Therabody has produced many of the best massage guns over the years, so we just had to try out its latest: The Theragun Sense. Along with the ergonomic triangle handle seen in many Theragun models, the Sense also has a biometric sensor for heart rate readings, as well as an LCD screen with visual massage routines and guides to help you get the most out of your percussive therapy.
Given all that, is the Theragun Sense worth your hard-earned money, or are there better alternatives out on the market? If you’re unsure, don’t worry—our experts have done the leg work to test out this massage gun and compare it to other top models available.
In this Theragun Sense review, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of this percussion massage gun, as well as who might benefit most from it—and who might want to seek out other options. Now, let’s see if this massage gun makes “sense” for helping your muscle recovery.
Experienced in Sore Muscles and Recovery Tools
The team here at Garage Gym Reviews has a diverse range of backgrounds: certified personal trainers, CrossFit coaches, and competitive athletes. Our commonality, though, is in the experience we’ve attained in the fitness industry.
With decades in health and wellness, we know what to look for in top fitness equipment and supplements, including massage guns. We’ve tested more than 30 massage guns and countless other recovery products, from the best cold plunge tubs to the best massage balls.
Our product tester Kayla Godfrey has over 10 years of experience in the fitness world, including CrossFit, HIIT, and Pilates. She tried out the Theragun Sense over several weeks and numerous sessions, and ultimately scored it from 1 to 5 across five categories according to our fitness equipment testing methodology, including:
- Amplitude and stall force
- Attachments and accessories
- Battery life
- Ergonomics
- Overall value
A Quick Look at the Theragun Sense
Localized vibrations from percussive massage guns can help increase blood flows to sore muscle groups and possibly aid with recovery and pain, as seen in a 2023 study1. Therabody made its mark in the recovery landscape with the Theragun, but has branched out beyond massage therapy to red light therapy, muscle stimulation, and more.
Along with the new health and wellness avenues, Therabody continues to expand its line of massage guns, with options like the Theragun Relief, the Theragun Prime, and the Theragun Mini—a compact mini massage gun.
Shaped with a triangle handle for an easy grip at multiple angles, the Sense has an amplitude of 12 millimeters and 30 pounds of stall force, which isn’t as powerful as the Theragun PRO, but is still enough to alleviate some muscle soreness. There are four attachment heads, which adjust how localized your massage is.
To differentiate itself from the more budget-friendly Theragun Relief, the Sense has some added perks. Both have Bluetooth connection to the Therabody app, but the guided massage routines are actually displayed on the Sense’s LCD screen. Additionally, the massage gun has a biometric sensor which can read your heart rate, increasing the gun’s functionality—and cost.
Before You Buy
- The Theragun Sense is listed with the Relief as providing a “full-body gentle massage.” For a more deep-tissue massage, you’ll want the Theragun PRO or Prime (the Theragun PRO Plus and Theragun Prime Plus include heating therapy, too).
- HSA and FSA funds are accepted for the Theragun Sense, as well as many other products offered by Therabody.
- The Coach feature within the Therabody app can connect to your fitness tracker to create free personalized and science-backed recovery plans, including massage routines and breathing exercises.
Is the Theragun Sense Worth It?
At nearly $300, the Theragun Sense is certainly a pricier massage gun, especially considering its lackluster one-year warranty. Nevertheless, it’s packed with features which will make it worth the price for those looking for this level of functionality.
Our product tester Kayla Godfrey rates the value at 4 out of 5, explaining, “I think the extensive features—the LCD screen, carrying case, biometric sensor, and multiple speeds and attachments—all packed within a sleek design make this massage gun have great quality and value.”
As long as you can look past the short warranty, this is a nice massage gun for many folks, although it likely won’t suit those on a budget or people seeking greater amplitude or power.
Great for:
- Gentle massaging and relaxation
- People looking for guided massage routines
- Lifters wanting to optimize post-workout recovery
Not recommended for:
- Athletes wanting more amplitude or stall force in their percussive massage therapy
- Gym-goers on a budget
Theragun Sense Specs
| Price | $299.99 |
| Weight | 725 g (1.6 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 210 mm (8.27”) L x 160 mm (6.30”) W x 65 mm (2.56”) H without attachment |
| Speed | 1,750-2,400 PPM |
| Stall force | 30 lbs |
| Amplitude | 12 mm |
| Attachments | Dampener, Standard Ball, Micro-Point, Thumb |
| Battery life | 120 minutes |
| Warranty | 1-year limited |
Using the Theragun Sense
The Theragun Sense was tested over the span of several weeks by our product tester and GGR team member Kayla Godfrey. “Most sessions I would use the Sense around five minutes for a targeted body part, but if I was very sore, I’d do a more general massage and spend closer to 10 or 15 minutes,” Kayla says.
