A breast pump can help a nursing mom maintain or increase milk supply if she’s worried about running low. It can also provide instant engorgement relief. Since many parents want to offer their baby some combination of nursing, baby formula and/or expressed milk in a baby bottle, a pump can help ensure that breast milk is stored in the fridge or freezer and ready to serve.
From traditional, hospital-grade double electric pumps to relatively discreet wearable breast pumps and handheld manual versions, there is no shortage of options. You’ll find a wide price range from under $50 to over $500. “To help women choose, I ask if they will be returning to work and will need to pump outside of home, plus what their breastfeeding goal is,” said Sheila Dukas-Janakos, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and CEO of Healthy Horizons, a company that works directly with women and Fortune 500 companies that set up lactation spaces. “If you only think you’ll pump every once in a while, almost any pump will do.” But if you’re going to pump on a consistent basis? Then you’ll want a reliable, electric double pump, Dukas-Janakos said.
1
Best Overall
Spectra S1 Plus Double Electric
Pros
- Rechargeable battery works with or without an outlet
- Use as a single pump or double
- Multiple settings
- Relatively quiet
- Covered by most insurance providers
Cons
- A little heavy at 3.3 lbs
A built-in rechargeable battery makes this a favorite for moms who don’t always want to search the room for an outlet. “I definitely like not being tethered to an outlet as I’ve had to use this pump in the car several times,” one new mom told us.
The battery lasts for up to three hours. Our consumer testers, Lab parents, many Reddit users and Dukas-Janakos all confirmed that this is comfortable and easy to use as either a single or double pump (to empty one breast, or both at the same time). Digital controls make it easy to find the right customizations for your own body’s letdown process, which is what gets the milk flowing. The newer, slightly more expensive Gold version lets you dial in a different suction and speed on each side, in case each breast reacts differently.
The Spectra packs a lot of power in its quiet, compact body — great for working moms who need something efficient but don’t want the sound of their pump echoing into the hallway. Big bonus: It’s covered by most insurance providers. If there’s any downside, it’s that, at a little more than 3 pounds, this pump is on the heavier side, especially for moms who are looking for something they can tote on public transportation.
Type: Traditional double electric | Power source: Plug in or rechargeable battery
2
Best Value
Haakaa Manual Pump and Milk Collector
Pros
- Great backup to an electric pump
- No electricity or battery needed
- Affordable
- Can collect milk hands-free from one breast while you nurse on the other
- More than 70,000 five-star Amazon reviews
Cons
- Can only pump one side at a time
- Your hand will get tired if you need to use it for a long time
Unlike electric or battery-powered pumps, you operate a manual pump by hand. They are under $50, lightweight, quiet and don’t require a power outlet or batteries to use. “I primarily used an electric pump but kept a manual pump around for backup,” said one of our staffers who, between her two kids, pumped for four years.
By squeezing the body of the Haakaa, the breast shield uses natural suction to help you express milk easily and silently. It does not express milk as quickly as electric options, but the price point and ease of use can’t be beat. And get this: You can use the pump’s suction to hold onto one breast hands-free, while you nurse on the other — it will collect any extra milk that leaks out. A tester with an oversupply of milk said, “it changed my life” — no liquid gold wasted!
The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Nutrition Lab Director Stefani Sassos, a registered dietitian and new mom, calls this a “game changer” that was a “pain-free way to build up a freezer supply of breast milk.” A manual pump can only be used on one breast at a time, and be prepared for some hand fatigue. But given its 70,000+ five-star Amazon reviews, the fact that it weighs less than a pound and is priced cheaper than a large takeout pizza, you may as well try it. “It’s become a parenting staple,” Dukas-Janakos said.
Type: Single manual | Power source: For use by hand
3
Best Value Wearable
Zomee Wearable Breast Pump
Pros
- More affordable wearable pump
- Use with or without an app, thanks to LED display
- Impressive strength for a hands-free pump
- Comes with three sizes of soft nipple shields
Cons
- Not quiet
This winner from our most recent Parenting Awards comes recommended by Dukas-Janakos, who said it flies off the shelves of her two retail stores. Sassos said, “I’ve been using it every day for the course of a few months and think it’s really exceptional.”
