SaunaBox Pulse PRO vs The Pod Company Sauna Pod 2.0
Before you buy the Sauna Pod, ask what its red light does.
The Pod Company says its red LED strip is for ambiance and is not red light therapy. For £697 less, the Pulse PRO builds 660nm-850nm red light into a tent heated by 6 infrared panels.
660nm-850nm red light, 320 LEDs
6 ThermoCell infrared panels
PFAS-free tested fabric
30-day return guarantee · 1-Year Limited Warranty · May be HSA/FSA eligible through TrueMed
The short answer
Both cost about $700 and both are 1-person portable saunas, but they are different machines. The Sauna Pod 2.0 heats air to 185°F with a 1500W heater. The Pulse PRO uses 6 infrared panels plus integrated 660nm-850nm red light with 320 LEDs, and The Pod Company's own FAQ says its red light is not red light therapy. If you want infrared heat and red light in one tent, the Pulse PRO is the one to buy.
Tested and certified
What the Pulse PRO is certified for
Red light made in an FDA-registered facility. The Pulse PRO's medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light is produced to strict manufacturing standards.
ThermoCell® panels, ultra-low EMF certified by Intertek. The Pulse PRO's 6 ThermoCell® infrared panels are certified ultra-low EMF under the IEC 62233 standard by Intertek, a globally accredited third-party lab.
Certified cover, PFAS-free fabric. An OEKO-TEX® certified insulated cover, and sauna fabric independently tested and certified PFAS-free.
Why the Pulse PRO
Three things the Sauna Pod 2.0 does not match.
Red light with 320 LEDs, built into the tent. The Sauna Pod's red LED strip is for ambiance, per The Pod Company.
ThermoCell infrared panels around you. The Sauna Pod heats air with one 1500W heater.
Independently tested fabric and an OEKO-TEX certified cover. The Pod Company does not publish either.
Side by side
About the same price. Different heat, different light.
SaunaBox Pulse PRO
- 6 ThermoCell infrared panels, ~160°F max
- Integrated 660nm-850nm red light, 320 LEDs
- OEKO-TEX cover, PFAS-free tested fabric
110V outlet
No tools
Ultra low EMF
HSA / FSA
Sauna Pod 2.0
- Hot air heater, up to 185°F
- 100% natural cotton cabin, fits up to 6'7"
- 2-year warranty, 5 to 10 minute setup
37.5 lb
120V, 1,500W
5 to 10 min setup
The numbers
Pulse PRO vs Sauna Pod 2.0, spec by spec.
| Spec | SaunaBox Pulse PRO | Sauna Pod 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Sep 14, 2026) | $697 (was $999) | |
| Heat type | Infrared, 6 ThermoCell panels | Hot air (dry heat), one 1500W heater |
| Max temperature | ~160°F internal (varies by environment) | Up to 185°F |
| Red light | Integrated medical-grade 660nm-850nm, 320 LEDs | Red LED strip for ambiance, "not red light therapy" per their FAQ |
| Power | 110V, 1600W | 120V, 1500W |
| Size | 36" L x 36" W x 68" H | 39" diameter x 68" H |
| Max user height | Up to 7'1" | Up to 6'7" |
| Cover material | OEKO-TEX certified insulated cover, MylarMax heat-reflective lining | 100% natural cotton, FSC certified cotton fabrics |
| PFAS testing | Fabric independently tested PFAS-free | Not published |
| EMF | Ultra-low EMF, IEC 62233 certified EMF shielding | Described as a "Low-EMF appliance", no test standard published |
| Setup | About 15 minutes, no tools | 5 to 10 minutes |
| In the box | Tent, 6 panels, red light, Bluetooth controller, wood stool, SweatLock floor mat, carrying case | Cabin, heater, red LED light, foldable chair, carry bag |
| Warranty | 1-Year Limited Warranty | 2 years |
| Returns | 30-day return guarantee | 30 days, unused, customer pays return shipping |
Sauna Pod 2.0 details from podcompany.com, retrieved September 14, 2026. Pulse PRO details from saunabox.com the same day. "Not published" means we could not find it on The Pod Company's site.
Hot air or infrared: which one do you want?
These two look alike from across the room. Both are 1-person, 68 inches tall, and fold away. They do not heat you the same way.
The Sauna Pod 2.0 uses one 1500W heater to heat the air inside, up to 185°F in 15 to 20 minutes, according to The Pod Company.
The Pulse PRO uses 6 ThermoCell infrared panels around you. Infrared panels warm your body directly instead of heating the air first, so the Pulse PRO runs at about 160°F max internal heat.
If the highest air temperature is the only number you care about, the Sauna Pod reads higher. If you are shopping for an infrared sauna, the Sauna Pod is not one.
What does red light add, and which one has it?
Both have a red glow inside. Only one is built for red light therapy.
The Pod Company answers this on its own page: the red light in the Sauna Pod is "a regular red LED strip that improves the ambiance during a session. It is not red light therapy."
The Pulse PRO builds in medical-grade 660nm-850nm red light with 320 LEDs, made in an FDA-registered facility, running while you sit in the infrared heat.
