Best Massage Chair Under 1000 Dollars Review 2024

*Brand Reliability is a measure of the strength and longevity of the brand, which by extension, is a measure of the level of support you can expect.

Finding the right massage chair can be a real challenge because the good ones aren’t cheap. But if you’ve managed to scrape somewhere in the neighborhood a thousand bucks, and are looking for the best massage chair under 1000, you’ve come to the right place!

We’ve scoured the industry for the best of the best in this price range, and have evaluated three finalists against each other to find our best pick for overall winner.

While none of these value-priced chairs can truly be called feature-rich, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what they are capable of. Moreover, there’s a lot to talk about here, because each model we’re going to take a closer look at brings something unique to the table.

If, in the final analysis, you disagree with our best overall pick, that’s fine, too. Everybody has different tastes and preferences, and any of these will serve you well.

Our Pick: Human Touch Volito

Overview

We’ve reviewed a number of Human Touch chairs on this site, and in almost every case, the aesthetic of whatever design we’re talking about features prominently. That’s because Human Touch has been designing the most beautiful (or at least visually interesting) chairs on the market for years, and the little Volito is no exception.

It’s a good-looking piece of furniture in its own right and is one of only a handful of massage chairs in its price range that features a hideaway ottoman, so when the chair’s not in use, it’s not immediately obvious that it’s a massage chair at all. It just looks like an attractive, modern, easy chair.

Given the price range we’re looking at, it almost certainly won’t come as a huge surprise that this chair isn’t blessed with an abundance of features as you find on more expensive models, but it’s got the basics covered, and what it does, it does very well indeed.

What You’ll Love About The Volito

In addition to all that, it’s got a delightfully small footprint. Most massage chairs really fill up whatever room you put them in, but the Volito isn’t much bigger than a standard living room easy chair, making it ideal for people who don’t have a lot of space to work with.

Finally, it’s got a well-designed remote control that’s simple and intuitive, no more complicated than a standard TV remote. You’ll be able to master the basic in a matter of minutes.

Weak Points And Limitations of the Design

Despite the various good features we mentioned above, this is still a massage chair that’s (barely) in the sub $1000 range, and as such, it’s got limitations. Here are the main ones to be mindful of:

Other than the addition of heat, there’s really nothing we’d change about the little Volito. Anything we’d add would increase the cost, in some cases significantly, which would take it out of the sub-$1k price range. This is a great chair and one you’ll be proud to own. It’s well-deserving of top honors here.

Runner-Up: Human Touch iJoy 4.0

Overview

Although the iJoy 4.0 didn’t rank quite as highly as our winner, the Volito, we love the aesthetic this chair brings to the table. It bears an eerie similarity to Arne Jacobsen’s legendary “Egg Chair” which is a classic, timeless design beloved the world over. That makes it an exceptional, great-looking addition to any home.

While we love the look of the chair, the reason that it placed second is that it’s just not as robust a massage chair as the Volito. Even so, it’s got the basics well-covered, and it gives a superb basic, no-frills massage.

Features You’ll Love The Most

Two things really jump out at us about this model.

L-Track + Roller Massage

The first is the fact that the iJoy 4.0 is built around a delightfully long L-Track that extends well under the seat, allowing the rollers to render not just a back massage, but also knead the tension out of your glutes and the backs of your thighs.

Note that the chair’s massage is entirely roller-based. There are no airbags on this model. Even better though, is the fact that there are actually two sets of quad rollers, one in the seat back and a second set in the seat itself.

Both sets of rollers are controlled via Human Touch’s proprietary FlexGlide 360 control system and can be operated independently, allowing you to enjoy what amounts to two simultaneous massages.

It’s the first time we’ve seen a roller-based massage implemented in this way, and we have to say we like it very much. Although the iJoy 4 is currently the only chair in the Human Touch lineup to offer that feature, we’d love to see it in some of the company’s more expensive models eventually.

Easy to Use

Second, we love the fact that the iJoy is incredibly easy to use. The wired remote contains an even dozen buttons, which makes it significantly simpler than most TV remotes.

Even better, those buttons are clearly marked and quite intuitive, which means that even if you don’t consider yourself to be a tech-savvy person, you’ll be relaxing in your new favorite chair and enjoying your first massage just minutes after it arrives at your door.

