Mar 19, 2024 12:00 PM

The Best Electric Toothbrushes

These rechargeable and battery-powered models put better oral hygiene within easy reach.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

Featured in this article

Slender electric toothbrush with gradient green handle sitting in round clear circular base

4 / 14

I hate brushing my teeth. I do it because I have to, but it’s a time-consuming, uncomfortable process—two minutes standing in front of the mirror can feel like an eternity. My dentist says I brush too harshly as well. Don't even get me started on flossing.

Electric toothbrushes make the whole experience easier. Their vibrations and oscillations can more effectively get rid of plaque on your teeth and gums, and most brushes have a timer that encourages you to brush for the full two minutes. We've tested many types, from basic models to fancy ones with oscillating brushes and everything in between. A good brush doesn't need to cost you more than a few Hamiltons. Listed below are the best electric toothbrushes you can buy. We also have eco-friendly non-electric options if you don't want to own another device that needs charging.

Sonic vs. Oscillating Toothbrushes

There is a seemingly endless array of electric toothbrushes to pick from, but they generally fall into two categories: sonic and oscillating (for U-shaped brushes, see below). The best toothbrush is the one you'll use twice a day for two minutes. You can buy the most highly rated toothbrush around, but if it feels weird in your mouth or hurts your gums, you might not want to use it.

Ada S. Cooper, a dentist and consumer adviser spokesperson for the American Dental Association, told me that both styles are effective in reducing plaque, according to recent studies. She notes that you should talk to a dentist about which one will work best for you, and she says to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance Most of our picks have it. (If they don't, that doesn't necessarily mean they're bad.)

A sonic toothbrush looks similar to a manual brush, with an oval brush head. It vibrates gently and quietly, using high-speed side-to-side bristle motion to break up plaque. Sonicare was the first brand to introduce a sonic toothbrush and is probably the most well-known name in the category.
Oscillating toothbrushes rotate and pulsate—oscillate means to move or swing back and forth—around the whole tooth. They tend to be louder than sonic brushes and might make your head vibrate more while you brush. You will get used to this if you're new to electric brushes. Oral-B is probably the best-known brand for these types of electric toothbrushes.

Updated March 2024: We've added the Be Lucent Prism and Made By Dentists sonic toothbrushes. We've also moved the Goby brush to the honorable mentions, as customers are having issues getting replacement heads.

Christopher Null's reporting contributed to this guide.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

Photograph: Amazon
Best Oscillating Brush
Oral-B Pro 1000
Oral-B's Pro 1000 is a reliable brush for a solid price that you can pick up at most stores. It has been around for a while and continues to outshine more expensive models with fancier features. It's so powerful that my first few brushes left me feeling dizzy. Battery life isn't as long as pricier ones, but you should still get around 10 days. All brushes get grimy from toothpaste, but I felt like this one somehow got a little more gross. Just rinse it thoroughly after every brush.
All the brand's electric toothbrushes have oscillating brush heads, which are those circular bristles that get right in between all your teeth. Though we haven't tried all of them, most of the Pro models are probably a good bet if the price is right for you.
$50 at Amazon
$50 at Walmart
Photograph: Philips
Best Sonic Brush
Philips Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush
If you find oscillating brushes to be too intense, you may prefer a sonic brush. You'll probably like any of Sonicare's brushes, but it comes down to features and price. At $50, the 4100 is a good mid-range brush with two intensity levels, a pressure sensor, and a two-minute timer. It does what it needs to do without a bunch of unnecessary bells and whistles and a charge should last about two weeks.
I've tried the very expensive Sonicare brushes that we mention in the honorable mentions below. They're also great cleaners, but you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars when good brushes from the brand are this price.
$50 at Amazon
$50 at Target

