The Apollo Neuro is a wearable device for stress relief. The brand claims that their product improves sleep, focus, heart rate variability (HRV), physical recovery, and sense of calmness. 

But are these health claims actually backed by research? Are there risks and side effects? How does Apollo Neuro work? And is it better or worse than popular stress relief devices like Chill Pill?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we review the clinical studies funded by Apollo Neuro, explain how the device is proposed to work, and share our thoughts on whether or not it's likely to be effective for stress and sleep support.

We'll also explain how the device works, discuss the risk of side effects, and compare Apollo Neuro to other popular anti-stress devices to pick our winners (and losers).

Key takeaways:

• Company has funded legitimate clinical trials (good sign)
• We can't find any clinical trials directly proving stress relief
• Unlikely to cause side effects

Is Apollo Neuro Proven to Work?

The Apollo Neuro website claims that their product was “Born in the Lab,” but at the time we initially published this article, the brand had shared no clinical research showing their product to be effective for the stated health claims.

Since then, Apollo Neuro has added a Studies Roundup page on their website highlighting clinical research on their device. The majority of these studies are ongoing and the full data set is not yet accessible.

We would caution consumers to be wary of claims of efficacy based on "preliminary results" given the information asymmetry: the brand has access to these results but consumers don't.

Until the full study is published and researchers can analyze the study methodology and full set of data, we do not believe early results are particularly valuable (though we do believe it's a good sign that the company is engaged in a number of legitimate research trials).

A clinical trial on the Apollo Neuro has completed, and was published in the reputable Biological Psychiatry journal. The trial found that individuals using Apollo Neuro experienced an average increase of 10% in HRV, which suggests improved stress response. 

A 2022 clinical trial reported that Apollo Neuro helped athletes recover from physical exercise.

These early trials are impressive, and we commend the brand for funding clinical studies published in peer-reviewed journals, which is the gold standard of product research.

We will wait for more data to emerge to consider recommending Apollo Neuro, but we consider the device to have the potential to be effective for stress relief based on the early data.

How Does Apollo Neuro Work?

The proposed mechanism of action of the Apollo Neuro is called “touch therapy.”

The company claims that low frequencies of sound waves emitted from their device can cause changes in the nervous system which improve the way individuals respond to stress.

We can’t find any clinical studies not funded by Apollo Neuro suggesting that "touch therapy" is effective for stress relief.

However, we did locate a medical review published in the Healthcare journal on the effects of sound vibration on human health.

The authors of the above-linked review concluded that sound waves can have both positive and negative effects on human health, and that more research is needed to reach specific conclusions. 

Given that Apollo Neuro has been studied in at least two published clinical trials, we consider the brand's proposed mechanism of action likely to be accurate.

Does Apollo Neuro Cause Side Effects?

We do not consider the Apollo Neuro device likely to cause side effects.

We have not come across any clinical studies suggesting that constant, low frequencies of sound waves are harmful to health, and in modern life we're routinely exposed to levels of sound waves much greater than that emitted by the Apollo Neuro.

That being said, we would prefer to confirm a lack of side effects from clinical trials, given that this is a novel device.

Part of the reason we aren't yet comfortable recommending this device is because we would like to see long-term safety data emerge, and that data is not currently publicly accessible.

Since Apollo Neuro claims to influence the nervous system, we believe it may be prudent for consumers to wait for publicly-accessible safety data to emerge from clinical trials before purchasing this device, even though we consider the risk of side effects to be very low.

The Apollo Neuro FAQs page states that no significant side effects have been noted in either children or adults.

Apollo Neuro vs. Popular Stress-Relief Devices

Here's how Apollo Neuro compares to other popular stress-relieving products in terms of potential effectiveness and safety, in our opinion:

CalmiGo

This stress-relief device is clinically shown to reduce anxiety levels by 19%.

However, it emits fragrance and the brand fails to make clear what fragrance compounds are used.

Apollo Neuro has no such potential health downsides, so it gets the edge from a healthiness/safety perspective.

Winner: Apollo Neuro

Chill Pill

Chill Pill is not backed by any clinical studies to our knowledge, and the brand makes proposed the mechanism of action of their device unclear.

We tested the device and found it to be uncomfortable.

Winner: Apollo Neuro

Moment Drink

This "adaptogenic" drink is marketed for stress relief, but it contains an inactive ingredient which is clinically shown to increase stroke risk.

Winner: Apollo Neuro

Our Clean Mood Support Picks

Cornbread CBD Lotion is our topical stress-relief pick.

CBD is clinically shown to be absorbed through the skin, and was shown in a 2020 medical review to be a "promising" natural treatment for anxiety disorders.

Pique Japanese Sencha Green Tea is our top relaxation tea pick.

Green tea was shown in a 2017 clinical trial to significantly reduce stress levels, and has been used to promote mental and physical wellness for centuries.

Both of the products recommended in this section are free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.

Apollo Neuro Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Clinically shown to be effective
• Company has funded many clinical trials
• Clinical trials are published in peer-reviewed journals
• Unlikely to cause side effects
• May help athletes recover from exercise
• Free shipping from brand's website

Cons:

• Research is somewhat early-stage
• Results are still pending from many clinical trials
• Expensive

Conclusion

Apollo Neuro is a non-invasive device that seems promising for stress relief.

The brand has funded over 10 clinical trials, and two have been published in peer-reviewed journals. Both trials suggest that Apollo Neuro may relieve stress (mental stress in one case and physical stress in the other).

Since this device uses "touch therapy," which is a novel mechanism of action involving sound waves, we will wait for more research to emerge before recommending this device.

We do not consider Apollo Neuro to be dangerous or likely to cause side effects, and the brand's website states that no significant side effects have been noted in children or adults.

In the future, we hope research emerges testing the effects of Apollo Neuro in patients with depression and anxiety, because if proven effective, the device could potentially be a non-invasive alternative to pharmaceutical therapy in these patients.

We consider Apollo Neuro to be a better stress-relief option than CalmiGo, Chill Pill and Moment Drink.