Breast Pump Reviews
- Anna
- Sep 1, 2022
- 14 min read
Updated: Jan 28, 2024
In this running post, I will keep track of different breast pumps that I've been able to try out, their features, pros and cons, and whether or not I think they're worth it! If you see one listed but not reviewed yet, I'm gettin there! Please note: all people respond to pumps differently. What works well for one person may not work for another, and vice versa. I've compiled the stats and costs of each of the pumps to help you weigh your decision- but it all comes down to how you actually respond to the pump. You could buy the "best" pump on the market and not respond to it! Or buy the cheapest, most badly reviewed pump and be a unicorn that responds to it amazingly.
Please see my Pump Hacks Quick Reference page for guides on hacking different brand parts with different brand pumps! I also have a Master List of all of the breast pumps available on the market in the US.
This post contains affiliate links- this means that if you make a purchase through one of my links, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps to support my blog and family! Read my full disclosure here.
Master list of all of my pumps:
I will sort by manufacturer, and list everything even before it's added to the review. You can click the name of brand to skip to that section.
S1 (blue)
S2 (pink)
S9
Synergy Gold
Gold Portable
Genie Advanced
Super Genie
Medela
Pump in Style with Max Flow
Sonata
Harmony (manual pump)
Legendairy Milk
Duette
Imani i2 (wearable pumps)
Unimom
Opera
Zomee
Z2
Elvie
Stride
Willow
Go
Horigen
Portable pump (name unknown, no longer available)
Motif
Luna (older version, plug in)
Duo (older version, yellow)
Duo (newer version, gray)
Bellababy
Portable pump
Ardo
Alyssa Double Electric
Baby Buddha
Double Electric
Rumble Tuff
EZ Express
Whisper
Cimilre
s6+
s5+
Momcozy
s12 Pro
m5
Spectra
You can click the name of a pump to skip to that section.
S2 (pink)
S9
Gold Portable
Spectra s1 Plus (Blue)
Power: Outlet and rechargeable battery (built in)
Size: Large - Just under 3 pounds
Cost (new): $214
Insurance covered: Can be partially or fully covered by insurance through medical equipment companies such as Aeroflow or others. Usually the upgrade fee is very low for this pump, but for the battery capability it is very well worth it.
Warranty: 2 years
Noise Level: Low
Suction Power: Up to 270 mmHg each side
Number of motors: Single motor, but can cover one tubing hole to pump single or use both to pump double.
Motor life: Expected 3 years
Buttons: Standard buttons
Night light: 3 levels
Auto shutoff: 30 minutes
Standard hard flange size in the box: 24mm, 28mm
Easy to navigate controls: yes
Massage/letdown (bacon) mode: 70 cpm. Vacuum strength levels 1-5. Intended to generate letdowns.
Expression mode: 5 cycle speeds- 70, 54, 50, 46, 42, and 38. Vacuum strength levels 1-12. Cycle and vacuum are the same on both sides (single motor pump)
Spectra s1 stays on the setting you left it on when the session ended.
Cost of replacement parts (brand name): $32.99 PER SIDE ($65.98 for full set flanges/bottles/duckbill/backflow protector/tubing/tubing caps) CAN BE COVERED BY SOME INSURANCES.
Cost of replacement parts (off brand): $29.99 full set (flanges/duckbills/backflow protector/tubing/ without bottles, tubing caps)
Compatible with other parts: Almost all other closed system parts, collection cups etc
Handle/etc: Handle on the top.
My Rating:
This is a great tried and true classic pump that a ton of moms respond well to, myself included. It is identical to the pink spectra minus the fact that the blue has a rechargeable battery! I give this workhorse a 5/5 and highly recommend it as your insurance covered pump if you don't have a ton of other options. This is almost always offered by insurance plans with a small upgrade fee, PAY IT. That charging capability makes it so worth it.
