Willow 360 vs. Eufy S1 Pro: The Wearable Pump Showdown You Didn’t Know You Needed
Hey friends, Jessica here 👋
It’s Pump Comparison Month over at Genuine Lactation, and oh boy — today we’re diving into a matchup that the internet has been dying to see: the Willow 360 vs. the Eufy S1 Pro.
Are these two pumps natural competitors? Not really. Is this a battle that makes total sense? Honestly… not to me. But as always, I give the people what they want. Y’all voted, and we deliver. Welcome to the chaos. Let’s break it down.
🎯 The Goal: A Pump That Works for You
Every pumping parent deserves a setup that works with your life — not against it. Your pump should help you feed your baby, not make you cry into your burp cloths at 2am. So let’s look at how these two pumps stack up, where they shine, where they fall flat on their silicone faces, and which one might make your life a whole lot easier (or unnecessarily harder).
🌀 Willow 360: The Overachiever That Can’t Stop Causing Drama
Let’s start with the Willow 360, the latest in Willow’s evolving line of wearable pumps. Think of her as the high-maintenance but undeniably cool girl from high school — the one who shows up to gym class in full makeup and somehow still wins track meets.
🌪️ The One and Only (Sorta) Leak-Free Pump
What makes the Willow 360 special? It’s currently the only pump on the market that offers true leak-free, 360-degree pumping — but only when used with their proprietary bags, which cost around $0.50 each, and yes, they are as annoyingly delicate as they are expensive. One wrong squeeze and it’s milk confetti on your kitchen floor.
Want to save money and use containers instead of bags? Cool, except… that negates the leak-proof magic. There’s a little air hole that means if you bend over, milk will spill. Don’t believe me? Try unloading your dishwasher in a Willow with containers. 😬
🤯 Techy But Not in a Good Way
The Willow 360 isn’t like other pumps. It uses constant suction — meaning it pulls your nipple into the flange and holds it there, then pulses the pressure. It never releases back to zero like most pumps. For some, that works. For others? That’s a one-way ticket to nipple irritation station.
Here’s the wild part: One little internal arm flexes a silicone tube to measure milk flow. When the sensor detects enough milk, it pinches off the tube and pushes the milk into the storage area. It’s like the Rube Goldberg machine of breast pumps — unnecessarily complicated but somehow still kind of cool?
Cool, if it works. And if you can learn to use it.
😩 Steep Learning Curve (Bring Snacks)
Using the Willow 360 is like learning to drive stick shift — while juggling, blindfolded, and maybe crying a little. Expect to spend 2–4 weeks figuring it out, especially if you’re past the early postpartum window.
Why? Because:
The programming is outdated (last major update was around 2020… and it shows).
It auto-switches from stimulation to expression before your body might be ready.
You can’t toggle between modes manually.
Your suction options are super limited if you haven’t already let down.
Basically, if your body’s not playing by Willow’s rules, you’re stuck in nipple limbo.
🤬 Container Issues (A Legacy of Rage)
Willow containers have not changed since 2019. They’re hard to clean, they love orange-lighting you for mysterious reasons, and they have been the cause of so much screaming into the void. I threw out my original containers in a fit of hormonal rage after too many mid-pump malfunctions.
I am not alone.
The reusable valve design is fussy, hard to sanitize, and prone to performance issues. If you only own one set of containers? You’re brave. Braver than me.
💸 The Price of Willow Drama
The Willow 360 still retails for around $500, and you will continue to pay:
For bags (if you want leak-free use)
For replacement parts
For sanity lost every time it error lights you mid-pump
If your insurance covers all those replacement parts, awesome. But for many families, that’s not the case. You’ll be making car-payment-sized monthly investments just to keep the milk flowing.
🔥 Eufy S1 Pro: The Thoughtful, Budget-Friendly New Kid
Now let’s talk about the Eufy S1 Pro, a wearable pump that makes so much more sense for most parents. It’s like that new student who transfers in mid-year and somehow already knows where the best snacks are hidden and gets along with everyone.
This pump is smart, user-friendly, and gives you real control over your pumping experience.
🫶 Standard Suction, Big Relief
The Eufy uses standard suction — meaning it pulls and releases your nipple, rather than holding it hostage like the Willow. That release-to-zero motion is gentler on your tissue and mimics how most electric pumps work. Your body already knows what to do with this rhythm.
Unlike Willow’s rigid programming, Eufy gives you four flexible pumping modes that automatically alternate between stimulation and expression. What a concept!
🔥 Bonus Feature: Built-In Heating
Yes, this pump warms the flange. And for some parents, that gentle heat makes a big difference. It helps stimulate letdown, reduces discomfort, and can feel downright luxurious compared to cold, hard plastic.
Don’t want heat? Cool. Just turn it off. It’s optional.
⚡ Charging Like It’s 2025
Unlike Willow (which still requires a wall plug 🤯), the Eufy has a charging case that’s sleek, portable, and holds enough charge for ~5 days of regular pumping. Just drop your pumps in and go.
More freedom. Less plugging in. Welcome to the future.
🤑 Wallet-Friendly Functionality
Eufy replacement parts are way more affordable than Willow’s, and it doesn’t require disposable bags. It’s generally priced lower to begin with and doesn’t come with hidden operating costs.
And while it’s not leak-proof by default, you can buy affordable plugs that help with that. Do I wish they came built-in? Absolutely. Do I lose them constantly? Also yes. But they're cheap enough that you can stock up and pretend you're organized. Future generations of this pump might finally integrate them (we’re manifesting it).
🥊 The Final Verdict: Who Wins?
If you absolutely need leak-free, lay-flat, wear-while-jumping-on-a-trampoline type pumping, the Willow 360 is still the only pump that can do that. And for some people — especially parents pumping overnight, tandem feeding, or constantly chasing toddlers — that specific feature can be life-saving. In those cases, we’ll support you and help you master the steep learning curve (because if anyone can make the Willow work, it’s my team 💪).
But if you don’t need leak-proof pumping?
👉 Skip the drama.
👉 Skip the weird bag math. 👉 Skip the “I just paid $500 for a Bluetooth-enabled anxiety machine” regret.
Instead, say hello to the Eufy S1 Pro, which is:
Easier to learn
More affordable to operate
Better aligned with how most people actually pump
Thoughtfully designed for modern life
Honestly, unless you have a very niche need that only Willow fills, the Eufy is just the better option for most pumping parents right now.
💬 Want Help Choosing?
If you’re still on the fence about which wearable is right for you, book a consult with our team. We’ll walk you through the options, your specific needs, and whether the pump you’re eyeing is likely to become your BFF or your nemesis.
And if you do decide to go with the Willow 360, we’ve got you. We support tons of clients using it successfully — we just want you to go in with your eyes wide open and your extra containers ready.
💡 Bottom Line
Willow 360: A high-maintenance, niche-use pump. Amazing if you need leak-free mobility. Rage-inducing if you don’t.
Eufy S1 Pro: Smart, gentle, and actually designed with pumping parents in mind. Hard to go wrong here.
Let’s stop normalizing pump drama and start normalizing easy pumping wins.
You deserve a pump that works with your life — not one that requires a manual, a second mortgage, and a pep talk every time you use it.
📲 Join us in Wearable Pump Paperweight Prevention if you want real-world tips, honest reviews, and plenty of pump support from people who actually test these things for a living.
Happy pumping!
— Jessica 💜
