Sunlighten vs Clearlight (2026): Which Premium Infrared Sauna Wins?

If you are spending $5,000 to $11,000 on an infrared sauna, the shortlist almost always comes down to two brands: Sunlighten and Clearlight. Both build full-spectrum cabins (near, mid, and far infrared in one panel), both are made in the USA, and both have been at this since the late 1990s. They are not interchangeable. They are optimized for two different buyers.

Here is the honest breakdown.

The core trade

Sunlighten sells research and smart programming. Its Solocarbon heaters are the ones cited in peer-reviewed studies (Mayo Clinic, Journal of Cardiology), and the mPulse line layers on a touchscreen with preset programs and a mobile app. Clearlight sells the lowest EMF in the category and a lifetime warranty, backed since 2021 by Jacuzzi's service network. One is the science-and-software pick; the other is the safety-and-longevity pick.

Sunlighten mPulse

DEEP REVIEW

Sunlighten·Sauna

mPulse Smart Sauna

The infrared sauna with the deepest research base in the category - Mayo Clinic studies, Solocarbon 3-in-1 technology, and a smart-control layer most competitors don't have.

PRICE

$5,995–$10,995

SCORE

9.2 / 10

The mPulse uses Solocarbon 3-in-1 heaters (near, mid, and far infrared simultaneously) and is the only mainstream infrared sauna with peer-reviewed research backing its specific heater technology. The smart layer (preset wellness programs, customizable wavelength ratios, Bluetooth audio, app control) is the real differentiator. EMF reads under 3 mG at body level, warranty is 7 years on the cabin and lifetime on the heaters, and it comes in 1 to 3-person configurations from $5,995 to $10,995. HSA/FSA eligible via Truemed.

Clearlight Sanctuary 2

DEEP REVIEW

Clearlight Saunas·Sauna

Sanctuary 2

The full-spectrum infrared sauna with the lowest EMF readings in the category - and the brand Jacuzzi acquired specifically because of its tech moat.

PRICE

$5,495–$9,295

SCORE

9.0 / 10

Clearlight's True Wave full-spectrum heaters deliver the same near/mid/far coverage but the brand has been the EMF benchmark for over a decade, typically reading under 1 mG at body level (the lowest in the category). The headline advantages: a lifetime warranty on both cabin and heaters (Sunlighten caps the cabin at 7 years), Jacuzzi-backed parts and service since the 2021 acquisition, and a lower entry price. Sanctuary 2 runs $5,495 to $9,295 across 1 to 5-person configurations, with medical-grade chromotherapy included standard.

Spec comparison

Where Sunlighten wins

• Research footprint: studies cite Solocarbon heaters specifically. No other consumer infrared brand carries that citation base.
• Smart programming: preset programs and per-session wavelength control, useful in shared households where each person runs their own program.
• Brand longevity: the largest direct-to-consumer service network in the premium category.

Where Clearlight wins

• EMF: under 1 mG vs under 3 mG. Over hundreds of sessions in a small room, that gap matters to EMF-conscious buyers.
• Warranty: lifetime on the entire cabin, not just the heaters.
• Price + support: a lower entry point, plus Jacuzzi's parts-and-service backing for the 10-15 year horizon.

The cheaper Sunlighten most buyers should consider

If you like Sunlighten but the mPulse price stings, the Sunlighten Signature drops the near and mid heaters (keeping Solocarbon far-infrared, which drives most of the bathing experience) and starts at $3,895. See Sunlighten Signature vs mPulse for whether the 3-in-1 upgrade is worth it.

So which one?

• Want research-backed heaters and smart programming → Sunlighten mPulse
• Want the lowest EMF and a lifetime cabin warranty for less → Clearlight Sanctuary 2
• Want the Sunlighten name without the 3-in-1 premium → Sunlighten Signature

The longevity-stack frame

A sauna is a 10-15 year purchase, so weight warranty and service network heavily. Both brands clear the bar that most hardware-store infrared cabins (often 10-100+ mG EMF, no research, no real warranty) do not. For the full field including outdoor and traditional options, see our sauna buyer's guide and the Best Infrared Saunas 2026 guide.

• Ryan, Founder