The 6 Best Breast Pumps of 2026

Based on our research, we determined that a breast pump worth recommending must have the following attributes and features:

Efficient operation: The most important function of a breast pump is to pull milk out of the breast efficiently. We identified the models that were most effective at this task within a 15-minute pumping session. We also favored pumps that were reasonably comfortable to use, with few to no reports of painful pumping sessions.

Adjustability: In electric breast pumps, adjustability involves two factors, namely suction strength (how hard the pump pulls at the nipple) and frequency (how fast it pulls). Some breast pumps allow you to control the two independently; however, most models include both in a single control.

Stimulation and expression modes: Most electric breast pumps have two settings, a stimulation mode and an expression mode. The stimulation mode (sometimes called “bacon mode” due to the wavy-lines symbol on its button) mimics the way a baby begins to nurse, with a short, fast sucking pattern. The expression mode (or “letdown” mode, often represented by a droplet symbol) is the main setting for extracting milk and has a longer, more adjustable suction.

Easy maintenance: Electric pumps have numerous parts, and most require you to take them apart and clean them multiple times per day. After months of constantly disassembling and scrubbing parts — and even sometimes replacing them — we’ve come to appreciate pumps that have simpler, more streamlined designs that are easy to clean and maintain.

Low volume: Pumping at work or in public settings is much more comfortable when you’re using a low-volume pump that doesn’t sound like industrial machinery.

Reasonable price: In many cases, insurance covers all or part of the cost of a pump (plus a few visits with a lactation consultant). But because you may need to pay out of pocket, we still consider price. We expect more from the highest-priced pumps, and we try to identify the best-performing pumps available for less.

As part of our original reporting for this guide, three lactating testers compared eight breast pumps. In 2022, I researched 31 pumps — the same models we first tested as well as new pumps introduced since our original testing.

I then spent several months testing 13 pumps during the summer and fall of 2022, and I recruited my neighbor — a labor and delivery nurse, an experienced pumper, and fellow parent to a July 2022 baby — to provide additional testing feedback. Typically I used each pump for about a week to allow my body time to adjust to its flange style and suction pattern, but I also frequently returned to my favorites out of convenience.

For each pump, I began by unpacking and noting all the parts and accessories, such as carry bags, freezer storage pouches, and extra flanges. I then sanitized all the pump parts in the microwave (Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags), and I washed and dried everything, noting how easy and time-consuming each pump was to clean. From there, I created a schedule for pump testing — and I took notes throughout.

For each pumping session, I set a timer for 15 minutes and then assessed how much milk was produced. Because I found my supply to be too erratic for me to draw quantifiable conclusions about each pump’s production total, I relied on description and note-taking to track how effective each pump was at emptying a breast. After a week with each model, I had a good sense of how the pump felt, as well as how quickly and fully it extracted my milk.

For electric pumps, I also used the NIOSH decibel meter app (recommended by the CDC), placed 3 feet away, to measure how loud the motor was.

When I was finished, I noted how easily I could pour the milk into a storage container without spilling, and then I took apart the pump and cleaned it once more.

In summer 2024, we tested the new Baby Buddha 2.0 with an 8-month-old and the baby’s mom, who was exclusively pumping. (Her baby was born in the NICU in November 2023, and they started using pumps and bottles from day one.) She compared the Baby Buddha 2.0 with the original model for two months.