Neurofeedback has evolved significantly in recent years, making it easier than ever to train the brain at home or in clinical settings. Devices now differ widely in their sensors, training approaches, and level of guidance.
The most effective neurofeedback setups combine reliable brain-sensing technology with structured feedback and ongoing progress tracking.
Top neurofeedback devices in 2026 include Myndlift, Muse, Sens.ai, Neurosity, Mendi, FocusCalm, Brainbit, and Neurable, each offering its own balance of depth, accessibility, and training style.
This article explains how each neurofeedback device works, the type of feedback it provides, and who it’s best suited for, from meditation beginners to performance-focused professionals, to clinicians supporting clients.
Myndlift is highlighted in this guide because it is one of the few platforms that offers personalized neurofeedback protocols designed and adjusted by human experts, alongside qEEG-based assessment and clinical software. This structure makes it useful in both individual and professional contexts.
Neurofeedback is no longer a niche tool used only in clinics and research settings.
Today, many people are training their brains at home using devices that measure brain activity and provide real-time feedback aimed at supporting focus, calm, and cognitive performance.
Different neurofeedback devices vary widely in how they work. Some emphasize meditation and relaxation, others provide raw brain data for exploration or performance tracking, and some offer structured training programs supported by professionals.
This guide provides an overview of the leading neurofeedback devices available in 2026, how each one approaches brain training, and the types of users they may be best suited for.
Comparison: The best neurofeedback devices
Choosing the right neurofeedback device depends on what you’re looking for. For example, is it simple relaxation tracking, data-driven performance monitoring, or full clinical-grade brain training?
Below is a side-by-side comparison showing how the leading options stack up across accessibility, personalization, and scientific depth.
Device | Home use | Human, Expert Guidance | Training Type | Brain Assessments | Cognitive Tracking | Clinical Software | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Myndlift | ✅ Home + Clinic | ✅ Yes (Neuro Coach) | Custom 3D – Visual, Auditory, Haptic, EEG, and fNIRS | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | $$$ |
Muse S Athena | ✅ | ❌ | Fixed protocols, EEG and fNIRS | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | $$$ |
BrainMaster | ❌ | ✅ | Custom, EEG | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | $$$$$ |
Sens.ai | ✅ | ❌ | Custom,EEG and PBM (stimulation) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | $$$$ |
Neurosity Crown | ✅ | ❌ | Fixed, adaptive feedback | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | $$$$ |
Mendi | ✅ | ❌ | Fixed, fNIRS | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | $$ |
FocusCalm | ✅ | ❌ | Fixed, EEG | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | $$ |
Neurable | ✅ | ❌ | Fixed, EEG | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | $$$ |
Things to consider when choosing a neurofeedback device
When choosing a neurofeedback system, these factors matter most:
Sensor quality and measurement type: Devices vary in whether they measure electrical brain activity (EEG), blood flow/oxygenation (fNIRS), or both. EEG provides insight into moment-to-moment brain states, while fNIRS reflects cognitive effort and brain metabolic activity. Devices that combine multiple modalities offer a broader view of brain function, and possibly higher effectiveness.
Protocol personalization: The traditional, gold-standard way of doing neurofeedback is based on three steps:
1) You go through a brain assessment, usually involving a qEEG to understand the user’s brain patterns
2) Then, set a custom protocol that matches your assessment results, and the desired goals. This is done by a trained professional.
3) As you undergoe the training, the professional would adjust the protocol accordingly when needed.
Some at-home devices on the market offer this gold-standard option remotely, while others rely on a less-personalized, fixed approach.
Choosing between the more traditional way of a custom program vs. a fixed one will depend highly on your goals.
If getting maximum support to tackle an issue is a priority for you, it’s recommended to go with a more expensive device that offers a custom program, otherwise, if you’re just curious - trying out an affordable device with a fixed program could be a better option.
