The 5 Best Breast Pumps, Tested and Reviewed by Nursing Moms

If you are a mom-to-be or a new mother, you’ve likely seen the hype for Pumpables breast pumps. They’re all over Instagram and Facebook, to say nothing of parents’ forums. And while the social media marketing is top-notch, once you actually use the SuperGenie Breast Pump, its quality speaks for itself. With a hospital-grade suction level of 330 mmHg, this is the most powerful pump I tested, and my milk output did not disappoint. But while the SuperGenie is powerful, it’s also comfortable. I don’t say this lightly; over the past year I’ve tested 14 different breast pumps for The Bump, and the Pumpables SuperGenie is one of the most—if not the most—comfortable pump I’ve ever used. This impressive combination of effectiveness and comfort earned the Pumpables SuperGenie this year’s Best of The Bump award for overall best breast pump. (See all of this year’s Best of The Bump winners.)

What’s unique about SuperGenie is their commitment to providing a proper fit, which is everything when it comes to breast pumps. If the flange is the wrong size, pumping can be a painful experience. As Fink warns, “the ‘standard’ 24 millimeter flanges that come with most breast pumps are the incorrect size for the majority of pumping moms—most women should be using a smaller flange.” But Pumpables offers six size options (15, 17, 19, 21, 25 and 29 millimeters) for a precise and comfortable fit.

While the pump can be purchased on its own (and is compatible with most flange kits), I really feel it’s worth it to spend the extra money on their liquid shield kit, which can be added to any pump purchase in your exact size. The kit comes with a silicone flange that is one continuous, moldable piece comprising the shield and the duckbill valve; therefore, there are no seams that can cause chafing or irritation. Sold alone, the liquid shield kit is $60; when added to a pump purchase, it’s 50 percent off at only $30. And if you’re not sure of your perfect size, Pumpables offers a free printable measuring tool and a virtual fitting room to ensure the most comfortable and productive fit.

On top of that, this battery-powered breast pump is so well designed. Not only is it pretty, but it's functional. It has a handle for carrying the pump around the house, if need be—which, as a mom of two, is a necessity for me! Plus, it has a light under the handle that’s perfect for nighttime pumping sessions. In all honesty, I can't think of a single improvement that could be made to the design—it’s beautiful, sleek and easy to use, in part thanks to the corresponding app (one of this pump’s coolest features!). It syncs with the pump (easily, I might add) via Bluetooth to let you control the pump settings and record your pumping sessions. Not only that, but you can even try pumping programs that other moms love via the app. How cool!

I have only one complaint: Where was the Pumpables SuperGenie when I had my first child?

Dimensions: 7.8” (L) x 6.4” (W) x 2.8” (H) | Weight: 2.4 lbs. | Milk capacity: 4 oz. per bottle

Our community says:

When my first child was born, I had the loudest electric breast pump—I just didn’t know any better! Four years have passed since then, and I’ve gotten wiser. A breast pump should make your life easier, and a pump that wakes your child up from their nap is not achieving that goal. After testing many of the top breast pumps on the market, I can tell you that the Motif Medical Luna Double Electric Breast Pump is one of the quietest pumps out there, and the clear Best of The Bump winner for best quiet breast pump. The manufacturer claims that the pump’s “quiet <40-decibel hum won’t wake your baby,” and after trying it in my home, I can tell you that it wholly lives up to that promise—I pumped right beside my napping baby and he didn’t stir at all—and he’s a light sleeper! Not only is the Luna ultra-quiet, but its soft hum didn’t get any louder when I adjusted it to a higher setting, unlike most other electric breast pumps.

At under $200 for the battery-operated version of this pump, I was so impressed with the quality you get for the money. It's extremely lightweight, and compact enough to carry around (or out of) the house; I took it to my parent's house right in the diaper bag. Of course, when I'm using a battery-powered device, a long-lasting battery is important to me, and Luna’s longevity didn’t disappoint. The battery lasted several pumping sessions and charged up in less than three hours. I even love the look of this breast pump—it has clean lines and a nice pop of Medical Motif's signature seafoam color. The Motif Medical Luna not only delivers on its promise of low noise levels, it keeps delivering on every other front.

