Top 5 TENS Units in 2024
If you are looking for muscle relaxation or “massage-like” therapy from the comfort of your home – TENS units are a great solution.
TENS units are known to relieve stress and pain from certain body areas by applying different massage techniques on your muscles.
However, all TENS units aren’t made the same.
We’ve researched over 23 different units and looked for something with multiple proven massage modes, different intensity levels, long-lasting battery, safe to use, and other important factors.
Here are our top 5 picks:
Penny M - Research Specialist
With years of researching and inspecting helpful gadgets and tech devices, Penny gained an admirable knowledge. Check out her world-class knowledge and expertise in our Top 5 Reviews series.
Overall Grade
A+
Rating
9.8/10
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Osmo TENS unit is by far our favorite unit on the market nowadays.
The first thing that makes it so good is their approach to muscle stimulation as they’re using innovative technology to provide you with massage and chiropractic experience at your fingertips.
With 8 different massage modes to choose from, you can easily target any muscle group on your body effectively without any discomfort.
You can even adjust the intensity levels.
Sometimes you’ll need more intense therapy depending on which body area you’re targeting, so it’s great that you can choose from 15 different intensity levels just by pressing a button.
What’s also great about Osmo is that it has dual channel pulse therapy which makes it even more powerful and that could play a huge role on how fast it can relieve pain and stress from your muscles.
It’s cordless and portable.
You can carry it anywhere you go, be it at the office, after an intense workout, or from your cozy home.
Automatic timer allows you to set the timer when you want it to stop working, so you can relax and let it do its job.
Osmo offers a 1-year extended warranty and free shipping in US.
Pros
Innovative muscle stimulation
8 massage modes
Automatic timer
15 intensity levels
Can be used over the whole body
Great for targeting specific area
Cordless and portable
Dual channel for better performance
Easy to set up
Comfortable and pain-free to use
Long-lasting battery
1-year warranty
Cons
Often runs out of stock due to high demand
Often runs out of stock due to high demand
WRAP-UP
Osmo TENS is fairly priced for a market-leading TENS Unit with 8 massage modes and 15 intensity leves. Take advantage of this limited-time discount while supplies last.
Osmo offers a 1-year extended warranty and free shipping. Osmo TENS was unanimously voted the best TENS unit of 2024.
Overall Grade
B+
Rating
8.8/10
OVERALL ANALYSIS
TechCare Massager gives a modern twist to traditional TENS machines with the Touch X, a model that’s around the size of a smartphone and has a touchscreen.
Other TENS machines that are small enough to fit in a pocket can be kind of annoying to use. To make adjustments, you typically have to push a single button numerous times to find your preferred treatment. But with the Touch X’s touchscreen, you can make adjustments with just a few quick taps.
The Touch X offers 24 massage modes, including Tai-chi, reflexology and classic Swedish massage. It has 20 levels of intensity, a 20- to 60-minute adjustable timer and a rechargeable battery that can last up to 20 hours. The machine comes with eight large electrode pads, two electrode cables and a wall charger.
Pros
Solid technology
5 massage modes
Easy to use
Built-in timer
3 Intensity levels
Free shipping
Can be used over the whole body
Cons
Not so durable
Not portable
Overall Grade
B
Rating
8.3/10
OVERALL ANALYSIS
For less than $40, the Belifu Dual Channel is both a TENS and EMS machine that can help relieve sore muscles and strengthen them while speeding up recovery.
It features 24 preset modes and 20 intensity levels to simulate therapeutic massages such as cupping, acupuncture and the traditional Chinese Tuina. Thanks to its dual-channel design, you can connect up to six electrode pads at the same time and set different intensity levels for each channel. That way, one set of pads produces a deeper (or lighter) massage than the other.
The Belifu Dual Channel has a rechargeable battery that can last up to 20 hours. It comes with a USB charging cable, a storage bag, 10 self-adhesive electrode pads and three electric wires. Take note that the power output for this unit is lower than some of the higher-priced machines. That means the Belifu’s currents may be less intense than competing models.
Pros
Easy to use
6 massage modes
Can be used over the whole body
Additional bag
Free shipping
Solid technology
Durable
Cons
Only 2 intensity levels
Poor battery life
No money-back guarantee
Overall Grade
B
Ratings
7.8/10
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The PowerDot 2.0 Duo is a wireless, FDA-cleared machine that can be controlled from your smartphone.
