Methodology
How we score EMS suits
Five criteria, fixed weights, one rubric for every system. If you disagree with our weights, you can apply your own to the same sourced data.
Read this first. This site is run by people who work with Visionbody. A desk comparison like ours rates documented specifications, not lab measurements. We have not bench-tested competitor devices, and we do not claim to have.
The five criteria
| Criterion | Weight | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Stimulation technology | 30% | How the impulse reaches the muscle: cable-free operation, electrode type, number of independently controlled channels, and the published frequency and pulse-width range. |
| Control and software | 20% | How you steer a session: app or console quality, per-channel intensity, programme library, support for trainers running several people, and update policy. |
| Comfort, hygiene and care | 15% | What daily use is like: preparation time, whether the suit must be sprayed wet, washing, sizing and how many people can share a system hygienically. |
| Safety and certification | 20% | Documented conformity: medical-device certification, quality-management certification, published safety information and intensity safeguards. |
| Cost and ownership | 15% | What it costs to own: whether the price is public, compulsory subscriptions, warranty length, spare suits, and where it is sold and serviced. |
The overall score is the weighted average of the five criterion scores, rounded to one decimal. Stimulation technology carries the most weight because it decides what a system can physically do. Software, comfort and price decide how pleasant it is to live with.
Point rubrics
Stimulation technology (30%)
- Cable-free training: up to 3 points
- Dry electrodes that work without wetting: up to 2 points
- Independently adjustable channels covering all major muscle groups: up to 3 points
- Published, wide parameter range (frequency, pulse width): up to 2 points
Control and software (20%)
- Per-channel intensity control during the session: up to 3 points
- Programme range and guided content, such as classes or a workout video library: up to 3 points
- Works for both self-guided and trainer-led sessions: up to 2 points
- Platform support and updates: up to 2 points
Comfort, hygiene and care (15%)
- No wetting or underwear layer needed: up to 3 points
- Machine-washable suit: up to 3 points
- Size range: up to 2 points
- Set-up time and handling: up to 2 points
Safety and certification (20%)
- Certified as a medical device in its main market (for example CE under MDR, or FDA clearance): up to 4 points
- Manufacturer quality system certified (ISO 13485): up to 2 points
- Published contraindications and user guidance: up to 2 points
- Built-in safeguards such as intensity limits or emergency stop: up to 2 points
Cost and ownership (15%)
- Public, transparent pricing: up to 3 points
- No compulsory subscription: up to 2 points
- Warranty length: up to 2 points
- Availability, service, spare parts and owner support, such as a community or places to train: up to 3 points
Rules for facts and sources
- Primary sources first. We use manufacturer websites, manuals, and regulator databases such as the FDA 510(k) database. Secondary sources are used only when a primary source is missing, and are labelled.
- Unpublished means zero points for that item, not a guess. If a manufacturer does not publish a specification, the system earns no points for it and the table says “not published”. A manufacturer can change this at any time by publishing the figure or sending it to us.
- Dates matter. Every source carries the date we accessed it. Prices and product lines change, so check the manufacturer before you buy.
- Same rubric for everyone. Visionbody is scored with the rubric above, and its weaknesses are listed in its review like any other system.
What a desk comparison cannot tell you
How a suit feels on your body, how you tolerate the impulse, and how good the local service is are things no specification sheet shows. Wherever you can, book a trial session before you buy, and compare at least two systems in person.
Change log
- Version 1.2, September 2026. Visionbody Pro, the professional line, is now listed as a separate product in the professional group and scored with the same rubric as the other professional systems. The rubric itself did not change.
- Version 1.1, September 2026. We made two rubric items more explicit. “Programme range” now names guided content such as classes or a workout video library, and “Availability and service” now names owner support such as a community or places to train. Both apply to every brand. Katalyst already held full points for its guided classes, and OHM’s studios were already counted. Visionbody’s score rose from 8.6 to 8.8 after it published its Voltroom community page.
- Version 1.0. First publication.
Methodology version 1.2, September 2026.