Trying to find the most comfortable, strong, reliable, quiet, safe, sterile, and easy to clean breast pump? Us too! Each year we put nearly a dozen breast pumps to the test, assessing their features, reliability, and effectiveness. While our top-rated breast pump is also the most expensive model on the market, you do not need to spend thousands of dollars to get a fantastic breast pump. We promise! To read more about our testing approach, see the bottom of this article. Otherwise, here are our top 5 results, followed by in-depth reviews of a dozen different models, followed by our full breast pump buying guide.
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- Table of Contents [show/hide]
- Top 5 Breast Pumps Comparison Table
- 1. Best Breast Pump: Medela Pump-in-Style
- 2. Spectra S1 & Spectra S2
- 3. Medela Symphony
- 4. Motif Luna Double Pump
- 5. Elechomes Breast Pump
- 6. Lansinoh Signature Smart Pump
- 7. Medela Sonata Smart Pump
- 8. Spectra S9 Breast Pump
- 9. Freemie Freedom Breast Pump
- 10. Philips AVENT Comfort Pump
- 11. BellaMa Melon Breast Pump
- 12. Ameda Mya Smart Breast Pump
- 13. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump
- Factors to Consider
- Automatic vs Manual Breast Pump
- BPA & Phthalates
- Portability & Storage
- Comfort
- Cleaning & Maintenance
#1. Medela Pump-in-Style
#2. Spectra S1 & Spectra S2
#3. Medela Symphony
#4. Motif Luna Double Pump
#5. Elechomes Breast Pump
Here are the Best Breast Pumps of 2020!
1. Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump.
This is the ultimate in reasonably-priced automatic breast pumps, and it stole this position for very good reasons. With either a tote that is very similar in size to a typical diaper bag or a backpack for a sportier and sleeker look, the Medela Pump in Style Advanced is the most versatile option on the market. One of our moms had been using a Spectra pump until trying this one, and was floored by how much more milk the Medela was able to pump in a similar amount of time. This powerful sealed pump really gets milk flowing, with its 2-phase pumping (stimulation mode for 2 minutes, then expression mode), powerful suction, and reliably consistent pumping rhythm. It is highly portable, with a rechargeable battery and an included cooler for cold storage until you get to a refrigerator or freezer. Moms thought that things packed away in a well-organized manner and didn't find the bag too heavy for daily carrying, such as to and from the office. The let-down button was a great feature, moms loved the flexibility they had, allowing them to customize their pumping phases to their individual body. The moms who had been using this system already for over a year said several great things. First, there are several breast shield sizes that vary widely and are easy to attach/detach. Second, the system is highly reliable and they reported no issues with malfunctioning or failure. Third, they said it is not very loud which helps when trying to be discreet and not alert the entire office that you're currently pumping. In terms of cons, they noted that it has only a single vacuum speed and pressure dial whereas some other systems allow you to separately adjust suction pressure and pumping speed. The pump is also secured into the bag, which makes washing the bag somewhat difficult and you need to keep the bag nearby while pumping (since you'll be attached via the tubes). Speaking of the tubes, they can sometimes get a bit of milk in them so moms reported that it was annoying to clean the tiny tubes. Overall, our research shows that this is an excellent pump with several great features. And it has the Medela reputation for quality and value. In our own testing, we found the system to be very high quality. Out of the box, everything felt durable and well-made. Stimulation was super effective and expression was sufficient to fully drain breasts in about 20 minutes. The shields were among the most comfortable on the list, and the parts were decently easy to clean (save for the little rubber valves!). Note that if this system is too bulky and large for you, Medela makes a more portable version of this pump, the Medela Freestyle breast pump, but the pumping strength and battery life aren't anywhere near the Pump in Style Advanced. Usually available less than $200, which is a good deal given that it includes bottles, shields, ice pack, and everything else you need to get started ASAP. Want to pump both breasts hands-free? We suggest also purchasing the game-changing Hands-Free Double Breast Pump Bra. Interested? You can check out this Medela Pump in Style Advanced breast pump here.
