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The best wearable breast pump is the Elvie Stride according to moms in the What to Expect community because of its comfort, suction power, portability and price.
When I was pregnant with my first child and preparing to breastfeed, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one of the high-tech wearable breast pumps that were hitting the market. Now, four years after I started testing them, the range of hands-free breast pumps has greatly expanded to include even more options, at a variety of price points. Still, one thing hasn’t changed: The best wearable breast pumps are those that allow moms to pump hands-free just about anywhere.
Traditional breast pumps include a bottle to collect breast milk that’s attached to a flange and, when you use a pumping bra, you can tuck those flanges into special holes in the bra, securing the pump to your breast and keeping everything in place. The downsides? It protrudes outside your bra and you have to be connected to an outlet.
Instead, wearable pumps offer much more comfort and mobility. You can not only pump hands-free, but also much more discreetly because the pump tucks snugly into your bra. I really appreciated this convenience as I was getting the hang of breastfeeding and trying to multitask around the house, as well as pumping in public places like the office and restaurants.
Not sure where to start your search to find a wearable pump that’s right for you? Read on for our favorite wearable breast pumps, plus information on what to look for in a pump, according to moms and experts.How We Chose the Best Wearable Breast Pumps
To determine the best wearable breast pumps, I started by compiling a list of 12 top-rated wearable pumps. From there, I filtered out any pumps that hadn’t been on the market for at least six months, which is part of our product review policy to make sure the items we feature have been on the market long enough to collect a range of honest reviews.
As a mom of two who has tried a number of these pumps on my own, I also immediately highlighted the wearable breast pumps that I liked best. After that, I spoke to moms on the What to Expect editorial team about their experiences testing wearable breast pumps, and took their recommendations into account.
Next, I interviewed three lactation experts: Suzanne Chan, a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner working in the Infant Cardiac NICU at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital in New York City and a certified lactation counselor (CLC) who is also a member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board; Jacqueline Kincer, an international board-certified lactation consultant and founder of Holistic Lactation; Chrisie Rosenthal, an international board-certified lactation consultant and consultant relations manager with The Lactation Network.
Finally, I turned to moms in the What to Expect community to help me edit this list down further. I poured through reviews to better understand which wearable pumps pumping moms have had the most success with. Based on this research, I narrowed down the list to include the seven best wearable breast pumps that received the highest marks for the following:ComfortSuction powerEase of cleaningValue
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Weight: 7.9 ounces for everything
Dimensions: 9.13 x 6.18 x 5.04 inches
The original Elvie Pump was one of the first wearable pumps on the market, but the brand’s newer Stride model has quickly become one of the most popular picks among What to Expect moms, who rave about its ease of use and efficiency. Thanks to its high-tech features and slew of rave reviews, this pump easily nabbed the spot of overall best wearable breast pump .
Although the original Elvie is incredibly portable and convenient, one common complaint is that its suction (up to 220 mmHg) isn’t the strongest. Enter the Elvie Stride: Like the original Elvie, the Stride has two slim and comfortable cups, can store up to 5 ounces on each side and is blissfully quiet, thanks to noise reduction technology. But because the motor is separate (it’s connected to the cups by tubing), the suction is seriously powerful: It goes up to 300 mmHG, meaning it offers on-the-go hospital-grade strength. What’s more, the Stride is also cheaper than the original Elvie, so many moms find it easier to invest if paying out of pocket.
All Elvie pumps connect to an app, which allows you to control the pump remotely, adjust the intensity settings and check your pumping history. (You don’t have live milk monitoring with the Stride, however.) With slightly larger parts, some moms also say it’s a little easier to clean than the original Elvie, too.
The downside, of course, is that there is tubing and the motor hangs separately, which means it’s not as discreet as the original Elvie or some of the other best wearable breast pumps on this list. But many moms say they’re willing to negotiate with the tubes in order to get superior suction power at a mid-range price point.
“I have the Elvie Stride and it’s such a game changer. Not having to be plugged up to a wall and separated from my toddler has made pumping so much easier this time around for me, also helps if you need to get stuff done around the house. 10/10 definitely recommend.”
