Willow Go Breast Pump Review – From an Exclusive Pumper

Hannah on April 2, 2022

Have you been in the market for an affordable wearable hands-free breast pump? Good news, the brand new Willow Go breast pump just hit the market in 2022 and it might check off all the boxes you were looking for when picking out the best breast pump.

If you’ve had your eye on the Willow 3.0 but you weren’t a fan of the $499 price tag, you are not alone. Willow Go cost $329 and is covered by most insurance companies. Click here to see how much your insurance will cover, it is super easy and takes less than 30 seconds.

If you are a first-time mom one of the best things you invest in is a wearable breast pump. The freedom hands-free breast pumps give you is worth every penny. You won’t want to be chained to the wall pumping when you have a newborn. Traditional pumps like Spectra make it nearly impossible to hold a baby while pumping.  I suggest putting it on your baby registry.

With both my children I exclusively pumped, it worked best for my family. During the first 2 months, I was pumping 8-10 times a day, and I could have never done it if I didn’t have a wearable breast pump.

When the Willow Go was announced I had to try it out. I have six breast pumps, so what is another one lol! I currently own the Spectra S2, Spectra Gold Synergy, original Elvie pump, Elvie Stride, Willow 3.0, and now the Willow Go. With my first child, I had the original Elvie pump, and with my second child I had

How much does the Willow Go Breast Pump cost?

The Willow Go costs $329 if you pay out of pocket BUT you should check with your health insurance to see if they will cover any or the entire amount. Click here to see if your insurance will cover a portion.

Does insurance cover the Willow Go Breast Pump?

Yes, if you have health insurance they may cover a portion or all of the cost. Make sure to read our how to get a free breast pump through health insurance article. It literally only takes 20 seconds to fill out the information and they will let you know via email how much it will cost you.

My insurance offered me a free breast pump each pregnancy, and my children are born 20 months apart. Some insurances have a minimum amount of time between births. My insurance also gave me free options and then other breast pump upgrade options in which the Willow breast pump was an option. Just check with your insurance and see what your free breast pump options are.

Where can you buy the Willow Go?

There are several retail stores that sell it and durable medical equipment companies (DME). I would suggest purchasing it from one of these vendors, I would not purchase it from Amazon (there are just certain things and dollar amounts I try and avoid purchasing from Amazon).

Willow Go Breast Pump Pros

  • Portable, no longer chained to the wall
  • Wireless pumping
  • Price of $329 vs Willow 3.0 which is $499
  • Insurance approved, click here to see your cost
  • Hospital-grade strength up to 280 mmHg
  • Battery last long (average 5 pumps)
  • Stimulation & Expressions modes
  • Quick charge, 90 minute charge time
  • Dishwasher safe & reusable cups (no bags)
  • Up to 14 oz milk capacity (must purchase the 7 oz cups)
  • Track pump sessions in the Willow app

Willow Go Breast Pump Cons

  • Not 360-degree mobility (you cannot sleep while wearing it, while you can sleep in the Willow 3.0)
  • 5 parts to clean
  • Cannot control the pump via the app
  • Rather large and make you look very busty

Is the Willow Go Breast pump worth it?

In my opinion, yes. I personally wouldn’t be able to pump 8+ times a day if I were using a traditional walled pump like a Medela or Spectra, both or great pumps I couldn’t just sit there like that. You are able to hold your baby while pumping with the Willow Go, you can’t with other pumps.

Is Willow Go Pump a hospital grade?

The Willow Go has hospital-grade suction that is up to 280 mmHg and is considered a hospital-grade breast pump.

Is the Willow Go Pump noticeable while wearing it?

No beating around the bush here, yes it is noticeable. If you are wearing a tank top like the above, you will see it peeking out the top, and overall it will make you very busty. If you were wearing a hoodie you wouldn’t notice, but it would be very hard to put it on and take it off wearing that. I usually pump while wearing a v-neck tank/shirt.

How loud is the Willow Go Pump?

It is not completely silent, but I think it is quieter than my Spectra S2. It is a little louder than my Elive OG but very comparable with the Elvie Stride.

If you are in an office environment, you won’t hear it at all over the standard office noise.

Willow Go Breast pump Spec

  • Weight: 0.85 lb
  • Dimensions: 3.1″(L) x 4.7″(W)X5.3″(H)

What’s in the box?

  • 2 pumps
  • 2 flanges (21 mm)
  • 2 flanges (24 mm)
  • 2 container bowls (5 oz capacity)
  • 2 container backs
  • 2 pump diaphragms
  • 2 duckbill valves
  • 2 USB charging cables

How often do you have to replace Willow breast pump parts?

How often you should replace the pump parts will vary based on how often you pump and usage. If you are an exclusive pumper Willow suggests you should replace pump parts every 3 months in order to have optimal pumping.

You can order replacement parts directly on Willow’s website here:

I don’t suggest ordering them on Amazon, there are just too many fakes out there. I would however be okay with inserts from Amazon.

