Clearlight vs Sunlighten: The Two Infrared Sauna Giants, Compared (2026)
If you are spending five figures on an infrared sauna, the decision usually comes down to Clearlight versus Sunlighten. Both are premium full-spectrum. Here is the honest difference, and the plug-in alternative if you do not want a 240V install.
At the premium end of home infrared saunas, two brands dominate the shortlist: Clearlight and Sunlighten. Both are full-spectrum, both are five-figure cabins, and both are genuinely good, so the marketing does not help you choose. The real decision comes down to a few concrete differences in heat technology, EMF, warranty, and pedigree.
Quick answer
- Clearlight Sanctuary wins on warranty (lifetime on both cabin and heaters) and published EMF (typically under 1 mG at body level), at $5,495-9,295.
- Sunlighten mPulse wins on research pedigree (its Solocarbon heaters are the ones cited in Mayo Clinic studies) and smart wavelength programming, at $5,995 to about $11,000 installed.
- Do not want a 240V install at all: the Sun Home Equinox runs full-spectrum on a standard outlet at $5,999-6,799.
Here is the honest head-to-head in detail.
Spec comparison
| Clearlight Sanctuary | Sunlighten mPulse | |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | $5,495-9,295 | $5,995-10,995 |
| Heat technology | True Wave full-spectrum heaters | Solocarbon 3-in-1 full-spectrum |
| EMF | Typically under 1 mG at body level (brand-published) | Low-EMF certified, under 3 mG (brand-published) |
| Research pedigree | Established clinical-adjacent brand, Jacuzzi-owned | Solocarbon heaters cited in Mayo Clinic studies |
| Install | Dedicated circuit typical, confirm per model | 110V plug-in on 1-person, 220V for 2-person and up |
| Warranty | Lifetime on cabin and heaters | Lifetime on heaters, 7 years on cabin |
| Best known for | Lowest published EMF + Jacuzzi backing | Deepest research story in infrared |
Clearlight Sanctuary: lowest published EMF, Jacuzzi-backed
Clearlight's pitch is engineering credibility. The Sanctuary line uses True Wave full-spectrum heaters and Clearlight publishes among the lowest EMF readings in the category, which is the spec EMF-conscious buyers care most about. Being Jacuzzi-owned means a large dealer network and a lifetime warranty behind the cabin. If your priority is the lowest published EMF number and a big-brand support structure, Clearlight is the natural pick.
Sunlighten mPulse: the deepest research story
Sunlighten's differentiator is pedigree. Its Solocarbon heaters are the ones cited in Mayo Clinic research, and the mPulse is the full-spectrum 3-in-1 flagship built around them. For a buyer who wants the sauna with the deepest published research behind the heating technology, and is comfortable at the top of the price range, the mPulse is the answer. It is the premium-of-the-premium.
Which models does this compare?
The Clearlight Sanctuary line runs $5,495-9,295 across 1-5 person cabins, all True Wave full-spectrum. Sunlighten's mPulse line starts at $5,995 for the 1-person Aspire and reaches about $11,000 for a 3-person with white-glove install, with the 5-person Empower above that. Sunlighten also sells the simpler far-infrared Signature line $1,000-2,000 below mPulse if you do not need the smart 3-in-1 programming.
The honest EMF note
Both brands market low EMF and both publish figures: Clearlight typically reads under 1 mG at body level, and Sunlighten certifies its Solocarbon heaters under 3 mG. Treat both as manufacturer-published testing rather than independent lab results, and if EMF is your single deciding factor, ask each for the exact seated-position figure for the specific model you are configuring.
The plug-in alternative most people overlook
Both Clearlight and Sunlighten typically need a dedicated 240V circuit, which means an electrician and, for renters, a landlord. If that install is the obstacle, the Sun Home Equinox is the full-spectrum cabin that runs on a standard 120V outlet at a lower price point. It is not trying to out-spec the two giants at the very top of the range, it removes the install barrier that stops many buyers from getting any full-spectrum sauna at all.
How to choose
- You want the lowest published EMF and big-brand backing: Clearlight Sanctuary.
- You want the deepest research pedigree and are at the top of the budget: Sunlighten mPulse.
- You want full-spectrum without a 240V install: Sun Home Equinox, plug-in on a normal outlet.
Bottom line
Between the two giants, Clearlight wins on published EMF and dealer-network support, Sunlighten wins on research pedigree, and the price gap is small enough that the decision is really about which of those two things you value more. But before you commit five figures and an electrician, confirm you actually need the 240V tier: the plug-in Sun Home Equinox delivers full-spectrum infrared without the install, and for many buyers that is the difference between owning a sauna and not.
- Ryan, Founder
Is Clearlight or Sunlighten better?
It depends on what you value. Clearlight wins on warranty depth (lifetime on both cabin and heaters) and published EMF (typically under 1 mG at body level), usually at a slightly lower price. Sunlighten wins on research pedigree (Mayo Clinic and peer-reviewed studies cite its Solocarbon heaters specifically) and smart wavelength programming.
What is the warranty difference between Clearlight and Sunlighten?
Clearlight covers both the cabin and the heaters for lifetime. Sunlighten matches lifetime on its Solocarbon heaters but caps the cabin warranty at 7 years. Heaters are the higher-failure component, so for many buyers the practical difference is small, but lifetime cabin coverage is a real Clearlight edge on a 15-year horizon.
Which sauna has lower EMF, Clearlight or Sunlighten?
Clearlight publishes the lower figure: typically under 1 mG at body level, versus Sunlighten's low-EMF certification of under 3 mG. Both numbers are manufacturer-published testing, so ask for the seated-position figure on the exact model you are configuring.
Did Jacuzzi buy Clearlight?
Yes, the Jacuzzi Group acquired Clearlight in 2021. That brought a larger dealer network and parts availability while preserving the lifetime warranty, which is a meaningful long-term service advantage over smaller infrared brands.
Do Clearlight and Sunlighten saunas need an electrician?
Usually for the larger cabins. Sunlighten's 1-person cabins run on 110V plug-and-play while 2-person and up move to a dedicated 220V circuit; Clearlight installs typically want a dedicated circuit as well, confirmed per model. If you want to skip the electrician entirely, the plug-in Sun Home Equinox runs full-spectrum on a standard outlet.
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