The Reviews Don't Lie: This Is the Best Tummy-Control Underwear on the Internet
Everyone demands something different from their lingerie; sometimes you want pretty, and other times you just want the reassurance that everything will stay in place. That's where control undies come into play. As a midpoint between panties and shapewear, they lend the body contouring of traditional shapewear with the pared-down sleekness of panties. I loathe the constrictive nature of shapewear (I openly avoid it at all costs!), so tummy-control underwear has been a godsend for me whenever my outfit requires a seamless look underneath.
Because a personal recommendation is always the best endorsement (especially when it comes to lingerie), I took to the review sections of our favorite places to discover which pairs of tummy-control underwear rise to the top. After mining hundreds of reviews (and scrolling just as many pages), we've found the best 24 pairs of control panties on the internet. Whether you're on a budget or have specific fit needs, keep scrolling ahead to find your next wardrobe solution.
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "Saying I love these is an understatement. Being six months postpartum, a lot of jeans are tighter and my leggings show my tummy, but these made it disappear, I'm not even kidding. For me, I give this product a 10/10 and I already want more." — Amazon reviewer
Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "This is a great everyday shapewear piece that is perfect for these warmer months. I wear shapewear almost every day and this high-waisted panty goes great under jeans, dresses, and leggings. It’s light and still gives plenty of shaping." — Nordstrom reviewer
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "I am over 60 and needed a thong for the "no line" undergarment. This fit the bill as it is modest (my age group), yet sexy (hey, I still got it going on), and showed no panty line in my dress. LOVE IT!" — Nordstrom reviewer
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "I don't need too much in regards to shapewear, so this brief by Leonisa, is perfect for me. It has just enough spandex. I don't know that I'm wearing it, which is what I love!" — Amazon reviewer
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "These have good control and are stylish at the same time. Even though they are expensive, they are not your normal brief." — Natori reviewer
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "This was pretty, comfortable, and functional. It didn’t bunch up or roll down as I wore it throughout the day. I typically stay away from tummy control products as they can be restricting, but this was very comfortable to wear. My go to for a night out or my work day." — Target reviewer
Rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "These are the first shapers I've found that are actually comfortable to wear, while still being nice and supportive, and there are no panty lines! Easy enough to take on and off, yet they stay put when on, no rolling down. They are more pricey but very well designed, nice quality and worth the price. Glad I splurged on these." — Nordstrom reviewer
Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "These are perfect for shorter skirts and shorts! I've been the proud owner of Spanx shorts forever! But tried wearing them with a pair of high wasted shorts but they were peaking out the bottom when I would cross my legs. So I'm saving my shape shorts for dresses and skirts and these hipster panties for shorts and rompers!" — Nordstrom reviewer
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "This is a perfect undergarment to get a smooth look without too much compression. It is the perfect panty to wear with knit dresses and tight pants. No panty lines at all." — Bloomingdale's reviewer
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "They are comfortable and fit just as I expected. I love the Bali brand. It seems to have a long life and is normally fairly decently priced." — Amazon reviewer
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "As a plus-size woman, it is hard to find underwear that is comfortable, breathable, and looks good, in the event someone does see it, LOL. But these panties are so thin and soft and comfortable, but super durable!" — Skims reviewer
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "Washes nicely and did not shrink. Comfortable fit." — Amazon reviewer
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "I have returned so many control panties that did not stay up, or caused bulges under clothing. These stay up and are smoothly under everything, no cling, no tight squeeze, just even control. We need more control panties like these! These are perfect!" — Nordstrom reviewer
Rating: 3.3 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "I have a colostomy and it is nearly impossible to find a light support panty that has enough "give" to accommodate my appliance yet still offers support. I think this is the one! The high waist is a bonus. Doesn't roll at the waist and doesn't ride up in back." — Lane Bryant reviewer
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "I love the fit and feel of these. I am slowly getting rid of all my others and replacing them with these." — Amazon reviewer
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "Shapemint is the best at smoothing you out and making you feel comfortable in your clothes. The only brand that love and makes me feel better when I have them on. Definitely would recommend to anyone." — Nordstrom reviewer
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Review Highlight: "Honestly these are a minor miracle for me because they're giving me the same amount of control as other more intense foundation garments I've tried, only these are way more comfortable. I actually feel like I could wear these on a daily basis and not just suffer through them for a special occasion." — Amazon reviewer
Rating: 4.1 out of 5
Review Highlight: "This is exactly as in the photo, Super comfortable, material is soft. I purchased 3 in total. I'm very happy with this purchase." — Victoria's Secret reviewer
Rating: 3.6 out of 5
Review Highlight: "I'm really satisfied with these little panties. They do what they say they do. Hold the tummy in without rolling down. Perk up my flat bum syndrome and clean up any issues with leggings that may fail the see-through test. I'm looking forward to purchasing additional colors and adding this same color to my collection. For size and fit info: I bought a size small. I'm 5'6" 125 to 135 lbs depending on the month/time of year. I like the fit because I want the extra shaping in the tummy. I highly recommend it. Enjoy!" — Nordstrom reviewer
These are brand-new so there aren't any reviews yet, but I'm dying to try them.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Review Highlight: "Very comfortable." — Nordstrom reviewer
Rating: 3.3 out of 5
Review Highlight: "These are thin, hold you in, and most importantly they are comfortable. I don't feel like a sausage yet I'm contained. I wish they went a bit higher but I also have a high belly button so maybe that's why. My fave pair of thinning briefs yet. I'm a size 2 in pants and the small fits perfect." — Nordstrom reviewer
This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.