BrainsWay Deep TMS and EXOMIND sit in the same tms devices category but take different approaches. BrainsWay Deep TMS (BrainsWay) uses Deep TMS (H-Coil Technology) for deeper brain stimulation while EXOMIND (BTL Industries) uses ExoTMS (patented external TMS with proprietary coil design). Both received FDA clearance (2013 and 2024 respectively) and both are actively sold in the US market. The decision between them is rarely about which is objectively better. It's about which fits your specific practice.
Physicians end up comparing these two devices when they're shopping in the $100,000-$200,000 to $100,000-$200,000 price range and want a category leader. Both devices are commonly recommended by sales reps from competing manufacturers, which means physicians often hear inflated claims about one and dismissive claims about the other. This comparison strips out the marketing and looks at pricing, mechanism, evidence, and practice fit side by side.
Side-by-Side Specifications
BrainsWay Deep TMS
EXOMIND
Manufacturer
BrainsWay
BTL Industries
Technology
Deep TMS (H-Coil Technology) for deeper brain stimulation
ExoTMS (patented external TMS with proprietary coil design)
Price (New)
$100,000-$200,000
$100,000-$200,000
Price (Used)
$50,000-$120,000
Limited secondary market (too new)
Treatment Time
20 minutes per session
Under 30 minutes per session
Sessions
20-30 sessions
6 sessions (a fraction of what competitors require)
Per Session
$300-$500 (insurance reimbursable)
TBD (emerging pricing)
Annual Consumables
Minimal (helmet-based, no disposable coils)
TBD
Annual Maintenance
$5,000-$10,000
TBD
FDA Cleared
Yes (2013)
Yes (2024)
Technology
BrainsWay Deep TMS
Technology: Deep TMS (H-Coil Technology) for deeper brain stimulation. Deepest TMS stimulation available (6cm vs 2cm). FDA-cleared for depression, OCD, and smoking cessation. Helmet design means no manual positioning required.
EXOMIND
Technology: ExoTMS (patented external TMS with proprietary coil design). FDA-cleared for depression in just 6 sessions (vs 20-36 for competitors). Also cleared in Canada/EU for anxiety, OCD, and binge eating.
Pricing
BrainsWay Deep TMS
New: $100,000-$200,000. Used: $50,000-$120,000. Per session: $300-$500 (insurance reimbursable). Annual consumables: Minimal (helmet-based, no disposable coils). Annual maintenance: $5,000-$10,000.
Strong. Multiple RCTs for depression and OCD. Unique evidence for smoking cessation indication.
EXOMIND
Emerging. FDA clearance data is available. Full peer-reviewed evidence base still developing.
Treatment Experience
BrainsWay Deep TMS
20 minutes per session per session. Recommended protocol: 20-30 sessions. Treatment areas: Prefrontal cortex (deeper penetration than standard TMS). Patients typically tolerate this platform well when operated by trained clinicians.
EXOMIND
Under 30 minutes per session per session. Recommended protocol: 6 sessions (a fraction of what competitors require). Treatment areas: Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Patient experience varies by operator training and settings.
Practice Fit
BrainsWay Deep TMS
Psychiatrists who want the deepest stimulation available and value the expanded indication set (OCD, smoking cessation). Practices serving treatment-resistant patients where standard TMS depth may be insufficient.
EXOMIND
Psychiatrists or multi-specialty practices already in the BTL ecosystem. Early adopters willing to bet on the 6-session protocol advantage.
