Which Hands-Free Breast Pump Is Best?

• 

  Willow Go

  The Willow Go is a hands-free, breast pump that you wear in your bra, giving you the freedom to multi-task, which is a huge bonus for a new mom. This pump is quiet and discreet with hospital grade suction with a rechargable batter that will last three pumping sessions.

  Pros

  • Hospital grade suction with 15 levels of adjustable suction
  • Rechargeable battery lasts up to 3 pumping sessions
  • App-supported
  • Easy to clean

  Cons

  • Harder set up
  • Smaller collection capacity

• 

  Elvie

  $414 $550 Save $136

  The Elvie pump is a hands-free breast pump that has a super discreet design, allowing you to wear it while on the go without anyone noticing. It has several settings which allows you to get the most out of each pumping session, optimized to your needs. 

  Pros

  • Small, curved design makes it comfortable and discreate
  • Holds 5 ounces of milk per side
  • Hospital grade pump with 7 adjustable settings

  Cons

  • Higher cost
  • Difficult to clean

Both the Elvie and Willow Go are considered top of the line for wearable, hands-free breast pumps. Which means you can’t really go wrong with either of them. But there are some differences between the two that could help sway which one you ultimately choose to purchase.

So what’s the difference between these two hands-free breast pumps? And how do you know which one might be best for you? Let’s take a look.

Price and specifications

Both the Willow Go and Elvie use technology that makes them more expensive than a typical hands-on breast pump or corded electric ones. The Willow Go does come with a higher price tag, but it has some extra specs that the Elvie pump doesn’t have, including a larger hold capacity and extra flanges — but there are perks with the Elvie, too, including a longer-lasting battery.

Design and function

Both breast pumps are designed with your comfort and convenience in mind: they’re both battery-operated, wearable, hands-free breast pumps that sit inside your bra, allowing you to multitask while pumping. Both collect the milk right into the containers directly attached to the pump, which means you don’t have to fiddle with bottles or reusable bags. They’re considered “hospital grade” breast pumps which means they’re made to be efficient, durable, and hygienic, making them suitable for mothers who may need to pump breast milk regularly.

While a lot of the design and basic functions are similar, there are a few differences between the two. For example, the Willow Go is a little larger than the Elvie, but both are able to hold 5 oz of breast milk per pump at a time — however the Willow Go does have the option to upgrade to a 7 oz collection container.

Both pumps are pretty easy to clean, which makes sense since they have the same number of parts, but with the Willow Go having slightly larger parts, they are a little easier to ensure they’re sanitized after each use.

The Elvie pump is slightly quieter than the Willow Go Both pumps, but both have various suction and pumping modes to meet your needs, which can be customized through an easy-to navigate smartphone app.

Battery life

Both of these breast pumps are cord-free, electric, and hands-free which means the battery life of the breast pump is going to be a major selling point. Since you’re looking into a hands-free pump, one that won’t keep you stuck and connected to one place, having a battery that will carry you through a full pumping session is essential. There are some similarities between the Willow Go and Elvie pumps when it comes to how much pumping sessions you can get off one charge, and how long the pump has to be connected to get its full charge.

For example, on a full charge, the Elvie pump can last for approximately 2.5 hours — which is about 5-6 pumping sessions — on a full battery. When the battery on the Elvie is fully drained, it only takes approximately 2 hours to fully charge. The Willow Go’s battery lasts up to 3 pumping sessions on a full battery. When fully drained, it takes approximately 1.5 hours to fully charge.

Both the Elvie and the Willow Go batteries are rechargeable and each comes with 2 USB charging cables.

Insurance coverage

In the United States, the Affordable Care Act requires that most insurance plans have to cover breastfeeding supplies and services. Because of that, you can use your insurance benefits towards the cost of an Elvie or a Willow Go. How much coverage you have will depend on your individual insurance plan, but both the Elvie and Willow Go attempt to make it as stress-free as possible.

According to Elvie, there are several ways you can use your flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSA) towards the purchase of the hands-free pump.

“Simply pay with your FSA/HSA debit card at the checkout on elvie.com, or pay with another card and submit your receipt to your plan administrator for reimbursement (at the discretion of your provider),” its FAQ explains. “Elvie Pump can also be purchased directly from FSAstore.com or HSAstore.com.”

Willow’s FAQ notes that they can investigate whether your insurance benefits cover the cost towards the Willow Go through its insurance verification program.

“There may be out-of-pocket expenses for you in obtaining your Willow Pump, but you may be able to use FSA or HSA dollars to cover these costs,” the company notes. “Alternatively, you can contact your insurance company directly to learn more about your options.”

So which one is right for you: Willow or Elvie?

Both pumps are amazing options for anyone looking specifically for a hands-free, wearable breast pump with very little specs that might heavily sway you one way or the other. For some, the price may outweigh the rest, which means you might be more inclined to purchase the Willow Go, but the Elvie offers more pumping sessions per charge and is quieter, too.

Elvie

$414 $550 Save $136

The Elvie pump is a hands-free breast pump that has a super discreet design, allowing you to wear it while on the go without anyone noticing. It has several settings which allows you to get the most out of each pumping session, optimized to your needs.

Willow Go

The Willow Go is a hands-free, breast pump that you wear in your bra, giving you the freedom to multi-task, which is a huge bonus for a new mom. This pump is quiet and discreet with hospital grade suction with a rechargable batter that will last three pumping sessions.

The bottom line is that there’s no wrong way to go between these two. The biggest selling point is likely to be that they offer a simple way to multitask by wearing your pump comfortably in your bra, so you’re not tethered to a wall plugs like typical electric pumps.