2. Spectra S1 and Spectra S2 Double Breast Pumps.
With a smaller footprint and more features than the Medela, and high comfort and reliability, the Spectra S1 and S2 are great choices. To be honest, we were surprised that these relative newcomers received such positive reviews from our moms. In terms of accessories, it's not the ultimate in automatic pumps; there is no accompanying bag, backpack, or cooler and ice pack. What you're getting here is a nice, sleek, hospital-grade breast pump that our moms really fell in love with. While the Medela Pump in Style is designed for extended outings, such as bringing it to work or the office, we believe this Spectra system is better for stay/work-at-home moms looking for something that will sit next to the glider or on the bedside table. It is perfect for that, since it doesn't include the carrying bag, ice packs, etc that the Medela comes with. The moms who tested the Spectra S2 and Spectra S1 thought that it had more comfortable suction than the Medela, but not quite matching its suction power for those who want a more powerful unit. There are some great features here: the suction strength and speed are separately controlled (so you can fully customize to make the suction exactly like your baby's), you can do single or double breast pumping without losing power, it has a nice night light, a timer, and it is very lightweight and easy to move around. We also thought it was very quiet, definitely quieter than the Medela, and something you could use next to a sleeping baby without too much worry. We also thought the S1's battery life was quite good, lasting through three full pumping sessions; the included battery and its relatively small size make this a great pump for working moms who need versatility for when there may not be an outlet available (like in a stall of a restroom). Seems like you would only need to charge it overnight, unless you're pumping more than a few times per day. Note that the only real difference between the Spectra S1 and S2 is that the S1 includes a rechargeable battery, while the S2 must be plugged in. We did try out the spectra S2 car adapter, which was awesome and relatively inexpensive for providing great versatility (if you might need to pump in the car). Only a few cons with the S1 and S2 units. First, the parts are somewhat difficult to find as they are not available in most stores that we're aware of. If you need a different breast shield size or other spare parts, you'll need to order them online unless your local medical supply company can figure out how to order them. We do note, however, that the Medela bottles did fit this unit quite well. That brings us to our second con: the bottles Spectra provides are not as nice as the Medela bottles, though we were able to fit our Avent bottles onto it without any issues. Finally, this doesn't come in a custom sized bag with all the goodies like the Medela. Overall, this is a fantastic option if you're looking for a hospital-grade breast pump, though it doesn't come with quite as many goodies as the Medela. We prefer the Spectra S1 given that it has a rechargeable battery, though that does add a couple pounds of bulk. The premier Spectra S1 with rechargeable battery is usually about $200 online, and the Spectra S2 is usuall available online for about $150. Interested? You can check out the Spectra S1 breast pump here, and the Spectra S2 breast pump here.
3. Medela Symphony Hospital Breast Pump.
This is the gold standard in electric breast pumps, but anyone unwilling to spend upwards of $2000 on a breast pump should go for Medela's more reasonably-priced option. Nothing really compares to the effectiveness and reliability of this breast pump. It is the choice of most hospitals and midwives, and sets the bar very high for any other breast pump available on the market. In our testing, this pump out-performed every other pump in terms of fast operation and the quantity of breast milk produced. The initial ejection of milk occurred in very little time, and the flow was really fantastic. Medela was the first to invent the 2-phase expression technology, which works amazingly well. You can use it for one or two breasts simultaneously. This is the go-to breast pump for moms experiencing NICU stays, poor latching, C-sections, or any other reason to produce high quantities of breast milk in a single sitting. Because it's hospital grade, that also means that it is designed with hygiene in mind, so that multiple moms can use the same pump as long as they bring their own accessories. That's what makes a hospital grade breast pump truly "hospital grade," in addition to its powerful pumping mechanism. Compared to the Medela option below, this one is much more comfortable, has a much higher quality motor, and produces like no other pump we've tried. But we also want to mention that the two Medela options use many of the same parts: the breast flanges, membranes, bottles, and bottle caps. But you will need to purchase the Symphony tube kit, which includes the tubes and caps that attach the motor to the hoses. So, things get pricey here, with the pump coming in at around $2000, and the tube kit around $50. Not to mention that there are none of the accessories that are included with the Pump in Style Advanced, like the cooler bag, freezer pack, battery pack, and carrying case. Not a high portability pump, but if you want the best breast pump on the market, it might be worth it. Note that you can also rent these pumps, though some people think that's not the most sanitary method. We also want to note that these have very high resale value, so once you're finished using it, you will be able to sell it for a considerable chunk of change. The price being the primary downfall, but the functionality clearly paying off in the long run. Some other minor gripes are cleaning the skinny tubes, which can be a bit of a pain, and the membranes are tiny so they are easy to lose or accidentally drop down the drain. Overall, our experience with this breast pump was truly fantastic, and we highly recommend it for anyone willing to spend this amount on the best quality breast pump on the market. The only reason it's not #1 is because of the crazy price! Interested? You can check out this Medela Symphony Breast Pump here.
