Mendi vs Muse compared: fNIRS focus training against EEG meditation and sleep tracking, with UK prices and what the research shows.
Mendi and Muse are the two home neurofeedback headbands most people end up choosing between. They look alike and both promise a calmer, more focused mind, but they measure different things and suit different routines. Here is how they compare, and which one makes sense for you.
The short answer
Choose Muse if you want meditation feedback and sleep tracking, backed by stronger research. Muse 2 is the lower-cost option, and Muse S Athena adds sleep tracking plus the same kind of light-based sensor Mendi uses.
Choose Mendi if you only want short, game-like focus training and prefer a one-off price with no optional subscription.
Mendi vs Muse at a glance
| Mendi | Muse 2 | Muse S Athena | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it measures | Blood oxygen in the prefrontal cortex (fNIRS) | Brain waves (EEG, 4 channels) plus heart rate and breathing | Brain waves (EEG) plus fNIRS and blood oxygen |
| How you train | Keep a ball floating in a game | Soundscapes that react to your mind | Soundscapes, plus an fNIRS focus game |
| Sleep tracking | No | No | Yes, EEG sleep stages |
| Subscription | None, lifetime app access | Optional Muse Premium | Optional Muse Premium |
| Battery | Up to 5 hours (about 60 sessions) | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Typical UK price | About £229 to £279 | About £240 | About £405 to £425 |
Muse prices drop by 15% with code EKG at the official Muse store, and further during the Muse Black Friday sale.
The key difference: light vs brain waves
Both headbands are neurofeedback devices. They read a signal from your brain and turn it into feedback you can learn to steer, a form of biofeedback. The difference is the signal.
Mendi uses fNIRS. It shines near-infrared light through your forehead and measures changes in blood oxygen in the prefrontal cortex, the area involved in focus and self-control. When that region works harder, blood flow rises a few seconds later, and Mendi turns that into a game.
Muse uses EEG. Its sensors on the forehead and behind the ears record the electrical activity of your brain directly, which is why it can tell a calm, settled mind from a busy one in real time. Our guide to brain waves explained covers what EEG picks up.
The practical upshot is that fNIRS reacts more slowly and only sees the front of the brain, while EEG is fast and can track states such as relaxation and sleep. There is one twist: Muse S Athena carries an fNIRS sensor as well as EEG, so it can do a version of what Mendi does on top of its own features.
What training feels like
Mendi
You open the app and try to keep a ball floating on screen. Concentrate and it rises; let your attention drift and it sinks. Sessions start at a few minutes, and Mendi suggests building up to four or five sessions a week of 10 to 15 minutes. It also recommends training away from bright sunlight, because daylight can interfere with the optical sensors. The appeal is simplicity: one game and a clear score.
Muse
Muse sessions are built around meditation. You close your eyes with headphones on, and the sound changes with your brain activity: calm brings birdsong, while a busy mind brings wind and rain. Muse 2 also has heart and breath sessions, and Muse S Athena adds overnight sleep tracking and sleep sounds. There is more variety than Mendi, but sessions feel less like a game. For the full rundown of both models, see our Muse headband UK guide.
What the research says
Muse has the stronger evidence base for a consumer headband. University of Victoria researchers showed a Muse could record classic lab brain responses using just a laptop (Krigolson et al., Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2017). In a 2026 sleep-lab study, Muse S sleep staging matched full hospital polysomnography with 88 to 96% accuracy across sleep stages (Lanthier et al., SLEEP Advances, 2026).
Mendi rests on a sound principle. A systematic review of 22 fNIRS neurofeedback studies found people can learn to regulate prefrontal activity, although most of the trials were small (Kohl et al., Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2020). Mendi has not published an independent clinical trial of its own headband. Its claim that users report a 42% improvement in sustained focus after eight weeks comes from the company and should be read as such.
Neither headband is a medical device, and neither is proven to treat a condition. A major 2025 analysis found no meaningful benefit from neurofeedback for ADHD symptoms when assessors did not know who had received it (Westwood et al., JAMA Psychiatry, 2025). Treat both as wellness and training tools.
Cost over time
Mendi’s price includes lifetime access to its app, with no subscription to buy. Muse works without a subscription too: the free app covers core meditation sessions and, on Athena, sleep tracking. Muse Premium is optional and unlocks extra programmes and brain metrics such as Muse Brain Age, which we cover in our article on Muse Brain Age accuracy.
So for focus training alone, Mendi is the simpler one-off purchase. If you would use meditation feedback or sleep tracking, Muse gives more for the money, especially Muse 2 with code EKG.
Which should you buy?
- Muse 2 if you mainly want to build a meditation habit with real-time feedback, at the lowest price.
- Muse S Athena if you want one band for daytime training and overnight sleep tracking.
- Mendi if you want quick, game-style focus training and nothing else, with no subscription.
- Neither if you are looking for treatment for a medical condition. Speak to your GP instead.
Choosing Muse? Buy from the official Muse store and save 15% with code EKG, with a 30-day return period.
Choosing Mendi? It is available on Amazon UK:
Comparing more devices, including EEG headphones and EMOTIV headsets? See our guide to the best home neurofeedback devices.
Mendi vs Muse FAQ
Is Mendi better than Muse?
Not for most people. Muse does more, including meditation feedback and, on Muse S Athena, sleep tracking, and it has stronger independent research behind it. Mendi is a good choice if you only want simple focus training with no subscription.
Does Mendi use EEG?
No. Mendi uses fNIRS, which measures blood oxygen in the front of the brain using near-infrared light. Muse uses EEG, and Muse S Athena combines EEG with fNIRS.
Does Mendi need a subscription?
No. The price includes lifetime access to the Mendi app. Muse also works without a subscription, with Muse Premium as an optional extra.
Can Mendi track sleep?
No. Mendi is for short daytime training sessions. For sleep tracking you need Muse S Athena.
Is Mendi or Muse better for ADHD?
Neither is a proven ADHD treatment. Research on neurofeedback for ADHD has not shown clear benefits when properly blinded. If you are considering it, talk to your GP or specialist first.
Can I buy Mendi in the UK?
Yes. Mendi ships to the UK from its own store and is also sold on Amazon UK. Prices differ between the two, so check both before you buy.
About this comparison
eeg.org.uk has covered consumer EEG and neurofeedback devices since 2021. This comparison draws on manufacturer specifications and peer-reviewed research, linked below, with company claims labelled as such. It is general information, not medical advice. We earn a commission on some links, including Muse and Amazon, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure, or read more about eeg.org.uk.
Sources
- Krigolson OE et al. Choosing MUSE: validation of a low-cost, portable EEG system for ERP research. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2017
- Lanthier M et al. Assessing the performance of a portable electroencephalographic sleep monitor against level 1 polysomnography. SLEEP Advances, 2026
- Kohl SH et al. The potential of functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based neurofeedback: a systematic review. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2020
- Westwood SJ et al. Neurofeedback for ADHD: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, 2025
- Mendi: product specifications (battery, sessions, warranty)