The 7 Best Foot Massagers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Foot Massagers Update — People / Jaclyn Mastropasqua

A good foot massage is a luxury for most, but really, it should be a regular part of your self-care routine. Think about it: Whether they're stuffed into uncomfortable shoes, holding you up during a long work shift, carrying you through a workout, or simply taking you from point A to point B, your feet put in the work every single day. But if you don't have the energy for a rubdown each evening (or a personal masseuse at your beck and call), your next best bet is to invest in a foot massager.

Dr. Bradley Schaeffer, a Board-Certified Podiatrist, Foot Surgeon, and star of the TLC show My Feet Are Killing Me, chatted with PEOPLE about the benefits of foot massagers. "Foot massagers can be great to alleviate pressure and stress on the foot that we get from our regular workday," he says. "Foot massagers can help with conditions like plantar fasciitis, tendinitis, heel pain, and just overall stress."

These handy machines treat your hardworking tootsies to some much-needed R&R by massaging them with pressure and heat. Dr. Schaeffer personally enjoys heated massagers, saying, "I like to use a foot massager with a little bit of heat modality added, especially after a long workday on my feet." These devices can even help alleviate pain associated with muscle aches and other health conditions, such as plantar fasciitis and neuropathy.

But with so many options available, how are you supposed to know which one is right for you? We spent a day PEOPLE Testing foot massagers in our lab to see if they were convenient enough to use regularly, whether their features were helpful, and if they were actually effective.

Read more of the best foot massagers PEOPLE tested.

The Best Foot Massagers PEOPLE Tested:

Best Overall: Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager

Best Budget: Best Choice Products Therapeutic Foot Massager

Best Shiatsu: Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager

Best Manual: TheraFlow Foot Massager Roller

Best Heated: Etekcity Smart Shiatsu Foot Massager

Best with Multiple Settings: Costway Foot Spa Bath Massager

Best for Total Relaxation: Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager with Deep Kneading

Best Overall: Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager

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Pros:

Multiple pressure settings allowed us to customize the massage to our preferences and provides one of the deepest massages of all the machines we tested
Handy remote control lets us change the settings without needing to stand up
Four different massage modes: rolling, compression, vibration, and shiatsu

Cons:

We found the highest kneading setting to be a bit too intense (but there are plenty of other settings to chose from)

After a busy day of testing in our lab, this electric foot massager was a clear winner. It delivered the best and strongest foot massage out of any of the machines, which is why it scored one of the highest ratings in the "Overall Value" and "Design" categories. We also loved how straightforward it was to use.

Another reason why the Miko Shiatsu foot massager ranked so highly in our tests? Because whether you're looking to use it solely for relaxation or alleviating pain, the machine can do it all. There are rolling, compression, vibrating, and shiatsu massage modes, which work to soothe aches along the bottom and sides of your feet, along with five adjustable air pressure settings to help stimulate blood flow. We did find the strongest setting to be a little too strong, but because there are five pressure settings to choose from, we don't see that as a big issue.

Heat also promotes relaxation and loosens tight muscles, making this great for a post-workout routine or an at-home spa night. We noted that our feet got sweaty during their massage, but the liners are removable and machine-washable for easy maintenance.

It even comes with an automatic timer and a wireless remote that can change the settings while you're sitting down. Plus, the brand provides an extra one in case you end up misplacing it. The Miko Shiatsu foot massager feels very well-priced for all of the fancy features that it offers, and would make a great gift for someone who's always on their feet.

Price at time of publish: $129.99

Dimensions: 16.75 x 16.75 x 9.25 inches | Weight: 11 pounds | Heated: Yes

Best Budget: Best Choice Products Therapeutic Foot Massager

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Pros:

Three massage motions: pulsing, kneading, and rolling
Comes with removable covers to make cleaning easier
One of the best values compared to other machines we tested

Cons:

Doesn't include heat function
Just one pressure level option

Looking to relax or ease your foot pain on a budget? Then consider Best Choice Products' Therapeutic Foot Massager. Don't be fooled by the affordable price, though: The foot massager comes with many of the same features higher-end electric models have, including a remote control, three settings (automatic, custom, and manual), and removable covers for easy cleaning.

There are also three massage motions, pulsing, kneading, and rolling, that can target different parts of your feet. You can choose to concentrate more on your sole, ankle, or toes using the manual mode or have the motions consistent by using the automatic setting.

At times, we found this machine's massage motions a little too intense, but we appreciated that the power and speed settings can be adjusted (excluding the air pressure) for a deep tissue massage. Compared to other machines we tested, the Best Choice massager felt the most like a real foot massage from a human being, which is a hard thing to achieve and a huge win in our book.

