# BrainWave vs Brainwaves

The clearest difference is price: Brainwaves at Free against BrainWave's $4.99. Brainwaves also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). BrainWave's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 18). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Brainwaves is free to download; BrainWave costs $4.99 up front. Brainwaves sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. BrainWave asks for nothing beyond the download.

BrainWave holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.2K and 3.3K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of BrainWave's written reviews are positive against 80% of Brainwaves's.

BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, Brainwaves weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainWave | Brainwaves |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainwave-sharp-mind/id308715234/reviews)** | [4.4 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainwaves-binaural-beats/id450655712/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.2K | **3.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **87.9% of reviews** | 80.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 158 MB | 271 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Banzai Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/305909501) | [iMobLife Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/398953205) |

## 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


### Brainwaves

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainwaves-binaural-beats/id450655712)

This app uses precision-engineered binaural beats and isochronic tones to synchronize neural oscillations for enhanced brain performance, clarity, and recovery. It offers a spectrum of frequencies for focus, sleep, health, and spiritual exploration.

**Highlights:** Binaural Beats & Isochronic Tones, Targeted Brainwave Frequencies (Delta to Gamma), Performance & Flow State Enhancement, Sleep & Recovery Modes, Health & Bio-Reset Frequencies, Spiritual Transcendence Frequencies, Ultra-HD 320kbps Audio

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

**In-app purchases (18)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Brainwaves special offer | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| Brainwaves | $12.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Special Offer | $14.99 | per month |
| Brainwaves special offer | $14.99 | per month |
| Brainwaves Special Offer | $34.99 | per year |
| Annual Membership | $34.99 | per year |
| Optimize Your Focus | $37.99 | per year |
| Brainwaves special offer | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Special Offer | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual Membership | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium | $47.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $48.99 | per year |
| Brainwaves Annual Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| Yearly Special Offer | $49.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $57.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium for Spiritual Healing | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Excellent selection of binaural beats and frequencies
- 🧘‍♀️ Helpful for relaxation, sleep, and meditation
- 🤯 Noticeable effects on mental state and focus
- 🙌 Positive impact on health issues like pain and anxiety
- 👍 User-friendly app with good organization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription and individual track prices
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and playback issues
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find desired tracks
- 🔁 Lack of playlist and looping functionality
- 🤖 Aggressive marketing and upselling tactics

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues and inability to cancel
- Tracks randomly stopping or skipping
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Syncing problems between app and website

**Requested features**

- Ability to create and save custom playlists
- Option to loop tracks or set sleep timers
- Better search and filtering capabilities
- More detailed information about each track
- Integration with other health/wellness apps


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BrainWave free?

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

### Is Brainwaves free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BrainWave or Brainwaves?

BrainWave is rated higher. BrainWave averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Brainwaves averages 4.4 from 3.3K ratings.

### Do BrainWave or Brainwaves have ads?

Neither BrainWave nor Brainwaves shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BrainWave or Brainwaves?

BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, and Brainwaves weekly. Most recently, BrainWave was updated on September 23, 2026 and Brainwaves on September 22, 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.*