How Do the Theragun Pro and Hypervolt Plus Massage Guns Compare?

Handheld massage guns have become increasingly popular over the last few years, especially when getting to the massage therapist has been out of the question. Whether you use percussive therapy or deep tissue massage to relax sore muscles, percussive massage guns are the power tool of handheld massagers. We’ve compared two that consistently top the “best” lists, so here is our take on the Theragun Pro vs Hypervolt Plus.  

Theragun Pro: Overview

Massage gun with attachments
  • Depth: 16 millimeters
  • Speeds: Five levels of 1700 percussions per minute (ppm), 1900ppm, 2100ppm, 2200ppm and 2400ppm
  • Attachments: Six head attachments (dampener, supersoft, ball, thumb, cone, wedge)
  • Stall force: 60 pounds
  • Motor: Proprietary brushless QX150 
  • Battery Life: Two hours 
  • Weight: 2.9 pounds
  • Dimensions: 10 inches x 7.1 inches x 3 inches
  • Bluetooth®: Yes
  • What’s included: protective carry case, attachment set, two batteries, wall charger

Hypervolt Plus: Overview

Massage gun with attachments
  • Depth: 14 millimeters
  • Speeds: Three levels of 2400ppm, 2800ppm and 3200ppm
  • Attachments: Five head attachments (ball, flat, cushion, fork, bullet)
  • Stall force: 45-50 pounds
  • Motor: 90W high-torque brushless
  • Battery Life: Two to three hours
  • Weight: 3lbs
  • Dimensions: 5.23″ x 3.25″ x 10″
  • Bluetooth®: Yes
  • What’s included: attachment set, attachment pouch, wall charger

Pros and Cons of the Theragun Pro 

The Theragun Pro 4th Generation has a number of advantages. Of course, the design of these two guns is very different, and the Pro has the benefit of ergonomics with its Theragun Triangle design. 

Although both guns have removable batteries that are also rechargeable, the Theragun Pro comes with an extra battery and a carrying case. 

Theragun also has its own set of massage head attachments that are similar to the standard attachments but still unique enough to set them apart. 

Pros:

  • Customizable speed range via Theragun App
  • Patented Theragun Triangle ergonomic handle
  • Theragun’s six interchangeable head attachments 
  • Additional battery included
  • Carrying case included
  • Two year warranty
  • Theragun’s reputation as the first percussive massage gun

Cons:

  • Lower rate of percussions per minute
  • Higher speeds can be a bit loud
  • Expensive 

Pros and Cons of the Hypervolt Plus

The Hyperice Hypervolt Plus has a lot to offer, especially its powerful speed range. The LED light ring is also helpful while using the device. When the light turns red, it’s time to charge your device. 

The Hypervolt Plus is the official percussive device of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and has built partnerships with other associations and athletes as well. You have to think if professional athletes love it, then it must be good enough for everyday athletes as well.

However, the Hypervolt Plus doesn’t include all of the things that Theragun does, most notably the carrying case. This has been a sore spot for users, and yet Hyperice stands firm. You can, however, purchase a case for an additional $80. If you’d like an extra battery, that’ll set you back $49. 

Finally, lots of users have reported that Hypervolt’s 90-degree angled handle is uncomfortable for long-term use. This includes those who self-apply the device, as well as massage and physical therapists. 

Pros:

  • High percussions per minute
  • LED light ring indicates battery level
  • Partnered with various professional athletes and sports associations
  • Price lowered from 329 dollars to 299 dollars 

Cons:

  • Lower stall force
  • 90-degree handle angle
  • No carrying case

 

Is the Theragun More Powerful than the Hypervolt? 

If power is speed (or percussions per minute for massage guns), then the Hypervolt Plus is actually more powerful. It gets up to 3200 ppm, whereas the maximum percussion for the Theragun Pro is 2400ppm. 

If that’s all gibberish to you, it means that the Hypervolt Plus can pound on and off of a surface up to 3200 times per minute. The higher the ppm, the more intense the massage. 

However, when considering how powerful a massage gun is we should also take into account its amplitude and stall force.

Amplitude, or stroke length, refers to the depth at which the attachment heads get into the muscle. A vibration massager has a shallow stroke length and really only skims the surface. A percussion massager gets into the muscle, typically within a depth range of 10-16millimeters. 

The Hypervolt Plus has a stroke length of 14 millimeters, while the Theragun Pro’s stroke length is 16 millimeters. This means the Theragun can get deeper into the musculature.

Stall force is the other consideration that we need to think about before declaring one or the other as the more powerful device. Stall force refers to the amount of weight that can be applied to the device before the motor will cut out and reset. 

The Theragun Pro again comes out on top here with a stall force of 60 pounds, whereas the Hypervolt Plus stall force is around 45-50 pounds. 

Is Hypervolt or Theragun Quieter?

For quite some time, Hypervolt massage guns were considered to be the quietest on the market, each fitted with Hyperice’s QuietGlide technology. However, many other brands have caught up, or perhaps even surpassed Hyperice in this area. 

Users complained about the earlier generations of Theragun being very loud; Theragun responded by developing its own quiet technology fittingly called QuietForce. 

We’ve come across a wide range of opinions on just how loud both of these massage guns are, with the Hypervolt Plus usually ranging somewhere between 50 and 70 decibels. Interestingly enough, the Hyperice Zendesk specs say it’s 81 decibels.  On the other hand, the Theragun Pro tends to fall in a range between 65 and 80 decibels.

Neither of them is the quietest on the market, with some models scoring 30 to 40 decibels. It’s all relative though, isn’t it? If you compare the Theragun G4 Pro to older generations, it really is in line with the Hypervolt. 

You obviously don’t want a massage gun that sounds like a jackhammer; both models are reasonably quiet. It may be more prudent to make your choice based on the gun’s other specifications and features. 

Bottom Line

In the Theragun Pro vs Hypervolt Plus showdown, we personally like the Theragun more based upon the massage experience you get, as well as the attachment heads.

Each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages. What works is really more a matter of what your individual wants and needs are in a massage gun. When comparing Theragun Pro vs Hypervolt Plus, choose the gun that works best for you personally.

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