Top 6 Best Electric Breast Pumps of 2024

Winner of the Mother&Baby awards for the Best Breast Pump in 2024, we are thrilled to be sharing our innovative smart electric breast pump with mums around the globe. Pump whilst feeding, on the go, or straight into breast milk bags all whilst giving you a quiet and discreet pumping experience. For as little as £145, you can pump in style confidently with a full breast pump kit.

The powerful suction and efficient pumping are often commented on as being its best features. One Mum, Brogan, commented, “This is very powerful compared to others I've tried. I had given up with pumps as they never seemed effective at all, even with an oversupply of milk,”. Another Mum noted how easy it was to pump around the house, and even pump while making a cup of tea!

This single electric breast pump features two clinically tested pumping rhythms for mimicking a baby’s feeding technique; 6 stimulation modes and 9 expression modes to give mums a comfortable yet rewarding pumping session. Stacey commented, “The silicone flange is really comfortable. The pump is fast and efficient, I can't believe how quickly it works, the whole process feels so easy.”. Using the smart touchscreen display, mums can tailor the settings to adjust the breast pump’s performance and set the breast pump to intuitively track and record pumping sessions.

The single electric breast pump comes with compatible accessories such as breast milk bags, that also come with adaptors to feed your baby straight from the bag, minimising the transfer of milk from bag to bottle. The Lola&Lykke NaturalFlow baby bottles are also compatible with the breast pump, giving mums flexibility in what they want to pump into. Included in the set are 24mm breast flanges, however, if you need a smaller or larger size, these are available to purchase separately to ensure you can express comfortably and get a snug fit against the breast whilst pumping. We recognise that when you’re finished pumping, sometimes your body has other ideas – and milk can leak still after expressing. Investing in a soft, bamboo cushioned breast pad that can be re-used again and again is a great way to treat your skin and keep your clothes milk-free.

Pros

• Strong suction
• Long battery life
• Flexibility to pump into bottles or storage bags
• Adjustable pumping modes
• No wires or tubing
• Lightweight
• Portable
• Quiet and discreet
• Easy to clean and assemble
• Large milk capacity

Cons

• Non-wearable (Completely handsfree with wearable bra accessory)
• No app available

Shop: Lola&Lykke Single Smart Electric Breast Pump and accessories

Medela Electric Wearable Breast Pump

The latest breast pump brought to you by Medela is their hands-free double electric breast pump that you can wear inside your bra. The console sits neatly in your pocket so you can go about your day pumping without your hands being full. The compact design of the cups gives nursing mums a pumping experience with the cups out of sight. Whilst there is still tubing connecting the cups to the separate pump, this can easily be disguised underneath your top if you wanted. The difference the Medela breast pump features compared to other wearable breast pumps, is that the pump is separate from the collection cups, so it doesn’t weigh down on your breast whilst you express.

Mum Lucy says, “This is a really great pump. It’s so convenient as it doesn’t have loads of little parts to wash/sterilise, it’s not too bulky, so easy to setup and a really good battery on the pump.” She continues by saying, “It is a little loud though, although I don’t mind it, it would not be discreet if in public.”. The assembly for this breast pump can be achieved in minutes with just three main components that make up the collection cups - all of which are dishwasher friendly.

As well as managing the suction strength and expression modes on the console, you can also connect your pump to the Medela Family^TM app which lets you track your pumping sessions and analyse how much breast milk each breast has produced. Mum Katie says, “It even hooks up to the app so you can monitor how you are getting along!! The device also allows you to easily see how much you have pumped.”.

The design of the transparent collection cups means you can easily see how much you’ve pumped, whether you need to make any adjustments so you’re expressing correctly and know when the cups are full so you can decant the breast milk into bottles.

Pros

• Strong suction
• Long battery life
• Wearable breast pump
• Adjustable pumping modes
• Lightweight
• Portable
• Easy to clean and assemble
• App available to track pumping sessions

Cons

• Some wires/tubing
• Noisier than other models
• Cannot memorise pumping settings from previous sessions
• More expensive than other models

Shop: Medela Freestyle Handsfree Double Electric Wearable Breast Pump

Fraupow Wearable Breast Pump

The wearable electric breast pump by Fraupow is designed to sit inside your bra whilst you pump, meaning you can be hands-free as you express. No wires to fumble around with and no cords attaching you to a wall - the rechargeable motor simply detaches from the shell and can be easily carried around in your bag. The shell itself has a large capacity compared to other wearable breast pumps, allowing you to express up to 180ml of milk. The battery will last for up to 100 minutes of pumping time and will smartly shut off after 20 minutes when no buttons have been used.

Mums who bought and used this electric breast pump went on to say how “extremely efficient and easy” it was to use. They also liked that different flange sizes were available to accommodate different nipple sizes. However, one mum commented to say that it’s a “great pump but sadly not for larger nipples”, where the design has been altered for the larger flange, it’s resulted in comfort being compromised.