The Zomee is an affordable wearable pump that can be used with or without an app, thanks to the LED display that’s easy to read. It’s very customizable with nine levels each of stimulation and expression. The rechargeable battery lasts about two hours.
The Zomee markets itself as hospital-grade strength. There’s no FDA-regulated definition for “hospital grade,” but this does measure a bit stronger than the Willow or the Elvie. One of our testers said she got the same amount of milk with this as she did with her Elvie and found them very comparable. Another said she thought this felt lighter and slimmer than other wearables but that it’s still long, so getting it to fit well in your bra can be a challenge, as is the case for all hands-free pumps.
Testers liked that this comes with three nipple shield sizes so you can choose the best fit (17mm, 21mm and 25mm), and Dukas-Janakos said that her clients feel the silicone breast shields are softer than many others.
One tester said there was no warning when she filled the containers, but the brand says they have fixed that. Markings show each side capable of holding 6 ounces, but a tester said she fit more like 5.5 ounces per side before she risked having some overflow. Our Lab pro noted that the Zomee is not quiet. “The noise is unmistakable. Anyone in the same room would know that you are pumping under your shirt,” she said.
Type: Wearable double electric | Power source: Rechargeable battery
4
Original Hands-Free
Willow Go
Pros
- Wireless and hands-free
- Compatible app helps track output
- Now more powerful
- The OG for multitasking, pumping moms
Cons
- Discreet up to a point
What the AirPods did for headphones, the Willow did for breast pumps: Made the experience entirely hands-free and cordless (with no dangling bottles!). You pump directly into bags that fit inside the flange-pump combo. You can use the Willow without its app, but it works well with it (for iOS or Android). Testers tell us the rechargeable battery on the Willow Go can work for two hours.
Each container holds up to 5 ounces of breast milk, up from the 4 ounces the old models could hold. The Willow Go is now also marketed as hospital-grade to reflect its greater strength.
As with other hands-free pumps, the Willow is discreet to a point — you will look like you have something stuffed in your bra (because you do!). “I look like Jessica Rabbit when I’m wearing it,” a tester told us. But that doesn’t keep users from wearing the Willow at work, or, as one reviewer wrote, even while walking around Costco.
While many of our testers are fans, they noted that there’s a learning curve when first acclimating to the pump. For example, you can’t see the flange on your nipple, so alignment takes some practice. Misalignment can lead to inefficiency, leaks and discomfort. In response to that, the brand introduced Willow 360 that costs more, but claims to use a patented latch for leakproof pumping in any position.
Type: Wearable double electric | Power source: Rechargeable battery
5
Best Wearable
Elvie Double Electric Pump
Pros
- Quiet, hands-free pumping
- App controls the pump and tracks your sessions
- App also includes pumping tips
- Multitask at work or home while pumping
Cons
- There’s a learning curve to aligning it with your nipple
Elvie is a quiet and hands-free electric option that works wirelessly from inside any standard nursing bra. You use an app (iOS or Android) to control its strength and monitor output. And even if someone walks in on you, it’s doubtful that they’ll know that you’re pumping. (Although it does make your breasts look large, plus there’s a green light that shines through light-colored clothing, so you don’t want to, for instance, give a presentation while using the Elvie.) It’s a recent winner of our Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards and Dukas-Janakos said it works well for many of her clients.
Each cup holds 5 ounces, so less than the 6- or 8-ounce containers many people use with a traditional double electric pump, but more than some other wearable pumps. The Elvie flawlessly switches from stimulation to expression mode based on its own detection. The app includes helpful pumping tips and tracks your pumping sessions over time.
The rechargeable battery lasts about two and a half hours — one tester said that she could easily use the same charge for three separate pumping sessions, and the brand says you should be able to get five or six sessions out of it. The Elvie comes with two sizes of nipple shields.