“I have the original Elvie, Stride and Spectra 1. My favorite is the Stride. My LO doesn’t let me sit all day pumping, and I would’ve given it up long ago if it wasn’t for the option to be hands-free and mobile.”
“My Stride has been my primary pump since my milk came in two days postpartum. I’m now six months postpartum and it is still going strong! I respond super well to it and it has been a game changer for me.”
Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.9 x 4.2 inches
Volume: 6 ounces per side, but it’s recommended to pump around 4 ounces
The Momcozy S12 Pro Wearable Breast Pump is a good choice for three reasons: It’s much more affordable than many of the other best wearable breast pumps , it’s free from tubing and it’s super efficient at expressing milk.
The S12 Pro offers three modes — stimulation mode, expression mode and a combo massage breast pumping mode — and nine suction levels designed to allow you to find the right force for getting your milk to let-down. Most notably, however, is that What to Expect moms find they get great output while using the S12 Pro, which has a suction of up to 270 mmHg. Several moms even say it works as well as more expensive pumps. (Worth noting: This brand has a number of wearable pumps, so if you need a little more strength, the Momcozy V1, which is also very popular, goes up to 290mmHg.)
Although many find that Momcozy pumps aren’t as quiet as more expensive pumps are, the less expensive price tag makes up for it big time. And, depending on where you’ll be pumping, the noise might not be a big con for you (such as pumping at home versus the office).
“I’m a huge fan of my Momozy S12! The suction is perfect and empties me all the way!”
“I like the MomCo S12 Pro. It personally empties me very well. Just as well as my Medela Pump in Style.”
“Definitely Momcozy S12 Pro. It’s hospital grade and empties me every pump.”
When looking for a discreet breast pump, noise level is an important consideration — and this wearable pump seriously delivers in this department, emitting just the faintest sound while it works. I used the Elvie while breastfeeding both of my sons and found that the motor was soft enough to use during Zoom calls.
In addition to its gentle sound, I found this pump to be generally excellent: It’s intuitive, easy to set up, sleek and incredibly discreet. It was small and lightweight enough for me to wear in my bra for an entirely hands-free experience. At 5 x 4.3 x 2.7 inches, it’s one of the slimmest wearable pumps on the market, making it one of the best wearable breast pumps for moms who are prioritizing portability. (The soft travel bag that comes with the pump is also perfect for taking with you on the go.) Milk drips right into an attached container, so there are no pricey bags to keep buying.
Sarah Darby, Senior SEO Strategist and mom of a 1-year-old who also has an Elvie, agrees. "It definitely fulfills its role as a wearable pump because it is super quiet, fits easily inside a nursing or other stretchy bra and I found it relatively easy to clean," she says.
As a bonus, I also found the Elvie app to be impressive (as do many other What to Expect moms). I could watch how much milk I’d pumped in real time, as well as review information about my pumping history.
One downside, however, is that the parts are smaller. I found them somewhat tricky to keep track of and clean compared to other wearable pumps on this list. The cups are also a little difficult to pour milk out of, and they’d occasionally overflow and leak if I wasn’t paying close attention while pumping (though I had oversupply, which may be why I had this issue).
“I bought an Elvie with my first and it saved my breastfeeding journey! I hated the tethered-down feeling of the traditional pumps and there was no way that I could realistically sustain a regular pumping schedule with work. With my Elvie I just used it for the whole work day and cleaned it each night. I could wear it under a jacket or a sweater and no one had a clue! I justified the expense thinking that if I could get 4-5 months of breast milk from it, that is what formula would cost me in the same time frame.”
“Elvie is great! I used it and know three friends who loved it.”
“I have the Elvie and it worked great for me! It was a lifesaver with my second.”
Dimensions: 5.67 x 4.41 x 3.35 inches
Battery life: Up to five pumping sessions per charge
Suction: Up to 245 mmHg
Volume: 4 ounces per side
Unlike the other models on this list, the Willow 360 collects milk into clever “O”-shaped leak-proof milk bags that hang beneath each pump (rather than a built-in storage container) and allow for 360-degree mobility. You can move in any position while you’re pumping without worrying about leaks. This design makes it easy to do “literally everything,” as one What to Expect mom puts it, including working, cleaning, cooking, chasing around a toddler and even sleeping.
