Kegel Exercise Devices & Pelvic Floor Trainers Compared

Pelvic floor devices can look similar online but work in very different ways. Some simply measure or guide the Kegels you perform yourself, while others use electrical or magnetic stimulation to contract the pelvic floor muscles for you. This guide compares the major options for bladder leaks—including Kegel weights, biofeedback trainers, vaginal and external electrical stimulation, and magnetic chairs—so you can understand what you are actually buying before choosing a device.

Updated: August 26, 2026
Author: Elidah Medical Staff

Best Kegel Devices at a Glance

  • Best Overall: Elitone
  • Best for Beginners: Elitone
  • Best if You’re Short on Time: Elitone
  • Best for Learning Kegel Technique: Biofeedback Trainer
  • Strongest Stimulation: Vaginal E-Stim or Magnetic Stimulation
  • Lowest Cost: Kegel Weights
Comparison of Kegel Exercisers

Table Of Contents

Why Pelvic Floor Exercise Matters

The pelvic floor is made of muscles, and like other muscles in the body, it can become stronger with regular exercise. Strong pelvic floor muscles help support the bladder and urethra and play an important role in preventing stress urinary incontinence.

Kegel exercises are the most common way to strengthen these muscles. A Kegel is simply a voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor, repeated over time to build strength, endurance, and control.

The challenge is that pelvic floor muscles cannot be seen during exercise, which makes Kegels harder to teach and perform correctly than many other exercises. Studies have found that roughly one-quarter to one-third of women may initially contract the wrong muscles or perform a Kegel incorrectly. Even among women who understand the technique, many do not perform enough contractions, hold them long enough, or continue the exercises consistently enough to get the full strengthening benefit.

That gap between knowing that Kegels can help and actually doing them correctly and consistently is why so many pelvic floor tools and devices have been developed. Some are designed to help you identify and practice the correct muscles. Others add resistance, measure your contractions, or stimulate the muscles so the contractions happen automatically.

The important thing is that these devices are not interchangeable. Understanding what each one actually does makes it much easier to choose the right tool for your goals.

What Is a Kegel Exercise Device?

Search for a “Kegel exerciser,” “Kegel exercise device,” or “pelvic floor trainer” and you will find products that look surprisingly similar but do very different things.

Some are simple weights that add resistance while you perform Kegels. Others measure your contractions and provide feedback through an app. Electrical stimulation devices actually cause the pelvic floor muscles to contract, while magnetic chairs stimulate the pelvic floor from outside the body during an office visit.

That difference matters. A device that measures a Kegel is not the same as a device that performs the contraction for you, and a product marketed for pelvic wellness is not necessarily cleared as a medical treatment for urinary incontinence.

Before comparing brands or prices, it helps to understand which type of device you are actually buying.

Not All Kegel Devices Do the Same Thing

Pelvic floor devices generally fall into several categories:

  • Kegel weights: add resistance while you voluntarily contract the pelvic floor.
  • Biofeedback trainers: sense or measure your contractions and help guide your exercise technique.
  • Vaginal electrical stimulation: uses an inserted probe to electrically activate pelvic floor muscles.
  • External electrical stimulation: activates the pelvic floor through electrodes placed outside the body.
  • Magnetic stimulation: uses electromagnetic energy to stimulate the pelvic floor while you sit in a specialized chair.

These products are sometimes grouped together as “Kegel devices,” but comparing them only by price can be misleading. A $50 exerciser that helps you practice Kegels is not necessarily a lower-cost version of a medical device that delivers therapeutic stimulation.

Do You Do the Kegels, or Does the Device?

This may be the most important question to ask before buying a pelvic floor device.

Kegel weights and biofeedback trainers still require you to do the work. A biofeedback trainer can tell you whether you are contracting the right muscles, how strongly you are squeezing, or how long you can hold a contraction, but it does not create the contraction for you.

That can be very useful for someone who wants to learn better Kegel technique. But it also means you need to set aside time, concentrate on each exercise, and perform enough contractions consistently to strengthen the muscles.

Electrical and magnetic stimulation work differently. They deliver energy that causes involuntary pelvic floor contractions, so treatment does not depend entirely on your ability to identify and repeatedly contract the muscles yourself.

This distinction is easy to miss when shopping online because both types of products may be described as pelvic floor trainers, exercisers, or strengthening devices.

Internal vs. External Pelvic Floor Devices

Another major difference is where the device is used.

Many Kegel weights, biofeedback trainers, and electrical stimulation devices are inserted into the vagina. Internal placement can provide direct sensing or stimulation of the pelvic floor, but it also affects the treatment experience.