Testers appreciated the multitasking the Elviie allows. Moms who work in an office can easily use an Elvie while working at their desk, and moms who have older kids could tend to them while pumping. There’s a learning curve to nailing the alignment of the Elvie to your breasts. “I had to line it up very specifically or it would leak or not pump properly,” one tester said.
Type: Wearable double electric | Power source: Rechargeable battery
6
Best Portable
Medela Pump in Style Double Electric with MaxFlow
Pros
- Comes with a carrying case and cooler bag
- Use batteries if you need this to be even more portable
- Lightweight at just over a pound
- Many insurance companies cover the cost
Cons
- Only two choices of speed
Working moms who need something small and portable like that this lightweight pump (less than 2 pounds!) has a carrying case that’s easy to tote. Our Lab pros found that the Pump in Style achieves great output compared to other traditional double electric pumps. One tester called it “extra-strength.”
The two-phase expression technology mimics a baby’s natural breast feeding patterns. Just note, said Dukas-Janakos, that though it offers 10 levels of suction, you only have the choice of two speeds.
This is not a hands-free option on its own, but some moms make it work that way by wearing a pumping bra. Even without a pumping bra, you eventually get good at scrolling your phone or even reading a book while resting both bottles against your arm or legs. (Ask us how we know.) “I really relied on my Pump in Style to get through a year of pumping while holding down a full-time job,” a veteran mom told us. “I could pump and clean up in two half-hour breaks because the machine was so reliable and the parts were so easy to clean.”
Reviewers also loved that there’s a cooler bag included in the tote. If you’ll be away from a wall outlet, you can make this pump work with eight AA batteries (not included). Note: This is another pump that is often covered by health insurance companies, and Medela sells many accessories including breast milk storage and nursing pads.
Type: Traditional double electric | Power source: Plug in or 8 AA batteries
7
Best Hospital Grade
Medela Symphony
Pros
- Powerful and efficient
- Surprisingly quiet for how strong it is
- Signficantly increases milk output
- Can often be rented
Cons
- Heavy and not very portable
- Expensive
Traditional hospital-grade pumps can be used by more than one person (with separate accessories), thanks to hygienic precautions built into the design. This model is a powerful pump made less to be carried around and more to be used every day, multiple times a day. Our experts agreed that the Medela Symphony deserves the hospital-grade moniker. It’s frequently the model that hospitals lend out to patients, for instance to NICU parents, and it’s what Dukas-Janakos sets up in corporate lactation suites for working parents to share. “Women can pump in half the time with this,” she said.
When using this strong pump, our testers saw an outstanding increase in output. For those who struggled with a low milk supply, the Medela Symphony achieved faster letdown and milk flow and helped increase overall supply over time.
Considering the motor’s large size it’s surprisingly quiet. That makes it nice for early-morning or late-night sessions at home if you can afford to own or rent it. At over 6 pounds, it’s not very portable, so most users leave the Symphony at home or work. If the cost is prohibitive, you can generally rent this pump from a local hospital or medical supply store.
Type: Traditional double electric | Power source: Plug in
8
Best Manual Breast Pump
Medela Harmony
Pros
- Great for occasional use
- Make it your backup to your electric pump
- Features a comfortable, rotating breast shield
Cons
- Not as efficient as an electric pump
Our parenting product experts would be remiss to not list this manual option, another winner in our most recent Parenting Awards. You operate it by squeezing a lever, not the pump body itself. Medela’s Harmony is a virtually silent, wireless and electricity-free option for portable pumping — perfect if you don’t express often, for instance, to relieve occasional engorgement or clogged ducts.
The single, oval-shaped breast shield features a soft, flexible rim that can be rotated 360 degrees to eliminate excess pressure on the breast. All testers noted that the Harmony pump was comfortable and easy to use.
It’s a great backup to your primary pump — keep one at work or in your car and if you get stuck in traffic or forget to bring your pump (it happens!), this can save you. Or use it to execute a quick pumping sesh if you’re attending a long wedding or other special event. “It’s a fantastic tool to have in my pumping journey,” a tester told us.
Type: Single manual | Power source: For use by hand