The Willow 360 is nearly the same as the recently-renamed Willow 3.0, but the new-and-improved version includes access to 360 Care, the brand’s one-on-one virtual onboarding session with access to lactation consultants.
Although it's pricier than many other wireless pumps on the market, it has a good battery life (one charge gets you five 15-minute pumping sessions), connects to an app and doesn’t require much work on your end. The Willow has two phases, stimulation and expression, and automatically switches gears when it senses a let-down — which means even less effort on your part. Plus, there are only two parts to clean (far fewer than standard breast pumps), which you can wash by hand or pop in the top rack of your dishwasher.
The major downside to the Willow 360, however, is that each bag has a smaller capacity than most other wearable pumps (just 4 ounces per side). You also need to continuously replace the bags, which are sold separately, so over time will add to the cost of this already-expensive pump.
“I used the Willow 3.0 and with the bags, you literally can do everything. I could sleep while pumping, chase my toddler, bend over and change a diaper.”
“If you want to be able to do stuff around the house I would recommend the Willow [3.0]. The Elvie is very sensitive and you have very limited movement while using it and definitely have to stay upright. When pumping into the bags [with the Willow 3.0] it is spill-proof no matter the position, I haven’t had any leaks yet.”
“I honestly love my Willow 3.0! It’s really easy to use in my opinion and it’s great for when I’m at work. The only thing I don’t like about it is that the containers and bags only let you pump 4 oz. per breast at a time which isn’t enough to empty mine most of the time but I also have a bit of an oversupply.”
Dimensions: 2 x 5 x 1.5 inches (pump)
Volume: Varies by what you pump into: 8 ounces per cup with Freemie cups; 8.5 ounces with bigger bottles; 4.7 ounces with smaller bottles
The Baby Buddha Breast Pump is a powerhouse in a tiny package. With five levels of pumping in stimulation mode and nine levels in expression mode, you’re bound to find a level of suction that is right for you. And with an impressive suction power of up to 320 mmhg, many What to Expect moms say it’s one of the most effective hands-free pumps in terms of collecting milk. And, because it’s so powerful, moms also found that it works super quickly — some say it cut their pumping time in half when compared to other pumps. It also comes at a more reasonable price point than some of the other best wearable breast pumps .
Though very portable and lightweight, on its own this isn’t a truly wearable option. To make it hands-free, you’ll have to wear a pumping bra and use the included lanyard to hang the tiny pump around your neck or tuck it in your pocket.
“I just purchased the Baby Buddha pump and it is AMAZING! For how small it is, it pulls milk far better than my Spectra. Plus you get the added freedom of being able to move around with it! I just put the pump in my pocket. It is a bit louder than my spectra but I love it.”
“I used the Baby Buddha with my last baby. I hacked it with the Freemie cups. I absolutely loved it. It has a powerful motor and could pump the same amount as my Spectra in 1/2 the time.”
“Love the Baby Buddha! Pumping only takes about 10 to 15 minutes. It’s a powerful pump.”
Battery life: 3-4 pumping sessions
Volume: 5 or 7 ounces per pump
The Willow Go has a 7-ounce container, yet remains truly wearable and discreet. At first glance, the Willow Go looks very similar to the 360. Unlike the Willow 360, however, the Go collects milk in built-in containers, so you don’t have to continuously repurchase milk bags. The Willow Go is also much cheaper, which has helped make it a fast favorite among What to Expect moms since its release a few years ago.
As with the Willow 360, the Go is slightly larger and heavier than some of the other best wearable breast pumps , the original Elvie in particular. But many moms find it easier to use, in part because the pieces are larger and easier to clean, and the milk easy to pour: When your pumping session is complete, simply tip the entire pump over to pour milk out from the top. Plus, Willow Go’s suction is also impressively strong at up to 280 mmhg.