The Pod Company sells red light as a separate panel. Its Infra Pod starts at $399. In the Pulse PRO, it is part of the .
What do you get for ?
The Pulse PRO costs £697 less than the Sauna Pod 2.0 at list price. Here is what that covers.
Published material testing. An OEKO-TEX certified insulated cover, fabric independently tested PFAS-free, and IEC 62233 certified EMF shielding. The Pod Company publishes FSC certified cotton and UL-listed electrical parts, but no PFAS or OEKO-TEX results.
Room for tall users. SaunaBox rates the Pulse PRO for users up to 7'1". The Sauna Pod 2.0 is listed up to 6'7".
A full kit in the box. Bluetooth controller, foldable wood stool, SweatLock floor mat and a carrying case, all included.
Straight answer
Where each one comes out ahead.
Where the Pulse PRO wins
- Infrared heat from 6 ThermoCell panels, if infrared is what you are shopping for
- Integrated 660nm-850nm red light with 320 LEDs, no separate panel to buy
- Published testing: OEKO-TEX cover, PFAS-free tested fabric, IEC 62233 EMF shielding
Fits users up to 7'1", with a Bluetooth controller, stool and floor mat included
Where the Sauna Pod 2.0 wins
Hotter air: up to 185°F versus about 160°F in the Pulse PRO- Longer warranty: 2 years versus the Pulse PRO's 1-Year Limited Warranty
Faster listed setup: 5 to 10 minutes versus about 15
What reviewers said
What reviewers said about SaunaBox.
"Pulse Pro brings spa-level infrared heat and red light into a truly portable form factor, trading only a bit of headroom and the initial purchase price for everyday convenience and recovery gains."
Recovatech"Saunabox is one of the most affordable sauna brands I've ever worked with."
Wellness Daddy"This is an awesome way to enjoy an amazing sauna experience and reap the benefits of an infrared sauna in your own home sauna."
Gabe BultThe Pulse PRO
Infrared heat and red light, in one tent.
Portable infrared sauna tent with 6 ThermoCell panels
Integrated 660nm-850nm red light, 320 LEDs
Bluetooth controller- Foldable wood stool and SweatLock floor mat
- Carrying case and cords
- 30-day return guarantee and 1-Year Limited Warranty
Questions
Pulse PRO or Sauna Pod 2.0?
Is the Sauna Pod 2.0 an infrared sauna?
No. The Pod Company describes the Sauna Pod 2.0 as a portable hot air, dry heat sauna with a patent pending 1500W heater that heats up to 185°F. The Pulse PRO is an infrared sauna with 6 ThermoCell infrared panels.
Does the Sauna Pod 2.0 have red light therapy?
The Pod Company's own FAQ says the red light in the Sauna Pod is a regular red LED strip that improves the ambiance during a session, and that it is not red light therapy. The Pulse PRO has integrated medical-grade 660nm-850nm red light with 320 LEDs.
Which one gets hotter?
The Sauna Pod 2.0 lists up to 185°F of hot air. The Pulse PRO reaches about 160°F max internal heat, which varies by environment. They heat in different ways: hot air versus infrared panels.
Which has the longer warranty?
The Sauna Pod 2.0 comes with a 2-year warranty. The Pulse PRO comes with a 1-Year Limited Warranty. The Pulse PRO also has a 30-day return guarantee.
How tall can I be?
SaunaBox says the Pulse PRO fits users up to 7 feet 1 inch tall. The Pod Company lists the Sauna Pod 2.0 as suitable for people up to 6 feet 7 inches.
How long does setup take, and what plug does it need?
The Pulse PRO assembles in about 15 minutes with no tools and runs on a standard 110V outlet at 1600W. The Pod Company lists 5 to 10 minutes of setup and 120V at 1500W for the Sauna Pod 2.0.
Can I use HSA or FSA funds for the Pulse PRO?
The Pulse PRO may be eligible through TrueMed. Check eligibility at checkout.
Where these numbers come from
Every Sauna Pod 2.0 fact on this page comes from The Pod Company's own website. Every Pulse PRO fact comes from the live SaunaBox product page. Prices and specs can change.
- https://podcompany.com/products/the-sauna-pod - The Sauna Pod 2.0 product page: price, heat, heater, power, dimensions, height limit, materials, certifications, EMF, red light FAQ, setup, contents, warranty, returns, discount code banner. Retrieved September 14, 2026.
- https://podcompany.com/products/the-sauna-pod.js - Shopify product data: price $697, compare-at $999. Retrieved September 14, 2026.
- https://podcompany.com/policies/refund-policy - Return window and conditions. Retrieved September 14, 2026.
- https://podcompany.com/products/the-infra-pod - Infra Pod red light panel pricing (from $399). Retrieved September 14, 2026.
- https://saunabox.com/products/pulse-pro-portable-ir-sauna-with-redlights - Pulse PRO live product page: specs, warranty, height limit, returns, reviewer quotes. Retrieved September 14, 2026.
- https://saunabox.com/products/pulse-pro-portable-ir-sauna-with-redlights.js - Pulse PRO live price: , was . Retrieved September 14, 2026.