Willow Vs. Elvie Breast Pump: Which One Is Better?

Disclaimer: I only recommend products that I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no additional cost to you.

My opinion: If you are a mama who likes customization and works at a desk, the Elvie is a better fit for you. But if you are an active mama who enjoys pumping on the go, the Willow will be a better option. Finding the right pump is going to depend on your lifestyle.

Most people envision that when a new baby is born, the mom sits down to recover from her birth and bond with her baby. 

The reality can look very opposite, especially if you have multiples or older children. 

You may find yourself busier than ever, and getting behind on laundry and cooking. This is especially concerning if you are looking to establish a stable milk supply. 

As a first time mom, I would feed my son, and then pump afterward. And since I only had one of those Medela double electric breast pumps handed down to me, I would have to plug it into a wall charger and hold the pumps in place. 

The good news is companies have come out with wearable, hands-free pumps that you can place inside your nursing bra and pump while you do other household chores! 

Two of the most popular choices are the Elvie Breast Pump and the Willow Breast Pump. If you’re debating which one to purchase, this all-inclusive guide can help you decide on which one to pull the trigger on. 

I’ll break all the main differences down into categories for you: price and insurance, size, wearability, suction, sound, milk production, battery life and cleaning. Please note that I am NOT sponsored by either of these companies, so all of these opinions are my own. 

Now, depending on what you are looking for in a breast pump will depend on which one you should choose. Both of these wireless pumps are unique in their own way, so it will be up to you to figure out which one will work best for your lifestyle. 

Price and Insurance:

It is worth it to check with your insurance company and ask if your insurance plan covers a portion of these pumps, but mine did not give me this option. Which is unfortunate because neither of these pumps are affordable by any means. 

Both the Elvie and Willow are priced very similarly on Amazon, with the Elvie Breast Pump at $499.00 and the Willow priced at $499.99. The difference comes in the accessories that are packaged with the pumps. 

What comes with the Elvie: 

• 2 Elvie pumps
• 4 5oz bottles
• 4 storage lids
• 2 24mm flanges
• 2 28mm flanges
• 4 valves (for milk collection)
• 4 spouts (for milk collection)
• 4 seals (for the reusable milk containers)
• 2 USB charging cables
• 2 carry on bags
• 4 bra adjusters
• Willow app capabilities

What comes with the Willow Generation 3:

• 2 Willow pumps
• 2 flanges at 24mm or 27mm
• 2 flex tubes (for milk collection)
• 1 charger
• 1 pack of 24 4oz milk bags (not reusable)
• 2 brushes for cleaning
• Elvie app capabilities

If you are just looking to buy a pump where you won’t need to purchase additional accessories, the Elvie pump will be a better choice for you here because it already comes with the bottles. After you finish pumping, you can just detach the bottles from the pump, put a cap on them, and stick it right in your refrigerator. 

It also comes with two chargers, compared to the Willow that only comes with one charger. The Willow does sell additional chargers priced at $29.99.

However, if you are a mom that likes having the option of pumping into bags or bottles, the Willow pump will be better for you. The Willow pump comes with a pack of 24 4oz breast milk bags that you can put into the pump and fill. You can purchase a 2 pack of reusable containers for an extra cost of $49.99. 

The Elvie does not allow you to pump directly into disposable bags, so you will have to purchase separate storage bags and dump the milk into them yourself if you want to freeze your milk.  

My opinion: Though I do like that the Elvie is more “bang for your buck”, I also like the option of pumping directly into a bag and not going through the hassle of detaching the container and pouring it into a bag. 

Size:

The Elvie breast pump weighs 7.4oz and the Willow weighs 12.5oz. The Willow is definitely a little chunkier and noticeably heavier, but it also has much more of a breast “shape” than the Elvie does. 

Depending on how much milk you produce can also impact which pump you choose. The Elvie reusable bottles hold up to 5oz at a time, while the Willow can hold up to 4oz at a time.

