How to Evaluate a Low-Cost Therapy Laser
How to spot the red flags before you waste money on underpowered or non-compliant "therapy lasers."
We try to keep things positive when discussing competing lasers, but we get constant calls asking how our products compare to the unbelievably cheap and hyper-marketed lasers advertised online. Professional-quality lasers are expensive, so there's a market for people trying to make a quick buck.
After years in this business, we've found that "too good to be true" lasers fall into five categories:
Underpowered Lasers
In the US, over-the-counter lasers that don't require a doctor's recommendation are limited to about 5mW, the power of many laser pointers. Some companies claim this is enough power and that they get similar results to professional therapy lasers.
The truth is in the numbers:
A 12-hour continuous therapy session with a 5mW system puts out less energy in the therapeutic IR spectrum (780-820nm) than you'd get sitting in the sun for 34 minutes.
Don't pay more than $10 for a 5mW laser. Just put on sunscreen and sit outside.
We sell our systems based on specs, not claims. We publish specifications for every laser at the top of each product page.
Dangerous Lasers
Quality laser manufacturers spend significant money designing safe systems and testing them for use on humans and animals. Using special optics, they spread the beam over larger areas so systems can deliver higher dosages without overheating tissue.
Cheap lasers usually have cheap optics, or no optics at all, making them dangerous. Even a 100mW laser can burn tissue if optics aren't properly designed. This is especially critical for under-engineered Class 4 systems coming from overseas.
Non-Compliant Products
What about lasers over 5mW on eBay or sold by "energy healers"? These lasers make health claims but aren't FDA cleared and exceed the 5mW limit. It's pretty clear-cut: these products don't comply with FDA regulations.
The FDA has brought enforcement actions against sellers of unapproved medical devices, including criminal prosecutions. Beyond the legal question, consider the practical one: if a seller is not complying with U.S. requirements, how reliable are their specs and claims, and who will service your laser or notify you of a safety issue later?
If You're a Healthcare Professional
Much of the legal liability for laser use is tied to the company holding FDA clearance. Consider:
Licensing Risk
Will your licensing body allow non-FDA cleared devices? Using them might put your license at risk depending on state requirements and your regulatory body.
Insurance Risk
Will your malpractice insurance cover your use? Non-FDA cleared equipment can neutralize your coverage. Even if a claim is nonsense and easily dismissed with FDA-approved products, it may be hard to defend your practice with questionable equipment.
False or Exaggerated Claims
We sometimes buy lasers from different manufacturers to see if they meet our standards. We recently tested some very low-cost "eBay" systems.
Real Test Results
We purchased and tested a single unit from one low-cost overseas seller, rated by its manufacturer at 540mW. This was one unit, tested once, on our own bench, not a controlled study, and not necessarily representative of that seller's other units.
That's 0.07% of rated power. When we asked why, the manufacturer told us, in substance, that running at sustained maximum output would shorten the life of the laser medium.
Translation: if they met their specification, the laser wouldn't last very long. When you buy a questionable product, you can't trust anything, the actual power, the warranty, or the safety.
Ask us for FDA clearance or Health Canada clearance paperwork for any laser we sell. We'll send it to you.
Questionable Science
Several companies distinguish their products using questionable science. They have fake "review" sites claiming most cold lasers are scams while their product is the best on the market.
Common Scams to Watch For
Laser Pointers Sold as Therapy Devices
Some "therapeutic cold lasers" selling for $600-$3,200 are nearly identical to laser pointers available for under $10. The same products appear on eBay for pennies. Adding buzzwords doesn't make a pointer therapeutic.
Magic Stickers
Anyone claiming stickers can make lasers more powerful is running a scam. We don't need to explain why this is nonsense. If you really need a sticker, we'll send you some kid's stickers for free, they'll boost performance exactly as much.
Information-Encoded Lasers
These products claim to add "information" to the laser beam using futuristic technology. The first clue it's a scam: the product looks like a cheap laser pointer. Yes, engineers have made machines communicate over laser links, but they defined the language for both transmitter and receiver. How does a tiny company learn the language your cells speak and build a laser without any microprocessor that can talk to them? If you had those resources, you wouldn't put it in a device that looks like a $10 pointer.
AI Lasers
At ColdLasers.org, we use AI to save time on tasks where we lack expertise. But for laser protocols? The science is well-defined. Adjusting for skin color, patient size, chronicity, and pain level creates about 14,000 discrete possibilities for 12 protocols, but the algorithm is well-defined. AI would be less accurate and might make horrible mistakes.
When a laser has a small set of protocols and claims "AI," assume the company is lying to sell more systems. AI makes sense when you have unlimited inputs creating one output, not the other way around.
Marketing Buzzwords to Avoid
These terms are used to make lasers sound special. They have no scientific research backing their claims and are purely marketing:
On the WALT (World Association of Laser Therapists) website, laser therapy pioneers Jan Turner, Lars Hode, and Peter Jenkins wrote "How Not to Promote Laser Therapy." These legends of laser therapy address these gimmicks and conclude:
"Even if such waves exist, there is no evidence whatsoever that they would have a positive or negative effect on cell function."
Turner and Hode are huge advocates for laser therapy. They see how this marketing hurts the entire industry. There's no need for fabrications when the science is so solid.
Our Approach
Legal Products Only
All products are FDA cleared except those marked "animal use only."
Specs-Based Selling
We sell on wavelengths, power levels, pulsing frequencies, warranties, and protocol support.
Tested & Verified
We test samples of every system and guarantee they meet specifications.
No Hyper-Marketing
We stay away from buzzwords and questionable claims as much as possible.
When comparing products, make sure you understand the specs and how they affect performance before buying. Be on the lookout for illegal, hyper-marketed, and underpowered systems.
Have questions about a specific laser?
If you've seen something online and aren't sure if it's legitimate, call us. We'll give you an honest assessment, even if it means recommending a competitor's quality product.