# BrainWave vs OmniFocus 4

The clearest difference is price: OmniFocus 4 at Free against BrainWave's $4.99. OmniFocus 4 also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and device support (5 vs 3). BrainWave's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (88% vs 53%). On ads there is nothing between them.

OmniFocus 4 is free to download; BrainWave costs $4.99 up front. OmniFocus 4 sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. BrainWave asks for nothing beyond the download.

BrainWave holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.2K and 343 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of BrainWave's written reviews are positive against 53% of OmniFocus 4's.

BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, OmniFocus 4 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainWave | OmniFocus 4 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainwave-sharp-mind/id308715234/reviews)** | [4.0 (343 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/omnifocus-4/id1542143627/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 343 |
| Positive reviews | **87.9% of reviews** | 52.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 158 MB | 138 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Banzai Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/305909501) | [The Omni Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/281731738) |

## What reviewers say

### BrainWave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainwave-sharp-mind/id308715234)

Enhance focus, memory, and problem-solving skills with advanced brainwave programs. This app combines binaural tones with ambient sounds and music to guide your mind into optimized mental states for learning and creativity. Customize your experience with adjustable settings and enjoy a unique approach to brainwave entrainment.

**Highlights:** 18 Advanced Brainwave Programs, Binaural Tones with Music/Audiobooks, Ambient Backgrounds & Alarm Sounds, Adjustable Brainwave Intensity, Customizable Timer, Progressive Brainwave Entrainment

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helps with focus and concentration
- 👍 Effective for ADHD and TBI
- 🧠 Improves cognitive abilities
- 💤 Aids in sleep and relaxation
- 🎨 Enhances creativity and problem-solving

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or audio issues
- 🔇 Stops playing when notifications occur
- 🔍 Cluttered interface could be simplified

**Reported bugs**

- Alarm clock not working properly
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add more background sound options
- Allow customization of sound mixes
- Enable background playback while device is locked


### OmniFocus 4

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/omnifocus-4/id1542143627)

This task management application helps busy professionals organize and prioritize their work. It offers a unified interface across multiple Apple devices, allowing users to create, organize, and focus on tasks efficiently. A free trial is available.

**Highlights:** Unified interface across Apple devices, Task creation and organization, Perspectives Bar for navigation, Focus mode for specific projects, Secure, end-to-end encrypted sync, Universal cross-platform purchase

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Legacy Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Legacy Subscription | $99.99 | per year |
| Upgrade to v4 from v1-v3 | $37.49 | one-time |
| Upgrade v4 to Pro from v1-v3 | $37.49 | one-time |
| Unlock Standard (Mac Promo) | $56.00 | one-time |
| Unlock Standard | $74.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade from Standard to Pro | $74.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to v4 Pro from v1-v3 | $74.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Pro (Mac Promo) | $111.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Pro | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Streamlined and better than ever
- 🔒 End-to-end encrypted
- 👍 Universal interface across devices
- 🚀 Powerful task management features
- 👍 Customizable perspectives

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy, crashes, and laggy
- 👎 Clunky and confusing user interface
- 👎 Degraded user interface compared to previous version
- 🐛 Sync issues and slow synchronization
- 👎 Lacks important features like time-sensitive notifications

**Reported bugs**

- View options button not working consistently
- Custom perspectives not persisting in sidebar
- App crashing on launch
- Drag and drop functionality issues
- Incorrect task completion when adding new tasks

**Requested features**

- Markdown support in notes
- Gantt view for projects
- Ability to reorder perspectives in the sidebar
- Print to PDF with due dates and completed dates
- Natural language processing for task creation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BrainWave free?

BrainWave costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is OmniFocus 4 free?

OmniFocus 4 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, BrainWave or OmniFocus 4?

BrainWave is rated higher. BrainWave averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while OmniFocus 4 averages 4.0 from 343 ratings.

### Do BrainWave or OmniFocus 4 have ads?

Neither BrainWave nor OmniFocus 4 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BrainWave or OmniFocus 4?

BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, and OmniFocus 4 every 3 weeks. Most recently, BrainWave was updated on October 14, 2026 and OmniFocus 4 on October 13, 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.*