Best Hand Massager 2024 - Forbes Vetted

Nov 02, 2024

Anyone who works with their hands knows the strain and pain associated with hours of repetitive movement. The best hand massagers on the market work to reduce the swelling, pain and poor circulation associated with working with your hands—or for anyone who suffers from carpal tunnel or arthritis. For example, the Lunix LX7, our top pick, soothes sore hands with compression, heat and vibration. Meanwhile, the Hyperice Hypersphere relieves arthritic pain thanks to its spherical design.

Invest in a hand massager to treat achy, sore hands.

Whether you’re typing for hours straight, using hand tools or want an easy way to relax at the end of a long day, a hand massager is an affordable and useful tool that provides both instant and long-lasting relief. Below, the best hand massagers to soothe achy, sore hands.

Amazon

Type: Compression, vibration, heat | Settings: 4 heat modes, 4 pressure modes, 4 intensity modes | Heat: Yes | Battery Life: 15 minute sessions

The Lunix LX7 is one of the most popular and highly rated hand massagers on the market today. That’s thanks to its potent combination of compression, heat therapy and vibration, which deliver a massage that’s effective and well-rounded when you need to relieve pain. Simply slip your hand inside the massager to disocer a padded interior, along with four levels of heat, pressure and intensity. I like that this massager is built to replicate the sensation of a shiatsu massage, and delivers consistent performance every time. Price-wise, it sits right in the mid-range territory of hand massagers—and if you’re concerned about shelling out the $140, just remember this particular massager has over 8,500 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Amazon

Type: Percussion | Settings: 3 speed settings | Heat: Yes | Battery Life: Corded

This handheld massager proves that pain relief and budget-friendly prices don’t have to be mutually exclusive. If you’re looking for a hand massager that can work on other areas of the body, is less than $100 dollars and has reliable performance, look no further. The Homedics Handheld Massager comes with four interchangeable massage heads, has three speed settings and also implements heat for soothing relief.

I should mention there are plenty of manual massagers that cost even less than the Homedics Handheld Massager, but oftentimes those with arthritis or carpal tunnel have a more difficult time manipulating a manual massager. This one is corded, so you can use it for hours and don’t have to worry about tiring out your hands when seeking relief. And because it’s designed as a multi-use massager, you can also target sore areas in your back, neck, legs and beyond.

Amazon

Type: Vibration | Settings: 3 speed settings | Heat: No | Battery Life: Two hours

Fans of Hyperice will know the brand makes some of the best recovery products on the market today (including one of our favorite massage guns), and if you’re suffering from arthritis, you may want to check out the Hypersphere. Featuring three speed settings, it’s essentially a vibrating ball that massages your palms, knuckles, wrists and top of hands with ease. (Warning: I’ve found it tickles slightly, but you’ll get used to it.)

The Hypersphere’s battery is long-lasting and can run for two hours straight, and the battery can be easily recharged via a USB cord. I’ve found that the Hypersphere is great for massaging not only my hands, but my back, legs and arms as well, and I like that it’s so portable. Bonus: It’s TSA-approved, so you can throw it in your carry-on with ease.

Amazon

Type: Compression | Settings: 5 massage modes, 2 vibration options, 5 intensity levels | Heat: Yes | Battery Life: 8 to 10 sessions per charge

If you suffer from constant pain and numbness that comes with carpal tunnel, nothing sounds better than a hand massage. The LifePro offers therapeutic relief by way of pressure point release, compression, heat features and more. The unique aspect of the LifePro is in its construction—rather than using roller balls like many other models, this massager uses air compression and vibration to provide relief.

You can use the LED display to customize your massage experience, and choose from five massage modes, two vibration modes and five varying intensity levels to craft your ideal massage experience. The LifePro comes with a lifetime warranty, and lasts about eight to ten sessions on a single charge.

Amazon

Type: Manual/cryotherapy | Settings: N/A | Heat: No | Battery Life: N/A

Cryotherapy provides pain relief by redirecting fresh blood to injuries, which stimulates tissue repair and can help reduce muscle pain. The iECO Cryosphere brings together cold exposure and massage therapy for use on the hands, and is ergonomically shaped to be held with ease—even if you have dexterity issues.

