Theragun Relief vs. Ekrin B37 Massage Gun 2026: Best Budget Percussion Therapy Compared

Both are credible, well-reviewed massage guns with real user bases. Neither is a gimmick. But they make different trade-offs, and buying the wrong one will leave you frustrated. This guide cuts through the marketing and tells you exactly what separates them across the dimensions that matter: motor performance, noise and battery life, attachments and ergonomics, app support, and price. By the end, you'll know which one to buy.

Amplitude is the depth of each percussion stroke — the deeper it goes, the more it can reach into muscle tissue. At 12mm, the Relief is adequate for general soreness and warm-up work, but it won't satisfy users who need serious deep-tissue penetration. The Ekrin B37 delivers 12mm of amplitude as well, so on paper they're matched here. Where they diverge is stall force. Stall force is the amount of pressure you can apply before the motor bogs down and stops — it's a proxy for how hard you can lean into the gun during use. The Ekrin B37 is rated at approximately 56 pounds of stall force, which is genuinely impressive for a mid-range device and gives it a significant edge over the Relief, which stalls at a lower threshold. If you're a larger person, an athlete, or you have dense muscle groups like quads or glutes that need real pressure, the B37 handles it without choking. The Relief is better suited to lighter, more sensitive use cases — think post-workout flush, neck and shoulder tension, or users who are new to percussion therapy and don't need maximum intensity.

It's usable in a shared space — an office, a hotel room, in front of the TV — without being disruptive. Battery life on the Relief is rated at approximately 120 minutes of use per charge, which is solid for casual to moderate users. The Ekrin B37 is also engineered for quiet operation and is frequently described in reviews as whisper-quiet at lower speed settings. At its highest speed, it produces more noise, as any high-torque motor will, but it remains competitive. Where the B37 clearly wins is battery longevity: it's rated for up to 8 hours of use on a full charge. That figure reflects use at lower intensity levels, but even discounted, it dramatically outpaces the Relief. For users who travel, share a device among household members, or simply hate charging things constantly, the B37's battery advantage is meaningful and real.

Two attachments is a limitation. It covers basic use cases but leaves you without options for targeted work on specific muscle groups. The Relief operates at three speed settings, which keeps things simple but reduces precision. The device uses Theragun's signature triangular ergonomic handle, which genuinely does allow for multiple grip positions and makes it easier to reach your own back without a contortionist act. That handle design is a real differentiator and one of the best things about the Relief. The Ekrin B37 ships with five attachments — ball, flat, fork, bullet, and a flex head — giving it considerably more versatility out of the box. It offers four speed settings ranging from 1,400 to 3,200 RPM, covering a wider performance band. The B37's angled handle is also ergonomically designed for self-use and scores well in user reviews for comfort during extended sessions. The B37 is also lighter than many competitors in its class, which matters when you're holding the device against a tight shoulder for two minutes. On attachments and versatility, the B37 wins clearly.

The app is genuinely well-built — Therabody has invested heavily in it, and the content library is one of the best in the category. If you're the type of person who will actually follow guided recovery protocols, the Relief's app integration adds real value. If you're going to ignore the app entirely, it's irrelevant. The Ekrin B37 does not have app connectivity. It's a standalone device. There are no guided routines, no Bluetooth pairing, no usage data. For buyers who want simplicity — pick it up, turn it on, use it — that's actually a feature, not a flaw. No app dependency means no firmware issues, no pairing frustrations, and no battery drain from a Bluetooth connection. On price, both devices typically land in the $100–$150 range, though the Ekrin B37 often sits slightly higher. Check current Amazon pricing, as both see frequent discounts. The critical differentiator here is warranty: Ekrin backs the B37 with a lifetime warranty, which is extraordinary for this price point and signals genuine confidence in build quality. Theragun offers a one-year limited warranty on the Relief. If long-term value and peace of mind matter to you, Ekrin's warranty is a serious advantage that's hard to ignore.

The lifetime warranty alone makes it the smarter long-term investment at this price point. That said, the Theragun Relief is not a bad gun — it's just a more specific one. Buy the Relief if you fall into one of these categories: you're new to percussion therapy and want something gentler and easier to ease into; you specifically value the Therabody app ecosystem and will use the guided routines; or you prioritize Theragun's brand support and retail presence. The triangular handle is also genuinely excellent for self-application, and if that ergonomic design is a priority, it's a legitimate reason to choose the Relief. Bottom line: the Ekrin B37 wins this comparison on raw capability and value. The Theragun Relief wins for beginners and app-driven users. Know which camp you're in, and the decision makes itself.