Spectra Synergy Gold
Power: Outlet only, 12v AC (can use battery pack like this one from Amazon)
Size: Large - Just under 4 pounds
Cost (new): $325
Insurance covered: Can be partially or fully covered by insurance through medical equipment companies such as Aeroflow or others
Warranty: 2 years
Noise Level: Low
Suction Power: Up to 270 mmHg each side
Number of motors: Two, both adjustable. Can pump single or double
Motor life: Expected 3 years
Buttons: Touch screen
Night light: 3 levels
Auto shutoff: 30 minutes
Standard hard flange size in the box: 24mm, 28mm
Easy to navigate controls: yes
Massage/letdown (bacon) mode: 5 cycle speeds- 64, 67, 70, 73, 76. Vacuum strength levels 1-5. Intended to generate letdowns.
Expression mode: 5 cycle speeds- 38, 42, 46, 50, 54. Vacuum strength levels 1-15. Cycle speed stays the same on both sides, vacuum can be adjusted on each side.
Synergy Gold remembers your settings for the next session.
Cost of replacement parts (brand name): $32.99 PER SIDE ($65.98 for full set flanges/bottles/duckbill/backflow protector/tubing/tubing caps) CAN BE COVERED BY SOME INSURANCES.
Cost of replacement parts (off brand): $29.99 full set (flanges/duckbills/backflow protector/tubing/ without bottles, tubing caps)
Compatible with other parts: Almost all other closed system parts, collection cups etc
Handle/etc: Handle on the back
Pros:
Powerful, good "tickly" vibration
Quiet
Aesthetically pleasing
Dual motor function great for "slacker boob"
Off brand or other brand parts can be used with universal tubing
Can be covered partially or fully by insurance
Easily viewable screen and settings in the dark, but harder in direct sunlight
Can be made portable by use of battery bank and a special "pump fanny pack"
Cons:
Can't be used easily without outlet, battery packs are available but the pump is heavy and buttons can be easily bumped in a carrying bag (such as the large Harper fanny pack by Mimiandpal - TEACHINGMOTHERHOOD saves 10% there
Touch screen easily turned on/off by child or slight bumps from objects
Not very portable, you can use it in the car if you have a power outlet or buy a cord with a car plug
Stock flanges are almost always too large, you have to buy smaller ones (off brand because spectra doesn't sell smaller sizes)
My rating:
I definitely recommend it if you don't ever need to get up while pumping - which is rare past the newborn days. I rate this pump 4/5, with one point taken off for the lack of portability. I love that you can use lots of other flange kits with these as well, such as Pumpables Liquid Kits, Lacteck flanges, Legendairy cups and more. Though I personally don't see the need to use discreet cups with a wall pump- it CAN be done. I also really love all the different ways you can have the settings, dual motors is a huge plus especially for those with "slacker boobs".
I do know that they sell battery banks and you can get a sort of pump fanny pack type bag- so it could become portable, but it's kinda heavy for that and the touch screen buttons are unbelievably easy to bump into. Literally one swat from my baby and either the suction is turned up/down or the whole thing is shut off. I've also done it myself with a small bump of the elbow.
Pumpables
Pumpables Genie Advanced
Power: Battery, 3 hour life, charge in 4.5, USB-C cord
Size: Just under half a pound
Cost (new): $180 for full kit, $150 pump only. Discounted 10% with the code TEACHINGMOTHERHOOD (down to $162 full kit or $135 pump only) Insurance covered: As of 2023, available from Breastpumps.com ! You can also get a form to request reimbursement. FSA/HSA eligible.
Warranty: 2 years
Noise Level: Medium (under 45 db)
Suction Power: 15 - 330 mmHg
Number of motors: Single motor, dual or single pump
Motor life: 800 hours
Buttons: Standard soft buttons
Night light: Screen constantly on
Auto shutoff: 40 minutes
Standard soft flange size in the box: You can measure and choose your own size
Easy to navigate controls: yes
Massage/letdown (bacon) mode: 70 cpm, constant, vacuum strength levels 1-10
Expression mode: 23 - 70 cpm between vacuum strength levels 1-10, cycle speed levels 1-3
Genie Advanced can be programmed to remember your settings.