4. Motif Luna Double Electric Breast Pump.
We got our hands on this all-new breast pump last year and put it through about a week of testing. It has some awesome features, comfort, pumping effectiveness, size, and low noise levels. In fact, we found it very similar to the Spectra in a few ways, but much more powerful, smaller, and quieter - while also being compatible with the Spectra parts (so you can use Spectra flanges if you prefer). Like the Spectra it’s a closed system, which is essential, as no new mom wants to spend time cleaning out tubing. It does seem quieter as well, which is appreciated as the pumping sound can be jarring after a while, and can ruin any privacy you might desire in quieter areas! It certainly does live up to its advertised "More Milk in Less Time" motto. Our two testing moms were able to pump their normal amounts in about half the time. For one of the moms, that equated to about about 6 ounces in just five minutes! At that rate it’s almost not worth fumbling with a pumping bra! But for anyone who might need more than five minutes, it is compatible with the Freemie Closed System Collection Cup Set (despite not being listed as compatible on the Freemie website), though it does seem to add a few minutes to the time you need to pump. We love this combo because one of the least favorite parts about pumping is the pumping bra. Another advantage of the Motif Luna Double Breast Pump is that it is compatible with the glass Avent bottles – it's always nice to save a few dishes and use some of the best baby bottles on the market. We tried the Motif Luna with the included bottles as well, and they fit the pump nicely and did not leak a bit on the journey home (perhaps even a tighter fit than the Avent bottles and tops). The biggest drawback of the Motif Luna is that it must be plugged in. A power adaptor is of course included, but we would have loved a rechargeable battery as well. If there is trade-off between size and a rechargeable battery, we would certainly prefer a slightly bigger pump that be can be used without a nearby outlet. Lucky moms will be able to find a nearby outlet whenever needed, but there are certainly times when those rooms are in use and it's convenient to be able to duck somewhere where there is not necessarily an outlet. The smaller size and quicker pumping make switching to primarily using the Motif Luna over the Spectra worthwhile for most, but if having a battery operated breast pump is a must, then definitely go with the Spectra. Overall, we love this pump for its quiet operation, small size (fits into even smaller diaper bags!), and fantastic pumping effectiveness! It's not as portable, cheap, or tiny as the Motif Duo, but it certainlty packs a much stronger pump! It's usually available online for about $250. Interested? You can check out the Motif Luna double electric breast pump here.
5. Elechomes Double Breast Pump.
This breast pump offers the biggest bang for the buck on this entire list! Coming in at only about $50, this new Elechomes breast pump offers some seriously impressive capability. Out of the box, in addition to being a sealed system, one of the most impressive aspects of this pump is that you do not need to be near an outlet to use it, it can run completely off a rechargeable battery with some great battery life - we're talking about 10-15 pumping sessions depending on how long you pump for. That's right, this breast pump is only 50 bucks and offers an integrated rechargeable battery! Like most breast pumps, the Elechomes is two-phase, offering a let-down/stimulation phase and an expression phase. It can do single or double breast pumping, and there are adjustable levels of intensity for each of the two phases; this includes five levels of stimulation, and nine levels of expression. The difference in these levels is not only in the strength of the suction, but also the frequency of pumping. As you increase in suction intensity, the pumps get longer and slower. If you want a faster pumping session, we suggest using levels 5 or 6, and 8 or 9 for a slower session. In our testing, the first stimulation phase lasted about 2 minutes and then automatically switched to the expression phase, but if you need a longer stimulation you can press the "M" button to restart the first phase. The same can be said if you do not need the full two-minute stimulation phase, you can simply press the "M" button and begin the expression phase. In other words, the "M" mode button allows you to flexibly switch between phases. We appreciated that the pump has built-in memory that will start each phase at the same levels you used last time, making the pump super convenient after first use. Just put it on and let the system do everything for you. The screen is very easy to read and understand, and there is a timer that shows you how long you've been pumping. Regarding comfort, the breast shields are made of soft silicone that conform really nicely to differently-shaped breasts. The soft silicone also lessens the discomfort that typically comes with extended pumping, especially with hard plastic shields. In terms of strength, we found the pump strong enough to empty your breasts, or even finish emptying your breast if your baby doesn't have a full feeding. This surprised us because the breast pump itself is super portable and compact. It turns out that the pump maximizes its effectiveness for its size by using alternating pumping: all the energy is used to have a single suction from one breast, and then a single suction on the other breast. This alternating sequence makes it impressively powerful for its size! Another little thing to point out is that it automatically shuts off after 30 minutes to prevent pain, over-pumping, and injury - you'd be surprised how many new moms fall asleep while pumping and end up injuring themselves! A few things that we didn't like include the sheer number of parts that need to be washed after using, and the fact that the threading is only compatible with the bottles provided by Elechomes (we tried a bunch of others and they didn't fit). Other than those two little gripes, this is a really impressive breast pump with a surprising feature list, comfort, and functionality given the low price. Definitely an awesome budget breast pump for those who don't want to compromise on convenience, portability, suction strength, and features. We'll update this review after about 6 months of use, to let you know about long-term reliability. Usually available online for only about $50. Interested? You can check out the Elechomes Breast Pump here.
