Emotiv 101: Your Guide to EEG Headsets & Software
Heidi Duran
Feb 10, 2026
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The ability to control a drone with your thoughts or understand a customer's genuine emotional response to a product is no longer just a concept. It's a reality being built today by a global community of innovators. At the heart of this progress is accessible brain-computer interface technology. We created the Emotiv ecosystem to provide the essential tools—from reliable EEG headsets to robust software development kits—that turn ambitious ideas into functional applications. Whether you are a developer, a researcher, or a creator, our technology is designed to be the foundation for your work. This article will show you what’s possible and how you can get started.
Key Takeaways
Bring neurotechnology into the real world: Our wireless, portable headsets and simple, gel-free setups let you collect brain data in minutes, moving your work from a controlled lab to natural, everyday environments.
Find the perfect fit for your goals: We offer a complete ecosystem that scales with your needs, from 2-channel earbuds for personal exploration to 32-channel headsets for high-density academic research.
Turn brain data into action: Our technology provides the foundation for a wide range of applications, including building hands-free brain-computer interfaces, conducting neuromarketing studies, and accessing personal cognitive wellness tools.
What is Emotiv EEG Technology?
At Emotiv, we use a technology called electroencephalography (EEG) to explore the human brain. Our goal is simple: to help people understand their own brains and to speed up brain research around the world. We believe that by making neurotechnology easier to access and use, we can empower more people—from academic researchers to individual creators—to ask and answer important questions about the brain.
Our entire ecosystem, from our wireless headsets to our powerful software, is built around this idea. We provide the tools you need to work with high-quality brain data, whether you're conducting a formal study, building a new application, or are just curious about what’s happening inside your own head.
How Does EEG Brain Sensing Work?
You can think of EEG as a way to listen to the brain's electrical activity. Your brain is constantly producing tiny electrical signals, often called brain waves, as neurons communicate with each other. Our EEG headsets use small sensors that rest on your scalp to pick up these signals. The data is then sent wirelessly to your computer, allowing you to see a real-time representation of brain activity.
This process is non-invasive, meaning nothing enters your body. It’s a safe and established method for gathering brain data that can be used for everything from scientific studies to building hands-free control systems with a brain-computer interface.
Making Neurotechnology Accessible for Everyone
Traditionally, EEG research required expensive, bulky equipment that was confined to a laboratory. We wanted to change that. Our mission is to make reliable brain-sensing technology portable, wireless, and user-friendly. We design our products to be trusted and accurate, so you can focus on your work without needing a team of technicians to get started.
This approach brings neurotechnology out of the lab and into real-world environments. Our equipment allows students to visualize brain activity in their classrooms and helps researchers conduct studies in more natural settings. By removing these barriers, we open up new possibilities for academic research and education and give more people the chance to engage with neuroscience.
Explore Our EEG Headsets and Earbuds
Choosing the right hardware is the first step in exploring brain data. Whether you're just starting to explore your own cognitive states or conducting complex academic studies, we have a device designed for your specific needs. Our lineup ranges from discreet earbuds for daily use to high-density headsets for detailed research. Each device is built with a focus on portability, ease of use, and providing reliable data. This means you can spend less time on setup and more time on discovery. We believe that powerful technology should also be accessible, which is why our devices are wireless and designed for real-world use, not just a controlled lab environment. From personal wellness exploration to groundbreaking neuroscience, the right tool makes all the difference. Let's find the perfect fit for your project.
MN8: 2-Channel EEG Earbuds
The Emotiv MN8 earbuds are designed for anyone interested in exploring their brain activity in a simple, accessible way. Because they look and feel like regular earbuds, you can easily wear them throughout your day. They are perfect for personal use, providing access to cognitive wellness tools that help you understand your focus and attention patterns. The 2-channel setup is straightforward, making the MN8 an excellent entry point into the world of EEG without the complexity of a full headset. It’s all about making brain-sensing technology a seamless part of your daily routine.
Insight: 5-Channel EEG Headset
If you're ready for a bit more data, the Emotiv Insight is a fantastic next step. This 5-channel wireless headset is designed to be incredibly user-friendly, making it perfect for students, educators, and anyone new to EEG. The Insight captures brain activity across key areas of the cortex, giving you a broader picture of your mental performance and emotional states. Its lightweight design and quick setup mean you can start gathering data in minutes. It strikes a great balance between providing meaningful insights and maintaining simplicity, making it a popular choice for educational projects and personal exploration.
Epoc X: 14-Channel EEG Headset
For professional researchers and developers, the Emotiv Epoc X is a powerful 14-channel EEG headset. It delivers the kind of high-quality, contextual brain data needed for serious scientific inquiry and building innovative applications. The headset's design ensures a good connection and reliable signal quality, which is essential for academic research and developing brain-computer interfaces. The Epoc X is a versatile tool that provides the resolution and performance required for professional-grade projects while still being wireless and easy to set up compared to traditional lab equipment. It’s built to support the demands of advanced neuroscience.
Flex Saline: 32-Channel EEG Headset
When your research requires high-density brain mapping, the Emotiv Flex Saline is the answer. This 32-channel headset provides extensive coverage of the cortex, allowing for incredibly detailed analysis of brain activity. The saline-based sensors are a key feature—they are quick to prepare and comfortable to wear, which makes the setup process much faster than traditional gel-based systems. This makes the Flex Saline headset ideal for studies that require capturing data from many participants or applications where rapid setup is a priority. It’s a flexible and powerful solution for complex research.
Flex Gel: 32-Channel EEG Headset
Similar to its saline counterpart, the Emotiv Flex Gel also offers 32 channels for high-density data acquisition. The main difference lies in its gel-based sensors. These sensors are designed to provide an extremely stable and reliable connection, which is perfect for long recording sessions where signal integrity is paramount. If your work involves lengthy experiments or requires the most consistent data stream possible over several hours, the Flex Gel headset is the ideal choice. It’s the go-to device for advanced researchers who need robust, high-fidelity data for their most demanding studies.
Power Your Research with Emotiv Software
Our EEG headsets are powerful tools, but the real magic happens when you pair them with our software. Think of the hardware as the sensor and the software as the brain of the operation—it’s what translates complex neural signals into understandable data and actionable insights. We know that everyone comes to this technology with different goals, which is why we’ve built a full ecosystem of software to support your work. Whether you’re just starting to explore your own brain activity, conducting a complex research study, or building the next great brain-computer interface, we have a solution designed to meet you where you are.
Our software suite is built to grow with you, offering a clear path from initial exploration to advanced analysis and even custom application development. Each program is designed to work seamlessly with our headsets, ensuring you can get from unboxing to discovery as quickly as possible. This integrated approach means less time troubleshooting and more time focused on what truly matters: understanding the data. From the simple, intuitive interface of our mobile app to the robust analytical power of EmotivPRO, you have everything you need to turn raw EEG signals into meaningful discoveries.
Get Started with the Emotiv App
If you're new to the world of EEG, the Emotiv App is your perfect entry point. We designed it with a friendly interface that makes it easy to see your brain data without feeling overwhelmed. You can view your emotional states and engage with different mental exercises right from your device. The app also includes experiences that let you experiment with mental commands, which is a fun and interactive way to understand how brain-computer interfaces work on a basic level. It’s all about making this technology accessible and giving you a solid foundation before you move on to more advanced tools.
Go Deeper with EmotivPRO
When you’re ready for serious analysis, EmotivPRO is the tool for the job. This is our professional-grade software platform built for researchers and power users who need to conduct detailed studies. It lets you record high-resolution brain data directly from any of our headsets, view it in real-time, and mark specific events as they happen. After your recording session, you can perform in-depth analysis on the collected data to gain a richer understanding of cognitive and emotional processes. We built EmotivPRO to streamline the entire research process, from setting up an experiment to interpreting the final results.
Build with EmotivBCI
For the creators, innovators, and developers out there, we offer EmotivBCI. This is your toolkit for bringing new ideas to life using brain data. As a pioneer in brain-computer interface technology, we provide the software development kits (SDKs) you need to build your own custom applications. You can create programs that respond to mental commands, facial expressions, or emotional states, opening up a whole new world of interactive experiences. You’ll also be joining a global community of over 70,000 developers, creating a space for collaboration and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with neurotechnology.
What Can You Do with Emotiv Technology?
Emotiv's EEG technology opens up a world of possibilities, putting the power of neuroscience into the hands of creators, researchers, and curious minds everywhere. Whether you're looking to build groundbreaking applications, conduct real-world studies, understand human behavior, or simply explore your own mind, our headsets and software provide the tools you need. Here are just a few of the ways you can use Emotiv technology to bring your ideas to life.
