Willow Go review: Why this wearable breast pump is a yes for me

I’ll cut straight to the chase—I love my Willow Go. I love it so much I’m writing this review while my six-week-old infant snoozes on my lap, because I don’t want to forget why I love it. But I don’t think it’s for everyone. So, my Willow Go review is here to help you decide… Is this the pump for you? 

Read straight through or jump to what you need:

• What’s in the box?
• Willow Go pros
• Willow Go cons
• My take on the Willow app
• Is it actually discreet?
• Willow Go vs. Willow 360
• How much does it cost?

Editor’s note: Is Fathercraft the best site to write a review on breast pumps? Fair question. We want to create content that’s helpful for all parents. So, for gear like the Willow Go (which we can’t test personally), we get help from trusted friends of Fathercraft. Also, Fathercraft is reader-supported, meaning, at no cost to you, we may earn a commission if you buy after clicking an affiliate link. Learn more.

Willow Go: My go-to as a casual pumper

I expected to recommend this wearable to the exclusive or nearly-exclusive pumper. But what I found is that it was perfect for me—a casual, once-or-twice-per-day pumper. 

So before I dig into why I recommend the Willow Go, I think it’s important for you to know a bit more about me.

I mostly stay at home with my three-year-old and six-week-old daughters, so I usually nurse my infant straight from the tap. I pump to maintain a small freezer stash in case she needs a bottle and to occasionally relieve engorgement if she actually sleeps. So, once or twice per day. 

I’ve been down the breastfeeding road before, and I used a traditional pump that plugs into the wall. This worked well when I had one kid… but I truly don’t think I’d pump at all this time around if I had to plug myself into the wall. 

I’ll detail all the pros and cons, but my bottom line is this:

The specs

The Willow Go is Willow’s bestselling pump, outperforming the company’s pricier offering, the Willow 360 (read our Willow 360 review here). Like Willow’s 360 pump, the Willow Go is a wearable, cordless breast pump. So, you can pump while walking around, doing the dishes, pretending to be Elsa with your three-year-old, etc., etc. 

Key features

• Wearable and cordless
• 15 levels of hospital-grade suction 
• Control with an app or the buttons on the wearables
• Collect up to 5oz per side
• Rechargeable battery
• Dishwasher safe
• FDA-approved and BPA-free

What’s in the box

• 2 Willow Go pumps
• 2 21mm flanges
• 2 24mm flanges
• 2 reusable breast milk containers 
• 2 container backs
• 2 pump diaphragms
• 2 duckbill valves
• 2 USB charging cables (note: does not include the power adapter, aka the charging block)

The box also comes with some helpful resources, including a quick start instruction manual and a nipple sizing guide. The sizing guide is especially helpful for figuring out what size flange to use and/or if you need to order an insert.

My Willow Go review

Here’s what I loved and what I would have changed:

The Willow Go pros

Suctions well for me:

One common complaint with wearable pumps is the weaker suction. I’m not sure if the Willow Go actually feels hospital-grade, but I’m able to easily pump what I need—and fast! Some of this is likely due to subjective factors like milk supply, but I personally get 4-5oz in less than 10 minutes. 

Cleans easily once you get the hang of it:

It took me a couple of tries to get the hang of reassembling the pump, but once I got it, it was easy. The parts are easy to clean by hand, but you don’t even have to do that—and they’re dishwasher-safe. 

Charges fast:

I can fully charge the pump in between pumping sessions, which is nice. The Willow website says the charge lasts up to three pumps, and I found this to be true. 

Cheaper than the Willow 360:

This pump is $150 cheaper than the Willow 360, and it seems to have a better reputation. If you have insurance, you can likely get some of the $350 cost taken care of (up to 40%, according to the Willow website).  

Not connected to the wall:

The most obvious Willow Go pro… you’re not connected to the wall. Truthfully, I underestimated how valuable this would be to me as a second-time mom. Of course, there are other wearables out there. But I know this one works.

Willow Go cons

Easy to place incorrectly:

Sometimes I have a hard time getting the pump placed correctly so that it will “latch.” To be honest, I’m sure Willow’s care team could help me out with tips or a different-sized flange, but I have a six-week-old baby so that feels like a hassle to even go through those steps when it works correctly most of the time. You’ll just have to pay attention to whether or not it’s latched (or be better than me and contact the customer care team). I wish they’d send more flange sizes or inserts in the box. 

I also noticed that sometimes the duck valve will dislodge during assembly, which impacts suction. So, you have to watch out for that, too.

