Mosquito Apps – Do They Really Work as Protection?

Mosquito bites are not only annoying but in some areas they can also pose serious health risks. No wonder people are ready to try anti-mosquito apps to keep these pests at bay. The apps claim to repel mosquitoes using ultrasonic sound from your smartphone, either for free or for a small fee. But do they actually work? We took a closer look at what these apps allege to do and what science has to say about their effectiveness.

Anti-mosquito apps are smartphone applications that claim to repel mosquitoes using high-frequency sounds or ultrasound. These sounds are typically emitted through the phone's speakers. Some premium versions offer various frequency modes.

The basic idea behind these apps is the same: They use sound to drive mosquitoes away, without relying on chemicals or scents. Users simply need to open the app and place their phone nearby.

Since it’s always the female mosquitoes that bite, all mosquito apps aim to repel them. There are two main approaches:

• Imitating male mosquito sounds:

Some apps claim to mimic the wing-beat frequency of male mosquitoes to deter females. The theory is that, after mating, female mosquitoes have no further interest in the males.

• Simulating bat frequencies:

Bats are natural predators of mosquitoes, including species like the common house mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito. Some apps emit high-frequency sounds that supposedly imitate the echolocation calls of bats.

These approaches may sound simple and promising, but there are issues with their practical implementation.

Despite the many positive reviews these apps receive, there is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that anti-mosquito apps reliably keep mosquitoes away. On the contrary – one laboratory study [1] even found that certain sound frequencies could increase the biting behavior of certain mosquitoes. This makes it worthwhile to take a closer look at the study. However, we would like to point out that research in this area has so far been very limited and that this is a small study.

[1] Andrade, C. F. S., & Cabrini, I. (2010). Electronic mosquito repellers induce increased biting rates in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Vector Ecology, 35(1), 75–78.

Researchers from the Entomological Society of Brazil (SEB) wanted to determine if electronic mosquito repellents and app-like sound frequencies could repel mosquitoes or whether they might even encourage their biting behavior.

To test this, a controlled laboratory experiment was conducted:

• In a test chamber (made up of a tube and box), ten female yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) were placed in each trial.
• The mosquitoes were kept hungry to ensure consistent “aggressive” behavior.
• A human hand was used as an attractant, and the sound source was placed nearby.

Each trial lasted 12 minutes and was divided into 4 phases: device off, device on, device off, device on. This set-up allowed for a direct comparison. The following sound sources were tested:

• Three commercially available ultrasonic devices
• One anti-mosquito software
• Five different frequencies ranging from 6 to 20 kilohertz
• Sound levels between approximately 34 and 52 decibels

Each trial was repeated multiple times, and the data was analyzed statistically.

When the devices were switched on, the number of biting attempts increased significantly. Depending on the frequency, the biting attempts increased by approximately 20% to nearly 50%. The most noticeable effect was observed with mid-range frequencies, between 9.6 and 18.2 kilohertz. Equally noticeable: The biting rate quickly dropped by up to 25% when the sound was turned off.

For one of the tested devices, switching it back on later led to an increase of more than 30% in biting attempts. This effect was weaker with other frequencies, likely because the mosquitoes had become accustomed to the sound.

The researchers’ interpretation:

• Sound sources placed close to the skin seem to encourage mosquitoes to bite rather than repel them.
• The sounds appear to trigger or even increase biting behavior.
• The tested frequencies did not provide any reliable protective effect.

The study concluded that electronic mosquito repellents and similar mosquito apps are ineffective or even counterproductive from a scientific standpoint.

In addition to the study’s findings, there are other reasons why anti-mosquito apps fail in practice. These reasons stem from both technical limitations and the behavior of the mosquitoes themselves.

The issue boils down to the fact that smartphones are not ultrasound devices and do not come close to the performance of real ultrasound repellents – even if ultrasound could repel mosquitoes.

• Smartphone speakers ≠ ultrasound devices:

Most smartphone speakers are physically incapable of generating true ultrasound.

• Limited range:

Even if high frequencies are emitted, they lose strength after just a few centimeters.

• Volume too low:

The sound energy emitted by smartphone speakers is far too weak to have a significant impact on nearby insects.

More importantly, mosquitoes don’t use sound to find their hosts. Instead, they rely primarily on:

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) from human breath
• Body heat
• Skin scents

These factors are far more important to mosquitoes than any acoustic signals. In addition, the wingbeat frequency of mosquitoes lies in an entirely different frequency range from the frequency at which so-called (ultrasonic) repellers operate. Whether a smartphone emits high-frequency sounds or not has little bearing on the mosquito’s ability to locate a host. This is also underscored by a study [2] published in 2024 by Italian researchers, in which the tested ultrasonic devices showed no demonstrable repellent effect on mosquitoes.

[2] Toma, L.; Lo Catro, F.; Severini, F. et al. (2024): Evaluation of four common electronic mosquito repellers on Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens. Ann Ist Super Sanità, Vol. 60, No. 4: S. 258-263. DOI: 10.4415/ANN_24_04_04

Since mosquitoes rely heavily on scents and proximity to their hosts, addressing these factors remains the most effective means of protection. Some proven methods include:

• Skin repellents:

Skin-friendly insect repellents with proven active ingredients offer reliable, short-term protection.

• Mosquito nets:

Especially at night or while travelling, nets placed over the bed provide a simple and highly effective barrier.

• Preventing breeding sites:

Standing water in watering cans, plant pot saucers, buckets, or rain barrels makes an ideal breeding ground. These containers should be regularly emptied, covered, or stored dry.

Technical solutions like mosquito traps offer more reliable protection than mosquito apps, as they can specifically attract and capture the insects. If you need more convincing, check out our video from the Biogents Contract Research & Development Lab, which shows what happens when a smartphone with an active anti-mosquito app is placed in a mosquito cage: