People keep asking: should you buy a grounding mat or a PEMF mat? Grounding mats start at twenty five dollars, PEMF mats often cost over a thousand, so why compare them? Searches for 'pemf mat vs grounding mat' happen thousands of times monthly.

We reviewed both to see which helps pain, stress, or sleep. Grounding mats and PEMF mats work differently, but combining PEMF with infrared tech, like HigherDOSE and Bon Charge do, changes outcomes. This post breaks down grounding mats, PEMF mats, and infrared PEMF mats, then compares them side by side.

Here's a quick rundown of our blog post:

• Grounding mats 101 - Simplicity vs limitation
• PEMF Mats - Healing, pain & recovery on a deeper levels
• The Game Changer  - Infrared meets PEMF & gemstones
• Grounding vs. PEMF vs. Infrared PEMF - Side-by-side comparison 
• Which mat (or device) should you use? 
• Top 4 infrared PEMF mats we trust
• Grounding Mat or Infrared PEMF Mat - Final thoughts

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PEMF infrared mats support yoga by improving circulation and aiding muscle recovery

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Grounding Mats 101: Simplicity vs Limitations

Grounding mats do something beautifully simple. They reconnect your body to the Earth’s natural charge. You plug the mat into a grounded outlet, place your bare skin on it, and let the electrons do their work.

The idea is that this connection helps calm your nervous system. It may lower cortisol and support your sleep cycle [1]. Many people say they feel less stressed and more balanced after regular use.

Across hundreds of reviews, one pattern stands out. People often mention better sleep, less tension, and a light grounded feeling. It just feels natural even after a short session.

The Hooga Grounding Mat is one of the most popular options. At under thirty dollars, it’s a smart way to test the waters. You can use it while working, sleeping, or even meditating.

But let’s be honest. Grounding mats have limits. They do not produce heat. They do not increase circulation. They do not send energy into your body the way PEMF does. If you are dealing with chronic pain, fatigue, or want to speed up recovery after workouts, you may need something stronger.

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The Hooga grounding yoga mat helps you connect gently with the Earth during your yoga practice

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PEMF mats: Healing, pain & recovery on a deeper Level

PEMF mats work on a different level. They send gentle electromagnetic pulses deep into your body. This energy helps your cells regenerate and heal faster.

The technology is backed by the FDA for bone healing [2]. In fact, a 2024 clinical study showed that people with osteoarthritis experienced a seventy-three percent reduction in pain using PEMF therapy [3]. 

More about the science behind PEMF therapy 👉  PEMF for pain, PEMF for sleep, PEMF for inflammation, PEMF for Osteoarthritis, PEMF for anxiety, and PEMF therapy for athletes.

That said, traditional PEMF mats do not provide heat. This means they miss out on the added benefits of infrared therapy. Heat can improve blood flow and relax muscles in ways PEMF alone does not [4].

Want to know more about the differences between PEMF only and PEMF combined with infrared heat? 👉Infrared PEMF Mats vs PEMF-Only Devices.

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Want to understand how PEMF therapy works at the cellular level? 👉 PEMF Mat Therapy: Clinical Evidence & Application Guide 

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The Game Changer: Infrared Meets PEMF & Gemstones

This is where things really shift. Infrared PEMF mats do more than pulse energy into your body. They combine multiple healing forces in one session and the effects go deeper than you might expect.

Inside the mat, crystals like amethyst and tourmaline gently heat up. This creates negative ions, which help neutralize free radicals and mimic the calming effects of grounding. At the same time, far infrared waves warm tissues up to four to six inches deep, helping blood vessels expand and circulation improve [5].

Then comes the PEMF layer. These low-frequency pulses activate cellular repair and support tissue regeneration. But the real advantage is how all three layers work together.

When you bring infrared, PEMF, and heated gemstones, you get a kind of triple-action therapy. And it works. We have reviewed hundreds of real user experiences with infrared PEMF mats. The feedback is consistent. People report deeper pain relief, faster recovery, and a clear shift in how their body feels. 

Learn more about Gemstone Heat Therapy and Infrared Sauna Benefits.

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PEMF and infrared heat combined support your nervous, muscular, and energy systems 👉  Infrared PEMF Mat Technology Works | The Tech Behind The Benefits

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Grounding vs. PEMF vs. Infrared PEMF: Side-by-Side Comparison

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For detailed comparisons:

🔹 HealthyLine vs Bemer 

🔹 Bon Charge vs Bemer 

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Blogpost: HealthyLine PEMF Therapy Mats for Spas & Wellness

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Which Mat (or device) Should You Use? 

grounding mat

If you want a simple, budget-friendly way to reduce systemic inflammation and improve sleep naturally, a grounding mat is a great choice. It works passively without power by transferring Earth’s electrons through conductive materials, helping balance cortisol and calm inflammation over time.