Research and clinical use: Some neurofeedback tools are primarily used for meditation, relaxation, or personal performance tracking, while others are also used in clinical settings. Reviewing published studies or professional applications can help clarify which system aligns with your needs and expectations.
1. Myndlift: Clinician-trusted, professional, at-home neurofeedback
Myndlift is a neurofeedback platform used both at home and in clinical settings. It offers a gold-standard approach with custom-made protocols, remote professional guidance/coaching, brain assessments and cognitive tracking.
The program begins with a comprehensive health assessment (qEEG, sustained focus test, and symptom questionnaires). Based on this baseline, an expert Neuro Coach creates a personalized brain training plan and adjusts it over time as the member progresses.
What makes it stand out:
Custom-built protocols
1:1 coaching and expert human guidance
High-resolution measurement via an attachable electrode
Comprehensive brain health assessments and cognitive tracking
Stream Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc, as part of the brain training
Not limited to consumers only. Supports therapists with dedicated clinician-facing software
Crucially, given that it’s compatible with all Muse models, you get access to both the capabilities of the Muse app and the Myndlift app in one package.
Price: Starts at $199 for the kit + subscription ($150/mo for coaching-based, $29/mo for self-guided). For clinics: starts at $1990 with full onboarding and integration.
Best for: individuals or clinics seeking guided, data-driven neurofeedback with proven clinical reliability.
Less suitable for: DIY tinkerers or ultra-budget, self-serve seekers.
2. Muse (2/ S Athena): Popular, meditation, calm, and sleep trainer
Muse has two models: Muse 2 and the more recent Muse S Athena.
Both offer a great way to improve your meditation practice and track cognitive performance over time.
Muse S Athena, the more recent model, offers additional capabilities such as sleep tracking, and blood flow offers brain blood flow/oxygenation tracking + training.
What makes it stand out:
+500 guided meditation sessions available in the app
Combined fNIRS and EEG sensing
Cognitive tracking
Potential access to compatible partners such as Myndlift
Price: Starts at $249 for the device + optional subscription to unlock premium features
Best for: meditators and beginners wanting calm/sleep support with light brain tracking.
Less suitable for: users seeking intensive, clinician-guided neurofeedback.
BrainMaster: Traditional neurofeedback equipment
BrainMaster is a legacy system used exclusively in clinics and research centers. It employs a full multi-electrode EEG cap connected to desktop software that allows clinicians to run real-time, customizable protocols.
While not designed for home use, it remains one of the most comprehensive systems available, supporting multi-channel, qEEG-guided, and LORETA-based training.
What makes it stand out:
Comprehensive clinical features (multi-channel, qEEG, LORETA, z-score) for professionals
Price: Device price varies (starts at $8,290). Typically used by clinicians charging $150–$200 per session.
Best for: those looking for in-clinic 19-channel neurofeedback
Less suitable for: home users or those seeking a modern, plug-and-play solution
4. Sens.ai: Comprehensive multi-modality trainer
Sens.ai combines EEG (electrical brain activity), HRV (heart rate variability), and photobiomodulation (light-based stimulation) in one headset.
The headset includes built-in headphones and offers an immersive training experience with its guided journeys. While the price is lofty for most, the advanced capabilities justify it: the sessions include light stimulation, heart+ brain tracking, and binaural beats.
What makes it stand out:
Structured journeys
Multi-modality training: PBM, EEG, HRV, and binaural beats
Brain assessments
Price: $1,500
Best for: advanced biohackers wanting multimodal, structured performance journeys.
Less suitable for: beginners or anyone needing a simple setup or clinical oversight.
5. Neurosity Crown: Focused work and productivity
The Neurosity Crown is designed to help users track attention during the day. Its sleek design doesn’t compromise comfort and features 8 EEG channels, which allows for higher spatial measurements capabilities.
While it does not offer full neurofeedback in the clinical sense, the app nudges the user into focus while doing other tasks using its adaptive audio function.
Moreover, it includes a developer-friendly API which allows DIYers to customize their Neurosity Crown experience.
