Sunlighten vs Clearlight - Which Sauna Should You Choose?

I've been covering Sunlighten and Clearlight separately for years, and this is the comparison I get asked about the most. The two get lumped together constantly because they're both premium, both offer full spectrum, both test low on EMF.

But once you get into how each one actually works, they're not building the same sauna at all.

Sunlighten vs Clearlight - Quick Verdict

If you want the short version:

•     Go with Sunlighten if: you want more control over your session - independently adjustable wavelengths, named programs like Detox or Muscle Recovery, red light built into the system instead of a separate unit

•     Go with Clearlight if: you want a simpler, more traditional full spectrum experience with less to configure, or you need an outdoor-rated model

•     Our take: this isn't just full spectrum vs. not, or red light vs. no red light - it's control and programs on one side, and a simpler, more configure-it-yourself experience on the other. Neither one is the objectively better sauna; they're built for different kinds of buyers, and which one wins depends on what you'd actually use. Warranty terms differ too - more on that below

•     Overall Rating: ★★★★★ (both)

Check current pricing & deals on Sunlighten Saunas

Check current pricing & deals on Clearlight Saunas

If you want to see how these compare to other top options, check out our guide to the best infrared saunas.

At a Glance: How They Actually Compare

If you just want the side-by-side before you get into the why, here it is. Everything below is explained in more detail as you keep reading.

How These Two Brands Actually Differ

Most of what's written about these two just repeats the same two lines: Sunlighten is “more guided,” Clearlight is “more flexible.” That's not wrong, but it undersells what's actually going on, which is a real difference in the technology, not just the sales pitch around it.

Neither brand hands you a full price list, so don't let price be the deciding factor - you'll get a number from someone at either company, and it moves around with sales more than you'd expect. What's actually worth comparing is how the heat gets delivered, what's programmable, and what you're covered for if something breaks.

What Each Brand Offers

Sunlighten

Sunlighten keeps things fairly straightforward with three main options:

• Signature → Far infrared
  A simpler, more traditional infrared sauna
• Amplify → Full spectrum
  Higher intensity sessions
• mPulse → Full spectrum + built-in red light + advanced controls
  Their most feature-rich model

Most buyers compare these side-by-side and choose based on features and budget.

Clearlight

Clearlight separates things a bit differently:

• Premier → Far infrared
  A straightforward far infrared sauna
• Sanctuary → Full spectrum
  A full spectrum sauna with front and surrounding heat
  

And then expands from there with:

• Custom sauna builds
• Conversion kits
• Outdoor sauna options

This gives you more flexibility, especially if you already have a specific setup in mind.

Far Infrared vs. Full Spectrum

Sunlighten's far-infrared-only line is Signature, built on their SoloCarbon panels. Clearlight's is Premier, built on True Wave carbon/ceramic panels. At this entry tier, the two brands are about as close as they get - both are straightforward far-infrared cabins without the programs or wavelength control that shows up once you move up to full spectrum.

If budget is the priority and you're not going to use programs anyway, this is the tier where it barely matters which brand you pick.

Clearlight's Sanctuary line uses the same True Wave panels as Premier, just built to also emit near and mid infrared alongside far. All three wavelengths run at once, off the same panel, with no way to isolate or adjust the mix. You get full spectrum heat, and that's the extent of it.

Sunlighten's Amplify and mPulse work differently. Their SoloCarbon panels are segmented, so red, near, mid, and far infrared can each be controlled independently instead of firing together as one blend. On mPulse, that's built into their PulseIQ system, with named programs - Detox, Muscle Recovery, Relaxation, Weight Loss, Anti-Aging, and Heart Health - each one dialing in a different wavelength combination. Heart Health, for example, starts hot to raise your heart rate and then holds it there for a set time, more like a workout than a soak. There's also a Customize option if you'd rather build your own mix instead of using a preset.

So when people ask whether Clearlight has anything like Sunlighten's programs - it doesn't, not really. Their Sauna Connect app controls temperature, timer, lighting, and which heaters are running, and lets you schedule a session up to 36 hours out. That's genuinely useful, but it's not the same category of feature as choosing a program built around a specific wavelength combination

See our full Sunlighten model breakdown and Clearlight review for the details on a specific model.

Red Light Therapy

Red light follows the same pattern. On Clearlight, it's a standalone add-on you attach to a Premier or Sanctuary - it isn't tied into the rest of the system, it's just on or off. On Sunlighten, red light is one of the four wavelengths their programs are actually built around, so it's part of the same controllable system as everything else instead of a separate accessory bolted on.