Setting it up is simple and straightforward. Download the app and follow the on-screen instructions to pair the Duo receiver pod with your phone. Once paired, the app asks for some general information — for example, whether you want to increase strength or improve flexibility and how often you exercise (or not).
With the app, you can measure your progress, receive safety advice and get therapy recommendations. You’ll also find placement guides for each massage mode to guarantee electrode pads are placed correctly and maximize the therapeutic benefits.
The Duo features 10 preset massage programs, including active recovery, warm-up, muscle endurance and explosive strength, or you can choose to focus on a specific injured area. A manual program lets you adjust settings such as number of contractions, contraction length, rest time, and pulse length.
As with other TENS machines, you can adjust the massage intensity. However, while most TENS machines only have between 20 and 25 levels, the Duo offers an impressive 100 intensity settings.
Pros
Multiple massage modes
30 intensity levels
Advanced features
Free shipping in the US
Positive reviews
30-day money back guarantee
Cons
A bit pricy
Can't be used on sensitive areas
Could be more durable
Overall Grade
c+
Rating
7.5/10
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Like the TeachCare Massager Touch X, the RAKZU has an easy-to-read touchscreen that makes it simple to switch between massage modes, even in mid-session. And, retailing for a little under $30, it’s more than $20 cheaper than our Editor’s Pick, the Touch X.
While the RAKZU does have fewer massage modes (only 12 compared to the Touch X’s 24), it still offers a wide variety of styles, including tuina, acupressure, tapping and cupping.
The RAKZU also stands out for just how easy it is to use while on the go. Unlike many other TENS devices, this model lets you lock both the touchscreen and the unit’s side buttons. This prevents any accidental changes in the settings, even if you’re moving around.
Like other dual-channel massagers, the RAKZU can be customized to provide two different kinds of massages and intensities at the same time. So, for example, if your neck needs a gentler approach than your lower back, you can customize your session accordingly.
Pros
Smart features
Good technology
Visual effects
Budget-friendly
Free shipping
Cons
It should have more intensity levels
Not durable
Touchscreen is poorly made
Mixed reviews
WHAT IS TENS UNIT?
Benefits of TENS Units
- Relieves pain and stress from muscles
- Ensures muscle relaxation
- It can be used on all muscle groups
- Portable
- You can adjust intensity
- Money-saving in long term
- Easy to use
- Affordable
Things To Consider WHEN CHOOSING THE BEST TENS Unit
Innovative muscle stimulation
With innovative muscle stimulation, you’ll stimulate your muscles quickly to relax and relieve pain or stress from them. This separates modern TENS units from the older outdated ones, so keep an eye on it.
Multiple massage modes
This is a must-have in every TENS unit and if it doesn’t have it, you shouldn’t even think about getting it. Multiple massage modes allow you to select the therapy that fits your targeted area the most, so you can use different modes for neck pain and back pain.
Automatic timer
Timer allows you to set when you would like your unit to finish massaging your muscles and comfortably lay in bed while it’s doing its job. You could even fall asleep with it running on if you would like to.
Where can it be used
It’s very important for the TENS unit to be suitable for the whole body and that you can use it on every muscle group. This has a lot to do with intensity levels as well, but make sure it’s suitable for the whole body.
Warranty
If the brand doesn't offer a money-back guarantee or warranty on their units, you should stay away from it. Always look for something you can try out and receive a full refund if you don't find it useful.
What To Avoid When Choosing TENS Unit
No intensity levels
If it only has one intensity level, there’s a high chance it will cause you discomfort or that you won’t feel anything and it won’t relieve stress from your muscles. Always seek to get as many intensity levels as possible.
Not portable
It’s ridiculous that some of these units have to be plugged in to be functional which makes them very hard to use. Look for cordless options with solid battery life as you can then carry it anywhere you go.
Cheap knockoffs
There are a ton of cheap products (even on Amazon) that are just pure garbage. They aren’t even tested and they’ll just waste your time and money. In my opinion, anything below $70 can’t be functional.
Penny M - Research Specialist
With years of researching and inspecting helpful gadgets and tech devices, Penny gained an admirable knowledge. Check out her world-class knowledge and expertise in our Top 5 Reviews series.
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