Build Brain-Computer Interfaces
As a pioneer in the field, we provide the hardware and software to create powerful brain-computer interface (BCI) applications. A BCI essentially creates a direct pathway between your brain and an external device, allowing you to control things with your mind. This isn't science fiction—it's happening right now. Developers are using our technology to design hands-free controls for smart homes, create interactive art installations that respond to emotion, and build assistive technologies that can make a real difference in people's lives. From gaming and entertainment to robotics and transport safety, BCI is a rapidly growing field, and our tools are designed to help you be a part of it.
Advance Academic Research
Traditional EEG research used to be confined to a lab with expensive, cumbersome equipment. We changed that. Our wireless, portable EEG headsets make it possible to conduct academic research in more natural, real-world environments. This flexibility allows researchers to gather more authentic data and explore questions that were previously difficult to study. For educators, our technology brings neuroscience to life in the classroom. Students can see and understand brain activity in real-time, making complex concepts tangible and exciting. It’s a hands-on way to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators by making brain science accessible to everyone.
Uncover Neuromarketing Insights
What really captures a consumer's attention? What emotional response does an advertisement trigger? Surveys and focus groups can only tell you so much. Our technology helps you go deeper by measuring the subconscious reactions that drive decision-making. With our portable headsets, you can conduct consumer research anywhere—in a store, at home, or on the go—to see how people genuinely respond to products, brands, and experiences. These insights allow you to understand what truly engages your audience, helping you create more effective and resonant marketing campaigns based on real human data, not just what people say they feel.
Access Cognitive Wellness Tools
Understanding your own mind is a powerful journey. Our technology gives you a window into your brain's activity, providing access to cognitive wellness tools that can help you learn more about your own mental states. You can explore your patterns of focus, engagement, and relaxation throughout the day. By seeing how your brain responds to different activities, environments, or even your own thoughts, you can gain personal insights into what helps you feel calm or concentrated. It’s not about diagnosing or treating, but about fostering self-awareness and giving you the information to better understand the unique workings of your own mind.
How Does Emotiv Compare?
When you're looking for an EEG device, the options can feel overwhelming. It's not just about the technology itself, but about how that technology fits into your work and your life. At Emotiv, we focus on a few key areas to make our headsets and software accessible, flexible, and powerful. We believe that great neurotechnology should be easy to use anywhere, offer options that suit your specific project, and come with a supportive community to help you achieve your goals. Let's look at what sets our approach apart.
Portability and Wireless Freedom
Gone are the days of being tethered to a bulky machine in a lab. Our EEG devices are designed to be wireless and portable, giving you the freedom to gather brain data in real-world settings. This is a game-changer for academic research and education, allowing studies to happen in classrooms, offices, or even outdoors. For developers and creators, it means you can build and test applications that people can use in their daily lives. This portability makes brain-computer interface technology more practical and accessible than ever before, letting you take your work wherever you need to go.
The Convenience of Dry vs. Wet Sensors
We understand that different projects have different needs, which is why we offer headsets with both wet and dry sensors. Our wet sensor devices, like the Flex, use a simple saline solution or gel to ensure a high-quality connection, which is ideal for detailed scientific research. For quicker setups and more casual use, our dry sensor headsets, such as the Insight, are ready to go in minutes without any prep. This flexibility means you can choose the right tool for your specific application, whether you need the highest signal fidelity for a study or the convenience of a gel-free setup for daily cognitive exploration.
Finding the Right Value for Your Project
The price of an EEG system often reflects its capabilities, from the number of channels to the sophistication of its software. We believe in providing the right value for every type of project. You don't always need a 32-channel system for meaningful work. Our range of devices ensures you can find a solution that matches your goals and your budget. Whether you're an individual exploring BCI for the first time with a 5-channel headset or a research institution needing the power of our Flex headset, you can get started without paying for features you don't need. It's about matching the tool to the task.
Tapping into Our Developer Community
When you work with Emotiv, you're getting more than just hardware and software—you're joining a global community. With over 70,000 creators and researchers, our network is a powerful resource for collaboration and support. We provide a robust set of tools and SDKs through our developer portal to help you build your own applications, analyze data in new ways, and push the boundaries of what's possible with BCI. This ecosystem of innovation means you're never working alone. You have access to a wealth of shared knowledge and experience to help bring your ideas to life.
Find the Right Emotiv Device for You
Choosing the right EEG device can feel like a big decision, but it really comes down to what you want to accomplish. Your specific goal is the most important factor, as it determines the kind of data you need. Think of it in terms of resolution: are you looking for general insights into your own focus, or do you need highly detailed, location-specific brain data for a scientific study? The number of EEG sensors, or channels, is the main difference between our devices. More channels provide greater spatial resolution, allowing you to see activity from more areas of the brain simultaneously.
For example, our 5-channel Insight headset is designed for accessibility and ease of use, making it a great entry point. For more demanding applications, like academic research or advanced BCI development, the 14-channel Epoc X offers a significant step up in data granularity while remaining completely wireless and portable. And for projects that require the highest possible density, our 32-channel Flex headset provides comprehensive brain coverage. The following sections will help you match your project with the perfect Emotiv device, ensuring you have the right tool for the job.
For Personal Use and Cognitive Exploration
If you’re curious about your own brain and want to explore your cognitive patterns, the 5-channel Insight headset is the perfect place to start. We designed it for everyday people who are interested in learning more about their attention, focus, and stress levels. The Insight uses unique saline sensors that are simple to set up—no gels or complicated prep required. This makes it easy to integrate into your daily routine. It’s a fantastic way to access cognitive wellness tools and see your brain data in real-time with our user-friendly Emotiv App. You don’t need a background in neuroscience to begin your journey of self-discovery.
For Academic and Scientific Research
When your work demands robust, high-quality data for publication, you need a device built for the rigors of scientific inquiry. Our advanced wireless tools are designed to help researchers better understand the human brain. The 14-channel Epoc X headset is our most popular device for academic research, offering an excellent balance of high-resolution data, portability, and ease of use. For studies requiring maximum spatial detail, the 32-channel Flex system provides the most comprehensive brain data. Both systems are trusted by universities and institutions worldwide to deliver the reliable EEG data needed to push the boundaries of neuroscience.
For Developers and BCI Innovators
If you’re a developer looking to build the next generation of neuro-powered applications, you need a reliable platform and strong support. Our hardware provides the clean data streams you need, while our software development kits (SDKs) give you the tools to create amazing things. The Emotiv developer community has grown to over 70,000 innovators, and we’re passionate about supporting those working on brain-computer interface solutions. The Epoc X is an excellent choice for BCI projects, providing enough data channels for complex commands without sacrificing mobility. You can find all the resources you need to get started on our page for developers.
For Neuromarketing and Business Insights
Understanding your customers on a deeper level is the key to creating truly impactful products and experiences. Our performance metrics help you see what genuinely captures consumer attention, elicits an emotional response, and influences decision-making. The portability of our wireless headsets, like the Insight and Epoc X, is a game-changer for neuromarketing. You can conduct consumer research anywhere—in a store, at an event, or in a participant’s home—to gather authentic insights in a natural context. Move beyond traditional surveys and start measuring the subconscious reactions that truly drive consumer behavior.
Why is Emotiv So Easy to Use?
For a long time, EEG technology felt like it was locked away in a lab. It involved complex machinery, messy setup procedures, and required a team of experts to interpret the results. We believed there had to be a better way. Our goal has always been to make neurotechnology accessible, and that starts with designing tools that are intuitive and straightforward to use. We’ve focused on removing the biggest barriers so you can spend less time on setup and more time on discovery.
We want you to feel confident using our technology, whether you're a seasoned researcher or just starting to explore the world of brain data. This commitment to simplicity is woven into every product we create. From gel-free sensors that get you started in minutes to wireless designs that let you work anywhere, every aspect of our ecosystem is built with your experience in mind. It’s about giving you the power to ask big questions and get answers, without needing a PhD in electrical engineering to get started. Our hardware and software work together seamlessly, creating a user-friendly experience from the moment you open the box to the second you see your data come to life on the screen.
Start in Minutes with a Gel-Free Setup
One of the most time-consuming parts of traditional EEG setup is applying a conductive gel to each electrode. It’s messy, takes a while to get right, and can be uncomfortable. We’ve streamlined this process with our saline-based sensor technology. Headsets like our Epoc X use simple saline-hydrated felt pads that make contact quickly and cleanly. This means you can go from unboxing your device to collecting data in just a few minutes. This gel-free approach not only saves you valuable time but also makes the experience more pleasant for your research participants or for your own personal use. It’s a small change that makes a huge difference in how you work.
Work Anywhere with a Wireless Design
Your research and creative projects shouldn't be confined to a desk. Our EEG devices are designed to be completely wireless, giving you the freedom to collect brain data in real-world environments. This portability opens up a whole new range of possibilities. You can conduct neuromarketing studies in an actual store, study learning processes in a classroom, or explore cognitive performance during a physical activity. By removing the tethers to a computer, we empower you to gather more authentic and relevant data. Our lightweight, comfortable designs ensure that the technology fades into the background, allowing for naturalistic experiments and applications that were once impossible with bulky, lab-based equipment.
