Impulse vs BrainGain
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Impulse
Enhance your cognitive abilities with personalized brain training games and puzzles. Discover your mental strengths and weaknesses through self-discovery tests, and track your progress over time to build a sharper mind.
- Personalized daily training plans
- Memory & processing speed training
- Attention & focus exercises
- Mental math challenges
- Problem-solving games
- Cognitive profile discovery
- IQ and personality tests
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100+ million downloads 4.7 worldwide rating App of the Day in 50+ countries Train your brain. Discover yourself. Become sharper. Impulse is more than a brain training app — it's a complete toolkit for understanding how your mind works and building it into its strongest version. Struggle to stay focused? Forget things easily? Feel like your brain could do more? That’s where Impulse comes in. TRAIN WHAT YOUR BRAIN NEEDS MOST Impulse builds a personalized daily training plan tailored to the brain areas you need most: - Memory & Processing speed - Attention & focus - Mental math - Problem-solving Our science-inspired games are challenging enough to keep you progressing and simple enough to enjoy every day — at any age or skill level. DISCOVER YOUR COGNITIVE PROFILE Go deeper with a library of self-discovery tests that reveal how your mind truly works: - IQ tests & Cognitive strengths - Personality type and archetype insights - Emotional intelligence and self-awareness tests Each test comes with personalized recommendations so you know exactly which areas to focus on and how to grow. TRACK YOUR GROWTH - See your performance trends over time - Get actionable insights — not just scores - Stay motivated with streaks and progress reports WHY IMPULSE Most brain apps just give you games. Impulse also gives you deeper understanding of yourself. Train smarter and stay sharp for life. Join 100 million people worldwide who've made Impulse part of their daily routine. Impulse offers a 3-day free trial with full access to all games - no ads, no interruptions. If you choose to subscribe, the fee will be shown in the app before you complete the payment. Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You may manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal at any time in your iTunes Account Settings. Terms of Service: https://brainimpulse.me/app/tos.html Privacy Policy: https://brainimpulse.me/app/privacy_policy.html Contact: support@brainimpulse.me
BrainGain
Engage in daily brain training with adaptive games and mental tests designed to improve memory, focus, problem-solving, math, and language skills. Choose short bursts or longer sessions to fit your schedule and track your progress.
- Adaptive cognitive games
- Daily brain workouts
- Build memory and focus
- Improve math and language skills
- Problem-solving exercises
- Mental tests and assessments
- Progress tracking
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Swap mindless scrolling for brain training. Meet Brain Gain—your all-in-one brain training app with adaptive games, mental tests, and daily brain workouts. Rated 4.7 by 18,000+ users. Join 1.8 million people training smarter. Whether you want to think faster at work, trade scrolling for something meaningful, or simply keep your mind sharp, Brain Gain makes every session count. It helps you build five essential cognitive skills: memory, focus, problem-solving, math, and language—through 25+ games and 1,000+ units that adapt to your abilities. With Brain Gain, you can: • Build cognitive skills—strengthen memory, focus, math, language, and problem-solving for everyday life. • Train your way—choose 5-minute bursts or 20-minute deep sessions for workouts that fit your schedule. • Stay challenged—adaptive difficulty that grows with you, so games never feel too easy. • Know your strengths and weaknesses—take mental tests to see where you shine and where to improve. • Boost your mental skills for free—access games and tests at no cost, then upgrade when you're ready. TRAIN YOUR BRAIN DAILY Join a game marathon for an epic sprint through dozens of progressive levels. Choose your Marathon length and make brain training part of your daily routine. CALCULATE FASTER Sharpen your math skills with games that make numbers fun. From quick arithmetic to tricky equations, you'll solve true-false challenges and find missing math symbols—all in fast, focused sessions. BOOST YOUR LANGUAGE SKILLS Put your vocabulary to the test. Tackle classic word puzzles, word-building challenges, and creative language games designed for enthusiasts of all levels. TAKE MENTAL TESTS Discover how your mind works. Explore self-assessments for IQ, ADHD, childhood trauma, and more—then get detailed results with personalized advice and book recommendations. IMPROVE MEMORY & FOCUS Want to remember more and stay focused longer? Build stronger recall and concentration with engaging challenges—from finding lost paintings to matching games and dynamic puzzles. SHARPEN ANALYTICAL SKILLS Think like a problem-solver. Spot patterns, analyze information, and make quick decisions in exercises built to boost critical thinking. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS See how far you've come. Detailed stats show your improvement across every skill category, so you always know where you're growing and what to focus on next. Ready to level up your mind? Download Brain Gain today and start your journey to a sharper, brighter, and more confident you through innovative puzzles, brain games, and scientifically inspired brain training! FAQ Q: Is Brain Gain based on real science? A: Yes! Our app is built on research-backed cognitive training principles. We designed every game to challenge your mind and improve vital cognitive skills. Learn more: https://www.cognitivetrainingdata.org/ Q: Can I use Brain Gain for free? A: Absolutely. Access brain games and mental tests at no cost. When you're ready for more, upgrade for unlimited access to all features. Q: Will I run out of things to do? A: Not likely. Explore 25+ adaptive games, mental tests with personalized insights, daily Marathons, and fresh themed Quizzes released for holidays and special events. UNLIMITED ACCESS Subscribe to unlock all games, tests, and features. Subscriptions renew automatically based on your selected plan. By using the app, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use: https://aiby.mobi/braingain_ios/privacy https://aiby.mobi/braingain_ios/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: BrainGain at none against Impulse's shown. BrainGain also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Impulse's advantage is ratings volume (849K vs 22K) and update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Impulse sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and BrainGain sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Impulse against 4.7 for BrainGain. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Impulse has 849K ratings behind it against 22K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Impulse's written reviews are positive against 62% of BrainGain's.
Impulse ships an update every 6 days, BrainGain fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Impulse | BrainGain |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (849K ratings) | 4.7 (22K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 69.2% of reviews — better | 61.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 849K — better | 22K |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #13 — better | #183 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 249 MB | 219 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | GMRD Apps Limited | AIBY |
Customer experience
Impulse
BrainGain
User reviews
Impulse
From 849K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🤩 Engaging and fun brain games
- 🧠 Helpful for improving focus, memory, and cognitive abilities
- 📈 Tracks progress and compares to peers
- 🧘♀️ Relaxing and calming experience
- 🏆 Motivating to improve scores and skills
Room to improve
- 💰 Expensive subscription model, with limited free access
- 🤖 Misleading ads and paywalls for test results
- 🙄 Excessive ads and upselling in free version
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🤨 Questionable accuracy of personality/IQ tests
BrainGain
From 22K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🧠 Helpful brain exercises
- 🧠 Keeps mind active
- 🧠 Improves memory and focus
- 🧠 Enjoyable and engaging
Room to improve
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Requires payment to access full features
- 🔍 Limited free trial
- 🔍 Unclear subscription details
- 🐛 Technical issues and bugs
Bugs and requests
Impulse
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inconsistent progress tracking and level completion
- Crashes and freezes, especially on older devices
- Subscription issues and unexpected charges
Requested features
5 requests- More varied and challenging brain games
- Personalized training plans based on user needs
- Family sharing and multi-user support
- Better integration of test results and game performance
- Improved night mode and accessibility features
BrainGain
Reported bugs
4 issues- Games freezing or not progressing
- Touchscreen responsiveness issues
- Incorrect or missing answers in games
- Unauthorized charges for subscription
Requested features
4 requests- Allow users to view test results without subscription
- Provide more challenging puzzles and games
- Improve app performance and stability
- Offer a one-time purchase option instead of subscription
In-app purchases
Impulse
- ImpulsePRO [7 days]3 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Premium Access3 Days trial$6.997 Days
- Premium Access$6.997 Days
Show 10 moreShow fewer
- Premium Access$7.997 Days
- Premium Access3 Days trial$7.997 Days
- ImpulsePRO [1 week]3 Days trial$9.997 Days
- ImpulsePRO [1 month, 25% off]3 Days trial$14.991 Month
- Premium Access$15.991 Year
- Premium Access$24.991 Year
- Premium Access$28.991 Year
- PRO [1 year, special offer]$29.491 Year
- ImpulsePRO [52 weeks]$29.991 Year
- Premium Access$39.991 Year
- Premium Access$49.99
BrainGain
- Premium3 Days trial2 variants$6.997 Days
- Premium2 variants$6.997 Days
- Premium3 Days trial$7.997 Days
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Premium$7.997 Days
- Premium3 Days trial$9.997 Days
- Premium$19.991 Year
- Premium2 variants$29.991 Year
- Premium2 variants$34.991 Year
- Premium$39.991 Year
- Premium$44.991 Year
- Premium3 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Premium$59.991 Year
- Premium$69.99








