Comparison

BrainWave vs BilateralBase

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

Head to head
About

BrainWave

This app uses binaural brainwave entrainment with ambient sounds and music to help users achieve various mental states like focus, relaxation, and sleep. It offers multi-stage programs and customizable playlists, recommended by a neuroscientist.

Highlights
  • Binaural brainwave entrainment
  • Ambient music and nature sounds
  • Multi-stage programs for sleep, focus, and mood
  • Customizable playlists
  • Pure tone frequency selection
  • Background sound options
Features
Read full description

Advanced Binaural Brainwave Entrainment combined with Ambient Music, Nature Sounds, Other Audio Apps or your own iTunes Music. * Includes Multi-Stage Binaural Programs for Sleep, Focus, Memory, Energy, Positive Mood, Power Nap, Deep Sleep, Motivation, Confidence, Anxiety & Stress Relief, Relaxation, Meditation & much more! * Recommended by Stanford Neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman on the Huberman Lab podcast. * Includes Pure Tones to select from 20 specific binaural frequencies. * Can run alongside other apps like Spotify or Audio Book Readers * Use the included Playlist Creator to create an iTunes Playlist for each program * Headphones/Earbuds must be worn for Binaural Tones to be effective * Universal iOS app with UIs included for iPhone and iPad, so you can use it on all your devices! * Supports Family Share * No in-app purchases or subscriptions! Different states of mind are associated with specific brainwave frequencies that would be inaudible if played directly. These frequencies can be induced in the brain by playing two different tones into each ear (binaural tones). When processed by the brain, the frequency difference between the tones is perceived as an inaudible beat matching the target brainwave frequency. As you listen, the brain's frequency following response causes your own brainwaves to synchronize with this frequency. BrainWave uses low, mid, and high frequency ranges of Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Binaural Tones combined in layers and stages to create powerful multi-stage experiences. * Binaural Programs * - Morning Coffee - Espresso Shot - Morning Meditation - Focused and Alert - Gamma-40 Focus - Creative Focus - Critical Thinking - Concentration - Memory Boost - Problem Solving - Brainstorm - Confidence Boost - Pre-Exercise Energy - Creativity Boost - Positive Mood Boost - Motivation Boost - Euphoria - Stress Reduction - Anger Relief - Calm Reflection - Reduce Anxiety - Deep Relaxation - Meditation - Lucid Dreaming - Power Nap - Gamma Power Nap - Meditate, Power Nap - Meditate, Gamma Power Nap - Dreamy Sleep - Deep Sleep - Deep Slow-Wave Sleep - Deep Sleep with Wake-up Stage - Dreamy Sleep with Wake-up Stage - Headache Relief - Hangover Relief - Yoga Meditation - Alpha Relaxation - Theta Meditation - Night Meditation - Night Reading * Pure Tones * To access Pure Tones, tap the Program List Selector button on the left side of the Program Dial, then tap "Pure Tones". This will load the Pure Tones programs into the Program Dial. To return to the standard programs, open the Program List Selector again and select "BrainWave". Select from the following binaural frequencies: 1 Hz - Deep Delta 2 Hz - Low Delta 3 Hz - High Delta 4 Hz - Low Theta 5 Hz - Mid Theta 6 Hz - High Theta 7 Hz - Low Alpha 8 Hz - Low-Mid Alpha 10 Hz - Mid Alpha 12 Hz - High Alpha 14 Hz - Low Beta 18 Hz - Low-Mid Beta 20 Hz - Mid Beta 25 Hz - High-Mid Beta 30 Hz - High Beta 35 Hz - Low Gamma 40 Hz - Gamma 60 Hz - Mid Gamma 80 Hz - High-Mid Gamma 100 Hz - High Gamma * Backgrounds * - Beach Surf - Ocean Waves - Ocean Waves 2 - Rain & Thunder - Atmospheres: Serenity - Atmospheres: Awakening - Atmospheres: Space - Atmospheres: Drifting - Atmospheres: Peace - Atmospheres: Floating - Atmospheres: Soaring - Medium Rain - Light Rain - Waterfall - Flowing Creek - Pink Noise - Gray Noise - Green Noise - Velvet Noise - Forest - Flow - Solar Waves * BrainWave's binaural tones are helpful for Tinnitus as it provides an audio mask for tonal Tinnitus while also reducing the neural hyperactivity that underlies Tinnitus. * Do not use Binaural tones while driving or operating machinery.

About

BilateralBase

This app provides an optimized EMDR therapy experience for iPad and iPhone users. It allows seamless joining of online therapy sessions via a therapist-provided link, ensuring all tools are available and the session is optimized for your device.

Highlights
  • Optimized EMDR therapy experience
  • Seamless online session joining
  • Therapist-provided link integration
  • Tool availability for therapy sessions
  • Device optimization for iPad/iPhone
Features
Read full description

An optimised EMDR therapy experience for iPad and iPhone users. If you are doing online sessions with your therapist using an iPad or iPhone, you should install this app to ensure all therapy tools are available and the session is optimised for your device. Once the app is installed, simply tap on the session invite link provided by your therapist to join the session using the app. We recommend that you connect a pair of wired headphones to your device for your session (or you can use the built-in speaker if you are not using auditory stimulus as part of your therapy - please ask your therapist if unsure about this). Wireless headphones are not currently compatible with this app. This app is not intended for use by therapists. If you are a therapist then please access Bilateral Base using the website.

Screenshots

BrainWave4 screens
BilateralBase2 screens

Verdict

The call

BrainWave and BilateralBase both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 90% of BrainWave's written reviews are positive against 0% of BilateralBase's. BrainWave also leads on ratings volume (11K vs 1) and chart position (#11 vs unranked). BilateralBase's advantage is price (Free vs $5.99) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

BilateralBase is free to download; BrainWave costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for BrainWave against 5.0 for BilateralBase. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BrainWave has 11K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of BrainWave's written reviews are positive against 0% of BilateralBase's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, BilateralBase fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
BrainWave versus BilateralBase: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrainWaveBilateralBase
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (11K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.3% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#11 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size161 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBanzai LabsBilateralBase

Customer experience

BrainWave

All ratings11,193 ratings
Positive98.0%
Neutral1.2%
Negative0.8%
Written reviews526 reviews
Positive90.3%
Neutral3.6%
Negative6.1%

BilateralBase

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

BrainWave

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App launching automatically when connected to Bluetooth
  • Inconsistent behavior when pausing or interrupting a session

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to create custom binaural beat programs
  • Integration with smart home devices and voice assistants
  • Expanded selection of background sounds and music
  • Improved sleep tracking and sleep cycle monitoring

BilateralBase

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

BrainWave

No in-app purchases

None

BilateralBase

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BrainWave free?
BrainWave costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is BilateralBase free?
BilateralBase is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BrainWave or BilateralBase?
BilateralBase is rated higher. BrainWave averages 4.9 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while BilateralBase averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do BrainWave or BilateralBase have ads?
Neither BrainWave nor BilateralBase shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BrainWave or BilateralBase?
BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, and BilateralBase fortnightly. Most recently, BrainWave was updated on November 8, 2026 and BilateralBase on November 3, 2026.

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