Comparison

MindSpan Memory Booster vs N

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MindSpan Memory Booster

Train your working memory with a simple yet challenging game. Observe moving shapes and recall their details like color and pattern to progress. Improve your cognitive skills essential for learning and focus.

Highlights
  • Observe and recall moving geometric shapes
  • Identify shape, color, and pattern
  • Increasing difficulty with speed and complexity
  • Trains working memory and cognitive skills
  • Focuses on fluid intelligence and learning ability
Features
Read full description

Watch. Remember. Answer. MindSpan trains the most important cognitive skill you have: working memory. A shape moves across the screen. You watch. Then you answer: what was it? What color? What pattern? Sounds simple. It isn't. HOW IT WORKS Each round, a geometric shape — triangle, star, polygon, moon — travels along a path. Your job: hold it in mind, then identify it from a set of options. As you improve, shapes move faster, paths grow more complex, and the distractors look more alike. CHALLENGE LEVELS Between the memory rounds, brain-teasers change the pace — mental math, logic and odd-one-out puzzles, lateral-thinking riddles, and number patterns. The question stays on screen; you reason it through. Memory and reasoning, woven together, so no two sessions feel the same. WHAT YOU'RE TRAINING Working memory is the brain's scratchpad — the ability to hold and manipulate information in real time. It underlies reading comprehension, mental arithmetic, decision-making, and sustained focus. Research consistently links working memory capacity to fluid intelligence and learning ability.

About

N

This app offers a scientifically validated cognitive training program designed to enhance intelligence. It uses the dual n-back method to improve learning, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Track progress, compete with friends, and customize your experience to boost cognitive abilities.

Highlights
  • Dual n-back cognitive training
  • IQ enhancement
  • Progress tracking and streaks
  • Social competition and leaderboards
  • Customizable voices and settings
  • Weekly habit option
Read full description

The N-Back Challenge provides a special type of cognitive training, “dual n-back,” that helps you raise your IQ in just a few minutes per day. Sounds implausible? The N-Back Challenge is based on a decade’s worth of scientific studies, published in top peer-reviewed journals, including Nature. (For more details, see https://nbackchallenge.com/science.) The catch? It’s no fun at all! Indeed, the training is designed to be maximally exhausting. If you are determined enough to make it through 20 sessions, however, science suggests that you stand to reap powerful benefits. Intelligence is the ultimate cognitive ability: You need it to learn, reason, solve novel problems, and see connections. Higher IQs have been linked to improved academic achievement, professional success, and even better health. Since it will take you just 7 hours, in total, to complete the N-Back Challenge, not much more than the length of a single school day, it may prove to be the best investment of time you’ve ever made! ------------------------------ SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND: Not only has the dual n-back paradigm been validated in top peer-reviewed journals, but our two founders – both PhDs, one with a focus on neuroscience, the other with a focus on higher education – have taken particular care to thoroughly align the app with the prevailing scientific research. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS: In order to help you stay motivated, the N-Back Challenge allows you to visually monitor your progress over time, build up “streaks,” and compare yourself against other learners across various stats. COMPETE AGAINST YOUR FRIENDS: Perhaps the most powerful way of making sure you remain motivated to complete the Challenge is to tackle it together with friends or colleagues. To make it more fun, we’ve provided leaderboards that allow you to compete based on who has completed the most sessions, racked up the longest streak, and more. CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE: The N-Back Challenge allows you to choose between different voices across multiple languages, turn on notifications, and customize their timing and style. There are advanced settings for turning on instant button feedback, controlling the n-back level, and tweaking the game speed. And if you are too busy to complete one session every day, you may switch to the Weekly Habit, which gives you a full week to complete each session. ------------------------------ ARE YOU… … A PARENT? Give your children an edge at school or university by nudging them to complete the N-Back Challenge. Indeed, why not tackle the Challenge together as a family? … A GRANDCHILD? Help your grandparents (and other older relatives) fight cognitive decline by introducing them to dual n-back. (See https://nbackchallenge.com/decline.) … A KNOWLEDGE WORKER? Share the N-Back Challenge with your HR department. Dual n-back may well be the single most cost-effective way of making knowledge workers more productive. (See https://nbackchallenge.com/work.) … A TEACHER? Use dual n-back to enhance students' problem-solving skills. You can have a big impact, with a minimal investment of time! (See https://nbackchallenge.com/class.) ------------------------------ HOW IT WORKS: The N-Back Challenge is free as long as you stick to the program. When you miss or delay a session, we ask you to support us with a “coffee,” which you can buy in-app or earn — for example, by using the Share link in the Settings to invite friends. (Each of you will receive a free coffee.) You can also unlock unlimited free breaks by becoming a premium subscriber. CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Do you have any questions or suggestions? Like to say hello? We’re happy to hear from you! Just drop us a note at support@nbackchallenge.com. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: To learn more about dual n-back and the N-Back Challenge, browse our repository of articles at https://nbackchallenge.com/articles. Privacy Policy: https://nbackchallenge.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://nbackchallenge.com/terms-of-use

Screenshots

MindSpan Memory Booster4 screens
N4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: N at 83% against MindSpan Memory Booster's 0%. MindSpan Memory Booster's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. N sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. MindSpan Memory Booster asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MindSpan Memory Booster ships an update fortnightly, N monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
MindSpan Memory Booster versus N: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMindSpan Memory BoosterN
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.7 (237 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews82.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—237 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB72 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperBothina ElzoobiRivuspurus

Customer experience

MindSpan Memory Booster

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

N

All ratings237 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral0.4%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews93 reviews
Positive82.8%
Neutral3.2%
Negative14.0%

Bugs and requests

MindSpan Memory Booster

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

N

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Mid-session freezing and soft locks (most common)
  • Sound not generating for letters during gameplay
  • Buttons greyed out preventing interaction
  • App crashes when accessing stats
  • Double coffee charge on streak breaks
Show 5 more
  • Sound disabled when button pressed simultaneously with letter
  • App crashes on startup
  • Sync failures between iPad and iPhone
  • Game freezing on specific levels (Level 2, 4)
  • Countdown ends but first tile/letter doesn't appear

Requested features

10 requests
  • Single n-back and quad n-back modes
  • Lock screen widgets for streak reminders
  • Color-position dual n-back mode
  • More granular settings (interference, probability, trial count)
  • Penalty system for incorrect answers
Show 5 more
  • Game Center leaderboard integration
  • iPad and desktop versions with synced accounts
  • Offline gameplay capability
  • Data export for personal analysis
  • Extended play duration at higher levels

In-app purchases

None

MindSpan Memory Booster

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

N

Subscriptions2
  • Premium (monthly)$8.991 Month
  • Premium (annual)$54.991 Year
One-time5
  • 1 cup of coffee$1.99
  • 4 cups of coffee$5.99
  • Pizza$7.99
Show 2 more
  • 7 cups of coffee$8.99
  • 10 cups of coffee$10.99

Questions

Is MindSpan Memory Booster free?
MindSpan Memory Booster is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is N free?
N is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MindSpan Memory Booster or N have ads?
Neither MindSpan Memory Booster nor N shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MindSpan Memory Booster or N?
MindSpan Memory Booster ships an update fortnightly, and N monthly. Most recently, MindSpan Memory Booster was updated on October 2, 2026 and N on October 12, 2026.

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