How We Review PEMF Devices

Every device we review runs through the same rubric, so a score on one page means the same thing as a score on another. We publish a single number out of 10, to one decimal, backed by five weighted categories. A 9.2 with a breakdown you can inspect is more useful than five gold stars.

The five categories

• Intensity and coverage. The field strength the device actually delivers (in Gauss or microtesla) and how much of the body it treats. We use the manufacturer's published spec where one exists and flag when it does not.
• Build quality. Materials, durability, controls, and how well the device holds up with regular use.
• Ease of use. Setup, program selection, session length, and how much friction stands between you and a session.
• Support and warranty. Length and terms of the warranty, and how reachable and helpful the company is.
• Value. The score relative to price. A capable device at a fair price outscores a marginally better one that costs three times as much.

How we grade the evidence

PEMF is a health topic, so we hold health claims to a higher bar than marketing does. We tie claims to published, peer-reviewed research, and we grade that research honestly: strong, moderate, or limited. Some effects, like improved local circulation, have better support than others. Broad claims about curing disease do not, and we say so.

We are also precise about regulation. A device can be FDA-cleared (allowed to market for a specific use), FDA-registered (an administrative listing, not a clearance), or neither, sold as a general wellness product. These are not the same thing, and we never write "FDA-approved" for a PEMF device unless it documents that exact status.

We buy and test what we can

Where possible, we buy the units we test at normal retail, the same way you would, and we publish original photos and measurements rather than reusing the manufacturer's. Hands-on testing is the difference between a real review and a rewrite of a spec sheet. When we have not tested a unit ourselves, we say that plainly.

Our ratings are set on this rubric alone. They are not influenced by whether a company runs an affiliate program. See how we make money.