The Best Breast Pumps (If You Nurse, Exclusively Pump or All of the Above)

Packed full of features and with almost half of the Babylist users who completed our Best Baby Products survey voting it as their favorite pump, the Spectra S1 Plus easily rises to the top of our list as the best breast pump. It’s also the pump I used multiple times a day (and had great success with) for almost two years as a nursing mom.

The best feature of the S1 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. I found this feature invaluable. There was a learning curve (this “Getting Started” explainer from Spectra will help you figure out which settings to try first), but it was absolutely worth it and made my pumping sessions efficient and comfortable. “The pumps that most people do well with and can really bring out the milk are a little bit more complicated,” says Dixon. “But they will set you up for success because you’ll be able to find the settings your body will respond best to.”

The rechargeable battery, which lasts up to three hours and allows you to pump cord-free, is indispensable. “Always, always choose the [pump with a] rechargeable option,” says Dixon, so you won’t be stuck in one place, “which can lead to negative feelings about pumping.” I couldn’t agree more; I exclusively pumped for my first son with a wired breast pump and felt like I was tethered to an outlet for hours each day.

The S1 also delivers big power with less noise than many comparable pumps. (The brand says the decibel level about equals the hush of a library, a comparison I’d say is accurate.) I loved 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. I found the pump timer and the nightlight for late-night sessions helpful, too.

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. And the S2 is half a pound lighter than the S1.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: Valves, adapter, tubing, (2) 24mm flanges and (2) 28mm flanges, wide-neck bottles and back-flow protectors

• Dimensions: 7.5” x 7”

• Weight: 3 lbs

Cost can be a deciding factor if you’re paying out of pocket for your breast pump. The Dr. Brown’s Customflow is an impressive double electric pump priced at a fraction of many similar breast pumps.

The Customflow features two modes, let-down and expression, with multiple settings in each mode to help you find the right custom combo for you. (Let-down is the physiological reflex that causes milk to be released from the breast when a baby latches and begins to suck. Breast pumps with this feature mimic the sucking pattern and strength of a baby to trigger this reflex and get milk flowing at the start of a pumping session.) Like the Spectra S1, a memory setting remembers your preferences so you don’t have to reset the pump each time.

Another noteworthy feature of this pump is the flanges. They’re made from silicone, which some pumpers say is more comfortable than hard plastic. (I find it’s a matter of personal preference. I’ve tried both and prefer plastic, but many of my pumping friends much prefer silicone.) I also like that you can pump directly into Dr. Brown’s bottles, the brand that the most Babylist parents named their favorite in our annual survey.

If you’re comparison shopping, know that there are some big differences between this pump and a more expensive model like the Spectra S1. The Customflow is noticeably louder when in use. It’s not rechargeable, so you’ll always need to be plugged into an outlet while pumping. The motor is not as powerful. (A breast pump’s suction level is measured in millimeters of mercury, or mmHg. The Spectra S1’s suction level is 260 mmHg; the Customflow is 230 mmHg.) And there’s no carry handle. For some pumpers, these may be dealbreakers, but for others, not so much—it usually comes down to personal preference and specific pumping needs.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: 1 Customflow Breast Pump, 2 milk collection kits with SoftShape Silicone Shields (25mm), 2 Options+ Bottles (4 oz) with Level 1 Nipples, 2 Narrow-to-Wide-Neck Adapters for Dr. Brown’s Wide-Neck Bottles, 1 Slowest Flow Preemie Flow Nipple, 2 storage travel caps, 2 tubing, 1 power adapter (6V)

• Dimensions: 6.5” x 5.25” x 4.5”

• Weight: 2 lbs

A wearable breast pump is a hands-free, completely portable pump you can wear right in your bra. With no cords or attachments, everything you need (even the motor) is built into the pump cups—no tubing, wires or milk collection bottles needed.

TL;DR on wearables: Most pumpers report they don’t get the same milk output with wearable pumps as they do with traditional breast pumps. Lactation experts will also caution against relying on a wearable pump as your primary breast pump. That’s because wearables fit and express milk differently than traditional double electric pumps, often leaving milk behind—and milk left behind “is going to tell your body that you don’t need it,” which can lead to decreased milk supply, says Spaeth. However, results vary from person to person, and a wearable pump can be game-changing when you need to pump on the go. (Our Best Wearable Breast Pumps guide offers more information about wearables, their pros and cons and lactation consultants’ recommendations on how and when to use them.)

The Willow Go is my top pick for the best wearable breast pump. It’s more affordable than the original Willow and the Elvie by a few hundred dollars and, in my experience, easier to use and just as strong. “Amazing pumps. Absolutely made my pumping journey so much easier and has made it so that we are still going strong,” one Babylist pumper told us in our Best Baby Products survey. While I find there’s a learning curve with any wearable, I went from popping the Willow Go out of the box to pumping milk in under 10 minutes or so the first time I used it. Nipple alignment—which I struggled with when using other wearables in the past—was surprisingly easy. (Nipple alignment can be tough with wearables because, unlike when you’re pumping a traditional flange, you can’t see what you’re doing. And it’s important because properly aligned nipples equal a tight seal between you and the pump and ensure good suction for maximum milk output.)

