We found the best wearable breast pumps so you can pump hands-free
When I was pumping, every minute that I was tied to my pump—tubes and bottles awkwardly hanging from my pumping bra—counted as time I couldn’t be doing something else, whether that was holding my baby, sleeping, working or doing any of the million other things that there never seemed to be enough time for (baby books, I’m looking at you!).
Thankfully, wearable breast pumps are changing the game. By sitting inside your bra and collecting milk, they leave you virtually hands-free to do other things—though it’s also perfectly acceptable to do absolutely nothing, too. (Promise, that baby book can wait till another day!) These hands-free breast pumps allow both more freedom (no wires) and discretion (you can keep your shirt on) than pumping with a standard pump and pumping bra, though they still come with some limitations—you may not want one as your primary breast pump, for example, and some devices can be fairly frustrating when it comes to actually extracting the pumped milk.
“Wearable breast pumps are a great option for on-the-go occasional pumping, especially for working or traveling parents,” says Jessica Madden, MD, FAAP, IBCLC, a breastfeeding medicine and infant feeding specialist and the medical director of Aeroflow Breastpumps. But Dr. Madden doesn’t recommend opting for a wearable in place of your regular wired pump. “This is because wearable breast pumps have less suction power due to their mobile nature. For this reason, wearable breast pumps are not recommended to replace regular use for breastfeeding parents with low milk supply or those who are exclusively pumping,” she notes.
Still, in a word, wearable breast pumps provide portability, shares Erin L., mom of two, who exclusively pumped with her second child and often used the Willow pump. “I love that it made me less tied to a traditional pump and that I didn’t feel like I had to rush home to pump if I was out,” she says, noting that she was able to pump everywhere from driving in the car to hanging at a friend’s house to sitting on a Zoom conference call. (Your wired pump could never.)
Kate A., a mom of three, who also used the Willow, agrees: “It allowed me to do so many things at once, but primarily, allowed me to be there for my other children and fix their meals and not be tied down to a plugged-in breast pump.”
Here’s a roundup of the best wearable breast pumps, with expert and real-mom reviews, so you too can pump with some newfound flexibility.
The 8 best wearable breast pumps for hands-free pumping
Freemie
• $169.99
1. Liberty II Mobile Hands Free Breast Pump
I had three different pumps I used on my pumping journey: a hospital-grade Spectra, the Philips Avent manual pump, and the Freemie Liberty II. I exclusively used the Freemie when I was on-the-go, like driving, or between shifts at the health clinic where I previously worked as a nutritionist. I liked that I could easily pump while scarfing down a quick lunch at work, or even while commuting to the office. The Freemie cups sat snugly inside my pumping bra, and I found it fairly easy to pour the milk out of the collecting cups (read: no spills!). The tubes that attached to the motor itself (which clips to your hip) were a little cumbersome to deal with, but overall, it’s a good wearable pump for the price, and my insurance company covered it, which isn’t the case for all hands-free options on the market.
Dr. Madden says that most insurance plans will cover one set of traditional, wired breast pumps, but that wearable breast pumps may not be covered in all plans. “You should consult your individual insurance plan before purchasing,” she suggests.
Capacity: 8 ounces per side (16 ounces total)
Covered by insurance: All or a portion may be covered, depending on your plan
App connectivity: No
Willow
• $549.99
2. Willow 3.0 Wearable Breast Pump
If you’re looking for a high-tech, all-around solid option, the Willow has your back (and your boobs). The Willow 3.0 seems to have solved a lot of the issues that pumping parents complain about with wearables in general, namely that it’s spill-proof (which means you can actually empty the dishwasher while pumping or even, heaven forbid, lie down), has strong suction and you can pump into Willow’s single-use bags or reusable containers. An app and new Apple Watch connectivity help you control your pump from your smartphone and get in touch with experts, if needed.
As for whether it’s quiet? “Just like any pump, it makes a distinctive mechanical whirring sound, so I wouldn’t have used it in a silent room of colleagues,” notes Erin. She also shares that the Willow containers only hold 4 ounces of milk per side, and the pump turns off once you hit the limit to allow you to empty the container. “By the time you did empty the container, it was hard to get into the pumping groove again. For people like me who produced more than 4 ounces per side in one pump, it was challenging to manage at times,” Erin shares, which is why it never truly replaced her primary pump. (If this is you, too, check out the Willow Go below!)
Capacity: 4 ounces per side (8 ounces total)
Covered by insurance: A portion may be covered, but you can check your plan here.
App connectivity: Yes
Willow
• $349.99
3. Willow Go Wearable Breast Pump
With a higher capacity than the Willow 3.0 (5 ounces or 7 ounces per side, if you spring for the larger containers), the Willow Go is an all-around favorite thanks to the fact that it’s dishwasher-safe, has no external wires or tubes, and operates on a connected app. It’s leak-proof for movement within 45º, and you can control the suction on each pump individually for optimal output. The clear front design lets you see how much milk you’ve pumped—especially helpful.