One thing to keep in mind is that the main pump comes with 5-ounce containers — you’ll have to either make sure you purchase the pump that includes the 5- and 7-ounce options or buy the larger ones separately (it equates to roughly the same price either way). And because the Willow Go is a little bigger than some other pumps, it’s a little harder to wear discreetly in a bra. Plus, because it has reusable containers and not the special O-shaped bags, it’s not as leak-proof as the Willow 360. If you intend to frequently use a wearable pump while multitasking around the house and bending over, the Willow 360 might be a better choice.
Finally, while this is a great pump, keep in mind that it may not be strong enough if you're pumping exclusively, like many of the other pumps on this list. "The Willow Go serves its purpose if I absolutely need to be pumping when I'm out and about," says Karen Sly, Finance Director, mom of a 3-year-old and 8-month old, "but it doesn't work as well as the Spectra that I use."
“I have [the Willow Go] and I use it for travel and love it! It takes getting some used to/playing with but I get about 4-6 ounces each time I pump. It doesn’t pump as much as my Spectra but it’s great for when I am in the car or have to jump on a Zoom call.”
“Been using the Willow Go for nearly a week and I’m really happy with it! It’s a bit loud but I’ve gotten used to it. I like that I pump the same amount (maybe even a bit more) than my other pumps but in a shorter time frame with the Willow Go. I was worried they’d feel heavy but they’re actually comfortable when wearing them in a nursing bra.”
“I have the Willow Go and I LOVE! I've had zero leaking, and haven't minded not having all the bells and whistle functions on the [Elvie] app.”
Dimensions: 10.35 x 9.29 x 5.55 inches
Battery life: 2 hours between charges
Medela makes one of the best electric breast pumps, and their Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Breast Pump is a newer-to-the-market model that’s quickly become a top choice among What to Expect moms. Very similar to the popular Medela Freestyle Flex (which has a design that’s similar to the Baby Buddha), this newer version from the same company has wearable collection cups to make it truly hands-free.
One of the Medela Freestyle’s most compelling features is how incredibly lightweight it is. Weighing less than 1 pound, this is the lightest wearable breast pump on our list, and many moms appreciate that this puts less pressure on your back and makes the pump even more wearable and portable. Another plus: There are only three parts to clean, fewer than most competitors, and the pump works with Medela’s PersonalFit Flex parts too, which is helpful if you already have them from using one of the brand’s other products.
Medela has a handy Family app that lets you track your pumping sessions and milk output. And with a suction power of 245 mmHg, it isn’t the strongest wearable breast pump but is above average.
This pump does have tubing, which some moms may dislike because it means the pump is a little less discreet when out and about. But the Freestyle remains an excellent option, especially if you already use Medela’s other pumps or bottles and can keep everything compatible.
“I was able to do EVERYTHING [with this pump], even driving. The battery lasts a lot. More than a day. Some people don't like it because “the tubes can be on your way” but what they don't say is that machine extract more milk than the other ones just because strength and position.”
Buying a wearable breast pump is highly personal, and what makes sense for someone else may not be right for you. Keep the following considerations in mind to find the best wearable breast pump for your lifestyle and preferences: Comfort: When choosing any type of breast pump, comfort is a top priority. Wearable breast pumps should feel comfortable when worn and fit properly inside your bra. Remember: Finding the right breast pump flange size is crucial to getting a comfortable fit on any breast pump, wearable or otherwise, so make sure to measure yourself using the manufacturer’s size guide. Suction: Breast pump suction is measured in millimeters of mercury (or mmHG), and higher suction power means the pump is able to express milk more efficiently. Breast pumps usually have a maximum suction of around 220 to 350 (on this list, the range is from 220 to 320 mmHG) with hospital-grade pumps in the higher end of that range. While some moms may choose to invest in hospital-grade suction to express the most milk in the shortest amount of time, others might find stronger suction to be uncomfortable and may prefer a pump that’s a little gentler. Ease of cleaning: Wearable pumps have a number of parts to clean after use — but those parts do tend to be smaller and a little more fiddly than those of electric pumps. Models with dishwasher-safe parts are generally a little easier to keep clean.Price: Wearable pumps tend to be more expensive than plug-into-the-wall units, ranging in price from $100 to over $500, says Kincer. “Most of these pumps also have custom milk storage bags that are more expensive than the other ones on the market, so your upfront and long-term costs will also be higher than other pumps," she adds.
