The Best Breast Pumps—Whether You Nurse, Exclusively Pump or Combo Feed

The Spectra S1 Plus easily rises to the top of our list as the best breast pump overall for most people. It’s packed full of features like a game-changing rechargeable battery and was voted the most-loved breast pump among Babylist parents. 

Whether you're pumping exclusively or just occasionally, it's important to have a reliable primary electric pump in your stash of feeding supplies. The Spectra is one of the most popular options parents get through insurance. 

One Babylist parent wrote in our annual most loved products survey, “This pump gave me the best output always, it was quiet and the suction is amazing without pain. It is not the most discreet or portable but the performance outweighs any inconveniences.” The S1 also delivers big power with less noise than many comparable pumps; It runs at about 45 dB—roughly library-quiet. The quiet function makes up for its larger size.

Part of what makes this pump work for so many parents is the customization options. The digital controls let you adjust the pump’s speed and suction settings, offering multiple levels of each so you can mix and match to maximize both comfort and output. 

The rechargeable battery lasts up to three hours and allows you to pump cord-free, something many parents feel they can’t live without. Dianna Dixon, a certified lactation consultant and founder of Pump With Purpose, recommends choosing a primary pump with a rechargeable battery to give you a bit more flexibility and freedom when you're pumping—something she says can alleviate any negative feelings that might arise from feeling tethered to a pump. 

We love the thoughtful extras, like how the pump remembers your precise settings from your last session and automatically reverts to those the next time you turn it on. Senior gear editor Jen LaBracio, who used and loved this pump for over two years, adds that she found the pump timer and the nightlight for late-night sessions helpful, too.

Worth noting:

• Weighing around three pounds, this pump isn’t the best for lugging around.

• There is a learning curve with any breast pump. This “Pumping 101” explainer from Spectra can help you figure out which settings to try first, but once you find the right suction strength and rhythm, the pump can remember the settings. 

• If you’re deciding between the Spectra S1 or S2 Plus, know that the main differences are price tag (the S2 is cheaper) and portability—the S2 doesn’t have a rechargeable battery so you’ll need to be plugged in while pumping. 

The Motif Luna popped up in our survey as another favorite electric breast pump, so of course we had to take a closer look. It turns out, many parents compare it to the Spectra’s primary pump energy, but find it a little more gentle and intuitive. “I really like my wearable Motif pumps. They get the same output as my wall pump (Spectra) and the silicone flanges are comfortable,” one shared. It has 12 expression levels and five massage levels, so there's a lot of room to customize within that range to find what works best for your body. The suction strength is efficient and like the Spectra, falls in the range of a hospital-grade strength pump (which typically range 250–300 mmHg).

The Luna is a bit more compact than the Spectra, so some parents say they like to use it as their work pump. It's also got a pretty quiet motor, about a 45 decibel low hum, meaning it’s more discreet than louder options. It gets up to two hours of pumping between charges but you can also use it plugged in. You can usually get the Motif Luna through insurance, but if you wanted to buy it as a secondary pump or one for work, it's rather affordable at just under $200.

Worth noting:

• The Motif’s motor is efficient, though there are quite a few reviews where parents say their motor has gone out after a few months of consistent use. One parent shared in their review, “As an exclusive pumper it’s a huge deal when the motor on your main pump goes out and you have to wait for a replacement.” 

• Another parent shared a similar experience, “I love this pump, when it works. I have had to file two claims as the pump's suction just stops working after a month or so of use. It is extremely frustrating as an exclusive pumper.” For what it’s worth, there is a newer version of the pump that seems to have fewer mentions of a bad motor.

A well-known favorite among pumping parents, the BabyBuddha breast pump is revered for its power and portability. It’s what’s known as a portable pump: a cross between a traditional electric breast pump and a wearable. It’s hands-free, but not cord-free—you’ll still need to run tubing from the pump to your flanges. But the motor is strong and the pump weighs just half a pound, so it’s small enough to wear around your neck or in your pocket. 

The portable hybrid design works well for someone who wants the convenience of a wearable pump but the strength of a traditional one. And unlike true wearables, you can use this pump as your primary breast pump if you’d like—the highest setting on the BabyBuddha exceeds that of the (much, much larger) Spectra.

