The Best Wearable Breast Pumps We Tested While Multitasking

Best Overall: Elvie Wearable Double Electric Breast Pump

Why We Like It

The Elvie is my personal favorite and the pump I turned to when I was an exclusive pumper for my fifth baby—it was a game-changer for me and allowed me to keep pumping when I couldn’t even stand to look at my traditional plug-in pump a second longer. It’s pricey, but I was able to purchase the pump on my own, then send in my receipt to my insurance company, which reimbursed me for half of the cost. As a wearable pump, we love how easy the Elvie is to use: You just pop the whole unit into your bra or shirt and go. It’s very slim and quiet, so we’d be comfortable using it while on Zoom meetings and commutes, too.

The pump has auto-detection, so it will shut off automatically when it senses you have reached the full 5-ounce capacity. Or you can monitor your levels in the accompanying app. You can store the freshly pumped milk directly from the unit in the fridge with the included lids, so there’s no need to pour it into a new container. Through the app, you can choose between different pumping rhythms: a single switch from stimulate to express, a mode that switches back and forth between those multiple times, an “express and collect” rhythm for heavier let-downs, and a slow and gentle mode.

Elvie’s customer service is also top-notch, so if you have any issues at all, you can contact them via email or phone and they have a lot of information on their site as well. For instance, when I had problems with overfilling, they informed me that pumping with a darker shirt or bra on would help the auto-detect feature work more effectively. 

But Take Note

The one drawback of the Elvie is that there are a lot of pieces involved, and it can be cumbersome to clean. You also need to make sure all of the parts are thoroughly dry between pumping sessions, or the suction and seal won’t work properly. I had no problems with my output, but we did find some of our parents didn’t get as much milk as compared to other traditional pumps, so keep that in mind if you’re using it as a primary pump. Still, one of our editors said she couldn’t love the Elvie more, and I’d have to agree with her assessment: “Not sure what else a working, pumping mom could want out of a portable pump.”

The Details: 

• Power type: Battery
• Battery: Rechargeable battery (with USB), lasts 2.5 hours
• Milk capacity: 5 ounces
• Weight: 7.9 ounces

Easiest to Use: Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Breast Pump

Why We Like It

We really liked some of the thoughtful features of this breast pump, like the ice packs that fit around the included bottles and make transporting safely more convenient, and the thin wall charger that doesn’t take up as much space as other pumps. We also found the pump very lightweight and easy to carry—the motor is small enough to fit in the pockets of a pair of yoga pants, or you can wear it with the included wrist strap. It’s so comfortable that we even forgot we were pumping at times. 

The motor is on the quieter side of the pumps we tried, but we found we wouldn’t wear it during a Zoom meeting unless the motor was in our laps or stashed in a pocket. Moving around with the Medela is not as easy as the Elvie Stride (which has a similar external, battery-powered motor), but the tradeoff is that it’s more straightforward to use, with fewer parts and set-up. We like the transparent design that lets you see actually how much milk you’re pumping. But if you’re not interested in watching your milk accumulate, you can also use the corresponding free Medela app that tracks pumping sessions, output, and volume over time. 

The fact that this pump has only three parts per side was what really thrilled us when it came to setup and cleaning. Anyone who’s had to wash pump parts can attest that this is a situation where less is so much more.

But Take Note

The suction is not quite as strong as some other pumps we tested. We also experienced two glitches with the pump during testing: First, we couldn’t control the pump speed or mode, and second, the LED screen froze entirely. Both times, shutting off the whole thing by holding the power button for 10 seconds fixed the issue. 

The Details: 

• Power type: Battery
• Battery: Rechargeable with USB adapter, lasts up to 2 hours
• Milk capacity: 5 ounces each side
• Weight: 2.16 ounces

Best Hospital-Grade Strength: Elvie Stride Breast Pump

Why We Like It

The Elvie Stride combines the convenience and popularity of the original Elvie Pump with the power of a hospital-grade motor for maximum pumping efficiency. It’s a double electric wearable pump that has cups that fit inside your bra, but unlike some of the other wearable pumps it has a separate motor that can hang between your breasts, outside of your shirt, fit in your pants pocket, or clip wherever you’d like. In testing, we were impressed that it really pumped as much milk as traditional-style breast pumps. We loved how quiet and intuitive this pump was to use, so it’s a great option for someone who wants to pump while on a call or attending a Zoom meeting.

