# BrainWave vs Workflowy

The clearest difference is price: Workflowy at Free against BrainWave's $4.99. Workflowy also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (8.2K vs 1.2K). BrainWave's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On rating, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Workflowy is free to download; BrainWave costs $4.99 up front. Workflowy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. BrainWave asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for BrainWave against 4.8 for Workflowy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Workflowy has 8.2K ratings behind it against 1.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 88% and 88% positive.

BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, Workflowy weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainWave | Workflowy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainwave-sharp-mind/id308715234/reviews)** | [4.8 (8.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/workflowy-note-list-outline/id551139514/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.2K | **8.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 87.9% of reviews | **88.1% 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 | 147 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Banzai Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/305909501) | [FunRoutine INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/551139517) |

## 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


### Workflowy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/workflowy-note-list-outline/id551139514)

Capture ideas, manage tasks, and organize your thoughts with an infinitely nestable system. This app offers AI assistance for summarization and brainstorming, along with collaborative features and robust search capabilities. It syncs across devices and works offline, making it a powerful tool for personal and team productivity.

**Highlights:** Infinitely nested lists, AI summarization and brainstorming, Kanban boards for task management, Real-time collaboration and sharing, Global search and filtering, Offline access and cross-device sync, Tagging and mentions

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Workflowy Pro - Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Workflowy Pro - Yearly | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best way to organize thoughts
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 👍 Simple and intuitive
- 👍 Excellent for productivity and organization
- 👍 Versatile for various use cases

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional data loss issues
- 🐛 Offline mode not always reliable
- 🔋 Can be slow on mobile devices
- 👎 Limited customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Cursor sometimes gets stuck
- Syncing issues between web and mobile versions
- Inability to delete items consistently

**Requested features**

- Add ability to attach files and documents
- Improve mobile app experience
- Implement better notification and reminder system
- Add more formatting options (e.g., font styles, colors)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BrainWave free?

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

### Is Workflowy free?

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

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

BrainWave is rated higher. BrainWave averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Workflowy averages 4.8 from 8.2K ratings.

### Do BrainWave or Workflowy have ads?

Neither BrainWave nor Workflowy shows ads.

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

BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, and Workflowy weekly. Most recently, BrainWave was updated on October 10, 2026 and Workflowy 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.*