Hypervolt vs Theragun: Which Brand Makes the Best Massage Gun?

Hyperice and Therabody are perhaps the two biggest names in fitness recovery. Both brands offer a swath of muscle recovery devices, from compression boots to cryo devices to, of course, massage guns. In this Hypervolt vs Theragun guide, I put the two brands’ percussive massage guns in a head-to-head comparison. 

I’ve extensively tested all Theragun models and most Hypervolt models, including the top-of-the-line Theragun Pro and Hypervolt 2. In addition to testing the latest models of massage guns from both brands, I’ve also tested previous generations, so I’m able to analyze how each brand has improved its products to better suit the consumer. I also understand all of the vital specs, such as amplitude and stall force. 

Theragun Prime

Theragun Prime

GGR Score: 4.2

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Product Highlights

• Customizable speed ranges
• Ergonomic multi-grip handle makes it easy to massage your back
• High-end product with a reasonable price

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides deep tissue treatment reaching 16 millimeters into soft tissue
• Customizable speed ranges
• Ergonomic multi-grip handle makes it easy to massage your back

Cons

• Not the most portable massage gun
• Quieter than previous Theraguns, but still not the quietest option
• Heavy in hand compared to others

Bottom Line

We recommend the Theragun Prime as the best overall massage gun for people who want powerful percussion without an exorbitant price tag.

Hypervolt

Hyperice Hypervolt 2

GGR Score: 4.1

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Product Highlights

* Massage gun under $200 * Quiet brushless motor * Only 1.8 lbs * 3 hours of battery * 3 preset speeds

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Very quiet brushless motor
• Grippy rubberized handle
• Bluetooth-enabled
• Recovery and warm-up protocols in app

Cons

• No carrying case
• Hyperice does not publish critical specs like amplitude
• No rotating head
• Preset speeds only (no precise speed control)
• Not budget-friendly

Bottom Line

The Hyperice Hypervolt 2 is a solid massage gun with ample power output and a quiet motor. It’s more than sufficient for the average fitness enthusiast, and although it has its cons (like the lack of a carrying case), it’s one of the better options available.

Hypervolt vs Theragun Comparison Chart

Quick Look: Hypervolt vs Theragun

Hypervolt and Theragun are two OG massage gun products, and both come from a top fitness recovery brand: Hyperice and Therabody, respectively. Hypervolts and Theraguns have been around for several years and have seen several iterations, with each new generation improving upon the last. 

Both product lines are respectable and will get the job done for the average fitness consumer, but throughout this Hypervolt vs Theragun comparison, you’ll begin to understand why I prefer Theraguns over Hypervolts. 

Who Should Buy Hypervolt

• People who want a gentler massage or don’t mind sacrificing a bit of amplitude for price
• People who want the quietest option 
• Folks who are not bothered by the max power output of 90 watts
• Anyone OK with not knowing exact amplitude or stall force

Who Should Buy Theragun

• Anyone seeking the most powerful amplitude and stall force on the market
• Folks who wants precise programmable speeds (rather than fixed speeds)
• People who want the longest battery life possible (Pro model only)

Key Similarities: Hypervolt vs Theragun

• Offer multiple models of massage guns
• Charge via lithium ion batteries
• Have models with Bluetooth connectivity
• All models come with carrying case 
• Have interchangeable heads 
• Used by professional athletes
• Have multiple speed settings 
• Can easily fit in a gym bag or backpack 
• Similar price points
• Use brushless motors 
• More expensive models have pressure sensors

Key Differences: Hypervolt vs Theragun

• Hypervolt has six available models (but only three on official website), while Theragun has four 
• Theraguns have higher amplitudes 
• Theragun offers customizable speed levels, while Hypervolt has fixed speeds
• Hypervolt’s mini massage gun is sometimes available at a lower price than Theragun Mini
• Theragun is louder than Hypervolt

Essential Specifications

There are four main things people should look for when researching massage guns: amplitude, or how deep the device reaches into soft tissue; speeds at which the massage gun operates; noise level; and stall force, which refers to how many pounds of pressure the device can handle before stalling out. This section analyzes those four specs across Theragun and Hypervolt models. 

Amplitude 

Amplitude is perhaps the most important spec when it comes to percussive massage guns. The amplitude of a massage gun refers to how deeply the device massages your muscle tissue, which is a crucial piece of information. 

An amplitude of less than 10 millimeters, for example, will do next to nothing, as it’s basically just vibration. 