Cost of replacement parts: Liquid inserts $12/pair, diaphragms $10/pair, tubing $10/pair, Liquid seal cap $18/pair (not often replaced), you can buy entire "kit" including bottle, stand, and hard shell piece of liquid shield for $30 per side- but the most often replaced parts are only inserts and diaphragms. HSA/FSA funds accepted on the website.
Compatible with other parts: Almost all other closed system parts, collection cups
Handle/etc: Belt clip, lanyard
Pros:
Powerful for the small size, yet not too overpowering
Portable enough to take anywhere and everywhere without holding a giant pump on your lap or table
Liquid shield kits are extremely comfortable compared to hard flanges
You can pump and walk, pump and drive, pump and use the bathroom (but maybe shouldn't), pump and carry baby, the freedom is truly limitless!
You can hook up basically any other closed system flange kits, Lacteck flanges and Legendairy Collection Cups are two that I use.
Cons:
Single motor doesn't allow for different suctions on each side
Letdown mode is only one speed (cycles per minute)
Some women actually don't respond to the silicone flanges - however this pump can be used with tons of other flange setups, it is not exclusive to the liquid kits.
The little silicone bit that covers the charging port and one tubing hole (if you choose to single pump) can possibly detach, this has been fixed in newer models though
Liquid shields need to be replaced pretty often - monthly for exclusive pumpers doing 4+ sessions per day. This is the same as duckbills from other brands (the duckbill is built in)
My rating:
I usually recommend this pump to everyone who asks me what portable pump to buy. I have heard that portables should not be relied on as a primary, but I used it as a primary for 10ish months with exactly the same output as that Spectra Synergy Gold. The portability has made it completely invaluable to me - I could not have continued exclusively pumping without it.
It gets a solid 5/5, there's very little I would change about this pump aside from maybe having another letdown mode setting rather than constant 70 CPM. I've been able to pump in places I have never dreamed of pumping, and for that I am unbelievably grateful - especially for the price point! The Liquid Shields are my absolute favorite flange setup, though I wish they could last just a little longer. However they may not be as comfortable if they were made thicker, so I'm okay with how they are. $12 a month plus the $10 a month for diaphragms is not bad at all. UPDATE: the liquid kits slowly started to not last as long, and I moved on to other flanges instead to save money. I found the pumpin pals to be the most comfortable, and required replacement of back flow protectors and duckbills instead of flanges.
I also love that the buttons are able to be easily identified even in the dark, I can turn it on, switch from letdown to expression, and get up to my suction level all without having to see the buttons. I am also a huge fan of the ability to "pause" it (one push on the power button)- sometimes you have to stop for a moment to listen for something or set down the pump before you've actually finished the session.
Not only is the pump a home run, but the Pumpables Community and customer service team are impossible to beat. I spend lots of time in the Facebook group and on the Instagram page- I definitely recommend checking those out and joining!
Pumpables Super Genie
Power: Battery, 2.5 hour life, charge in 4 hours, USB-C cord (but has to be the one it came with, I could not get it to charge with my genie advanced charger or standard USB-C)
Size: Just under 2.5 pounds
Cost (new): $259 for full kit, $229 pump only. Discounted 10% with the code TEACHINGMOTHERHOOD (down to $233 full kit or $206 pump only) Insurance covered: Can be acquired through this DME provider MilkMoms with an upgrade fee, also with FSA/HSA funds.
Warranty: 2 years
Noise Level: Medium (under 50 db)
Suction Power: 15 - 330 mmHg
Number of motors: Single motor, dual or single pump
Motor life: 1500 hours
Buttons: Standard soft buttons
Night light: Screen on and nightlight button
Auto shutoff: 40 minutes
Standard soft flange size in the box: You can measure and choose your own size
Easy to navigate controls: yes
Massage/letdown (bacon) mode:72 - 104 cpm (variable)
Expression mode: 40 - 70 cpm (variable)
Super Genie connects via Bluetooth to the Pumpables App and can run and record programs.
