Medela Freestyle Flex Vs Swing Maxi
Are you trying to decide between Medela Freestyle Flex vs Swing Maxi?
Then let us help you decide which is best breast pump for you and your baby with our Medela Swing vs Freestyle review!
Purchasing a new breast pump might not be the most exciting part of raising a newborn, but it can be one of the most confusing!
Most pumps work in very similar ways, with only a few small features setting them apart.
But when you’re a busy mom, those few features can make all the difference.
Medela is one of the most popular and recognized breast pump manufacturers, creating quality pumps for all sorts of parents.
Two of their bestsellers are the Freestyle Flex and Swing Maxi. Designed to fit into everyday life, it can be hard to choose between the two.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of the Medela Freestyle Flex and Swing Maxi, and see which one comes out on top.
And if you love this Medela Swing Maxi vs Freestyle breast pump comparisons guide, make sure to check out our guides on Medela Freestyle vs Spectra S2, Medela Freestyle vs Pump In Style, and Medela Pump In Style vs Spectra S2. Or even our review on Medela Freestyle vs Freestyle Flex.
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Medela Freestyle Flex Vs Swing Maxi
Let’s dive in and take a look what is the difference between Medela Swing Maxi Flex vs Freestyle.
About The Medela Freestyle Flex
The Medela Freestyle Flex is a double sided, electric breast pump that came first on the market back in 2002.
It is designed to be portable and convenient for part-time pumpers or moms that are always on the go and need a breast pump that can allow them to pump at the most opportune time, no matter where they are.
It features a rechargeable ion battery which means that it is super easy to pump hands free. The built-in rechargeable battery that lasts for up to eight double-pumping sessions from a full charge, so you can rest assured when you’re out and about and have the sudden need to pump discreetly.
The Medela Freestyle Flex breast pump is also incredibly lightweight, weighing only 1lbs. This makes it super convenient to pop into your bag and travel around with.
This breast pump is for daily use for women who consistently pump throughout the day. This is made super easy thanks to its patented 2-Phase Expression Technology which produces more milk in less time.
The Medela Freestyle Flex breast pump includes 2 sizes of PersonalFit Flex breast shields with a super soft rim to make the pumping experience as comfortable as possible.
With a modern design and an easy to use digital display, The Freestyle Flex also features back lighting for when you’re pumping at night.
This pump conveniently connects to the free Medela Family app, which allows you to track your pumping progress.
A downside to this breast pump is that a few women claim that the suction begins to reduce after only a few months of use.
You can read more in our full Medela Freestyle Flex review.
All About The Medela Swing Maxi
The Swing Maxi is a double electric breast pump by Medela. Like the Freestyle Flex, it’s designed to fit easily into the life of busy parents, as it’s compact and very portable.
The Swing Maxi come with Medela’s patented 2-Phase Expression Technology which produces more milk in less time by mimicking your baby’s natural sucking rhythms – fast to stimulate milk flow, then slower to provide optimal milk flow.
It comes with the PersonalFit Flex breast shields for increased comfort and increase milk supply.
As far as potability goes, the built-in battery will last for up to 6 pumping sessions on one full charge. Battery charging is done through a USB type C port for faster charging. This is also a handy feature if you want to use it whilst travelling.
The interface does not have a a display, but does come with nine pre-programmed settings which means that you can easily choose and control with the help of four easy-to-use buttons.
As it is a closed system and only has a few parts it is easy to clean.
The latest Swing Maxi is also noticeably quieter than previous models with only a 45 dB at the Maximum Vacuum Level.
Similarities and Difference between medela swing vs freestyle
Battery
Both the swing and flex are designed to be portable, as such they have an in-built rechargeable ion battery.
The Swing Maxi battery will last for up to 6 pumping sessions on one full charge.
However, the Flex battery that lasts for up to eight double-pumping sessions from a full charge.
Battery charging for both pumps is done through a USB type C port for faster charging.
Suction
When it comes to suction strength both pumps are very similar.
The Medela Flex has a suction strength of 250 mmHg whilst the Maxi has a suction strength of 245 mmHg.
But where they differ is in the suction settings.
The Medela Flex comes with an illuminated digital control panel which allows you to start or pause pumping, switch expression mode, and adjust vacuum levels. You can also activate a Delay start function via the panel – this feature gives you ten seconds before Freestyle Flex starts, which is particularly useful if double pumping, as it leaves your hands free to put breast shields in place without rushing.
On the other hand, the Medela Swing Maxi comes with nine pre-programmed settings which are controlled with the help of four easy-to-use buttons.
Connectivity & App
One of the best features of the Freestyle Flex is that you can connect it to your smart phone via bluetooth and the Medela Family App.
The app is fantastic for tracking your pumping sessions and settings as well as recording how much milk you have expressed. This can be a big bonus when you are new to pumping.
You can also track a bunch of other things in the Medela Family App including your baby’s development.
The Swing maxi can not connect to the app.
Price
Whilst neither of these pumps are considered budget, the Medela swing is more affordable.
However the increase price of the Medela Freestyle can be justified by its increase features such as battery life, display and settings, and app connectivity.
Final Thoughts on medela swing maxi vs freestyle
Although both breast pumps are great portably breast pumps, overall we prefer the Freestyle Flex.
Not only does the battery life allow for 2 additional pumping sessions, but the increased control over your pumping session and Bluetooth connectivity to the Medela Family App make it the clear winner for us.
We hope this guide has been helping in helping you choose which pump is best for you and your baby.
And if you’re looking for more great guides, make sure to check out these guides on best electric breast pumps, how often should I be pumping?, and best breastmilk storage bags.