What makes it stand out:
Adaptive-audio training - music changes based on your brainwave readings
You can wear it while working or studying
API access
Price: $1,499
Best for: productivity hackers and developers who want focus tracking and API flexibility.
Less suitable for: Those seeking simplicity, those seeking traditional neurofeedback
6. Mendi: Accessible, newbie-friendly
Mendi is lightweight, price-friendly, and uses functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to detect changes in blood flow and oxygenation in the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for cognitive functions like decision-making and focus.
Given Mendi’s reliance on fNIRS sensors rather than EEG, it is not possible to offer the granularity that EEG offers, and therefore, customization and tracking is more limited.
What makes it stand out:
Simple, gamified brain training
Affordable
Price: $299
Best for: Price-conscious newcomers
Less suitable for: Users wanting EEG-based, customizable, clinic-grade programs.
FocusCalm: Accessible and gamified
Similar to Mendi and Muse, FocusCalm’s headband offers a price-friendly way to jump into brain training. The headband has fewer sensors, which limits its capabilities in accuracy, but the app offers guided meditations, gamified brain training sessions, and structured programs.
What makes it stand out:
Simple, gamified brain training
Affordable
Price: $279.99 + subscription
Best for: Price-conscious newcomers
Less suitable for: Users seeking high-resolution training, those seeking professional neurofeedback
8. Neurable: Premium headphones that track your brain
Neurable’s headphones have EEG sensors built in. This allows users to have their brain activity be measured inconspicuously while doing day-to-day tasks. Most EEG devices cannot achieve that due to the impracticality of wearing a headband continuously.
The sound quality is top-notch, and the app offers cognitive tracking and lightweight neurofeedback.
Think of it like buying really good headphones with additional sensing capabilities.
What makes it stand out:
Sleek, high-quality headphones
Daily use
Cognitive tracking
Price: $499
Best for: Casual, all-day cognitive tracking in premium headphones
Less suitable for: Users seeking neurofeedback training or health outcomes.
No one-size-fits-all, and that’s the good part
Neurofeedback isn’t one thing anymore. It can look like meditation, like focus tracking, or like personalized brain training with a Neuro Coach.
You get to choose the version that fits your goals and what kind of experience keeps you engaged.
That’s the real shift. Not the technology itself, but the fact that it’s finally configurable to you.
FAQs
What is neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is a type of brain training that uses sensors to measure your brain activity in real time and gives you feedback as you practice. For example, if you’re playing a game on your device and your focus increases, the game responds positively; if attention drifts, the game slows down. Over time, this feedback helps you become more aware of your mental state and learn how to shift it more intentionally.
What’s the difference between EEG and fNIRS?
EEG measures electrical activity in the brain, reflecting shifts in attention, calm, and engagement. fNIRS measures blood flow and oxygenation, which is associated with cognitive effort and workload. Some devices use one or the other; some combine both to provide a broader view of brain activity.
Can neurofeedback be done at home?
Yes. Many systems now offer at-home training. Some are self-guided, where you follow the app. Others include professional support, where a clinician or coach reviews data and adjusts the training plan. The right choice comes down to how much structure and guidance you want.
How long does it take to see changes?
This varies from person to person. Most people notice patterns, such as when they feel more focused or calm, within the first 3-6 weeks. Training effects tend to build gradually, similar to strengthening a physical skill or meditation practice.
What should I consider when choosing a neurofeedback device?
It helps to start by clarifying what you’re goals are. From there, consider how you prefer to train: some people want a self-guided experience, while others benefit from personalized plans and professional support. Then, think about the kind of feedback and format that feels natural to you. There’s no single “best” system. just the one that fits your goals and how you like to train.
About the author:
Dubravka Rebic
Dubravka Rebic puts a lot of time and energy into researching and writing in order to help create awareness and positive change in the mental health space. From poring over scientific studies to reading entire books in order to write a single content piece, she puts in the hard work to ensure her content is of the highest quality and provides maximum value.
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