That said, bear in mind that this chair only offers a basic massage so that you won’t find much in the way of features here.

Limitations of the Chair

Most of the things on this list aren’t genuine negatives, they’re consequences of the design philosophy that drove the chair’s development. In a bid to keep the cost down, the company had to, by definition, put hard limits on what they could offer, feature-wise.

Consider this list then to be things to be mindful of, rather than negatives. In our view, the iJoy doesn’t really have any negatives. What it does, it does very well, but its small number of features will make it a poor choice for some people. Here are the key things to keep in mind:

If all you want is a great-looking chair that offers an outstanding basic massage to help you unwind at the end of a long, hectic day, this is a strong contender. Unfortunately, if you have therapeutic needs, this one is going to leave you underwhelmed, with the biggest missing element being the lack of a calf and foot massage.

Note, however, that the company does sell a separate module that can address that function if you just have to have this model, although its addition will put it above the $1k threshold established at the start of this review.

Budget Pick: Homedics HMC-100-AB

Homedics is a medium-sized, well-respected company in the home health market. This chair was designed and built for them by Cozzia, which occupies more or less the same space in the massage chair market, making them a good, natural fit for strategic partnerships like this.

It should be noted that the designers chose to stick with the basics. You won’t find a broad or deep feature set here, but it makes up for that by having the basics well-covered and providing genuine therapeutic value for an almost shockingly modest price.

Size and Max Supported Weight

One thing to mention before we get into the massage particulars though is that this is a smallish model, with overall dimensions of 37.25” x 24.5” x 38.75” and weighing in at just over fifty pounds. Those details matter because they impact the chair’s maximum supported weight, which is just 200 pounds, making it the model with the lowest weight limit on our list of finalists.

All that to say that although this is a remarkable little chair, little is the operative word here. It simply may not be big enough to meet your needs. If it is, you’re going to love what it has to offer, and we’ll look at that next.

L-Track and Dual Rollers

In terms of massage capabilities, this model is built around an L-Track and dual rollers. The L-Track allows your massage to begin at your shoulders and extends down under the seat to massage your glutes and thighs.

Although the 100-AB doesn’t boast leg massage ports, which means you don’t get a calf or foot massage, the track is long enough to give you a surprisingly good and quite extensive massage.

The current massage chair industry standard is to use quad rollers, and as we mentioned, this chair utilizes dual, so there is some loss in massage quality. That’s unfortunate, but certainly not unheard of in this segment of the market.

Massage Programs

In addition to having good bones, the 100-AB also offers a surprising level of massage customization and convenience. There are four pre-programmed routines built into the remote, giving you one-touch massage functionality which makes it delightfully easy to use. Even if you have a bit of a phobia when learning to use high tech gadgets and gizmos, this chair is super easy to set up and start using right away.

Easy to Use

The remote has only a very slight learning curve to begin with and the presence of the automated massage routines makes it even easier to learn and master.

Massage Techniques

You can also select from between the two offered massage techniques (Tapping and Shiatsu, which is a wonderful surprise!), and further modify your massage experience by adjusting the intensity level. Sadly, even on the most intense setting, the massage you get falls short of being a deep tissue experience, but it still feels amazing.

We were impressed to see the Shiatsu massage technique offered here, but to combine it with heated rollers for such a modest price is simply unbelievable. It’s an amazing combination of features that really sets this model apart from the competition.

Not every massage chair offers heat, and most of the ones that do only offer it in a very limited area, usually confined to the lumbar region of the chair. By heating the rollers themselves though, you get the benefits of heat along the entire massage track which, in our view, is hands down the way to go.

A Few Things to Consider

Having said that, this model does have some limitations to bear in mind:

Even given those limitations, however, we love this little chair. It is well-deserving of a spot on our list of finalists, and we recommend it without reservation.

Also Great

Apex iCozy Massage Chair 

The primary reason that the iCozy didn’t score higher in our overall rankings is the fact that not everyone likes the low-slung style of gaming chairs.