I also liked the pump’s easy-to-operate controls. There are two modes, stimulation and expression, and nine different suction strengths, making it easy to find both a comfortable and efficient setting. Like many pumpers, I found I had to pump longer with the Go and got a few ounces less milk than with my primary pump (the Spectra S1). But as a secondary pump, it was clutch when I needed it. It was much more portable and perfect for when I needed to pump at a work event, on an airplane or in my car.

The Go uses reusable storage containers rather than disposable bags, something I prefer as it’s one less thing to purchase and creates less waste. (It is one more item to wash, though.) The pump comes with five-ounce containers, but you can purchase seven-ounce ones separately if you have a bigger supply. I got about five pumping sessions before needing to recharge the pump. There’s also a compatible app that allows you to operate the Go and track your pumping session time.

You can’t be quite as mobile with the Go as you can with some other wearable pumps—you’ll need to stay (mostly) upright while pumping, otherwise milk will leak out of the top of the cups. I didn’t find that to be an issue, but it’s something to consider. There are also five parts to clean per pump, which is time-consuming, although not all that different from the number of parts you’ll need to clean on some traditional breast pumps. And two of the lactation experts we spoke to cautioned that larger-breasted people may struggle more with wearables and fit.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: 2 pumps and flanges (24 mm); 2 breast milk storage container bowls (5 oz); 2 breast milk storage container backs; 2 diaphragms; 2 duckbill valves; USB charging cable

• Dimensions: 5.3” H x 4.7” W x 3.15” D

• Weight: 13.7 oz

Many parents aren’t sure how a wearable pump will perform for them or how often they’ll use one. At less the cost of most wearables, the M5 from Momcozy is a good way to test the waters without breaking the budget. 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 wearables where 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.

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.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: 2 silicone flanges (24mm); 2 flange inserts (21mm); 2 flange inserts (19mm); 2 flange inserts (17mm); 2 silicone diaphragms; 2 pump motors; 2 USB Type-C cables; 2 valves; 2 milk collectors; 2 flange covers; 2 user manuals; 2 quick start guides; 2 flange size rulers

• Dimensions: 5.05” x 4.6” x 2.9”

• Weight: 1 lb

Initially fueled by social media buzz and now a well-known favorite among pumping parents, the BabyBuddha breast pump is revered for its power and portability. This pump is 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. While the OG pump had a stimulation mode with five levels and an expression mode with nine, the 2.0 offers six levels of “soft” stimulation, six levels of classic and nine levels of experession mode. These changes were made in response to many pumpers’ feedback that the original suction levels were too strong, myself included—I loved the portability of the BabyBuddha but found that even the lowest settings caused me too much discomfort. 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. (Some still found it too powerful, however.)

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 also complain about a short battery life. And, while not condoned by the brand itself, there are tons of BabyBuddha hacks to help you figure out how to use your pump with other pump brands’ components. These hacks are useful if you have a particular brand or style of flange or collection cup that you love and you want to pair them with your BabyBuddha pump.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: Pump, 2 x 24mm flanges, 2 sets of duckbill valves, 1 pair of silicone diaphragms, 2 bottles, 2 bottle bases, 2 bottle storage caps, 2 bottle hygiene covers, 2 pump covers, 3 detachable tubes and T-connector, USB charging cable, detachable lanyard, carrying tote

• Dimensions: 5.5” x 2” x 2”

• Weight: 0.5 lbs

“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 Best Baby 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.”

I agree. 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.

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. And yes, your hand will likely get tired, but if you’re only using it periodically, it’s not a big deal.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: One set of PersonalFit 24 mm/medium breastshields, (1) 5 oz. bottles with lid, valve and membrane, Harmony connector and bottle stand

• Dimensions: 8.6” x 7”

• Weight: 9.3 oz

This breast pump is about as low maintenance as it gets. Made from 100% food-grade silicone, this one-piece pump attaches to your breast and uses passive suction to collect milk—no hands (or power source) required.

Parents find this type of pump most useful during the first few months postpartum when their supply is still regulating, and they’re looking to start building an extra milk supply. “I’ve stashed so much milk in the freezer just collecting what leaks out with these,” one Babylist pumping parent told us in our Best Baby Products survey. Many others said they used the pump to catch letdown on one side while their baby nursed on the other.

There are several other passive suction pumps on the market similar to this one, and most of them are great—but I love the Trove because of its unique shape. It sits right in your bra flush against your breast, so there are no worries that your baby will kick it off. It’s also streamlined and comfortable.

The one thing to keep in mind is that although it acts as a collection device, don’t forget that the Trove is a pump. (One with light suction, but a pump nonetheless.) That means that if you’re struggling with oversupply and using the Trove at every breastfeeding or pumping session, you’re actually encouraging your body to make more milk, which could become an oversupply issue down the road.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: No additional parts

• Dimensions: 4” x 2.1” x 4.1”

• Weight: 3.5 oz