How effective are posture correctors?

I keep seeing posture correctors everywhere lately—ads, fitness influencers, even people wearing them under their clothes at work. They’re often marketed as an easy solution for rounded shoulders, slouching at a desk, or upper back/neck pain. Some claims make it sound like wearing one for a few hours a day can “fix” years of bad posture.

The thing is, opinions seem really mixed. On one hand, some people say posture correctors help them become more aware of their posture and reduce discomfort, at least short-term. On the other hand, I’ve read arguments that they can make your core and back muscles lazy if you rely on them too much, basically acting like a brace instead of actually correcting anything.

I’m dealing with noticeable slouching from long hours sitting (desk job + lots of screen time), and occasional upper back stiffness. I’m trying to figure out whether a posture corrector is worth trying, or if I should just focus on exercises, stretching, and ergonomics instead.

For those who’ve actually used posture correctors:

• Did they help long-term or just while wearing them?
• Any downsides you noticed (discomfort, muscle weakness, dependency)?
• Are there specific types that work better than others, or are they all pretty much the same?

Would really appreciate hearing real experiences or advice from people who’ve gone down this road.