Vagal Buddy vs Oh!

Both current-controlled. Both app-connected. One wired, one wireless. Here's how to choose between them.

Buddy or Oh!: quick answers

We make Vagal devices, so weigh our view accordingly. Facts about other brands come from their own websites, checked in October 2026.

Should I buy Vagal Buddy or Vagal Oh!?

Choose Buddy if you want a device with its own screen and joystick that never needs your phone. Choose Oh! if you want nothing wired: the whole stimulator sits on your ear and you run it from your phone. Both measure the current they deliver and hold it at the level you set.

Do I need a phone?

Not for Buddy: the app is optional, for adding Tones and updates. Oh! needs the free app on iPhone or Android to start, set and stop sessions.

How long does the battery last?

Buddy runs about 4 hours per charge and keeps running on its EverCharge pad. Oh! gives up to 4 sessions per charge, about 60 minutes, and charges in about 45 minutes over USB-C.

What do they cost?

Buddy is $349 and Oh! is $249. Both are one-time purchases with no subscription, HSA/FSA eligible in the US, with a 45-day money-back guarantee and a 2-year warranty.

Which one is for research?

Buddy. It can be upgraded to Research Edition to run your own study settings. Research Edition.

Vagally Curious?

Vagal Buddy vs Vagal Oh!

Both current-controlled. Both app-connected. One wired, one wireless. Here's how to choose.

Buddy

$349

Oh!

$249

Form factor

Handheld + wired ear clip

Dedicated device with 5-way joystick. USB-C powered, works with any power bank. Sits on a desk or clips to a pocket.

Form factor

23mm wireless earpiece

The world's smallest wireless VNS. Bluetooth connected. Invisible to others. Use it anywhere, hands-free.

Control

5-way precision joystick

Fine-grained intensity control on the device. Tactile feedback. Preferred by clinicians for precise adjustment.

Control

App control via Bluetooth

Adjust intensity, select protocols, and monitor sessions from your phone. No physical controls on the device.

Research use

Research edition available

Upgradeable to research edition with full parameter control, data logging, and sham mode for clinical studies.

Research use

Consumer only

Designed for daily personal use. Not available as a research device.

Best for

Precision and value

People who want the best current-controlled tVNS with a screen, buttons and a longer battery. Clinicians and researchers who need upgradeable hardware.

Best for

Freedom and discretion

People who want wireless stimulation they can use anywhere without anyone noticing. On the train, at work, in bed.

Price

$349

Our most popular device. Current-controlled, EverCharge wireless charging, updatable protocols, research-upgradeable.

Price

$249

The difference is the wire: Oh! has none and runs from your phone. The world's smallest tVNS form factor.

Same brain. Different body.

Both use EverSteady current-controlled stimulation. Both connect to the Vagal Tones app. Both deliver the same therapeutic approach. Buddy gives you clinical-grade precision with a built-in screen. Oh! gives you wireless freedom. Neither is better. They're for different lives.

View Buddy - $349 View Oh! - $249

Both devices are made by Vagal.com and use current-controlled stimulation (tVNS) through the ear. Both come with a 45-day money-back guarantee and no ongoing subscription costs.