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MOST CHOSEN4.9 out of 5

Vagal Buddy tVNS

$349$399Save $50

One-time purchase · HSA/FSA eligible · No subscription

Woman relaxing on a sofa wearing the Vagal Buddy ear clip. 15 minutes. Clipped on, feet up.
Woman relaxing on a sofa wearing the Vagal Buddy ear clip. 15 minutes. Clipped on, feet up.
Vagal Buddy with its ear clip on a model ear, pointing to the tragus. It clips to your tragus. Nothing to shave, nothing to stick down.
A light tingle, and you set the level. Clip it on, turn it up until you feel a gentle tingle, and after fifteen minutes Buddy stops on its own.
Chart comparing voltage-controlled output, which drifts as your skin changes, with Buddy's current-controlled output, which stays on target. The level you set is the level delivered. 50,000 impedance checks a second.
Vagal Buddy on its EverCharge wireless pad. Charges while it runs: 4 hours or more per charge, and it charges on its pad mid-session.
Five questions worth asking before you buy any stimulator, answered for Buddy: current-controlled output, a dose that holds as your skin changes, charging mid-session, no subscription, 45 days to send it back.
In the box: Buddy tVNS, EverCharge wireless pad, titanium ear clip, conductive gel, USB-C cable, and the free Vagal Tones app.
Since 2019: more than 10,000 devices shipped and people using Vagal in more than 40 countries, with support from the team that makes them.
Chosen by researchers for current-controlled precision. Logos of the University of Glasgow, University of Bordeaux, The University of Arizona and Universite Cote d'Azur.
45 days to you again, or your money back. 2-year warranty, no subscription, CE and FCC certified.
Free Six-Tone Bundle with Buddy

Fifteen minutes a day, clipped to your ear. Current-controlled vagus nerve stimulation that owners use to wind down before bed, switch off after work, or rest after a meal.

  • From fifteen minutes a day.Most owners pick the evening. Run it for an hour if you like.
  • Comes with Balance.The everyday Tone, on settings common in ear-stimulation research. Other Tones are optional.
  • Holds the current you set.Current-controlled, so the stimulation stays steady as your skin changes.
  • 45 days to you again.Not for you? We refund the price you paid. Return postage from the US is about $20.
Free with BuddyEnds Monday, November 9All six Tones$234FREECalm, Nightshift, Uplift, Gentle Rhythms, Digestion and RecoverAdded to your order automatically. Normally $39 each.

Only 18 left in stock

Buy now

Only 18 left in stock · Free shipping

Orders before 1:00pm Pacific on working days usually ship the same day.
  • 2-year warranty
  • CE & FCC certified
  • 11,605 devices shipped
Can I use it if I have a health condition or take medication?

Do not use Buddy if you have a pacemaker or any other electronic medical implant, or if you are pregnant. For anything else, such as an existing condition or medication you are taking, please check with your healthcare provider before you start. Buddy is a wellness device, not a medical treatment, and it is not a substitute for advice from someone who knows your history.

How long should I use it each day?

Fifteen minutes is a good place to start, and you can go well beyond it. Buddy will happily run for an hour or more: it charges while it stimulates, so the battery never decides when you stop. Most people use it in the evening, while reading or watching something. Whatever length suits you, using it most days matters more than any single long session.

How do returns and the 45-day money-back guarantee work?

The guarantee runs for 45 days from delivery. Email us within that time and we reply with a returns number, the return address and instructions; please wait for the returns number before sending anything. Returns go to our facility in the UK, so from the US the device goes back as an international parcel. Return postage is paid by you and is not refunded; from the US it typically costs about $20. Once the device arrives, we refund the price you paid to your original payment method, normally within 10 working days, with no forms and no restocking fee. Any Tone you received free with Buddy is removed from your account when the refund goes through. Separately, Buddy carries a two-year warranty: if something fails through no fault of yours within that time, that is a repair or replacement rather than a return, so get in touch and we will sort it out.

Your tragus
The clip closes over the tragus, in front of your ear canal.

What it actually feels like

A light tingle, or a soft tapping, right where the clip sits. Most people say it is barely there. You set the intensity yourself and can change it at any point.