Upon purchasing the Fraupow breast pump, you can either buy the pump on its own for just £89 or create a feeding bundle with accompanying breastfeeding accessories or even double up to have two single electric breast pumps. Feeding accessories in the bundles include reusable breast pads, milk storage bags, wet/dry bags for your breast pump parts when you’re on the go and feeding bottles.

Pros

• Strong suction
• Wearable breast pump
• Adjustable pumping modes
• No wires or tubing
• Lightweight
• Portable
• Quiet and discreet
• Easy to clean and assemble
• Large milk capacity
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• No app available
• Cannot memorise pumping settings from previous sessions
• Not suitable for larger nipple sizes

Shop: Fraupow Wearable Breast Pump

Vital Baby Electric Breast Pump

The Vital Baby Nurture Flexcone^TM electric breast pump comes with a 2-in-1 feature where you can use it as a manual or electric breast pump. Testers from the MadeForMums Awards panel highlighted how comfortable the pump was to use without compromising on efficiency to express. One tester, Holly, says, "It's the most comfortable pump I've ever used and it's worth every penny. The pumping action is so comfortable that a session goes by so quickly. My breasts and nipples weren't sore after pumping like they usually are from my other pump.". Even whilst using the strong suction electric breast pump, breastfeeding mums still found this breast pump to be comfortable due to the soft silicone flexcone^TM.

Whilst using it as a single electric breast pump, there is just one tube that connects the breast flange to the motor unit. The pump features a two-phase expression to mimic your baby’s natural feeding rhythm along with 9 speed settings in each phase so you can control the milk as you express. The set also comes with a manual conversion too so that you’re always able to pump when you need to! Nursing mama Siobhan says, “After changing to this pump my milk supply had double in the short 3 months I have been using it. I like the fact you can replace the parts and you can rather use it as a manual pump or electric pump.”

Other mums noted how much they liked the portability of this electric breast pump and that it was easy to carry in their changing bag making it ideal for travelling with. The rechargeable battery is quick to charge and easy to power on the go using a USB cable. If you’re planning to pump on the go, a portable breast pump will be a feature worth investing in.

The only downside to this pump that we read about was the ease of cleaning the individual parts, such as the valve, which can be tricky to reach without the right utensils. All the parts can be cleaned in the dishwasher and use BPA, latex and phthalate free materials.

A really nice touch that Vital Baby add into their Nurture Flexcone^TM Electric Breast Pump kit are the Vital Baby Nurture Ultra Comfort Breast Pads. Breastfeeding accessories such as this go a long way to helping breastfeeding mums feel prepared and supported when using a breast pump or trying one for the first time.

Pros

• Strong suction
• Adjustable pumping modes
• No wires or tubing
• Portable

Cons

• No app available
• Noisier than other models
• Cannot memorise pumping settings from previous sessions
• Hard to clean individual parts

Shop: Vital Baby Nurture Flexcone^TM Electric Breast Pump

Pippeta Breast Pump

This breast pump doesn’t leave you guessing on what it can deliver – a hands-free, light-up LED display, and 150ml capacity for expressing breastmilk. With modern lifestyles changing how we go about our days, nursing mums want a simple solution to expressing milk that doesn’t leave them tethered to cables as they juggle errands and/or multiple children! Considering how the competition has priced their products, the Pippeta Handsfree Breast Pump delivers high-quality pumping for a lower cost at just £98.99, with customers noting that it’s a “fantastic product and great value”.

Like most electric breast pumps, the Pippeta Breast Pump features an anti-backflow system. The air pressure pulse technology combined with the anti-backflow system protects your milk from contamination and leaking into various parts of the pump. The wearable breast pump features up to 12 suction levels with 4 different modes, including a massage setting. Typically, on a full charge, you can expect to get up to 120 minutes of pumping time before having to re-charge it.

One user mentioned that she was happy with the performance of this pump however in practical terms, it didn’t quite fit the brief for what nursing mums want. She went on to say “I can't bend down whilst pumping because I end up losing expressed milk from the spout at the top. I have to take it off to pick/pop my baby down when alone.”. Mums who regularly use this electric breast pump found the soft silicone shield to be comfortable to wear whilst expressing even though you had to stay upright to prevent any leakages.

Inside the Pipetta Handsfree Breast Pump Kit, you’ll find all the parts you need including spare ones should you need to swap them out from general wear. As well as buying a single electric breast pump, this wearable breast pump also comes as a set of two, or you can combine it with one of their manual breast pump collectors. Should you need any extra parts for your breast pump, these can be purchased separately via the website along with baby bottles, bottle teats, and freezable milk storage bags.