Hybrid L/S Track + Two Airbags

Its standout feature is the presence of the Hybrid L/S-Track, which delivers a roller-based massage that starts at the neck and goes down past the small of the back, under the seat, and onto the glutes and the backs of the thighs.

One thing we were a bit mystified with about the chair is the two airbags.

Given that there’s only two, this feels like a bit of an afterthought. It’s not enough to render a good massage, and indeed, the airbags are only there to give a mild thigh massage.

Our view is, the model would be better served by stripping those out and upgrading to quad rollers, which would have improved its overall score by allowing the design to focus on what its best at.

Additional Features

In any case, in addition to the long massage track, the iCozy has a few other features you’ll enjoy, including:

There’s no way to adjust the intensity of the massage you get, but the designers did make it possible to remove the extra padding, which is a manual workaround that indirectly increases intensity as desired. It would be better to have an option on the remote, but it’s not a horrible alternative.

All things considered, this one is a solid design that falls somewhat short of greatness. It is, nonetheless, an awesome chair for the right person.

Synca Wellness CirC Massage Chair

Overview

The Synca Wellness CirC is a pleasant surprise. Aesthetically, it’s quite similar to the Apex iCozy, but it has a very different feature set.

Granted, it’s not without its issues and limitations, but this model impresses by offering a broad range of features you don’t typically find in chairs at this price range.

Highlights 

Here are the highlights, and the features we think you’ll like best:

It even has a pair of amber LED lights on the sides to provide mood lighting for some additional relaxation.

One thing to be aware of, however, is the fact that this model is really small as massage chairs go. In fact, it’s so small that people frequently ask if it’s a chair designed for children. It isn’t, although of course kids can enjoy a massage in it too.

Given its small size though, if you’re a taller person (say, 6’ or more), this just isn’t the chair for you.

Limitations

All of the above are good things, but the CirC does have some limitations to be aware of.

(Relatively Old) Technology

First and foremost is the fact that the chair utilizes older technology in the form of dual rollers and “first generation” airbags.

That’s not inherently a bad thing. After all, both were industry standards at one point. The problem is that both the industry and the technology that drives it have progressed.

It’s not that the CirC gives a bad massage. It’s actually quite good because the core features are well-implemented, but it’s still inferior to a massage you’d get from quad rollers and more advanced airbags.

Limited Adjustment Options

The second thing to be aware of is that this chair doesn’t offer any way to adjust the position of the rollers. Almost every massage chair on the market today comes with either body scanning technology that adjusts the rollers automatically, or it offers buttons on the remote, allowing you to tweak the roller positions manually. The CirC offers neither, which in our view, is the single biggest weakness of the design.

Unfortunately, if the rollers don’t hit the spots you want or need them to, you’re left having to adjust your seating position to make it work as best you can. Obviously, that’s an imperfect solution.

No Recline and No Leg Massage

The other big weak point in the design is the fact that this chair doesn’t recline at all and doesn’t have leg massage ports so that you won’t get a calf or foot massage from the base model.

It should be noted, however, that the company sells an ottoman separately that will fulfill that function. Buying it though pushes the cost of the chair above the $1k threshold established at the start of this review, so we didn’t count it when evaluating the model.

There are other limitations, of course, like the inability to adjust the default fifteen-minute massage timer or control the temperature of the offered heat, but those are rarities even on more expensive models, and it’s not really fair to hold their absence against a chair that works hard, and mostly succeeds at being a good, budget-priced offering.

On the whole, the pros handily outweigh the cons where the CirC is concerned, and as long as you’re under six feet tall, you’ll be impressed by this chair, especially if you don’t have a lot of space to work with and are looking for something that won’t utterly dominate whatever room you put it in.

BestMassage EC 06

BestMassage is one of those off-brand companies that sell products in the US. You have to be somewhat careful when dealing with them because they’ve got extremely limited support, so if and when something goes wrong, you may or may not get any meaningful help or customer service.

As to the EC 06 itself, it has undeniably good bones. You can tell that the designers worked hard to include as many popular features as they could, will still keeping the chair affordably priced, and if they had succeeded in implementing all of them, this would probably be the best chair on the list.

Unfortunately, there’s a difference between offering a feature and implementing it well, and this is where the EC 06 falls short.

