Medela Sonata vs. Freestyle Flex Breast Pumps

Judith Little | January 9, 2020 | Comments 0

Jump to Section

A car seat can keep your baby safe, and a breast pump can keep your baby fed – at Snuggle Bugz, we've got you covered for both.

Finding the right car seat for your child starts with a complimentary dry-fit, but for obvious reasons, you can’t take a breast pump for a spin before you buy! So, today we are comparing TWO Medela breast pumps – the Sonata Smart with Flex Technology, and the Freestyle Flex Double Electric so that you can be confident that the pump you choose is the best choice for you!

Lifestyle Approved

So – why a double electric pump?

Sonata: Double-electric pump + FLEX
Freestyle: Double-electric pump + FLEX

Date night?
Back to work?
Bridesmaid at your sister’s wedding?
Looking for an hour for some sanity and self-care?

A double pump helps you to build and maintain your supply, while also having the freedom to leave the house and have someone other than Y-O-U feed your little. Having a double-electric, daily-use breast pump means you can easily pump several times a day for premium milk extraction and in half the time it would take to use a single pump! This is a great option for pump-dependant moms.

Did we mention that flex breast shields remove 11.8% more milk per minute compared to the traditional 90˚ breast shield? We like to call more milk in less time “lifestyle approved”.

Size

Sonata: 2.2 lbs.
Freestyle: 0.66 lbs.

We hear you pregnant Mama’s, so let’s talk your language – watermelon or Chocolate Éclair? Have we successfully used your pregnancy cravings to get your attention? Let's get into it! You can tell just by looking at both breast pumps that there are lot of physical differences, and they each have their own distinct size and shape.

The Sonata is small and round – similar in size to a small melon. The body of the pump can live on your kitchen counter, or find a permanent spot on your bedside table.

The Freestyle was clearly designed for moms who are on-the-go. It is compact, lightweight, portable – and resembles a chocolate éclair but without the calories.

Sound

Sonata: Very quiet
Freestyle: Very quiet

All Medela electric breast pumps use 2-phase technology to mimic your baby’s sucking rhythm:

Phase #1: Fast to stimulate milk flow
Phase #2: Slower to feed – for a natural feel

The Sonata does include a convenient “mute” button to allow for discreet late-night pumping sessions – you know we love that.

Technology

Sonata: 2 Rhythms + air-leak alert
Freestyle: Delayed start

The Sonata hit the market in 2017 as Medela’s first ever, smart breast pump. After 12 years on the market as the industry’s first ever hands-free rechargeable pump – it’s safe to say the best-selling Freestyle was in need of a major facelift. The Freestyle was also redesigned in 2020, and now offers the user some of the same great tech found in the Sonata.

Both are double-electric “smart” pumps that boast illuminated control panels and are Bluetooth enabled. This means your pump can communicate directly with the MyMedela app on your phone or iPad to track your pumping sessions – like the length of each session, and which side you pumped on last.

So, what sets their technology apart?

The Sonata features hospital inspired performance and two clinically tested rhythms. We get asked about this in-store all the time because these similar rhythms can be found on Medela’s hospital grade Symphony pump. The Sonata is also really, REALLY smart! It has a built-in air-leak button that will beep at you if your membranes are installed incorrectly, and allowing air-flow.

The Freestyle has a delay start function that will come in pretty handy. It allows you a ten second delay to get yourself situated before the pump starts pumping for that session. This feature will come in particularly handy when double pumping, as it lets you easily place your breast shields in place without rushing to get that liquid gold!

Charging

Sonata: 1 Hour battery life per charge
Freestyle: 2 Hours of battery life per charge

Both pumps have a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Once you are charged and ready to go, you can conveniently pump anytime, anywhere, no cord keeping you hostage.

The Sonata requires a power adaptor cord to charge.

The Freestyle comes with a power adaptor, but you can also take advantage of the USB port for easy charging when on the go.

In Summary

SONATA, 2017

Double Electric Pump: Yes
2-phase Expression: Yes
Flex: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
USB charger: No
Delayed Start: No
Rechargeable battery: Yes – 1 hour
Weight: 2.2 lbs

FREESTYLE FLEX, 2020

Double Electric Pump: Yes
2-phase Expression: Yes
Flex: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
USB charger: Yes
Delayed Start: Yes
Rechargeable battery: Yes – 2 hours
Weight: 0.66 lbs

Embrace the Journey!

Each pump has everything you need to get started included in the box – bottles, tubing and connectors, even a cooler bag. May we suggest added a few microwave Medela Micro Steam Bags to your cart for easy cleaning , and why not Medela's handsfree Easy Expression Bustier for convenience?

Remember, breastfeeding is a journey, and our bodies can do so many amazing things! Be patient with yourself new mama, you've got this.

So, what will it be, Sonata or Freestyle?

Judith Little

Snuggle Mama

Boasting a background in Broadcast Journalism, Judith is a talented content creator and the vivacious host of the Snuggle Bugz “40 Weeks to Forever” podcast. Being the youngest of six kids, a busy family has always been at the core of her life — a tradition she continues as the proud mama of two energetic boys. Judith is a vital member of the Snuggle Bugz team, who passionately offers support, encouragement, and guidance to others navigating the adventure of parenthood.