If you are choosing between these two, here is the short version: Sunlighten is the premium full-spectrum infrared cabin built for a hot, feature-rich sweat session. SaunaSpace is the leader for pure near-infrared and red light, a focused low-heat tool. They are not really competitors. They solve different problems.
This comparison comes up because both names get pulled into the same "best infrared" and "red light sauna" searches, even though the products barely overlap. Sorting out which one you actually want saves you a few thousand dollars and a lot of second-guessing.
If you are not even sure infrared is the right lane, start with best infrared sauna brands for the wider field. If the light is the part you care about, best red light sauna goes deeper on that specific decision.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | Sunlighten | SaunaSpace |
|---|
| What it is | Premium full-spectrum infrared cabin | Pure near-infrared and red-light tool |
| Heat | Hot, sweat-focused infrared session | Lower heat, the light is the main event |
| Best for | Buyers who want a feature-rich premium infrared sauna | Buyers who want red light and near-infrared as the point |
| Positioning | Premium wellness, customizable, research-forward | Non-toxic materials, low-EMF, biohacker niche |
| Price tier | Premium | Premium |
Sunlighten
Sunlighten is a premium full-spectrum infrared brand, founded in 1999 and engineered in the USA. The product line is built around a hot, feature-rich infrared sauna experience with customizable models that fit a home or wellness space. It is positioned for the health-conscious buyer who wants regular infrared sessions for relaxation, recovery, or general wellness.
If you want a genuinely hot full-spectrum infrared cabin with a polished premium ownership experience, Sunlighten is squarely in that lane. The question is not whether it is good. It is whether a full-spectrum hot cabin is the product you actually want.
Best for
- buyers who want a hot, full-spectrum infrared sweat session as the main event
- people who want a premium, feature-rich cabin and are comfortable paying for it
- households building a regular infrared routine for relaxation and recovery
Watch for
Sunlighten is premium-priced, so the spend needs to map to a clear reason in your buying brief. Confirm the exact model dimensions against your space and the circuit it needs before you commit. Warranty terms and dealer support vary, so read the current warranty document for the specific model in writing rather than trusting a summary. Treat that as a question to settle, not a stated fact from us.
SaunaSpace
SaunaSpace is the brand to start with when the light is the point, not a bonus feature on a hot box. The whole line is built around near-infrared and red-light therapy with non-toxic materials and a low-EMF design philosophy. It was founded in the USA, circa 2012 per founder background, by Brian Richards. This is a focused single-purpose tool, and that focus is why it leads the pure red-light and near-infrared niche. This is consistent with our best red light sauna guide, which also calls SaunaSpace the category leader for pure red light.
The lineup, per SaunaSpace's published models, includes the portable Firelight, the permanent Thermalight, the compact Pocket, and the larger Sauna Cabana build.
Best for
- buyers who want red light and near-infrared as the primary experience
- biohackers who care about non-toxic materials and low-EMF positioning
- people who want a focused single-purpose device and will accept lower heat to get it
Watch for
SaunaSpace is premium-priced, and it does not behave like a hot full-spectrum infrared cabin. If you also want a genuinely hot, sweat-heavy session, a pure near-infrared tool can disappoint you on heat. It is single-purpose by design, which is a strength for the right buyer and a limitation for someone who wanted one cabin to do everything. Warranty terms vary by model and change over time, so confirm the current warranty and support reputation for the exact model in writing. Do not treat that as a stated fact from us.
Our Take
If you want a hot, full-spectrum infrared cabin with a premium feature set, Sunlighten is the fit.
If the red light and near-infrared are the actual reason you are buying, and you will accept lower heat to get a focused, non-toxic, low-EMF tool, SaunaSpace is the fit.
There is no universal winner here because they are not the same product. The winner is the one that matches what you will actually do three times a week six months from now. If you want both serious heat and serious red light in one cabin, that is a different question, and best red light sauna covers the combo path.
FAQ
Is Sunlighten or SaunaSpace better?
Neither is universally better because they solve different problems. Sunlighten is a premium full-spectrum infrared cabin built for a hot sweat session. SaunaSpace is the leader for pure near-infrared and red light, a focused low-heat tool. Pick based on whether you want the heat or the light as the main event.
Is SaunaSpace a sauna or a red light device?
It is a near-infrared and red-light cabin built around the light, with lower heat than a full-spectrum infrared sauna. That focus is the point. If a hot, sweat-heavy session is what you want, a pure near-infrared tool is not the right lane.
Why does SaunaSpace cost so much for lower heat?
Because you are paying for a focused single-purpose tool with non-toxic materials and low-EMF design, not for maximum heat output. That is the right tradeoff for the buyer who wants the light as the primary experience and the wrong one for someone who mainly wants a hot sweat.
Can Sunlighten do red light therapy too?
Sunlighten is a full-spectrum infrared brand, and full-spectrum includes a near-infrared component. If dedicated red-light dosing is your real priority, confirm the exact red light specification for the model you are considering in writing rather than assuming, since "full-spectrum" and "red light" are not always the same dose.
What should I read next?
Read best red light sauna for the pure red-light versus combo decision, best infrared sauna brands for the wider premium field, and the individual reviews for Sunlighten and SaunaSpace.
You've done the research.
Get your recommendation.
Answer 7 questions