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tDCS Device Comparison

2020 tDCS Device Best Sellers

Choosing the best device can be tricky. Our list of the best selling tDCS devices of 2020 will help you find the device that is right for you.

  1. Activadose tDCS
  2. Focus V3
  3. Brain Premier
  4. BrainDriver V2.1
  5. LIFTiD Headset
  6. Apex Type A
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Best tDCS Device of 2018, 2019 and 2020!

Professional Recommended. User Tested.

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Activadose tDCS Starter Kit

What is Important in a tDCS Device

    When choosing a tDCS device it is important to check for these essential features.
  • Build Quality -  The highest quality consumer devices are professional grade.
  • Accurate Current Delivery - Does the device have enough power (minimum 20 volts max output) to provide an accurate current delivery with varying skin resistances?
  • Automatic Current Ramp Up / Down - Does the device gradually increase and decrease the current automatically to allow your skin to accommodate to the sensation of stimulation?
  • Built-in Timer - Does the device automatically ramp down and shut off after your pre-set amount of time?
  • Low Battery Indicator - Does the device let you know when the battery is too low to complete a session?

The most comprehensive and detailed tDCS device comparison guide available.
Choose two or more devices to compare.

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tDCS Device Models
  • Price
  • Customer Rating
  • Max Current
  • Max Voltage
  • LCD Display
  • Timer
  • Auto Ramp Up / Down
  • Low Battery
  • Sham (Placebo)
  • CE-Marked
  • Professional Grade
  • Professional Recommended
  • Waveforms
  • More Info

Table reviews and pricing updated live*

Research tDCS Device Comparison Table

All research grade systems have timers, automatic ramp up/down, continuous impedenance monitoring, low battery indicator and are IEC 60601 safety and EMC compliant.

Device Maximum Output Voltage Output Current Adjustable Current Increment Max Timer Duration Output Current Monitoring Sham # Stimulation Channels Bi-channel Stimulation EEG Compatible # EEG Channels Programming Software MRI Compatible Trigger Regulatory (FDA,CE,International)
Soterix Medical 1X1 tDCS 40 V 0 - 2 mA 100 µA 40 min Yes Single/Double Blind 1 Yes * Yes ** 8 - 64 No Yes # Optional CE,International
Soterix Medical 1X1 tDCS-LTE 20 V 0 - 1.5 mA 100 µA 20 min Yes Single/Double Blind 1 Yes * Yes ** 8 - 64 No Yes # Optional CE,International
Soterix Medical 1X1 tES 0 - 2 mA 10 µA (across all waveforms) 40 min Yes Single/Double Blind 1 Yes * Yes ** 8 - 64 No Yes # Yes CE,International
Soterix Medical 1X1 Clinical Trials 20 V Customizable N/A Customizable N/A Triple Blind 1 Yes * Yes ** 8 - 64 No Yes # Optional CE,International
Activadose tDCS 80 V 0 - 4 mA 100 µA 40 min Yes No 1 No No FDA
Neurocare DC-STIMULATOR ? 0 - 2 mA 250 µA 30 min No Yes 1 No 32 No Yes # Yes CE,International
Neurocare DC-STIMULATOR PLUS ? 0 - 4.5 mA 25 µA (sine) 30 min No Yes 1 No 32 No Yes # Yes CE,International
Newronika / HDCkit (HDCprog +HDCstim) 28 V 0.5- 1.5 mA 1 µA 20 min No Yes 1 No No Yes *** No Yes CE
E.M.S BrainSTIM 24 V 0.1- 5 mA 100 µA 60 min No Yes 1 No No Yes *** No Yes CE
Soterix Medical IontoDC 40 V 1- 2 mA 250 µA 40 min Yes No 1 No No No No No No FDA
Soterix Medical 4X1 30 V 0- 2 mA 100 µA 40 min Yes Yes 5 N/A Yes 8 - 256 No Yes # Yes CE,International
Soterix Medical MxN 30 V 0- 2.5 mA 10 µA (across all waveforms) 40 / 60 min Yes Yes 5, 9, 32 Yes 8 - 256 No Yes # Yes CE,International
Neuroelectrics STARSTIM 8 30 V 0- 2 mA 1 µA 60 min No Yes 8 Yes 8 Yes *** Yes # ? CE
Neuroelectrics / STARSTIM tCS 30 V 0- 2 mA 1 µA 60 min No Yes 8 No None Yes *** Yes # ? CE
  • * - with breakout box
  • ** -with separate connector cable
  • *** -stimulator settings transferred via BT through software installed on PC/MAC
  • # - separate accessory
  • (Last Updated 2/8/18)

Consumer, Professional, and Research Grade tDCS Devices

Disclaimer: The information provided here is not medical or legal advice. It is not an endorsement of any device, application or use. It is based entirely on information in the listed publications and information from manufacturer websites.

What is consumer tDCS? Consumer tDCS devices are marketed directly towards users. They can be marketed simply as “tDCS” or for cognitive enhancement or for performance enhancement. They cannot be marketed for medical use, such as the treatment of a disease, since then they would be classified as medical devices. Once a consumer obtains a device, they can use their device for for any application. Consumer devices are cheaper then research grade devices. The FDA has provided letters to companies like Thync and Halo; allowing them to market tDCS for consumer purposes without making claims on medical therapy. The highest quality consumer devices are professional grade.

What is research grade tDCS? Research devices are those marketed for use in clinical trials. Research devices used in clinical trials must see the same design and manufacturing standards as professional devices. This means, according to regulations in the US, Europe and other countries, devices tested on people need to be built to professional devices standards, even when they are not yet approved for use. For this reason, professional and research grade devices are the same thing as far the devices themselves. The difference is simply how they are marketed. For example, the Soterix Medical 1x1 tDCS is marketed in the US for research but is approved and marketed in Europe for the treatment of depression, pain (migraine, fibromyalgia) and stroke rehabilitation.