Cost of replacement parts: Liquid inserts $12/pair, diaphragms $10/pair, tubing $10/pair, Liquid seal cap $18/pair (not often replaced), you can buy entire "kit" including bottle, stand, and hard shell piece of liquid shield for $30 per side- but the most often replaced parts are only inserts and diaphragms. HSA/FSA funds accepted.
Compatible with other parts: Almost all other closed system parts, collection cups
Handle/etc: Top handle
Pros:
Very customizable with lots of settings and app programs.
Long motor life comparable to Spectra
Battery power for portability
Cons:
Shorter pull length compared to other pumps that some people do not respond well to (I am one of those people, I struggle with it quite a bit.)
My review: I need a bit more time to experiment with it- I only had used it a few times before my journey temporarily ended due to pregnancy and I'm due to start pumping again soon and experiment more. I wish the pulls were the same length as Genie Advanced, that would be a total game changer for me. I love that you can pair it to the app and run programs on it, you can even find other people's programs and try those out. That's an amazing feature I wish the GA was capable of doing as well.
My rating:
For the price point I was sadly disappointed, with the features like bluetooth pairing to phone and running all kinds of programs I had really high expectations. I paid almost $200 for this (during a sale, shipping included) and felt like it was a waste of money because I didn't respond well to the short pulls.
I did do one experiment where I ran that pump on one side and my Genie Advanced on the other side, and was able to pull the same amount of milk from both. But it was a hassle and not something I would do regularly.
For my own experience I would probably go 2/5 on this pump, the features and design are great but that pull length really biffed it for me.
Medela Pump in Style With MaxFlow
Power: Outlet or battery pack (with a whopping 8 AA batteries that last about a week of full time use)
Size: 1.18 pounds
Cost (new): $200 (via Target) Insurance covered: Yes, sometimes upgrade cost required (especially for units with a backpack or other accessories)
Warranty: 1 year limited on motor, 90 days on parts. (in 2021, I tried exchanging mine because it felt like it wasn't sucking much anymore and they are impossibly frustrating to deal with, they asked to listen to the pump over the phone, but left me on hold for 40 minutes before I hung up. This was during the covid era before they implemented a chat feature on their website)
Noise Level: Medium-loud
Suction Power: According to specs it gets pretty high but in my case mine felt weak.
Number of motors: Single motor, double or single pump
Motor life: "operating life 6 months"
Buttons: Simple buttons, but lack of screen makes it impossible to tell what levels you're on.
Night light: None, no screen at all.
Auto shutoff: 30 minutes
Standard flange size in the box: 21mm and 24mm "Personal fit flex" which are a very unusual, curved shape that don't fit every breast size.
Easy to navigate controls:
Vacuum Range: 50 to 240 mmHg
Cycle Per Minute Range: 54 to 120 CPM
Medela Pump in Style with MaxFlow cannot be programmed to remember your settings.
Cost of replacement parts: Full connector pieces $20/pair, Membrane only $12/pair (this is new since I had the pump, when I owned this you had only the option to buy entire new connector pieces not just membranes), tubing $15.
Compatible with other parts: With modifications, yes. Stock Medela tubing does not fit into other flange kits without an adapter.
Handle/etc: None
Pros:
Small size, portable with battery pack
Covered by insurance
Cons:
No screen, you can't see what setting you're on or change in the dark easily. This is the WORST.
Suction isn't great (mine petered out in a matter of days, warranty claim nearly impossible)
Not many compatible hacks without altering tubing
Stock flanges are not the best
Battery pack does not last long but takes a ton of batteries.
Expensive out of pocket for a truly not great pump
The tubing is extremely stiff and you can't even stand the bottles up without the tubing pulling them over
Relatively noisy compared to other pumps
You don't even know what cycle or vacuum level you're on without a screen
My review:
I did not like this pump, I used it for about two weeks before the suction suddenly decreased by a LOT. My husband had to run to Target and buy a new pump because it was 9pm, I exclusively pump, and this stupid thing would not work properly. At that time, you could also only buy replacement connectors NOT just membranes, so it was expensive to replace those. Which I felt like I had to too far too often.
I do not recommend this pump to anyone, it was a waste of my insurance covered pump. I really wish I had listened to my cousin who recommended a Spectra.
