Best Neck Massagers of 2022

A massage is the perfect post-workout recovery treatment. But costs for frequent visits to your local masseuse can quickly add up. Professional massages are a luxury expense that most people can only have as an occasional splurge. However, massage therapy is crucial for easing tense muscles. When you’re on a savings kick, consider self-massages as an alternative to seeing a professional.

Studies show that self-massages can help with short-term pain reduction. At-home neck massagers can provide pain relief in the neck, back, and shoulders when you’re feeling stiff. They’re like jade rollers that you use for your face — but for your body. Most neck massagers have heat or vibrating functions to aid relief. Some even have Shiatsu settings, a popular massage technique that originated in Japan to reduce pain, stress, and muscle tension.

Neck massagers come in many forms, from handheld massage guns to massage pillows and chairs. They also vary in size, price, and function. This roundup features our top picks for neck massagers to help you relax and alleviate muscle soreness. 

Best neck massagers overview:

• Best overall: RESTECK Shiatsu Kneading Shoulder & Neck Massager
• Best budget: RENPHO Handheld Back Massager
• Best for neck and shoulders: HoMedics Quad Action Shiatsu Kneading Neck & Shoulder Massager With Heat
• Best for neck and back: InvoSpa Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager
• Best massage pillow: Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager Pillow With Heat and Wired Connection (ZMA-13)
• Best massage seat: Comfier Neck & Back Massager with Air Compress & Shiatsu

How we chose the best neck massagers

To compile this list, we researched manufacturer specifications, including intensity, price, setting versatility, and more, to create a short list of the top neck massagers. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best neck massagers for each category.

Our picks for the best neck massagers

Our best overall pick is the RESTECK Shiatsu Kneading Shoulder & Neck Massager. RESTECK designed this to give people a tool for deep tissue self-massages that reduces neck stiffness, alleviates muscle aches, and circulates blood flow. 

This massager has four adjustable speed settings with heat stimulation and comfort-enhancing bidirectional kneading nodes to target your neck, shoulders, back, and legs. It’s ultimately suitable for a full-body massage. The portable and travel-friendly device, which comes with a leather pouch, allows you to take it with you to the office or on road trips. 

Unfortunately, you can’t recharge this massager. While it’s ultra-portable, it’s far from lightweight, as it tends to feel heavy around the neck and could cause some discomfort for petite individuals.

Rechargeable: No | Settings: 4 | Heat: Yes

The RENPHO Handheld Back Massager is a portable handheld device you can take with you on the go. It has five interchangeable heads and four speed modes for versatile relief adjustability on different areas of your body. The round-ball head gives deeper-tissue massages, while the one-point head accelerates muscle recovery. 

This massager can easily target those hard-to-reach areas on your back and neck. You can also use it for achy muscle relief around your shoulders, arms, feet, calves, and legs. Its 20-minute auto-off function makes it easier to preserve battery life, which you’ll appreciate since it doesn’t hold a charge for long periods. The fact that it’s rechargeable makes up for it, though. 

While affordably priced, you may not be satisfied with the massager’s intensity levels. Moderate intensity has it feeling more like a vibration than a percussion massage. Vibration massagers only reach the surface of your muscles, while percussion massagers reach deeper into your soft tissue. It’s also a heavy device that might feel a little shaky when you power it on.

Rechargeable: Yes | Settings: 5 | Heat: No

While many neck massagers effectively target the neck and shoulder areas, this one is our favorite. It’s designed for deep-kneading, Shiatsu-style massages that get down to the depths of your soft tissue. With its ergonomic design, plush cushioning, and ultra-portability, you can take this massager with you wherever you go. It also has a convenient 15-minute auto shut-off feature to conserve power when you’re no longer using it. 

The device isn’t without fault, however. It’s not a rechargeable massager, and the control buttons might get wonky over time if you put too much pressure on them.