Neither approach is wrong. If you want red light without thinking about it much, Clearlight's add-on does the job. If you want it working together with the rest of your session as part of a program, that's specifically what Sunlighten built.

Note that Sunlighten does offer portable red light units as well, so if you want to use them separately or in your Premier Series Sauna you certainly can.

The One I Actually Own

I actually have a Sunlighten myself, the mPulse Conquer. It's the 3-person full spectrum model, and I really enjoy the customization of the programs, which is why I highlight it throughout this review.

It's spacious and solidly built, no complaints there. It does take a little while to heat up, more than I expected going in, but that stopped mattering once I started using the app to preheat before I even get home.

The red light therapy is the feature I use the most and didn't expect to - it's built into the same system as everything else, so it's just there whenever I want it instead of something I have to remember to turn on separately.

Warranty

Sunlighten covers cabinetry and heaters for 7 years, controls for 3, and glass/audio for 1 - labor is not covered on any of their lines, including mPulse. Clearlight calls theirs a “limited lifetime warranty,” and it actually covers the cabin, the heaters, the electrical components, and even the audio system for as long as you own it under residential use. Labor is covered for a stretch right after you buy it, then it isn't - Clearlight doesn't spell out exactly how long that window runs on their site, so it's worth asking a rep about directly before you buy.

Lifetime coverage on the actual structure and electronics is better than a fixed 7-year term, no matter how you look at it. So that's worth considering when weighing the two brands.

EMF & Testing

Both brands are legitimately low-EMF, and I don't think it's what should decide this for you.

Sunlighten publishes readings under 1 mG at the heater panel, third-party tested. Clearlight publishes under 1 mG at the heater surface, dropping close to nothing by the time you're sitting in the seat.

Neither company measures it exactly the same way, so I wouldn't rank them against each other down to the decimal - both are well below anything you'd get standing next to a hair dryer or a blender.

For more on what “low EMF” actually means, see my low EMF guide.

Real Customer Feedback/Ownership Experience

Because we regularly hear from readers researching and purchasing these saunas, we’re able to see patterns that don’t always show up in spec sheets or marketing materials.

Sunlighten

Most of the feedback around Sunlighten centers on the buying experience and support.

People often mention:

• A very helpful, responsive sales team
• Clear guidance when choosing models
• A smoother overall buying process

At the same time, a few things come up consistently:

• Delivery timelines can vary
• Setup may take more effort than expected
• Some mixed experiences after installation

We also see questions around heat expectations, especially from first-time infrared users, but that's to be expected.

Clearlight

Clearlight feedback tends to focus more on the product and setup flexibility.

People often mention:

• Solid build quality
• Strong performance once fully heated
• More options for installation (custom, outdoor, etc.)

On the flip side:

• Less guidance during the buying process
• Communication can be inconsistent at times
• More responsibility on the buyer to manage setup

If you're narrowing things down, it helps to look at both brands side by side:

→ Compare Sunlighten models
→ Compare Clearlight options

Outdoor, Portable & Extras

If a standard indoor cabin isn't what you're after, this is where the two brands differ somewhat.

Clearlight has dedicated outdoor-rated models, a small personal dome (The Curve), and a cold plunge you can bundle in.

Sunlighten's closest equivalent is the Solo System - a compact, lay-down personal unit - but they don't currently offer an outdoor-rated cabin at all.

If outdoor or a cold plunge setup is part of the plan, Clearlight simply has more built for that. If you want the smallest, most affordable way to try infrared at home, Solo is worth a look.

Pricing

Both brands fall into a similar range:

• Entry-level: ~$3K–$5K
• Mid-range: $5K–$8K
• Premium: $8K+

So pricing alone usually isn’t the deciding factor.

Bottom Line - Sunlighten vs. Clearlight

Both of these are well-built saunas, and Clearlight's simplicity is a real selling point if you just want heat without a learning curve. But if you're asking me to pick one, I'd probably lean towards Sunlighten.

The difference that matters most to me is control - being able to run an actual program instead of just switching full spectrum on and hoping it does what you want. Clearlight's warranty is the stronger one on paper, and that's a legitimate reason to lean the other way if it matters more to you than it does to me.

But the sauna itself is more advanced on the Sunlighten side, and that's the part I'd weigh heaviest.

👉 Check current pricing & deals on Sunlighten

👉 Check current pricing & deals on Clearlight

Still narrowing things down? Check out my full best infrared saunas guide for how these two stack up against everyone else I've covered.

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