Theragun Prime Plus vs Relief: Features, Performance, Design
Naila Syifa
Updated October 2024
Therabody just launched its latest addition to the Theragun massage lineup, the Theragun Prime Plus. It is positioned somewhere in between the base Theragun Prime and the premium Theragun PRO Plus models, but how does it stack up against the entry-level Theragun Relief?
Key Takeaways
Theragun Relief offers gentle percussive massage for everyday recovery and relaxation, while Theragun Prime Plus offers deeper, more intense massage combined with heat therapy and optional cold and vibration therapy for more advanced recovery and performance enhancement. The Prime Plus is also 'smarter' in that it supports app connection via Bluetooth, while Theragun Relief is not.
Theragun Prime Plus
Versatile & Expandable
Powerful massage combined with heat and optional cold and vibration therapy for more comprehensive recovery
Theragun Relief
Everyday Massage
Simple and mild percussive massaging device for daily aches, pains, tension, and stiffness
#1 Price
Theragun Prime Plus
Theragun Relief is the most affordable model in the Theragun massage gun lineup, retailing at a price of US$149.
Theragun Prime Plus is more at the higher mid-range price point, retailing at US$399. That makes the price gap between the two models quite significant, with the Prime Plus costing more than 2.5x the price of the Relief model.
#2 Design
Theragun Relief
As an entry-level model, Theragun Relief has a very simple design. It features just one button with 3 LED indicators to show different speed levels. The device is lightweight at 0.62kg, and it comes in visually pleasing navy and sand color options.
Theragun Prime Plus also has a simple design, but it features two buttons instead of just one – a button to adjust speed and another button to adjust heat levels. It is slightly heavier at 0.88 kg, but weighing less than 1 kg means it is still relatively lightweight.
Unfortunately, the Prime Plus only comes in black, but it has an improved grip design that features a non-slip textured surface for better handling. It is also claimed to be drop and scratch-resistant, so we can expect it to be more durable than the Relief model.
Theragun Relief offers 3 attachment types – Standard Ball, Dampener, and Thumb – as compared to the Prime Plus with 4 attachments included – Standard Ball, Dampener, Wedge, and Heat.
On top of that, Prime Plus offers additional attachments available to purchase separately, making it more versatile and customizable. Some add-on attachments you can buy for the Prime Plus include the Thumb, Micro-Point, Cold, and Vibration attachments.
#3 Features
Theragun Relief
With relatively low 10 mm amplitude and 20 lbs stall force, Theragun Relief offers mild percussive massage suitable for relieving everyday aches. In contrast, the Prime Plus is targeted at physically active individuals who prefer more intense, deeper tissue massage with its 16 mm amplitude and 40 lbs of maximum stall force.
While Theragun Relief comes with only 3 built-in speeds, the Prime Plus offers 5 built-in speed levels. In addition, Theragun Prime Plus can be connected to the Therabody app via Bluetooth, which can be used to further customize the speed to anywhere between 1740-2400 PPM, monitor force meter, and follow a vast library of guided routines.
Theragun Relief isn't Bluetooth-enabled. While users can still access the guided routines on the Therabody app, not having the device connected to the app means that you have to manually adjust the on-device setting, unlike the Prime Plus, whose settings can be auto-adjusted by the app to suit a chosen guided routine.
Theragun Prime Plus
If you don't prefer to use the Therabody app, both massage guns also come with routine cards included, which are physical cards that contain instructions for recommended massage routines, including the body parts to target, duration, and the recommended attachment.
Theragun Prime Plus is a more comprehensive recovery tool. Not only does it offer a percussive message, but it also offers heat therapy to accelerate recovery, optimize warm-ups, and relieve pain more quickly than massage alone. Theragun Relief, on the other hand, only focuses on providing a percussive massage
Purchasing the additional attachments for the Prime Plus further unlocks more add-on therapies, including cold and vibration therapies, which respectively used to reduce inflammation and treat sore joints.
#4 Battery
Theragun Relief
While Theragun Relief is rated for up to 120 minutes of battery life, Theragun Prime Plus offers up to 150 minutes of battery life on a single charge. However, keep in mind that the runtime varies by attachment, with the heat attachment may be requiring more power and thus reducing the battery life.
Theragun Prime Plus vs Relief
Final Thoughts
Theragun Prime Plus
The Theragun Prime Plus offers several advantages over the Theragun Relief in terms of features and functionality. With its increased amplitude, stall force, and speed settings, the Prime Plus is designed for more intense, deeper tissue massage, making it a better choice for physically active individuals.
Additionally, the Prime Plus' Bluetooth connectivity and compatibility with the Therabody app allow for greater customization and guided routines, providing a more comprehensive recovery experience. The inclusion of heat therapy, as well as the availability of additional attachments for cold and vibration therapies, further differentiate the Prime Plus as a more versatile and advanced massage gun compared to the more basic Theragun Relief.
If you like to read more about massage guns, check out our other relevant guides here:
Theragun Prime Plus vs Prime (5th Gen)
Theragun Prime Plus vs PRO Plus (6th Gen)
Theragun Prime Plus vs PRO (5th Gen)
Theragun Prime Plus vs Elite (5th Gen)
Theragun Prime Plus vs Sense
Theragun Prime Plus vs Mini (2nd Gen)
Theragun Prime Plus vs Hypervolt 2 Pro
Author
Naila Syifa
Content Manager at Synced. She crafts insightful content on the latest trends in technology, consumer electronics, and smart home gadgets.
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