Specs side by side
| Specification | Katalyst | SQAI |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 6.7 / 10 | 4.6 / 10 |
| Built for | Home[1] | Home[1] |
| Cables | Wireless impulse pack, Bluetooth 4.2[2] | Bluetooth controller[1] |
| Electrodes | Wet: spray bottle and two base layers included[1] | Movable pads worn with conductive base layers[1] |
| Channels / muscle groups | 13 output channels[2] | not published |
| Frequency range | 1–105 Hz[2] | not published |
| Pulse width | 250–375 µs[2] | not published |
| Control | iPhone or iPad only, iOS 16 or later[1] | App for iOS and Android[1] |
| Battery | “10+ workouts per charge”[1] | not published |
| Suit care | not published | Inner layer machine washable[1] |
| Certification | FDA 510(k) K190966, over the counter (2020)[3] | Claims “FDA-Cleared”. No 510(k) number published, no FDA record found under the SQAI name[2] |
| Price | $2,999[1] | $2,995[1] |
| Ongoing fees | Membership required at purchase: $35–49 a month[1] | None[1] |
| Warranty | Impulse pack 3 years, suit parts 1 year[4] | 1 year. 30-day return with $450 restocking fee[1] |
Numbers in brackets link to the source on each review page. “Not published” means we could not find the figure in the manufacturer’s public material, and we do not guess.
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Katalyst | SQAI |
|---|---|---|
| Stimulation technology | 7.5 | 4.0 |
| Control and software | 8.0 | 6.0 |
| Comfort, hygiene and care | 4.0 | 6.0 |
| Safety and certification | 7.0 | 2.5 |
| Cost and ownership | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.7 | 4.6 |
Cost
Both list at about $3,000. SQAI has no subscription, so its three-year cost stays at $2,995. Katalyst requires a membership and reaches about $4,259 to $4,763.
Documentation
Katalyst’s clearance, K190966, is public with channels and parameters. SQAI claims an FDA clearance without a number and publishes no channel count, parameters or battery life.
Handling
Katalyst is a wet system with base layers. SQAI uses movable pads with conductive base layers, which adapt to different bodies but add a step. Katalyst needs an Apple device. SQAI supports iOS and Android.
Returns
SQAI charges a $450 restocking fee within its 30-day trial. Check Katalyst’s current delivery status before ordering, because its product page showed outdated preorder wording when we checked.
Verdict
Katalyst is the better-documented product and SQAI the cheaper one to own. At this price level, both are beaten on value by the dry, subscription-free suits in our ranking.
Sources for every figure are listed on the Katalyst and SQAI review pages.