You can control the entire pump through an Elvie app on your phone, allowing you to turn it on and off, change suction levels (there are 20 different total stimulation and expression modes), and check your pumping levels and history. You can also set your own default custom settings or customize each pumping session. It comes with 21 mm and 24 mm flanges, and you can purchase a 28 mm set separately if needed. Some retailers sell the Elvie Stride Plus, which is the same pump, plus a three-in-one carrying bag, a wet bag, a cool bag, and other accessories, for about $40 more.

But Take Note

You can’t use it while it’s charging and all of the pump parts need to be dried thoroughly in between pumping sessions to ensure a good seal and suction.  We also had to be extremely careful when removing the pump when it was full of precious liquid gold, because the design does allow for spilling. The instructions also emphasize that all parts need to be dry before using them again, which was inconvenient when we wanted to pump again soon after cleaning it. Another small complaint: While the pump includes the necessary micro-USB charging cords, it doesn’t come with the wall plug.

The Details: 

• Power type: Battery 
• Battery: Built-in rechargeable battery; 3 hour-charge
• Milk capacity: 5 ounces on each side
• Weight: 2.5 pounds

Best Manual: Elvie Curve

Why We Like It

Similar to the popular Haakaa pump, the Elvie Curve uses nothing but suction to pump milk. All you have to do is decompress the silicone bottom, attach it to your breast, and the suction power will pump the milk with no electricity needed. You can use it on one breast while your baby nurses on the other side or use it solely as a manual pump when you just need something quick and easy. It’s not as strong as an electric pump, but not everyone needs that all the time.

Unlike the Haakaa, the Curve is a completely wearable, hands-free pump, fitting directly into your bra or nursing top. We also loved how portable and simple it is—with only two dishwasher-safe pieces—as well as how durable it proved. “The silicone bag made it easy to smush down in a bag without worrying about breaking a plastic bottle or another more delicate part of a pump,” explained the editor who tested it.

It’s also one size fits all and you can control the suction intensity by pressing a valve to suit your desired level. We also appreciated the stable design, which ensures that even if you have put the pump down in a hurry, the milk won’t spill out. (Shoutout to parents of newborns and toddlers intent on wreaking havoc the second you try to sit down and nurse.)

But Take Note

It’s a manual suction-powered pump, so it has nowhere near the power of an electric option.  Also, the price listed is only for one pump, so if you want to pump both breasts at once, you will need to pick up a second one.  

The Details: 

• Power type: Suction/manual
• Battery: None
• Milk capacity: 4 ounces
• Weight: 4.23 ounces

Best Affordable: Momcozy S12 Pro Hands-Free Breast Pump

Why We Like It

The Momcozy S12 Pro was a hit during testing; we were shocked at how affordable this pump is and how well it worked. Actually, we might say pumps, plural, because like with the Elvie Pump, you get a self-contained pump for each breast. And the sucking power of each pump is actually comparable to that of a hospital-grade plug-in pump—so much so that our editor could only tolerate using it at level 1 instead of its default level 6 intensity.

We loved the parent-centric features it comes with, like a bra adjustment buckle to accommodate the size of a pump without having to buy a new bra, a nipple size chart to help you determine your correct flange size, cleaning accessories, and the light-up LED buttons that make pumping at night much easier. The fact that the pump is completely clear is also helpful to be able to see how much milk you are pumping. (Side note: While the milk containers can technically hold 6 ounces, the manufacturer recommends only pumping to four to avoid spillovers.) 

We also like how lightweight and portable the Momcozy is, allowing us to do chores around the house. The pump fully charges within one and a half hours and will last for five to six pumping sessions at 30 minutes each.

But Take Note

The food-grade safe silicone inserts are so delicate that the manufacturer recommends all parts be hand-washed only. That means no popping parts in the dishwasher, no bottle sterilizers, and no microwave sterilizing bags. It’s also recommended that you replace the valve membranes and duck valves every two months, the backflow protector diaphragms every three to six months, and the breast shields every six months. Take that additional cost into account when you’re deciding whether to buy this. And while it’s very portable, it’s not as discreet-looking or as quiet as the Elvie Pump, so we’d be less inclined to wear it out of the house or on video calls.

The Details: 

• Power type: Electric
• Battery: Rechargeable lithium
• Milk capacity: 6 ounces, but recommended to only fill to 4 ounces
• Weight: 1.9 pounds