All Theragun models, except the Mini, have an amplitude of 16 millimeters, which is currently the deepest amplitude of all massage guns available. The Mini has an amplitude of 12 millimeters, which is deeper than any other mini massage gun I’m aware of (and deeper than many full-sized massage guns). 

Hypervolt does not publish amplitude information on the website or on third-party retail listings. Unfortunately, the best I have for you is an estimate based on feel after using Theragun and Hypervolt models side-by-side. 

After using the Theragun Mini and Hypervolt Go immediately after one another, I estimate the amplitude of the Hypervolt Go to be about 10 millimeters. And after using the Theragun Prime and Hypervolt 2 one after the other, I estimate the amplitude of the Hypervolt 2 to be about 13 to 14 millimeters. 

I wish I had more cut-and-dry information on Hypervolt amplitudes, and I hope to either eventually get this information from Hyperice or devise a test wherein I can actually objectively measure the amplitude.    

Stall Force

Stall force refers to the amount of pressure in pounds you can apply to a massage gun before the motor stalls. When the motor of a massage gun stalls, the device will bounce or “stutter” against your skin, which doesn’t feel great. 

The stall force on Theraguns is clear and straightforward: 

• Mini: 20 pounds
• Prime: 30 pounds
• Elite: 40 pounds
• Pro: 60 pounds 

Hyperice does not publish the stall force information for any of its massage guns, which I don’t like. I think this is something all massage gun manufacturers should clearly publish because it’s one of the most important specs in a massage gun. 

Based on feel and Theragun’s published numbers, my best guess is that the stall force on Hypervolts is as follows: 

• Hypervolt Go 2: about 20 pounds 
• Hypervolt 2: 30 to 40 pounds 
• Hypervolt 2 Pro: 40 to 50+ pounds 

I found in a massage gun Q&A forum that the Hypervolt Plus stall force is 80 pounds, but I can’t find that information anywhere else online. The Hypervolt Plus isn’t available on the Hyperice website anymore, anyway, although I think you can still find it (as well as the original Hypervolt and Hypervolt Go) on third-party retailers such as Best Buy. 

It’s hard to compare this spec between brands because of the lack of transparency from Hyperice. Based on feel alone, I believe Theragun is the more powerful massage gun if you’re looking at each brand’s top-of-the-line model. 

Speeds

Theraguns have the same speed range across models: 1750 to 2400 percussions per minute. The Mini offers three fixed speeds of 1750, 2100, and 2400 PPM. The Prime, Elite, and Pro offer five fixed speeds (1750,1900, 2100, 2200, and 2400 PPM), as well as customizable speeds within that range in the app. 

Hypervolts have up to five speeds (three on the Go and 2; five on the 2 Pro), but again, Hyperice doesn’t publish the exact information clearly. I had to do some digging to find the exact speeds, as the device itself only indicates speed through lights on the handle. 

According to other Hypervolt 2 Pro reviews, the available speeds are: 1,700; 1,900; 2,100; 2,400; and 2,700 PPM. I would imagine the three fixed speeds on the Hypervolt Go and Hypervolt 2 also fall somewhere in that range. 

All in all, the speed ranges across brands are very similar and probably won’t affect treatment quality at all for the average consumer. The primary difference is that Theragun allows you to choose precise speeds within that range, while Hypervolt only offers fixed speeds. 

Noise Level

Coop and I tested the Theragun Prime and Hypervolt 2 with a phone app that measures decibel level. The Hypervolt 2 hovered around 65 to 70 decibels while the Theragun Prime hovered around 70 to 75 decibels.

The Theragun Pro is a little louder than the Prime and Elite during use, so I imagine it would register in the range of 75 to 80 decibels. 

Theraguns are definitely louder than Hypervolts during use, but the noise level is nowhere close to unbearable for either brand. 

Design and Ergonomics

There are basically two types of massage gun handles on the market: The Theragun kind and the non-Theragun kind. Although I’m personally a fan of Theraguns over Hypervolts, that’s not why I say this. 

I say this because 99% of percussive massagers on the market have the same design: a cylindrical handle with the massage head at a 45- to 90-degree angle. This is how Hypervolts are designed. 

Theraguns feature a triangular grip that’s not inherently better than the Hypervolt design, but is definitely different. I think the triangular grip allows for better reach, but Coop prefers the Hypervolt handle because he feels like he can get a better grip. 

Attachments, Accessories, and Portability  

Besides the massage gun itself, buyers should look into accessories such as massage attachments and carrying cases before making a buying decision. 

Massage Head Attachments 

Surprising to many, Theragun and Hypervolt do not have the same types of massage attachments. In fact, the only attachment available from both brands is the round attachment. This could certainly be a deciding factor for many buyers. 