6. Lansinoh Smartpump Double Electric Breast Pump.
It was only a matter of time until one of the breast pump companies made a smart breast pump that could communicate with your smart-phone - and here it is! This Lansinoh Breast Pump will connect to your smartphone (Apple or Android apps) via Bluetooth and automate your scheduling and tracking of pumping sessions. They basically took the already excellent Lansinoh Signature Pro breast pump and added an app; so this review is not only applicable to the Lansinoh Smartpump but also the Lansinoh Signature Pro, which is exactly the same except for the Bluetooth and app capability. And as evidenced by how fantastic the Lansinoh Signature Pro is, the Bluetooth and app capability are not the best features, or the reason that we're ranking this Lansinoh pump so highly. Instead, this breast pump is truly excellent in several more fundamental ways. First, it is a hospital-grade breast pump, which means that it can be used by multiple moms as long as each brings their own accessory kit. This means that the system likely does a good job isolating the pump and tubes from any milk, moisture, or bacteria (they usually call this a hygienic closed system). We do note, however, that the term "hospital grade" is not regulated by the FDA, so breast pump companies can realistically use it however they'd like. But in our testing, we thought this Lansinoh breast pump did a really great job keeping the pump itself and the tubes from getting wet with milk or full of moisture. Second, it is a very powerful pumping mechanism, leaving several of its competitors in the dust! It has two pumping modes (2-minute let-down and longer expression), three pumping styles to match your baby's natural feeding habits (short pulses, medium pulses, and long pulses), and eight suction levels. Those suction levels get really powerful, and when you combine it with a longer pulse pumping style (pump style #3), you get some serious action out of this pump. It really is "good to the last drop," and we were really impressed with its power. And all of the settings can be easily changed using intuitive buttons on the system itself. And when you stop pumping, the system automatically tells the app so that it knows exactly how long you pumped for (and you can enter how much milk you produced as well). Third, the breast shields are padded and make for some super comfortable breast pumping. We can't tell you how nice the padding feels, and what a difference that little feature makes when you're pumping several times a day! Fourth, it comes with a lot of great accessories, including the cooler, extra bottles, caps, and nipples that you can attach right to the milk collection bottles and use to feed your baby, rather than connecting to a different baby bottle. Finally, the system is super portable and lightweight. It fits nicely into the included bag, but can also be slid right into most diaper bags without a hassle. It can be plugged into the wall using the included AC adapter, or can be turned into a more portable breast pump by popping in 6 AA batteries to make it a battery powered breast pump. The pumping strength was similarly good with the wall adapter and batteries, though the batteries only lasted for a single pumping session. So you're definitely better off just plugging it in! Downfalls? Well, not many, but if we're being picky there are a couple. We found it to be quite a bit noisier than most of the other top-ranked systems on this list, which made it a little less ideal for discreetly pumping at work or elsewhere. Also, the screen is awesome, but it has no back-light so it doesn't light up at night, making night-time pumping very difficult unless a light is on. Usually available online for about $120. Interested? You can check out the Lansinoh Smartpump breast pump here, or the original Lansinoh Signature Pro double electric breast pump here (without Bluetooth or app capability).
