Updated September 30, 2026 · NurseryCue Editorial Team
Freemie vs Medela
Freemie
Medela
Higher score in this comparison
Where Freemie and Medela differ
| Compare | FreemieReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | MedelaReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $119.99 | £13.49 |
| Mobile app | No | YesHas it |
| Flange sizes | 15mm, 16mm, 17mm, 18mm, 19mm, 20mm, 21mm, 22mm, 23mm, 24mm, 25mm, 26mm, 28mm, 30mm | 21mm, 24mm, 27mm, 30mm |
| Markets | US | GB |
| Maximum suction (mmHg) | 280 | Not confirmed |
| Closed system | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Battery runtime (minutes) | Not confirmed | 90 |
| US insurance eligible | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Pump type (Wearable), Spare parts shop (Yes).
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Key differences
- Medela scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.5.
- Mobile app: only Medela.
- Support channels: only Freemie offers Help centre.
- Products: only Medela offers Bottle.
- Flange sizes: only Freemie offers 15mm, 16mm, 17mm.
- Flange sizes: only Medela offers 27mm.
- Markets: only Freemie offers US.
- Markets: only Medela offers GB.
Our verdict on each
Freemie
Freemie suits parents who want a wearable pump they can express with inside their bra, and it pairs that freedom with a closed system and a spare parts shop. The Independence II Standard system starts at $119.99, and suction reaches 280 mmHg.
Medela
Medela suits parents who want a wearable pump with app support and a supply route for spare parts, and it falls mid table on both price and battery. Entry starts at £13.49 in the United Kingdom, a fair ask for the app and parts shop, less so for a bare budget purchase.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freemie | Medela |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.3Entry price of $119.99 places Freemie at 46 of 50 on price from. | 9.5HigherEntry of £13.49 ranks 17 of 50, mid field rather than low. |
| Offer | 8.7Closed system, US insurance eligibility, a spare parts shop and phone and help centre support make up the offer. | 8.8HigherBattery of 90 minutes, a mobile app and a spare parts shop cover the whole ownership cycle. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Freemie | Medela |
|---|---|---|
| Breast pumps | 18 of 21 | 10 of 21 |
| Wearable breast pumps | 12 of 13 | 9 of 13 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Freemie | Medela |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Freemie: 1. Additional countries for Medela: 1.
What we checked
Freemie
- freemie.com: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Medela
- shop.medela.co.uk: 8 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- medela.co.uk: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freemie | Medela |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Breast pump | Breast pump, BottleCovers more |
| Legal entity | Dao Health | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freemie | Medela | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum suction (mmHg) | 280below the median | Not confirmed | 295 |
| Battery runtime (minutes) | Not confirmed | 90below the median | 100 |
Median across 13 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Freemie
Pros
- Its pump type is wearable, so pumping happens inside a bra rather than at a seated machine
- Closed system, which every brand in the breast pump ranking also shares
- Eligible for US insurance, so a covered family may pay little or nothing for the pump
Cons
- No mobile app, so there is no app tracking of pumping sessions
- Product types cover breast pump only, unlike Lansinoh and Evenflo Company, which also list bottles
- The Independence II Standard system at $119.99 sits at 46 of 50 on price from, well above Willow at $15.99
Medela
Pros
- The listed type is wearable, so pumping happens in a bra rather than a bottle and tube.
- A listed battery of 90-minute keeps a session going away from a socket.
- A mobile app is part of the offer, which suits a wearable design worn rather than held in place.
Cons
- Support runs on phone only, so there is no chat or email route listed for a pump that stops working.
- The range is listed for GB alone, so buyers elsewhere depend on their own country's Medela store for models and spares.
- Evenflo Company lists an electric pump, where Medela's listed type is wearable, so electric pumping is not where this range leads.
Who each suits
Freemie
Who it suits
- Parents pumping at work, in meetings or while travelling who need a bra-worn pump and no bottle to carry
- US families whose insurance covers a breast pump, making the $119.99 entry price for the Independence II Standard system less of a barrier
- Mothers who need a closed system and a broad insert range for a close fit at a smaller nipple size
Who should look elsewhere
- Parents who want pumping data in an app, since there is no mobile app
- Shoppers who want bottles from the same brand, as Lansinoh and Evenflo Company list both pumps and bottles
- Buyers on a tight budget, who may find Willow at $15.99 hard to pass up
Medela
Who it suits
- Parents who pump while working or moving, given the wearable design in the range.
- People who need a session away from a socket, with a listed battery of 90 minutes.
- Shoppers in GB who want pumps and bottles under a single maker, plus a spare parts shop.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers set on an electric pump, since Evenflo Company lists an electric model where Medela's listed type is wearable.
- Shoppers weighing the lowest starting price, who may also look at Lansinoh, listed at $7.47.
- People who want a pumps only range, since Willow lists breast pump alone.
Country by country
| Country | Freemie | Medela |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Freemie
How much does a Freemie pump cost?+
The Independence II Standard breast pump system starts at $119.99. That entry price places Freemie at position 46 of 50 on price from, well above the middle of the pack. Because the pump is eligible for US insurance, a covered family can often pay far less than the shelf price.
Is this a wearable pump?+
Yes, the pump type is wearable, meaning the unit is worn inside a bra rather than clipped to a seated pump. Freemie sells a breast pump as its only product type. Wearable pumps account for 100% of that ranking, so the format is well established.
Medela
How much does a Medela pump cost?+
The range starts at £13.49, which is the entry point rather than a typical set price. That figure places Medela at 17 of 50 on starting price across the brands tracked here, so shoppers with a hard ceiling can find lower entry points elsewhere.
How long does the battery last?+
The listed battery figure is 90 minutes, and Medela ranks 7 of 10 on that same measure across tracked brands. Mid table here means a pump that covers a typical session away from a socket, without topping the field on runtime.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Freemie
Medela