While you can maintain good oral hygiene using a regular toothbrush, an electric toothbrush helps you achieve optimal brushing habits—and, it can motivate you to brush in the first place.I tested and evaluated over a dozen models, and tapped an expert for insights, to select the seven best electric toothbrushes of 2026.My top pick is the Oral-B iO Series 2, thanks to its blend of smart features and affordability.It’s built with a 2-minute timer and a pressure sensor, two capabilities that Dr.Tricia Quartey, a dentist and ADA spokesperson, strongly recommends.
The Oral-B iO Series 2 won as best electric toothbrush overall thanks to its combination of effective brushing, value and simple features.Using and charging it is straightforward, and the round head makes it easy to brush the whole surface area of each tooth.As the most basic option in Oral-B’s iO series line, this is the best choice I found for those looking for a brush with the key features you need: a pressure sensor and a two-minute timer.
Fuss-Free And Easy To Use
This brush is a cinch to use: Just turn it on and toggle between three modes using the main button.
It also features a red light to indicate if you’re brushing too hard.Though this brush doesn’t have an automatic shutoff function, it pulses every 30 seconds to remind you to move to a different quadrant of your mouth.
Firm Vibrations May Aggravate Sensitive Gums
The vibrations on the Oral-B brushes feel firmer compared to gentler brushes like the Pro-Sys Variosonic Plus+ or the Philips Sonicare line.You may prefer the Oral-B iO Series brushes if you like a deeper clean, but if you often experience sensitivity, you might want to opt for the Pro-Sys Variosonic Plus+, my top pick for sensitive gums.
Comes With A Convenient Dock And A Two-Year Warranty
While not as trendy-looking as some options on this list, the iO Series 2 comes in four colors, including green, white and black.The charger is a basic docking option that comes with a plug, meaning you can plug it in immediately instead of needing a separate charging brick.One downside: The toothbrush doesn’t come with a travel case.
Like all the iO Series brushes, this one is backed by a two-year warranty.
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The Oral-B iO Series 7 Deep Clean + Protect is the best smart toothbrush I tried, and it’s worth the price if you want a higher-tech toothbrush to motivate you to brush regularly.It was also the easiest smart toothbrush to use out of the ones I tested, allowing you to track your brushing for optimal cleaning.
Intuitive Technology That Makes Brushing Fun
Using the iO Series 7 Deep Clean + Protect toothbrush was a delight: It makes brushing feel like a luxury instead of a chore.The many customization options are intuitive, including the five brushing modes.Graphics on a small light-up screen on the front of the brush indicate each mode clearly and make the process of choosing a cleaning mode easier than toggling through each cycle.The timer on the iO Series 7 Deep Clean + Protect is also easy to understand, and large enough to see in a mirror or out of your peripheral vision.It shows a frowny face that gradually turns into a smiley face as you approach and then hit the two-minute mark.
Past two minutes, and the face yields starry eyes.The screen made brushing feel fun and like a little accomplishment.
Highly Responsive Pressure Sensor
This brush also had the most effective pressure sensor of any I tested.
A ring of light that surrounds the base of the brush head lights up if you’re pressing too hard.This makes it easy to see the indicator in the mirror or from multiple angles while you brush.I found this visual cue a helpful addition compared to brushes with less noticeable lights or ones that buzzed to indicate a pressure sensor.
Engaging App That Encourages Good Brushing Habits
Oral-B’s Bluetooth app is the best of any I tried.The app analyzes your brushing in real time, letting you know what areas you tend to skip over and where you tend to brush too hard.The brushing feedback was genuinely useful, fun and applicable; if you respond to this kind of gamification, you might find this feature will make the difference between good, regular brushing habits and not bothering to brush at all.
Comes With Useful Extras, Including A Travel Case
The iO Series 7 Deep Clean + Protect comes with two replacement brush heads, a travel case and a magnetic charger, which was sleeker and easier to clean than others on this list.
It also has a two-year warranty.The one downside to this brush is that it doesn’t automatically turn off—so if you aren’t paying attention, you may find yourself brushing well past the two-minute mark in pursuit of starry-eyed approval.
The Suri 2.0 Electric Toothbrush stands out from others I tested thanks to its sustainable design; it’s made to be either completely recycled or repaired.You can mail back brush heads in a bag that comes with your brush once you use four of them, and the company will recycle them into new brush heads.The bristles are made from castor oil, not plastic.
Pared-Down, Slender Design
This is a simple brush, without an app or many modes, though the newer version does have an automatic shutoff function.The oblong head is easy to maneuver, and the bristles feel soft.The vibration feels light and feathery, almost tickly, compared to stronger vibrations from brushes in Oral-B’s iO Series; the 2.0, the newer version of the Suri, has stronger pulses.This brush is also designed for portability: The base is slender, the smallest of any I tested.