7. Medela Sonata Double Smart Breast Pump.
Medela provided us with a promotional sample of this excellent new breast pump that is made in the USA! Most similar to the Spectra in terms of form factor and ease of use; it's small, sleek, simple to use, and the moms who tested it for us had some great things to say. Let's start with the positives. We found the pump to be very powerful, especially for its small footprint; it seemed more powerful than the Pump in Style, but less so than the Symphony. Even when it was operating on battery mode, the pumping felt just as powerful as when it's plugged in. Speaking of the battery, in our testing we found that it would last for 2 full pumping sessions. You might be able to squeeze out a third, but the battery might die along the way, it all depends on how long you're pumping for and on which setting. So that's a pretty decent battery life, especially for the small form factor (and small internal battery). Another highlight is its quiet operation (likely the quietest on this list), which is great for pumping on-the-go (or late at night) when you want some privacy: you can pump in your office without all of your neighbors hearing the rhythmic pulsing of the motor. Like the other pumps, it has a two-phase expression, with a one-touch let-down, and two pumping rhythms for your comfort. Also has a convenient timer right on the front, so you don't need to keep checking the clock to track pumping durations. We found the breast shields comfortable, though the adapter sections were a bit heavy and reduced comfort. One thing that really sets this pump apart is that it's a "smart" pump, using Bluetooth to communicate with your smart phone. Download the app (on Apple or Android) and you can keep precise track of all of your pumping, and it will also give you a smart alert for low pump battery life. This is an awesome feature, bringing breast pumps into the 21st century! The best part is having an accurate log of pumping sessions, including when they happened and how long they lasted. So there are a ton of great features here, and as a result the price tag is a bit higher than most others on this list. So, what are the negatives? Well, first the screen display is a little odd and hard to read at times. Second, the shields and flanges cause a strange back-splashing of breast milk against the nipple before the milk moves down into the flange. That's not a big deal, though two of our testing moms commented that it's a strange sensation. Finally, this is a completely new model for Medela, and you can expect some hiccups along the way. As they improve upon the model over the next few years, we anticipate it will really begin to stand out against the crowd. In the meantime, you might need to rely on Medela's excellent customer service to resolve any issues that arise. We found this pump is usually around $299 online. Interested? You can check out this Medela Sonata breast pump here.
8. Spectra S9 Double Breast Pump.
Spectra has a wide range of excellent breast pumps, with this one being the most portable breast pump available of the group. We finally got our hands on this breast pump for testing, and our test parents had tons of great things to say about it. Let's start with the features. The size of this breast pump is fantastic, it's about the same size as an old Game Boy (if you remember those!), and is lightweight and easy to carry. It fits right into a jacket pocket, an awesome diaper bag, or a purse. But don't let the size fool you. This breast pump has two speeds: a faster one called "massage" which is intended to stimulate let-down, and a slower expression mode to continue pumping. And the suction strength is adjustable as well, so you can customize to what feels best for your unique situation. It's a double breast pump, but note that those controls are for both suction lines, you can't control them independently. The screen is small and simple. It provides a timer, tells you what your current suction level is, and tells you how much battery remains. Speaking of battery, this breast pump is super portable and has a battery that lasts for up to 3-4 pumping sessions (about 30 minutes each)! That's really impressive given its small size. The moms who tried this pump out for us said that the breast shields were comfortable and nicely sized, the bottles were fine (though some preferred larger ones), and things were easy to disassemble and clean. We also found out that the other Spectra Baby USA bottles that come with the S1 and S2 pumps will fit onto this one as well. The narrower-mouth Medela bottles don't seem to fit, but we did get several AVENT bottles to fit without any issues. So overall this is a great, highly portable breast pump that is perfect for moms on the go. The battery life is great, features are good, comfort is high, and from what we could tell it is very reliable. Only a few minor drawbacks were reported by our moms. First, if you're used to a very powerful pump like the Medela Pump in Style, or the S1 or S2, then you might find the suction on this pump a bit on the weaker side. Most moms don't have trouble with this, but if you're coming from a more powerful pump this might be an issue. Second, the breast shields are a bit expensive (see them here), though you can get the ones made by Maymom for quite a bit less (they are here).We found this breast pump is usually around $180 online. Interested? You can check out the Spectra S9 breast pump here.
