We Tested Breast Pumps: These Are the Most Comfortable, Convenient, & Effective

Best Standard Electric Pump

Spectra S2 Plus Electric Breast Milk Pump

$165 at Amazon $153 at Target $172 at Walmart

Why We Like It

Parents, editors, and testers agree that the Spectra S2 truly has it all. It’s powerful yet lightweight, effective, incredibly quiet, and easy to clean. We especially appreciated its customizable settings and built-in timer. The machine pumped more milk, more comfortably, thanks to its massage mode and high suction rate of 270 mmHg. 

The simple-to-use display screen has several buttons, including for cycle, suction, light, and power. The screen’s backlight makes pumping at night or in dimly lit spaces so much easier. 

But Take Note

The parts don’t break down into individual pieces, so if you plan on traveling with this pump, you’ll need a large bag to stash it all.

The Details

• Pump Type: Double electric hospital-strength
• Portable: No
• Battery: None
• Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Suction Strength: 270 mmHg
• Accessories Included: Four flanges in two sizes (24 mm and 28 mm), power cord, two bottles, two duckbill valves, two backflow protectors, two tubes

Best Portable Electric Pump for First-Timers

Lansinoh Smartpump 3.0 Rechargeable Breast Pump

$124 at Amazon $111 at Walmart View on Lansinoh.com

Why We Like It

The durable, compact Lansinoh Smartpump 3.0 comes with everything you need to start pumping: three flange sizes, bottles, nipples, and a cooler. First-time pumpers will love how easy it is to control the pump with the app. You can adjust the mode and suction, track how much you’ve pumped, and log your baby’s feeding times and diaper changes. 

Our tester ended up preferring the 3.0 over other pumps (including the one she’d been using for three years) thanks to its efficient letdown mode, secure flanges, and comfortable, effective suction. The pump is unique in that it allows you to pump directly into storage bags for simple freezer stashing. 

But Take Note

The pump is heavy and comes with a lot of parts, but each part is color-coded so you can distinguish the parts from each other.

The Details

• Pump Type: Portable double electric hospital-strength
• Portable: Yes
• Battery: Rechargeable battery-powered or plug-in; power cord included
• Weight: 4.62 pounds
• Suction Strength: Not listed
• Accessories Included: Three sets of flanges (25 mm, 28 mm, and 30.5 mm), pump motor, cooler, four bottles

Most Portable Electric Pump

Spectra 9 Plus Breast Pump

$181 at Amazon View on Spectrababyusa.com View on Babylist.com

Why We Like It

Using a pumping bra, this pick offers a hands-free, fully mobile pumping experience thanks to its portable, rechargeable motor. You can tuck the motor in your bra, let it hang, stash it in a pocket, or hold it. Testers loved how streamlined and lightweight yet powerful it was and appreciated its 10 different suction levels.

This double electric pump is very easy to clean. The silicone membrane on the pump flange never comes into contact with your breast milk, so you don’t have to wash and sterilize it every time you pump. At under $200, this is also the most affordable portable pump we tested. 

But Take Note

In testing, we noticed that the suction improves when the motor is plugged in, rather than battery-powered, and the motor was a little too loud to use discreetly on a work call. Additionally, it only comes with one flange size and no clip for the motor. 

The Details

• Pump Type: Portable double electric
• Portable: Yes
• Battery: Rechargeable and AC power cord
• Weight: 0.5 pounds
• Suction Strength: 260 mmHg
• Accessories included: 24 mm flanges, two tubes, two duckbill valves, two backflow protectors, two wide-neck bottles

Strongest Portable Electric Pump

Spectra S1 Plus Electric Breast Pump

$230 at Amazon $199 at Target $190 at Walmart

Why We Like It

Think of the Spectra S1 Plus as the workhorse of breast pumps: It’s been around for a while and is more than capable of handling pumping ‘round the clock. You will get effective, comfortable suction for reliable milk output. The S1 is easy to operate and even allows you to save your favorite settings. We were thoroughly impressed by its durability, battery life, and power.

It’s considerably less expensive than many others that offer similarly powerful, adjustable suction. The battery can hold its charge for several hours, permitting you to sit anywhere rather than being tethered to an outlet. It comes with two different flange sizes, and cleaning is a breeze. 

