Sometimes, a little foot massage could be a lifesaver at the end of a long, strenuous day. That little kneading and pampering of your feet could be instrumental in reducing your stress levels. And a well-equipped foot massager is exactly what you need to relax your overworked feet.
That’s why we embarked on a mission to find the best foot massagers in the market. We did some research about foot massagers, put together a team of testers, and ordered a number of highly efficient foot massagers.
Best Foot Massagers (Consumer Reports, 2024)
We considered some factors before picking our overall best. These include design, effectiveness, and overall value.
After careful consideration, we picked the Best Choice Products Therapeutic Shiatsu Foot Massager as the overall best. This was because of its several massage settings, washable sleeve, and deep rolling massagers aimed at taking care of the bottom and side of the feet.
We picked the best massagers for other categories, too. These machines can give you a spa-like experience right in your home. We’re going to talk about all of them. But let’s start with the best overall.
1. Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager
Without a shred of doubt, this foot massager is the most expensive of the lot. And that’s because of its flexibility. The Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager caters to your foot, your ankles, and your calves are not excluded too. You can make use of its Shiatsu therapy-style massage combined with heat to soothe your ankles after a stressful day.
As a result of the broad range of settings and the powerful nature of the massager, the machine was rated an excellent score in design and efficacy. It sends signals to different areas of the leg. The massage is two-fold: the inflatable pad applies pressure, and at the same time the machine kneads and vibrates your muscles in one of the five different modes it offers.
There’s also an additional built-in heat function that warms up your toes while the massage is going on. This makes it the perfect product for people who are always cold. However, it takes a little while to warm up, say a minimum of 10minutes. It’s somewhat heavy – it’s heavier than the typical massager – which limits its portability.
Size: 22 x 11 x 17.7 inches | Weight: 22 pounds | Heated: Yes
2. MedMassager MMF06 11 Speed Foot Massager
If you like massage machines that use intense pressure to relieve muscle pain and ease tension, then the MedMassager foot machine is for you. Unlike other foot massages, this device places emphasis on reflexology and helps enhance circulation, and reduces chronic discomfort. In essence, it’s intended to be used gradually to improve any situation that causes distress.
According to the testers, the machine vibrates rather than kneads. But they were impressed by its 11 settings. They were really amazed about how strong and efficient the lower settings were. One tester said she felt her leg still shaking even after she unplugged the machine.
Also, note that this massager is not only for the feet, you can easily spin the machine between three positions and relax your feet and legs at different angles. It delivers targeted massages and provides therapeutic relief to the areas where you mostly need it.
Size: 16 x 12 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 11 pounds | Heated: No
3. Miko Shiatsu Home Foot Massager Machine
If you don’t mind spending a bit more on a foot massager, the Miko shiatsu home foot massager machine is a perfect choice you can opt for. Not only will it make your feet warm, it will also make it tender and relaxed with its adjustable heat control. It has different features to offer customized foot massages.
One tester loves the smoothness of its setup and the intensity levels. You get good value for your money, he said.
The best part of this amazing device is that it has washable cloth covers and features two separate foot chambers. Once you slip your feet in, you can operate the massager either with the control panel on top of the machine or with the remote control. Another tester said it has a remarkable bonus feature that lets you adjust the settings, making you stay relaxed.
Other testers said they thought they were getting a professional massage at certain points during usage. They enjoyed various level of pressure it applies to their feet. However, we took some points off this massager because it applied lots of pressure to the front of the foot but the heels and arches were not lucky enough to feel the same pressure level.
Size: 17 x 17 x 9 inches | Weight: 12.85 pounds | Heated: Yes
4. Ivation Foot Spa Massager
You might want a little bit of soaking action along with your foot massage every once in a while. On those days, the Ivation foot spa massager will come in handy. This beauty is built in such a way that the massage rollers underneath the tub let you work your feet as they soak in warm water.
This foot spa massager can heat water up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, giving you an absolutely amazing foot experience. Our testers loved its effectiveness in heating the water quickly and maintaining the temperature. It also vibrates to ease tension between the feet and legs.
There are quite a number of water jets that circulate bubbles all through the tub. Once you soak your feet in the water, two built-in motorized massage rollers at the bottom perform miracles on your arches and toes.
The controls and LED screen interface is user friendly and can be easily operated. But, the device lost one point since it was on the heavier side in comparison with other foot spas in the market. It weighs 6.7 pounds before adding water.
Size: 16.5 x 14.9 x 9.2 inches | Weight: 6.7 pounds | Heated: Yes
5. Etekcity Foot Massager Machine
If you enjoy cleansing, soothing and warming your feet then the Etekcity foot massager machine is suited to your style. It uses pressure and kneading to pamper your feet and ease the tension in them. It has two pockets that are comfy and fits up to a size 12 shoe for men. Once the device is on, the rolling nodes starts to massage your soles. It arches and allows rhythmic air compression to squeeze your feet softly and give you the ultimate rest and relaxation.
