8 Best Breast Pumps, Tested and Loved by Over 300 Moms

A back-to-back-to-back 2025 What to Expect Feeding Award winner, the Spectra S1 is touted as one of the most powerful pumps on the market. (It's comparable to ones you can borrow at the hospital — enough said!) This makes it the ideal choice for exclusively pumping moms and moms who rely on pumping to stash enough milk to feed baby during work hours.

What to Expect's Editorial Director Christine Mattheis agrees. She tested five types of breast pumps during her seven-month breastfeeding journey with her daughter, Rose, and says that the Spectra S1 was by far her favorite. "The Spectra pumped milk extremely efficiently," she says. "In just 15 minutes, I could express up to 5 ounces per breast, while with other pumps I'd get maybe half that amount." Plus, she says, the Spectra was easy to use, fit comfortably and was easy to clean. 

What to Expect’s Shopping Director (and new mom!), Liz Buxton, was equally impressed by the power but notes it's a little bulky for travel. "I packed it for road trips and even a flight once, but it’s definitely more of a stay-at-home pump. That said, it’s super easy to clean and carry from room to room, which made it my go-to for daily use around the house.”

The Spectra's streamlined design builds in a super-convenient handle for portability and a space at the back to secure a bottle — and with the blue S1, you get a built-in backup battery, as well. (If you don’t think you’ll need the battery pack, you can get the pink S2 and save yourself a few bucks).

The pump weighs 3.3 pounds and has a handy little nightlight, so you can pump during those bleary midnight hours without turning on the lights and a screen that shows a digital stopwatch so you can see how long you've been pumping.

The double-electric, closed-system design has a digital display that lights up so you can easily set the speed and rhythm. Turn it off, and its memory will even recall where you last left off.

Tested by Liz Buxton, mom of one and What to Expect's Shopping Director:

“Once I figured out the right flange size and got the hang of the settings, the S1 Plus was a total workhorse. It’s incredibly effective at fully emptying my breasts and surprisingly comfortable — even during longer sessions."

If you only want to pump a few ounces every once in a while, then there's no need to spend hundreds on an electric pump. Rather, opt for the extremely affordable, compact, and light Lansinoh manual pump. 

Pro Tip: Use the Lansinoh manual pump to relieve engorgement like Christine Mattheis, mom of two and What to Expect's Editorial Director. "I'd wake up engorged, so I would use the Lansinoh Manual for just a few minutes to relieve pressure," she says. 

For a manual pump, this one packs a big punch: It has two modes so you can pump faster, a special handle so your hand won’t tire as easily (anyone who's used a manual pump knows how important this is!), and fewer parts to clean — the latter of which, Sarah Darby, mom of two and What to Expect Senior SEO Strategist, greatly appreciated. 

Christine also found the Lansinoh Manual pump useful when she started to wean off nursing. "It was most useful for me when my daughter started sleeping longer stretches and skipping night feedings," she says. "I wanted my body to adjust my milk supply accordingly, so didn't want to do a full pump with my Spectra or Medela Freestyle Flex." She adds that Lansinoh bottles were the only type her daughter would take, so using this pump was a "no-brainer." 

Sarah particularly loved what Lansinoh refers to as a pump-store-feed system, which means milk isn't transferred from one container to the next; you pump directly into the wide-neck bottle you’ll use for feeding. Super convenient for quick feedings, plus you can’t argue the benefit of less dishwashing to do.

Tested by Sarah Darby, mom of two and What to Expect Senior SEO Strategist: 

“Even though I had a double electric pump, I would often choose to use my Lansinoh manual pump. I felt that I was able to get more milk in the same amount of time and it was so easy to clean in between pump sessions.”

If you're hoping to pump milk without being tethered to an outlet, you may want to invest in a secondary wearable breast pump — ideally one that won't cost a couple hundred dollars. This is why many What to Expect moms voted  the Momcozy S12 Pro as the Best Wearable Breast Pump in the 2025 What to Expect Feeding Awards. 

I’ll warn you now: It’s not the most discreet pump — the motor is attached to the top of the collection cup and peeks out from your bra or lower-cut shirts. But if you’re simply looking to free up your hands while at home, it’s not a deal-breaker — especially when you consider all the Momcozy S12 has to offer.

At less than $150, this portable device packs the power of a hospital grade pump with an impressive suction strength of 300 mmHg. It also has three expression modes — stimulation, expression, and mixed — and nine intensity levels, so you can customize the experience to mimic your baby’s sucking rhythm.

