NuFACE Mini vs FOREO BEAR, Which Should You Buy
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
Buy the NuFACE MINI+ if you want a simple cleared microcurrent device for the face and neck, the FOREO BEAR mini if you want a small app-connected device for the lower face, and the BEAR 2 if you want a published 680 microamps and ten intensities.
This comparison covers all three, such as:
- price
- published output and intensities
- massage and anti-shock features
- gel and running costs
- FDA clearance
and many more!
We make PureLift, a competing device, so this comparison sticks to what each brand publishes and says plainly where each one wins.
Key Points:
On NuFACE's site the MINI+ Starter Kit is $250; the FOREO BEAR mini has been listed at $199 to $219 and BEAR 2 at $339.
The MINI+ and BEAR mini both have three intensities, while BEAR 2 has ten.
FOREO publishes 680 microamps for BEAR 2; NuFACE publishes no output for the MINI+.
Both FOREO devices add T-Sonic massage and an Anti-Shock System; the MINI+ does not.
The MINI+ holds clearance K191672 and the BEAR mini is covered by K200803; we could not identify a clearance for BEAR 2.
The short answer
NuFACE MINI+ for a simple, cleared face and neck routine.
FOREO BEAR mini for a small, app-led lower face routine.
FOREO BEAR 2 for the most control and a published output.
Every figure comes from the brand's own website or listings, checked in October 2026. Prices change often, so confirm before you buy.
Side by side
| NuFACE MINI+ | FOREO BEAR mini | FOREO BEAR 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 Starter Kit | $199 to $219 | $339 |
| Intensities | Three | Three | Ten |
| Published output | Not published | Not published | 680 microamps |
| Massage | None | T-Sonic | Five T-Sonic options |
| Anti-shock | Not listed | Anti-Shock System | Improved Anti-Shock System |
| Gel | NuFACE gels from $35 | Water-based conductive layer | Water-based conductive layer |
| FDA 510(k) | K191672 | K200803 | Not identified |
Settings and output
The MINI+ and BEAR mini both have three intensities. BEAR 2 has ten, with four microcurrent types, and FOREO publishes 680 microamps for it.
A higher microamp figure is not the same as a better result. See our microamps article.
Comfort features
Both FOREO devices pair microcurrent with T-Sonic pulsations and an Anti-Shock System that adjusts the current to your skin. The MINI+ keeps to microcurrent alone.
Running costs
The MINI+ is designed around NuFACE's own gels, from $35. FOREO devices need a water-based conductive layer. Gel options are in our gel and serum guide.
Who each one suits
Choose NuFACE MINI+ if
You want a cleared device with the simplest routine and the brand most people know. See our NuFACE Mini review.
Choose FOREO BEAR mini if
You want the smallest app-guided option. See our BEAR mini review.
Choose FOREO BEAR 2 if
You want ten intensities, massage options and a published output. See our BEAR 2 review.
If neither fits, a third option
Both devices share gaps that matter to some buyers: only BEAR 2 publishes an output and none states the load behind its figure, and none offers a stronger EMS setting.
We make PureLift, so weigh this accordingly. Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10 on one dial, publish their output at a stated load, up to 7 mA at 500 ohms on PureLift Face, and work with any water-based conductive serum. PureLift Face is $499 and cleared under K190269.
If the two devices above suit you, buy one of them. If you want a stronger setting or a published output, see our direct comparisons: PureLift vs NuFACE, PureLift vs ZIIP HALO, PureLift vs FOREO BEAR and PureLift vs Medicube Age-R.
Safety
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 NuFACE Mini better than FOREO BEAR
Neither has been shown to give better results. The MINI+ is simpler with a clearance, while FOREO adds massage, anti-shock and, on BEAR 2, more intensities.
Which is cheaper, NuFACE Mini or FOREO BEAR mini
The FOREO BEAR mini has been listed at $199 to $219, below the NuFACE MINI+ Starter Kit at $250.
Which is stronger, NuFACE Mini or FOREO BEAR 2
FOREO publishes 680 microamps for BEAR 2. NuFACE does not publish an output for the MINI+.
Are NuFACE Mini and FOREO BEAR FDA cleared
The MINI+ is covered by K191672 and the BEAR mini by K200803. We could not identify a clearance for BEAR 2.
Does FOREO BEAR need special gel
FOREO devices need a water-based conductive layer. NuFACE devices are designed around NuFACE's own gels.
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.