9. Freemie Freedom Double Breast Pump.
The Freemie line of breast pumps are relatively new to the market, but they are making quite a splash. These are the best breast pumps for moms who want to pump discreetly and even without removing your bra or shirt. The way the Freemie pumps work is by using an innovative cup to collect the breast milk while it pumps. The cup is shaped like a dome, so it fits nicely over the nipple and breast, without sticking out like typical shields and flanges. The way it works is by placing a shield (they include a 25mm and 28mm set) into a cup-shaped reservoir that holds the expressed milk until you're done pumping. When you're done, you turn off the machine, remove the shield/cup, and then detach the shield from the cup so you can pour the milk into a storage container. The cups look small but they actually hold 8 ounces of milk each, which is more than enough for most moms. The moms who tried out the Freemie Freedom breast pump thought that it was comfortable, discreet, very effective, and all of them commented that it was a very innovative system. However, there were a few downfalls they mentioned. First, the system itself is only operated with the power cord, it cannot be battery operated so it doesn't have the portability that most other pumps have. Second, the pump itself is powerful and reliable, but it doesn't have a massage/let-down phase, so if you have found the massage aspect helpful for stimulating let-down, this isn't a great option for you. Third, the cups can't be used for milk storage, so you need to pour the milk out of the cups into a storage bag or bottle. The pump itself is pretty limited in features, so some of our testing moms found a good solution: they hooked the cups up to their existing breast pumps. One hooked it up to the Spectra S2, and another hooked them up to the Medela Pump in Style. They both thought this was a great solution because you get the discreet convenience and effectiveness of the cup collection, but with a more feature-full breast pump. We agree that this is a great way to use this system. In fact, you can just buy the accessories separately (like here) for about $60 and hook them up to your existing pump! By comparison, we found the whole breast pump system is usually around $160 online. Interested? You can check out this Freemie Freedom breast pump here.
10. Philips AVENT Double Comfort Breast Pump.
The Philips AVENT breast pump is probably most similar to the Medela Pump in Style in terms of features, size, and portability. It has some great features that our moms pointed out were really quite nice, especially for the lower price point (about $199). After stimulation mode, the AVENT has three different expression modes (low, medium, high) that you can choose between once let-down begins. This model also has a unique design that lets you sit upright without leaning forward to get the right alignment of the bottle. Speaking of which, AVENT makes some of the best baby bottles on the market, which can be screwed right onto this breast pump. It also has a unique breast shield design, with flower petal-like parts that are soft and comfortable against the breast. Overall, our moms thought that it was a good no-frills second option to the Medela Pump in Style, but without some of the better features like the cooler and ice pack, battery for cord-free use, and continuously adjustable suction (rather than simply 3 different categories of suction). Another con is that the AVENT reliability isn't quite on par with the Medela. Long-term users report various issues with the unit that can render it useless until it is repaired or replaced. If you can splurge the extra $20 or so, we suggest the Medela Pump in Style. Interested? You can check out this AVENT breast pump here.
11. BelleMa Melon Double/Single Breast Pump.
This is a relative newcomer to the electric breast pump market, and we are impressed with its bang-for-the-buck. It is a no-frills pump, similar to the Spectra pump above. It can be used on one breast or both simultaneously. We really liked the versatility of this pump: it has separate adjustable suction pressure and speed, each of which is adjustable across 5 levels from low to high. It uses two-phase pumping, starting with stimulation and then continuing with expression. One of the nice features about this pump is that it's compatible with the Medela Pump-in-Style parts, which is great if you're looking for a more comprehensive primary pump for at home (the Medela) and a simpler and less expensive secondary one for at work or elsewhere. The mom who reviewed this for us used it for a total of 3 months. She said the form and fit aren't quite as good as the Medela or AVENT, the parts were similar to the Medela in terms of cleaning, and that she was able to screw Dr. Brown's bottles directly onto it. But she also noted that it was quite a bit noisier than the others, and that it got consistently louder over time. Finally, she noted that it's a bit cheaply made, and was concerned about longer-term reliability. Overall, this pump gets the job done with only some minor drawbacks; at the lowest price on this list for an electric pump (under $100), it's a great bang for the buck. Interested? You can check out this BelleMa Melon breast pump here.
