Best massagers 2025: banish knots and soothe sore muscles

Find the best massagers to knead away aches and pains, boost circulation and relax after a long day

A woman lying on a Beurer MG 280 yoga and stretch mat, using one of the best massagers
(Image credit: Beurer)

The best massagers offer an easy way to relax tense muscles, soothe aches and pains and improve circulation. Massagers are so much more than fancy treatments you get at a spa and they don't have to cost a fortune. If you deal with muscle pain or tightness, or you simply want tension relief after a long day, the best massagers do this for you and in the comfort of your own home – plus there's a huge variety of devices to choose from.

To soothe tightness or tension at home, the best massagers cover everything from massage mats and cushions to full massage chairs that knead away pain and discomfort. Or, if you need something more portable to take to the gym, smaller massagers range from handheld devices to balls and sticks.

Below, you'll find the best massager options available right now, from simple handheld devices through to mats and chairs and even high-end sports massagers, at a range of price points. All of them are great for soothing painful knots, boosting your circulation and relieving exercise-induced strains.

If you want something more specific, check out our guides to the best massage guns and the best foot massagers.

Bethan-Girdler-Maslen T3
Beth Girdler-Maslen

Beth Girdler-Maslen is T3's Home Editor with an affinity for wellness. She runs a lot so she's tried plenty of massagers for aches, pains and comfort.

Best massagers ranking 2025

 How to choose the best massager

This might sound reckless, but don’t pay too much attention to the price tag. Take roller sticks, for example: this type of massage tool often comes with the lowest price tag, but these lightweight plastic sticks are still incredibly effective when used correctly.

That said, there are certainly plenty of blow-the-budget options which still offer fantastic value for money. Percussive massagers that use infrared, heated or interchangeable heads are a little more pricey, but the upside is that this type of massager can be a godsend when it comes to soothing muscle pain, reducing post-exercise recovery time and minimising the risk of injury.

 How we test the best massager

When it comes to testing the best massagers, we call in the latest pads, guns and other devices for testing. It completely depends who tests them – sometimes our Home team will try them if they have more of a wellness focus, or our Active team will test them if they're more designed for fitness.

Once we have the massager, we try out the different settings it has, including speeds, timing and temperatures, if it has them. We look into comfort, battery life and effectiveness, i.e. if aches and pains are taken away or made worse!

See how we test at T3 for more details.

Bethan Girdler-Maslen
Home Editor

Beth is Home Editor for T3, looking after style, living and wellness. From the comfiest mattresses to strange things you can cook in an air fryer, Beth covers sleep, yoga, smart home, coffee machines, watches, grooming tools, fragrances, gardening and much more. If it's something that goes in your house, chances are Beth knows about it and has the latest reviews and recommendations! She's also in the know about the latest deals and discount codes from top brands and retailers.

Having always been passionate about writing, she’s written for websites, newspapers and magazines on a variety of topics, from jewellery and culture, to food and telecoms. You can find her work across numerous sites, including Wedding Ideas Magazine, Health & Wellbeing, The Bristol Post, Fashion & Style Directory, TechRadar, CreativeBloq and more. In her spare time, Beth enjoys running, reading, baking and attempting craft projects that will probably end in disaster!

With contributions from