See Your Data Instantly
Collecting brain data is only half the battle; you also need to be able to understand it. Our software is designed to give you immediate insight into what’s happening. With a platform like EmotivPRO, you can see your data streams in real-time, check signal quality on the fly, and view performance metrics as they happen. You don’t have to wait until after a session to start your analysis. This instant feedback is essential for everything from training a brain-computer interface to making sure your experiment is running smoothly. We handle the complex data processing so you can focus on the results and what they mean for your project.
What to Know Before You Start
Jumping into the world of EEG can feel like a big step, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you're a researcher, a developer, or just curious about brain data, we’ve designed our technology to be as accessible as possible. Before you begin, here are a few key things to keep in mind that will help you get the most out of your experience, from setting up your device to understanding our commitment to your data.
Getting Comfortable with the Technology
If you’re new to EEG, the idea of measuring brain activity might seem complex. We get it. That’s why we’ve focused on creating an intuitive experience right out of the box. Our wireless and portable headsets allow you to visualize and understand brain activity in real-time, without being tethered to a desk. This hands-on approach is why our technology is used in classrooms, empowering students with practical academic research and education tools. You don’t need a background in neuroscience to start exploring. Our systems are designed to be easy to use, so you can focus less on the setup and more on the discovery.
Integrating with Your Existing Tools
Our goal is to provide tools that fit into your world, not the other way around. Emotiv technology is built to be flexible, opening up opportunities for new applications in research, art, and development. Whether you're conducting a formal study or building a custom brain-computer interface, our software and hardware are designed to work with your projects. We provide the resources you need to integrate our EEG data streams into your own applications and experiments. This gives you the freedom to innovate and use our technology as a building block for your next big idea.
Our Commitment to Data Privacy and Security
Your trust is important to us, and that starts with being transparent about how our technology should be used and how we handle your data. It’s important to know that Emotiv products are made for research and personal use only. They are not sold as medical devices and should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. We are committed to being the most trusted wireless EEG platform in the world, which means we take data privacy and security seriously. You can feel confident knowing that we are dedicated to protecting your information as you explore the possibilities of Emotiv technology.
Getting Your Emotiv Device: Pricing and Availability
Finding the right EEG device for your project and budget is a big step. We believe this technology should be accessible, which is why we offer a range of headsets at different price points. Whether you're a student just starting out, a developer building a new application, or a seasoned researcher conducting a complex study, there's an Emotiv device designed to fit your needs. Let's walk through our options so you can find the perfect match for your work.
Our Entry-Level Options
If you’re new to the world of EEG, our entry-level devices are the perfect place to start. Priced under $1,000, these headsets are designed for students, educators, and hobbyists who want a hands-on introduction to brain activity measurement without a huge investment. For example, our 5-channel Insight headset offers a fantastic, user-friendly experience right out of the box. It’s a great tool for learning the fundamentals, running classroom experiments, or exploring your own cognitive processes. This tier makes it easy to begin your journey with neurotechnology and start gathering your first brain data insights.
Pricing for Professional-Grade Headsets
For more advanced academic and commercial work, our professional-grade headsets provide a powerful balance of features and performance. In the $1,000 to $25,000 range, you’ll find devices like our popular 14-channel Epoc X headset, which is a workhorse for academic research and neuromarketing studies. For projects that demand the highest resolution and data density, we offer multi-channel headsets priced above $25,000. Our 32-channel Flex headsets, available in saline or gel versions, are designed for complex research that requires extensive data collection and custom sensor placement. These tools are built to support serious scientific and commercial discovery.
How and Where to Purchase
Ready to get started? You can explore and purchase all our hardware and software directly from the official Emotiv website. Each product page provides detailed specifications, what’s included in the box, and compatibility information so you can make an informed decision. From our flagship wireless EEG headsets to our powerful software platforms like EmotivPRO, everything you need is in one place. We ship globally, making it simple to get the tools you need for your project, no matter where you are. To see our full lineup and find the device that’s right for you, you can explore our products.
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Frequently Asked Questions
I'm completely new to EEG. Which device is the best for just starting out? If you're just beginning your journey with brain data, I'd recommend starting with either our MN8 earbuds or the Insight headset. The MN8 is incredibly discreet and fits into your daily life like any other pair of earbuds, making it perfect for exploring your own focus patterns. The 5-channel Insight is a fantastic and user-friendly headset that gives you a broader look at your brain activity without being overwhelming. Both are designed to work seamlessly with our Emotiv App, giving you a simple and engaging way to see your data.
Is using an EEG headset safe? Absolutely. EEG is a completely non-invasive and well-established technology. Think of our headsets as listeners; they use sensors that rest on your scalp to pick up the tiny electrical signals your brain naturally produces. Nothing is sent into your brain. It's a passive process that simply allows you to observe the activity that's already happening, making it a safe way to learn more about the brain.
What's the real difference between saline, gel, and dry sensors? The type of sensor you choose really depends on your project's needs. Dry sensors are all about convenience and are great for very quick, casual use. Our headsets use saline-based sensors, which provide a fantastic middle ground. They are quick to prepare with a simple saline solution and deliver reliable, high-quality data suitable for research. Gel-based sensors, like those on our Flex Gel headset, are the standard for long experiments where you need the most stable signal possible over several hours.
What can I actually do with the brain data I collect? The possibilities are incredibly broad and depend on your goals. On a personal level, you can use the data to gain insights into your own patterns of focus and relaxation. Researchers use the data to study human behavior in natural settings, while neuromarketers use it to understand a consumer's genuine emotional response to an advertisement. For developers, the data can be used to build custom applications, like hands-free controls for a video game or an interactive art piece that responds to your emotional state.
Can I use Emotiv hardware to build my own software or application? Yes, you absolutely can. This is exactly what our EmotivBCI software is for. We provide software development kits (SDKs) that give you access to the data streams from our headsets, allowing you to create your own custom brain-computer interface applications. Whether you're building a new assistive technology, an innovative game, or a unique wellness tool, our platform is designed to support your creative vision.
The ability to control a drone with your thoughts or understand a customer's genuine emotional response to a product is no longer just a concept. It's a reality being built today by a global community of innovators. At the heart of this progress is accessible brain-computer interface technology. We created the Emotiv ecosystem to provide the essential tools—from reliable EEG headsets to robust software development kits—that turn ambitious ideas into functional applications. Whether you are a developer, a researcher, or a creator, our technology is designed to be the foundation for your work. This article will show you what’s possible and how you can get started.
Key Takeaways
Bring neurotechnology into the real world: Our wireless, portable headsets and simple, gel-free setups let you collect brain data in minutes, moving your work from a controlled lab to natural, everyday environments.
Find the perfect fit for your goals: We offer a complete ecosystem that scales with your needs, from 2-channel earbuds for personal exploration to 32-channel headsets for high-density academic research.
Turn brain data into action: Our technology provides the foundation for a wide range of applications, including building hands-free brain-computer interfaces, conducting neuromarketing studies, and accessing personal cognitive wellness tools.
What is Emotiv EEG Technology?
At Emotiv, we use a technology called electroencephalography (EEG) to explore the human brain. Our goal is simple: to help people understand their own brains and to speed up brain research around the world. We believe that by making neurotechnology easier to access and use, we can empower more people—from academic researchers to individual creators—to ask and answer important questions about the brain.
Our entire ecosystem, from our wireless headsets to our powerful software, is built around this idea. We provide the tools you need to work with high-quality brain data, whether you're conducting a formal study, building a new application, or are just curious about what’s happening inside your own head.
How Does EEG Brain Sensing Work?
You can think of EEG as a way to listen to the brain's electrical activity. Your brain is constantly producing tiny electrical signals, often called brain waves, as neurons communicate with each other. Our EEG headsets use small sensors that rest on your scalp to pick up these signals. The data is then sent wirelessly to your computer, allowing you to see a real-time representation of brain activity.
This process is non-invasive, meaning nothing enters your body. It’s a safe and established method for gathering brain data that can be used for everything from scientific studies to building hands-free control systems with a brain-computer interface.
Making Neurotechnology Accessible for Everyone
Traditionally, EEG research required expensive, bulky equipment that was confined to a laboratory. We wanted to change that. Our mission is to make reliable brain-sensing technology portable, wireless, and user-friendly. We design our products to be trusted and accurate, so you can focus on your work without needing a team of technicians to get started.
This approach brings neurotechnology out of the lab and into real-world environments. Our equipment allows students to visualize brain activity in their classrooms and helps researchers conduct studies in more natural settings. By removing these barriers, we open up new possibilities for academic research and education and give more people the chance to engage with neuroscience.
