Looking for the best tDCS device to buy?

With so many available options, how do you choose the right one? How can you make sure you’re getting a good quality tDCS device? What should you look for and what should you stay away from?

Below is our list of the most recommended tDCS devices in 2019. In total we’ve collected, inspected, and strapped on close to two dozen tDCS devices. Only a select few made it to this cherry picked list. Our recommendations are not based strictly on functionality and feature set, but also on inner-workings and manufacturing quality. Every device manufacturer has been thoroughly researched and vetted for their legitimacy, professionalism, and customer service.

NOTE: Be wary of some review articles which utilize “affiliate” links to receive income (kickbacks) from the sale of the products they promote. A long URL which links directly to a purchase page or Amazon/eBay listing is a red flag that you’re probably reading a biased review.

Currently Sold Out…

We’ve confirmed reports that The Brain Stimulator v3.0 appears to have “sold out”. We’re not sure what this means…however unfortunately for the time being you can’t get one through their website. Maybe try eBay if you’re adventurous. In a hurry? Skip down to the next device recommendation.

First and foremost, we love The Brain Stimulator and have been using their products for many years. They’re arguably the oldest company in the industry and have been very active in the tDCS community. The company was started by a college student who won a number of awards for his work in tDCS. The Brain Stimulator has been featured in numerous news publications including a prime-time news segment on ABC Nightline in 2014. The company has always been a big advocate for consumer safety and manufacturing standards, and are one of the few companies which regularly release new product upgrades.

Their current tDCS device, The Brain Stimulator v3.0, is a perfect combination of simplicity and functionality. It’s incredibly user friendly and portable, fitting nicely in the palm of your hand. It includes all of the essential tDCS features such as current ramping, session timer, and low battery warning, and the integrated safety technology goes above and beyond our minimum standards. The internal circuit design is some of the best we’ve seen, paralleled only by some of the top-shelf medical-grade devices. This is a company we continue to recommend to both new and experienced tDCS users.

What We Like:

Been around since the beginning – one of the first commercially available tDCS Devices.

Been around since the beginning – one of the first commercially available tDCS Devices. Transparent company – started by a college student in California – was very active on reddit

Transparent company – started by a college student in California – was very active on reddit Have been featured by several large news organizations (ABC, PBS, NY Times, etc.)

Have been featured by several large news organizations (ABC, PBS, NY Times, etc.) Regularly launching new & improved products, all of which have been incredibly portable.

Regularly launching new & improved products, all of which have been incredibly portable. They make all their products in the USA

They make all their products in the USA Impressive circuitry design including a low battery indicator & session timer learn more about our device standards)

Impressive circuitry design including a low battery indicator & session timer Outspoken advocate for product/user safety – circuitry includes several redundant safety functions.

Outspoken advocate for product/user safety – circuitry includes several redundant safety functions. “Introduced” the concept of boost voltage (constant power availability despite battery health)

What We Dislike:

High demand – Devices seem to sell out quickly

High demand – Devices seem to sell out quickly Older products don’t include optimal ramping.

Older products don’t include optimal ramping. Their “Travel Model” (no longer sold) only included two current levels.

Their “Travel Model” (no longer sold) only included two current levels. Some community concern with 1st Gen Travel Model overcoming high resistance.

While it may appear plain Jane from the outside, there’s an awesome array of features hidden under the hood. In realty, the TransCranial Technologies Stimulator is considered more of a scientific/research-grade tDCS device. However, we’re including it here because it happens to be one of the only devices in the “research-grade” category which are available for sale directly to consumers. This is a device we definitely recommend. While it is pretty pricey, with a current price tag of $349.00 USD, it’s well worth the money.

What We Like:

User defined session length timer

User defined session length timer Sessions can be set at current increments of 0.1mA

Sessions can be set at current increments of 0.1mA Automatic pause if external resistance is too high (i.e. electrodes become disconnected)

Automatic pause if external resistance is too high (i.e. electrodes become disconnected) Notifications to reposition sponges if external resistance is too variable

Notifications to reposition sponges if external resistance is too variable Same device has been sold since it’s introduction (no known improvements over time).

What We Dislike:

Pretty bulky device – You’re basically stuck at your desk while using it.

Pretty bulky device – You’re basically stuck at your desk while using it. Not consumer friendly

Not consumer friendly LED screen is too small – only three lines of text, it can be a little difficult to navigate (but not as bad as the Foc.us v2, coming up…)

LED screen is too small – only three lines of text, it can be a little difficult to navigate (but not as bad as the Foc.us v2, coming up…) Not possible to change output current during a session – must first end the session and setup a new session.

Super Specific Devices is yet another company that has been around for quite a long time. It was started by two individuals in a studio near Portland, Oregon, and seems to have a real “homey” feel. While the current product we recommend is officially titled: SSD 5.0 12/24 Volt Selectable Voltage tDCS Device. they also once had a digital metered tDCS device. They no longer sell it, but if you can find it, grab it. As far as metered devices go, it was our favorite. What We Like: Constantly improving their devices and releasing new models.