  • 1Clip it on. It closes over the tragus and stays put. Nothing to shave, no sticky pads, nothing to stick down.
  • 2Turn it up until you feel it. Raise the intensity a step at a time until you notice a gentle tingle. That is your level.
  • 3Fifteen minutes, once a day. Pick a time you can keep: before bed, after work or after a meal. Buddy stops on its own.

If you feel nothing at first Move the clip slightly, or add a drop of water, which gives more sensation. Skin varies. Gel is optional and only for comfort: the tube in the box softens the tingle. If your skin is naturally moist, you may need nothing at all once you are used to it. Gel, water or nothing? Full detail in the ear placement guide.

What touches your skin The two electrodes, which are pure titanium, not an alloy. The spring is stainless steel and sits inside the clip, away from your skin. The gel is optional; it contains lanolin and parabens, and nickel and cobalt are not among its ingredients. Full list under what's in the box.

Who should not use Buddy

Do not use it if you
  • have a pacemaker, defibrillator, cochlear implant or any other implanted electronic device
  • are pregnant
  • are under 18
Ask your doctor first if you
  • have a heart condition, including a slow heart rate or a heart rhythm problem
  • have fainted before, or have low blood pressure
  • have epilepsy or have had a seizure
  • are being treated for any condition, or take regular medication

Never on broken or irritated skin, and not while driving. Start at the lowest level you can feel. If you feel dizzy or faint, stop and take the clip off.

One routine. Three reasons to keep it.

Buddy does one job. It stimulates the ear branch of your vagus nerve, the main nerve of your body's rest-and-digest side. Sleep, switching off and digestion all happen in that rest state, which is why owners use the same fifteen minutes for different reasons. These are the three we hear most.

Every Buddy comes with Balance, the everyday Tone, so you can start any of these routines the day it arrives. Same device and the same clip whichever you pick. Already own a Vagal? Your Vagal ear clip fits Buddy, and Buddy uses the same Vagal Tones app and protocols.

Vagally better nights

Vagal tone rises when you rest. That is why almost everyone who buys a Buddy ends up using it at night, and why we built a tone specifically for it. The session takes twenty minutes.

Vagal Buddy on its charging pad on a bedside table with a mug, glasses and a book
  1. 45 MINUTES BEFORE LIGHTS OUT

    Lights down

    Lamps instead of the overhead, curtains shut. Your body reads bright light as daytime. Take it away and it starts winding down without being asked.

  2. 30 MINUTES BEFORE

    Clip on

    It goes on your tragus and takes a second. Turn it up until you feel a soft tingle. Twenty minutes of Nightshift, then it switches itself off.

  3. 10 MINUTES BEFORE

    Go up

    Leave the phone downstairs. Bed, a few pages if you like, lamp off when you are ready.

  4. LIGHTS OUT

    Same time tomorrow

    Your body picks up a schedule quickly. Keeping the same hour is what turns twenty minutes into better nights.

Why half an hour before bed? So the wind-down lands before you are lying there waiting for it. Run it in bed instead if you prefer, just keep the hour the same. Nightshift is built for this. Gentle Rhythms suits anyone who finds the tingle distracting at bedtime.

Based on sleep improvements I consider 25 minutes mandatory for my wellness each evening.

Verified owner · evening routine

What the first six weeks look like

Vagal tone answers to repetition. Owners tend to describe the same sequence, in the same order.

THE FIRST FEW NIGHTS

The routine starts working first

Dim light and a fixed finishing time do something on their own. Most people feel calmer at bedtime before they notice anything from the device.

WEEKS 2–3

Sleep shifts

This is where our reviews cluster. Falling asleep faster, waking less through the night, or both.

WEEKS 4–6

The days follow the nights

Digestion, energy and mood all sit downstream of sleeping properly, and tend to move once the nights are steady.

AFTER THAT

You stop thinking about it

Twenty minutes becomes part of going to bed, in the same category as brushing your teeth.

Forty-five days to you again. That is our money-back guarantee: six weeks of daily use, and a full refund if you are not feeling like you again.

Start tonight, Original price was: $399.00.Current price is: $349.00.

Buddy is a wellness device rather than a medical treatment, and it is not a substitute for one. If you are already being treated for something sleep-related, mention it to whoever is treating you.

