I don't have any direct experience with the Alpha-stim. Closest I can give is my brother used one for Depression but didn't see any significant relief with it. I beleive he used it for about 2 weeks. The Sota feedback is generally positive. Some folks need to find the right setting for good results. A few of us have found settings #3 and #6 on the Sota Bt7 work well for anxiety. Settings #1 and #4 are more geared for depression. Settings #2 and #5 might work better for insomnia as it pulses at the delta brainwave pattern associated with deep sleep.