Furthermore, the foot massager uses mild heat to warm up your muscles and helps soothes tension. To get the right amount of pressure, you can choose between three air intensity levels and three massage speeds, although most of our testers wanted more pressure.
Having said that, the machine rated top marks in design mainly because of how lightweight it is in contrast to other similar foot massagers. However, this might appear as a bit of inconvenience but it makes it easier to store the machine. So, when you’re not making use of it you can easily keep it somewhere. And whenever you need it, you can roll it out and tote it to your favorite relaxing chair.
Size: 18.4 x 15.4 x 10.7 inches | Weight: 11.73 pounds | Heated: Yes
6. Warming Foot Massager
Our testers are in love with the cozy pockets on this massager. They felt comfortable after dipping their feet in after a busy day. But they mentioned that the machine does not deliver a full-on massage.
This home foot massager softly vibrates at two different speeds while it heats up your feet instead of just squeezing and kneading it. It is an excellent choice for those who prefer a little relaxing treat while watching TV or reading. It’s also a great fit for the elderly and people with chronic pain who are looking for a little bit of comfort.
The machine is compact and light. This makes it handy and easy to carry about. It also contributed greatly to the high design marks we gave it.
Size: 13 x 12 x 4 inches | Weight: 1.62 pounds | Heated: Yes
7. Best Budget : Nekteck Foot Massager
For a fraction of the cost of other machines, you can get the Nekteck Foot Massager. This machine stimulates circulation and increases perfect body suppleness. But, you might have to sacrifice excellent performance based on the sheer amount of settings it has. It turns on and off at intervals and only delivers optional heat.
In as much as there are no foot pockets, it’s the perfect choice for people with large feet or anyone who is prone to sweating. As a result, the machine doesn’t hug your whole foot. You’d have to apply more pressure with your feet so as to get a thorough and befitting massage.
Size: 15.75 x 14.17 x 3.15 inches | Weight: 7.63 pounds | Heated: Yes
8. Best Choice Products Therapeutic Shiatsu Foot Massager
Foot massagers are mostly focused on the feet but the Best Choice Products Shiatsu Foot Massager is an excellent choice that can be used on the ankles. Testers loved the versatility the long cord provides, and it’s interesting to know that you can customize the massage motions. You can massage your feet with pulsing, kneading, and rolling motions.
The settings can be adjusted with the help of its remote control -another fantastic feature. Expert testers said that the device is designed to target major pressure points in the foot. Also, the open-ended foot spaces are placed pretty high so as to massage overworked ankles.
Bear in mind that this machine can produce severe pressure. Although our testers generally liked the intensity level, it could be a disadvantage if you have chronic pain or sensitivities in the feet. In addition to this, the machine is quite large. This makes it a bit challenging to store (and lug from storage to room), making it lose a few design points.
Size: 22 x 10 x 12 inches | Weight: 13.5 pounds | Heated: No
9. TheraFlow Large Dual Foot Massager Roller
This foot massager will not catch your fancy but it’ll come along nicely in relieving the tension and pain in your foot. It is no surprise it received top scores in efficacy and overall value. The massager is manual and it’s quite easy to know what level of pressure to apply based on how firmly you place your foot on it.
Having said that, one of our testers was unhappy because they couldn’t relax on the couch when using it. You have to work your feet to get the best results.
The massager has four rows of ridged rollers and one nubbed one. All of them are arranged in an arch, which imitates your foot’s natural position. The ridges are placed strategically to press trigger points on your feet, making it possible for it to hit the right spots and ease pain. Our testers especially loved the anti-slip strips on the bottom that keeps the massager in place and prevents it from moving.
Size: 11.2 x 7.5 x 2.5 inches | Weight: 1.7 pounds | Heated: No
How the Foot Massagers were Tested
Our editors reached out to pedicurists and podiatrists who spent hours making inquiries about notable foot massage brands. Then, we asked for over a dozen foot massagers and tested each for at least 20 minutes in our lab.
During each testing session, our experts reflected on factors like ease of setup, design, size, effectiveness, and value. We selected our best picks after adding all the marks and evaluating the total score of each product.
What to Look for in a Foot Massager
Massage Methods
Foot massagers have different modes and methods to ease the tension in your feet. These include shiatsu massage, manual massage, air compression, water jets and electric massage rollers. Some machines use one of those techniques while others use a combination of them.
However, shiatsu is the closest to the kind of massage you’d receive from a human being. Most massagers will have different patterns and intensities to suit your personal preferences.
Heat
Most foot massagers come with a heat action so as to increase their effectiveness and help relax your feet the more. In most cases, you’ll be able to adjust the heat setting. This way you can experience and enjoy your massager in all seasons and temperatures.
However, manual massagers don’t have a heating function. So you may have to decide whether the convenience of a portable massager is worth losing the heat of the non-manual massager.
Controls
Although some foot massagers come with remote control to adjust settings, many have a control pad mounted to them. This means you’ll have to lean forward from time to time to adjust their speed and intensity. This is a turn-off for some people. For others, it’s not a big deal.