The Suri 2.0 also comes with a sleek traveling case with a sterilizing UV light.
Lacks Advanced Features And A Charging Brick
That said, this toothbrush isn’t as advanced as some of the options on this list.It has only two modes, which don’t feature as many nuances compared to others I tested.The 2.0 version of this brush has an automatic shutoff function, a more stable charging dock, a toothbrush head cover and an upgraded travel case, which are nice improvements.
You will still need to supply your own charging brick to charge the brush (this was a common complaint among other brushes I tested, but for around $100, I would have liked to be able to just plug this in).
Holds Up Over Time With Proper Maintenance
The Suri 2.0 comes with a one-year warranty and is available in six colors.At time of publication, the brand has applied for ADA acceptance.Managing editor Emmy Favilla has been using this brush for seven months and reports that it’s held up well and has an impressive battery life.One downside: Toothpaste builds up under the brush head fairly frequently, and it needs to be wiped off to vibrate with maximum intensity.
If you want a brush with an automatic shutoff timer and a quadrant timer, go with the Philips Sonicare 4100.It’s affordable and simple to use but also includes handy features, like a charging indicator light and an LED reminder when it’s time to replace the brush head.
If you want an affordable brush and prefer a flat and oblong brush head, this is the option I recommend.
Soft Bristles That Access Hard-To-Reach Spots
The 4100’s brush head feels gentle yet effective; it’s a sonic one, meaning its shape is oblong and flat instead of round (like you’ll find on the Oral-B picks).It has a variety of bristle lengths and shapes, which makes it surprisingly good at getting into hard-to-reach spaces between teeth.It struck the best balance between being soft and still rigorous enough to make teeth feel refreshingly clean after brushing.The vibrations feel light and feathery compared to stronger pulses from the Oral-B brushes I tried.
Pressure Sensor Could Be Better
This brush may not be the best for those with sensitive gums, as the pressure sensor feature was more difficult to figure out compared to others I tested.
It’s harder to tell the difference between the pressure sensor and timer alerts, since the two indications are very similar, compared to brushes that feature visual cues, like the Oral-B iO brushes.
Overall, however, I think the Philips Sonicare 4100 is a great option if your main goal (or biggest struggle) is to establish a consistent two-minute, twice-a-day brushing routine.Also worth noting: It comes with a two-year warranty.At time of publication, the Sonicare 4100 does not have the ADA seal.
The Pro-Sys Variosonic Plus+ brush comes with several different brush heads in a range of textures to suit a variety of needs and sensitivities.
These brush heads were the softest of any I tried, so I recommend it for those with sensitive gums and teeth.
Five Modes For Personalized Brushing
This toothbrush has five brush head options, all of them various versions of “soft” (the very softest option felt maybe too soft), and five different brushing modes.In total, there are 25 possible combinations—the most of any toothbrush I tested.All five brush heads included with the ProSys VarioSonic Plus+ had the softest bristles of any brush heads I tried as well.The sonic brush heads are flat and oblong (similar to the Philips Sonicare brushes) instead of round and small, and the brush has a lighter, more feathery feeling.
Gentle Yet Effective In Cleaning Teeth
The multiple brushing modes and heads make it easy to adjust for the gentlest possible brushing experience while still being effective at teeth cleaning.(Quartey’s main advice, in addition to seeking an ADA-approved toothbrush, was to opt for one with soft bristles.Both Quartey and Mark S.
Wolff, DDS, PhD warned against brushing too aggressively.) The different modes each get their own button, too, making it easy to tell how to change between them.In my testing, these different brush heads and brushing modes were even more helpful for achieving gentle brushing than the addition of a pressure sensor.
Tall Design May Not Accommodate All Cabinet Shelves
This is the tallest electric toothbrush I tested, measuring 10 inches high and 11 inches on its charging base, making it harder to stash in a medicine cabinet or pack while traveling.It’s also not quite as stylish as some others I tested, but that may not matter to you as much.At time of publication, the VarioSonic Plus+ does not have the ADA seal.
The Philips Sonicare Prestige 9900 is the fanciest electric toothbrush I tested.With its matte metallic finish, elevated travel case and well-designed app, everything about this brush feels sophisticated.In my tests, this toothbrush brought a touch of luxury to the everyday routine of brushing teeth.
Sleek, High-End Appearance And Feel
The Prestige 9900’s handle has a silky-smooth matte finish, available in Navy, Champagne and Pink color options.
