[ HEAD-TO-HEAD ]

Truvaga 350 vs Pulsetto (2026)

Truvaga 350 and Pulsetto are the two consumer cervical tVNS devices most commonly compared. Both stimulate the cervical vagal branches transcutaneously; the form factor and provenance differ. Truvaga is electroCore’s consumer arm running the same hardware platform as the FDA-cleared gammaCore prescription device; Pulsetto is a collar with four guided programmes at a lower price.

VERDICT: TIE

Depends on what you value. Truvaga 350 for clinical provenance (same hardware as FDA-cleared gammaCore). Pulsetto for protocol variety, daily-use form factor and lower price.

electroCore7.7 / 10

Truvaga 350

Consumer cervical tVNS (handheld)

gammaCore’s clinical hardware repackaged as a consumer wellness device — strong provenance, modest evidence in the wellness indication.

Pulsetto7.4 / 10

Pulsetto

Consumer cervical tVNS (neck collar)

The most accessible consumer tVNS device — strong on protocol variety and price, lighter on independent clinical evidence.

Head-to-head breakdown

Hardware provenance
Truvaga inherits the gammaCore platform — same 5 kHz burst waveform, same manufacturing pedigree as the FDA-cleared prescription device. Pulsetto is consumer-grade from the start.
Truvaga 350
Stimulation parameters
Truvaga uses electroCore’s clinical-derived parameter set. Pulsetto’s parameters are documented in-app but less clinically anchored.
Truvaga 350
Protocol variety
Pulsetto: four guided programmes plus a custom mode. Truvaga: fixed two-minute sessions with intensity adjustment. Pulsetto is broader.
Pulsetto
Session length and structure
Pulsetto: 4–20 minute sessions across modes. Truvaga: fixed 2-minute sessions, app-guided usage patterns. Pulsetto fits varied use cases more easily.
Pulsetto
Form factor for daily use
Pulsetto: lightweight collar — wear-and-go. Truvaga: handheld device pressed to the neck — active holding required for the full session.
Pulsetto
Setup friction
Pulsetto: collar + saline/gel pads (periodic replacement). Truvaga: handheld + conductivity gel applied per session. Pulsetto wins on continuous-wear convenience; Truvaga on session-by-session simplicity.
Pulsetto
Session lifetime
Pulsetto: unlimited sessions for the lifetime of the device. Truvaga 350: capped at 350 two-minute sessions before retirement.
Pulsetto
Price
Pulsetto: $269. Truvaga 350: $499. Pulsetto is roughly half the price.
Pulsetto

Choose Truvaga 350

Choose Truvaga 350 if hardware provenance matters — the same cervical tVNS platform as the FDA-cleared gammaCore prescription device, without the prescription gate.

Choose Pulsetto

Choose Pulsetto if you want a polished daily-use neck collar with four guided programmes (sleep, stress, anxiety, pain) at the most accessible price in cervical tVNS.

The short version

Truvaga 350 wins on hardware provenance and stimulation precision; Pulsetto wins on protocol variety, daily-use form factor and price. The session-lifetime cap on Truvaga is the wildcard for long-term ownership economics.

When Truvaga 350 is the right pick

If you value the gammaCore lineage — the same manufacturing pedigree, the same waveform, the same company as the only FDA-cleared non-invasive VNS device — Truvaga 350 is the right shape. The clinical heritage is real, even if the consumer indication itself is not FDA-cleared.

When Pulsetto is the right pick

If you want a daily-use collar with four guided programmes, structured 4–20 minute sessions and no session lifetime cap, Pulsetto is the right shape. At $269 versus Truvaga’s $499 it is roughly half the price for broader programme variety. Most consumer users land here.

Common questions

Is Truvaga 350 the same as gammaCore?

Same hardware platform, same 5 kHz burst waveform, same manufacturer (electroCore). gammaCore is the FDA-cleared prescription line for migraine and cluster headache; Truvaga 350 is the over-the-counter consumer line for general wellness. The wellness indication does not carry the FDA-cleared clinical evidence of gammaCore’s indication.

Does Pulsetto have FDA clearance?

No. Pulsetto is CE-marked in Europe as a consumer wellness device and sold OTC in the US. The only FDA-cleared non-invasive cervical VNS device is gammaCore, which is prescription-only and restricted to migraine and cluster headache.

Which device delivers stronger stimulation?

Subjectively similar at peak intensity. Both target the cervical vagal trunk. Truvaga’s 5 kHz burst waveform produces a focused 2-minute session; Pulsetto’s longer sessions deliver a gentler stimulation across 4–20 minutes. Different shapes, comparable cumulative dose.

What happens when Truvaga 350 runs out of sessions?

After 350 two-minute sessions the device retires and needs to be replaced. electroCore offers a refresh path. Pulsetto has no session lifetime cap — the device works as long as the hardware lasts.

See the full ranking

Best Vagus Nerve Stimulators (2026)

ONDA ranks the ten best vagus nerve stimulators of 2026 — auricular tVNS, cervical tVNS, vibrotactile, infrasonic and one implanted reference. Scored on evidence, mechanism, protocols and value.

→