12. Ameda Mya Double Smart Breast Pump.
The Ameda Mya is a new addition to the breast pump market, and it offers a great combination of portability, power, quietness, comfort, and compatibility. Starting with portability, the actual pump is super small and fits right into the palm of your hand, or into even a small diaper bag. It's also surprisingly lightweight (about half a pound) given that it houses a high-capacity rechargeable battery. In terms of power, it provides hospital-grade suction power (280mmHg) with two phases: stimulation and expression. We loved the massage stimulation mode (it has 5 levels for letdown) and the 10 levels of expression, offering great customizability to individual comfort and pumping needs. In terms of noise levels, this is one of the quietest breast pumps we have ever tested! It's the sort of silence that you could use in a bathroom stall discretely without anyone even knowing - and that's really impressive! For comfort, all of the different expression and stimulation levels are super helpful; it comes with comfortable flanges (24mm is included, but you can also purchase 28 and 30mm), and if you own another Ameda pump you can use its shields and tubing if you'd like. This gets into the compatibility topic - the wide-mouth bottles use the same threads as several popular baby bottles, such as the Philips AVENT, and they sell adapters to help attach to wider mouth bottles like Comotomo, or narrower mouth bottles like Medela. This is a completely closed system and we didn't experience any milk getting into the tubes or other parts. We had 3 different moms test this breast pump and they all came away with very positive things to say. One said that it increased her milk supply after about 5 days of use, and she was so confident that it was due to this pump that she kept using it (replacing her AVENT pump). Another said that it was one of the more comfortable pumps she's used, and that the stimulation modes were more effective than her Spectra S9. So that's really good feedback. They also noted that the battery lasted up to 2 hours of pumping before needing to be recharged, and that recharging took a couple hours. One mom reported that she was a little frustrated with battery life, noting that the battery did not do a great job holding a charge. There is a battery level indicator on the system. Cons? Not many! There was the battery life challenge reported by one of our moms, and when we looked at some online reviews there were several moms reporting the same issue. So we think it's relatively rare, but worth considering that some of these systems might have that limitation. Overall, this is a great new addition to our list, and we were overall very positive about it (save for the rare battery issues). For the relatively reasonable cost (about $170), it might be worth the risk, and Ameda is very responsive and would likely replace a faulty battery if requested. Interested? You can check out this Ameda Mya breast pump here.
13. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump.
Medela has been doing breast pumps for a very long time and they truly know what they are doing. From the Medela Harmony manual breast pump for about $30, to the hospital grade Symphony, you really can't go wrong with a Medela breast pump. Lansinoh also makes an excellent manual breast pump, the Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump with Stimulation and Expression Modes, so be sure to check that out here). The Harmony is really the ultimate in super-portable breast pumps, but as the only manual pump option on our list it also requires the most amount of work on behalf of moms. In our testing, this worked quite well for a manual pump. It has a two-phase stimulation and expression option; first you use your thumb to pump for stimulation, and when let-down occurs you switch to the long handle and use your entire hand. The breast shield is also very nicely contoured and soft, the handle pivots for comfort and left- or right-handed use, and it's super portable and extremely quiet. The quietest on our list by far - not surprising given it's manual. After using, moms thought the clean-up was relatively easy without the mess of tubes and membranes, and there was relatively little to put away after use. No wires, chargers, or batteries, and no long tubes. But of course, a couple moms noted that their hands got a bit tired after 5 minutes of pumping their breasts, and one mom flat-out called it ridiculous and wondered why anyone would get a manual pump in the first place. Other moms appreciated its simplicity and effectiveness, but also noted that they had to use quite a bit of breast compression with their free hand to get things flowing again when the milk supply slowed down. Cons? Well, we think we've just about covered those. But an additional finding is that a little rubber o-ring tends to wear out quickly and cause leaks; it can be replaced by contacting Medela for parts. Interested? You can check out the Medela Harmony breast pump here.
Here are more details about the factors to consider when finding a great breast pump:
To find the best breast pumps of 2020, we got together a group of new moms who were currently breast feeding. Some already had a go-to breast pump, some hadn't tried one yet, and others were looking for something better. We had the moms try out the different versions, take a look at all the parts, try cleaning them, and give us their honest opinions. Some moms used pumps on a daily basis while at work or otherwise not with their baby, while others used breast pumps to increase milk supply after breastfeeding.