Dimensions: 9.2" (L) x 7.7" (W) x 9.6"(H) | Weight: 2.4 lbs. | Milk capacity: 5 oz. per bottle

Our community says:

Dr. Brown’s is a household name and trusted brand for feeding babies, so it’s no surprise that their electric breast pump made our Best of The Bump lineup. While assembling this breast pump took a little longer, it was so easy to use and clean. (If you've ever used one of their baby bottles, you know this is classic Dr. Brown’s—easy to use, but lots of pieces!) The instruction packet was outstanding; between a list of FAQs and tips for expressing milk, I felt like I got a full education on pumping. Between the extensive instruction manual, the simple and straightforward controls and easy-to-clean parts, Dr. Brown’s Customflow Double Electric Breast Pump is our standout winner for best easy-to-use breast pump.

The design of the Customflow is geared toward functionality. One of my favorite features is the stretch silicone wall, which wraps around the pump base to secure bottles of milk once you've finished pumping (ensuring absolutely no spills!) I love that this piece is removable, so I can really clean out the base where the bottles sit—no old milk stains here.

The Customflow gives you a choice of two modes (letdown and expression), with adjustable suction and cycle in each mode. The controls are simple and intuitive, like a basic TV remote: one button to switch modes, and + and - buttons to adjust the levels. This electric breast pump is uncomplicated, but still yields my typical two and a half to three ounces of milk per session. And I love that it comes with simple adapters that screw on so you can pump directly into wider neck bottles if you prefer. And when you're done pumping, the Customflow remembers your preferred vacuum level so you don't have to fiddle with it every time you sit down.

Dimensions: 12.8" (L) x 8.7" (W) x 10.5" (H) | Weight: 2 lbs. | Milk capacity: 4 oz. per bottle

Let’s face it: Top-rated breast pumps typically aren’t cheap. Even when I obtained my pumps through my insurance with each of my children, there was always an additional fee for the pumps I selected. Not to mention that add-ons like extra pumping bottles, storage lids and flanges come at an additional cost. But the Lansinoh Smartpump 3.0, our Best of The Bump winner for best affordable breast pump, is packed with everything (and we mean everything) you need to begin pumping, all for under $130. It includes three different sizes of flanges (most other pumps come with just one), four Lansinoh bottles, a bottle nipple and cover, multiple valves and connection tubes—and even a cooler for breast milk storage. Our product tester Samantha, a mom of a 1-month-old, gave this electric breast pump a 10 out of 10 score for value for money, telling us, “With the amount that comes in the box, I think it's a great value. You really get a lot of bang for your buck.”

Rest assured, the cheap price tag on this pump doesn’t mean you’re getting cheap quality. Samantha was thrilled to share that she pumped more milk than she expected in a shorter time than with other pumps she’s used, and gave it a 10 out of 10 for quality, describing it as a pump that will “hold up for longer periods of time.” She loved how “cute and small” the pump was and how it came in its own black carrying case that was so discreet that you “wouldn't know that a breast pump is [inside].” While she commented that the pump could be noisy, its ease of use, quality, rechargeable battery and (of course) value make it a standout option for pumping mamas.

Dimensions: 6.5" x 6" x 2.8" | Weight: 2.8 lbs. | Milk capacity: 5 oz. per bottle

I’ve tested many breast pumps in my four years of motherhood, and BabyBuddha 2.0 ticks all the boxes: effective, compact, user-friendly, compatible with other brands’ pump components and (drumroll, please) hospital-grade! And that’s not even the best part—this portable electric breast pump is smaller than my iPhone but still able to hit 315 mmHg of suction, making it a powerhouse pump you can keep in a drawstring carrying bag, or even hang from a lanyard around your neck. The BabyBuddha 2.0 is the undeniable Best of The Bump winner for best portable breast pump.

You might be wondering, what differentiates BabyBuddha 2.0 from the original? Additional suction settings—21, to be exact! While the original BabyBuddha is known for its “long pull,” which stimulates a strong letdown and increases pumping efficiency, with the BabyBuddha 2.0 moms can opt out of the long pull if it's too much. The manufacturer added “soft stimulation mode” settings, which not only help mimic baby’s suction pattern to help increase mom’s supply, but also optimize comfort. As someone who appreciates power in a breast pump, but gets uncomfortable when the pump is a little too intense, I love that BabyBuddha listened to their customers' feedback and made changes to provide a more pleasant pumping experience.

A nice little extra touch: I really liked the trackball control you can use to move through the available settings and adjust the suction strength. You can navigate the settings by simply scrolling through with your thumb! And if you want to make the leap from portable to fully hands-free, BabyBuddha sells in-bra collection cups to make things even easier.

Dimensions: 2" (L) x 5" (W) x 1.5" (H) | Weight: 6.8 oz. | **Milk capacity: 4.4 oz. per bottle