tDCS Device Comparison
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.
- 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
-
Activadose tDCS
- $449.00
View Product - 2 mA / 4 mA
- 29 V / 80 V
- DC
- Activadose tDCS Starter Kit
- $449.00
-
Brain Premier
- $124.97
View Product - 2 mA
- 26 V
- DC
- Brain Premier
- $124.97
-
LIFTiD
- $159.00
View Product - 1.2 mA
- 22 V
- DC
- LIFTiD
- $159.00
-
BrainDriver
- $124.99
View Product - 2 mA
- 22 V
- DC
- BrainDriver
- $124.99
-
PlatoWork
- View Product
- 1.4 mA
- 24 V
- App
- DC
- PlatoWork
-
Focus V3
- Discontinued
- 4 mA
- 60 V
- DC, AC, RN, Pulse, Ripple
- Focus V3
-
Omni Stimulator
- $99.00
- Not Available
- 2 mA
- 9 V (Inadequate)
- DC
- Omni Stimulator
Table reviews and pricing updated live*
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/Sources
- 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
- A pragmatic analysis of the regulation of consumer transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) devices in the United States
- A pragmatic analysis of the regulation of consumer transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) devices in the United States
- The off-label use, utility and potential value of tDCS in the clinical care of particular neuropsychiatric conditions
- Low intensity transcranial electric stimulation: Safety, ethical, legal regulatory and application guidelines
- Safety of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Evidence Based Update 2016
- Outstanding questions concerning the regulation of cognitive enhancement devices
- Early adopters of the magical thinking cap: a study on do-it-yourself (DIY) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) user community
- A technical guide to tDCS, and related non-invasive brain stimulation tools
- Noninvasive techniques for probing neurocircuitry and treating illness: vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
- Regulatory Considerations for the Clinical and Research Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): review and recommendations from an expert panel
*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.