Since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) more than a decade ago, health insurers are required to cover breastfeeding support supplies, including wearable breast pumps. However, coverage can vary depending on your health plan (for example, some may only cover hospital-grade pumps while other employers may have “grandfathered” plans that don’t require them to provide coverage for any pump). And if you’ve already used your benefit to cover an electric or hospital-grade breast pump, you may have to purchase an additional wearable pump out of pocket.
“Insurance coverage varies with insurance plans, it's best to contact your insurance provider for more specific details and find out if there is any co-pay or deductibles and if you will require a prescription,” says Chan. “Some insurance companies have specific time frames when you can qualify for a breast pump benefit. Some can be purchased prior to birth and some within a week of birth.”
Also helpful: Some brands, including Willow and Elvie, have information on their website about how to check if your insurance will cover the cost of your pump, which can be useful as you make your decision.
Wearable breast pumps absolutely work, but some moms do find the suction on some models to be a little less strong than that on electric pumps — or that leakage and other issues can crop up if you’re moving around. That’s why many experts recommend having both a standard breast pump and hands-free option available, especially if you’re going to be pumping exclusively.
For this reason, wearable pumps aren’t considered a must-have for everyone who pumps. “[Wearable pumps] are not necessary for every parent,” says Chrisie Rosenthal, an international board-certified lactation consultant and consultant relations manager with The Lactation Network. “Most pumping parents do great with a traditional high-quality double electric breast pump.”
That being said, hands-free pumps are great because they’re portable and allow you to multitask or pump on-the-go. “For the mother who truly needs to be multitasking, a wireless pump will allow her to continue to produce milk for her baby where this otherwise wouldn’t have been possible,” says Kincer.
Considering that a typical pumping session takes about 20 minutes, sitting near a power source for that much time can feel frustrating (plus a little boring and lonely) when you have so many other things to do.
“Parents who find these pumps most helpful are parents who have multiple children, and parents who have jobs that make taking scheduled pump breaks difficult,” adds Rosenthal.
Other benefits of wearable pumps include:They’re more discreet: Wearable pumps and in-bra collection cups make pumping easier when it’s less obvious. For instance, you can feel less worried about someone walking in on you pumping with these devices or even wear them while you commute.They may feel more comfortable: You might find yourself hunched over a lot when using a more traditional pump. This can cause back pain, so some parents find that a hands-free pump can actually make pumping much more comfortable.
Although it’s true that most wearable breast pumps aren’t considered hospital-grade (that’s because they have a lower range of suction power), there are a few hospital-grade models on the market. On this list of the best wearable breast pumps, both the Elvie Stride and the Baby Buddha Single or Double Portable Breast Pump have hospital-grade power.
Wearable breast pumps are designed to slip inside a bra so you can wear them and pump completely hands-free. Most of these pumps work very similarly to an electric breast pump: You put the flange in place over your nipple, turn on the pump and wait for your milk to collect.
However, though wearable pumps do let you multitask — making it possible to bend over or move around — some are designed in such a way that it is possible for them to overflow or leak should you lie down completely. Check the specific instructions for each brand, however, as some may be used lying down: For example, you can recline completely while wearing Willow pumps if you’re using the brand’s spill-proof bags.
As you may already know, it’s important to clean your breast pump and pump parts after each use. Washing a wearable breast pump is similar to washing a regular one: Each piece should be washed using dish soap and warm water, then left to air dry on either a paper towel or dish rack (avoid towels because they can harbor bacteria). Or, simply wash it in the dishwasher on the top rack if it’s dishwasher-safe.
But what’s the main difference between cleaning a regular pump versus a wearable one? Wearable pumps actually tend to be easier to clean because they typically include fewer parts.
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