For everyday stress

Fifteen minutes when you cannot be doing anything else. Owners who use Buddy this way mostly run it at the end of the working day, sitting down, before the evening starts.

  • When

    The same time every day. The end of the working day is the most common, or before something you are dreading. Buddy stops on its own.

  • The Tone

    Every Buddy comes with Balance, the everyday Tone. Calm is built for this: 20 minutes, 60 seconds on and 60 seconds off. Optional, $39 in the Vagal Tones app.

  • What to expect

    Most people notice the pause before they notice the device. Owners who mention stress talk about unwinding at the end of the day, and feeling more relaxed after a session on most days, not every day.

I feel more relaxed after the stimulation has finished on most days.

Owner review, 4 stars, after two weeks · first-generation tVNS Stimulator, 2020

For everyday stress, not a mental health condition. If you are being treated for anxiety or depression, keep to your treatment and mention Buddy to whoever is treating you.

For digestion

Your body digests best at rest, and digestion slows when you are wound up. Some owners run their session during or after the evening meal instead of at bedtime.

  • When

    During or after a meal, sitting down. Fifteen minutes, then it stops on its own.

  • The Tone

    Every Buddy comes with Balance, the everyday Tone. Digestion is built for this: 100 Hz, 15 minutes, for use during or after meals. Optional, $39 in the Vagal Tones app.

  • What to expect

    No quick fix. Owners who use it this way treat it as part of the meal, clipped on and left alone, and give it a few weeks like any other routine.

I usually do two or three sessions after eating. It's simple enough to clip on and forget until the food has digested.

Owner review, 4 stars, sessions after meals · first-generation tVNS Stimulator, 2020

Buddy is not a treatment for any digestive condition. If you have ongoing symptoms, such as pain, a change in bowel habit or weight loss you cannot explain, see your doctor first.

Which Tone for which routine

A Tone is a set of stimulation settings. Buddy holds three at a time and you choose which in the Vagal Tones app. You only need Balance to start.

  • BalanceComes with Buddy
    25 Hz · square wave · 15 minutes

    The everyday Tone, on settings common in ear-stimulation research. Any time of day.

  • Nightshift$39
    20 Hz · 100 µs · 20 minutes

    Before bed, as part of the bedtime routine.

  • Calm$39, optional
    30 Hz · 200 µs · 60 s on, 60 s off · 20 minutes

    After work, or before something you are dreading.

  • Digestion$39, optional
    100 Hz · square wave · 15 minutes

    During or after a meal, sitting down.

Every Tone runs through the same current control, so the level you set holds as your skin changes. Nightshift, Calm and Digestion are one-off purchases, not subscriptions.

The science behind sessions that work

Your skin's resistance shifts constantly with temperature, moisture, and movement. A voltage-controlled device can't compensate. EverSteady measures impedance 50,000 times per second and adjusts every pulse, so the current reaching your vagus nerve never drifts from what you set.

Voltage-controlled output
Voltage-controlled device: current output drifts as skin impedance changes
Current drifts with skin changes
EverSteady current-controlled
EverSteady current-controlled: voltage adjusts to maintain consistent current
Current stays locked on target
50,000/s
Impedance checks
1uA
Resolution
Biphasic
Tissue-safe pulses
How EverSteady works

What research is this based on?

University teams have studied stimulation at the tragus, the spot Buddy clips to, for more than a decade. These are three of the studies we build on. They used research stimulators, mostly with healthy adults, so none of them tested Buddy itself.

  • Clancy et al. · Brain Stimulation · 2014 · University of Leeds

    48 healthy adults. Measured heart rate variability and the activity of the nerves behind the fight-or-flight response during ear stimulation, against a sham group.

    Read the study
  • Antonino et al. · Brain Stimulation · 2017

    A randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 13 healthy young men, with tragus stimulation compared against two shams. Measured heart rate variability and the reflex that steadies blood pressure.

    Read the study
  • Bretherton et al. · Aging · 2019 · Universities of Leeds and Glasgow

    Adults aged 55 and over, fifteen minutes a day at the tragus for two weeks. Measured autonomic balance, mood and sleep. That part of the study had no comparison group.

    Read the study

Research results are averages from study groups, not a promise for any one person. More studies, and what is still unknown, on The Science.

