The Best Foot Massagers in Canada of 2023

Of all the things in the world that might elicit a satisfied “ahhh” from a human being, few have that power like a good foot massage. (We’re not quite sure where those land on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, but we think it’s pretty fundamental to the pyramid.)

If you’re avoiding massage parlours and salons and don’t have an in-house masseuse, you may be considering a dedicated foot-massage machine, a device that allows you to place your feet upon or within it, and contains mechanical rollers or small plastic nodules that knead away at your lower extremities to release tension and increase circulation after a long day. But there are a lot of options out there, which can make deciding on the one to pick for you and your feet a tough call.

To find out, we indulged in the tender (and sometimes not-so-tender) grip of the top electronic foot massagers available today. By the end, we had a few clear favorites: The Renpho Foot Massager (available at Amazon) is what we'd recommend for the best all-purpose massager, the Best Choice Products Shiatsu Massager (available at Walmart) is a great choice for those on a budget, and the super luxurious Cloud Massage (available at Amazon) is our splurge pick.

How We Tested Foot Massagers

The Tester

I’m Sara Hendricks, the emerging categories writer at Reviewed. My work involves a lot of health and fitness coverage, which (for some reason) often extends into the lower extremities. I’ve tested compression socks, running shoes, and those flats that pop up all over Instagram, which makes me, if not an authority on podiatry—I’m pretty sure you have to go to school for a long time to get that title—someone fairly well-versed in the subject of things you can buy to make tired feet feel better.

The Tests

Testing electronic foot massagers involved what you might suspect: Getting a lot of foot massages. (Tough work, I know.) I researched the top-selling products on the web and ordered nine of them to Reviewed’s office in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Julia MacDougall, our senior scientist, put together a series of tests to evaluate the quality, feel, and overall experience of the foot massagers.

From there, I tested one machine two times a day for 30 minutes each: once after sitting still and doing nothing in particular (or, perhaps, some computer work for my job) and once after standing or walking for about an hour. During each session, I evaluated the range of massage options available, how effective the device felt in terms of alleviating tension during and after the massage, and whether the machine caused me any pain. I also took note of other factors, such as price, the ease of setup, the machine’s overall intuitiveness, if it was a pain to clean, and whether or not it was possible to adjust the massager’s height and angle, and if it had any special accessories like a remote control.

What You Should Know About Foot Massagers

Foot massages feel good for most people. But they don’t just feel good—they can also provide a number of health benefits by increasing circulation in the feet according to Dr. Miguel Cunha, a podiatrist and the founder of Gotham Footcare in New York City. “An electric foot massage on a regular basis can help improve cardiovascular health by increasing blood circulation throughout the body and lessen the workload of circulation on the heart, keeping it strong and healthy,” Cunha says. “Massaging helps reduce stress, not only by increasing the release of ‘feel good’ hormones [such as serotonin and dopamine], but also by decreasing the levels of cortisol, also known as the ‘stress hormone,’ which can have detrimental effects in our health.”

Almost everyone can benefit from foot massages, but Cunha says that people who have arthritis, bunions, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, need athletic recovery, or are dealing with post-surgery recovery may find them most helpful for pain relief. On the flip side, anyone in the later stages of pregnancy may want to hold off on the massages, at least for now—according to Cunha, stimulating certain nerves in the foot can trigger uterine contractions and preterm labor. If you’re not sure, talk to your doctor before buying a foot massager.

When you search the term “foot massager,” you are likely to be presented with three different variations. One is a bottom-only massager, which is a plastic surface on which you place both feet—usually on a cloth-covered foot outline with massage rollers underneath, but not always—and experience a massage on the soles of the feet. In tests, we found the benefits and feel of a full-foot massage make it worth the higher price—not to mention they were also easier to clean, because the cloth covers in full-foot massagers unzip from the machine and can be thrown in the wash—so all the top picks fall into that category. That said, if you want a sole-only massager, you can read more about the ones I tried in the “Other Foot Massagers We Tested” section below.

Another option is a manual massager, which is used by repeatedly rolling the foot over it to stimulate circulation. I didn’t test any of these, as they are usually relatively inexpensive and can’t really compete in the same tests as electronic massagers.

Other Foot Massagers We Tested

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