She appreciated the five speed settings of the massage gun, but admits she often found herself on the highest speed of 2,400 percussions per minute (PPM). “I was on the highest setting most of the time,” Kayla recalls, “but if there was a really painful or sensitive area, I would turn it down to a lower speed.”
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Kayla also notes the level of pressure and comfort did change by which attachment she was using. Theragun Sense comes with four attachment heads:
- Standard ball
- Dampener
- Thumb
- Micro-point
You do have the option to purchase additional attachments for the massage gun, like the cone or super-soft attachments. “Each attachment is made of high-quality polyurethane and silicone, which makes for a comfortable attachment that’s also water-resistant,” Kayla adds. She rates the attachments at 4 out of 5.
Using the Therabody App
The visualized routines through the Sense’s LCD screen is one of the biggest draws of this particular massage gun. However, Kayla admittedly didn’t use the app much. So to get a sense of the app, I went ahead and downloaded the app and connected it to my Theragun PRO.
The workout app is simple to set up and connect to your massage gun; you can connect it to just about any Theragun on the market through Bluetooth. Once you’re set up, you can browse through Therabody’s library of guided massage work, for a variety of needs and uses:
- Relaxation
- Warm-ups
- Post-workout
- Working on specific muscle groups
- Addressing issues like back pain
Routines are literally step-by-step and easy to follow. With the added LCD screen, the Theragun Sense is even easier to follow, since all the information is directly on the massage gun once you get started.
A review from 20232 concluded that massage guns are effective in improving recovery as well as flexibility and short-term range of motion, but ineffective in helping with strength, agility, or explosive movements. Using the app can be a boon to those who want to optimize their recovery and prep for workouts, but athletes who already have a protocol that works for them probably won’t find as much use for the app (or the Sense’s screen).
Amplitude and Stall Force
Amplitude is a measurement of how deep percussion travels into soft tissue while using a massage gun. Higher amplitudes tend to reach 16 millimeters, which is a depth suitable for deep-tissue massaging; it also happens to be what many of Therabody’s higher-end massage guns reach.
The Theragun Sense’s amplitude is less at 12 millimeters. While we rate the amplitude at 3.5 out of 5, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a worse massage gun—it’s simply a different amplitude, rated more for gentle massaging. With its 30 pounds of stall force as well, it’s sure to still treat sore muscles. Kayla adds, “Usually, I’ll get pretty sore a couple days after working out. The Theragun Sense was a great way to help keep my muscles loose while I recovered.”
Battery Life
With up to two hours of battery life on a single charge, the Theragun Sense will last for several sessions, considering you’ll use it for just a few minutes at a time. Still, this is a shorter battery span compared to other massage units available, so it earns a 3 out of 5 for its battery life.
The Theragun Sense also comes with a USB-C charging cable, but you’ll need your own adapter to plug it into your outlet.
Portability
I myself own the Theragun PRO, and can say that the massage gun and carrying case are pretty hefty and not easily portable. The Sense is made to be much more compact, however, with a simple neoprene carrying pouch. The massage gun itself is also lightweight, weighing under two pounds.
Kayla’s only complaint? “The carrying case doesn’t have any compartments for the attachments or accessories,” she says. “You end up having to toss everything in the bag and zipping it up. I would’ve liked a bit of organization.” She rates the portability at 4.5 out of 5.
Ergonomics
Most Theraguns have a patented triangular shape and handle, making for a comfortable grip, even when you’re reaching for hard-to-reach spots like your upper or lower back. The Theragun Sense is no different with the classic triangle and a very comfortable grip according to Kayla.
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“I like the compact design; it’s very comfortable to hold,” she says. “The triangular shape of the handle allows you to hold it in different ways to get the right angle to access different parts of your body.” She gives the ergonomics a 5-out-of-5 score and notes that the handle’s texture isn’t slippery at all, either.
Theragun Sense vs Theragun Prime
We recommend the Theragun Prime as the best overall massage gun for people who want powerful percussion without an exorbitant price tag.
What our tester says:
“The triangular multi-grip handle makes it easy to massage hard-to-reach places compared to the standard single handle on other massage guns.”
