After the crazy year we’ve had, we’re all looking for ways to reduce stress, focus more effectively, and sleep better. Two intriguing wearables that claim to do all of these things are Hapbee and Apollo Neuro.

Both of these devices seem like they could be the future of neuroscience, but which one is most likely to come out on top? Which product is worth the money?

Here is a thorough comparison of Apollo Neuro vs. Hapbee that will help you decide which wearable is best for you. 

While Apollo Neuro and Hapbee are quite different in appearance, they both profess to help you conquer stress, become more productive, and get more deep sleep. Still, they work in two very distinct ways.

Apollo Neuro is a brainwave entrainment device that uses vibration on your wrist (haptic feedback) to improve your heart rate variability (HRV) and decrease stress. It has 7 modes: Energy and Wake Up, Social and Open, Clear and Focused, Rebuild and Recover, Meditation and Mindfulness, Relax and Unwind, and Sleep and Renew.

Hapbee is a wearable device that utilizes ultra-low radio frequency energy (ulRFE) to deliver signals that imitate a wide variety of sensations. It has 7 signals: Happy, Alert, Focus, Calm, Relax, Deep Sleep, and Bedtime. Hapbee is currently working on several new signals surrounding performance, memory, and diet, among others. 

Hapbee is a band that is worn around your neck or head, while Apollo Neuro is a band that can be worn around your wrist or ankle. Both wearables have a companion app that gives you the ability to choose which signal you want to play.

As you’re searching for a wearable that will improve your quality of life, you’re probably curious about the science behind each of these products. After all, the main question you’re wondering is whether these things actually work. Could it be just a placebo effect?

Apollo Neuro is an indirect stimulation product that uses subtle buzzes (haptic feedback) to create a parasympathetic response through your vagus nerve. This is meant to simulate the feeling of touch and soothe your nervous system.

Due to its reliance on vibrations alone, Apollo Neuro has limited responses. The specificity of the 7 modes is suspect in that each of them is simply a variation on the same vibrations. There is no doubt that Apollo Neuro can make you feel less stressed, but it’s a stretch to claim that it can also improve your sleep, make you more focused, give you more energy, etc.

Hapbee records magnetic signatures from specific compounds and replays them using a wearable headband to imitate emotional effects. Its ulRFE technology accesses a full spectrum of signals, unlike Apollo Neuro, which is a single-use device. Hapbee has the ability to derive signals from any every day compound, like caffeine or melatonin, which is why its signal catalog is constantly expanding. 

Hapbee’s peak signal strength is 40 milliGauss–extremely low, safe, and effective. The company has worked with its research partner, EMulate Therapeutics, to produce a whitepaper outlining the known effects of low-energy magnetic fields on biological systems.

Both Hapbee and Apollo Neuro have conducted multiple studies on their products. Apollo Neuro has done placebo-controlled scientific studies with two of its modes and concluded that its device increases HRV and supports stress recovery.

Hapbee, on the other hand, has tested all 7 of its available signals on both blinded and unblinded users. In unblinded sessions with 135 users, 91% indicated they felt the signal played in a one-off setting.

Blinded users were able to distinguish between signal and no signal in 100% of cases and could differentiate between signals with more than 70% accuracy. Most errors happened with signals from adjacent feelings, such as misidentifying Alert and Focus. Continued Hapbee research is ongoing, particularly around productivity and sleep.

Before buying a product, it’s important to know what customers are saying about it. Does Hapbee work? Is Apollo Neuro worth the expensive price tag?

“I still find it hard to believe that I can put this device on the energy setting and within a minute feel like I’ve had some Bulletproof Coffee.” – Dave Asprey

“15% increase in Oura Ring sleep score primarily due to a 4x increase in REM sleep. Wow. You need this thing.” – Martin

“I rely on the Calm and Focus signals throughout my workday, as I am pulled in many directions and can’t afford to get off track.” – Maureen

I use it for relaxation and sleeping at nighttime. It really makes an impact

“I’ve been using the Relax and Calm signals and checking my blood pressure. It’s staying low, and I’m feeling really good.” – Dr. Richard

“I can’t believe how relaxed Hapbee makes me feel, despite me just getting off duty.” – Officer Clint

“I use Hapbee for relaxation and sleeping at nighttime. It really makes an impact.” – Dr. Tatiana 

“In the evenings, I just throw on my Hapbee and sit back and let it all kind of melt away at the end of the day. I’m really, really in love with my Hapbee.” – Ben

“The Apollo has helped my day to day life tremendously. It really helps me relax and I use it every day!” – David

“You can tell when a product is made with equal parts head and heart. Apollo is a must have for those who struggle and need to rewire the brain and body for safety. I’m grateful for this new, science driven, somatic approach to healing.” – Courtney

“My experience has been mixed. It took over a month for me to see positive results using it. It’s worked flawlessly so I’m happy about that. I only use it at night to help me fall asleep and after a couple of months I would say it works well for me now.” – John

“I have been extremely pleased with the product. Easy to use and very beneficial.” – Suzanne

There have been complaints about the band design of Apollo Neuro, since it’s a bit clunky and can appear at first glance to be a court-ordered ankle bracelet. Its battery life is not stellar, needing to be charged once a day. The vibrations become soothing once you get used to them, but at first they can be mildly irritating.

Hapbee is more stylish and can be worn in multiple ways. You don’t need to worry about charging it every day because the battery lasts for 12 or more hours of playback. When you’re wearing your Hapbee, you won’t feel a constant buzzing; just the desired effects of the signal.

If you’re wanting to try out these devices but still aren’t sure about them, it’s helpful to know about their return policies. Both Hapbee and Apollo Neuro have money-back guarantees. Hapbee gives a 30-day money-back guarantee and 60-day trial, while Apollo Neuro has a 60-day guarantee (presumably because the product takes longer to show positive results).

Comparing other brain wearables? Check out Hapbee vs. NeoRhythm.

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