S-Track and Quad Rollers

The S-Track and quad rollers give it, at least in theory, the best roller-based massage of any chair on the list. Unfortunately, their Body Scanning Tech isn’t quite up to industry standards, and sometimes, the rollers don’t go where you want or need them to, and there’s no way to manually correct for it on the remote.

That can leave you disappointed in the results you get.

The chair also includes an entirely separate set of rollers devoted solely to neck massage. A very good idea, but it suffers from the same Body Scanning Tech limitations as the back rollers. If the Body Scanning Tech gets the positioning wrong, you’re in for an uncomfortable massage.

Massage Techniques

Regarding techniques, the EC 06 offers:

The presence of an advanced technique, rendered by quad rollers, is excellent, and one of the best aspects of the design. The fact that these can be modified via the remote through three different intensity levels, and that the chair also offers a trio of pre-programmed massage options makes it even better.

Heat Function

The stand-out feature, though, is extensive heat. So, if you’re looking for a chair that provides therapeutic heat across much of your body, then this is the chair you want, despite its flaws and shortcomings.

Not only does the chair offer both lumbar and foot heat, but the rollers themselves are (slightly) heated, which enhances the overall experience, again, provided the Body Scan doesn’t let you down.

Of particular interest here is the fact that the heat in the leg massage ports is centered not on the calves, which is how most companies do it, but on the soles of the feet.

This makes the chair especially attractive to those who spend several hours of every day on their feet, and this chair is one of only a few models to offer this implementation, at any price.

No Foot Rollers

On the downside, there are no foot rollers to help with the massage, which makes the overall experience a bit less impactful than it could be.

Our view of the model is that it was an exceptional effort, and our hope is that the company will stick with it and continue to refine and polish its feature implementations. If they do, they’re going to be a company to watch, because all the ingredients are present to make this a world-class offering.

Some Considerations

Although this chair is more feature rich than the other models we’ve talked about so far, there are two reasons it only got an honorable mention:

Also, while the chair offers a good air massage via its thirty First Generation Airbags and a calf and foot massage that is both airbag and roller based, the execution of those features leaves a bit to be desired.

Many users have complained that the rollers are too harsh. The most common workaround users have come up with is to wear an extra pair of socks when using the chair, as there’s no way to adjust the massage intensity. Something to keep in mind if this is your model of choice!

Standout Feature

If we had to name a single feature as the stand-out for the design, it would probably be the air massage, although the single Zero-G seating position would be a close second. Our biggest problem with this design is that it doesn’t have a clear-cut stand-out feature because none are executed especially well.

The air massage is good, but not remarkable, and the other features are (for the most part) competently executed, but there’s nothing that jumps out at you and makes you want to pick this model over some other.

Having said that, it does remix some of the features that a few of the other models we’ve talked about offer, and if you like this particular configuration better, it would certainly serve you well enough.

Best Massage Chair Under 1000 Dollars Review Conclusion

Overall, we stand by our decision to award the top honor to the Human Touch Volito, but we also recognize that other people will arrive at a different conclusion. Here are some of the specific reasons you may like another model from this list better:

Ultimately, it comes down to your needs and personal preferences. The right massage chair for you is the one that offers you the features and functionality you want, need and care about most at a price you can afford. Even if you disagree with our rankings, we feel certain that one of the other chairs on this list will wind up being exactly what you’re looking for.

Recommended Reading

Massage Chair Under 500 dollars

A complete comparison of the best massage chairs you can get for under 500 bucks.

Best Massage Chair Under $2000

The best massage chairs under 2000 dollars researched, reviewed and rated.

Changelog

March 2019 – We updated this article as the market has changed. The Omega Aires was removed from the top spot, to be replaced by the impressive Human Touch ZeroG Volito. Two other top picks, the Merax and Real Relax massage chairs, have been replaced as well, as these chairs have been discontinued and/or currently unavailable. 

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References & Resources

• Human Touch, Official Brand Website.
• Apex, Official Brand Website.
• HoMedics, Official Brand Website.
• Synca-Wellness, Official Brand Website.
• BestMassage, Amazon Brand Page.
• Different Types of Massage and Bodywork, New York State Society of Medical Massage Therapists.