How long does the Willow Go breast pump battery last and take to charge?

The battery charges rather quickly, on average for me it is about a 90-minute charge.

Cleaning the Willow Go pump

There are five parts to clean on the Willow Go after every use, which is three more than the Willow 3.0 pump. I typically just wash the parts by hand but they are dishwasher safe. If you do put Willow parts in the dishwasher I suggest putting them on the top shelf in a basket like this, if one of the parts falls down it will melt, and then it is not good.

Other FAQ about the Willow Go Breast Pump

Can you sleep with the Willow Go pump?

No, you cannot sleep in the Willow Go, it doesn’t have the 360 degrees of motion as the Willow 3.0 does. But honestly, I would never sleep while wearing a breast pump anyway so this didn’t affect my decision when purchasing. I have fallen asleep pumping but I was sitting upright in my bed pumping.

Does the Willow Go pump work on large breasts?

Yes, if you have large breasts you should have no problem, the pump was designed to go up to H cup size.

Does the Willow Go pump work on small breasts?

Yes, if you are like me and have small breasts, the Willow Go will work fine.

Does the Willow Go pump hurt?

No. I personally don’t think pumping ever really hurts except for those first few pumps and when you have mastitis or cracked nipples. I never had cracked nipples or bleeding nipples, I know I should count myself as lucky. When pumping with the Willow Go it feels just like my Elive pumps.

Which has stronger suction Willow 3.0 or the Willow Go?

At suction up to 280 mmHg the Willow Go is stronger than the Willow 3.0 which is 245 mmHg.

How many ounces of Breast Milk does the Willow Go hold?

There are two sizes of collection cups. The collection cups that come with the pump are 5 ounces each for a total of 10 ounces for each pump session. You can purchase 7-ounce collection cups, for a total of 14 ounces for each pump session. I personally never needed more than a 5-ounce cup, I am not an overproducer but if you are you should consider buying the 7-ounce collection cups.

Which is quieter Willow 3.0 or Willow Go pump?

I think the Willow Go is quieter than the Willow 3.0 pump.

Willow Go vs Elvie Stride?

I have both the Willow Go and the Elive Stride. The Elvie Stride came out a few months before the Willow Go, so it’s been on the market longer but I think the Willow Go wins.

  • Stronger
  • Parts are easier to come by and they are much cheaper than Elive Stride parts.
  • NO WIRES, this is the biggest winning factor for me. The Elvie Stride is wearable but there are still wires (even though hidden under your shirt).

Other Must-Have Items for Breastfeeding & Exclusively Pumping Mothers

  • Best Willow Go Pumping Bra – I have tried a TON of pumping bras, for me super tight ones work. If I am in a pinch a sports bra will work. You can often get good deals on their website. 
  • Best Bottle Drying Rack – I love this one because it folds down well and is compact. I own four of them, one in my suitcase, two in my kitchen, and one in my cabin.
  • Nipple Cream – You will want to put this on every time, and some ladies also put it on before pumping too. 
  • LaVie warming Lactation Massager – This massages and warms the breasts, which helps improve milk flow and makes pumping faster. I also found that it helps with clogged ducts and engorgement. I didn’t have these during my first pregnancy and wish I did. You can purchase these in a two-pack or a single one. I have the two-pack, so I can do each side at the same time.
  • Breast pads – Honestly any brand will work, I linked the most popular ones. I only leak if I come home after being away from the baby or I overslept…
  • Hot & Cold therapy packs – These are a most, and not even $10. You will want to have these when your milk comes in. I like these ones because they can be used cold from the freezer or heated up in the microwave hot. 
  • Clogged Duct Relief – Take this daily before you even have a clogged duct. Prevent them if you can! Legendairy Milk sunflower lecithin was what helped me when I had a clogged duct, I got the recommendation from a friend. I started using it daily after my first clogged duct. 
  • Help increase milk production – If you are an under producer or just an enougher you might want to look into taking Legendairy Milk Liquid Gold. It helps increase milk supply, it helped me. 
  • Breast milk storage bags – I mainly used Dr. Brown’s breast milk bags, but I used a ton of bags. The only bags I didn’t like at all were these Nanobebe breastmilk bags, they did not freeze good or flat at all I ended up throwing most of them away. 
  • Haaka – This thing really does work, and it is super cheap. I often found myself leaking as soon as I got out of the shower and always leaking when breastfeeding. The Haaka is super easy to throw on while breastfeeding. 
  • Cheap Bottle Warmer –  I have three of these as well. One in my kitchen, one in my suitcase, and one at our cabin. This one works so much better than the expensive one. Once you start supplementing or using 100% formula I cannot recommend the Baby Breeza enough. This is like a Keurig for formula but faster. My husband says it is in his top 3 baby products. I have two, one in my bedroom and one in my kitchen.
  • Sterilizer Bags – There are many brands that make sterilizer bags, and they all have been fine for me. I sterilize all new bottles, pacifiers, and always when traveling. Note, that each bag can be used twenty times, they are not single use.