This 2.0 model is the new and improved version of this popular pump. The 2.0 offers six levels of “soft” stimulation, six levels of classic and nine levels of expression mode that are meant to give you more customization for suction strength and rhythm. These changes were made in response to many pumpers’ feedback that the original suction levels were too strong. Several testers we spoke to noticed a big difference with the 2.0 version, most noting that the pump was now much more comfortable to use. One Babylist parent wrote in our most-loved products survey, “The Baby Buddha 2.0 has a softer option but essentially I love how it can empty more and is more portable.”

You can purchase BabyBuddha’s hands-free collection cups separately to give you a wearable option. Another thing parents love about this pump is that there are tons of BabyBuddha hacks to help you figure out how to use it with other pump brands’ components. These tricks are useful if you have a particular brand or style of flange or collection cup that you respond well to and find comfortable, since you can pair them with your BabyBuddha pump.

Worth noting:

• Although the newer version is said to be gentler than the original version, a few parents mentioned it was still a bit too strong for them.

• The brand touts the pump as being quiet, but we think it’s actually on the louder side when compared to many other pumps.

• Many pumpers complain about a short battery life. 

• While the pump parts are top rack dishwasher safe, the brand recommends hand washing.

Pumpables Genie is another popular portable breast pump that parents mentioned in our survey. “Being able to move freely is a game changer. It is small enough to take back and forth to work and holds a charge really long. The suction is great—comparable if not better than my Spectra,” one Babylist parent shared in our survey. 

A few specifically called it out for being their go-to primary pump when they went back to work, and they also mention it performs similarly to their Spectra pump. Another Babylist parent said, “As an exclusive pumper, it was very reliable and was able to extract milk efficiently. The silicone parts made it more comfortable than plastic flanges.” 

Speaking of those silicone parts, the Pumpables Genie makes a unique, optional liquid shield kit (you can get them bundled with your pump or purchase separately). These are a silicone flange insert that parents say makes pumping way more comfortable. The brand offers six different sizes to choose from, allowing you to get the best fit right from the start. 

Compared to the other electric portable pumps on this list, it's also got a pretty long battery life of up to four hours. And if you do need to charge it while you're out and about or at home, you can use your phone charger (it’s compatible with any USB-C option).

Worth noting:

• The one genuine nuance worth noting is the flange/cup compatibility trade-off: it performs best with traditional flanges but loses some power with wearable collection cups.

The eufy S1 Pro proved to be a sleeper hit among Babylist parents who use wearable breast pumps, and the standout feature is immediately obvious: heat. The seven adjustable warmth settings (95°F–105°F)  are built into the pump itself, designed to encourage and increase milk flow—and you can pre-warm the cups up to 15 minutes before your session even starts. For parents who've struggled with wearable output, that warm-up period alone can make a noticeable difference.

Beyond heat, the customization is unmatched for a wearable. The eufy app lets you control each pump side independently, adjusting from seven suction intensities, three cycle speeds and four OptiRhythm pumping rhythms—so if your right and left sides respond differently (they usually do), you're not stuck splitting the difference. The app also logs milk volume, tracks session history and includes an intelligent planner with Smart Timer to help you schedule sessions around your peak output times.

The leakproof, double-sealed silicone design fits in-bra discreetly, and the flange sizes range from 17mm to 24mm. If you're concerned about the open top causing spills, third-party plug covers are an easy fix—a few parents flagged this and solved it exactly that way.

Worth noting:

• The pumps only charge inside the magnetic case—there's no way to plug them in directly, so staying on top of case charging is key, especially for exclusive pumpers doing multiple sessions a day.

• These run a bit louder than some wearable competitors. It's not disruptive in most settings, but it's not silent either.

• The top opening on the pump cup can be a leakage point if you're not careful about positioning. 

Many parents aren’t sure how a wearable pump will perform for them or how often they’ll use one. At less than the cost of most wearables, the M5 from Momcozy is a good way to test the waters without breaking the budget. About 22 percent of pumping parents in our survey use Momcozy as their secondary pump, and the M5 leads the lineup. It’s also a good option if you know you’ll need a wearable but only on occasion.

“I didn’t think it would be that great since it was so cheap and I had a crazy oversupply, but it was great to have when I would go to a hockey game or somewhere with my husband that would have me out of the house past ‘pumping time,’” one Babylist pumper told us. “I would pump in the car to or from wherever we went, [and] the Momcozy took just enough off the top that I was comfortable until we got home and I could use my regular pump.”