Introducing EverCharge

The breakthrough that makes continuous stimulation possible.

Safe charging, during stimulation

With traditional wired charging, a physical cable connects your device to the mains electricity supply. That's why every nerve stimulator on the market tells you to stop your session before you charge.

EverCharge changes that. Wireless charging transfers energy across an air gap, creating complete galvanic isolation between the power supply and the device on your body. There is no electrical path from the wall to you.

The result: you can place Buddy tVNS on its charging pad and continue your session without interruption. Your battery replenishes while you stimulate. Session length is no longer limited by battery capacity.

The battery no longer decides when your session ends. You do.

Practicing with Vagal Buddy tVNS
Vagal Buddy tVNS device
Buddy tVNS wirelessly charging at night

Which Vagal is right for you?

Most people choose Buddy. If you need it wireless, or just want to try stimulation first, we make those too.

Feature Most chosenVagal Buddy tVNS$399 $349 Wireless and discreetVagal Oh!$499 $249 Try it firstVagal Boost$159 $59
Best forA nightly routine. The device most owners choose.Wearing it while you move about. No screen, no cable.Trying stimulation on a small budget.
StimulationCurrent-controlled (EverSteady). The dose you set is the dose delivered.Current-controlled (EverSteady)Voltage-controlled. Output varies with skin conditions.
ControlsScreen and joystick on the device, plus the appApp onlyThree buttons
ProgrammesThree Tones on the device, swap any via the appTones via the appSix fixed modes
Works with Vagal TonesYesYesNo
Power4+ hours per charge, and charges during a session on its wireless padAbout 60 minutes per chargeNo battery. Runs from a phone, laptop or power bank (not Samsung phones)
Money-back guarantee45 days45 days45 days
Choose Buddy View Oh! View Boost

Running a study? Buddy upgrades to the Research Edition. See the research setup.

Why Buddy, not Pulsetto or Nurosym?

Clips to the ear like Nurosym, for far less. Holds the current you set, every session. And 45 days to decide.

Compared Most chosen
Vagal Buddy tVNS device showing a 15-minute session timer, cabled to its ear clip electrode fitted on a model ear
Vagal Buddy $399 $349 		Pulsetto Neck band from $269 Nurosym Nuropod in the US $900
Clips to the earat the tragus, no straps Yes No.Neck Yes
Holds the current you setcurrent-controlled, as your skin changes Yes No.Voltage pulses No.Voltage pulses
Programmes in a phone apppick a Tone for sleep, stress or meals Yes Yes No.No app
Nothing more to buygel optional, no subscription Yes No.Gel before each use Yes
Money-back guarantee 45 days 30 days 30 days
Add to cart45 days to try it

Want the detail? Buddy vs Nurosym · Buddy vs Pulsetto

Competitor details from each maker's own site, October 2026; Pulsetto output from its FCC filing; Nurosym output measured by Vagal on an oscilloscope, October 2026. Pulsetto, Nurosym and Nuropod are trademarks of their owners.

Everything you need. Nothing you don't.

Buddy tVNS Device
Current-controlled tVNS stimulator with OLED display and 540mAh battery
EverCharge Wireless Pad
Qi-compatible charging pad for safe in-session charging
Dual-Electrode Ear Clip
Pure titanium electrodes. Fits left or right ear.
Conductive Gel
A small tube. It softens the tingle where the clip sits. A drop of water works instead, and depending on your skin you may not need either. Ingredients: polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether, montmorillonite, water, glycerol, lanolin, 1,2-propanediol, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, polysorbate 20, methyl and propyl p-hydroxybenzoate.
Vagal Tones App
Free download. iOS and Android.
USB-C Charging Cable
For the wireless pad. Also charges device directly if needed.

Full Specifications

Stimulation typeCurrent-controlled tVNS
Max output4mA
Frequency range1 - 300 Hz (0.1 Hz steps)
Pulse width50 - 500 us
Battery540mAh Li-Po
Battery life~4 hrs (unlimited with EverCharge)
DisplayOLED (30% larger)
ConnectivityBluetooth Low Energy 5.2
Weight26g (device only)
CertificationsCE, FCC
Warranty2 years
Money-back guarantee45 days, full refund

Customer Reviews

4.9
Rated 4.9 out of 5
5 stars
38
4 stars
6
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
V
Verified Customer Nov 25, 2025

More than a non-invasive sleep aid, it can also a 'digestive' aid!!!