Explore Our EEG Headsets and Earbuds
Choosing the right hardware is the first step in exploring brain data. Whether you're just starting to explore your own cognitive states or conducting complex academic studies, we have a device designed for your specific needs. Our lineup ranges from discreet earbuds for daily use to high-density headsets for detailed research. Each device is built with a focus on portability, ease of use, and providing reliable data. This means you can spend less time on setup and more time on discovery. We believe that powerful technology should also be accessible, which is why our devices are wireless and designed for real-world use, not just a controlled lab environment. From personal wellness exploration to groundbreaking neuroscience, the right tool makes all the difference. Let's find the perfect fit for your project.
MN8: 2-Channel EEG Earbuds
The Emotiv MN8 earbuds are designed for anyone interested in exploring their brain activity in a simple, accessible way. Because they look and feel like regular earbuds, you can easily wear them throughout your day. They are perfect for personal use, providing access to cognitive wellness tools that help you understand your focus and attention patterns. The 2-channel setup is straightforward, making the MN8 an excellent entry point into the world of EEG without the complexity of a full headset. It’s all about making brain-sensing technology a seamless part of your daily routine.
Insight: 5-Channel EEG Headset
If you're ready for a bit more data, the Emotiv Insight is a fantastic next step. This 5-channel wireless headset is designed to be incredibly user-friendly, making it perfect for students, educators, and anyone new to EEG. The Insight captures brain activity across key areas of the cortex, giving you a broader picture of your mental performance and emotional states. Its lightweight design and quick setup mean you can start gathering data in minutes. It strikes a great balance between providing meaningful insights and maintaining simplicity, making it a popular choice for educational projects and personal exploration.
Epoc X: 14-Channel EEG Headset
For professional researchers and developers, the Emotiv Epoc X is a powerful 14-channel EEG headset. It delivers the kind of high-quality, contextual brain data needed for serious scientific inquiry and building innovative applications. The headset's design ensures a good connection and reliable signal quality, which is essential for academic research and developing brain-computer interfaces. The Epoc X is a versatile tool that provides the resolution and performance required for professional-grade projects while still being wireless and easy to set up compared to traditional lab equipment. It’s built to support the demands of advanced neuroscience.
Flex Saline: 32-Channel EEG Headset
When your research requires high-density brain mapping, the Emotiv Flex Saline is the answer. This 32-channel headset provides extensive coverage of the cortex, allowing for incredibly detailed analysis of brain activity. The saline-based sensors are a key feature—they are quick to prepare and comfortable to wear, which makes the setup process much faster than traditional gel-based systems. This makes the Flex Saline headset ideal for studies that require capturing data from many participants or applications where rapid setup is a priority. It’s a flexible and powerful solution for complex research.
Flex Gel: 32-Channel EEG Headset
Similar to its saline counterpart, the Emotiv Flex Gel also offers 32 channels for high-density data acquisition. The main difference lies in its gel-based sensors. These sensors are designed to provide an extremely stable and reliable connection, which is perfect for long recording sessions where signal integrity is paramount. If your work involves lengthy experiments or requires the most consistent data stream possible over several hours, the Flex Gel headset is the ideal choice. It’s the go-to device for advanced researchers who need robust, high-fidelity data for their most demanding studies.
Power Your Research with Emotiv Software
Our EEG headsets are powerful tools, but the real magic happens when you pair them with our software. Think of the hardware as the sensor and the software as the brain of the operation—it’s what translates complex neural signals into understandable data and actionable insights. We know that everyone comes to this technology with different goals, which is why we’ve built a full ecosystem of software to support your work. Whether you’re just starting to explore your own brain activity, conducting a complex research study, or building the next great brain-computer interface, we have a solution designed to meet you where you are.
Our software suite is built to grow with you, offering a clear path from initial exploration to advanced analysis and even custom application development. Each program is designed to work seamlessly with our headsets, ensuring you can get from unboxing to discovery as quickly as possible. This integrated approach means less time troubleshooting and more time focused on what truly matters: understanding the data. From the simple, intuitive interface of our mobile app to the robust analytical power of EmotivPRO, you have everything you need to turn raw EEG signals into meaningful discoveries.
Get Started with the Emotiv App
If you're new to the world of EEG, the Emotiv App is your perfect entry point. We designed it with a friendly interface that makes it easy to see your brain data without feeling overwhelmed. You can view your emotional states and engage with different mental exercises right from your device. The app also includes experiences that let you experiment with mental commands, which is a fun and interactive way to understand how brain-computer interfaces work on a basic level. It’s all about making this technology accessible and giving you a solid foundation before you move on to more advanced tools.
Go Deeper with EmotivPRO
When you’re ready for serious analysis, EmotivPRO is the tool for the job. This is our professional-grade software platform built for researchers and power users who need to conduct detailed studies. It lets you record high-resolution brain data directly from any of our headsets, view it in real-time, and mark specific events as they happen. After your recording session, you can perform in-depth analysis on the collected data to gain a richer understanding of cognitive and emotional processes. We built EmotivPRO to streamline the entire research process, from setting up an experiment to interpreting the final results.
Build with EmotivBCI
For the creators, innovators, and developers out there, we offer EmotivBCI. This is your toolkit for bringing new ideas to life using brain data. As a pioneer in brain-computer interface technology, we provide the software development kits (SDKs) you need to build your own custom applications. You can create programs that respond to mental commands, facial expressions, or emotional states, opening up a whole new world of interactive experiences. You’ll also be joining a global community of over 70,000 developers, creating a space for collaboration and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with neurotechnology.
What Can You Do with Emotiv Technology?
Emotiv's EEG technology opens up a world of possibilities, putting the power of neuroscience into the hands of creators, researchers, and curious minds everywhere. Whether you're looking to build groundbreaking applications, conduct real-world studies, understand human behavior, or simply explore your own mind, our headsets and software provide the tools you need. Here are just a few of the ways you can use Emotiv technology to bring your ideas to life.
Build Brain-Computer Interfaces
As a pioneer in the field, we provide the hardware and software to create powerful brain-computer interface (BCI) applications. A BCI essentially creates a direct pathway between your brain and an external device, allowing you to control things with your mind. This isn't science fiction—it's happening right now. Developers are using our technology to design hands-free controls for smart homes, create interactive art installations that respond to emotion, and build assistive technologies that can make a real difference in people's lives. From gaming and entertainment to robotics and transport safety, BCI is a rapidly growing field, and our tools are designed to help you be a part of it.
Advance Academic Research
Traditional EEG research used to be confined to a lab with expensive, cumbersome equipment. We changed that. Our wireless, portable EEG headsets make it possible to conduct academic research in more natural, real-world environments. This flexibility allows researchers to gather more authentic data and explore questions that were previously difficult to study. For educators, our technology brings neuroscience to life in the classroom. Students can see and understand brain activity in real-time, making complex concepts tangible and exciting. It’s a hands-on way to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators by making brain science accessible to everyone.
Uncover Neuromarketing Insights
What really captures a consumer's attention? What emotional response does an advertisement trigger? Surveys and focus groups can only tell you so much. Our technology helps you go deeper by measuring the subconscious reactions that drive decision-making. With our portable headsets, you can conduct consumer research anywhere—in a store, at home, or on the go—to see how people genuinely respond to products, brands, and experiences. These insights allow you to understand what truly engages your audience, helping you create more effective and resonant marketing campaigns based on real human data, not just what people say they feel.
Access Cognitive Wellness Tools
Understanding your own mind is a powerful journey. Our technology gives you a window into your brain's activity, providing access to cognitive wellness tools that can help you learn more about your own mental states. You can explore your patterns of focus, engagement, and relaxation throughout the day. By seeing how your brain responds to different activities, environments, or even your own thoughts, you can gain personal insights into what helps you feel calm or concentrated. It’s not about diagnosing or treating, but about fostering self-awareness and giving you the information to better understand the unique workings of your own mind.
How Does Emotiv Compare?
When you're looking for an EEG device, the options can feel overwhelming. It's not just about the technology itself, but about how that technology fits into your work and your life. At Emotiv, we focus on a few key areas to make our headsets and software accessible, flexible, and powerful. We believe that great neurotechnology should be easy to use anywhere, offer options that suit your specific project, and come with a supportive community to help you achieve your goals. Let's look at what sets our approach apart.
Portability and Wireless Freedom
Gone are the days of being tethered to a bulky machine in a lab. Our EEG devices are designed to be wireless and portable, giving you the freedom to gather brain data in real-world settings. This is a game-changer for academic research and education, allowing studies to happen in classrooms, offices, or even outdoors. For developers and creators, it means you can build and test applications that people can use in their daily lives. This portability makes brain-computer interface technology more practical and accessible than ever before, letting you take your work wherever you need to go.
The Convenience of Dry vs. Wet Sensors
We understand that different projects have different needs, which is why we offer headsets with both wet and dry sensors. Our wet sensor devices, like the Flex, use a simple saline solution or gel to ensure a high-quality connection, which is ideal for detailed scientific research. For quicker setups and more casual use, our dry sensor headsets, such as the Insight, are ready to go in minutes without any prep. This flexibility means you can choose the right tool for your specific application, whether you need the highest signal fidelity for a study or the convenience of a gel-free setup for daily cognitive exploration.
Finding the Right Value for Your Project
The price of an EEG system often reflects its capabilities, from the number of channels to the sophistication of its software. We believe in providing the right value for every type of project. You don't always need a 32-channel system for meaningful work. Our range of devices ensures you can find a solution that matches your goals and your budget. Whether you're an individual exploring BCI for the first time with a 5-channel headset or a research institution needing the power of our Flex headset, you can get started without paying for features you don't need. It's about matching the tool to the task.
Tapping into Our Developer Community
When you work with Emotiv, you're getting more than just hardware and software—you're joining a global community. With over 70,000 creators and researchers, our network is a powerful resource for collaboration and support. We provide a robust set of tools and SDKs through our developer portal to help you build your own applications, analyze data in new ways, and push the boundaries of what's possible with BCI. This ecosystem of innovation means you're never working alone. You have access to a wealth of shared knowledge and experience to help bring your ideas to life.
Find the Right Emotiv Device for You
Choosing the right EEG device can feel like a big decision, but it really comes down to what you want to accomplish. Your specific goal is the most important factor, as it determines the kind of data you need. Think of it in terms of resolution: are you looking for general insights into your own focus, or do you need highly detailed, location-specific brain data for a scientific study? The number of EEG sensors, or channels, is the main difference between our devices. More channels provide greater spatial resolution, allowing you to see activity from more areas of the brain simultaneously.
For example, our 5-channel Insight headset is designed for accessibility and ease of use, making it a great entry point. For more demanding applications, like academic research or advanced BCI development, the 14-channel Epoc X offers a significant step up in data granularity while remaining completely wireless and portable. And for projects that require the highest possible density, our 32-channel Flex headset provides comprehensive brain coverage. The following sections will help you match your project with the perfect Emotiv device, ensuring you have the right tool for the job.
For Personal Use and Cognitive Exploration
If you’re curious about your own brain and want to explore your cognitive patterns, the 5-channel Insight headset is the perfect place to start. We designed it for everyday people who are interested in learning more about their attention, focus, and stress levels. The Insight uses unique saline sensors that are simple to set up—no gels or complicated prep required. This makes it easy to integrate into your daily routine. It’s a fantastic way to access cognitive wellness tools and see your brain data in real-time with our user-friendly Emotiv App. You don’t need a background in neuroscience to begin your journey of self-discovery.
For Academic and Scientific Research
When your work demands robust, high-quality data for publication, you need a device built for the rigors of scientific inquiry. Our advanced wireless tools are designed to help researchers better understand the human brain. The 14-channel Epoc X headset is our most popular device for academic research, offering an excellent balance of high-resolution data, portability, and ease of use. For studies requiring maximum spatial detail, the 32-channel Flex system provides the most comprehensive brain data. Both systems are trusted by universities and institutions worldwide to deliver the reliable EEG data needed to push the boundaries of neuroscience.
For Developers and BCI Innovators
If you’re a developer looking to build the next generation of neuro-powered applications, you need a reliable platform and strong support. Our hardware provides the clean data streams you need, while our software development kits (SDKs) give you the tools to create amazing things. The Emotiv developer community has grown to over 70,000 innovators, and we’re passionate about supporting those working on brain-computer interface solutions. The Epoc X is an excellent choice for BCI projects, providing enough data channels for complex commands without sacrificing mobility. You can find all the resources you need to get started on our page for developers.
For Neuromarketing and Business Insights
Understanding your customers on a deeper level is the key to creating truly impactful products and experiences. Our performance metrics help you see what genuinely captures consumer attention, elicits an emotional response, and influences decision-making. The portability of our wireless headsets, like the Insight and Epoc X, is a game-changer for neuromarketing. You can conduct consumer research anywhere—in a store, at an event, or in a participant’s home—to gather authentic insights in a natural context. Move beyond traditional surveys and start measuring the subconscious reactions that truly drive consumer behavior.
Why is Emotiv So Easy to Use?
For a long time, EEG technology felt like it was locked away in a lab. It involved complex machinery, messy setup procedures, and required a team of experts to interpret the results. We believed there had to be a better way. Our goal has always been to make neurotechnology accessible, and that starts with designing tools that are intuitive and straightforward to use. We’ve focused on removing the biggest barriers so you can spend less time on setup and more time on discovery.
We want you to feel confident using our technology, whether you're a seasoned researcher or just starting to explore the world of brain data. This commitment to simplicity is woven into every product we create. From gel-free sensors that get you started in minutes to wireless designs that let you work anywhere, every aspect of our ecosystem is built with your experience in mind. It’s about giving you the power to ask big questions and get answers, without needing a PhD in electrical engineering to get started. Our hardware and software work together seamlessly, creating a user-friendly experience from the moment you open the box to the second you see your data come to life on the screen.
Start in Minutes with a Gel-Free Setup
One of the most time-consuming parts of traditional EEG setup is applying a conductive gel to each electrode. It’s messy, takes a while to get right, and can be uncomfortable. We’ve streamlined this process with our saline-based sensor technology. Headsets like our Epoc X use simple saline-hydrated felt pads that make contact quickly and cleanly. This means you can go from unboxing your device to collecting data in just a few minutes. This gel-free approach not only saves you valuable time but also makes the experience more pleasant for your research participants or for your own personal use. It’s a small change that makes a huge difference in how you work.
Work Anywhere with a Wireless Design
Your research and creative projects shouldn't be confined to a desk. Our EEG devices are designed to be completely wireless, giving you the freedom to collect brain data in real-world environments. This portability opens up a whole new range of possibilities. You can conduct neuromarketing studies in an actual store, study learning processes in a classroom, or explore cognitive performance during a physical activity. By removing the tethers to a computer, we empower you to gather more authentic and relevant data. Our lightweight, comfortable designs ensure that the technology fades into the background, allowing for naturalistic experiments and applications that were once impossible with bulky, lab-based equipment.
See Your Data Instantly
Collecting brain data is only half the battle; you also need to be able to understand it. Our software is designed to give you immediate insight into what’s happening. With a platform like EmotivPRO, you can see your data streams in real-time, check signal quality on the fly, and view performance metrics as they happen. You don’t have to wait until after a session to start your analysis. This instant feedback is essential for everything from training a brain-computer interface to making sure your experiment is running smoothly. We handle the complex data processing so you can focus on the results and what they mean for your project.
What to Know Before You Start
Jumping into the world of EEG can feel like a big step, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you're a researcher, a developer, or just curious about brain data, we’ve designed our technology to be as accessible as possible. Before you begin, here are a few key things to keep in mind that will help you get the most out of your experience, from setting up your device to understanding our commitment to your data.
Getting Comfortable with the Technology
If you’re new to EEG, the idea of measuring brain activity might seem complex. We get it. That’s why we’ve focused on creating an intuitive experience right out of the box. Our wireless and portable headsets allow you to visualize and understand brain activity in real-time, without being tethered to a desk. This hands-on approach is why our technology is used in classrooms, empowering students with practical academic research and education tools. You don’t need a background in neuroscience to start exploring. Our systems are designed to be easy to use, so you can focus less on the setup and more on the discovery.
Integrating with Your Existing Tools
Our goal is to provide tools that fit into your world, not the other way around. Emotiv technology is built to be flexible, opening up opportunities for new applications in research, art, and development. Whether you're conducting a formal study or building a custom brain-computer interface, our software and hardware are designed to work with your projects. We provide the resources you need to integrate our EEG data streams into your own applications and experiments. This gives you the freedom to innovate and use our technology as a building block for your next big idea.
Our Commitment to Data Privacy and Security
Your trust is important to us, and that starts with being transparent about how our technology should be used and how we handle your data. It’s important to know that Emotiv products are made for research and personal use only. They are not sold as medical devices and should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. We are committed to being the most trusted wireless EEG platform in the world, which means we take data privacy and security seriously. You can feel confident knowing that we are dedicated to protecting your information as you explore the possibilities of Emotiv technology.
Getting Your Emotiv Device: Pricing and Availability
Finding the right EEG device for your project and budget is a big step. We believe this technology should be accessible, which is why we offer a range of headsets at different price points. Whether you're a student just starting out, a developer building a new application, or a seasoned researcher conducting a complex study, there's an Emotiv device designed to fit your needs. Let's walk through our options so you can find the perfect match for your work.
Our Entry-Level Options
If you’re new to the world of EEG, our entry-level devices are the perfect place to start. Priced under $1,000, these headsets are designed for students, educators, and hobbyists who want a hands-on introduction to brain activity measurement without a huge investment. For example, our 5-channel Insight headset offers a fantastic, user-friendly experience right out of the box. It’s a great tool for learning the fundamentals, running classroom experiments, or exploring your own cognitive processes. This tier makes it easy to begin your journey with neurotechnology and start gathering your first brain data insights.
