PelviRestore vs Elvie vs Perifit: An Honest Comparison
If you've been researching at-home pelvic floor devices, you've probably come across three names: PelviRestore, Elvie, and Perifit. They're all designed to support pelvic floor health — but they work in fundamentally different ways, and the right choice depends entirely on what your body needs.
This comparison is honest. SculptHer makes the PelviRestore, so we'll be upfront about that — and we'll tell you when one of the other devices might actually be a better fit for you.
How Each Device Works
Elvie Trainer — Biofeedback Kegel Trainer
Elvie is an internal biofeedback device. You insert it, connect it to the Elvie app via Bluetooth, and then actively perform Kegel contractions. The app tracks your muscle activity in real time and displays it as a visual on your phone screen. It's designed for women who can already feel their pelvic floor contracting and want data-driven feedback to improve their technique and strength over time.
Requires: Smartphone, Bluetooth, active Kegel participation
Best for: Women who can feel their pelvic floor and want to train it more precisely
Perifit — Biofeedback Kegel Trainer with Gamification
Perifit works similarly to Elvie — it's an internal biofeedback device that connects to an app and tracks your contractions in real time. The key difference is the interface: Perifit turns your Kegel sessions into games, using your muscle contractions to control on-screen characters. It's designed to make pelvic floor training feel engaging and habit-forming.
Requires: Smartphone, Bluetooth, active Kegel participation
Best for: Women who are motivated by gamification and want to build a consistent Kegel habit
SculptHer PelviRestore — EMS Pelvic Floor Support Device
The PelviRestore uses a different technology entirely: electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). Rather than tracking your contractions, it delivers gentle electrical pulses that help stimulate pelvic floor muscle activation directly. You don't need to perform Kegels correctly — or at all — for the device to work. No app, no Bluetooth, no technique required.
EMS has been studied as a modality for pelvic floor support. A 2019 review published in Neurourology and Urodynamics found that electrical stimulation showed meaningful outcomes for women with stress urinary incontinence, particularly those who had difficulty with voluntary muscle contraction.[1]
Requires: Nothing — no app, no Bluetooth, no prior pelvic floor awareness
Best for: Women who have tried Kegels without feeling results, or who feel disconnected from their pelvic floor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | PelviRestore (SculptHer) | Elvie Trainer | Perifit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) | Biofeedback | Biofeedback |
| App required | No | Yes | Yes |
| Active Kegels required | No | Yes | Yes |
| Internal device | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HSA/FSA eligible | Yes | No | No |
| Best for | Women who struggle with Kegels | Data-driven trainers | Gamification-motivated users |
Who Should Choose Which Device
Choose the PelviRestore if:
- You've tried Kegels but can't feel them working
- You're postpartum and feel disconnected from your pelvic floor
- You're perimenopausal or menopausal and want passive, consistent support
- You want to use HSA or FSA funds
- You prefer a simple, app-free routine
Choose Elvie if:
- You can already feel your pelvic floor contracting
- You're motivated by real-time data and clean visual feedback
- You want to track measurable strength improvements over time
Choose Perifit if:
- You want to make pelvic floor training feel like a game
- You're motivated by streaks, scores, and progress tracking
- You already have some pelvic floor awareness and want to build consistency
A Note on Honest Comparisons
Elvie and Perifit are well-designed, clinically-informed devices. If you can feel your pelvic floor and want biofeedback-guided training, either is a legitimate choice. The PelviRestore is designed for a different problem: women who need support activating their pelvic floor in the first place. These aren't competing products so much as tools for different stages of pelvic floor health.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends pelvic floor muscle training as a first-line approach for stress urinary incontinence — and notes that for women who have difficulty identifying the correct muscles, additional support may be beneficial.[2]
References
- Correia GN, et al. "Effects of surface and intravaginal electrical stimulation in the treatment of women with stress urinary incontinence." Neurourology and Urodynamics. 2019. PubMed
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. "Urinary Incontinence in Women." Practice Bulletin, 2021. ACOG.org
Related reading:
→ Pelvic Floor Exercises vs Devices: Kegels vs EMS
→ Pelvic Floor Exercises After Childbirth: A Beginner's Guide
→ Explore the SculptHer PelviRestore
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any pelvic floor treatment program.
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