Constantly improving their devices and releasing new models. One of only a few tDCS devices to feature selectable voltage (hardware based).

One of only a few tDCS devices to feature selectable voltage (hardware based). A nice “retro” analog metered tDCS device which is significantly smaller than the Apex device.

A nice “retro” analog metered tDCS device which is significantly smaller than the Apex device. Cool, retro styled device which is quite small for a device with an analog meter.

Cool, retro styled device which is quite small for a device with an analog meter. Analog meter has a max reading of 3mA – Much better than Apex’s 5mA meter What We Dislike: Still selling self adhesive electrodes – Poorly designed electrodes *

Still selling self adhesive electrodes – Poorly designed electrodes * Device enclosure appears to be 3D printed, and actually uses the same back cover from The Brain Stimulator v3.0 device. Weird.

Device enclosure appears to be 3D printed, and actually uses the same back cover from The Brain Stimulator v3.0 device. Weird. Analog meters are very delicate and depending on the build quality, can break very easily. An even bigger concern is the ability for the needle to be knocked off alignment resulting in incorrect current readings.

* SSD’s makeshift sponge electrodes are really just self-adhesive electrodes with sponges laid on top (just like Focus’s). This is not an ideal setup as self-adhesive electrodes are not only notorious for providing uneven distribution of current (safety concern), but they also add unnecessary resistance, greatly reducing the effectiveness of the device.

While Focus’ first product had some notable safety issues, their second and third generation product seems really rock solid. The visual interface and incremental session & ramping timers are totally awesome. With this device, you pretty much get it all. It can even produce stimulation sessions utilizing tACS, tRNS, and a few others. However, that is precisely the reason why Focus didn’t rank higher on our list. Well, that and price (currently 400 bucks!)…

Many of the included “alternative” stimulation methods are backed by very little scientific research, and while it’s neat that Focus allows the user the ability to explore these brain stimulation alternatives, there exists a level of safety concern due to lack of research. We’re tDCS guys and we firmly believe in tDCS’s strong scientific backing, and it’s superior performance above other alternative stimulation methods. But all in all, this is not a device we would dissuade people from looking into.

What We Like:

Also been around since the beginning – actually may have been the first commercially available tDCS Device.

Also been around since the beginning – actually may have been the first commercially available tDCS Device. Very feature packed device – practically as robust as the TCT device, but packed into a product the size of a Bic lighter.

Very feature packed device – practically as robust as the TCT device, but packed into a product the size of a Bic lighter. While hard to find, their website contains a wealth of technical information about their products.

While hard to find, their website contains a wealth of technical information about their products. Great safety features (triple redundant), see here (doc upload).

Great safety features (triple redundant), see here (doc upload). SUPER compact device, you can take this thing anywhere.

What We Dislike:

Products are way overpriced – The Focus v2 & v3 Stimulator are currently $400 while their significantly lesser and NOT recommended Go Flow v4 is $244.

Products are way overpriced – The Focus v2 & v3 Stimulator are currently $400 while their significantly lesser and NOT recommended Go Flow v4 is $244. Users claim terrible customer support – some never receiving responses.

Users claim terrible customer support – some never receiving responses. To be brutally honest, the founder (co-founder?) Mike is a real d**k – just checkout some of his reddit posts (most of which have since been deleted).

To be brutally honest, the founder (co-founder?) Mike is a real d**k – just checkout some of his reddit posts (most of which have since been deleted). Focus’ “Go Flow” products are unnecessarily small, about the size of a quarter, very confusing and hard to use.

Focus’ “Go Flow” products are unnecessarily small, about the size of a quarter, very confusing and hard to use. Their latest product (Go Flow v4) can produce current levels reaching up to 4mA, which is incredibly unsafe and totally unacceptable. 2mA is the widely accepted max safe current level.

In 2016 a scientific study entitled “Unfocus” on foc.us: commercial tDCS headset impairs working memory. found the Focus stimulator actually produced opposite effects from that which it was marketed to produce.

We struggle with this recommendation, however if your purse strings are stretched super tight, go with the Omni Stimulator. It’s a direct rip-off of the original “The Brain Stimulator”, which was a solid device (see ABC Nightline Video). We’ve heard from many individuals who are still using their original Brain Stimulators years later, and since the circuits look “ok” (Chinese assembly), this may be a good buy. Oh, but be wary of Omni’s customer reviews and sales tactics. Their “cash back” offer is merely a 5-star review solicitation, and the “free included software” is junk freely available over the internet.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Omni device is only sold with “alligator clip” cables, which can cause burns/lesions if they touch skin. This antiquated cable connector was abandoned years ago in favor of the “banana plug” which provides a fully shielded connection. In addition, banana plugs are compatible with nearly every sponge electrode brand on the market. So if you pick up the Omni Stimulator just know you won’t have the luxury of swapping out electrodes

What we do NOT recommend: