gammaCore’s clinical hardware repackaged as a consumer wellness device — strong provenance, modest evidence in the wellness indication.
Best for consumers who want gammaCore’s cervical tVNS approach without the prescription gate.
Truvaga is electroCore’s consumer brand, using the same cervical tVNS hardware platform that powers the FDA-cleared gammaCore prescription line — repackaged as an over-the-counter wellness device. The 350 model delivers 350 two-minute sessions before retirement and uses the same 5 kHz burst waveform. Strong manufacturing pedigree; the wellness-indication clinical evidence is thinner than gammaCore’s headache record but real.
How we tested: Evidence-based assessment — scored from electroCore product documentation, the gammaCore clinical record (shared platform) and independent 2026 reviews. Not hands-on tested by ONDA.
Inherits gammaCore’s safety record; wellness-indication evidence is a small but real set of HRV and stress studies. Not FDA-cleared for any indication — sold as a general wellness device.
Stimulation mechanism
8.5
Same cervical tVNS approach as gammaCore: handheld unit over the carotid sheath, 5 kHz burst waveform. Targets the cervical vagal trunk directly.
Protocol flexibility
6.5
Two-minute fixed sessions; intensity user-adjustable. The companion app suggests usage patterns rather than distinct programmes.
Comfort and wearability
7.0
Ergonomic handheld; some users report jaw twitches or neck soreness at higher amplitudes — same as gammaCore.
Biofeedback and data
6.0
App logs sessions and supports simple mood/stress journaling. No on-device HRV measurement.
Value
7.5
$499 one-time (or subscription plans). No prescription. Roughly one-fifth the long-term cost of gammaCore.
Pros
+Same hardware platform as the FDA-cleared gammaCore — proven safety
+No prescription, no insurance approval needed
+Cervical tVNS — targets the vagal trunk directly, not just the ear branch
+Companion app logs sessions and tracks self-rated stress
Cons
−Not FDA-cleared in its consumer indication — sold as a wellness device
−Session lifetime cap (350 uses) makes long-term cost less obvious
−Fixed 2-minute sessions; intensity is the only variable
−No on-device HRV biofeedback
Price: $499 one-time; 350 sessions before retirement (as of 2026-05-21)
Where it leads
Truvaga 350 is the most credible cervical-VNS device a consumer can buy without a prescription. electroCore — the company behind the FDA-cleared gammaCore line — repackaged its medical hardware platform as a wellness device, keeping the same handheld form factor and the same 5 kHz burst waveform that runs in the prescription unit. Manufacturing provenance and safety profile inherit directly from the clinical line, which is unusual at this price point.
Where it falls short
The consumer version is no longer regulated as a medical device — Truvaga is sold for general wellness, and the wellness-indication clinical evidence is much thinner than gammaCore’s headache record. The 350 designation is literal: 350 two-minute sessions and the unit retires, after which you pay for a refresh. There is no on-device HRV, and protocol variety is limited to intensity.
Who it is for
Choose Truvaga 350 if you want cervical-trunk tVNS — the same approach used in the FDA-cleared device — without going through a clinician, and you are willing to accept thinner wellness-indication evidence in exchange for accessibility. If you want the deepest research base, Nurosym (auricular) has the trial record. If you have a real headache diagnosis, gammaCore is the right tool.
Background reading
The biology behind what these devices target — and the protocols that compound with the hardware.