With both massage guns having similar builds and prices, it may be difficult to distinguish the Theragun Sense from the Theragun Prime at a first glance, but there are a couple of stark differences. Sure, both have five built-in massage speeds and four attachment heads included, but each still has unique features.
Both the Sense and Prime can connect to the Therabody app to do step-by-step massage routines and to practice breathwork; however, only the Sense has an LCD screen that will display the routine on the massage gun. The Prime has a more primitive screen, and displays the power and speed settings by bars.
So why is the Theragun Prime priced $20 higher than the Sense? The largest difference is in the amplitude, or how deep the percussion can penetrate tissue. With 16 millimeters of amplitude, the Theragun Prime is powerful enough for deep-tissue massage, while the Theragun Sense can reach 12 millimeters, making it better for gentle massages.
You can think of the Sense as a higher-end massage gun for gentle massaging, while the Prime is a lower-end deep-tissue massage gun; for more features than the Prime while still getting the same level of amplitude, Therabody offers both the Theragun PRO or Prime Plus. You can read more in our Theragun reviews.
| Theragun Sense | Theragun Prime | |
| Price | $299.99 | $319.99 |
| Weight | 725 g (1.6 lbs) | 990 g (2.2 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 210 mm (8.27”) L x 160 mm (6.30”) W x 65 mm (2.56”) H | 226 mm (8.90”) L x 160 mm (6.30”) W x 68 mm (2.68”) H |
| Speed | 1,750-2,400 PPM | 1,750-2,400 PPM |
| Stall force | 30 lbs | 30 lbs |
| Amplitude | 12 mm | 16 mm |
| Attachments | Dampener, Standard Ball, Micro-Point, Thumb | Dampener, Standard Ball, Micro-Point, Thumb |
| Battery life | 120 minutes | 120 minutes |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year limited |
Theragun Sense vs Bob and Brad D6 Pro Massage Gun
The Bob and Brad D6 Pro delivers a lot of power in a massage gun. It could produce up to 85 pounds of stall force and an amplitude of 16 millimeters. With that sort of amplitude, it can get deep into soft tissue and muscles to help alleviate muscle soreness and jumpstart recovery. It also comes with seven attachments and a 3-hour battery life.
What our tester says:
“This thing is the most powerful massage gun I’ve used by far, and I own several at this point.”
Many people search for Theragun alternatives, and the Bob and Brad D6 Pro is one we often recommend if you’re searching for something different. Coming in at $40 less than the Sense, the D6 Pro comes packed with accessories—seven attachment heads—and a longer-lasting battery of three hours.
Compared to the Theragun Sense, it’s extremely powerful as well with an amplitude of 16 millimeters for deep-tissue work and a stall force of 85 pounds. Stall force is how much pressure you must put on the massage gun head for the motor to stop or stall …so 85 pounds is a lot of pressure.
The D6 Pro might be too much for some people, which would make the Theragun Sense a better option. The 12 millimeters of amplitude can be a more pleasant experience and a more gentle massage than the powerful D6 Pro. However, athletes looking for a deeper or more aggressive massage for their muscle recovery will likely get more from the Bob and Brad D6 Pro.
| Theragun Sense | Bob and Brad D6 Pro | |
| Price | $299.99 | $259.99 |
| Weight | 725 g (1.6 lbs) | 1.27 kg (2.8 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 210 mm (8.27”) L x 160 mm (6.30”) W x 65 mm (2.56”) H without attachment | 10.55” L x 7.64” W x 3.15” H |
| Speed | 1,750-2,400 PPM | 1,500-2,500 PPM |
| Stall force | 30 lbs | 85 lbs |
| Amplitude | 12 mm | 16 mm |
| Attachments | Dampener, Standard Ball, Micro-Point, Thumb | 7 different attachment heads |
| Battery life | 120 minutes | 180 minutes |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1 year (can register for an additional year) |
Customer Experience
Therabody has a pretty solid return policy that spans 30 days after receiving your product. The brand will cover standard return shipping costs so long as the items are returned in “like new” condition with all original packaging and accessories.
That said, Therabody has a 1-year limited warranty covering its Theragun line, including the Theragun Sense. While 1-year warranties are pretty standard for massage guns, I’d like to see multi-year warranties start becoming the norm for pricier massage guns like the Sense. (Some have already, like the Ekrin Athletics BANTAM, which has a lifetime warranty.)