Pricing for Professional-Grade Headsets
For more advanced academic and commercial work, our professional-grade headsets provide a powerful balance of features and performance. In the $1,000 to $25,000 range, you’ll find devices like our popular 14-channel Epoc X headset, which is a workhorse for academic research and neuromarketing studies. For projects that demand the highest resolution and data density, we offer multi-channel headsets priced above $25,000. Our 32-channel Flex headsets, available in saline or gel versions, are designed for complex research that requires extensive data collection and custom sensor placement. These tools are built to support serious scientific and commercial discovery.
How and Where to Purchase
Ready to get started? You can explore and purchase all our hardware and software directly from the official Emotiv website. Each product page provides detailed specifications, what’s included in the box, and compatibility information so you can make an informed decision. From our flagship wireless EEG headsets to our powerful software platforms like EmotivPRO, everything you need is in one place. We ship globally, making it simple to get the tools you need for your project, no matter where you are. To see our full lineup and find the device that’s right for you, you can explore our products.
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Frequently Asked Questions
I'm completely new to EEG. Which device is the best for just starting out? If you're just beginning your journey with brain data, I'd recommend starting with either our MN8 earbuds or the Insight headset. The MN8 is incredibly discreet and fits into your daily life like any other pair of earbuds, making it perfect for exploring your own focus patterns. The 5-channel Insight is a fantastic and user-friendly headset that gives you a broader look at your brain activity without being overwhelming. Both are designed to work seamlessly with our Emotiv App, giving you a simple and engaging way to see your data.
Is using an EEG headset safe? Absolutely. EEG is a completely non-invasive and well-established technology. Think of our headsets as listeners; they use sensors that rest on your scalp to pick up the tiny electrical signals your brain naturally produces. Nothing is sent into your brain. It's a passive process that simply allows you to observe the activity that's already happening, making it a safe way to learn more about the brain.
What's the real difference between saline, gel, and dry sensors? The type of sensor you choose really depends on your project's needs. Dry sensors are all about convenience and are great for very quick, casual use. Our headsets use saline-based sensors, which provide a fantastic middle ground. They are quick to prepare with a simple saline solution and deliver reliable, high-quality data suitable for research. Gel-based sensors, like those on our Flex Gel headset, are the standard for long experiments where you need the most stable signal possible over several hours.
What can I actually do with the brain data I collect? The possibilities are incredibly broad and depend on your goals. On a personal level, you can use the data to gain insights into your own patterns of focus and relaxation. Researchers use the data to study human behavior in natural settings, while neuromarketers use it to understand a consumer's genuine emotional response to an advertisement. For developers, the data can be used to build custom applications, like hands-free controls for a video game or an interactive art piece that responds to your emotional state.
Can I use Emotiv hardware to build my own software or application? Yes, you absolutely can. This is exactly what our EmotivBCI software is for. We provide software development kits (SDKs) that give you access to the data streams from our headsets, allowing you to create your own custom brain-computer interface applications. Whether you're building a new assistive technology, an innovative game, or a unique wellness tool, our platform is designed to support your creative vision.
The ability to control a drone with your thoughts or understand a customer's genuine emotional response to a product is no longer just a concept. It's a reality being built today by a global community of innovators. At the heart of this progress is accessible brain-computer interface technology. We created the Emotiv ecosystem to provide the essential tools—from reliable EEG headsets to robust software development kits—that turn ambitious ideas into functional applications. Whether you are a developer, a researcher, or a creator, our technology is designed to be the foundation for your work. This article will show you what’s possible and how you can get started.
Key Takeaways
Bring neurotechnology into the real world: Our wireless, portable headsets and simple, gel-free setups let you collect brain data in minutes, moving your work from a controlled lab to natural, everyday environments.
Find the perfect fit for your goals: We offer a complete ecosystem that scales with your needs, from 2-channel earbuds for personal exploration to 32-channel headsets for high-density academic research.
Turn brain data into action: Our technology provides the foundation for a wide range of applications, including building hands-free brain-computer interfaces, conducting neuromarketing studies, and accessing personal cognitive wellness tools.
What is Emotiv EEG Technology?
At Emotiv, we use a technology called electroencephalography (EEG) to explore the human brain. Our goal is simple: to help people understand their own brains and to speed up brain research around the world. We believe that by making neurotechnology easier to access and use, we can empower more people—from academic researchers to individual creators—to ask and answer important questions about the brain.
Our entire ecosystem, from our wireless headsets to our powerful software, is built around this idea. We provide the tools you need to work with high-quality brain data, whether you're conducting a formal study, building a new application, or are just curious about what’s happening inside your own head.
How Does EEG Brain Sensing Work?
You can think of EEG as a way to listen to the brain's electrical activity. Your brain is constantly producing tiny electrical signals, often called brain waves, as neurons communicate with each other. Our EEG headsets use small sensors that rest on your scalp to pick up these signals. The data is then sent wirelessly to your computer, allowing you to see a real-time representation of brain activity.
This process is non-invasive, meaning nothing enters your body. It’s a safe and established method for gathering brain data that can be used for everything from scientific studies to building hands-free control systems with a brain-computer interface.
Making Neurotechnology Accessible for Everyone
Traditionally, EEG research required expensive, bulky equipment that was confined to a laboratory. We wanted to change that. Our mission is to make reliable brain-sensing technology portable, wireless, and user-friendly. We design our products to be trusted and accurate, so you can focus on your work without needing a team of technicians to get started.
This approach brings neurotechnology out of the lab and into real-world environments. Our equipment allows students to visualize brain activity in their classrooms and helps researchers conduct studies in more natural settings. By removing these barriers, we open up new possibilities for academic research and education and give more people the chance to engage with neuroscience.
Explore Our EEG Headsets and Earbuds
Choosing the right hardware is the first step in exploring brain data. Whether you're just starting to explore your own cognitive states or conducting complex academic studies, we have a device designed for your specific needs. Our lineup ranges from discreet earbuds for daily use to high-density headsets for detailed research. Each device is built with a focus on portability, ease of use, and providing reliable data. This means you can spend less time on setup and more time on discovery. We believe that powerful technology should also be accessible, which is why our devices are wireless and designed for real-world use, not just a controlled lab environment. From personal wellness exploration to groundbreaking neuroscience, the right tool makes all the difference. Let's find the perfect fit for your project.
MN8: 2-Channel EEG Earbuds
The Emotiv MN8 earbuds are designed for anyone interested in exploring their brain activity in a simple, accessible way. Because they look and feel like regular earbuds, you can easily wear them throughout your day. They are perfect for personal use, providing access to cognitive wellness tools that help you understand your focus and attention patterns. The 2-channel setup is straightforward, making the MN8 an excellent entry point into the world of EEG without the complexity of a full headset. It’s all about making brain-sensing technology a seamless part of your daily routine.
Insight: 5-Channel EEG Headset
If you're ready for a bit more data, the Emotiv Insight is a fantastic next step. This 5-channel wireless headset is designed to be incredibly user-friendly, making it perfect for students, educators, and anyone new to EEG. The Insight captures brain activity across key areas of the cortex, giving you a broader picture of your mental performance and emotional states. Its lightweight design and quick setup mean you can start gathering data in minutes. It strikes a great balance between providing meaningful insights and maintaining simplicity, making it a popular choice for educational projects and personal exploration.
Epoc X: 14-Channel EEG Headset
For professional researchers and developers, the Emotiv Epoc X is a powerful 14-channel EEG headset. It delivers the kind of high-quality, contextual brain data needed for serious scientific inquiry and building innovative applications. The headset's design ensures a good connection and reliable signal quality, which is essential for academic research and developing brain-computer interfaces. The Epoc X is a versatile tool that provides the resolution and performance required for professional-grade projects while still being wireless and easy to set up compared to traditional lab equipment. It’s built to support the demands of advanced neuroscience.
Flex Saline: 32-Channel EEG Headset
When your research requires high-density brain mapping, the Emotiv Flex Saline is the answer. This 32-channel headset provides extensive coverage of the cortex, allowing for incredibly detailed analysis of brain activity. The saline-based sensors are a key feature—they are quick to prepare and comfortable to wear, which makes the setup process much faster than traditional gel-based systems. This makes the Flex Saline headset ideal for studies that require capturing data from many participants or applications where rapid setup is a priority. It’s a flexible and powerful solution for complex research.
Flex Gel: 32-Channel EEG Headset
Similar to its saline counterpart, the Emotiv Flex Gel also offers 32 channels for high-density data acquisition. The main difference lies in its gel-based sensors. These sensors are designed to provide an extremely stable and reliable connection, which is perfect for long recording sessions where signal integrity is paramount. If your work involves lengthy experiments or requires the most consistent data stream possible over several hours, the Flex Gel headset is the ideal choice. It’s the go-to device for advanced researchers who need robust, high-fidelity data for their most demanding studies.
Power Your Research with Emotiv Software
Our EEG headsets are powerful tools, but the real magic happens when you pair them with our software. Think of the hardware as the sensor and the software as the brain of the operation—it’s what translates complex neural signals into understandable data and actionable insights. We know that everyone comes to this technology with different goals, which is why we’ve built a full ecosystem of software to support your work. Whether you’re just starting to explore your own brain activity, conducting a complex research study, or building the next great brain-computer interface, we have a solution designed to meet you where you are.
Our software suite is built to grow with you, offering a clear path from initial exploration to advanced analysis and even custom application development. Each program is designed to work seamlessly with our headsets, ensuring you can get from unboxing to discovery as quickly as possible. This integrated approach means less time troubleshooting and more time focused on what truly matters: understanding the data. From the simple, intuitive interface of our mobile app to the robust analytical power of EmotivPRO, you have everything you need to turn raw EEG signals into meaningful discoveries.
Get Started with the Emotiv App
If you're new to the world of EEG, the Emotiv App is your perfect entry point. We designed it with a friendly interface that makes it easy to see your brain data without feeling overwhelmed. You can view your emotional states and engage with different mental exercises right from your device. The app also includes experiences that let you experiment with mental commands, which is a fun and interactive way to understand how brain-computer interfaces work on a basic level. It’s all about making this technology accessible and giving you a solid foundation before you move on to more advanced tools.
Go Deeper with EmotivPRO
When you’re ready for serious analysis, EmotivPRO is the tool for the job. This is our professional-grade software platform built for researchers and power users who need to conduct detailed studies. It lets you record high-resolution brain data directly from any of our headsets, view it in real-time, and mark specific events as they happen. After your recording session, you can perform in-depth analysis on the collected data to gain a richer understanding of cognitive and emotional processes. We built EmotivPRO to streamline the entire research process, from setting up an experiment to interpreting the final results.
Build with EmotivBCI
For the creators, innovators, and developers out there, we offer EmotivBCI. This is your toolkit for bringing new ideas to life using brain data. As a pioneer in brain-computer interface technology, we provide the software development kits (SDKs) you need to build your own custom applications. You can create programs that respond to mental commands, facial expressions, or emotional states, opening up a whole new world of interactive experiences. You’ll also be joining a global community of over 70,000 developers, creating a space for collaboration and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with neurotechnology.
What Can You Do with Emotiv Technology?
Emotiv's EEG technology opens up a world of possibilities, putting the power of neuroscience into the hands of creators, researchers, and curious minds everywhere. Whether you're looking to build groundbreaking applications, conduct real-world studies, understand human behavior, or simply explore your own mind, our headsets and software provide the tools you need. Here are just a few of the ways you can use Emotiv technology to bring your ideas to life.
Build Brain-Computer Interfaces
As a pioneer in the field, we provide the hardware and software to create powerful brain-computer interface (BCI) applications. A BCI essentially creates a direct pathway between your brain and an external device, allowing you to control things with your mind. This isn't science fiction—it's happening right now. Developers are using our technology to design hands-free controls for smart homes, create interactive art installations that respond to emotion, and build assistive technologies that can make a real difference in people's lives. From gaming and entertainment to robotics and transport safety, BCI is a rapidly growing field, and our tools are designed to help you be a part of it.
Advance Academic Research
Traditional EEG research used to be confined to a lab with expensive, cumbersome equipment. We changed that. Our wireless, portable EEG headsets make it possible to conduct academic research in more natural, real-world environments. This flexibility allows researchers to gather more authentic data and explore questions that were previously difficult to study. For educators, our technology brings neuroscience to life in the classroom. Students can see and understand brain activity in real-time, making complex concepts tangible and exciting. It’s a hands-on way to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators by making brain science accessible to everyone.
Uncover Neuromarketing Insights
What really captures a consumer's attention? What emotional response does an advertisement trigger? Surveys and focus groups can only tell you so much. Our technology helps you go deeper by measuring the subconscious reactions that drive decision-making. With our portable headsets, you can conduct consumer research anywhere—in a store, at home, or on the go—to see how people genuinely respond to products, brands, and experiences. These insights allow you to understand what truly engages your audience, helping you create more effective and resonant marketing campaigns based on real human data, not just what people say they feel.
Access Cognitive Wellness Tools
Understanding your own mind is a powerful journey. Our technology gives you a window into your brain's activity, providing access to cognitive wellness tools that can help you learn more about your own mental states. You can explore your patterns of focus, engagement, and relaxation throughout the day. By seeing how your brain responds to different activities, environments, or even your own thoughts, you can gain personal insights into what helps you feel calm or concentrated. It’s not about diagnosing or treating, but about fostering self-awareness and giving you the information to better understand the unique workings of your own mind.
How Does Emotiv Compare?
When you're looking for an EEG device, the options can feel overwhelming. It's not just about the technology itself, but about how that technology fits into your work and your life. At Emotiv, we focus on a few key areas to make our headsets and software accessible, flexible, and powerful. We believe that great neurotechnology should be easy to use anywhere, offer options that suit your specific project, and come with a supportive community to help you achieve your goals. Let's look at what sets our approach apart.
Portability and Wireless Freedom
Gone are the days of being tethered to a bulky machine in a lab. Our EEG devices are designed to be wireless and portable, giving you the freedom to gather brain data in real-world settings. This is a game-changer for academic research and education, allowing studies to happen in classrooms, offices, or even outdoors. For developers and creators, it means you can build and test applications that people can use in their daily lives. This portability makes brain-computer interface technology more practical and accessible than ever before, letting you take your work wherever you need to go.
The Convenience of Dry vs. Wet Sensors
We understand that different projects have different needs, which is why we offer headsets with both wet and dry sensors. Our wet sensor devices, like the Flex, use a simple saline solution or gel to ensure a high-quality connection, which is ideal for detailed scientific research. For quicker setups and more casual use, our dry sensor headsets, such as the Insight, are ready to go in minutes without any prep. This flexibility means you can choose the right tool for your specific application, whether you need the highest signal fidelity for a study or the convenience of a gel-free setup for daily cognitive exploration.
Finding the Right Value for Your Project
The price of an EEG system often reflects its capabilities, from the number of channels to the sophistication of its software. We believe in providing the right value for every type of project. You don't always need a 32-channel system for meaningful work. Our range of devices ensures you can find a solution that matches your goals and your budget. Whether you're an individual exploring BCI for the first time with a 5-channel headset or a research institution needing the power of our Flex headset, you can get started without paying for features you don't need. It's about matching the tool to the task.
Tapping into Our Developer Community
When you work with Emotiv, you're getting more than just hardware and software—you're joining a global community. With over 70,000 creators and researchers, our network is a powerful resource for collaboration and support. We provide a robust set of tools and SDKs through our developer portal to help you build your own applications, analyze data in new ways, and push the boundaries of what's possible with BCI. This ecosystem of innovation means you're never working alone. You have access to a wealth of shared knowledge and experience to help bring your ideas to life.
Find the Right Emotiv Device for You
Choosing the right EEG device can feel like a big decision, but it really comes down to what you want to accomplish. Your specific goal is the most important factor, as it determines the kind of data you need. Think of it in terms of resolution: are you looking for general insights into your own focus, or do you need highly detailed, location-specific brain data for a scientific study? The number of EEG sensors, or channels, is the main difference between our devices. More channels provide greater spatial resolution, allowing you to see activity from more areas of the brain simultaneously.
For example, our 5-channel Insight headset is designed for accessibility and ease of use, making it a great entry point. For more demanding applications, like academic research or advanced BCI development, the 14-channel Epoc X offers a significant step up in data granularity while remaining completely wireless and portable. And for projects that require the highest possible density, our 32-channel Flex headset provides comprehensive brain coverage. The following sections will help you match your project with the perfect Emotiv device, ensuring you have the right tool for the job.
For Personal Use and Cognitive Exploration
If you’re curious about your own brain and want to explore your cognitive patterns, the 5-channel Insight headset is the perfect place to start. We designed it for everyday people who are interested in learning more about their attention, focus, and stress levels. The Insight uses unique saline sensors that are simple to set up—no gels or complicated prep required. This makes it easy to integrate into your daily routine. It’s a fantastic way to access cognitive wellness tools and see your brain data in real-time with our user-friendly Emotiv App. You don’t need a background in neuroscience to begin your journey of self-discovery.
For Academic and Scientific Research
When your work demands robust, high-quality data for publication, you need a device built for the rigors of scientific inquiry. Our advanced wireless tools are designed to help researchers better understand the human brain. The 14-channel Epoc X headset is our most popular device for academic research, offering an excellent balance of high-resolution data, portability, and ease of use. For studies requiring maximum spatial detail, the 32-channel Flex system provides the most comprehensive brain data. Both systems are trusted by universities and institutions worldwide to deliver the reliable EEG data needed to push the boundaries of neuroscience.