Using an internal device generally requires privacy, insertion and removal, cleaning, and dedicated treatment time. Some women are comfortable with this, while others find repeated vaginal use inconvenient, uncomfortable, or too intrusive to maintain consistently.

External devices avoid vaginal insertion. Magnetic chairs are completely external but require treatment at a clinic. External electrical stimulation can also be delivered through electrodes placed on the skin, allowing treatment at home without an internal probe.

Neither internal nor external automatically means “better.” The important questions are what the device actually does, whether you will use it consistently, whether its treatment burden fits your life, and whether it is intended to treat your specific condition.

Kegel Exercise Device Comparison

The table below compares the major categories by how they work, how much effort they require from the user, whether they are internal or external, and the practical differences that often matter most when choosing a device.

Kegel exercisers are often vaginal
ELITONE is an external Kegel Exerciser to stimulates pelvic floor muscles to reduce urinary leaks
Kegel WeightsBiofeedback TrainersMagnetic ChairsVaginal StimExternal Stim
Where UsedHomeHomeClinicHomeHome
Internal (vaginal insertion) or externalInternalInternalExternalInternalExternal
Creates contractions automaticallyNoNoYesYesYes
Hands-free useYesNoYesNoYes
Mobile during useLimitedNoNoNoYes
Requires privacy & dedicated timeUsuallyUsuallyYes, clinic visitUsuallyMinimal
Cleaning requiredYesUsuallyNoYesNo, external
FDA-cleared (incontinence)NoNoYesYesYes
Insurance-coveredNoNoNoMaybeYes – most
Typical CostLowestLow-moderateHighestModerate-highModerate
Best forLow-cost resistanceLearning Kegel techniqueClinic-based automationStrong internal stimulationAt-home automatic stimulation without insertion, and for busy women

Important: “FDA-cleared” does not always mean cleared to treat urinary incontinence. Some pelvic floor devices are cleared or marketed for biofeedback only, or measurement (wellness). Many are not cleared or reviewed by the FDA at all. For an incontinence treatment device, the cleared labeling should specifically include urinary incontinence, which means it showed clinical efficacy data.

Elitone is your easy to use at home solution for incontinence.

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Brands: Kegel balls, Kegel cones, Yoni or jade egg, Ben Wa ball, and more

How it Works: Series of increasing weights inserted vaginally. Identifies and builds up Kegel muscles.

What you do: Squeeze to keep weights from falling

Pros: Inexpensive, Helps identify Kegel muscles

Cons: Requires dedicated time, Stay stationary, Requires privacy, Risk of infection

FDA cleared?: No

Price: $50-$100

Review: “Easy to use to isolate pelvic floor muscles. Once you identify your muscles, it’s easier to do Kegels anywhere on your own.”

Brands: KegelSmart, kGoal, Elvie, PeriCoach

How it Works: Probe inserted vaginally. Measures strength of Kegels using biofeedback.

What you do: Squeeze with mobile app guide

Pros: Relatively inexpensive, Gives feedback on Kegel strength

Cons: Requires dedicated time, Stay stationary, Requires privacy, Risk of infection

FDA cleared?: Not for incontinence

Price: $100-$300

Review: “Fit can be uncomfortable. The games are fun at first. Once you identify pelvic floor muscles, it’s easier to do Kegels on your own.”

Brands: BTL Emsella

How it Works: Sit on a chair while magnetic field is passed through your pelvic floor

What you do: Sit on a special chair in the doctor’s office.

Pros: Easy to use, Use while fully clothed

Cons: Six treatment for $2000, Repeat visits to the doctor’s office, Questionable efficacy

FDA cleared?: Yes, prescription required

Price: $2000 for six treatments

User Review:  “Nothing is inserted vaginally and clothes can be left on during treatment. Quite expensive for 6 visits and no guarantee that it will work.”

Brands: Apex, Attain, Liberty, Yarlap, Kegel8, Leva

How it Works: Probe inserted vaginally. Does Kegels for you via electrical stimulation.

What you do: Let probe contract muscles for you.

Pros: Does Kegels for you

Cons: Requires dedicated time, Stay stationary lying down, Requires privacy, Risk of infection

FDA cleared?: Yes, but may require prescription

Price: $300-$1200, with some insurance coverage

User Review: “Clinically proven to work, and some are quite strong. Contracts the correct muscles for you, but the vaginal activation leaves you feeling somewhat “violated.” It’s hard to commit to consistent private sessions.”

