Muse vs Neurosity Crown vs Emotiv vs OpenBCI
Consumer EEG Headset Comparison
Comparison of 4 consumer EEG headsets — channels, sample rate, SDK, price, and best use case.
Muse 2Neurosity CrownEmotiv EPOC XOpenBCI
Full Specification Comparison
| Specification | Muse 2 | Neurosity Crown | Emotiv EPOC X | OpenBCI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channels | 5 (TP9, AF7, etc.) | 8 (EEG) | 14 | 8-16 |
| Sample Rate | 256 Hz | 256 Hz | 256 Hz | 250 Hz |
| SDK / API | Limited | Yes (JS) | Yes (C#, Py) | Yes (open) |
| Price | $250 | $1,000 | $799 | $500-1,500 |
| Open Source | No | Partial | No | Yes |
| Best For | Meditation | Dev / focus | Research | DIY / research |
| Battery | 5 hr | 6 hr | 9 hr | 8 hr |
Expert Verdict
OpenBCI offers the most flexibility with open-source hardware; Emotiv provides the most channels for research; Neurosity Crown is best for developers; Muse is the most affordable consumer option.
Subject Breakdown
Muse 2
1 Category Wins
- ★ Price: $250
Neurosity Crown
0 Category Wins
Emotiv EPOC X
0 Category Wins
OpenBCI
3 Category Wins
- ★ Channels: 8-16
- ★ SDK / API: Yes (open)
- ★ Open Source: Yes