Tough to pour out the milk without spilling it:

The Willow Go collects milk into reusable cups that have a small hole at the top, which you use to pour out the milk. It’s actually kind of tough to get the milk out without spilling some of it, especially if you prefer to pour the milk directly into freezer bags (which I do). With some practice, I figured out how to get this right 98.7% of the time (give or take). I included an (awkward) video below of what this typically looks like.

Would suck to forget to charge it:

To be fair, this a con for all wearables. But if you’ve left for the day and need the charger, you’re in a tough spot. 

More notes on the Willow Go

The Willow app

… I never use it. 

The Willow Go is compatible with the Willow app, but I basically set it up and never used it again. If you want to see your suction level or the exact amount of time you’ve been pumping, you’ll need the app. You can also control the pumps from the app. Personally, I prefer just to use the physical buttons built into the pump. 

After a few tries, I knew that turning the pump on, and pressing the “plus” button four times does the trick for me. 

Discretion

Is the Willow Go discreet? It’s all relative, friend. 

I’ve seen the Willow pumps get knocked because they’re not as discreet as advertised. But I think the people who claim this have never had a traditional pump hanging off their chest. There’s nothing discreet about that. I actually remember pumping in the bathroom at a wedding reception when I was nursing my first kid, because the traditional pump would have felt awkward to me. 

On the other hand, I comfortably pump with the Willow Go basically anywhere I need to pump. I would have 100% pumped at that wedding reception, probably on the dance floor (but not while dancing too aggressively, because no one likes spilled milk). 

Fun fact: My nurse was pumping with a Willow when I was in labor. I had no idea until she told me. 

Willow Go vs. Willow 360 (formerly Willow 3.0) 

The Willow Go and Willow 360 are both cordless, wearable breast pumps. So, what’s the difference?

For $150 more, the Willow 360 offers a few more bells and whistles. It’s supposed to be leakproof from any angle, meaning you could, in theory, lay down and pump (but our Willow 360 tester didn’t quite find this to be true). You can also pump directly into single-use freezer bags with the 360, which was a strong point for us at Fathercraft. 

That said, the Willow 360 is expensive, especially if you don’t have insurance, and the bags add to that cost. The Willow Go also seems to have a better reputation online, because some people have found the 360’s smart technology doesn’t always work (and it doesn’t come with physical buttons, like the Go). 

P.S. Curious about the Elvie? Check out our Elvie pump review here.

Pricing and where to buy

Price: $350 

You can purchase the Willow Go directly from the Willow website, as well as a handful of third-party retailers. At the time of writing, the Willow Go is listed for $322 on Amazon (an 8% discount). You can also get it at Target or Babylist (interestingly, you can buy a single Willow Go pump for $200 on Babylist—but I’m not sure it’d be worth the savings for me to not be able to pump both sides simultaneously). 

Purchasing Options:

• Willow website
• Amazon
• Target
• Babylist

Willow Go parts and accessories

If you’re thinking about purchasing the Willow Go, it’s worth considering the cost of replacement parts and any accessories you may need. For example, a case will put you out $60. A whole cooler bag? $180.

Now, you don’t need those things necessarily (I don’t have either of them right now, but I would likely purchase a case if I were out and about a lot). But you probably will need to replace all pump parts at some point (it’s recommended to replace any pump’s parts after three months). A replacement bundle will cost you $33.

A strong point of the Go is that you don’t need to purchase Willow’s bags, so you at least save a bit there.

What about insurance? 

The Willow Go is typically an “upgrade” option through insurance. You won’t get the cost fully covered, but you’ll be able to save some money. The pump is also HSA/FSA eligible. 

Can you return the Willow Go? 

Once the box has been opened, you can’t return the Willow Go, because it’s classified as a “single-use medical device.” In other words, Willow won’t sell you someone else’s used pump (and that’s a good thing). 

You can return an un-opened box within 60 days. 

Willow also has a 12-month warranty for the pump itsef and a 90-day warranty for all pump parts. 

The final verdict

The Willow Go is a resounding yes for me. I think its worth the price tag (even if insurance didn’t help out), and it’s likely the only reason I have a solid freezer stash. That said, if you’re exclusively pumping, I’d prioritize a pump that can effectively latch every single time, even if that means you’re plugged into the wall. If you can spring for a second pump, I’d 100% recommend this one.

What’s next?

You made it to the end of this review! If you can’t get enough of Fathercraft, here’s what we would suggest next:

Check out our extensive baby gear buying guide right over here.

Or, check out our free resources for new and expecting parents right here.