Curating your perfect home gym takes time, but you might want to consider a vibration plate as your next purchase—it can add a serious boost to your fitness routine. By increasing muscle contraction, using the best vibration plates can improve strength and stability while supporting lymphatic health and circulation, bone mineral density, and even weight loss—benefits that can be especially valuable for aging adults, says physical therapist Monica Saliu, PT, DPT.
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How Do Vibration Plates Work?
A vibration plate vibrates while you sit, stand, or exercise on it. The vibrating motion recruits stabilizing muscles to contract and relax at a higher rate than usual, according to personal trainer Holly Roser, CPT, and fitness coach Jen Rulon, MS. This forced resistance can improve muscle strength faster since you’re working harder and exerting more energy while on the plate.
Physical therapist Jorge Giral, PT, DPT, COMT, CSCS, says training on a vibration plate can also improve balance, flexibility, and overall mobility.
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Vibration Plate Benefits
Several studies and experts suggest that regular use of a vibration plate may offer a range of health and fitness benefits.
- Vibration plates can increase muscle contraction, leading to potential improvements in muscle strength, says Giral.
- Vibration plates may help promote blood circulation, improving muscle warm-ups and cool-downs, so they’re more effective and relaxing.
- Vibration plate training may contribute to weight loss when combined with a healthy diet and exercise, though more research is still needed.
- Whole-body vibration training may serve as an alternative exercise method for older adults, improving stability and strengthening muscles. According to Saliu, vibration plates are most beneficial for people with balance issues, often healthy adults over 45.
- Physical therapist Theresa Marko, PT, DPT, MS, says vibration plates activate the stabilizing muscles, which are often weak in people with back pain.
- Research suggests that total-body vibration training may improve muscle function and bone mineral density in older women. For this reason, Saliu says vibration plates are being used to slow the progression of conditions like osteoporosis.
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How We Tested
To find the best vibration plates on the market, we first spoke with experts—three physical therapists, one certified personal trainer, and one fitness coach—about the research behind these machines and what to look for in a high-quality option. We then spent hours testing 21 expert-approved vibration plates, putting each one through a series of exercises—including squats, lunges, planks, and more—to evaluate performance in real-world workouts. When testing vibration plates, we keep the following key criteria in mind.
- Ease of Use: We assess how easy it is to set up each vibration plate. Is any assembly required? If so, how long does it take? Then, we note the features and accessories—the display, capability to track stats, third-party app integration, Bluetooth connectivity, and more—and how easy they are to use. Vibration plates earn high scores if they are quick to set up and simple to use effectively.
- Adjustability: The best vibration plates offer simple adjustability. During testing, we note the number of settings and intensity levels each vibration plate offers. We also pay attention to how easily these settings can be adjusted mid-workout and whether any pre-programmed workouts are available. We prioritize vibration plates with a wide range of easy-to-adjust settings and intensity levels.
- Stability: During testing, we perform a series of three popular vibration plate exercises—lunges, squats, and planks—as well as a lower-body hamstring and glute massage. As we complete the workout, we pay attention to how safe and stable we feel on the plate. We give high scores to vibration plates that are large enough for us to comfortably and confidently perform a range of exercises.
- Value: To assign each vibration plate a value score, we view the price after our testing is complete. Vibration plates that receive a high score for value often cost the same or less than what we would consider paying for them based on their ease of use, adjustability, and stability.
The Verywell Fit Team Tests the Best Vibration Plates
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Best Overall Lifepro Vibration Plate Exercise Machine | Best Overall Lifepro Vibration Plate Exercise Machine | Amazon | $442 | 29.5 x 18 x 6 inches | 60 levels | 38.5 pounds | 500 pounds | Full Review | |||||
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Best Budget SoftGym Vibration Plate | Best Budget SoftGym Vibration Plate | Amazon | $79 | 23 x 14.8 x 6.5 inches | 120 levels | 16 pounds | 450 pounds | Full Review | |||||
Best for Lymphatic Drainage Sunny Health & Fitness Fitboard 4D Premium Vibration Platform | Best for Lymphatic Drainage Sunny Health & Fitness Fitboard 4D Premium Vibration Platform | Amazon | $350 | 30.9 x 17.4 x 7.5 inches | 30 levels | 44.5 pounds | 265 pounds | Full Review | |||||
Best Lightweight Merach Whole Body Vibration Plate | Best Lightweight Merach Whole Body Vibration Plate | Amazon | $120 | 22.8 x 13 x 6.3 inches | 10 levels | 17.6 pounds | 300 pounds | Full Review | |||||
Best Value Sunny Health & Fitness Fitboard 2D Vibration Platform With Resistance Band | Best Value Sunny Health & Fitness Fitboard 2D Vibration Platform With Resistance Band | Amazon | $94 | 22.8 x 15.1 x 5.4 inches | 99 levels | 20 pounds | 265 pounds | Full Review | |||||
Best Mini LifePro Waver Mini Vibration Plate | Best Mini LifePro Waver Mini Vibration Plate | Amazon | $96 | 27.6 x 13.2 x 4.5 inches | 99 levels | 22 pounds | 260 pounds | Full Review | |||||
Best With Handrails Lifepro Vibration Plate Machine | Best With Handrails Lifepro Vibration Plate Machine | Amazon | $306 | 27.3 x 27 x 48 inches | 99 levels | 60.4 pounds | 330 pounds | Full Review | |||||
Best for Beginners VT Vibration Therapeutic Frequency Vibration Plate | Best for Beginners VT Vibration Therapeutic Frequency Vibration Plate | Amazon | $480 | 22 x 16. x 5.7 inches | Not specified | 23 pounds | 308 pounds | Full Review | |||||
Best Portable Hurtle Vibration Platform Machine | Best Portable Hurtle Vibration Platform Machine | Amazon | $105 | 26.8 x 15 x 4.7 inches | 40 levels | 30.8 pounds | 265 pounds | Full Review | |||||
Best for Upper Body Workouts LifePro TrimLite Vibration Plate | Best for Upper Body Workouts LifePro TrimLite Vibration Plate | Amazon | $82 | 20.3 x 17.9 x 26.8 to 37.8 (adjustable handle) inches | 90 levels | 27 pounds | 265 pounds | Full Review |