Lansinoh Breast Pumps vs. Medela: Pros and Cons

There are many proven benefits to breastfeeding. These include protecting the baby against short- and long-term illnesses and diseases. It also is healthy for the mother, lowering her risk of high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer

Breastfeeding can also be a challenge. For this reason, choosing the right breast pump is vital. Yet there are so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start.

In the end, the best breast pump is the one that meets your personal lifestyle preferences and budget. However, beyond those constraints, there are some basic things to look for. 

If you are in the market for a breast pump, you have probably come across the names Lansinoh and Medela. They are some of the most well-known and trusted brands available today, but there are different advantages to each brand.

Below is a comparison of the Lansinoh and Medela lines of breast pumps. Keep reading to see which one might be the best fit for you.

What They Have in Common

There are many commonalities between the two brands. While these attributes are shared by Lansinoh and Medela breast pumps, they also are what sets them apart from many other pump companies.

History of Quality

The concept for Lansinoh began in 1978 with a breastfeeding mom in Portland, Oregon, who was unable to find pumps that did not cause her extreme pain. She got relief from pure lanolin, although it was difficult to find in local stores.

She began Lansinoh in 1984 with the mission to provide breastfeeding women an alternative to the highly cosmetic commercial products that were widespread at the time.

Medela is a Swiss company that has been around for more than 60 years. In addition to research, they base many of their production decisions on customer feedback. This has resulted in a wide variety of products to accommodate almost any breast pumping needs.

Ease of Use

Each Lansinah and Medela breast pump is efficient and easy to use. Their electric pumps provide hospital-caliber pumping for optimal output. Both brands incorporate adjustable speeds and multiple-state expression that mimics a baby’s feeding motions and rhythms.

BPA Free and Dishwasher Safe

Besides being high-quality, all Lansinoh and Medela pumps are extremely easy to use and keep clean. All their equipment is BPA and BPS-free and dishwasher-safe.

Also, all Lansinoh and Medela pumps feature closed systems. This means breast milk cannot back up into the tubing, keeping it free of bacteria and other contaminants.

Pump Features

Both Lansinoh and Medela offer pumps with smartphone integration and a stand-alone app. This feature is handy for tracking output and scheduling reminders for pumping.

Hand Pumps

Both Lansinoh and Medela make quality manual breast pumps. They each have handles and mechanisms that make expressing milk effortless and efficient. This can cut down on hand fatigue while maximizing output.

Where They Differ

There are only a handful of differences between the two companies. Here are a few of the main ones to consider.

Compatibility

In general, Lansinoh is more compatible with accessories from other companies, including hoses. This is less so the case with Medela. If you need a replacement part or accessory, be sure that this is also a Medela to ensure compatibility.

Not that this does not mean Lansinoh always works with components and accessories from every brand. It may be a matter of trial and error to see if a particular part is compatible.

Selection

The biggest difference between these two companies is the number of pumps they make available. Here is a breakdown.

Lansinoh

In general, Lansinoh has a much more limited selection. This is not necessarily a deficit, because the pumps they offer cover almost every need or scenario.

The Lansinoh manual pump is a solid device. They also offer two electric, with two different versions of one model. All their pumps have patented ComfortFit flanges for comfort and efficiency.

Their basic pump is the Signature Pro. It is a double electric with adjustable, hospital-grade performance. It has an LCD screen that is easy to read in low light and is quite affordable for a basic but reliable and effective pump.

Lansinoh's Smartpump 3.0 adds the ability to sync pumping with the company’s smartphone app. The 2.0 version has the option of using the power adapter or 6 AA batteries for cordless pumping. The 3.0 comes upgraded with a long-lasting, rechargeable battery.

One of the nicest features of these machines is that you can pump directly into the storage bags. This can save lots of time you would otherwise spend on transferring and cleaning an extra set of containers.

Medela

Medela also offers standard electric (the Swing Flex and Maxi lines) and manual pumps. These include both double and single options in the electric version. All of their pumps come with PersonalFit Flex breast shields, which increases comfort and production.

If you are looking for other options, including a wearable breast pump, Medela comes out ahead. Their Freestyle Flex, for instance, is one of its most portable pumps. It is a dual breast pump that connects to Medela’s tracking app, which also includes reminders for pumping.

The Freestyle Hands-free is the company’s smallest pump. As the name suggests, it is also wearable. 

The pump itself is a separate unit, so you can wear the lightweight collection cups under your bra for discreet and on-the-go pumping. It comes with a built-in USB rechargeable battery.

Price

Across the board, you will find Lansinoh to be a more economical choice. Many reviewers claim that the design and quality (as well as expanded options) of Medela makes them worth the extra money. Others insist the difference is negligible.

Learn More About Lansinoh and Medela Breast Pumps

Now that you know the ins and outs of Lansinah vs. Medala breast pumps, you can determine which is right for you. Both make quality products that can help you achieve your breast-pumping goals.

At Natural Way, we are here to walk you through every step of the breastfeeding journey. We also specialize in helping new and expectant moms leverage health-insurance coverage for their breast pumps, accessories, and anything else they need to ensure their babies are healthy and happy.  Fill out a few questions  online to get started.

About the Author

Cindy Puppos is 1 Natural Way's Customer Service Manager, so she has a good idea of all the different and wonderful questions that moms have for her team. Thankfully, as the mother of two boys (who are now grown!) and a veteran of the company and breastfeeding, Cindy is always knowledgeable about breastfeeding, pumping and all the latest and greatest pumps!