Price at time of publish: $99.99

Dimensions: 22 x 12 x 10 inches | Weight: 13.5 pounds | Heated: No

Best Shiatsu: Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager

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Pros:

Unlike most machines which only target the foot, this one massages the feet, ankles, and legs
Highly adjustable base works on a wide range of foot sizes
Five adjustable settings: rolling, compression, sway function, heat, and quiet mode

Cons:

One of the most expensive foot massagers on our list
Takes some time to figure out how to use it, but easy to navigate once you do

With an adjustable base that can be rotated to support your legs, calves, or feet, the Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager can help you get the relaxation you deserve after a long day. It relieves tension and improves circulation with different intensity levels to accommodate muscle aches and conditions like plantar fasciitis and diabetic neuropathy.

The massager was a top performer in our "Efficiency" category and features five adjustable settings: rolling massage, compression therapy, a sway function, heat therapy, and a quiet mode. We also loved how it was easy to set up. All you need to do is plug it in, adjust the angle to your preferred position, turn it on, and select an intensity level (the brand recommends starting on the lowest one). The brand also suggests wearing socks for the best results.

While this machine is definitely a splurge, we love its versatility and deep massage, and we would recommend it to friends and family members despite the price.

Price at time of publish: $259.99

Dimensions: 22 x 11 x 17.7 inches | Weight: 11 pounds | Heated: Yes

Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager — PEOPLE / Leticia Almeida

Best Manual: TheraFlow Foot Massager Roller

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Pros:

Manual massager doesn't require electricity and is easy to take with you to use anywhere
Wooden dowels allowed us to customize massages to our preferences by pressing down more or less
This was the most affordable food massager on our list
Wooden material felt very durable

Cons:

No fancy settings like heat or pressure

This foot massager will roll out all the bumps and aches — no power necessary. This device is comprised of 8 wooden rolling dowels: six with trigger point-stimulating bumps, and two with larger massaging nubs. The dowels are arranged to match the natural arch of the foot to provide comfort and relax tension from heel to toe.

It may be small, but these wooden dowels provide a mighty massage — and we actually found it preferable to a lot of the automatic massagers that we tried. You can use this low-tech, high-reward foot massager to stimulate overall blood circulation or target particularly sore spots by angling your feet and altering the amount of direct pressure you put on the dowels.

Dr. Schaeffer is a personal fan of manual foot massagers, noting, "Manual massagers are great because you can use your own amount of pressure and customize your massage to your areas of concern."

We love that this budget-friendly buy doesn't need electricity to give a great foot massage, but that does mean that it lacks some of the fancier bells and whistles of other foot massagers that we tried. Regardless, this device provides a wonderful massage for a budget-friendly price (and makes a great stocking stuffer, too!).

Price at time of publish: $16.95

Dimensions: 11.2 x 2.5 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 1.76 pounds | Heated: No

Best Heated: Etekcity Smart Shiatsu Foot Massager

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Pros:

Three massage intensity settings and three air pressure settings
Connects to a convenient smartphone app, which allowed us to easily change settings without the need to stand up
Customizable heat settings adjust on a sliding scale for precise adjustments

Cons:

The opening of the device is somewhat small, so it's difficult to use while lying down

Feeling nervous about buying a foot massager? Well, don't have cold feet (ba dum tsss), because this foot-warming device works like a dream. The Etekcity Smar Shiatsu Foot Massager has three massage intensity settings and three air pressure settings, so you can customize your massage to exactly your needs.

This smart device connects to a handy app on your phone, so you can control the intensity, pressure, and heat without lifting more than a finger (to tap the screen, that is). After 20 minutes using this device, we still wanted to keep going. The heat mixed with the deep massage released so much tension allowing for ultimate relaxation.

If we could change anything about this amazing massager, it would be to make the opening of the device a little wider so that it's easier to insert feet. Otherwise, this electric massager gets perfect scores in our book.

Price at time of publish: $129.99

Dimensions: 18.4 x 15.4 x 10.7 inches | Weight: 12.1 pounds | Heated: Yes

Best with Multiple Settings: Costway Foot Spa Bath Massager

Buy It! $100; amazon.com

Pros:

Massage and bath settings include jets and vibration that helped relieve our foot tension and feel more relaxed
Red light therapy option may help reduce muscle and joint pain

Cons:

Not a huge range of water temperature options to choose from

What do you get when you combine a foot massager and a foot bath? You get the Costway Foot Spa Bath Massager (and the ultimate relaxation experience). The footbath-massager hybrid uses six motorized massage rollers to knead out knots and increase blood circulation, plus a flexible showerhead streams water over your feet for a cleansing and relaxing experience.

Another handy feature of this footbath massager is a red light therapy mode that increases blood flow and circulation. We enjoyed all of the fancy functions this device had to offer, providing a luxurious spa feel that aids in relaxing and soaking tired muscles at the end of the day. The different pinpoints allow you to get different kinds of massages where you need them.

While we wish that the heat settings did more to change the water temperature, we still felt that the Costway Foot Spa Bath Massager was a good value considering that you're getting a footbath and redlight massager all in one device. (P.S. it also makes a subtle gift for your loved one with stinky feet.)