“I found the design to be very respectful of women’s lives and impressively convenient as a busy mama. It’s honestly so much more woman-centered than the tethers and tubes of a traditional pump,” says Liz Tenety, co-founder of Motherly, the host of The Motherly Podcast and a mom of five.
As far as downsides go, the Willow Go isn’t completely spill-proof like the Willow 3.0, has more parts that need cleaning and can be kind of finicky to set up. Though it is quite a bit cheaper, and is more likely to be covered by more insurance plans (breast pumps are also eligible for reimbursement with your FSA/HSA card).
Capacity: 5 or 7 ounces per side (10 or 14 ounces total)
Covered by insurance: A portion or all may be covered, but you can check your plan here
App connectivity: Yes
Elvie
• $494.99 (on sale)
4. Elvie Pump
Hands down, the Elvie pump is quieter than most other options, which, if you’re pumping through meetings or calls or while trying to get a baby to sleep, can be key. A connected app can help monitor suction modes, milk volume and session timing, and you can pump right into the container, which each holds 5 ounces.
Reviewers say one charge can get them through at least 3 pumping sessions, and the pumps charge using a micro USB cable, which you probably have lying around somewhere (good if you can’t find the ones it came with during those late-night sessions).
It’s pricey, similar to the Willow, but the shape is compact, making it one of the more discrete options. “I exclusively pump, and wanted to find a wearable pump so that I can be hands free, cord free, so that I can go about daily tasks and play with my daughter. I started using it at 9 months postpartum. After giving it a few weeks’ use, it works well, it actually feels more like breastfeeding than any other pump I’ve used,” says reviewer Dawn.
If you’re not ready to shell out for the Elvie double pump, you could opt for a single hub only, and just switch sides.
Capacity: 5 ounces per side (10 ounces total)
Covered by insurance: A portion or all may be covered, depending on your plan
App connectivity: Yes
Elvie
• $49.99
5. Curve
Just pumping from one side? The savvy pumping parent might also want to pick up the Elvie Curve, a passive milk collector in the style of Haakaa. But Curve sits in your bra to collect any leaks from the non-pumping breast—the suction happens with the push of a button. The best part? You can actually move around (or risk a baby kick to the collector) without panicking about it falling off the nipple.
Capacity: 4 ounces
Covered by insurance: A portion or all may be covered, depending on your plan
App connectivity: No
Elvie
• $269.99
6. Stride
The Elvie Stride also wins points for being easy to use, though like the Freemie Liberty II, it contains tubing that connects to a clip-on pump motor. It’s hands-free but not fully wireless, but moms swear by the suction. “I loved it,” says Zoey W., mom of two, “though it was a little awkward to use.”
Even with the tubes, Jess V., mom of two, said the Elvie Stride made pumping more bearable. “I could take a remote call and wear it without anyone knowing,” she shares, adding that it was pretty easy to clean and that the Elvie team has great customer service. “If something breaks, they’ll replace it,” says Jess, which is one less worry to cross off your list.
Capacity: 5 ounces per side (10 ounces total)
Covered by insurance: A portion or all may be covered, depending on your plan
App connectivity: Yes
Medela
• $349.99
7. Freestyle Hands-Free Breast Pump
If you’re looking for a wearable pump that’s super lightweight, the Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Breast Pump’s cups are each under 3 ounces, but have a capacity to hold 5 ounces of milk. It’s also one of the simpler designs on the list, with just three parts to clean (the backflow protector and duckbill are brilliantly connected into one silicone piece). As for suction power, the Medela ranks highly there, too—one mom says the output she gets from the Freestyle is “the same if not better” as her Medela Pump in Style (a traditional wired pump), and the flexibility is unmatched. “We travel a lot and after this 26-hour road trip it made it so much easier to pump in the car without having cords everywhere,” reviewer Kelly J. writes.
Capacity: 5 ounces per side (10 ounces total)
Covered by insurance: A portion or all may be covered, depending on your plan
App connectivity: Yes
Momcozy
• $199.99
8. M5 Wearable Breast Pump
Momcozy’s newest entry to the pump market is akin to other wearables like Elvie and Willow, but at a fraction of the price. With a lightweight, self-contained motor and double-sealed flanges for “spa-level comfort”, the M5 also boasts a large capacity, at 6 ounces per side.
Reviewers rave about how quiet and comfortable it is, and appreciate the three suction modes (stimulation, expression and mixed). Pouring out the milk is easy, one reviewer and mom notes.
It also ships with five different flange sizes so you can find the proper size for you—which is crucial when it comes to comfort. “Fit issues can lead to pain and/or decreased supply of pumped milk,” says Dr. Madden, who also recommends having an extra set of valves and flanges on hand, as these parts can wear out. Some manufacturers suggest replacing working parts every three to six months, depending on usage.
Capacity: 6 ounces per side (12 ounces total)
Covered by insurance: A portion or all may be covered, depending on your plan
App connectivity: No
