Elvie Vs Spectra Breast Pump Review

Are you trying to decide between Elvie vs Spectra electric breast pumps?

Then let us help you decide which electric pump best for you and your baby: Spectra vs Elvie!

We know just how tricky it can be to find the best breast pump for you.

These days, they seem to come with a whole range of features and modes that make it hard for you to work out what it is you need and want you want from a pump. 

You can quickly find yourself overwhelmed, unsure what to do or which pump is best for you!

So we have compared two well known brands Elvie and Spectra to help you find out which pump will be best for you!

Both brands offer quality pumps that will help you express your milk, but they do it in different ways.

So, let’s take a look at how they compare including their features, pros, and cons.

And if you love this Elvie pump vs Spectra breast pump comparisons guide, make sure to check out our guides on Momcozy vs Elvie, Elvie breast pump review, and best bottles for breastfed babies. Or even our Spectra S1 vs S2 guide.

This post contains affiliate links. See our full disclosure here

Elvie Vs Spectra

Let’s dive in an look at both brands and their breast pumps.

All About Elvie Pump

Let’s kick off our comparison with a brief review of the Elvie pump.

The Elvie single wearable pump is designed to give women the freedom to move around and multi-task while they are expressing their milk.

The pumps can fit easily into your nursing bra and you can hold them securely in place with the detachable bra-strap extenders.

The Elvie Pump is very light, weighing just 225g, making this wearable breast pump is ideal for those that want to pump discreetly.

There are no external tube or cords, so you can easily use this pump to express with ease on the go, or while you care for your child, or even sleep!

The rechargeable battery charges in two hours via micro-USB, for 2.5 hours of pumping (depending on your settings).

The Elvie breast pump also makes the most of modern technology with its Bluetooth technology that allows it to be controlled via an application on your smartphone.

Through the app you can choose between 2 modes and 14 intensity settings before saving your preferences. Plus, control the lights on your pump, whether it’s brightening for nighttime or dimming for discretion.

You can also turn the pump on and off and even monitor the milk flow. The app will tell you how much milk has been expressed from each breast and the rate of the flow of milk.

This makes it much easier for mothers to plan their expressing schedule and figure out how long they need to pump to give their baby the right amount of milk. 

You also have the ability to use the pump on either breast for single or double pumping.

While this all sounds excellent, there are some drawbacks that we should consider!

Firstly, the pump has a light-up display which can sometimes be visible through the fabric, so it might be visible through your clothes. 

And secondly, it can be difficult to clean and dry.

You may also like our review on Elvie Stride vs Elvie Pump!

Pros

• Capacity- The Elvie breast has one of the best milk capacities on the market, holding up to 10 ounces of milk between the two sides of the pump
• Easy to use – This product is very simple and easy to use, with a straightforward assembly and disassembly
• Freedom – The cordless, hands-free design of this breast pump leaves you free to get on with other things while you are expressing your milk 
• Discreet – The pump fits easily inside your nursing bra and makes very little noise, so you can discreetly express your milk even if you are around other people
• Bluetooth – You can use an app on your smartphone to control the pump and monitor how much milk you have expressed from each breast 
• Comfort – The Elvie breast pump is very comfortable to use

Cons

• Maintenance – The pump needs to be cleaned after each use. Whilst the washable parts are dishwasher friendly, they can still be quite difficult to clean and dry
• Lights – The lights on the display can cause issues with discretion if you are wearing thin clothing, as they might be visible through the fabric

All About Spectra Breast Pumps

Now, let’s turn our attention to the Spectra.

Spectra have three main models; Spectra S1, Spectra S2, and Spectra S9.

You can read our full review on how they compare is our Spectra S1 vs S2 vs S9 comparison guide.

Spectra breast pumps are designed to provide comfort and ease during breastfeeding sessions. They offer a few different versions, but the one we are looking at today is the S1.

The pump is BPA-free and ideal for travel! It’s lightweight and features a durable handle that makes it easy to carry around.

Now, this pump is bigger than the Elvie weighing 2.9 pounds, but it is still compact enough to travel with and it shouldn’t take up much room on your nightstand. 

The electric breast pump is also rechargeable, with a three-hour battery life to ensure that you have plenty of time to pump without worrying about the battery going flat. 

Spectra’s pump comes with more features than the Elvie, including adjustable suction levels, a massage mode, and an auto-timer so you can control how long you pump. You can also choose between single and double pumping, something Elvie doesn’t offer! 

The massage mode allows you to mimic the feeling of a baby feeding to give mothers a more natural and comfortable pumping experience. 

The pump is also super quiet, so you can pump at night without waking up your baby or any partners in the room. You can use the night light to help you see the controls.

You can also set yourself a timer if you need to so you know when you have been pumping for long enough. 

The motor of the S1 provides suction power of 250mmHg.

The S1 has a closed system which prevents the milk from getting into certain parts of the pump like the motor make it very easy to clean.

But all of these features come at a price, and that is the high cost! This pump isn’t cheap, but it is easy-to-use, comfortable, portable, and packed full of features.

Pros

• Multi Suction Levels – allowing you to set the pump to the best suction settings for you.
• Very quiet – you won’t have to worry about disturbing anyone around you when you use this pump. It is quiet enough that you can use it in the same room as your sleeping baby or partner without worrying about waking them up
• Closed-system – this is a closed system pump, which makes it very easy to clean
• Can double or single pump – if you want to breastfeed and pump at the same time then you can
• Portable – rechargeable battery lasts up to 3 hours

Cons

• More Expensive – the S1 is more expensive than the Elvie pump

Similarities and Differences Between Spectra vs Elvie

Now that we have an overview of both pumps, let’s look more closely at their similarities and differences.

Suction

When it comes to suction power, both the Spectra s1 and Elvie perform extremely well.

The Spectra s1 has a suction strength of 250mmHg, which is fairly powerful but not too powerful that it will cause pain and discomfort compared to the original Elvie which goes up to 220mmHg.

Whilst both are powerful, if you are looking to pump several times a day then you may want to consider using the S1.

Portability

The good news is that both pumps are portable.

The Spectra weighs 2.9 pounds and comes with a durable handle however this is rather heavy in comparison to the very lightweight Elvie Pump which weighs just 225g.

Battery Life

Both the Spectra S1 and Elvie have a rechargeable battery, however the Spectra’s battery will last up to 3 hours in comparison to 2.5 hours for the Elvie.

Discretion

When it comes to discretion, the Elvie pump wins hands down.

The Elvie is a wearable pump design to easily fit inside your bra. There are no external tube or cords, so you can easily use this pump to express with ease on the go, or while you care for your child, or even sleep!

Whilst the Spectra is portable, it has external tubes that need to be connected between your pump and flange.

App

The Elvie comes with its own app so you can easily control your pump via bluetooth and your phone. This again can make using your pump extremely discreet.

The Spectra does not have an app.

Price

Neither the Elvie or S1 are cheap breast pumps, however the S1 is the cheaper option.

Final Thoughts on Spectra s1 vs Elvie

So, those are all the similarities and differences between the Spectra S1 and Elvie electric pumps – but which one is the better product?

Well that really does depend if you need a discrete pump or not.

Whilst the s1 is a great portable pump, it is not as discreet as the Elvie portable pump, which would be our top pick.

However if you’re looking for a pump with superior suction power for everyday pumping we would choose Spectra.

We hope this guide on Spectra breast pumps vs Elvie breast pumps has helped you decide which pump will best suit your needs.

And if you’re looking for more great guides, make sure to check out these guides on best mini fridge for breast milk, best bra for Elvie Pump and best pumping bra for Spectra. Or even our review on Elvie vs Willow.