Check out quality options from Hooga Health and Grooni Earthing.

pemf-only devices

If you’re recovering from acute injuries such as fractures, a PEMF-only device is ideal. These deliver targeted pulsed electromagnetic fields with high intensity to promote cellular repair and accelerate healing, making them effective for localized pain and bone health.

infrared pemf mat

If you’re managing chronic pain or autoimmune fatigue, or if you’re looking for a solution for athletic recovery or anxiety relief that goes beyond just one therapy, an infrared PEMF mat could be exactly what you need. Some models even include additional therapies like Red Light Therapy and TENS [6].

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Infrared PEMF mats use updated technology and have a sleek design, making it simple to support wellness while blending into your space

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top 4 infrared pemf mats we trust

We’ve spent a lot of time reviewing PEMF mats. We look at the latest research, the technology, and real user feedback. These four brands stand out because they cover the full range, from compact travel-ready pads to full body mats. They also support different health goals, as outlined below.

🔹 HigherDOSE Infrared Mat
This mat is made for detox, using layers of charcoal and clay to improve purification. It doesn’t include red light therapy. It suits those seeking a luxury wellness experience.

🔹 Bon Charge Infrared PEMF Mat
Bon Charge combines 30Hz PEMF with built-in red light therapy. The red light supports collagen production and skin health. Bon Charge is widely endorsed by athletes and sports professionals

🔹 Therasage TheraPro PEMF Pad
Therasage adds TENS therapy, red light, and heat into one portable design.  Both their pads are great for targeting joints and muscles. They folds easily and are travel-ready. (The TENS comes as two separate small pads)

🔹 HealthyLine Platinum Mats Series
HealthyLine is an FDA-registered company. Their Platinum mats are best for chronic pain sufferers who need medical-grade PEMF control. They include customizable frequency levels from 1 to 30 Hz, sine and square waveforms, photon LEDs, and a 5-gemstone matrix. This is the crown of the HealthyLine PEMF mat series. They also have four other PEMF models. Check out our HealthyLine 5 PEMF mat series lineup.

You can find reviews of these mats on our site to help you decide which one fits your needs best (click the blue links).

For detailed comparisons:

🔹 Bon Charge vs HigherDOSE PEMF Mat

🔹 HigherDose PEMF Mat vs HealthyLine PEMF Mat

🔹 HealthyLine PEMF Mats vs Therasage Therapro Pads

🔹 HigherDose PEMF Mats vs Therasage Therapro Pads

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Don’t forget to use our affiliate discount codes at checkout: 

• saunace10 for 10% off for HealthyLine
• SAUNACE15 for 15% off for Bon Charge
• SAUNACETHERA1 for 10% off for Thera Optimal Health (Therasage)

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Saunace is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission. Find our affiliate policy here. 

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Curious about more infrared PEMF mats? Check out our full list of the Top 8 Best PEMF Mats Review

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So, grounding mat or infrared PEMF mat?

Here’s what we found:

🔹 Grounding’s studies show promise for sleep/stress… but lack depth for chronic pain.

🔹 PEMF alone has FDA nods for bone healing… yet feels clinical, incomplete.

🔹 When combined with infrared and gemstones… PEMF shows stronger results in reducing inflammation and pain.

We didn’t just try these mats ourselves. We tested claims against science. Dug into 200+ studies. Analyzed 1,000+ user experiences.

Wellness tech is full of hype. Saunace exists to cut through that noise. We’re not salespeople. We’re data-focused researchers committed to helping you make informed choices.

Whether you start with a $25 Hooga mat or invest in infrared-PEMF tech. Your healing deserves facts, not guesses.

👉 Continue your fact-finding at Saunace.com

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Saunace.com publishes reviews and usage guides for infrared and PEMF devices to help readers compare options and use them safely; see the About page to learn how we research and evaluate products.

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Curious about what else PEMF therapy can do? Explore the following blog posts:

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References

1. Ghaly M, Teplitz D. The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress. J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Oct;10(5). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15650465/

2. FDA, FDA Presentation, https://www.fda.gov/media/141902

3. Cianni L, et al., Current Evidence Using Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2024 Mar 28;13(7):1959. doi: 10.3390/jcm13071959. PMID: 38610722; PMCID: PMC11012419. httts://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11012419/

4. Fatma Vatansever and Michael R. Hamblin, Far infrared radiation (FIR): its biological effects and medical applications, PubMed, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3699878/

5. Oosterveld FG, et al.. Infrared sauna in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. A pilot study showing good tolerance, short-term improvement of pain and stiffness, and a trend towards long-term beneficial effects. Clin Rheumatol. 2009 Jan;28(1):29-34. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18685882/

6. Cleveland Clinic, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15840-transcutaneous-electrical-nerve-stimulation-tens