# N vs Napkin Dōjō

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Napkin Dōjō at none against N's 7. Napkin Dōjō also leads on update cadence (daily vs monthly) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

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

N ships an update monthly, Napkin Dōjō daily. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | N | Napkin Dōjō |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (239 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/n-back-challenge/id1524599079/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **239** | — |
| Positive reviews | 82.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 72 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rivuspurus](https://appshunter.io/developer/1171945549) | [Bharat Khandelwal](https://appshunter.io/developer/6782733000) |

## What reviewers say

### N

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/n-back-challenge/id1524599079)

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (monthly) | $8.99 | per month |
| Premium (annual) | $54.99 | per year |
| 1 cup of coffee | $1.99 | one-time |
| 4 cups of coffee | $5.99 | one-time |
| Pizza | $7.99 | one-time |
| 7  cups of coffee | $8.99 | one-time |
| 10  cups of coffee | $10.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🧠 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Napkin Dōjō

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/napkin-dojo/id6782732998)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is N free?

N is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Napkin Dōjō free?

Napkin Dōjō is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do N or Napkin Dōjō have ads?

Neither N nor Napkin Dōjō shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, N or Napkin Dōjō?

N ships an update monthly, and Napkin Dōjō daily. Most recently, N was updated on October 24, 2026 and Napkin Dōjō on October 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*