Photograph: Colgate
Best Smart Toothbrush
Colgate Hum
If you want a smart electric toothbrush, the Colgate Hum (9/10, WIRED Recommends) sonic brush is our favorite. It's slim and light, with a small brush head that can reach the back of your mouth without causing discomfort. It connects to a companion mobile app that offers insight into your habits too. The Hum costs significantly less than most app-connected brushes, and the mobile app's features are superior to its competitors.
The system accurately tracks your brushing and shows you spots you've missed. You don't have to open the app every time you brush your teeth, as your brushing sessions are stored on the brush for 10 days (they get uploaded to your phone when you open the app). Battery life is around 10 days, which is fine but not as long as other smart brushes. The biggest downside is the Hum only has one type of brush head, so you can't swap out different heads made for sensitive teeth or more powerful cleaning.
★ A cheaper alternative: The Hum Smart Rhythm for $25 is a battery-powered brush with two cleaning modes. (The regular Hum has three.) It has less cleaning power overall, but it makes for a great first electric brush for a kid.
$75 at Amazon (rechargable)
$27 at Amazon (Battery)
Photograph: Be Lucent
This One Auto-Starts
Be Lucent Prism Sonic Electronic Toothbrush
The Prism sonic toothbrush took one feature from manual brushing that other brands haven't figured out: Just put it in your mouth and brush to start the vibrations automatically. No button pressing needed. It cleans well, too, and the back of the head has the best tongue cleaner of any brush I've tried. It's rough enough to really scrub.
Don't worry, there is a button for controlling the modes or manually turning it on and off. It took me a few times to stop the automatic gesture of pushing it I'd developed from years without an automatic brush. The charging dock is also fun. It reminds me of an ’80s glass block wall, and I mean that as a compliment. (I want to build one of these in my house.)
$99 at Be Lucent

Photograph: Bitvae
A Cheap Electric Toothbrush
Bitvae Sonic Electric Toothbrush
I wasn't sure what to expect from this brand I'd never heard of, but Bitvae's sonic toothbrush was powerful and cleaned my teeth effectively. It also comes with eight (!!) replacement heads and typically costs just $16 to $18—if you're seeing it for more, consider waiting for the price to drop. There are a bunch of cute colors to choose from, too.
The worst thing about it is its charger. Most electric toothbrushes sit on a charging base, but this one has to be plugged in directly from the bottom of the handle. So you either have to lay your brush down sideways on the sink while it charges or stick the included holder to the wall. I don't particularly like having to do that.
$16 at Amazon
Photograph: Philips
A Brush for Kids
Philips Sonicare Kids Electric Toothbrush
You don't necessarily need a kid-specific toothbrush, but this is a well-priced rechargeable option. The companion app is filled with cartoon lessons and rewards, and your kids can monitor progress even when they aren't viewing the app in real time (so you don't have to be in the bathroom with them).
WIRED senior writer and reviewer Scott Gilbertson had his 8-year-old give it a try, and the two-minute timer kept her brushing until it was done—no shortcuts. She eventually lost interest in the app, but younger kids may stick with it longer. Even without the app keeping his kid's attention, he said he would still purchase this brush. Plus, the battery lasted through nearly three months of daily use. It comes with stickers to customize the handle, though in Gilbertson's experience, they didn't stick for long.
$30 at Amazon
$35 at Target

Photograph: SURI
A Repairable, Sustainable Brush
Suri Sustainable Electric Toothbrush
The Suri toothbrush's soft bristles and gentle vibrations clean well, and even the most sensitive gums won't suffer in the process. I also appreciate the slim, lightweight handle. Beyond clean teeth, the company offers a more sustainable approach to electric brushes.
You need to brush your teeth, which means you're going to throw brushes away eventually. Electric toothbrushes are less wasteful than nonelectric models in the short term since you don't have to throw away the entire thing every time you're done with it. But electric brushes have an expiration date too, as their batteries and motors will eventually give out. Suri wants to offer a more sustainable approach. It takes back and recycles used brush heads (made from cornstarch with castor oil bristles that should break down without leaving microplastics behind). The body of the brush isn't sealed, meaning the company can repair the battery or motor should the need arise. If you decide you don't want it repaired and simply want to get rid of it, you can send it back to be recycled.
$92 at Suri
Photograph: Amazon
This One Uses LEDs
Snow LED Electric Toothbrush
Snow started out with a handful of whitening products, and has rounded out its lineup with a toothbrush that has LEDs right in the brush head. They typically work in conjunction with a gel. When I spoke to Bill Busch, a dentist at North Kansas City Dental, he explained that LEDs work by warming the toothpaste gel, which makes it more efficient. To get the full effect, you'll want to use a whitening toothpaste too. Snow sells one, but any should be fine.
My teeth aren't shining bright after a month of use, but they are clean. The battery lasts a while, so you won't be caught with a dead battery in the morning. My biggest complaint was the price, which was $149 when we first tried it, but it's dropped now.
$79 at Snow