Unlike some of Momcozy's wearable pumps in which the motor sits on the top exterior portion of the cups, the M5's motors are built right into each pump. (You'll pay slightly more for this feature, but it helps make pumping more discreet.) The clear cups are lightweight and slip right into your bra. They're also angled to mimic baby's sucking angle. The pump features three modes and nine suction levels and a run time of about one and a half hours. And it comes with three different sizes of flange inserts so you can find a custom fit without having to order anything separately.

Worth noting:

• If you’re comparing the M5 to other more expensive wearables, know that it holds slightly less milk and is more prone to leaks. 

• Some pumpers also report that the pump stops working properly (the most common complaints are that one of the motors starts to lose suction and that the battery is inconsistent), but that isn’t the case for all users.

• If you’re looking to get this pump through insurance with Babylist Health, the single version is not covered. 

This is the runaway winner of the manual pump category—58 percent of manual pump users in our survey named the Harmony their favorite. This pump is ideal if you’re an occasional pumper or for when you’re on the go and need to express a few ounces quickly and without the hassle or bulk of a full-size pump (think date night, a long car trip, etc.). Since it’s small, silent and doesn’t involve any cords, discreet pumping is pretty easy. Its angled design allows you to sit comfortably when you pump, ensuring milk flows naturally into the container. It even comes with a bottle stand to help prevent a spill. 

“I bought it in a pinch because I forgot to pack part of my electric pumps on a trip out of town. I’ve officially left my electric pump in the dust and will never look back,” is what one pumping mom had to say about this manual breast pump from Medela in our most loved products survey. “[It’s] much more simple. I don’t have to worry about charging it, and it has much fewer parts to clean. Transferring the milk into bags is easier, quicker and cleaner. It’s also easier to take on the go. I wish I’d bought it sooner.”

Manual pumps often get overshadowed in the tech-heavy world of breast pumps, but they’re invaluable to some pumpers. They’re straightforward, affordable, portable and they work—and you’ll never have to worry about finding an outlet or running out of battery. I’ve tried several manual pumps and always come back to the Medela Harmony due to its comfort and effectiveness.

Worth noting:

• By design, this isn’t a hands-free pump option. And yes, your hand will likely get tired, but if you’re only using it periodically, many parents agree it’s not a deal breaker.

• A manual pump is not a replacement for a primary electric pump. It won’t yield the same output and could potentially lead to a supply dip if you use it exclusively.

Tons of Babylist parents who voted in our poll agreed that a manual pump is a must-have in everyone's pumping line-up—and the Willow Wave is a game-changing design. 

Unlike the Medela Harmony, this manual pump features an innovative, semi- handsfree- design. The collection cups are similar to a wearable breast pump in that you place them in your nursing or pumping bra, but they have long tubing (35 inches to be exact) that connect to a manual pump handle. And you can pump both breasts at the same time. This allows you to pump discreetly no matter where you are, and keeps one hand free to do other things. 

What takes them up a notch (in addition to the one-handed use) is that the collection cups and tubing are compatible with at least 20 popular electric breast pumps (including the Spectra S1). “This pump has so many configurations which make it a powerhouse in your pumping routine!” one Babylist parent raved in their review. “[It’s a] dependable manual pump that can be used in a pinch for quick relief, or tubing that allows you to connect the discreet cups to a hospital grade wall pump.”

In terms of actually using the Wave, it’s pretty straight forward. Place the cups in your bra and make sure to toggle to stimulation mode; there's a switch in the handle labeled “STIM” for stimulation and “EXP” for expression. When you’re ready to transfer your breast milk to a storage bag or container, there’s an easy pour spout to make sure you don’t lose any to splashing or spills. 

Worth noting:

• Due to the design of the collection cups, it’s not as easy to see where your nipple is in the flange as it is with a traditional manual pump. This limited visibility means you might not realize when you’ve letdown—so you can switch to an expression cadence—especially for those who don’t feel a difference when theirs happens.

• While parents love the idea of a wearable manual pump, some mentioned the handle felt a bit too big for their hands.

• The pump’s parts are top-rack dishwasher safe, however, Willow does not recommend using a bottle washer or sterilzer—which a few parents said made these a bit more tedious to clean. The tubing and handle should only be wiped down.

• The collection cups only hold up to five ounces each, so if you typically express more than that per session, you may have to take a break to empty into a breastmilk storage bag or bottle mid-pumping.