Comparison

Stillwave vs Vehicle Motion Cues

100 Hz sound therapy versus Apple's animated dots.

Side-by-side Comparison

FeatureStillwaveVehicle Motion Cues (iOS 18)
TypeSound therapy (100 Hz)Visual animated dots on screen
How it worksActivates vestibular system via otoconiaAnimated dots match vehicle movement to reduce visual-vestibular conflict
Time to effect60 seconds pre-travelContinuous while using phone
Side effectsNone knownNone
When to useBefore or during travel, then put phone awayOnly while looking at phone screen
RequiresAny earbuds + Stillwave appiPhone with iOS 18+, screen must be visible
Cost$0.99Free (built into iOS 18)

Stillwave

Pros

  • + Works even when you're not looking at your phone
  • + Peer-reviewed research on specific mechanism
  • + 60-second pre-treatment protects for up to 2 hours

Cons

  • - Costs $0.99
  • - Requires earbuds

Vehicle Motion Cues (iOS 18)

Pros

  • + Free and built into iOS
  • + No extra app or accessories needed
  • + Apple's design polish

Cons

  • - Only works while looking at phone screen
  • - No peer-reviewed research on effectiveness
  • - Doesn't help passengers who want to look out the window

Our take

Vehicle Motion Cues is a clever free feature, but it only helps while you're using your phone — it can't prevent motion sickness from looking out the window or sitting in a moving vehicle. Stillwave's 100 Hz pre-treatment works regardless of what you're doing afterward. They complement each other well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use Stillwave or Vehicle Motion Cues?

They solve different problems. Vehicle Motion Cues helps reduce sickness while reading on your phone. Stillwave prevents motion sickness from the vehicle movement itself. You can use both.

Is Vehicle Motion Cues based on research?

Apple hasn't published peer-reviewed studies on its effectiveness. The concept of reducing visual-vestibular conflict is sound, but the specific implementation hasn't been clinically validated. Stillwave's 100 Hz approach was studied at Nagoya University.

Can I use them together?

Yes. Use Stillwave before your trip for vestibular protection, and enable Vehicle Motion Cues if you plan to use your phone during the ride.

Ready to try Stillwave?

60 seconds of sound, up to 2 hours of relief. No side effects.

Coming Soon