This cold massage roller ball is filled with a non-toxic cooling gel that works to relieve the pain and numbness associated with carpal tunnel, and can also be used on the arms and legs for additional pain relief. I like that it’s simple to use, and doesn’t require any plugging in or charging. If you’re looking for a finger massager this may not be your best bet due to the spherical design and cold therapy, but for most hand and wrist-related pain, it will work well.

Amazon

Type: Manual | Settings: N/A | Heat: No | Battery Life: N/A

Some jobs require simple tools, and when it comes to massaging fingers, you really don’t need anything fancy. This manual massager is great for getting into the nooks and crannies between fingers, and helps to stimulate circulation, increase blood flow and loosen tight muscles.

I’ve found that the trick to using a manual massager is not always to apply more pressure, especially with sensitive areas like the fingers. Instead, go over the area multiple times to increase blood flow and move stagnant energy.

Unlike the other massagers on this list, this manual option is made with plastic, and may not be as durable, but as long as you use it only on your fingers, it should be fine.

Amazon

Type: Rhythm pressure | Settings: 3 pressure settings, 3 heat settings | Heat: Yes | Battery Life: 1.5 hours

When it comes to hand massagers, sometimes size does matter—especially if you have larger hands and have trouble finding a massager that effectively treats them. The Comfier Wireless Hand Massager is built to accommodate an array of hand sizes, and uses heat and rhythmic pressure that moves up and down the hand to reduce pain. The massager even works on individual fingers, so all you have to do is sit back and relax.

The Comfier massager comes with three pressure settings, three heat settings and a rechargeable lithium battery that can be powered via a USB cord. It doesn’t have an LED screen or any of the other attributes of fancier massagers, but it does have excellent reviews and an approachable price point, which I think beats fanciness any day.

At Forbes Vetted, we’ve published many expertly researched gear articles that cover a range of fitness topics. These include dozens of wellness guides that cover the best massagers for your neck, back and feet.

To identify and recommend the best hand massagers, I relied on my own expertise as a product tester, firsthand experience as someone who suffers from sore hands, and I pored over customer reviews from those who bought these hand massagers with their own money.

Why it matters: Depending on your preferences and pain level, the massage type you choose for your hand massager will have an effect on how your experience goes. The best hand massagers feature compression, kneading and heat, available in varying intensities.

Key considerations: Be sure to pick the right massage type for your needs. Those with chronic pain may benefit from heat, while those with scar tissue may want to look for options that include varying levels of compression.

Why it matters: Heat therapy increases blood flow, helps improve circulation and can relieve pain. It’s a key feature in many hand massagers.

Key considerations: Start slow with heat, and work your way up to higher intensities. Heat is ideal for sore muscles, stiff joints and chronic pain.

Why it matters: Depending on your travel schedule or work setup, a corded hand massager may not be for you. If you’re opting for a rechargeable model, make sure you consider its battery life. Higher-end hand massagers will have batteries that last for hours at a time, while cheaper options may have less capable batteries.

Key considerations: If you’re going for a battery-powered hand massager, make sure you choose a model that features a rechargeable lithium battery—they’re much more convenient than throw-away batteries.

Why it matters: Everyone has a unique pain threshold; therefore, each one of us will require differing levels of heat, compression, percussion and more. Hand massagers that come with multiple settings allow for a more customizable experience.

Key considerations: Some hand massagers have built-in LED touchscreens, while others feature buttons and a more old-school design. Usually options with more features land on the higher side of the price spectrum.

While there is no one clear winner in terms of the best rated hand massager, there are features you’ll want to shop for to find a high-quality model that works for you. These include multiple heat and massage settings, a long-lasting battery and refined ergonomics that make the massager easy to use for long periods of time.

A hand massager can help treat arthritis or the symptoms of arthritis in different ways. These include providing relief from pain, increasing hand strength, reducing swelling and alleviating the anxiety and depression that comes with managing arthritis.

The short answer here is: yes. The long answer is that yes, hand massagers are worth the money. It may seem like just another gadget to keep around the house, but a hand massager provides relief from pain, reduces stress and provides much-needed relaxation, especially for anyone suffering from long-term pain.