Best TENS machine for effective pain relief at home

The Beurer Digital TENS/EMS machine offers both TENS pain relief and EMS (electric muscle stimulation) for muscle recovery. Customers really praise the value of this machine – with one saying that although they’d bought more expensive TENS machines in the past, they weren’t as good. 

We really like that the machine has such variety, with 64 pre-set programmes and 6 customisable options. You can also store your preferred settings for a quick-start when you turn it on. 
Reviewers all said it works well for pain relief, and with added EMS and massage functions as well, it’s a versatile machine for not much money.

The Boots TENS back pain belt does what it says – it effectively provides relief for back pain without the need for drugs. We like it for a number of reasons, and primarily its ease of use. 
You simply wet the belt and then put it on. It fastens at the front, so you don’t need anyone to help you, and because the pads are connected through moisture on the belt, you won’t ever need to replace them. The belt fastening holds the machine in place so you can wear clothes over the top of it and go about your day. 
Customers all praise its effectiveness and how lightweight and portable it is. If you’ve suffered from back pain or sciatica, you’ll know how amazing it is to find a pain relief that works! Warning though – it’s not suitable for use during pregnancy.

The Boots wireless TENS machine is small and discreet, perfect for on-the-go pain relief. It also app-enabled, so you can control it from your phone – even handier when out and about. 

Reviews praise its ease of use, the specific settings for different areas of the body, and that it provides great relief for arthritic pain in knees, hands, feet and shoulders. One charge will offer 24 hours of use as well, so you can leave the house all day with it and not have to worry.

Some people have mentioned that the app isn't compatible with their phones, but this does only seem to be a problem with certain android models. iPhones and modern Android phones are fine.

For sciatica, this AUVON Rechargeable TENS Machine is a non-invasive, drug-free solution for pain relief and management. Reviewers have high praise for its ability to ease their pain sufficiently so they can sleep properly, and even manage to perform stretches to relax the muscles. 
This TENS machine has a rechargeable battery, offering up to 24 hours use, and a battery level indicator so you can see when to charge it. 
There’s also 24 pre-programmed massage modes, and you can set the frequency and duration of each pulse manually, for more targeted relief.

Migraine pain can be truly debilitating, and often it seems as if no painkillers make a difference. Enter this wearable TENS machine, specifically for the head. Now okay, you’re not going to wear it out and about, but you wouldn’t want to be out and about with a migraine anyway. 
It’s work directly on the forehead and brings effective results by targeting nerve endings and promoting endorphin release.
There are 40 different levels so you can choose which suits you, and 2 different programmes: one for treating a migraine which runs for 60 mins and one for prevention which is 20 mins. The device automatically shuts off after its run the programme, so you don’t need to worry about falling asleep with it on.

This handy little TENS machine is designed specifically for use on the knees or elbows, with an adjustable cuff to provide targeted relief. 
Reviews praise its ease of use, and that you can easily swap through programmes and intensity levels to find what suits you. 
The control panel can be clipped to the cuff if you like, which means the wire isn’t trailing across your body. If you have dexterity or mobility issues, you may need assistance in getting the cuff on over the electrode pads.

The Body Clock Health Care TENS machine is sold primarily for women in labour, but we’ve included it here for a couple of reasons. Firstly, although we’re not primarily aimed at young women, we know we do have women of childbearing age reading us (hello) and second, because this is a great machine for pelvic toning, too. It’s recommended by midwives and comes with pre-set modes and a boost button for added pain relief. 

If you’re not about to give birth, the large pads with this machine might be useful for targeting pain relief to a larger area of the body e.g. the back. 

Reviewed by Becky Fuller, senior digital writer: I used this machine in two labours, and it was brilliant. It has extra-large pads, which I put on my lower back, and then you can increase the intensity as the contractions increase. The boost button is your friend when things get tough! 

The best thing about this machine is that it can be used as a pelvic floor toner after birth, too. It comes with a vaginal wand and if you do nothing else, please use it to tone your pelvic floor muscles to avoid problems later in life.

If you suffer from period pain, you’ll want to invest in this device specifically for period pain. The waveform technology offers just that; wave-like pain relief that can be adjusted across 20 intensity levels. There’s also six different therapy modes, and it provides up to 5 hours pain relief. 

Reviewers have said they don’t even need additional painkillers with this machine, and they praise the fact it’s portable so can be worn out and about. It’s reasonably priced and, given that it can also be used elsewhere on the body and not just for menstrual pain, we think it’s good value.

The Beurer Wireless TENS machine is our favourite wireless TENS machine on the market. We like that it comes with a handy remote control which is simple and easy to use, or there’s an app. There’s also 4 different gel electrodes – in large, medium and small, for targeted relief.  

The device offers 19 different pre-set programmes, for pain relief, massage or muscle strengthening. 

One customer said it had been a lifesaver for the pain she was having from an ovarian cyst. Be warned, though, that it can be tricky to come by replacement pads, and you might need to shop around.

This TENS machine is clinically approved and designed to ease the pain of endometriosis and menstrual cramps with a special warming heat function as well. It has 15 different intensity levels, and we love its ergonomic design, so it adheres better to the skin. 
Customers have been using it at work thanks to its discreet nature. It might need charging more often than other devices on our list, but it is USB connection, making it slightly easier to charge than others.

If you’re serious about your fitness and recovery, the Therabody PowerDot is for you. It’s designed to mimic training and stimulate the muscles, thereby improving performance, and to aid recovery. 

It’s pricey, but you do get value for money if a personalised muscle recovery programme is what you’re after. The machine gently guides you to find the right levels of stimulation and TENS relief for you, and the smart app finds the correct pad placement for you as well. 

Customers have noticed it improves mobility, reduces pain and the customised option is very helpful for aiding recovery from injuries, fatigue, or over training.