Comparison

N vs Tickr

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

Tickr

Features
Read full description

Tickr — Simple, Private Time Tracking One tap starts your timer. That's it. Tickr is a calm, no-fuss time tracker built for anyone who wants to understand where their day went — students, developers, parents, hobbyists — without signing up for anything or sending data anywhere. HOW IT WORKS Tap an activity tile and your timer starts instantly. A Live Activity appears on your Lock Screen so you can glance at your running time without unlocking your phone. Tap again to stop. Your session is saved locally, right on your device. KEY FEATURES One-Tap Activity Tiles A grid of your saved activities sits ready on the main screen. Tap once to start, tap once to stop. No menus, no friction. Running Timer Hero When a timer is active, a bold, oversized clock takes centre stage so you always know exactly how long you've been at it. Live Activity on Lock Screen Tickr keeps your running timer visible on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island without you having to open the app. Weekly Insights Chart At the end of the day, see a clean Apple Fitness-style bar chart of your tracked time by activity. No streaks, no leaderboards — just honest data about your week. Chronological Day View Scroll through your sessions grouped by day. Swipe to edit or delete any entry. COMPLETELY PRIVATE Tickr requires no account and no sign-in. Everything is stored locally on your device. Nothing is shared with advertisers or data brokers. Delete the app and your data is gone. Why Tickr? Most time trackers want you to log in, pay monthly, and compete with yourself on a leaderboard. Tickr just wants to help you answer one question: where did my time go? The reward is the chart at the end of the day. Download Tickr and start your first timer in seconds.

Screenshots

N4 screens
Tickr3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tickr at none against N's 7. N's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support 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. Tickr asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
N versus Tickr: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNTickr
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (237 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews82.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings237 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB2 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperRivuspurusCarrie mckeegan

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

Tickr

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
None

Tickr

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is N free?
N is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tickr free?
Tickr is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do N or Tickr have ads?
Neither N nor Tickr shows ads.

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