Price at time of publish: $99.99

Dimensions: 18 x 18 x 21.6 inches | Weight: 11.45 pounds | Heated: Yes

Best for Total Relaxation: Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager with Deep Kneading

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Pros:

Provides a deep, relaxing massage with customizable kneading, pressure, and heat
Touch screen and remote made this device easy for us to control from any position
Easy to use from any position, including lying down

Cons:

Doesn't offer a vibration option (which is usually our least-used function, anyways)

For those deep aches that manual massagers just can't reach, this massager from MIKO has the high-pressure kneading your feet crave. The touch screen and companion remote offer tons of customizable options for kneading, pressure, and heat, so that you can get the perfect massage for you.

The ankle holes were designed so that you can enter your feet from any seated position without decreasing mobility or forcing you to sit upright while you enjoy your massage. Kneading rollers target the front and back of your feet while building up to a customizable level of pressure. In our testing, this massager easily alleviated the tension in our feet with kneading and controllable pressure. We especially enjoyed the wireless remote, which allowed us to change the heat and pressure without needing to get out of relaxation mode.

This foot massager doesn't come with a vibration setting, which might be a dealbreaker if that's the feature you're looking for. But although we would appreciate a vibration function, we still enjoyed all of the other features enough to consider this product a worthy purchase.

Price at time of publish: $169.99

Dimensions: 16 x 15 x 8 inches | Weight: 10 pounds | Heated: Yes

Things to Consider Before Buying a Foot Massager

Size

Storage space is an important factor to keep in mind. Foot massagers can be bulky, not to mention heavy — our top picks weigh between 2 and 14 pounds. Make sure you have proper space to keep it (that's also easy to access) when you're not massaging your feet. If you're low on space, manual massagers like the TheraFlow Foot Massager Roller are a great option.

Price

How frequently will you be using a foot massager? If you live with chronic foot pain, it might be worth spending more money on a unit that you will use regularly, bringing down its cost per use significantly. But if you aren't on your feet for long periods of time, a more affordable option, like the Best Choice Products Therapeutic Foot Massager, offers a relaxing experience (without targeting pain points).

Features

If you have inflammation or stand on your feet for long periods of time, you should consider a model that offers a deep tissue massage through different pressure levels, vibration settings, and heat therapy. But if you plan to use your foot massager intermittently or just for pampering, you'll likely be satisfied with something that doesn't have as many features.

When to Buy

Foot massagers generally go on sale during shopping holidays like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day. Big-box retailers like Amazon and Walmart also discount them throughout the year, but sales might not include popular brands.

How We Tested Foot Massagers

To find the best foot massagers, PEOPLE Tested spent more than seven hours testing 11 foot massagers in our in-house lab. We compared some of the most popular foot massagers on the market, making careful note of all of the settings offered and controls available before testing each machine out. Once it was time to see how well each device worked, we put our feet inside and turned the machines on, trying out each setting to see just how relaxing and effective each foot massager was.

We considered the foot massagers' design, effectiveness, and overall value to give you the best recommendation for your lifestyle and household. And, in order to ensure unbiased results, all of our testers did not learn the pricing of the foot massagers until after the testing was complete.

FAQs

What are the benefits of a foot massage machine?

Foot massage machines can provide several benefits, including easing pain, increasing circulation, reducing stress and muscular tension, and promoting recovery. Dr. Schaeffer adds that they can be helpful for a myriad of health conditions. "Foot massagers can help with conditions like plantar fasciitis, tendinitis, heel pain and just overall stress," Dr. Schaeffer. "I like to use a foot massager with a little bit of heat modality added, especially after a long workday on my feet."

How long should you use a foot massager?

A foot massager should be used for 15-20 minutes at a time. Many of these machines have automatic shutoff timers to help make sure you don't overdo it. Always keep in mind that while the massage might feel deep on certain parts of the foot, it should never feel painful. If you're worried about overdoing it, using a manual massager like the TheraFlow Foot Massager Roller can be a good way to totally control your massage without worrying about overdoing it if all that relaxation causes you to take a snooze.

Can I use a foot massager every day?

Foot massagers are safe to use every day as long as they are used properly. Dr. Schaeffer touts the relaxing effects of using a foot massager after a long day. "Foot massagers are also a great way to de-stress from a long day because the effect also relaxes and radiates throughout the whole body," Dr. Schaffer says. But, if you experience any pain while using a machine, it's time to stop.

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Cai Cramer is a staff writer on the PEOPLE Commerce Team, covering the best and buzziest products across the beauty, fashion, health, and lifestyle spaces. To inform this story, Cai spoke with Dr. Bradley Schaeffer, a Board-Certified Podiatrist, Foot Surgeon, and star of the TLC show My Feet Are Killing Me, about how foot massagers can benefit people with foot pain stemming from a variety of conditions.

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase. Want more product recommendations? Check out all of our People Tested content.