Generic
Anti Mosquito Repellent Sound App
Electronic · Unregulated smartphone app. Not a registered pesticide and not an evaluated medical or pest-control device.
Cons
- No reliable evidence it reduces mosquito bites in controlled studies
- The kind of device the FTC has fined marketers of for unsupported repellent claims
The full review
A smartphone app that plays a high-frequency tone through the phone speaker and is marketed as a way to keep mosquitoes away, part of a large family of similar free and ad-supported apps downloaded millions of times. It is the same ultrasonic idea as the plug-in and wristband gadgets, delivered through a phone rather than a dedicated device, and it faces the same evidence problem. The Cochrane review of field studies found electronic mosquito repellents have no effect on how often people are bitten, and phone-based versions add the further limits of small speakers and narrow frequency output. Some of these apps even state in their own descriptions that the effect is not scientifically proven. It is a free novelty, but controlled evidence does not support it for bite protection.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%0There is no reliable evidence that this reduces mosquito bites. Controlled field studies and systematic reviews of electronic and gadget repellents (ultrasonic devices, apps, and repellent wristbands) have found no protective effect, and the linked research below shows why. It scores zero for effectiveness against biting.
There is no reliable evidence that this reduces mosquito bites. Controlled field studies and systematic reviews of electronic and gadget repellents (ultrasonic devices, apps, and repellent wristbands) have found no protective effect, and the linked research below shows why. It scores zero for effectiveness against biting.
Evidence & honest claims25%4No published studies in our library directly support this product's active ingredients at their concentrations (base 20). Of 2 marketing claims audited: 0 strong, 0 moderate, 0 weak, 2 unsupported (-16).
No published studies in our library directly support this product's active ingredients at their concentrations (base 20). Of 2 marketing claims audited: 0 strong, 0 moderate, 0 weak, 2 unsupported (-16).
Safety15%60This is not applied to your skin and poses little direct hazard to you. Safety is not the concern with these products; effectiveness is (see above).
This is not applied to your skin and poses little direct hazard to you. Safety is not the concern with these products; effectiveness is (see above).
Transparency15%0This product publishes no ingredient list (0).
This product publishes no ingredient list (0).
Every pillar is scored from published rules. Read how we score.
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes no ingredient list (0).
The manufacturer does not publish an ingredient list for this product.
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Repels mosquitoes by emitting high-frequency sound”
EfficacyUnsupportedNot supported for bite protection. The 2007 Cochrane review found electronic mosquito repellents have no effect on preventing bites, and there is no controlled evidence that sound played through a phone speaker repels host-seeking mosquitoes.
“Adjustable frequencies tuned to drive off mosquitoes”
EfficacyUnsupportedChanging the frequency does not change the outcome in controlled testing. Mosquitoes locate people by carbon dioxide, heat, and scent, not by avoiding a tone, and no frequency setting has been shown to reduce biting.