Comparison

N vs Spreeder

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

Head to head
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

About

Spreeder

Enhance your reading abilities and absorb information rapidly. This app offers guided courses, daily exercises, and a content library to help you master speed reading techniques. Track your progress, set personalized goals, and boost comprehension for improved productivity.

Highlights
  • Guided reading courses
  • Speed reading exercises
  • Content library access
  • Personalized reading goals
  • Comprehension boosters
  • Adaptive learning algorithm
  • Performance analytics
Features
Read full description

Elevate your reading skills with Spreeder! Unleash the power of speed reading and absorb knowledge faster than ever. Whether it's books, articles, or documents, Spreeder is your path to mastering the art of reading at lightning speed. Key Features: 1. Guided Reading Courses: Structured courses for users at various levels, from beginners to advanced readers. Each course focuses on techniques, comprehension, and gradually increasing reading speed. 2 . Speed Reading Exercises: Daily exercises designed to boost reading speed and comprehension. Interactive drills to practice peripheral vision and reduce subvocalization. 3. Content Library: Access a vast library of articles and books across genres. Gradually introduce more complex material as users progress. 4. Personalized Reading Goals: Set reading goals based on time, pages, or words per minute. Dynamic progress tracking and achievement badges for motivation. 5. Comprehension Boosters: Integrated tools to enhance reading comprehension and retention. Highlighting, note-taking, and summarization features. 6. Adaptive Learning Algorithm: AI-powered algorithm that adapts content difficulty and pacing to each user's reading speed and comprehension level. 7. Performance Analytics: Visualize reading speed improvements over time with graphical analytics. Compare progress with other users in similar skill levels. 8. Read Anywhere, Anytime: Synchronize progress across devices for seamless reading on the go. Offline reading support for uninterrupted practice. 9. Reading Challenges and Leaderboards: Engage users with reading challenges, encouraging healthy competition. Top readers showcased on leaderboards for added motivation. 10. Customizable Themes: Offer various reading themes and fonts for a personalized reading experience. Dark mode for comfortable reading in low-light conditions. Here are links of our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy: https://www.ereflect.com/terms-and-conditions.html https://www.ereflect.com/privacy.html

Screenshots

N4 screens
Spreeder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Spreeder at 3 against N's 1. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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 and Spreeder sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for N against 4.7 for Spreeder. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 240 and 417 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of N's written reviews are positive against 80% of Spreeder's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
N versus Spreeder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNSpreeder
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (240 ratings) — better4.7 (417 ratings)
Positive reviews82.8% of reviews — better80.1% of reviews
Number of ratings240417 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB70 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperRivuspuruseReflect

Customer experience

N

All ratings239 ratings
Positive93.7%
Neutral0.4%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews93 reviews
Positive82.8%
Neutral3.2%
Negative14.0%

Spreeder

All ratings412 ratings
Positive93.2%
Neutral2.9%
Negative3.9%
Written reviews136 reviews
Positive80.1%
Neutral3.7%
Negative16.2%

User reviews

N

From 240 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

Spreeder

From 417 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Improved reading speed and comprehension
  • 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
  • 💡 Helpful for focus and attention span
  • 🚀 Efficient way to digest large amounts of content
  • 👍 Customizable reading speed and settings

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches with premium features
  • 🔒 Difficulty cancelling subscription
  • 🔒 Unreliable in-app purchases and upgrades
  • 🔒 Lack of customer support responsiveness

Bugs and 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

Spreeder

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent crashes and app freezes
  • Inability to import certain file formats
  • Inconsistent performance across devices
  • Login and account issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Support for more languages
  • Integration with e-book readers and online articles
  • More customization options for reading experience
  • Improved analytics and progress tracking

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
1 purchases

Spreeder

Subscriptions1
  • Spreeder VIP$6.991 Month

Questions

Is N free?
N is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Spreeder free?
Spreeder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, N or Spreeder?
N is rated higher. N averages 4.7 out of 5 from 240 ratings, while Spreeder averages 4.7 from 417 ratings.
Do N or Spreeder have ads?
Neither N nor Spreeder shows ads.
Which is updated more often, N or Spreeder?
N ships an update monthly, and Spreeder monthly. Most recently, N was updated on October 29, 2026 and Spreeder on October 27, 2026.

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