Getting a new showerhead is a great way to rev up an old bathroom – especially considering how little one can cost and how easy it can be to install.

We recently rated 26 showerhead models representing the two major types: adjustable-spray and rainshower. Adjustable-spray showerheads are best for most users and offer a choice of settings, ranging from a gentle mist to a needle-like spray and a pulsating massage. (Continuously variable settings let you choose anything in between.) Adjustable-spray showerheads make it easier to keep everyone in the household happy, and tend to emphasize function and low price over style.

Style, meanwhile, is very much a selling point of the rainshower model. Featuring eye-catching designs, these oversized fixtures deliver a wider, soothing spray that covers more of the body at once. Most have only one setting – described as a “cascade” or “downpour” by marketers. On all but a few of the rainshower models we tested, we found the flow to be gentle and not very forceful. That can be relaxing, but it takes effort to rinse off soap and shampoo. Because many rainshower models are mounted directly above you, they extend farther from the wall and aren’t suited to small areas. Also, the overhead position makes it hard to keep your hair dry.

With literally hundreds of models on the market, there’s bound to be a shower fixture to suit your style. Most sell for less than $100, although you can spend much more for elaborate fixtures in expensive finishes. Chrome remains the best-selling finish, but brass, brushed nickel, and other higher-priced finishes often are available. Many also come in hand-held versions.

We rated our showerheads principally on how testers judged the force, coverage, and feel of their flow. We also looked at how much that flow cooled between leaving the showerhead and hitting a user’s back. (In aerating the spray to make it feel more substantial, some showerheads cool the water by about 15 degrees.) And we assessed how easy it was to change spray patterns – appreciated by anyone who has ever fumbled with adjustments because of wet, soapy hands or shampoo-stung eyes.

Here are some of our findings:

¢ Adjustable. Scoring highest overall were the Kohler MasterShower Invigorating K-8506 ($60) and the Moen Revolution 21070 (at $35, it’s a CR Best Buy). These had the best water force and feel, according to our testers. Hard-water users may prefer the Kohler: Its construction resists buildup of mineral deposits. If you have soft water or a water softener, go with the Moen. Other decent choices for soft-water users are the Delta Victorian Collection Traditional RP34355 ($40) and the Delta 5-Function 75560 ($30). All are easy to use – the Moen has continuously variable flow settings – with very good or excellent temperature retention.

¢ Rainshower. The all-around best choice here is the Hansgrohe Raindance 27483 ($80), which performs much like an adjustable-spray head. It delivers a strong flow of water and has five easy-to-use settings. Rubberized clog-resistant nozzles make it a good choice for hard-water users. The Kohler Forte K-10282 (at $45, a CR Best Buy) has only one setting, but it delivered a strong flow and did OK with hard water. For a gentle flow more typical of rainshower models – and a better temperature retention than the Hansgrohe or Kohler – consider the single-setting Waterpik Aquafall JP-130 ($30).

While installing adjustable-spray showerheads is usually a breeze, some rainshower models may require finesse. Because water literally falls from these fixtures, it will dribble out one side if the unit isn’t installed at the correct angle. And models that weigh about 6 pounds or more may require additional support beyond the standard shower arm. That could entail carpentry work.