Rechargeable: No | Settings: 3 | Heat: Yes

The Shiatsu-style neck and back massager features eight powerful deep-kneading nodes for maximum pain relief. It extends full coverage to your neck, back, shoulders, feet, arms, legs, waist, and calves, allowing for a total-body self-massage. 

This durable and portable massager combines optional infrared heat function with variable intensity. Its built-in auto-reverse feature changes direction each minute to increase relief. It also comes with a wall and car charger, providing added versatility to recharge the device. The higher the intensity, the harsher the device will feel on your target areas. 

The high intensity may or may not be a bit much for you. If it is, note that you only have 30 days to return it and get a full refund after purchase.

Rechargeable: Yes | Settings: 3 | Heat: Yes

This one is for the massage pillow lovers out there. Unlike massage guns, these massage pillows snugly wrap around your chair and can function without having to hold it. Zyllion’s Back and Neck Massager offers Shiatsu-style massages to relax stiff muscles and soothe soreness. With four 3D deep-kneading massage nodes, this pillow can relieve tension in your back, neck, shoulders, and more.

Its heat function with overheat protection provides further alleviation, and its programming includes a 20-minute auto shut-off feature for energy preservation. However, be mindful of product breakdowns since this device may easily wear and tear.

Rechargeable: Yes | Settings: 4 | Heat: Yes

If you want to sit and enjoy a full-body massage in the comfort of your own home, you should check out this Comfier Neck & Back massage chair. It can fit snugly onto your couch or office chair and give your body great comfort with its Shiatsu-style massage function. 

This massager features four deep-kneading rotation nodes and three adjustable intensity levels, allowing you to adjust the pressure to your liking. In addition to the built-in optional infrared heating, it has two airbags that can give air massages to your waist and hips, increasing the tension relief to your lower body region.

Product wear puts you at risk of a defunct product within months of use. Fortunately, purchases come with a 100% manufacturer’s guarantee, and you can return them within 30 days for a full refund. The brand also offers free shipping.

Rechargeable: Yes | Settings: 3 | Heat: Yes

Rolling back to our top pick

Neck massagers aim to provide pain relief and soothe soreness around your neck, shoulders, and back. If you want a massager with far more pros than cons, you’ll probably like the RESTECK Shiatsu Kneading Shoulder & Neck Massager. 

The multipurpose massage gun provides all the traditional benefits that a neck massager should, from reducing muscle stiffness to circulating blood flow. But what makes it really stand out is that it’s compact enough to carry with you on-the-go, yet powerful enough to cater to your full-body massage needs. 

How to pick the right neck massager for you

Consider the following factors when choosing the best neck massager for your circumstances.

Ease of use 

• Charge function. Most massagers either come with a car or a wall charger. Rechargeable massagers are better than those that are non-rechargeable, as you can just plug them in to restore their energy. 
• Longevity. Product defects can cause massagers to give out more quickly than anticipated. A crash-proof, durable design ensures that your massager of choice is built to last, and extended warranties are customer-friendly.

Efficacy 

• Intensity. These settings allow you to adjust your preferred amount of pressure during massages. 
• Speed settings. Speed settings give you the freedom to choose between a slow, comforting massage and a fast, intense one. 
• Temporal settings. Massagers with heat and air functions can provide added comfort and relief to your massages.

FAQs

What’s the top-rated neck massager? 

The RESTECK Shiatsu Kneading Shoulder & Neck Massager is ultra-portable and allows you to perform deep-kneading self-massages on the go. 

Is vibration good for a neck massage?

Vibration massagers relieve surface neck pain, but percussion massagers (like RESTECK’s Shiatsu Kneading Shoulder & Neck Massager) get deeper into your soft tissue. Therefore, percussion massagers might be better for people experiencing severe pain, while vibration massagers may suit those who want to relieve mild to moderate muscle soreness.

Is there a neck massager that actually works?

All of the massagers on this list are worthy of giving a try as they’re effective for neck pain relief.