Pros and Cons
BrainsWay Deep TMS Pros
Deepest brain stimulation in TMS category (6cm with H-coil)
FDA-cleared for 3 indications (depression, OCD, smoking cessation)
20-minute sessions (shorter than NeuroStar standard)
BrainsWay Deep TMS Cons
Higher upfront cost than NeuroStar
Smaller installed base means less peer reference data
Helmet design can be uncomfortable for some patients
EXOMIND Pros
Only 6 sessions required (vs 20-36 for NeuroStar/BrainsWay)
BTL's sales and support infrastructure
Potential for anxiety, OCD, binge eating clearances in US
Cross-sell path for existing BTL aesthetic practices
EXOMIND Cons
Brand new to market (2024 FDA clearance)
Limited published clinical evidence vs established competitors
Pricing not yet stabilized
The Verdict
Choose BrainsWay Deep TMS if your practice prioritizes BrainsWay's ecosystem, brand recognition, or specific clinical advantages. Psychiatrists who want the deepest stimulation available and value the expanded indication set (OCD, smoking cessation). Practices serving treatment-resistant patients where standard TMS depth may be insufficient. The pros that matter most: Deepest brain stimulation in TMS category (6cm with H-coil); FDA-cleared for 3 indications (depression, OCD, smoking cessation). The biggest tradeoff to accept: Higher upfront cost than NeuroStar.
Choose EXOMIND if BTL Industries's positioning fits better. Psychiatrists or multi-specialty practices already in the BTL ecosystem. Early adopters willing to bet on the 6-session protocol advantage. The pros that matter most: Only 6 sessions required (vs 20-36 for NeuroStar/BrainsWay); BTL's sales and support infrastructure. The biggest tradeoff to accept: Brand new to market (2024 FDA clearance).
For a practice with limited capital that needs maximum flexibility, used pricing tilts the math. BrainsWay Deep TMS used units run $50,000-$120,000; EXOMIND used units run Limited secondary market (too new). For practices with strong patient flow already, the device that integrates with your existing platforms is usually the right answer even if its standalone specs are slightly weaker. For practices building a category from scratch, brand recognition and patient demand matter more than raw clinical specs. Look at which device patients are already asking for in your market before signing a contract.
Established Platform vs Newcomer
BrainsWay has been FDA-cleared for depression since 2013 and has the deepest clinical evidence base of any deep TMS system. EXOMIND is BTL's entry into neuromodulation, built on their ExoTMS coil design. The fundamental trade-off is proven clinical history versus a dramatically shorter treatment protocol.
BrainsWay's 20-36 session protocol is the industry standard. EXOMIND's 6-session protocol, if it holds up to broader clinical use, could transform the economics of TMS by tripling patient throughput per chair. However, 6-session protocols have less long-term durability data. Practices considering EXOMIND should ask BTL for their maintenance session recommendations and long-term follow-up data.
Clinical Evidence Gap
BrainsWay has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals across depression, OCD, and smoking cessation. Their registration trials enrolled thousands of patients. EXOMIND's evidence base is thinner. BTL has conducted studies, but the volume of published, peer-reviewed data is substantially less than BrainsWay's.
For psychiatrists who care about evidence-based medicine, BrainsWay is the safer choice today. For those who are early adopters and willing to bet on BTL's engineering track record from the aesthetics space, EXOMIND offers a differentiated protocol that could give your practice a competitive edge in markets where multiple psychiatrists already offer standard TMS.
BTL Ecosystem Advantage
If your practice already uses BTL devices (Emsella, Emsculpt Neo), EXOMIND integrates into the same service and training infrastructure. BTL's sales team is aggressive and often bundles EXOMIND pricing with aesthetic device packages. This bundling can reduce the effective capital cost substantially. BrainsWay does not offer cross-category bundling because TMS is their only product line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is more expensive, BrainsWay Deep TMS or EXOMIND?
BrainsWay Deep TMS runs $100,000-$200,000 new and $50,000-$120,000 used. EXOMIND runs $100,000-$200,000 new and Limited secondary market (too new) used. Per-session pricing is $300-$500 (insurance reimbursable) for BrainsWay Deep TMS and TBD (emerging pricing) for EXOMIND. Annual operating costs (consumables plus maintenance) typically run 5-15% of purchase price for both devices. The right financial comparison includes total cost of ownership over 5 years, not just sticker price.
Which has better clinical evidence, BrainsWay Deep TMS or EXOMIND?
BrainsWay Deep TMS clinical evidence: Strong. Multiple RCTs for depression and OCD. Unique evidence for smoking cessation indication. EXOMIND clinical evidence: Emerging. FDA clearance data is available. Full peer-reviewed evidence base still developing. Evidence quality is not about study count alone. Look at sample sizes, blinded evaluators, independence from manufacturer funding, and outcome durability. Older devices in the same category usually have stronger evidence because they've been studied longer.