You can contact Therabody through email or a contact form on its website. Therabody says it will reply back to messages within 24 to 48 hours, during its business hours of Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Ordering and Assembling the Theragun Sense
The Theragun Sense can be ordered directly from Therabody’s website, and you can also find it available from some online retailers like Amazon or Best Buy. Therabody offers free shipping on orders over $99—which the Sense would easily qualify for—so Prime members won’t necessarily save on shipping costs, although you may find a price cut every now and then.
Financing options are available through Afterpay, and the Theragun Sense is also HSA- and FSA-eligible.
GGR product tester Kayla Godfrey ordered the Sense from the website and received the massage gun promptly two days later. The Sense comes fully assembled: Just add your attachment head. “The Theragun Sense came beautifully boxed and undamaged,” Kayla notes. “Unboxing it felt like a very luxurious experience.”
Customer Reviews
As of this writing, the Theragun Sense has an average customer rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, both on Therabody’s website and on Amazon. With the majority of ratings being 5-star reviews, many customers were pleased with the quality build of the Sense, as well as the guided routines provided in the app and shown on the Sense’s LCD screen.
Criticisms on the Theragun Sense revolved mostly around the massage gun’s value. Some felt it was overpriced, either because it’s underpowered compared to other models, or because the app integration wasn’t as important to them. Older reviews complained that the model would come with no charge and the inability to be charged, but that issue seems to have been rectified.
It appears that the amount of value customers will get from the Sense depends on whether or not you’ll use the app and smart capabilities of the massage gun. If you’re not planning to use these features, there are cheaper or more powerful options available.
Final Verdict of Our Theragun Sense Review
The Theragun Sense is a powerful muscle recovery tool for those needing a bit of guidance in their massage routine. With Bluetooth connection to the Therabody app that displays guided routines on the gun’s screen, it offers step-by-step routines for warm-ups, cool-downs, and relaxation sessions, too.
However, those who aren’t needing guidance for their recovery probably won’t need the smart capabilities of this massage gun. For those folks, there are less expensive and more powerful massage guns available.
- To get the most out of this product, connect your Sense to the Therabody app for guided massage routines, relaxation exercises, and breathwork.
- At 12 millimeters of amplitude, the Sense isn’t the most powerful massage gun Therabody offers. It’s good enough for gentle massages, but athletes may need more for deep-tissue massages.
- You can break up your payment into four installments through Afterpay; the massage gun is also HSA- and FSA-eligible.
Full Rating
Theragun Sense
The Theragun Sense uses percussive therapy with an LCD screen that shows visual guided massage routines, making it a great option for users needing instruction on optimal massage therapy. Even though it’s not as powerful as some of Therabody’s other models, it still provides 12 millimeters of amplitude with 30 pounds of stall force, which will provide ample muscle recovery for most users.
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 299.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.14
Theragun Sense: FAQs
Is there something better than a Theragun?
Both the Theragun Sense and Relief are rated for gentle massages with an amplitude of 12 millimeters—not enough for a deep massage, but enough to help soothe sore muscles. However, the Theragun Relief is more budget-friendly, costing about $160, while the Theragun Sense has some added perks that increase the functionality but also the price.
Namely, the Sense has an LCD screen that displays guided massage routines performed through the Therabody App, along with a biometric sensor on the handle that can read your heart rate.
What is the highest-rated massage gun?
Our favorite massage gun on the market is currently the Theragun Prime. With an amplitude of 16 millimeters, it’s effective at getting into deeper muscle tissue, but keeps its features limited to keep the cost low—only $320.
Is the Theragun Sense worth the price?
Whether or not you’ll find value out of the Theragun Sense will depend on how much you want to use the Therabody app. With massage routines geared for a multitude of needs and goals, this massage gun integrates with the app very well, even displaying routines on its compact LCD screen. Its beta-tested Coach feature also gives personalized routines based on information from your wearable devices, like a Garmin fitness tracker.
However, if you don’t see yourself using the app too much, you may be able to find better value products for yourself in a less expensive massage gun—or a more powerful one.
References
- Needs, D., Blotter, J., Cowan, M., Fellingham, G., Johnson, A. W., & Feland, J. B. (2023). Effect of Localized Vibration Massage on Popliteal Blood Flow. Journal of clinical medicine, 12(5), 2047. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12052047
- Ferreira, R. M., Silva, R., Vigário, P., Martins, P. N., Casanova, F., Fernandes, R. J., & Sampaio, A. R. (2023). The Effects of Massage Guns on Performance and Recovery: A Systematic Review. Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology, 8(3), 138. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk8030138
