PureLift vs Microcurrent-Only Devices, What the Difference Means for You
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.
Share
A microcurrent-only device gives gentle toning at one strength range, while PureLift adds nanocurrent below it and EMS above it on the same dial, so you can choose between the gentlest setting and a visible muscle contraction in one session.
This comparison covers the differences, such as:
- what microcurrent-only devices do
- what PureLift adds
- how each one feels
- who each suits
- costs to run
and many more!
We make PureLift, so we have said where a microcurrent-only device is the better choice.
Key Points:
Microcurrent-only devices work in the microamp range, felt as a light tingle or nothing.
PureLift adds nanocurrent at level 1 and EMS from level 3 to 10.
EMS produces a visible contraction for stronger toning.
PureLift publishes its output at a stated load and works with any water-based serum.
A microcurrent-only device suits people who want only the gentlest routine.
What microcurrent-only devices do
Gentle toning with a few intensity levels. See our microcurrent device explainer.
What PureLift adds
| Microcurrent-only | PureLift | |
|---|---|---|
| Technologies | Microcurrent | Nanocurrent, microcurrent, EMS, Infuse |
| Strongest setting | Microamps | Milliamps, up to 7 to 9 mA at 500 ohms |
| Gel | Often branded | Any water-based conductive serum |
Every PureLift model runs nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10 on one dial, plus an Infuse pass, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and works with any water-based conductive serum.
How each one feels
Microcurrent is a light tingle or nothing; EMS is a visible contraction. See our article on what EMS feels like.
Who each suits
Microcurrent-only: the gentlest daily routine. PureLift: anyone who wants both gentle and stronger toning. A randomized controlled trial by Kavanagh and colleagues, published in 2012, measured facial electrical stimulation over twelve weeks.
Brand comparisons
See PureLift vs NuFACE, PureLift vs ZIIP HALO and PureLift vs FOREO BEAR.
| Model | Price | Output | FDA 510(k) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PureLift Face | $499 | Up to 7 mA at 500 ohms | K190269 | Compact, the simplest way into the range |
| PureLift Pro | $699 | Up to 7 mA at 500 ohms | K230506 | Larger handle for longer home sessions |
| PureLift Pro Edition | $799 | Up to 7.7 mA at 500 ohms | K230506 | More output on the Pro body |
| PureLift Pro Plus | $899 | Up to 9 mA at 500 ohms | K221443 | Our strongest output |
| PureLift GLOW | $999 | Up to 9 mA at 500 ohms | K243587 | Adds red 634 nm and blue 465 nm light |
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
Is PureLift a microcurrent device
Yes, and it also has nanocurrent and EMS on the same dial.
Is EMS stronger than microcurrent
Yes. EMS produces a visible muscle contraction.
Which is better, PureLift or a microcurrent-only device
PureLift offers more settings; a microcurrent-only device suits the gentlest routine.
Does PureLift need a special gel
No. Any water-based conductive serum works.
Is PureLift FDA cleared
Yes, every model.
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.