# Spike Recorder vs Psych Lab 101

The clearest difference is rating: Spike Recorder at 3.4 against Psych Lab 101's 2.5. Spike Recorder also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 13 months) and ratings volume (17 vs 2). Psych Lab 101's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Spike Recorder holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spike Recorder has 17 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Spike Recorder's written reviews are positive against 50% of Psych Lab 101's.

Spike Recorder ships an update every 4 months, Psych Lab 101 every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spike Recorder | Psych Lab 101 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.4 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spike-recorder/id367151200/reviews)** | [2.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/psych-lab-101/id1014084546/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **17** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **61.5% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 13 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 35 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Backyard Brains](https://appshunter.io/developer/367151203) | [Neurobehavioral Systems, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/705361617) |

## What reviewers say

### Spike Recorder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spike-recorder/id367151200)

Explore neuroscience with this app, allowing you to view, hear, record, and analyze neural signals from neurons and muscles. It provides tools for students of all ages to conduct hands-on electrophysiology experiments and understand brain communication.

**Highlights:** View neural signals, Hear neural signals, Record neural data, Analyze neural spike trains, Measure reaction times, Calculate neuroscience statistics

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Psych Lab 101

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/psych-lab-101/id1014084546)

Explore 35 psychology experiments and 11 visual illusions. Compare your results to classic findings and adjust parameters to see how perception changes. Includes background information and options for class data analysis.

**Highlights:** 35 psychology experiments, 11 adjustable visual illusions, Background information and references, Multiple experiment versions, Class data analysis upload, Interactive parameter adjustment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spike Recorder free?

Spike Recorder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Psych Lab 101 free?

Psych Lab 101 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Spike Recorder or Psych Lab 101?

Spike Recorder is rated higher. Spike Recorder averages 3.4 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Psych Lab 101 averages 2.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Spike Recorder or Psych Lab 101 have ads?

Neither Spike Recorder nor Psych Lab 101 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Spike Recorder or Psych Lab 101?

Spike Recorder ships an update every 4 months, and Psych Lab 101 every 13 months. Most recently, Spike Recorder was updated on October 24, 2026 and Psych Lab 101 on October 7, 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.*