Photograph: Moon
For Living in a Barbie World
Moon x Barbie Pink Electric Toothbrush
We tried Moon's toothbrush for our roundup of the best Barbie collabs. Whether you want this pink version or one of the other colors like black or gold, it's a solid brush that cleans well and is moderately priced. Plus, a charge should give you over a month of battery life.
There are five cleaning modes. It's nice to have options, but I tend to think anything over two or three is overkill, and you won't notice much of a difference between them. Moon's brush comes with two brush heads plus a travel case.
$80 at Moon
$70 at Ulta (Non-Barbie)
Photograph: SmileDirectClub
Try a Water Flosser Too
SmileDirectClub Water Flosser
If you go to the dentist regularly, you have probably fibbed once—or 100—times: Yes, doctor, I have been flossing regularly. For something that is so simple, it's also annoying and sometimes makes your mouth bleed, and you have to squeeze your hands all the way to the back of your mouth. Water flossing is a good alternative. Though it's not a substitute for regular string floss, it's better than nothing or for use in between.
There are a lot of water flossers available, but most that I've seen are big, requiring a chunk of your sink space. This one from SmileDirectClub is small because its tank is right on its body. (The company has an even smaller pop-up version we didn't try.) It really did get the gunk out of my teeth that my toothbrush couldn't. Water flossing does hurt at first, unfortunately, so start with the soft-pressure setting.
★ Note: We're testing more water flossers! Stay tuned for a new guide with more options.
$40 at Amazon

Photograph: Better and Better
Honorable Mentions
More Electric Toothbrushes
There are far more electric toothbrushes than we can recommend in a single guide. If none of the above options appeal to you, one of these might do the trick.
Brushes Under $100
Philips One by Sonicare Toothbrush for $25: This was our budget pick, but Bitvae's is more powerful, rechargeable, and cheaper. Still, this one is cute, thin, and offers gentle vibrations for a step above a manual brush. It also comes with a carrying case.
AquaSonic Black Series for $40: This brush also comes with eight brush heads, like the Bitvae above, which is nice for the price. I think it cleans well, but the heads are a bit small, and the whole thing was too vibratey for me, like the body was vibrating the plastic of the brush head more than the bristles.
Quip Toothbrushes for $25-$60: People either love or hate Quip brushes. They aren't the most powerful, but they're comfortable to use, easy to maneuver around your mouth, and importantly, affordable. Choose between plastic or metal handles, battery-powered or rechargeable, all of which have smart or regular-brained options. If you have the basic brush and decide you want Bluetooth, you can swap out your motor for a smart one for $25. No other brush I've seen has this option.
Better & Better Bamboo Sonic Toothbrush for $70: This is another great brush that doesn't exceed the $100 mark. The entire thing isn't made from bamboo, but the brush heads—which get swapped out more frequently than the actual body—are. That makes it a little more eco-friendly.
SmileDirectClub Electric Toothbrush for $15: We think you'll like this one as much as the Philips One—they're similar, but the SmileDirectClub is just slightly bigger and has more coarse bristles, which you may prefer.
Goby Electric Toothbrush for $90: Goby's modern brush was a top pick. It's lightweight and cleans well, with a two-week battery life and a nice stand with a charger that clips onto it when it needs some juice. However, customers are complaining that they can no longer get replacement brush heads despite paying for them. The company told us it should be back to normal soon. We'll continue to monitor it.
Brushes Over $100
Made by Dentists Sonic Toothbrush for $100: This sonic brush is, you guessed it, designed by two dentists. It cleans well, and it's lightweight with a long battery life. But it sounds and feels a little tinny, and it's a bit pricey for what it is.
Oral-B iO Brushes: I tried the iO Series 8 in 2020 and wasn't a fan of the app or the price. In 2021, Oral-B released the slightly less expensive Series 6 for $150, which is the fourth of the iO lineup, with five cleaning modes. It's a fantastic brush in terms of cleaning, but other brushes have better apps. I found the tracking to be much better while I brushed, but I would occasionally see my post-brushing coverage stat as 0 percent. It's just clunky. Get a basic Oral-B for great cleaning power.
Mode Electric Toothbrush for $148: Mode's bristles are soft, but not too soft. The round charging block plugs directly into the outlet, and the brush handle attaches to it magnetically—plus it can rotate so you don't block the other outlet, and there's a dim nightlight. The only problem is the high price.
Izzo Oral Care Kit for $125: This is a powerful oscillating brush with three speeds. The kit comes with a plastic tooth scaler, a polishing attachment and polishing paste, and a UVC sanitizing case. At first, I found that the polishing paste got hard in its tube quickly and was a bit of a nuisance to use after a few times. The company changed its formula, and it seems to be holding up better now.
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9300 for $225: This is a great toothbrush as far as cleaning abilities and comfort, but its smart features leave something to be desired. As with the Oral-B iO, I couldn't get the app to accurately track my brushing sessions. Plus, it's too expensive.
Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige for $324: Like the Sonicare above, the 9900 Prestige is a great toothbrush, and it has SenseIQ that detects pressure and changes the intensity if you're pushing too hard. That's helpful for me because I tend to scrub too hard, but that isn't a good enough reason for me to spend this kind of cash on a toothbrush.
Oclean X Pro Digital for $110 and X Pro Elite for $150: Oclean brushes give a satisfying clean, and the little screen on the handle shows a chart of which teeth you've cleaned or missed without having to look at your phone. That screen can be kind of a pain to scroll through though.
Photograph: Preserve
Normal, Non-Electric Brushes
Manual Toothbrushes With Less Waste
Electric toothbrushes have their perks: They can help you get a deeper clean, they (usually) come equipped with a two-minute timer to ensure you're brushing long enough, and they create less waste since you're only throwing away a brush head. Disposable plastic lingers in a landfill forever. However, we've found a few planet-friendly alternatives for more traditional toothbrushing.
Colgate Keep for $7: This Colgate brush is designed with less plastic than traditional toothbrushes, partly because most of its handle is made of aluminum. The handle is sturdy and cool in your hand, and only the brush head needs to be replaced. The starter kit comes with a handle and two brush heads. A two-pack of brush heads is $6, or around $8 for four.
Bite's Bamboo Brush for $12 (Two-Pack): Unlike plastic, bamboo is biodegradable. There are many bamboo options out there, but Bite's brush is the best one I've tried. The brush head comes apart for travel.
Preserve Toothbrush for $4: This toothbrush sits at an extreme angle that feels surprisingly natural as you brush. The handle is made of 100 percent recycled plastics, and you can mail your used brush back to the company so it can be recycled again. It's dirt cheap, too.
Bogobrush for $10: This one is also made of recycled plastic and comes with a nice little stand you can stick to your bathroom sink or counter.