But Take Note

It’s loud and doesn’t default to letdown mode when you first turn it on. It’s bulky and heavy. 

The Details

• Pump type: Double electric, hospital-strength
• Portable: Yes
• Battery: Rechargeable with AC power cord
• Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Suction Strength: 270 mmHg
• Accessories included: Two sets of flanges (24 mm and 28 mm), two tubes, two duckbill valves, two backflow protectors, two wide-neck bottles

Other Spectra Pumps We Like

Spectra SG Portable Breast Pump

$350 at Amazon $325 at Target View on Spectrababyusa.com

Spectra Synergy Gold Double Electric Breast Pump

$325 at Amazon $326 at Target View on Babylist.com

Best Portable Electric Pump for Commuters

Evenflo Deluxe Advanced Double Electric Breast Pump

$130 $105 at Amazon $153 at Target $155 at Walmart

Why We Like It

We love how straightforward and quiet this pump is. Reliable and portable, the Evenflo Advanced features independent speed and suction controls and can be powered by a wall outlet, batteries, or a car outlet (batteries and car adapter not included). This “deluxe” set includes the pump, three flange sizes, four bottles, a cooler bag, three ice packs, an AC adapter, extra valves and membranes, and a shoulder bag to carry it all. 

In addition to the car adapter, other handy accessories that can be purchased separately include an adapter that allows you to pump directly into milk storage bags and an adapter that lets you pump into wide-neck bottles.

But Take Note

Aside from being awkward to carry around due to the lack of a handle, this pump was difficult to clean. We also found the suction lacking, despite the “hospital-grade” label.

The Details

• Pump Type: Portable double electric
• Portable: Yes
• Battery: AC power cord (included) or six AA batteries (not included)
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Suction Strength: 250 mmHg
• Accessories Included: 24.5 mm, 28 mm, and 30.5 mm flanges; four bottles; cooler bag; three ice packs; extra valves and membranes; shoulder bag 

Best Wearable Pump

eufy Wearable Breast Pump S1 Pro

$350 at Amazon View on Babylist.com View on Eufy.com

Why We Like It

Testers found this pump incredibly comfortable thanks to its soft silicone flanges. It comes fully assembled and only comprises an electric hub and four washable pieces. You can toggle between stimulation and expression modes and choose among seven intensity levels and three speeds in each mode. The pump is quiet and durable, and the heated flange feature makes pumping a luxurious experience. 

The associated app is very intuitive: You can control each pump separately, sync them, set a shut-off timer, and adjust the heating function. An app means not having to reach into your bra to make adjustments, leaving you free to do chores, work, or play with your kids. One unique accessory is the nipple measurer to help you find just the right flange size. 

But Take Note

Getting the flange around the milk container is tricky, but if you don’t install it correctly, milk will leak out while you pump. The pump doesn’t come with storage solutions, so you must transfer the milk to bags or bottles after pumping. Finally, the hub’s many buttons may require a close reading of the instructions to navigate.

The Details

• Pump Type: Double electric wearable
• Portable: Yes
• Battery: Two charging cables to charge each cup separately, charging case to charge cups together; charges in a few hours for up to five days of power
• Weight: Not listed
• Suction Strength: 300 mmHg
• Accessories Included: 17 mm to 24 mm flange sizes, nipple sizer, cleaning brush, dust covers, charging case, spare duckbill

Strongest Wearable Pump

Elvie Stride Breast Pump

$200 at Amazon View on Elvie.com $250 at Kohls.com

Why We Like It

With the wearable Elvie Stride, milk is collected inside cups that tuck into your shirt or regular bra. Two short tubes connect the cups to a small motor. This external motor gives the Stride increased pumping power—enough to classify it as “hospital-grade” strength, which equals more milk production in less time. We found the milk output on par with the top pumps we tested. 

The motor is battery-powered and fully mobile; you can hang it around your neck like a lanyard, tuck it in your pocket, or clip it to your clothes. The associated app monitors milk levels while pumping and logs your history. With the app, you can program the pump, turn it on and off, and switch between 20 pumping modes. 

