Comparison

Memory Match vs N

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

Head to head
About

Memory Match

This brain training game is designed to enhance your memory and cognitive abilities. It offers engaging challenges to help you sharpen your mind.

Highlights
  • Memory improvement
  • Cognitive enhancement
  • Brain training games
  • Memory challenges
Features
Read full description

Memory Match is a brain training game that helps you improve memory and cognition.

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

Memory Match1 screens
N4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Memory Match at none against N's 7. Memory Match also leads on ratings volume (6K vs 237) and update cadence (every 11 days vs monthly). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Memory Match asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Memory Match against 4.7 for N. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Memory Match has 6K ratings behind it against 237, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 82% and 83% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Memory Match ships an update every 11 days, N monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Memory Match versus N: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMemory MatchN
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (6K ratings) — better4.7 (237 ratings)
Positive reviews82.1% of reviews82.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6K — better237
Update frequencyEvery 11 days — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS9.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB72 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperPicup Inc.Rivuspurus

Customer experience

Memory Match

All ratings5,976 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral1.7%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews201 reviews
Positive82.1%
Neutral3.0%
Negative14.9%

N

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

User reviews

Memory Match

From 6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great memory game
  • 👍 Fun and challenging
  • 👍 Helps improve memory
  • 👍 Simple and easy to use
  • 👍 Good for brain exercise

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and glitches
  • 🔋 Too many ads
  • 🔒 Manipulative review system
  • 🐛 Doesn't work on certain devices

N

From 237 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🧠 Effective working memory improvement
  • 🎮 Excellent gamification and motivation system
  • 💰 Free to use with affordable payment options
  • 🎨 Clean, polished, intuitive user interface
  • 📚 Scientifically-backed with educational articles

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent mid-session freezes and crashes
  • 🔊 Unclear letter pronunciation (some letters sound similar)
  • 💳 Controversial 'coffee' paywall for missed days
  • 🔌 Requires internet connection (not offline compatible)
  • ⚠️ Inconsistent instant feedback on answers

Bugs and requests

Memory Match

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Game gets stuck on tutorial screens
  • Crashes and freezes during gameplay
  • Compatibility issues with newer devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more difficulty levels
  • Introduce new game modes
  • Provide an ad-free paid version
  • Improve stability and performance

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

Memory Match

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 Memory Match free?
Memory Match is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is N free?
N is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Memory Match or N?
Memory Match is rated higher. Memory Match averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6K ratings, while N averages 4.7 from 237 ratings.
Do Memory Match or N have ads?
Neither Memory Match nor N shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Memory Match or N?
Memory Match ships an update every 11 days, and N monthly. Most recently, Memory Match was updated on September 28, 2026 and N on September 25, 2026.

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