Pros

• Strong suction
• Long battery life
• Wearable breast pump
• Adjustable pumping modes
• No wires or tubing
• Portable
• Quiet and discreet
• Easy to clean and assemble

Cons

• No app available
• Cannot memorise pumping settings from previous sessions
• Weighs more than other wearable breast pumps
• Prone to leaking when you’re not sitting upright

Shop: Pippeta Compact LED Handsfree Breast Pump

Elvie Stride Wearable Breast Pump

Express and track with control using Elvie’s app-connected breast pump. The sleek, wearable design sits comfortably inside your bra meaning you can express with hospital-grade performance with your hands free. One breastfeeding mum commented “I love how comfortable it is when wearing. It’s lightweight and very easy to assemble” - three features all nursing mums want in an electric breast pump!

This pump, like their other models, comes as a single pump as well as a double setup. In the UK and EU, it's marketed as single and double pump options, while in the US, it's sold as Stride and Stride Plus. The single electric breast pump is priced at £169, and only £299 to double up. Since launching the Elvie Stride Breast Pump, they have introduced accessories to suit smaller breast and nipple sizes, meaning you can get a better fit and suction from the pump. All pumps come with a standard, 21mm, 24mm or 28mm size breast shield, however, you can now purchase Elvie Nipple Cushions that fit inside the cup and create a better fit for women who require a size 15mm, 17mm or 19mm breast shields. These can be bought for an additional £19.99. These accessories are BP-free and can be cleaned in the dishwasher.

Once you have expressed your milk, you can decant it into a baby bottle or breast milk storage bag using the spout on the outside of the pump. Unfortunately, some users experienced leakages with the pump or the suction of the breast shield warped over a short time which therefore reduced the effectiveness of the breast pump. Overall, the features this wearable breast pump has have won over many nursing mums and made their pumping experience a positive one helping them to keep up their milk supply and express with ease.

Some mums also commented on how effective the noise cancelling technology is and praised its performance for being discreet and quiet for nighttime feeds or for pumping at work. Jade says, “I love how quiet it is and that when I wear it you can barely see it due to its curved and perfect design”.

Compared to other wearable breast pumps, the Elvie Stride is more expensive other models and accessories cannot be bought in reduced-priced bundles. However, the brand is a household favourite and is making waves in modern technology which is wearable electric breast pumps!

Pros

• Strong suction
• Long battery life
• Wearable breast pump
• Adjustable pumping modes
• Lightweight
• Portable
• No noise
• Easy to clean and assemble
• App available to track pumping sessions
• A large variety of nipple flanges to purchase

Cons

• Some wires/tubing
• More expensive than other models

Shop: Elvie Stride Wearable Breast Pump

Electric breast pump comparison chart

To easily compare all 6 electric breast pumps, we’ve sorted them by feature so you can see which pumps have the features that are high up on your list.

*Figures based on using a single breast pump setup.

Suction strength

The suction strength demonstrates how powerful the pump is and how efficient it will be in helping you to express.

Noise level

The noise level can be an important feature to pumping mums because if you plan to pump at work or out in public, you want a quieter pump so you can express discreetly. The lower the number of decibels, the quieter the pump is.

Portability

All these electric breast pumps are portable and can be carried easily inside a handbag or other luggage.

Weight

Ideally, you want your pump to be as lightweight as possible so that, it’s easier to hold/wear, and it’s not going to be too heavy once it’s full of milk.

Capacity

The higher the capacity in the cup, bottle, or bag means you can pump for longer without having to stop and decanter what you’ve expressed.

Cordless

By cordless, we mean wireless. Some electric breast pumps connect to the motor unit using tubes that create the suction for your pump. Whereas other pumps are an all-in-one setup and don’t require tubing at all.

Pumping time

Pumping time refers to how long you can pump for on a full charge before having to recharge the battery.

Backlit display

Some electric breast pumps have backlit buttons on the motor unit making it easier to see during nighttime feeds what settings you’re using and where the buttons are to adjust them.

App availability

Featured on the Medela Freestyle and Elvie Stride is an app that you can connect your breast pump to; to track your pumping sessions and see how much breast milk you express each time.

Memory setting

A memory setting means that your breast pump remembers what settings you used last time and will automatically set this up for you when you go to pump again.

Which electric breast pump will you choose?

To determine which breast pump will be the most suitable choice, assess your circumstances and how often you plan to use one. In most cases, you’ll want an electric breast pump that supports every step of your breastfeeding journey as they are a worthy investment.

For mums who are returning to work, a lightweight and quiet electric breast pump may be the best choice. Wearable breast pumps that sit inside your bra so you can pump discreetly at your desk may tick all the boxes for you. However, if you’re planning to breastfeed exclusively and only pump occasionally, a cheaper alternative may suit your needs just as well. We also recommend that you keep a budget in mind and there may be options available to you to purchase a hospital-grade breast pump through insurance.

For nursing mums who need help with managing their milk supply, choosing a pump with a strong suction will be essential to noticing a difference in your milk supply. Even if you’re experiencing an oversupply of milk, you’ll want an efficient breast pump to relieve any engorgement to slowly dwindle your supply down to a more manageable level.

At the end of the day, an informed choice is a better choice. This guide is here to help you find the breast pump that will work best for you and your family. If you think it will help another breastfeeding mum, please share this guide with them!