"I’ve been using the Momcozy S12 for a few months now, and I’m truly impressed by how this compact device holds its own against larger pumps," Holly Crocker, an exclusive pumping mom of two, writes in her review of the Momcozy S12. "My output is just as good, if not better, with the Momcozy S12 compared to the electric breast pumps I’ve used in the past — those with bulky motors and hard-to-clean tubes.

But what moms really love about the Momcozy S12 is the comfort. The pump has a unique double-sealed flange, which acts as a cushion and gets rid of that pinch feeling many moms experience.  

Tested by Holly Crocker, mom of two and What to Expect contributor.

"One of my favorite things about the Momcozy S12 is that it's see-through, so you can check if your nipples are aligned properly for better comfort and output."

The innovative Willow 360 Pump (formerly known as the Willow 3.0) is free from tubes, wires, and dangling bottles, making it a favorite for on-the-go pumping. Its sleek shape fits right into your bra, offering a level of discretion you don’t always get with traditional electric pumps — and it does so without sacrificing power.

"Initially, I was concerned that the Willow 360 might not provide the same output as a more traditional pump due to its compact size and less powerful motor. But to my surprise, my milk production is the same with both pumps," Christine Benton, a mom of three, writes in her review of the Willow 360. 

While Christine felt comfortable wearing the Willow 360 out and about, some moms found it a bit more noticeable. "The Willow is helpful if you want to, say, throw on a big sweatshirt and take a walk around the neighborhood while you're pumping," says Robin Hilmantel, mom of three and What to Expect’s Senior Director of Editorial Strategy & Growth. "But it is larger and more noticeable than I was expecting, so I didn't feel comfortable wearing it in the workplace or in more public settings."

Still on the fence? Here are a few more reasons parents love this pump.

For starters, the Willow 360 pairs with a smart app that controls suction levels and tracks milk volume, pump time, and previous sessions — a game changer if you’re juggling meetings or soothing your little one during a road trip. (Bonus: You can adjust the settings from your phone or even your Apple Watch.)

Willow also makes several helpful accessories to support your on-the-go pumping routine. Some favorites include the portable breast milk cooler ($40), compact pump carrying case ($60), and pint-sized cleaning station ($30).

One thing to note: These accessories are sold separately. You’ll also need to purchase either Willow Pump Reusable Breast Milk Containers (sold separately) or the brand-specific pump bags, which can add to the overall cost.

Tested by Christine Benton, a mom of three and What to Expect contributor. 

"The convenience and comfort of the Willow 360 have made it easier to stick to my exclusive pumping goals."

Need a pump that’s discreet in both look and sound? Many moms swear by the Elvie Pump.

"The curve on the Elvie is more shallow than on some breast pumps, which makes it nice for discreet wear," writes Jaclyn King, mom of two and What to Expect contributor, in her review of the Elvie. 

Sarah Darby, mom of two and What to Expect’s Senior SEO Content Strategist, agrees: “I loved that I could just wear my regular nursing bra and pop my Elvie right in. Plus, it was super quiet and discreet enough that I could do pretty much anything while wearing it.” (She does note, however, that bending over sometimes caused the pump to pause.)

Both Sarah and Jaclyn found the Elvie easy to clean, thanks to its minimal parts — a major plus if you're pumping at the office and need to get back to your desk quickly.

The Elvie also pairs with an app that lets you control the suction level (three modes and 20 intensities) and track your sessions and output, so you can focus on other tasks. Like that big presentation you’re half-listening to). 

As for ease of use, the Elvie couldn’t be simpler: Just pop the 8-ounce pumps into your bra, turn them on, and let them do their thing. Positioning might take a little practice, but once you’ve got it down, you’re good to go. One tip? Keep an eye on your milk levels in the app — if the container gets too full, you risk milk backing up and making an unexpected mess.

One thing to keep in mind: The Elvie’s suction may not be as strong as more traditional electric pumps, which could affect how much milk you express in a single session. Jaclyn didn’t find this to be an issue since she paired it with the Elvie Stride. But if this will be your one and only pump, you might want to explore other options to be sure it meets your needs.

Tested by Sarah Darby, What to Expect’s Senior SEO Content Strategist:

"My Elvie was my go-to when I needed a quiet and (relatively) discreet pump. I could wear it on-the-go or even while on a call without anyone even knowing I was pumping."

I was first drawn to the Pump In Style Pro (originally known as the Medela Pump In Style with MaxFlow) for its ease of use. Other breast pumps seemed to have a lot of buttons and parts, which, as a first-time mom, was a little overwhelming. With the Medela Pump In Style Pro, I just had to press one button to get started and easily hit another to adjust the speed and strength.

