BrainsWay and Magstim represent two different philosophies in TMS system design. BrainsWay built its identity around the H-coil and a specific OCD indication that no other manufacturer holds. Magstim built the Rapid² as a flexible platform used extensively in research settings and clinical practice globally. Comparing them means deciding what you’re treating and what’s available near you.
What You’ll Learn
- How the H-coil and figure-8 coil designs differ in practice
- OCD treatment advantages for BrainsWay
- Protocol support on each platform
- US availability and insurance considerations
Coil Design: The Core Difference
BrainsWay uses the proprietary H-coil design that targets deeper brain structures without proportionally increasing surface stimulation. This is most clinically relevant for OCD, where the anterior cingulate — a deeper structure — is a primary treatment target. The H-coil can reach it more directly than figure-8 coils.
Magstim’s Rapid² uses a conventional figure-8 coil design alongside support for double-cone and other coil configurations. For depression treatment targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the figure-8 coil is well-suited and has decades of evidence behind it.
The depth advantage only matters if your condition benefits from it. For pure depression treatment, both approaches work. For OCD, BrainsWay has a structural advantage.
OCD: BrainsWay’s Clear Edge
BrainsWay holds the only dedicated FDA clearance for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in TMS. That clearance came from specific multicenter trials targeting OCD patients with the deep TMS H-coil protocol.
Magstim can treat OCD off-label and some research centers do, but the insurance pathway is more straightforward with BrainsWay’s labeled indication. If OCD is in your clinical picture, this matters practically.
US Availability
BrainsWay has built a significant US commercial footprint through its OCD indication, becoming a common system in private TMS and psychiatric clinics that treat a range of conditions.
Magstim is more common in academic and research settings in the US. The Rapid² is a research favorite — it appears in a large proportion of published TMS studies — but commercial US availability is more limited than BrainsWay.
Search our provider directory to see what’s available in your area.
The Bottom Line
For OCD patients: BrainsWay, clearly.
For depression-only: Both are capable. Availability and insurance relationships favor BrainsWay in most US markets. Magstim is a strong option at academic centers.
Explore other device comparisons or find a TMS provider near you.
Key Takeaways
- BrainsWay is the only TMS device with FDA clearance for OCD
- The H-coil reaches deeper brain structures than figure-8 coils
- For pure depression, both systems are clinically equivalent
- BrainsWay has stronger commercial US presence
- Magstim is more common in academic and research settings
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