The coordinating leatherette travel case combines form and function: It acts as a charging case, so you don’t need to pack the dock or charger on the go.Compared to others I tested, the charging base also stood out as being one of the sleekest-looking and easiest to clean, thanks to a removable frosted cover that doesn’t let water or gunk pool at the base.
Brush Head Is On The Larger Side
The sonic head’s bristles are soft, yet strong enough to provide a thorough clean.The head is slightly larger compared to the other Sonicare brush I tried and the round-style Oral-B brush heads, so just keep this in mind if you prefer a smaller toothbrush.At time of publication, the Prestige 9900 does not have the ADA seal.
Excellent App That Improves Your Brushing Game
My favorite feature on this brush is the Sonicare app, which takes advantage of the brush’s built-in sensors to provide live feedback on your brushing coverage and intensity—even reminding you to move the brush less and let the bristles work more.
After the two-minute brushing cycle was completed, the app prompted me to revisit neglected areas.
Buying a high-end toothbrush like the Sonicare Prestige 9900 isn’t a necessity, but it is worthwhile if you’ll take advantage of the brush’s advanced features and if you frequently travel.
It also makes great eye candy for your bathroom counter.
For a basic, ADA-approved battery-powered brush, the steadfast Quip Sonic is my top recommendation.It uses a single AAA battery that needs to be replaced about every three months.If you opt for Quip’s brush head refill program, the brand will send you a new battery, so you can ensure that you keep up with regular battery replacement.
Uncomplicated Brush With A Two-Minute Timer
This super-simple option looks and feels similar to a manual toothbrush (you can also upgrade to a sleek, sturdy metal handle for an extra $5 at time of publication).The oblong brush head has a combination of soft bristles and rubber fingers to effectively brush the contours of your teeth, and it delivers a pleasant brushing experience.It also has key features, like a two-minute timer (with 30-second pacing beeps) and a pressure sensor.
Vibrations Aren’t As Strong As Rechargeable Options
The only downside to this brush is that its vibrations aren’t nearly as powerful as the other rechargeable toothbrushes I tested; you may need to work a little harder to dislodge debris.That said, this brush also doesn’t have a pressure sensor, so you should be careful not to apply too much pressure.And if an app is important to you, an upgraded Bluetooth-capable brush is an option, and the Quip app will keep tabs on your brushing habits.
Other Electric Toothbrushes We Tested
Here are the toothbrushes that didn’t make the cut in my testing process.
Three models didn’t land on the final list but may end up fitting your specific needs; two of these options I simply don’t recommend (more on that below).
Other Electric Toothbrushes Worth Considering
Quip Rev Oscillating Toothbrush: The Quip Rev worked well in my tests, and if you want a basic, attractive toothbrush, this is a great option.Overall, I preferred the comparableOral-B iO Series 2, which has brush heads with varied bristles and stronger pressure modes that gave me a deeper-feeling clean.Oral-B iO Series 5: This is a great toothbrush in Oral-B’s iO series, but it doesn’t have the upgraded features of the Series 7 that I love, like the screen or circular ring light that indicates pressure.Oral-B Pro 500: This basic electric toothbrush is equipped with two brushing modes and a two-minute timer, punctuated by 30-second intervals to keep you moving at an even pace during your brushing routine.I like its grippy, rubberized handle, but it lacks a pressure sensor and the motor is noisy.
Other Electric Toothbrushes I Don’t Recommend
Quip Ultra Next Generation Smart Sonic Electric Toothbrush:While this model looks sleek and has a comfortable silicone handle, I found the touch bar hard to use.It’s also more difficult to replace the brush head on the Quip Ultra compared to other brushes I tested.Hum By Colgate Electric Toothbrush: This toothbrush had a too-small handle that was difficult to grip, uncomfortable brush head bristles and few customization options.
It was also louder than other brushes I tested.
Electric Toothbrushes We Plan On Testing Next
Since the initial publication of this article, several new electric toothbrushes have arrived on the market.Here are the two models we plan on evaluating next:
Philips Sonicare Next-Generation DiamondClean 9900 Prestige: Arriving in September 2026, this upgraded version of the9900 Prestigewill have an on-device Mouth Map and real-time light ring guidance, powered by AI.The toothbrush will have eight cleaning modes and three intensity levels.Oral-B iO Series 9: This model features iO Magnetic Technology, which creates micro-vibrations that combine with the rotating brush head for a deeper clean.It has seven cleaning modes, an interactive color display and smart brushing recognition through the accompanying mobile app.
How I Tested The Best Electric Toothbrushes
I used each brush in real life to see how well it fit into a daily oral hygiene routine.
