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Vagal Buddy tVNS
Vagal Buddy tVNS
Most chosen. Current-controlled, wireless charging.
› Vagal Oh!
Vagal Oh!
Wireless and discreet. App-controlled.
› Vagal Boost
Vagal Boost
Try it first. Phone-powered.
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Learn about your vagus nerve › See how tVNS works in 3D › Help me choose a device › EverSteady Technology › Join our HRV Study ›
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Vagal Boost vs Buddy

One is the $59 starting point. The other is the device clinicians recommend. Here's what the upgrade gets you.

Vagally Curious?

Vagal Boost vs Vagal Buddy

One is a low-cost way to try stimulation. The other is the device most owners choose. Here is what the difference gets you.

Vagal Boost

$159 $59

Vagal Buddy

$399 $349
Stimulation type
Voltage-controlled (tENS)
Sets a fixed voltage. The actual current reaching the nerve varies with skin moisture, temperature and contact pressure.
Stimulation type
Current-controlled (tVNS)
EverSteady adjusts in real time. The current stays constant regardless of changing skin conditions. The dose you set is the dose delivered.
Stimulation protocols
Six fixed modes
Built-in programmes from 3 Hz to 78 Hz. Cannot load Vagal Tones.
Stimulation protocols
Multiple, updatable via app
Load new protocols through the Vagal Tones app as research advances. Choose the right parameters for your goals.
Adjustment
Three buttons, no battery
Nine intensity steps on the device. Runs from your phone's USB-C port (not Samsung phones), a laptop or a power bank.
Adjustment
Screen, joystick and its own battery
Fine-grained control on the device itself. 4+ hours per charge, and EverCharge lets it charge wirelessly during a session.
Research use
Consumer only
Designed as an accessible entry point to vagus nerve stimulation.
Research use
Research edition available
Upgradeable to research edition. The same device used by clinicians and university researchers for repeatable, publishable results.
Price
$159 $59
The lowest-cost way to find out what stimulation feels like.
Price
$399 $349
Current-controlled accuracy, EverCharge wireless charging, multiple protocols, and precision adjustment. No subscription, no gel.

Serious about results? Choose Buddy.

Buddy delivers a consistent dose, loads Vagal Tones, and runs on its own battery. If you only want to feel what stimulation is like first, Boost is a low-cost way to start.

Choose Buddy Just want to try it? See Boost
Keep exploring
Boost vs Pulsetto
See how Boost stacks up against the competition.
Buddy vs Nurosym
Our flagship vs the premium competitor.
Oh! vs Nurosym
Wireless current-controlled at a lower price.

Both devices are made by Vagal.com and stimulate the vagus nerve through the ear. Boost uses voltage-controlled stimulation (tENS). Buddy uses current-controlled stimulation (tVNS), which delivers a more consistent therapeutic dose. Both come with a 45-night sleep trial.