Top 5 Best Neck Massagers of 2024
Updated: Sep 25th, 2024
As we age our bodies experience multiple aches and pains in places like the neck, shoulder and upper back. There are lots of reasons for this, from sitting at a desk for multiple hours per day to not holding your posture properly, but whatever the cause it can be painful to move and difficult to do the things we need to do on a daily basis.
One of the best ways to alleviate muscle tension and aches in the neck and shoulder region is with a relaxing massage. However, frequent massages can soon add up to thousands of dollars spent, plus you have to travel to the massage salon each time and they usually only last an hour.
That’s why a neck and shoulder massager that you can use at home is the perfect solution. You charge it up or plug it in and in minutes you can feel the relief as it massages away your aches and pains. They’re ideal when you get home from work and want to just put your feet up and relax whether you experience a stiff neck, pain in the trapezius muscle or suffer from tension headaches.
Our team tested the 12 most popular neck massagers available in the market, and found the top 5 picks based on –
- pain relief effectiveness
- price
- quality
- design
- comfort
- Relieve Headache with Neck Pain Effectively
- Smart Heating Therapy
- Mimics the Feel of Human Hands
- 6 Adjustable Massage Heads & Heat Settings
- Targets Pain Points Directly
- Cordless, Lightweight Design
- Adjustable Straps
- Comfortable to Wear
- Detachable Covers, Easy to Clean
- Use It All Over the Body
- Therapist Recommended
- 94% Verified Positive Reviews
- Often runs out of stock due to high demand
- Limited color option
Save Up to 50%
9.8
“Editor’s pick”
8,531 Reviews
Soothely
- Soothing Heat Therapy
- Boosts Blood Circulation To Relieve & Relax
- Lightweight & Portable
- Infrared heat. No more stress and anxiety
- 6 Massage Modes, Personalized Settings
- Wireless and rechargeable, Fast Charging
- 91% Verified Positive Reviews
- Avaialble in USA only
- For neck only
9.4
“Amazing”
6,092 Reviews
NeckRelax
- Innovative Heat + Massage Technology
- Improves Blood Flow
- 4 Massage Nodes
- Wireless and rechargeable, Fast Charging
- Ideal for (Tension) Headaches
- 82% Verified Positive Reviews
- Not As Effective As Our Top Pick
- Ships to USA only
9.2
“Great”
6,092 Reviews
- Inspired by the Japanese Shiatsu acupressure technique
- NTC intelligent heating
- Targets pain points directly
- Cordless design
- Improves blood circulation
- Deep tissue massage
- Soft silicone material
- 87% Verified Positive Reviews
- Takes a while to charge the first time
- Higher cost
9.1
“Great”
1,637 Reviews
Resteck
- No assistance needed
- Great value
- Great for travel
- Ergonomic Massage “Shawl” Design
- 3D Shiatsu Massage
- 71% Verified Positive Reviews
- Over advertised
- Not Travel-Friendly
- Slow Delivery
- Mixed Customer Reviews
8.6
“Good”
3,826 Reviews
- Relieve Headache with Neck Pain Effectively
- Smart Heating Therapy
- Mimics the Feel of Human Hands
- 6 Adjustable Massage Heads & Heat Settings
- Targets Pain Points Directly
- Cordless, Lightweight Design
- Adjustable Straps
- Comfortable to Wear
- Detachable Covers, Easy to Clean
- Use It All Over the Body
- Therapist Recommended
- 94% Verified Positive Reviews
- Often runs out of stock due to high demand
- Limited color option
Save Up to 50%
9.8
“Editor’s pick”
8,531 Reviews
Why 4Hands Neck & Shoulder Massager Is the #1 Pick?
Trusted by more than
Families Nationwide
The kind of neck massager you choose to buy will be determined by where you are experiencing the pain or discomfort. If it is only in the neck then you can opt for something that targets the area specifically, but if it’s also your shoulders and upper back then you can purchase a product like the 4Hands which gives an overall massage experience. If you have aches in the upper back area, this product can target it directly whereas others like the NeckRelax model are neck only.
Different massagers also have a variety of techniques that they use to alleviate the pain and can make your pain worse if you choose the wrong one. If you need deep tissue massage then a kneading motion is required whereas if you have pain just beneath the skin then consider something that offers a shiatsu to provide a lighter, shallow massage. We quickly discovered in our testing that those offering vibration only aren’t really good at relieving tension and can actually get annoying after a while.
For best results you need something that actually moves and puts pressure on the area in the same way as a human hand does. The 4Hands Neck & Shoulder Massager wins the award for this type of massage technique and you could really feel it working the knots out of the muscle. The human-touch massager worked similarly, but it was not really in the right place to hit all the usual pain points.
Something that should be picked up on is the size factor. The last thing you want is to have a product strapped to you that is heavy and weighs you down when you just want a light and relaxing massage. The NeckRelax did do this, but we found that there was actually a great deal of extra comfort offered by the 4Hands because it has a cushioned back to rest your head on.
The last thing to note is that a heat setting is essential and many of the neck massagers we trialed did not have this feature, and the ones that did weren’t really hot enough to have any effect, apart from the 4 Hands Neck Massager which had 6 settings.
Test Results
After a fortnight of testing neck and back massagers you can be certain our team are feeling refreshed, restored and completely relaxed! We didn’t realize that a neck massage not only helps the physical aspect of aching muscles, but it also helps you to feel more relaxed and confident in your daily life too.
Of all the products we tested, one really stood out head and shoulders above the rest. That product was the 4Hands Neck & Shoulder Massager, so that’s why we awarded it the full 5 star rating. There was so much to love about this neck massager that we can’t possibly include everything here, but here’s a rundown of what propelled it to the number one spot on our list.
The 4Hands Neck Massager was like having your own personal massage therapist in your home or office that you could pull out anytime you felt those neck and shoulder muscles a little tighter than usual. It’s an attractively designed product so you don’t feel strange wearing it on your break in the office or at home with friends and family.
Although we liked it for the massage element, the 4Hands has also had a number of other positive benefits. Firstly, we noticed an improvement in posture because those muscles we used to relax and slouch when sitting now feel invigorated to provide proper posture.
We also didn’t expect it to help with headaches as it’s so common to just reach for a painkiller tablet, but after 10 minutes of pleasant massage on the neck area it helps the blood flow to the brain and brings headache and migraine relief. To our surprise the feeling of the massage was nothing like we expected, it actually felt like a human moving their fingers across your neck and back and we think this is due to the three-dimensional movement the 4Hands uses, not just a massage head that goes up and down like many low quality alternatives.
The fact that the product straps to you is another major benefit as some neck massagers require you to hold them in place and adjust the pressure yourself. With the 4Hands you can wear it when you’re sitting watching the television, doing the housework, when working or even when traveling.
With everything considered, the 4Hands is the product for you if you experience sore, aching or painful muscles in the neck, shoulder or upper back. It can even be used on the legs and arms too as well as the lower back and feet. The 4Hands is delivered quickly and is now available for a limited time only at 50% off. It’s an experience you have to try and like many others who have bought the 4Hands we know you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the level of support and tension relief it offers.