Brands: ELITONE

How it Works: GelPad worn externally. Does Kegels for you via electrical stimulation.

What you do: Let device contract muscles for you.

Pros: Does Kegels for you, No internal insertion, Worn under clothing, Can move around during treatment

Cons: Possibility of skin irritation

FDA cleared?: Yes, and no prescription required

Price: $399, with some insurance coverage

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Kegel weights compared to Elitone

Kegel Weights

[Kegel balls, kegel cones, yoni or jade egg, Ben Wa Ball, and more] Squeeze to keep a series of increasing weights from falling out of the vagina to identify and build up muscles (only provides resistance). These balls, cones, or egg-shapes are as simple as they come, dating back thousands of years. Kegel weights are inexpensive and easy to understand. However, they do require privacy and dedicated time. Anything vaginally inserted will have a higher risk of infection. Review: Easy to use to isolate pelvic floor muscles. Inexpensive. Once you identify your muscles, it’s easier to do Kegels anywhere on your own. Risk of infection.

Kegel TrainersKegel trainer for urinary leaks

[KegelSmart, kGoal, Perifit, Elvie] Biofeedback measures the strength of Kegel contractions as you squeeze around the device. Most of these vaginally inserted probes are connected to mobile apps so you can see your progress, and some offer fun games to play as you squeeze. Kegel trainers still have a risk of infection and require dedicated time and privacy during use. Most are not FDA-approved for incontinence. Review: Relatively inexpensive. Give feedback on strength. Fit can be uncomfortable. The games are fun at first, but it’s hard to find the time to keep using them. Risk of infection.

Magnetic ChairsMagnetic chair that exercises pelvic floor muscles

[BTL Emsella] The patient sits on a specialized chair while a high-intensity electromagnetic field is focused on the pelvic floor, causing the muscles to contract. This external therapy is typically administered in a doctor’s office over six sessions. A systematic review and network meta-analysis by the Department of Health (AHRQ) found limited comparative evidence. More receent studies suggest magnetic stimulation can improve symptoms, although results vary. Review: Quite easy to show up and sit fully clothed, but need to schedule clinic visits. As a kegel exerciser, it is quite expensive for 6 visits, and maintenance costs require repurchase.

Vaginal StimulationApexm device for Kegel exercises

[Yarlap, Kegel8] Electrical stimulation (e-stim) contracts the pelvic floor muscles, doing your Kegels for you. Don’t let the term “electrical stimulation” scare you. Electrical currents are how your brain talks to your muscles and tell them to move, and these devices have been around for 40 years. Originally only found in doctors‘ and physical therapy offices, vaginal kegel exercisers are now available for home use, but require dedicated time on your back and privacy, and cleaning is required. Clinically proven to work, and some are quite strong. Contracts the correct muscles for you, which is a major advantage over biofeedback trainers. The downside is the internal experience—some users find repeated vaginal insertion intrusive or uncomfortable enough that it becomes harder to stay consistent with treatment.
Flyte by Pelvital is another internal at-home treatment for stress urinary incontinence, but it uses mechanotherapy rather than electrical stimulation. Its vaginal wand delivers mechanical stimulation/vibration during short treatment sessions. Flyte is FDA-cleared for stress urinary incontinence, but like other internal devices it requires vaginal insertion and dedicated treatment time, and it is considerably more expensive than most home pelvic floor devices, although it takes less time per session.

External StimulationElitone controller being held with sky blue gradient background

[Elitone] Electrical stimulation (e-stim) contracts the pelvic floor muscles through skin, doing the Kegel for you. The technology is similar in purpose to vaginal e-stim, but the electrodes are applied externally instead of through an inserted probe. Elitone is FDA-cleared specifically to treat urinary incontinence. Its disposable GelPads are worn externally like a thin sanitary pad, so there is no vaginal insertion or internal cleaning. Because the device is thin and wearable, you can get dressed and do other things during the 20-minute treatment session. Review for Elitone: Easy to use, discreet, and contracts the correct pelvic floor muscles for you. The biggest advantage is treatment burden: because it is external and wearable, it is easier to fit into normal daily life, which can make it easier to stay consistent with treatment.

If you want to compare pelvic floor devices with non-device options such as physical therapy, bulking injections, pessaries, or surgery, see our complete guide to stress incontinence treatment options.

FDA Clearance and Incontinence Claims

Not all pelvic floor devices are regulated or cleared for the same purpose. A device may be marketed for pelvic floor exercise, wellness, biofeedback, sexual function, or muscle measurement without being FDA-cleared to treat urinary incontinence.