A note on my attempt to claim the warranty in 2021: there was no online option, you had to call on the phone. They asked to "listen to the pump" (I called because the suction was HORRIBLE, I don't know how they could hear that anyways) and I was left on hold for 40 minutes. I had to give up and tend to my baby and pump again anyways. I think they made me wait that long on purpose, honestly!
Legendairy Milk Duette
Power: USB-C to charge, battery power (portable)
Size: 1.1 pounds, “comparable to a pack of baby wipes”
Cost (new): $249 (can use the code TEACHINGMOTHERHOOD for 15% off)
Insurance covered: Not offered by any medical supply companies, you could probably request reimbursement or purchase with FSA/HSA funds.
Warranty: 1 year
Noise Level: Low - <60dB(A)
Suction Power: 22.5 - 270 mmHg
Number of motors: two motors, both adjustable. dual or single pump.
Motor life: Can't find that information. I've heard from some people that theirs didn't last long.
Buttons: Pressure touch screen. Power “on” sometimes hard to do on the first try.
Pause button: yes
Night light: No. Buttons also do not illuminate. Only numbers/cycle and time count.
Auto shutoff: 30 minutes
Standard flange size in the box: Choice between 21mm, 25mm, or 29mm fluidfit (silicone) flange cushions
Easy to navigate controls: Yes
Stimulation Phase: Vacuum levels 1-9 (22.5 mmHg - 135 mmHg), cycle speed levels 1-3 (80-100/min)
Expression Phase: Vacuum levels 1-9 (97.5 mmHg - 270 mmHg), cycle speed 1-3 (20-60/min)
4 Unique pumping styles-
Stimulation Phase: 9 levels of suction control, 3 levels of speed control
Expression Phase: 9 levels of suction control, 3 levels of speed control
Rapid Phase: Alternating 5 cycles of Simulation Phase and 5 cycles of Expression Phase
Auto Loop: Alternating 3 minutes of Stimulation Phase and 7 minutes of Expression Phase
Duette can be programmed to remember your settings/program for the next session.
Cost of replacement parts (brand name): Diapragms $6/pair, Silicone cushions (flange) $11/pair, tubing & connectors $10/pair, fluidfit kits (hard plastic shields/lids/bottles/diaphragm caps and stands) $50/pair
Cost of replacement parts (off brand): Pumpables parts will work with the fluidfit kits, currently no other readily available knockoffs that I've seen.
Compatible with other parts: Can be used with any other parts running the same tubing, caps may need to be removed.
Handle/etc: Small leather loop
Color(s): Rose Gold and Teal
Pros:
Small size, portable
Very quiet
Multiple combinations of letdown/expression modes and strengths
Aesthetically pleasing
Dual motors allows for different suction levels on each side
Charges with USB-C (but I can't get mine to charge with any cord except the one it came with, for some reason.)
Cons:
Expensive, not currently covered by insurance
Tubing in an awkward place if you wanted to put it in a bag to carry while pumping, buttons can also be bumped because they're a pressure touch screen
Buttons don't light up, so you have to use your phone light to see them to change settings when pumping in the dark
No lanyard or clip, only a small loop to hold it on. You have to add your own if you wanted one, but it's a bit heavy/large to put around your neck.
Buttons are iffy, sometimes sensitive and sometimes difficult to press.
Battery doesn't seem to last forever, a few sessions at most.
My Rating:
I really like this pump, it's neat. There's quite a few setting combinations, so it's easy to find something that works. I wish the buttons were different- it seems some are sensitive to touch and some aren't. So you'll get a button smacked once and it's cranked or turned off the suction, or you'll be sitting there fighting to change something. A few of my friends ordered some and the screens fell off. These are very very cheaply made from Alibaba and according to their website cost about $50/unit for these brands to produce and sell at a $205 full price. Yes, thats business, but they are so cheap in quality.
Stay tuned for more reviews as I'm able to get more pumps on hand and find the time to review!
Are you breastfeeding or exclusively pumping? (pumping is still breastfeeding, by the way)
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