During testing, I considered ease of use, whether toothbrushes had automatic timers, how many modes a toothbrush had and ease of use of corresponding apps, among other features.
Ease Of Use
To test how simple it was to use each toothbrush, I experimented with changing modes and brush heads, and noted whether the controls and displays were intuitive to understand.While brushing, I assessed the ergonomics of each brush, including how it felt to hold it, how heavy it was and how easily I could maneuver a brush around my mouth.I also considered the softness and shape of bristles as well as how comfortable they were to use for people with sensitive gums.
Extra Features
Some brushes have extra features, and I tested all of these to gauge how effective and easy to use they were.Most electric toothbrushes I tried have two key ones: a timer and a pressure sensor.
– Timer: I looked for timers that made it effortless to keep brushing for the dentist-recommended two minutes each time and for additional alerts, like an automatic shutoff.I also considered charger design and whether brushes came with travel cases or hygiene caps for easy transport.
– Pressure sensor: For pressure sensors, which alert you if you’re brushing too hard, I observed how effective alerts were, how easy they were to understand and whether they were distinct from the timers.
Finally, I closely evaluated ease of cleaning, battery life and portability, as well as the warranty options for each toothbrush.
ADA Approval
While most brushes in my testing pool are approved by the American Dental Association (ADA), some brands—even major ones, like Philips Sonicare—do not have the seal (and some, like the Suri toothbrush, are applying for it at time of publication).To get the seal, scientists test these brushes to ensure they meet the rigorous standards set by the ADA’s Council on Scientific Affairs.The ADA maintains a list of accepted toothbrushes, and I’ve noted whether my picks have this seal or not.
How To Pick The Best Electric Toothbrush
There are many excellent electric toothbrushes to choose from, but—as the experts I spoke with told me—the best electric toothbrush is ultimately one that will get you to brush consistently for two minutes twice a day.Here are some factors to consider when picking the best electric toothbrush for your needs.
Brush Head Shape
In general, electric toothbrushes fit into one of two categories:
– Rotary: Rotary electric toothbrushes have round brush heads that spin and pulsate to clear away plaque and dislodge food debris.The circular shape of the brush head allows you to clean your teeth from all sides, making this type of electric toothbrush ideal for deeper cleaning.
In my testing, I found that rotating brush heads can run louder than sonic brush heads, and the sensation of the brush hitting your teeth is a bit more intense.
– Sonic: These flat, oblong brush heads use high-frequency vibrations to break up plaque and dislodge food instead of using a rotating or oscillating motion.Sonic toothbrushes can cover more tooth space with greater ease, but they may not get into as many nooks and crannies as round brushes.According to Quartey, sonic toothbrushes move a lot faster, and can help people with dexterity issues reach certain areas of their mouths.
Special Features And Extras
When it comes to features, look for ones that will make you more likely to reach for the brush each morning and evening.
– Timers: While testing, I found that the timer was by far the most important feature.
– Travel case: A dedicated travel case protects your electric toothbrush while in transit.Some brushes I tried even had charging travel cases, eliminating the need to pack a plug-in charger for travel.
– Pressure sensors: Many toothbrushes include pressure sensors, too, to indicate whether you’re pressing too hard, too softly, or just right, and these vary in effectiveness.Wolff emphasizes that a pressure sensor can help people who may be brushing too hard.“That’s incredibly important, because if you over aggressively brush, you’ll damage your teeth at the same exact moment,” he says.
– Mobile app: Several brushes I tested can be paired with an app, which tracks your daily habits, as well as monitor the areas where you’re brushing to ensure you’re cleaning your full mouth.
While not everyone may need an app, they can be helpful tools for motivating you to brush since they gamify the habit.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, we’re dedicated to testing and recommending the best products across a wide range of beauty and personal products, including those that pertain to wellness and self-care.
– We’ve covered dental hygiene-specific topics including the
best teeth whitening kitsand thebest whitening products for sensitive teeth.- This story was written by senior reviews editor
Anna Perling, who guides Forbes Vetted’s tested content.
Perling has been testing and reporting on products for over eight years; relatedly, she’s reviewed thebest water flossersafter a rigorous research and testing process (among other household items).- Deputy editor
Jane Sungedited and reviewed this article.
Sung oversees the beauty and grooming vertical, and has covered beauty and wellness for over two decades.- In August 2026, this article was last refreshed by beauty writer
Claire Epting, who performs the majority of updates for this guide.Epting has five years’ experience as a lifestyle writer and product tester.
Our Experts
Tricia Quartey, DMD, FAGD, CEO of Noble Dental Care and ADA spokespersonMark S.Wolff, DDS, PhD, Morton Amsterdam dean and professor of the division of restorative dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania
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