5 to 2 hours enough? In most cases, it should be enough. Doing one 15-minute session a day translates to about a week on a single charge. That said, some brands can give you up to 4 hours of continuous use on battery – Ekrin B37S is a good example.
We found the Therabody app to be a class of its own in terms of functionality and user experience. We take our hats off to the company for taking their time to design an awesome dedicated app for their device.
In our testing, we found that the app significantly enhances the massage experience, helping you to truly leverage the capabilities of the Theragun Pro. So it’s beneficial if you’re not sure how to go about a massage.
For instance, once connected via Bluetooth, the app can recommend the type of grip and attachment type and dictate the pressure applied for every part of the body.
In exploring the app, we discovered numerous suggestions for activities, treatments, and routines tailored for specific body parts. In addition, you get to use custom speeds within the app by sliding the speed button right or left (increase and decrease speeds).
We found it helpful that the app informed us about the optimal pressure to apply during different routines. The Pro allows you to save up to 3 of your favorite routines. You can easily access these routines any time you need them.
After extensively testing both models, we can summarize the key similarities and differences between the Theragun 4th vs 5th generation.
Similarities:
What Theragun Pro 5 has that Pro 4 doesn’t:
What Pro 4 has that the new Pro 5 doesn’t:
When we tested the Pro, we quickly realized that it is undoubtedly the most powerful Theragun we’ve used. We could see why professionals would choose this model.
In our experience, the robust features and power of this device are likely to be especially appreciated by professionals such as therapists and chiropractors. Features like the more juiced-up battery, ergonomic handle with multiple grips, and the power this device delivers are straight bang on..
However, it’s not just the therapists and chiros that will get the most out of this percussion massager; top athletes and bodybuilders will also enjoy it.
If you are buff with muscles or a serious performer, you need a powerful, high stall force gun with a long amplitude. The Pro delivers all these without compromising.
Even if you’re not a professional, in our experience, the Pro still offers everything you might need from a top-tier Theragun device. Do not be unsettled by its powerful features – you can still use the Pro gently, and it will work perfectly.
Following our experience with the Prime and Elite models, we noted that the Pro also starts at a manageable intensity of 1700rpm. Combined with gentle pressure on the skin and the right attachment (use the supersoft one if you’re not sure), the Pro can still give you a delicate massage.
If the high cost of the Pro sounds like a deal breaker for you, but you still need a stable Theragun for your massage, the Elite is a good option to consider. It doesn’t sacrifice so much on power and it’s also quieter than the Pro if you like a peace of mind.
Related Our hands-on Theragun Elite Review and Theragun Prime Review.
With a retail price of $599, the Pro significantly exceeds the price of the Elite model ($399) in the Theragun range. This was an aspect we had in mind as we assessed its features and performance. The previous generation Pro is still available, currently on sale at $499.
We are therefore talking about the two most expensive massage guns on the market, and even the Therabody discount code doesn’t change the picture much.
So is there anything that justifies the Pro being the most expensive gun out there?
They do offer a 2-year warranty for it (which is one more year than what you get with the Elite or Prime).
You can also now purchase (for $100) an Apple-style ProCare warranty that guarantees free repair or replacement within the first year and other benefits.
But it’s still not a lifetime warranty like what the competitor brand Ekrin offers.
Beyond these aspects, we didn’t notice a significant level of innovation that sets the Theragun Pro apart from other high-performing massage guns we’ve tested from different brands. Moreover, it’s still too pricey even though Theragun has made some progress in solving the noise problem.
In our evaluation, the Pro still stands out as a compelling choice for users who demand top-tier power and unique features like the Therabody app.
If you like the bells and whistles like guided routines and Theragun badge, and don’t have a problem paying the hefty price, then by all means, have at it. You will not be disappointed.
However, from the standpoint of value for money, the Pro doesn’t pass the bill for the best choice in our opinion. It may have a force meter and Bluetooth and be the only device you can customize with a personal engraving (for $50), but our recommendations below will give it a serious run for its money.
The Achedaway Pro is a cheaper alternative that can still boast similar features as the Theragun Pro.
It may not have the same triangular, multiple grip ergonomics (more power-drill shaped), but it packs some serious performance features.
Just like the Pro, the Achedaway Pro has a 16mm amplitude which guarantees a deep tissue percussive therapy massage.
It gets even better because the Achedaway Pro has 80lbs. advertised stall force. However, when we used it for our Achedaway Pro review, we realized it was less (probably closer to 60 lbs.) but still on par with what the Theragun Pro offers.
The Achedaway Pro also offers more intensity with up to 2800 maximum percussions. That’s impressive, given its long amplitude. It also has 5 built-in speeds.
Achedaway knows how to handle the noise business. Their Pro is super quiet. Contrary to Theragun, it doesn’t sound rough at all. It remains the quietest high-amplitude massage gun in the market (the higher the stroke length, the noisier the device usually is).
It also has a more powerful battery (3200mAh) that guarantees up to 4 hours with a single charge. The battery is also removable, and you can purchase the gun with a spare one. It also has a travel case and a 2-year warranty just like Theragun Pro.
The Achedaway Pro costs $299. However, you can use the coupon MGA60 which gives you a $60 discount, which means you then only get it for $239.