What is HD-tDCS? HD-tDCS stands for High Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation. Regular tDCS uses relatively large electrodes (about 5x5 cm) while HD-tDCS uses relatively small electrodes (about 1x1 cm) which are gel filled. HD-tDCS is found only on Research / Professional grade devices. HD-tDCS can be used with EEG to record brain activity.

References

Limited output transcranial electrical stimulation (LOTES-2017): Engineering principles, regulatory statutes, and industry standards for wellness, over-the-counter, or prescription devices with low risk. Bikson M, Paneri B, Mourdoukoutas A, Esmaeilpour Z, Badran BW, Azzam R, Adair D, Datta A, Fang XH, Wingeier B, Chao D, Alonso-Alonso M, Lee K, Knotkova H, Woods AJ, Hagedorn D, Jeffery D, Giordano J, Tyler WJ. Brain Stimul. 2018 Jan - Feb;11(1):134-157. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2017.10.012. Epub 2017 Oct 17.

A pragmatic analysis of the regulation of consumer transcranial direct current stimulation(TDCS) devices in the United States. Wexler A. J Law Biosci. 2015 Oct 12;2(3):669-696. eCollection 2015 Nov. PMID: 27774217

The off-label use, utility and potential value of tDCS in the clinical care of particular neuropsychiatric conditions. Bikson M, Paneri B, Giordano J. J Law Biosci. 2016 Sep 10;3(3):642-646. doi: 10.1093/jlb/lsw044. eCollection 2016 Dec. No abstract available. PMID: 28852542

Low intensity transcranial electric stimulation: Safety, ethical, legal regulatory and application guidelines. Antal A, Alekseichuk I, Bikson M, Brockmöller J, Brunoni AR, Chen R, Cohen LG, Dowthwaite G, Ellrich J, Flöel A, Fregni F, George MS, Hamilton R, Haueisen J, Herrmann CS, Hummel FC, Lefaucheur JP, Liebetanz D, Loo CK, McCaig CD, Miniussi C, Miranda PC, Moliadze V, Nitsche MA, Nowak R, Padberg F, Pascual-Leone A, Poppendieck W, Priori A, Rossi S, Rossini PM, Rothwell J, Rueger MA, Ruffini G, Schellhorn K, Siebner HR, Ugawa Y, Wexler A, Ziemann U, Hallett M, Paulus W. Clin Neurophysiol. 2017 Sep;128(9):1774-1809. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2017.06.001. Epub 2017 Jun 19. Review. PMID: 28709880

Safety of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Evidence Based Update 2016. Bikson M, Grossman P, Thomas C, Zannou AL, Jiang J, Adnan T, Mourdoukoutas AP, Kronberg G, Truong D, Boggio P, Brunoni AR, Charvet L, Fregni F, Fritsch B, Gillick B, Hamilton RH, Hampstead BM, Jankord R, Kirton A, Knotkova H, Liebetanz D, Liu A, Loo C, Nitsche MA, Reis J, Richardson JD, Rotenberg A, Turkeltaub PE, Woods AJ. Brain Stimul. 2016 Sep-Oct;9(5):641-61. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2016.06.004. Epub 2016 Jun 15. Review. PMID: 27372845

Outstanding questions concerning the regulation of cognitive enhancement devices. De Ridder D, Vanneste S, Focquaert F. J Law Biosci. 2014 Sep 19;1(3):316-321. eCollection 2014 Sep. PMID: 27774170

Early adopters of the magical thinking cap: a study on do-it-yourself (DIY) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) user community. Jwa A. J Law Biosci. 2015 Jun 2;2(2):292-335. eCollection 2015 Jul. PMID: 2777419

A technical guide to tDCS, and related non-invasive brain stimulation tools. Woods AJ, Antal A, Bikson M, Boggio PS, Brunoni AR, Celnik P, Cohen LG, Fregni F, Herrmann CS, Kappenman ES, Knotkova H, Liebetanz D, Miniussi C, Miranda PC, Paulus W, Priori A, Reato D, Stagg C, Wenderoth N, Nitsche MA. Clin Neurophysiol. 2016 Feb;127(2):1031-1048. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.11.012. Epub 2015 Nov 22. Review. PMID: 26652115

Noninvasive techniques for probing neurocircuitry and treating illness: vagus nerve stimulation(VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS). George MS, Aston-Jones G. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2010 Jan;35(1):301-16. doi: 10.1038/npp.2009.87. Review. PMID: 19693003

Regulatory Considerations for the Clinical and Research Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): review and recommendations from an expert panel. Fregni F, Nitsche MA, Loo CK, Brunoni AR, Marangolo P, Leite J, Carvalho S, Bolognini N, Caumo W, Paik NJ, Simis M, Ueda K, Ekhitari H, Luu P, Tucker DM, Tyler WJ, Brunelin J, Datta A, Juan CH, Venkatasubramanian G, Boggio PS, Bikson M. Clin Res Regul Aff. 2015 Mar 1;32(1):22-35. PMID: 25983531

*Exceptions: Devices not currently sold by Caputron

Disclaimer: Caputron provides this information as a service. Though we do our best to provide the most up to date specifications, information on this site should not be used as a substitute for researching the devices directly with the manufacturer. We do not guarantee the information provided. Caputron is not responsible and shall not be liable to you or others for any decision made or action taken by you in reliance on this information obtained from this database.