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Choosing the best breast pump for your unique needs can be tricky; but, trust us, the right one can make life with baby that much easier. While some options are available through your health insurance, coverage usually only extends to a standard electric model. Given the amount of time you’ll spend pumping (sessions can last between 15 and 30 minutes!), you may consider investing in a wearable model. It’ll give you the flexibility you need while expressing milk and doing all the things! (Did we mention it’ll also keep your hands free?)
Ready to start your search? Whether you’re returning to work, or simply don’t want to be confined to one spot while you pump, here, find the best hands-free breast pumps for every need.
What Is a Hands-Free Breast Pump?
Unlike hospital-grade pumps or electric models that need to be connected to a power source, all hands-free breast pumps are more or less wireless. However, some wireless pumps are not truly hands-free, as the flange must be held against the breast to work.
With that in mind, there are two types of hands-free breast pumps: battery-operated and wearable options. Battery-powered pumps are wireless, smaller than electric models and can be used hands-free with the help of a pumping bra. But for true freedom of movement, we recommend opting for a wearable breast pump. This type combines the motor and milk-collection system in a single device that can be worn inside a regular maternity or nursing bra.
How To Choose the Best Hands-Free Pump
Before you shell out hundreds of dollars for a hands-free breast pump, take the time to consider your needs. Here are a few factors to consider before you buy:
- Weight. A hands-free pump is worn on your chest, in your bra, so it needs to be lightweight. Fortunately, these devices are designed to be small and compact, with some wearable options weighing under 1 lb.
- Noise. All breast pumps make some noise, but some options are louder than others. If you’re planning to use the pump at home, noise level may not be a major concern; but if you want to use it on plane trips, during work calls or on your daily commute, it’s best to opt for a quieter model.
- Suction speed. Speed and power are key factors when it comes to purchasing a breast pump. People that are trying to boost their milk supply may need a hospital-grade pump that sucks faster and at a higher frequency, whereas others fare well with a standard pump. Suction is usually measured in “mmHG” and ranges from around 220 to 350, which is the highest level available.
- Flange size. A flange—also known as a breast shield—is the soft, cone-shaped cup that fits over your nipples and areolas. It’s important that this part fits correctly to avoid pain while pumping, so opt for one that comes with adjustable flanges or a range of size options.
- Cost. Wearable models are the most expensive type of hands-free breast pump available. A double wearable pump can cost over $500, but you can purchase a single pump for considerably less—although this means you’ll have to express milk from one breast at a time. A wireless pump may be more cost-effective, but you’ll also need to buy a pumping bra if you want to use it hands-free. Before investing in an expensive pump, consider how often you’ll use it, and contact your insurance provider to see what’s covered under your specific health plan.
The Best Hands-Free Breast Pumps to Buy
Whether you’re looking for a discreet wearable device, or a portable pump that can be used hands-free with a nursing bra, we’ve rounded up the best options on the market. Shop our top picks for every need and budget below.
Overall best hands-free breast pump
Image: Target
The Elvie is easily the best hands-free breast pump on the market today. In fact, we rate this wearable marvel so highly that it won the Best of The Bump award for the top breast pump of the year. This smart device is wire-free, tube-free and compact, meaning you can slip it inside your bra and pump anywhere, anytime. Our Best of The Bump product tester loved the functionality of this product, describing it as “the first wearable breast pump that actually works for me.”
With the app, you can toggle between two modes (stimulation and expression) and 14 intensity settings, all while monitoring milk volume in real-time. Better yet, revolutionary silent technology eliminates noise, so you can enjoy some peace and quiet. The best part? It weighs less than 1 lb.
Dimensions: 3" (L) x 4.3" (W) x 5.1" (H) | Weight: 7.04 oz. | Battery life: 2.5 hours | Milk capacity: 5 fl oz. per pump
Most comfortable hands-free breast pump
Image: Target
Looking for a comfortable latch and unlimited mobility? Look no further than Willow 3.0. This game-changing wearable breast pump features a gravity-defying latch that lets you pump in any position (yep, even while lying down!). Discreet and lightweight, it’s designed to be worn inside your bra and there’s multiple flange sizes for a comfortable fit. Smart sensors detect milk letdown and automatically switch the pump to expression mode. And, to make pumping sessions even more seamless, its seven intensity settings can be controlled and adjusted via the Willow app, which also happens to be compatible with an Apple watch.