My opinion: I don’t think the weight necessarily impacts user experience, but the size of the Willow definitely makes it less discreet than the Elvie. If I am in a meeting, I’d be able to wear the Elvie under my shirt. I would probably be able to wear the Willow, but it would look like I went up 2 or 3 cup sizes. 

Wearability:

Both the Elvie and Willow are wireless breast pumps. Their companies boast that with their product you can pump anywhere, but this is only really true for the Willow. 

With the Elvie, you really need to stay upright or you will leak. With the Willow, if you’re using the reusable bottles you’ll need to also stay upright. But, if you’re using the non-reusbale bags, you can actually move around a lot. 

Another thing to mention is that if you do not have your breasts inside, the Willow pump will not work. Once you start pumping, you won’t be allowed to break the seal and adjust yourself until the session is over. 

My opinion: If you only see yourself pumping while doing activities like walking, picking up toys, carrying your baby, or working at a desk, the Elvie will do. But, if you plan to pump while you are doing more strenuous physical activities like running or yoga, your better bet is the Willow. The Willow also gives you the ability to pump while lying down, which the Elvie does not. 

Suction:

The Willow has a maximum pump strength of 245mmHg, and the Elvie has a maximum pump strength of 220mmHg. 

Some moms have expressed that the older versions of the Willow had too strong of a suction, so the Willow Generation 3 toned this down a little bit. You can now adjust your preferences with 7 different levels of suction. The Willow also features a sensitivity setting, all of which can be adjusted on their app. 

The Elvie has a 2-phase pumping mechanism, which means that it will automatically switch from stimulation (faster pump) to expression mode (slower and more rhythmic) once it detects your let-down (when milk starts coming out). It also has 7 different levels of suction. 

My opinion: I find that the Willow has a wider range of suction levels and more variance in the cycle speed compared to the Elvie, but even with all of the updates the Elvie still has a gentler suction. I am not sensitive to suction and don’t mind if my breasts are pulled, but if you don’t like that feeling you should look into the Elvie. 

Sound:

When you compare the Willow and the Elvie in terms of sound, the Elvie wins by a long shot. 

My opinion: If you are trying to wear your pump in a meeting, you will not get away with the Willow, as it is much louder than the Elvie. However, both are much quieter compared to your traditional pump. 

Elvie vs Willow Milk Production

This is a very subjective category, and reviews for both products vary. Some say that the Willow greatly increased their milk production, and others say the exact opposite. This is also true for Elvie users.

My opinion: I find that my milk volume is slightly greater with the Willow, but it may just be due to the stronger suction. 

Battery Life:

Both the Elvie and the Willow take about two hours to charge completely. A full charge will last you about 5 pumping sessions. 

My opinion: I like that the Elvie has a USB charger option, which allows me to plug it in and charge it anywhere. I also like that it comes with two chargers already. Since I wanted to charge both Willow motors at the same time, I had to buy an additional charger. 

I do think the Willow holds a better charge than the Elvie, but the difference isn’t dramatic in any way. I’ve been able to charge both for about 15 minutes to get through a pumping session.

 

Cleaning:

Once you detach the motor, the Willow only has two pump parts to clean: the flange and the flex tube. Both can be placed inside the dishwasher, making the Willow a great choice if you’re looking for easy cleanup. 

If you are using the breast bags for the Willow, you will have to clean an additional piece. Luckily, this piece is also dishwasher safe. 

In comparison, the Elvie has five parts. When you detach the motor, you’ll have to clean the breast shield, pump seal, spout, valve, and bottle. These parts are dishwasher friendly as well.

My opinion: The Willow is much easier and less of a hassle to put together than the Elvie. There is a bit of a learning curve to putting together and cleaning the Elvie. But once you get the hang of it, it isn’t too cumbersome! 

 Conclusion:

Though it certainly isn’t necessary, new moms can benefit a lot by having a wearable pump. Having the ability to multitask helps to make the transition into motherhood much easier. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration when choosing the hands-free pump that works best for your lifestyle. I hope that this guide was useful in helping you make a decision!