Theragun also has Duo Adapter sets for multiple attachments, including Supersoft™, thumb, dampener, cone, and standard ball. The Duo Adapter sets juxtapose two identical attachments in order to treat more surface area in less time. 

As far as the quality of attachments, I don’t notice any clear differences between brands. Theragun attachments are made of closed-cell foam while Hypervolt attachments are made of plastic and silicone (with the exception of the foam ball), but to me, the construction of attachments doesn’t affect the treatment quality. 

Carrying Accessories 

All models of the Theragun come with some sort of carrying case to make the products easily portable. This may seem like a weird thing to compare and rate, but it does matter.

For example, the Theragun Elite and Pro come with a rectangular hard case with a handle, while the Prime comes with a soft drawstring bag. Both are easy to carry, and the Prime is actually easier to slip into a backpack or carry-on. 

No Hypervolt model, however, comes with a case that houses the massage gun, charging cable, and massage head attachments. Instead, they come with only a pouch for the massage heads, leaving you to carry the actual device and charging bits separately. 

This is a minor inconvenience but seems like a clear shortcut to me.   

Color and Design Customization

Generally, massage guns come in one design with no room for color customization. This is the case with Hypervolts. 

Therabody broke this unspoken rule with the Theragun Mini, for which you can buy colorful “skins” to make the device your own. As of this writing, there’s a variety pack of five silicone covers in solid colors, as well as a multi-color Pride skin available for purchase. 

Therabody also sometimes releases special edition Theraguns, such as the RED collection, which gave a portion of profits to pandemic relief. 

Finally, the Theragun Elite comes in two standard color options (black or white), while no Hypervolt models are available in more than one color. 

Hypervolt vs Theragun: Smart Features

Hyperice and Therabody both have apps that connect to their massage guns via Bluetooth. The primary purpose of this is fine-tuned speed control. With either brand, you have the capability to to program massage protocols in the app and let them play out on the physical device. (Although neither brand’s mini massage gun model has Bluetooth connectivity.) 

Therabody went one step further by allowing for selection of any speed between the range of 1,750 and 2,400 percussions per minute. This feature isn’t available in any other massage gun brand I’ve tried.  

Another Theragun smart feature I love is the Force Meter on the Elite and Pro models. The Force Meter is a pressure sensor that shows you how many pounds of force you’re applying to your muscle tissue. The Hypervolt 2 and Hypervolt 2 Pro have something similar, which the brand refers to as Patented Pressure Sensor Technology. 

Hypervolt vs Theragun: Charging and Battery Life 

Theraguns and Hypervolts both use rechargeable lithium ion batteries, so the experience is nearly identical across brands and models. All of the massage guns from both brands have similar battery lives, with the exception of the Theragun Pro, which comes with an extra battery to double the total battery life. 

Hypervolt vs Theragun: Pricing

Therabody and Hyperice are both high-quality brands, so you should expect to pay for high-quality items when purchasing from them. Pricing among the two brands for currently available models is identical, with the exception of the Theragun Pro, which there is no Hyperice equivalent to. 

Hypervolt vs Theragun: Company Policies

Now for the boring stuff. When you’re buying something expensive like a luxury massage device, you’ll probably want to know what kind of warranty your new toy is covered by, as well as if the company offers returns or financing options. Here’s an overview of warranties, return policies, and financing available from Hyperice and Therabody.

Hypervolt vs Theragun: Final Verdict

The bottom line is that Theraguns and Hypervolts will both do a good job of massaging sore muscles, increasing blood flow to treated areas, and helping you warm up and cool down from exercise. Looking objectively at specifications across models and accounting for my personal experience, my verdict is that Theragun is the better option. 

To help you make your buying decision, here’s a chart that shows crucial specs across models from each brand. 

Hypervolt vs Theragun: FAQs

Answers to frequently asked questions about Theragun vs Hypervolt:

Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC

Amanda is a content writer and journalist with extensive experience in the health, fitness, lifestyle, and nutrition niches. Before joining Garage Gym Reviews, she worked as an independent writer for various brands and outlets.Her work has appeared in national and global digital publications, including Health.com and Shape.com (Meredith Corporation), CNET (Red Ventures, formerly ViacomCBS), LIVESTRONG (Leaf Group), Verywell Fit and The Balance (DotDash), SlickDeals (Goldman Sachs/Hearst), Health Journal, and more.Now, Amanda brings her expertise in fitness to the GGR team by testing equipment and writing authentic, honest reviews on everything you might need to stock your home gym.

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