Better yet, the Willow 3.0 gets a vote of confidence from our product tester who assured us that the powerful suction doesn’t come at the cost of comfort or quality: “[It was] very comfortable once my nipples got used to the suction. I forgot I was wearing it at certain parts of the day!”
Dimensions: 5.5" (L) x 4.4" (W) x 6.85" (H) | Weight: 12.5 oz. | Battery life: 2 hours | Milk capacity: 4 fl oz. per pump
“/[I] didn’t notice any leaking while wearing it and bending over slightly, which is perfect for a mom with toddlers!”
- Zero-gravity latch offers 360 degree mobility
- Seven suction levels (up to -245mmHG)
- Flange, flextube and milk containers are dishwasher-safe
- High price point
- Product tester experienced some leakage when removing milk collection bags after pumping sessions
Best lightweight hands-free breast pump
Image: Amazon
Medela’s latest offering gives you the freedom of a wearable device with the suction power of an electric pump. The collection cups fit neatly inside most nursing bras and at just 2.7 oz. per cup, it’s the lightest option we’ve seen. Meanwhile the compact motor is small enough to slip into your pocket. It’s also rechargeable, giving you the flexibility to express wherever and whenever you like. Two-phase expression technology lets you pump more in less time, while the anatomically shaped collection cups help draw and capture the most milk possible from every single session.
Dimensions: 10.35" (L) x 9.29" (W) x 5.55" (H) | Weight: 5.4 oz. | Battery life: 2 hours | Milk capacity: 5 fl oz. per pump
- Weighs under 0.5 lbs.
- Only three parts to clean
- Breast-shaped collection cups
-Pump doesn’t come with a hip clip
Best natural suction hands-free breast pump
Image: Walmart
Want to capture every last drop of liquid gold (a.k.a. breast milk)? The Elvie Curve is a hands-free pump that uses natural suction to effortlessly retrieve bonus milk. The single-cup device is contoured to neatly fit in your bra, and can be used while nursing or pumping on the other breast—or whenever you feel uncomfortably full. An ideal travel companion, this wearable breast pump is lightweight, cord-free and easy to use. While it’s not the best option for heavy-duty pumping sessions, this small-but-mighty model can collect up to 4 oz. of milk that may otherwise go to waste. Better yet, it’s dishwasher-safe and there are only two parts to clean—score!
Dimensions: 5.13" (L) x 4.72" (W) x 2.67" (H) | Weight: 4.8 oz. | Battery life: N/A | Milk capacity: 4 fl oz.
- Collects bonus milk
- Affordable price point
- Dishwasher-safe
- Manual pump isn’t as powerful as battery-operated or electric models
- Lower milk capacity than other options
Best portable hands-free breast pump
Image: Target
After something a little less bulky? Check out the BabyBuddha Portable Breast Pump, which is about the size of an iPhone and is compatible with wearable collection cups. For hands-free use you’ll need to wear a pumping bra, but the hospital grade suction levels (53-315 mmhg)more than makes up for this slight inconvenience. You’ll also appreciate its gentle suckling pumping pattern that closely mimics the experience of breastfeeding.
It may be compact but this device packs a powerful punch, a fact that was noted by our product tester who said “for how small and portable this pump is, it is extremely powerful.” Need to adjust the pump’s settings? No problem—you can do so with the intuitive trackball control, and get back to expressing in no time.
Dimensions: 13.5" (L) x 4.25" (W) x 11.5" (H) | Weight: 1.41 oz. | Battery life: 1 hour | Milk capacity: 4.73 fl oz.
“I would recommend this pump if you are looking for a more portable option to your standard breast pump. It’s just as powerful and it’s easy to use.”