If you were to purchase it with an extra battery, you can use the same discount code and get it for $309.
Just a thought; at the price of Theragun Pro you can purchase an extra quiet and incredibly powerful Achedaway Pro for yourself and another one for a friend.
Ekrin B37S is one of the most popular massage guns amongst professional athletes who look for super strong performance but don’t necessarily want to spend $599 for the top-shelf Theragun.
Design-wise, it is a different concept but also proves to be ergonomic, thanks to the angled handle.
The 115-degree tilt helps reduce wrist and hand fatigue and gives you an inch or two more when reaching the lower back.
When it comes to the performance features, Ekrin B37s offers a combination of medium amplitude, enormous stall force, and high-intensity percussions.
The 12mm amplitude is less than Theragun’s and Achedaway’s 16mm, but many people take it as an advantage – it is not as punchy but only until you press it hard against the muscle. Many folks out there, including us, like such a balanced setup.
The stall force, however, is where this Ekrin really shines. The B37s has 56lbs, which on paper is a tad less than Theragun’s 60lbs, but when you look at what kind of stall force is delivered on each speed, you will realize that Ekrin B37s outperforms Theragun Pro on low and medium gears.
That’s what makes this device truly unique. There is no stalling this massage gun once it starts revving. As a result, this gun can deliver a deep percussive massage even on the first speed, and it won’t slow down percussions either (contrary to most 16mm amplitude devices).
It revs up to 3200 percussions per minute, 25% or 800 hits more than the Pro. It does have adaptive speeds, pressure sensor and comes with six attachments that are more varied than what the Pro comes with – the flat head and the fork attachments are available.
It has a carrying case as well. Its battery isn’t removable, but it’s well juiced up (2550mAh) and can work for 4-6 hours, depending on how you use it.
Last but not least, it is a quiet device with stellar customer support and a lifetime warranty.
It will normally cost you $329.99, but you can use the MGA20 coupon to claim a generous 20% discount, which reduces the price to $263.99 only. Get yours here at ekrinathletics.com.
TIP For more information, read our in-depth Ekrin B37s Review.
There goes our Theragun Pro review. We were glad to see Therabody addressing some of the concerns in the new model. It shows the brands’ willingness to listen to the feedback and keep iterating on the products.
Having used the previous Pro extensively, we found it to be a decent top-of-the-shelf massage gun, and in our collective experience, the new 5th-gen Pro has surpassed it, even though some changes might seem somewhat controversial, e.g., the lack of two batteries.
That said, having tested a range of percussion massagers, we expect more from a product that’s positioned as the top offering from a top brand
We also found that some alternatives, while priced at half the cost, were noticeably quieter and still offer top performance features – the Achedaway Pro or Ekrin B37s being one of our favorite ones.
If you need more info, check out this page at therabody.com, read our post on the best Theragun alternatives, or ask us a question, so that we can get back to you with a bit of personalized advice.
Summary
From our personal use, we found the Theragun Pro to be powerful, elegant, and effective. We noticed significant improvements in the latest, 5th generation model, even though it no longer comes with some of the accessories it used to (e.g., two batteries). In comparing the cost with other devices we’ve tested, it remains the most expensive device. For its price, we feel it still doesn’t authoritatively claim its position as the king of the industry.
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 21, 2023 Corrected values and interpretation of the Theragun Pro’s noise levels. (Author: Greg)
September 19, 2023 Made minor adjustments to content blocks and links for improved readability and user experience. (Author: Greg)
June 5, 2023 Made changes to the article to better demonstrate our hands-on experience with Theragun Pro G5. (Author: Luke)
March 8, 2023 Added more high-resolution from our hands-on testing. (Author: Greg)
March 1, 2023 Latest version (with Theragun G5) reviewed and fact-checked by Dr. Alex Stone, DPT/CSCS.
November 9, 2022 Article re-written and re-published to cover Theragun Pro G5, along with the comparison to the previous G4 model (Author: Luke)
March 10, 2022 More alternative products added, along with the photos and key things to know. (Author: Luke)
October 19, 2021 Reviewed and fact-checked by Dr. Alex Stone, DPT/CSCS.
September 8, 2021 Updated with more information on stall force, verified percussion range, actual amplitude. (Author: Luke)
August 8, 2021 Added photographs from our test lab. (Author: Greg)
April 23, 2021 First published as Theragun G4 review (Author: Luke)
Published on:
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Written by:
Luke Deszczulka
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Thanks for the in-depth review! One quibble…the decibel scale of sound pressure is logarithmic, and the relationship between sound pressure and perceived loudness is also non-linear. A 10db drop is generally perceived as a 50% reduction in loudness, a 5db drop is a 40% reduction, so 8db drop you measured is probably closer to a 48% drop in perceived loudness, not 5%.
Hi, thanks for pointing that out. We’ve updated the info. After rechecking our measurements, we confirmed a 5 dB difference between the 4th and 5th generation Theragun Pro (71 vs. 66 dB). You’re absolutely right about the decibel scale: a 10 dB reduction is perceived as 50% quieter, so the 5 dB difference we observed is definitely halfway there and clearly noticeable. Really appreciate your attention to detail!
Good post! We are linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the great writing.