Brain Waves vs Maxim magic
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Brain Waves
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You hand an ordinary deck of playing cards to a spectator for examination. They may shuffle the cards if they wish. You then slowly go through the face-down cards and ask the spectator to say “Stop” five times, selecting five random cards. (This is a completely free selection.) You hand the iPhone to the spectator and ask them to open the Brain Waves app. You reveal four of the cards one by one, and the spectator enters them into the app by selecting the suit and rank using the picker. Once the cards have been entered, you tell the spectator that you need to concentrate so the iPhone can pick up your brain waves. Next, you ask the spectator to shake the iPhone. After a shake, the back of a single playing card appears in the app. You ask the spectator to tap the card, and it flips over. You then reveal that this card is the same as the fifth card the spectator selected! The app includes a detailed explanation of how the effect works and how it can be performed. Optimized for system-wide light and dark mode (see screenshots).
Maxim magic
Instantly calculate and discreetly reveal any freely named card from a spectator-shuffled deck. Offers multiple reveal methods, including counting to specific dates or spelling card names, with zero memory work or math required. Perfect for magicians of all skill levels.
- Instant card reveal calculation
- Spectator-shuffled deck support
- Multiple customizable reveal methods
- Zero memory work or math
- Works with any card stack
- Covert phone usage
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"A lot of apps come and go with trends. Maxim lives on my homescreen. It's genius." - Christian Grace MAXIM is a covert app that instantly calculates and discreetly delivers to you the perfect hands-off reveal for any freely named card in a deck that's been mixed by the spectators. Effect: You hand the spectator a deck. (in any stack of your choice). They "shuffle" the deck under the table or behind their back whilst freely naming any card. Let's say the name the "King of Diamonds". They bring the deck out and immediately you know up to three different ways that they can reveal their own card. For example; They deal down to the exact date of the month and their card is exactly there! All without any brain work, math, no nothing. Allowing you to be fully engaged in your performance. Any random card at any arbitrary number is more impressive to magicians than laymen. But when the number has meaning, whether it's counting to their birthday, spelling the card's name or even counting to the exact date of the year, the boring old ACAAN takes on new life, feels more personal and more importantly more magical. The beauty of maxim, unlike most other apps, is that your phone is used in a covert way, and to the spectator has nothing to do with the trick. Easy to do. Perfect for beginners. You do not need to know any stack. There is zero memory work. No mental math at all. Works in any language and can be fully customized. Works with any stack in the world. Including a visual stack editor. Every reveal can be fully customized. Multiple input options. Multiple peek options including notifications. Customizable spectator profiles to take MAXIM to miracle status. MAXIM is an app that lives on your phone. With you everywhere you go. Ready to perform at a moment's notice anywhere, anytime. Never before has it been so easy, to perform such unexplainable miracles. With MAXIM, now you can.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Maxim magic at Free against Brain Waves's $17.99. Maxim magic also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 27 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). Brain Waves's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On 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
Maxim magic is free to download; Brain Waves costs $17.99 up front. Maxim magic sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Brain Waves asks for nothing beyond the download.
Brain Waves ships an update every 27 months, Maxim magic every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Brain Waves | Maxim magic |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | — | 3.7 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 15 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 21 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Thomas Breitling | Murphy's Magic |
In-app purchases
Brain Waves
No in-app purchases
Maxim magic
- Maxim App$24.99
Questions
Is Brain Waves free?
Is Maxim magic free?
Do Brain Waves or Maxim magic have ads?
Which is updated more often, Brain Waves or Maxim magic?
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