- Quiet mechanism
- Hospital-grade suction
- Easy to use interface
- Hands-free pumping bra sold separately
Best affordable hands-free breast pump
Image: Amazon
Hands-free breast pumps tend to be expensive, but this pick from Bellababy is a budget-friendly option for new moms. So much so that it was even highlighted in our Best of The Bump roundup as our pick for the best affordable wearable breast pump. This option is equipped with four modes and nine suction levels, so you can customize each session to meet your needs. Plus, the hands-free breast pump is made from soft, food-grade silicone parts, so you can ensure a comfortable fit. When you’re done pumping, simply pour the milk from the top spout into a bottle for added convenience. And if you’re worried that a lower price means a cheap product: Don’t. Our product tester told us, “The quality of this pump is great. It will definitely last for more than one kid.”
Dimensions: 6.77" (L) x 5.71" (W) x 3.35" (H) | Weight: 1.41 lbs. | Battery life: N/A | Milk capacity: 6 fl oz. per pump
“I would recommend this pump a million times over. It’s comfortable, small and you can bring it anywhere.”
- Reviewers say it’s easy to assemble and clean
- Available in several color options
- Affordable price point
- Bulky and not very discreet, according to reviewers
Best fast-pumping hands-free breast pump
Image: Walmart
Time is precious for new moms, making a fast-acting breast pump worth its weight in gold. Enter: This sleek, quick option from Momcozy. Designed for moms that pump several times a day, a 30 minute cycle empties your breasts and a single charge covers up to 8 pumping sessions. The flange has a sealed edge that fits more closely to the breast than other models, resulting in more efficient sessions, while also reducing the risk of leakage. And to meet your unique pumping needs, it has two modes (stimulation and expression) and nine levels that stimulate milk flow and effectively empty your breasts. Like the Elvie and the Willow—this wearable breast pump fits inside your bra—but at under $200, it costs considerably less. Plus, it doesn’t come with any of the usual cords or long tubes; instead, the flanges, milk-collection containers and motor are combined into two separate pumps.
Dimensions: 2.43" (L) x 11.02" (W) x 6.69" (H) | Weight: 1.12 lbs. | Battery life: 3 hours | Milk capacity: 6 fl oz. per pump
- Strong suction (280 to 300 mmHg)
- Close fit for more efficient pumping sessions
- Affordable price point
- Different flange sizes sold separately
Best hands-free breast pump with sleep timer
Image: Amazon
Last on our list of the best hands-free breast pumps is this wearable system by Freemie. While it isn’t completely wireless—a dual cord connects the various parts—this pump still allows greater freedom of movement, thanks to wearable cups and an external motor that clips onto your waistband. This device also boasts a programmable sleep timer that automatically shuts off the pump when your session comes to an end. Want to convert a pump you already own to a hands-free option? You’re in luck—the Freemie collection cups are sold separately and can be used with a range of different models.
Dimensions: 4.45" (L) x 4.45" (W) x 2.75" (H) | Weight: 1.2 lbs. | Battery life: Approximately 1 hour | Milk capacity: 8 oz. per pump
- Each cup can collect up to 8 oz. of breastmilk
- Sleep timer
- Not wire-free
- According to some reviewers, the battery life is poorer than expected
How We Chose the Best Hands-Free Breast Pumps
We get it—being a new mom often means picking out a lot of new parenting and baby gear, and it can be overwhelming at times. To help you find the best hands-free breast pump, we’ve done the research and scrolled through tons of options so you don’t have to. When sourcing products, we considered a list of criteria, such as ease of use, noise level, weight, suction speed, flange size and cost. This way, you can count on getting the best bang for your buck, while also having a dependable product that will meet your needs.
To decide which hands-free breast pumps are the best on the market, we leveraged our familiarity with leading brands and online retailers to make sure items are from reliable manufacturers. We read user reviews to get the lowdown on how these products work for real moms, and didn’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating.
Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Best Breast Pumps to Suit Your Needs
Pumping 101: How to Pump Breast Milk
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