For Developers and BCI Innovators
If you’re a developer looking to build the next generation of neuro-powered applications, you need a reliable platform and strong support. Our hardware provides the clean data streams you need, while our software development kits (SDKs) give you the tools to create amazing things. The Emotiv developer community has grown to over 70,000 innovators, and we’re passionate about supporting those working on brain-computer interface solutions. The Epoc X is an excellent choice for BCI projects, providing enough data channels for complex commands without sacrificing mobility. You can find all the resources you need to get started on our page for developers.
For Neuromarketing and Business Insights
Understanding your customers on a deeper level is the key to creating truly impactful products and experiences. Our performance metrics help you see what genuinely captures consumer attention, elicits an emotional response, and influences decision-making. The portability of our wireless headsets, like the Insight and Epoc X, is a game-changer for neuromarketing. You can conduct consumer research anywhere—in a store, at an event, or in a participant’s home—to gather authentic insights in a natural context. Move beyond traditional surveys and start measuring the subconscious reactions that truly drive consumer behavior.
Why is Emotiv So Easy to Use?
For a long time, EEG technology felt like it was locked away in a lab. It involved complex machinery, messy setup procedures, and required a team of experts to interpret the results. We believed there had to be a better way. Our goal has always been to make neurotechnology accessible, and that starts with designing tools that are intuitive and straightforward to use. We’ve focused on removing the biggest barriers so you can spend less time on setup and more time on discovery.
We want you to feel confident using our technology, whether you're a seasoned researcher or just starting to explore the world of brain data. This commitment to simplicity is woven into every product we create. From gel-free sensors that get you started in minutes to wireless designs that let you work anywhere, every aspect of our ecosystem is built with your experience in mind. It’s about giving you the power to ask big questions and get answers, without needing a PhD in electrical engineering to get started. Our hardware and software work together seamlessly, creating a user-friendly experience from the moment you open the box to the second you see your data come to life on the screen.
Start in Minutes with a Gel-Free Setup
One of the most time-consuming parts of traditional EEG setup is applying a conductive gel to each electrode. It’s messy, takes a while to get right, and can be uncomfortable. We’ve streamlined this process with our saline-based sensor technology. Headsets like our Epoc X use simple saline-hydrated felt pads that make contact quickly and cleanly. This means you can go from unboxing your device to collecting data in just a few minutes. This gel-free approach not only saves you valuable time but also makes the experience more pleasant for your research participants or for your own personal use. It’s a small change that makes a huge difference in how you work.
Work Anywhere with a Wireless Design
Your research and creative projects shouldn't be confined to a desk. Our EEG devices are designed to be completely wireless, giving you the freedom to collect brain data in real-world environments. This portability opens up a whole new range of possibilities. You can conduct neuromarketing studies in an actual store, study learning processes in a classroom, or explore cognitive performance during a physical activity. By removing the tethers to a computer, we empower you to gather more authentic and relevant data. Our lightweight, comfortable designs ensure that the technology fades into the background, allowing for naturalistic experiments and applications that were once impossible with bulky, lab-based equipment.
See Your Data Instantly
Collecting brain data is only half the battle; you also need to be able to understand it. Our software is designed to give you immediate insight into what’s happening. With a platform like EmotivPRO, you can see your data streams in real-time, check signal quality on the fly, and view performance metrics as they happen. You don’t have to wait until after a session to start your analysis. This instant feedback is essential for everything from training a brain-computer interface to making sure your experiment is running smoothly. We handle the complex data processing so you can focus on the results and what they mean for your project.
What to Know Before You Start
Jumping into the world of EEG can feel like a big step, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you're a researcher, a developer, or just curious about brain data, we’ve designed our technology to be as accessible as possible. Before you begin, here are a few key things to keep in mind that will help you get the most out of your experience, from setting up your device to understanding our commitment to your data.
Getting Comfortable with the Technology
If you’re new to EEG, the idea of measuring brain activity might seem complex. We get it. That’s why we’ve focused on creating an intuitive experience right out of the box. Our wireless and portable headsets allow you to visualize and understand brain activity in real-time, without being tethered to a desk. This hands-on approach is why our technology is used in classrooms, empowering students with practical academic research and education tools. You don’t need a background in neuroscience to start exploring. Our systems are designed to be easy to use, so you can focus less on the setup and more on the discovery.
Integrating with Your Existing Tools
Our goal is to provide tools that fit into your world, not the other way around. Emotiv technology is built to be flexible, opening up opportunities for new applications in research, art, and development. Whether you're conducting a formal study or building a custom brain-computer interface, our software and hardware are designed to work with your projects. We provide the resources you need to integrate our EEG data streams into your own applications and experiments. This gives you the freedom to innovate and use our technology as a building block for your next big idea.
Our Commitment to Data Privacy and Security
Your trust is important to us, and that starts with being transparent about how our technology should be used and how we handle your data. It’s important to know that Emotiv products are made for research and personal use only. They are not sold as medical devices and should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. We are committed to being the most trusted wireless EEG platform in the world, which means we take data privacy and security seriously. You can feel confident knowing that we are dedicated to protecting your information as you explore the possibilities of Emotiv technology.
Getting Your Emotiv Device: Pricing and Availability
Finding the right EEG device for your project and budget is a big step. We believe this technology should be accessible, which is why we offer a range of headsets at different price points. Whether you're a student just starting out, a developer building a new application, or a seasoned researcher conducting a complex study, there's an Emotiv device designed to fit your needs. Let's walk through our options so you can find the perfect match for your work.
Our Entry-Level Options
If you’re new to the world of EEG, our entry-level devices are the perfect place to start. Priced under $1,000, these headsets are designed for students, educators, and hobbyists who want a hands-on introduction to brain activity measurement without a huge investment. For example, our 5-channel Insight headset offers a fantastic, user-friendly experience right out of the box. It’s a great tool for learning the fundamentals, running classroom experiments, or exploring your own cognitive processes. This tier makes it easy to begin your journey with neurotechnology and start gathering your first brain data insights.
Pricing for Professional-Grade Headsets
For more advanced academic and commercial work, our professional-grade headsets provide a powerful balance of features and performance. In the $1,000 to $25,000 range, you’ll find devices like our popular 14-channel Epoc X headset, which is a workhorse for academic research and neuromarketing studies. For projects that demand the highest resolution and data density, we offer multi-channel headsets priced above $25,000. Our 32-channel Flex headsets, available in saline or gel versions, are designed for complex research that requires extensive data collection and custom sensor placement. These tools are built to support serious scientific and commercial discovery.
How and Where to Purchase
Ready to get started? You can explore and purchase all our hardware and software directly from the official Emotiv website. Each product page provides detailed specifications, what’s included in the box, and compatibility information so you can make an informed decision. From our flagship wireless EEG headsets to our powerful software platforms like EmotivPRO, everything you need is in one place. We ship globally, making it simple to get the tools you need for your project, no matter where you are. To see our full lineup and find the device that’s right for you, you can explore our products.
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Frequently Asked Questions
I'm completely new to EEG. Which device is the best for just starting out? If you're just beginning your journey with brain data, I'd recommend starting with either our MN8 earbuds or the Insight headset. The MN8 is incredibly discreet and fits into your daily life like any other pair of earbuds, making it perfect for exploring your own focus patterns. The 5-channel Insight is a fantastic and user-friendly headset that gives you a broader look at your brain activity without being overwhelming. Both are designed to work seamlessly with our Emotiv App, giving you a simple and engaging way to see your data.
Is using an EEG headset safe? Absolutely. EEG is a completely non-invasive and well-established technology. Think of our headsets as listeners; they use sensors that rest on your scalp to pick up the tiny electrical signals your brain naturally produces. Nothing is sent into your brain. It's a passive process that simply allows you to observe the activity that's already happening, making it a safe way to learn more about the brain.
What's the real difference between saline, gel, and dry sensors? The type of sensor you choose really depends on your project's needs. Dry sensors are all about convenience and are great for very quick, casual use. Our headsets use saline-based sensors, which provide a fantastic middle ground. They are quick to prepare with a simple saline solution and deliver reliable, high-quality data suitable for research. Gel-based sensors, like those on our Flex Gel headset, are the standard for long experiments where you need the most stable signal possible over several hours.
What can I actually do with the brain data I collect? The possibilities are incredibly broad and depend on your goals. On a personal level, you can use the data to gain insights into your own patterns of focus and relaxation. Researchers use the data to study human behavior in natural settings, while neuromarketers use it to understand a consumer's genuine emotional response to an advertisement. For developers, the data can be used to build custom applications, like hands-free controls for a video game or an interactive art piece that responds to your emotional state.
Can I use Emotiv hardware to build my own software or application? Yes, you absolutely can. This is exactly what our EmotivBCI software is for. We provide software development kits (SDKs) that give you access to the data streams from our headsets, allowing you to create your own custom brain-computer interface applications. Whether you're building a new assistive technology, an innovative game, or a unique wellness tool, our platform is designed to support your creative vision.
