Microcurrent Devices Like NuFACE, Alternatives Compared
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
Read bio
Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
Read bio
Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
Read bio
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
Read bio
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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The closest alternatives to NuFACE are ZIIP HALO for nanocurrent plus microcurrent, TheraFace PRO for a published output with extra features, FOREO BEAR 2 for the highest published microcurrent figure, and a microcurrent plus EMS device if you want a stronger setting.
This comparison helps you find the right alternative, such as:
- what to compare when you look beyond NuFACE
- seven alternatives with prices and specifications
- the cheapest alternative
- the alternative with the most features
- when to stay with NuFACE
and many more!
We make PureLift, one of the alternatives listed, so every competitor figure comes from that brand's published material.
Key Points:
NuFACE lists the TRINITY+ Starter Kit at $395 and the MINI+ Starter Kit at $250, both FDA cleared, with no published output and a branded gel from $35.
TheraFace PRO at $419.99 publishes 500 microamps, holds clearance K212238 and adds LED and percussion.
FOREO BEAR 2 at $339 publishes 680 microamps with ten intensities.
The Skin Gym wand at about $99 to $120 is the cheapest alternative, with a published 10 to 500 microamps and no FDA clearance we could find.
If you want a cleared device from the best known brand at the entry level, the NuFACE MINI+ is still the better buy.
Why people look for alternatives to NuFACE
NuFACE is the best known brand, but buyers often look elsewhere for a lower price, a published output figure, no branded gel or a stronger setting.
How NuFACE itself compares is in our NuFACE vs other brands article, and what owners say about it is in our NuFACE reviews summary.
Prices and specifications come from brand and retailer listings checked in September and October 2026 and change often, so confirm them before you buy.
What to compare
An FDA clearance you can look up for the exact model.
A published output, ideally with the load it was measured at.
The yearly cost of any required gel.
The technologies, from microcurrent only to microcurrent plus EMS or LED.
The full checklist is in our guide to choosing a toning device.
Seven alternatives to NuFACE
ZIIP HALO
About $399.99, nanocurrent and microcurrent, with the original HALO cleared under K212342 and K161484. Reviewers report a range of 900 nanoamps to 500 microamps for the HALO 2.0, and ZIIP gels add to the cost. See our ZIIP HALO 2 review.
Therabody TheraFace PRO
$419.99, 500 microamps, cleared under K212238, with LED and percussion massage. See TheraFace PRO vs NuFACE TRINITY.
FOREO BEAR 2
$339, 680 microamps with ten intensities. We could not identify a separate clearance for BEAR 2. See FOREO BEAR vs BEAR 2.
FOREO BEAR mini
Around $199 to $219, three intensities, covered by clearance K200803. See our FOREO BEAR mini review.
MyoLift Mini
$329, up to 400 microamps, with the MyoLift QT cleared under K213078. See MyoLift QT vs NuFACE TRINITY.
Skin Gym Microcurrent Wand
About $99 to $120, five levels, a published 10 to 500 microamps and no clearance we could find. See our Skin Gym wand review.
PureLift Face
$499, nanocurrent, microcurrent and EMS on one dial, up to 7 mA at 500 ohms, cleared under K190269, with no required branded gel. See PureLift vs NuFACE.
The best alternative for each buyer
Cheapest
The Skin Gym wand, if you accept no FDA clearance. Otherwise the FOREO BEAR mini, listed at $199 to $219, is a lower-priced cleared option than the NuFACE MINI+ Starter Kit at $250.
Most transparent
TheraFace PRO, which publishes its output and holds a clearance.
Most microcurrent control
FOREO BEAR 2, with ten intensities and four microcurrent types.
Nanocurrent and microcurrent
ZIIP HALO, or a device with a nanocurrent level. The difference is in our microcurrent vs nanocurrent article.
A stronger setting and no branded gel
Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10, plus an Infuse pass, on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and they work with any water-based conductive serum.
When to stay with NuFACE
When you want the most familiar brand with the most reviews.
When you want a cleared device from the best known brand at the entry level.
When you want a gentle microcurrent-only routine. See our NuFACE Mini review.
Results are about consistency
No study has compared NuFACE with any alternative head to head. A randomized controlled trial by Kavanagh and colleagues, published in 2012, measured the effect of facial electrical stimulation after twelve weeks of regular use, and consistency matters more than brand.
Ten devices are compared side by side in our best microcurrent device for face article.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to NuFACE
It depends on your priority. TheraFace PRO publishes its output with a clearance, FOREO BEAR 2 has the most microcurrent control and ZIIP HALO adds nanocurrent.
What is a cheaper alternative to NuFACE
The Skin Gym wand at about $99 to $120 is cheaper, but we found no FDA clearance for it. Among cleared devices, the FOREO BEAR mini at $199 to $219 costs less than the NuFACE MINI+ Starter Kit at $250.
Is ZIIP better than NuFACE
No study shows either gives better results. ZIIP adds nanocurrent, and both require branded gels.
Is there a microcurrent device that does not need NuFACE gel
Yes. Some devices, including ours, work with any water-based conductive serum.
Are NuFACE alternatives FDA cleared
Several are, including ZIIP HALO, TheraFace PRO, MyoLift and PureLift. Check any device in the FDA 510(k) database.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.