It's unbelievable the caliber of people behind this device and the low cost. . . I've had a digestive issue for 6 yrs. My Gastrologist said he had several patients like me that couldn't be diagnosed. I tried so many things to resolve my issue. . . I read an article that explained the Vagus Nerve and how the digestive system was connected. . . so, after lots of research I came across Vagal. I bought this device and downloaded the 'Digestive' app. After only 2 weeks, my digestive issue of 6 yrs was resolved. Huge difference in my life. I can't thank the people involved with this product enough. . . I just purchased the 'Booster' as well and sent one to both my brothers. I will educate my doctors about Vagal and I'm telling everybody I know about it. . . . non-invasive. . . no medications. . . thank you Vagal Team!!!

V
Verified Customer Apr 25, 2025

312 Sessions

It is extremely helpful with some of the health issues I have including long COVID. Just today I got really motion sick/nauseous for some reason and a VNS session while lying down listening to music made that go away!

V
Verified Customer Apr 24, 2025

Mandatory

Based on sleep improvements( refractory RLS) I consider 25 minutes mandatory for my wellness each evening. Thanks!

V
Verified Customer Apr 23, 2025

5 star!

Can't live without it anymore!!!

Write a review
In Stock. Shipping Now

Ready to feel it?

Vagus nerve stimulation you can use every day at home, with the current you set held steady from start to finish. Same 45-day money-back guarantee: over six weeks of daily use to decide. Not feeling like you again? Send it back for a full refund.

< $1/day
First year of daily use
Save 20-37%
With HSA/FSA funds
Feel like you again, Original price was: $399.00.Current price is: $349.00.
45 days to you again, or your money back
Ships from Reno, NV HSA/FSA accepted CE & FCC certified No subscription

Buying Vagal

Straight answers to the questions people ask before they buy.

Where can I buy Vagal?

Vagal devices are sold online only, and the best place to buy is direct from vagal.com. Every Vagal stimulator bought there comes with our 45-day money-back guarantee, a 2-year warranty and support from the team that makes it.

How much does it cost?

Vagal Buddy costs $349 (usually $399). For comparison, Vagal Oh! is $249 (usually $499) and Vagal Boost is $59 (usually $159, US and UK only). Each is a one-time purchase with no subscription, and prices show in US dollars, pounds or euros depending on where you are.

Is there anything cheaper?

Yes. Vagal Boost, at $59 (usually $159), is our lowest-cost way to try vagus nerve stimulation. It plugs into most phones (not Samsung) and is sold in the US and UK. Elsewhere, Vagal Oh! at $249 (usually $499) is our most affordable option. In the US, paying with HSA or FSA funds lowers the real cost further.

How can I pay?

All major credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay. In the US you can also pay with an HSA or FSA card: how to use HSA and FSA funds.

Do you ship to my country?

We ship to most countries, and people in more than 40 countries use Vagal. Shipping is free to the US, UK, Canada and Australia, and a flat delivery charge shown at checkout applies elsewhere. US orders ship from Reno, Nevada, and orders placed before 1pm Pacific on working days usually ship the same day.

Do you sell refurbished or used units?

No. Every Vagal device is sold new, with our full warranty. We do not sell refurbished, used or returned units.

Questions and honest answers

What is the Vagal Buddy tVNS?

Vagal Buddy tVNS is our 2nd generation handheld vagus nerve stimulator. It clips to your ear and delivers gentle electrical micro-pulses to the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, activating your parasympathetic nervous system. What makes it different from our first generation device is EverCharge wireless charging, a larger screen, a bigger battery, and the ability to charge safely during a session for effectively unlimited stimulation time.

It works on its own, without a phone: the screen and joystick on the device run every session. The free app is optional, for adding Tones and firmware updates.

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45-Day Money Back
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11,605 Devices Shipped
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2-Year Warranty
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Free Shipping
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7 Years in Vagus Nerve
This device has not been evaluated by the FDA. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. Consult your healthcare provider before use, especially if you have medical conditions, are pregnant, or have implanted devices. For adults 18+ only.