FDA clearance for urinary incontinence means the device has gone through a formal medical-device review process for that specific intended use. The manufacturer must operate under medical-device quality requirements and provide evidence appropriate to the treatment claims being made.

When comparing brands, the most useful distinction is whether urinary incontinence is actually included in the device’s FDA-cleared labeling—not simply whether the company uses terms such as “FDA registered,” “FDA listed,” or “FDA compliant.”

How We Compared These Devices

This comparison looks at more than price or marketing claims. We considered how each device works, whether you perform the contractions yourself or the device activates the muscles for you, internal versus external use, treatment time, privacy and cleaning requirements, FDA-cleared indications, available clinical evidence, typical cost, and overall treatment burden.

Some categories were also evaluated based on hands-on use of representative vaginal trainers and vaginal electrical stimulation devices, along with product labeling, published evidence, pricing, and user reviews.

Stress, Urge, and Mixed Incontinence — Why It Matters

Not all bladder leaks are the same.

  • Stress urinary incontinence involves leaks with movement, coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise.
  • Urge urinary incontinence / overactive bladder (OAB) involves sudden urgency and leakage.
  • Mixed urinary incontinence includes both.

Different symptoms may require different therapeutic signals—strengthening in some cases and calming in others. Understanding the type of leakage you experience can help guide treatment choices.

Most pelvic floor exercisers and trainers are designed around strengthening and therefore primarily address stress incontinence. Elitone is designed for stress and mixed incontinence, using strengthening-oriented stimulation together with bladder-calming signals for mixed symptoms. Elitone URGE is designed specifically for urgency and overactive bladder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Kegel exercisers treat bladder leaks?

Kegel exercisers can support pelvic floor strengthening, but many rely on voluntary muscle contraction. They may help some people with stress urinary incontinence, but they do not all activate the muscles automatically and they do not treat every type of bladder leakage.

What if Kegels or pelvic floor trainers didn’t work for me?

Difficulty activating weak pelvic floor muscles is common. In these cases, approaches that provide neuromuscular stimulation may help activate the muscles when voluntary contraction is difficult or inconsistent.

Do I need to actively exercise every day for results?

Exercise-based approaches require active participation during each session. Some treatments use electrical or magnetic stimulation to create contractions automatically, which can reduce the amount of active effort required during treatment.

Are internal devices the same as stimulation devices?

No. Some internal devices only measure or coach pelvic floor contractions. Vaginal electrical stimulation devices are different because they actively trigger contractions using electrical signals.

Is there a non-drug option for urgency or overactive bladder?

Yes. In addition to behavioral therapy and medication, non-drug options include bladder-calming electrical stimulation, tibial nerve stimulation, sacral neuromodulation, and external Elitone URGE for OAB.

What if I have both stress leaks and urgency?

This is called mixed urinary incontinence. Treatment may need to address both pelvic floor weakness and bladder overactivity. Elitone is designed to send both strengthening-oriented and bladder-calming signals for mixed symptoms.

Learn More about Elitone
CLINICIANS: SEE THE CLINICAL DATA

“I did Kegels 3x a week for 5 years —Not much progress. This device worked so well for me. It’s amazing that those leaks are gone. In fact, I just sent my MD an email asking him to review the device. All of the reviews I’ve read on your website are true….. ALL OF THEM. Thanks for such a life changing product.” — Connie, CA 63y

References

  1. Bo K, et al. Pelvic floor muscle training is recommended as first-line conservative treatment for women with stress and mixed urinary incontinence. BMJ. https://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4531
  2. Parajuli S, et al. Knowledge, self-perception and ability of pelvic floor muscle contraction among women with urinary incontinence. The study found that many women believed they were contracting correctly even when clinical examination showed otherwise. International Urogynecology Journal. 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13084312/
  3. Balk EM, Adam GP, Kimmel H, et al. Nonsurgical Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Systematic Review Update. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2018. Includes comparative evidence on pelvic floor muscle training, electrical stimulation, magnetic stimulation, and other nonsurgical treatments. https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/urinary-incontinence-update/final-report-2018
  4. Peng L, Zeng X, Shen H, Luo D. Magnetic stimulation for female patients with stress urinary incontinence: a meta-analysis of studies with short-term follow-up. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(19):e15572. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31083230/
  5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Premarket Notification 510(k): intended use, indications for use, labeling, and substantial equivalence requirements for medical devices. FDA Premarket Notification 510(k)

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