Photograph: Willo
What About Alternative Toothbrushes?
What You Need To Know
There are many U-shaped toothbrushes available now that use a mouthpiece full of bristles to brush one section of teeth—or sometimes the entire mouth—all at once in around 30 seconds. We've tried three and think they're fine to use in addition to regular brushing, like for those nights when you just want to hit the sheets or your kids are being difficult. None of them left us feeling perfectly minty fresh and none can clean your tongue. We'll continue trying more as they're released.
AutoBrush Sonic Pro for $119: AutoBrush is the original in the category, and I tried both the old silicone-bristle model and new nylon version. I wasn't wowed by either, but if you want a U-shaped brush and can get this one on sale, try it. You can read about AutoBrush's study with Salus Research here.
SymplBrush for $149: WIRED reviewer Brenda Stolyar has been using the SymplBrush, which looks like a mix of the Willo and AutoBrush, and she likes it. “I can tell it hits each tooth and each side of it that might be missed with a standard toothbrush,” she says. “It's a nice, all-around, clean-type feeling.” But she notes that it didn't always get the buildup around her gums, so she'd have to go in with a brush anyway. As someone who brushes too hard, she felt this offered a gentler experience for her gums. However, Stolyar didn't like the toothpaste it came with, and thankfully, her regular toothpaste worked fine though she had to spend extra time to keep the brush clean.
Willo Essential Kit for $150: This was my favorite and left my mouth feeling cleanest. It works by pushing water and tooth rinse through the mouthpiece as it pulsates. However, the site is currently down with a note that says Willo is “busy working on building a better oral health future for our children.” We'll see what new products are coming.
The dentists I spoke to, Bill Busch of North Kansas City Dental and Joseph Salim, owner of Sutton Place Dental Associates, agreed that these aren't replacements. At the time we spoke, they and their patients had used the older, now unavailable silicone version of the AutoBrush. The current iteration uses nylon bristles. “I find the best use for it is for children and in nursing home environments, where to get quick and easy compliance to brush is critical," Busch says.
Photograph: Quip
Consider These Brushing Accessories
Oral Care Accessories
In addition to a good toothbrush, you'll need a few other things to keep your mouth clean.
Quip Refillable Floss for $15-20: I prefer floss picks to a string, but disposable ones are a huge waste. Quip's refillable pick solves this, but it's still easy to use and the small container can go wherever you do.
Tongue Scraper for $10: You can brush your teeth efficiently twice a day, but you'll never feel fully fresh if you ignore your tongue. You don't need to buy a tongue scraper, but I find it makes the process of cleaning your tongue more bearable than using a brush. Just rinse it thoroughly between uses. Plastic ones don't do as good a job as metal ones.

Medea Giordano turned her shopping problem into a career as a product writer for WIRED. She covers a little bit of everything but loves health, beauty, and pet tech. Prior to WIRED, she was an assistant editor at Wirecutter and an assistant in the newsroom of The New York Times.... Read more

Writer and Reviewer

TopicsShopping household buying guides