But Take Note

One tradeoff with wearable pumps is that it’s difficult to see how much milk you’re pumping. Pouring the milk into new containers is also tricky; our tester found this pump particularly prone to spillage. Also, the pump doesn’t come with a wall charger, and the parts must completely dry between sessions to get a good seal. 

The Details

• Pump Type: Double electric wearable
• Portable: Yes
• Battery: Built-in rechargeable battery, 3-hour charge; charging cable
• Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Suction Strength: 300 mmHg in single-cup set-up
• Accessories Included: Two cup fronts, two cup seals, 24 mm flanges, two caps, tube splitter, two short tubes (for the cups), one long tube (for the hub), clip, cover, two valves, two diaphragms

Best Wearable Pump Display Screen

Legendairy Milk Imani i2 Plus Wearable Breast Pump

$150 at Amazon View on Legendairymilk.com

Why We Like It

Our tester loved the easy-to-read LCD screen on this pump. They appreciated that they could look down at any moment and know which mode was selected, the current suction level, and how long they’d been pumping. The Imani i2 is unique among wearables for its leak-proof design, which meant testers could go about their day without worrying about spillage. 

Reliable milk output was another prized feature of this pump—this is not always the case with wearables. Since the measurement levels are printed on the side of the pump, our tester could accurately determine how many ounces she’d pumped without having to try to balance the cups vertically as she does with other wearable pumps.  

But Take Note

Our tester felt this five-piece cup was tricky to assemble. It doesn’t come with milk storage containers, so you must pour the milk into bottles or bags after pumping. 

The Details

• Pump Type: Electric wearable; can purchase one or two cups
• Portable: Yes
• Battery: Rechargeable battery, includes two charging cables, lasts 2.5 hours 
• Weight: 1.85 pounds 
• Suction Strength: 300 mmHg
• Accessories Included: Double pump comes with two motors, two 7-oz plastic cups, two silicone membranes, 25 mm silicone flanges, 21 mm silicone inserts, two valve bases, two duckbill valves

Best Manual Pump

Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump

$29 at Amazon $29 at Target $29 at Walmart

Why We Like It

You can’t get much simpler than this pump: It requires no charging, electricity, or special accessories. We loved that we could toss the Harmony in our bag for easy traveling, and the suction is entirely controlled by how hard and quick you press the handle. Some of us who haven’t had luck with electric pumps have much better experiences with a manual one. 

It’s such a relief that you get everything you need to pump right out of the box, including a 5-ounce bottle, lid, and 24 mm flanges. It also comes with a stand, which is great to have while you prep a storage container for the milk or prepare to pump the other side. No spilled milk here!

But Take Note

Your hand will get tired after a full session of pumping—there’s no way around that—and, of course, there’s no option to hide it under your shirt or use it hands-free.

The Details

• Pump Type: Single manual suction
• Portable: Yes
• Battery: None
• Weight: 9.3 ounces
• Suction Strength: Not listed
• Accessories Included: 24 mm flanges, bottle with lid, valve and membrane, connector, bottle stand

Best Manual Pump to Catch Letdown

Haakaa Manual Breast Pump

$13 at Amazon $13 at Walmart

Why We Like It

Powered solely by suction, rather than a motor or manual pumping action, the Haakaa seals to your breast, then the vacuum action works its magic. The single-piece pump collects up to 4 ounces of milk at a time. Because of its very low price point and the fact that the whole pump can be tossed in the dishwasher, it’s a great addition to your feeding journey.

We felt the Haakaa is best used at the beginning of your breastfeeding journey while your supply adjusts—you can easily pop it on one breast to collect the letdown while your baby nurses on the other side, making things considerably less messy. 

But Take Note

If you’re using it for full pumping, you might want to keep an eye on the seal to make sure it doesn’t come dislodged, because we found that can happen without really noticing. And though it’s completely silent, you can’t hide this device under a shirt if you want to be discreet.

The Details

• Pump Type: Single manual suction 
• Portable: Yes
• Battery: None
• Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Suction Strength: Not listed
• Accessories Included: Bundles available that include a stand and/or lid