Compare saunas.
Pick two saunas: the comparison updates right away. How we score →
Sunlighten mPulse Believe wins: 76 against 71 out of 100.
Figures won: 1 against 4.
Pick two different saunas to see which figure wins.Why choose the Plunge Sauna? 4
- 159 °F (33 °C) hotter at most
- 2Löyly: you can throw water on the stones
- 3Seats 5 people instead of 2
- 4Built for the garden
Why choose the Sunlighten mPulse Believe? 2
- 1Longer warranty: 7 years against 2
- 2Red light therapy built in
Infrared vs traditional: not the same heat
A traditional sauna heats the air to 80–100 °C (176–212 °F): you sweat from the hot air and the steam when you throw water on the stones. An infrared sauna warms your skin and body directly while the air stays around 45–65 °C (113–149 °F).
So we never compare their temperatures head to head in the score: each is rated against the heat it is made for (194 °F / 90 °C for traditional, 149 °F / 65 °C for infrared). Most long-term research on sauna and health comes from traditional Finnish saunas.
✓ better figure
Heat
Materials and health
Build and warranty
Size and setup
Price and reviews
Score breakdown
Our verdict
The Sunlighten mPulse Believe scores 76/100, the Plunge Sauna 71/100.
Choose the Plunge Sauna if you want a hot, dry Finnish sauna for up to five that plugs into a 240 V outlet, indoors or out.
Choose the Sunlighten mPulse Believe if you want the most complete infrared therapy and the price is not the issue.
The 20 saunas
Sorted by type. The score weighs heat, materials, build, comfort and value; read the methodology for the details.
Hallmark 44
A traditional stone sauna that runs on a 120 V circuit: no 240 V line to pull.
Utu Small
A compact Finnish cabin in heat-treated aspen, from Harvia, the reference in sauna heaters.
Variant S1515
A genuine Finnish multi-person indoor sauna with Nordic spruce exterior and thermo-aspen benches by Harvia.
Multiwave 2
A modular French-designed traditional steam cabin in Canadian hemlock operating on a single-phase 230 V line.
Pinnacle 4-Person Barrel
A classic cedar barrel with a 6 kW Harvia heater, made in the USA.
Salem 2-Person Barrel
A compact 2-person outdoor barrel sauna in solid rustic cedar with Harvia stone heater and lifetime room warranty.
Cala Outdoor
An architectural contemporary outdoor sauna cabin in premium thermo-aspen crafted in Estonia with expansive glass front.
Canadian Timber Serenity
An eastern white cedar barrel with a front porch, made in Canada.
Sauna
★ Bryan Johnson’s daily saunaThe cedar Finnish sauna Bryan Johnson uses every morning: 20 minutes at 200 °F (93 °C).
Outdoor Tent Sauna
A portable insulated outdoor tent sauna with a heavy-duty stainless steel wood-burning stove reaching 95 °C anywhere.
Sanctuary 2
Full-spectrum infrared with a lifetime warranty on the whole cabin.
Sanctuary 3
A spacious 3-person full-spectrum infrared cabin with medical-grade chromotherapy and a lifetime warranty.
Barcelona
The best-selling budget infrared cabin: Canadian hemlock, carbon panels, standard outlet.
Venice 3-Person
An accessible 3-person Canadian hemlock infrared cabin with carbon heating panels for shared sessions on a budget.
FD-1
A one-seat full-spectrum cabin that reaches 170 °F (77 °C) on a standard outlet.
Joyous 1-Person
An entry-level 1-person solid hemlock infrared cabin that plugs into any standard wall outlet.
mPulse Believe
A smart full-spectrum cabin: near, mid and far infrared plus red light, each controlled on its own.
Triple Threat Infrared Dome
A 360-degree dual-arch infrared sauna dome with memory foam gemstone mat and verified low EMF.
Infrared Sauna Blanket V4
A lie-down infrared blanket that heats up in 10 minutes and folds into a bag.
Thera360 Plus
A foldable full-spectrum tent with red light and tourmaline panels.
Popular comparisons
- Harvia Utu SmallvsSunlighten mPulse Believe
- Clearlight Sanctuary 2vsSunlighten mPulse Believe
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- Dynamic Saunas BarcelonavsFinnmark FD-1
- HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket V4vsHeat Healer Triple Threat Infrared Dome
- Almost Heaven Pinnacle 4-Person BarrelvsClearlight Sanctuary 2
- Finnleo Hallmark 44vsFinnmark FD-1
- HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket V4vsTherasage Thera360 Plus
- Almost Heaven Pinnacle 4-Person BarrelvsAlmost Heaven Salem 2-Person Barrel
- Dynamic Saunas BarcelonavsJNH Lifestyles Joyous 1-Person
- Almost Heaven Pinnacle 4-Person BarrelvsPlunge Sauna
- Plunge SaunavsSunlighten mPulse Believe
Questions
Where does the data come from?
From the makers’ product pages and spec sheets, and from independent reviews when a maker publishes nothing. Every sauna page lists its sources. A figure nobody publishes is marked “not published”: we never guess it.
Is an infrared sauna as good as a traditional sauna?
It is a different heat. A traditional sauna heats the air to 80–100 °C (176–212 °F) and lets you throw water on the stones. An infrared sauna warms your body directly at 45–65 °C (113–149 °F) air. Most of the long-term research (Finnish cohorts) was done in traditional saunas.
Do you earn money from these links?
No. No affiliation, no sponsorship: the links go to the makers’ sites and nobody paid to be in this comparison.
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