After pulling together all their thoughts we were able to find the top breast pumps of 2020. Our hands-on tests included consideration of the following factors: automatic versus manual pumping, single versus dual pumping, BPA and phthalate content, portability, milk storage options, comfort (see our best nipple creams here), expression phases, safety, battery life, and of course, price! Here are the main factors we considered:
Automatic versus Manual. Most moms opt for the automatic powered breast pump, whereas others prefer the manual method. There are a lot of pros and cons for each method. For the electric pump, you benefit from the phased expression that automatically mimics the sucking pattern of a baby, faster let-down with shorter overall pumping times, no hand/wrist strain from manual pumping, and a sit-back-and-relax sort of device that doesn't involve too much work. You can text on your phone or otherwise do some work while pumping, which some moms find super convenient. But with an automatic pump you also need to worry about battery levels, charging, device size/weight, higher cost, and noise. If you work in a small office environment, for example, you might be concerned that the automatic pumps are relatively noisy and others might hear the pump running; let's be clear that they aren't really noisy, but certainly noisier than a manual pump. For manual breast pumps, you benefit from highly customizable speed, no worrying about batteries/charging, a smaller form factor that is more portable, and a basically silent operation that is highly discreet. But pumping times can be a bit longer, you need to figure out when to switch expression phases, and you can't really do anything else while pumping since your hands will be occupied. Moms also report getting sore hands and wrists from manually pumping for extended durations. We think that the best option is the one you're most comfortable with and fits your unique lifestyle. One is not necessarily better than the other, though the electric pump is certainly worth the added cost for the convenience factor alone.
BPA and Phthalate Content. When my babies were little we were just beginning the trend toward BPA and phthalate-free breast pumps. Moms were worried that the parts coming in contact with breast milk, like the shields and bottles, might contain harmful chemicals. Nowadays, all of the major manufacturers are making their systems BPA-free, so you no longer need to search long and hard for one of these options. The models we list below are all BPA-free.
Portability & Storage. If you go the manual route, you will have the most portable possible breast pump that you can buy. The compact bottle and breast shield, along with the small pump handle, all 
Comfort. This is a difficult factor to assess since comfort with a breast pump tends to be highly individualized, and every mom has her own pumping experiences and preferences for pumping patterns, strength, duration, and accessories. Typically, comfort comes down to a few primary factors.
First is you must select the appropriately sized breast shields (these are also referred to as the breast flange sizes). Medela, for instance, manufactures 5 different breast shield sizes (aka flange sizes) to accommodate all women. In general, you need to make sure your nipple is centered in the shield and not rubbing the sides as it is pumped, your areola (dark skin surrounding nipple) has space to move up and down as it is pumped, your breast moves gently and rhythmically with the pumping, and feels comfortable during pumping. If any of these aren't correct, your breast shield may be too small, and it is likely that you will not get a good let-down.
Second, you must correctly time the shifts of expression phases to accommodate your body's unique let-down pattern. Typically, pumps will begin in a "stimulation" phase and then after 2 minutes automatically switch to the expression phase. This 2-minute pattern is optimal for many women, but you might find that you need more or less time in a stimulation phase before switching to expression. The Medela pump, for instance, gives you flexibility with this timing by offering a let-down button that allows you to either switch to expression phase earlier, or go back to stimulation phase if the unit switched automatically to expression before you were ready. This customizable phase timing feature is great for optimal comfort during use.
Third, you will likely need to adjust vacuum strength/speed while pumping. Most breast pumps suggest increasing the vacuum speed/strength until you feel slight discomfort and then backing down a bit. This process of selecting the correct breast shield size, switching pump phases as needed, and customizing your vacuum speed, should result in high comfort levels for most women. Of course, if you're pumping exclusively, then comfort is going to be paramount since you'll be doing it more times a day and have more potential for small annoyances to build up into something uncomfortable when you're using 5-10 times per day. Note that some nursing bras are pumping bras that allow you to attach the pumps to each breast without taking off your bra, and the bra will hold it in place hands-free which can be super convenient. Check out our reviews of the best nursing bras here.
Cleaning/Maintenance. All breast pumps, regardless of whether they are manual or automatic, will have a lot of parts that need to be cleaned. Some of these parts are large, like the breast shield and connectors. Some are small, like the valve and little rubber membranes. Some are easier to clean, like the breast shield, and some are harder, like the vacuum tubes. Most breast pumps ask for warm soapy water for cleanup between uses, and also allow you to put the larger components into the dishwasher (air dry only). They also recommend daily sanitization of the parts in boiling water. So there are a lot of parts, and cleanup is a bit of a pain regardless of which system you have. Medela offers a single-piece breast shield and connector which makes life a bit easier
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