Of course, ease of use is only one pro of this pump. It's designed to mimic a baby’s natural sucking pattern, which is more complicated than it sounds. According to Medela’s research, babies breastfeed in two steps: stimulation, which involves a faster sucking rhythm to get milk flowing, and expression, which uses a slower sucking rhythm for feeding. By working in the same way, this pump aims to help you produce more milk in less time, which is a huge plus.

I did find the pumping sound a little loud, which was a problem if I tried to pump during meetings or phone calls. That said, it wasn't noisy enough to bother me. 

Tested by Leah Rocketto, soon-to-be mom of two and What to Expect's Associate Shopping Director:

"The Medela isn’t the most discreet in terms of appearance or sound, but the easy-to-adjust suction and stimulation settings helped me find the right level to increase my supply."

Voted the Best Manual Pump in the 2025 What to Expect Feeding Awards, the lightweight, one-piece Haakaa Silicone Pump is perfect for moms who need help starting a milk flow. You can use this pump alone to create suction, no tedious hand pumping required. Just squeeze a little bit, and the suction allows the natural letdown process to flow. It’s also a miracle worker when it comes to catching letdown milk from the breast that baby isn’t feeding from. You’ll be amazed by how much milk you can save with this passive method of “pumping.”

"It looks really strange, but it's actually really easy to use," says Emma Reyna, a mom and What to Expect contributor. "Just flip the flange inside out and squeeze the base, then place the flange over your breast and gently release the base so it suctions onto your breast. Then let the milk flow."

At the start of my breastfeeding sessions, I would leak on whatever side my daughter wasn’t nursing on, so a friend suggested I use the Haakaa. I was shocked at how much milk I was able to collect from that side. (If you do try this passive method of “pumping,” just be mindful of your baby’s position, as they could easily kick it off.)

“The Haakaa was a lifesaver during those early newborn days,” agrees Liz. “It also helped catch leaks and relieve engorgement while my supply was still regulating."

Emma notes the shape of the Haakaa is a bit awkward; because it hangs, your baby might kick it off during a nursing session. She also found it was a bit painful to use the first few sessions, but the pain subsided once she got the right positioning. 

Sarah found the Haakaa helpful once her son started sleeping longer stretches at night. “I found that I would leak on the side he wasn’t nursing on because I was so engorged,” Sarah says. “I started popping the Haakaa on and it was a game changer!”

Christine also relied on the Haakaa for coping with a powerful letdown. "At the beginning of every feed, my daughter would cough and almost seem to be choking on my milk," she explains. "So I started using the Haakaa to stimulate my milk flow, and once I got past that initial tingly feeling of a letdown, I'd pop it off and have my daughter latch. Then I'd pop the Haakaa on the breast she wasn't feeding on and collect any milk that leaked." 

The all-silicone design is easy to clean. A little hot soapy water and a bottle brush will do the trick.

Tested by Liz Buxton, mom of one and What to Expect's Shopping Director: 

"The Haakaa is affordable, foolproof, and one of the first things I’d recommend adding to a registry. I’d pop it on one side while my baby nursed on the other, and it helped me build a decent freezer stash without any extra effort."

Tested by Emma Reyna, mom and What to Expect contributor:

"The Haakaa is so easy to use and catches all that milk that would otherwise be wasted. If, like me, you're not an oversupplier, then you'll love that the Haakaa is designed to catch milk that leaks, rather than it absorbing into your shirt."

If you’re looking for a powerful, under-$200, semi-wearable pump, the Elvie Stride is the perfect pick. It has a hospital-grade strength motor that has a suction power of up to 300 mmHG, which is higher than the original wearable Elvie pump, and is designed for comfort. 

"The shape of the collection cups is really nice and slim," says Jaclyn King, mom of two and What to Expect contributor, writes in her review of the Elvie Stride. “[And] the rotating caps make it so you can position tubing in any direction.”

Another thing she loves: You can use the Elvie app to control your pump and adjust suction settings, as well as monitor your pumping history and track milk volume.

Moms like the soft silicone nipple shields, saying they are gentle against the breasts; they also come in three sizes so you can get the best fit. Jaclyn did find the shields became less comfortable over time, but not to the point that it was painful.

Jaclyn also notes that, despite being wearable, "because of the tubing and external motor, the Elvie Stride is not as discreet as other wearable breast pumps." You can, however clip the motor to your waistband or tuck in your pocket, which many moms say makes it possible to wear the pump while doing other things. 

Tested by Jaclyn King, mom of two and What to Expect contributor:

"The Elvie Stride has several features, like a powerful motor and decent cup capacity, that make it ideal for moms who want the convenience of a wearable pump but the power and price of an electric pump."