Is BrainsWay Deep TMS or EXOMIND more popular in psychiatry practices?
Both BrainsWay Deep TMS and EXOMIND are commonly used in psychiatry, neurology practices. Market share in any given category shifts year to year. BrainsWay and BTL Industries both maintain active sales forces in the US. Ask other physicians in your specialty which platform they're using and why. Peer references in your local market matter more than national market share data.
Are there safety concerns with BrainsWay Deep TMS or EXOMIND?
Both devices are FDA cleared and have established safety profiles. BrainsWay Deep TMS has these documented concerns: Higher upfront cost than NeuroStar. EXOMIND has: Brand new to market (2024 FDA clearance). Physicians should monitor FDA MAUDE reports for both devices before purchase. Adverse event trends matter because they signal problems that may not appear in marketing materials. Any device with a sudden spike in MAUDE filings deserves closer scrutiny.
Can I use BrainsWay Deep TMS and EXOMIND in the same practice?
Some practices run both devices, especially when they target different patient segments or treatment areas. The downside is duplicated training, parallel consumable inventories, and potential cannibalization between platforms. The upside is broader marketing claims and the ability to switch patients between platforms if one doesn't deliver expected results. Most practices choose one and commit to mastering it rather than splitting volume.
What's the resale value comparison between BrainsWay Deep TMS and EXOMIND?
Used BrainsWay Deep TMS sells for $50,000-$120,000 on the secondary market. Used EXOMIND sells for Limited secondary market (too new). Resale values depend on age, software version, applicator condition, and remaining warranty. Devices with strong installed bases hold value better. Devices with active safety signals or declining manufacturer financial health depreciate faster. Resale value should be a factor in any device purchase, especially if practice plans might change in 3-5 years.
BrainsWay Deep TMS vs EXOMIND: which is better for psychiatry practices in 2026?
For psychiatry practices specifically in 2026, the choice between BrainsWay Deep TMS and EXOMIND depends on three factors: existing equipment compatibility (does the new device integrate with what you already run), patient mix and treatment volume (high-volume practices typically benefit from BrainsWay Deep TMS's deepest brain stimulation in tms category (6cm with h-coil) while lower-volume practices often prefer EXOMIND's only 6 sessions required (vs 20-36 for neurostar/brainsway)), and total cost of ownership over 5 years including consumables and maintenance. Run the side-by-side TCO analysis with realistic patient volume projections before committing to either platform.
BrainsWay Deep TMS vs EXOMIND: 2026 update on features and clinical evidence?
As of April 2026, both BrainsWay Deep TMS and EXOMIND continue commercial availability from BrainsWay and BTL Industries respectively. Recent updates worth tracking: software releases, new applicator launches, expanded FDA labeling indications, and new peer-reviewed clinical evidence publications. Manufacturer financial stability also matters for long-term support and parts availability. Both manufacturers share business updates periodically that inform the long-term outlook for each device.
How do I choose between BrainsWay Deep TMS and EXOMIND for my practice?
Use a structured decision framework: list 5-7 must-have requirements specific to your patient mix and practice economics, score BrainsWay Deep TMS and EXOMIND against each requirement on a 1-5 scale, weight the requirements by importance, then sum the weighted scores. The platform that scores meaningfully higher (10%+ gap) is the right choice. If the scores are within 10%, secondary factors decide: manufacturer relationship, financing terms, training availability, and resale value. Avoid choosing based on feature breadth alone because most devices in this category have similar feature checkboxes. The differentiation is in workflow fit, treatment results, and total cost over 5 years.
Are there better alternatives to BrainsWay Deep TMS or EXOMIND in the tms devices category?
In the tms devices category, BrainsWay Deep TMS and EXOMIND are often the leading platforms but other alternatives may fit specific practice profiles better. Other category options include neurostar, magventure, nexstim. Run a 4-platform shortlist evaluation rather than a 2-platform binary because hidden alternatives sometimes outperform on the metrics that matter most to your specific practice.