Comparison

BrainWave vs Isochronic

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 advanced binaural brainwave entrainment for neuro-athletic training. It features multi-stage programs with progressive frequency algorithms to enhance physical and mental performance. Customize brainwave intensity, background sounds, and timers for a personalized experience.

Highlights
  • Multi-stage binaural programs
  • Progressive brainwave entrainment algorithms
  • Adjustable brainwave intensity
  • Multiple ambient background sounds
  • Customizable timer options
  • Automatic saving of preferences
Features
Read full description

Advanced Binaural Brainwave Entrainment developed specifically for neuro athletic training. Features 8 Multi-Stage Binaural Programs developed from the ground up for athletes. This app is unlike any other brainwave entrainment application. Other brainwave and binaural beat applications use only a single brainwave frequency and carrier signal. The Progressive Brainwave Entrainment algorithms developed for this app use a series of brainwave stages, with multiple frequencies and carrier waves to gently bring your brainwave frequencies to your desired state using a more natural and effective frequency progression. *** Advanced Features *** - Multiple Brainwave programs each specially designed to boost physical and mental performance. - Multiple ambient background sounds to choose from. - Adjustable Brainwave Intensity - The intensity of the brainwaves can be adjusted independently of the ambient background sound. This allows you to set the brainwave volume to your comfort level. The application will also save your preference for future use. - Adjustable ambient background volume. - Visual timer countdown indicator. - Automatic saving of preferred brainwave entrainment program and ambient background sounds. - Ability to create your own custom time option. *** Included Programs *** - Quick Energy: Single-stage program targeting 30 Hz High-Beta/Low-Gamma for a quick energy boost. - Power and Focus: Multi-stage program targeting 6 Hz Theta, 20 Hz Beta, and 40 Hz Gamma to increase focus and intensity. - Fast Reflexes: Multi-stage program targeting high gamma frequencies to enhance reflexes and reaction time. - Eye/Hand Coordination: Multi-stage program focused on mid beta and high alpha frequencies to promote relaxed focused attention. - Endurance: Multi-stage Alpha, Beta, and Gamma program designed to increase your endurance and stamina. - Speed: Multi-stage program targeting very high gamma frequencies. - Rest and Recover: Multi-stage deep sleep program designed to enhance recovery after a workout. - Recovery Meditation: Multi-stage Alpha and Theta program designed to boost recovery and relaxation after a workout. ** How Binaural Brainwave Entrainment Works ** Through the process of brainwave entrainment human brainwave frequencies can be synchronized with a frequency associated with a target mental state. These Brainwave frequencies are too low for the human ear to hear, however, these low-frequencies can be perceived by the human brain if two different audible frequencies are played separately into each ear with headphones or earbuds. For example, the human ear can't directly perceive the 10 Hz Alpha frequency associated with relaxed alertness, but if you wear headphones with one side playing a 135 Hz tone and the other playing a 145 Hz tone, your brain will perceive the 10 Hz difference between those frequencies as a periodic beat. As you listen, your brainwaves will begin to match that frequency, inducing the associated mental state. Warning: Do not use this app while driving or operating machinery.

About

Isochronic

Generate custom isochronic tones for brainwave entrainment. Mix tones with your own music, set timers, and use presets for various states like sleep or meditation. Save your favorite tones for quick access.

Highlights
  • Custom isochronic tone generation
  • Carrier tone adjustment
  • Mix with own music
  • Adjustable wave volume
  • Timer up to 59 minutes
  • Preset sessions
  • Memory slots for favorite tones
Features
Read full description

The Isochronic Tone Generator does just what it says: You can create any Isochronic Tone (between 0.01 and 50Hz) with a carrier between 50 and 999Hz. You can also mix the tone with your own music, set the wave volume in the mix, set a timer (up to 59 mins), program target isochronic frequencies for your brain entrainment sessions, use presets to start easy entrainment sessions and memory slots to put your favorite tones. As simple as it gets... Enjoy! FEATURES: ======= * Variable carrier tone * Variable isochronic tone * Fine tune for carrier, isochronic and target frequencies * Mix the tone with your own music * Wave volume for better mixing * Timer (up to 59 minutes) * Entrainment sessions: Just set the target frequency using the black indicator below the isochronic tone. * Presets (sleep, relax, awake and meditate) * Memory slots: for having your favorite tones one tap away ------------------------ Isochronic tones are regular beats of a single tone used for brainwave entrainment. Similar to monaural beats, the interference pattern that produces the beat is outside the brain so headphones are not required for entrainment to be effective. They differ from monaural beats, which are constant sine wave pulses rather than entirely separate pulses of a single tone. As the contrast between noise and silence is more pronounced than the constant pulses of monaural beats, the stimulus is stronger and has a greater effect on brain entrainment (taken from: http://www.mindalive.com/articleeleven.htm) ------------------------- Isochronic beats are not intended to treat or cure any disease, nor should any of the subject matter presented on this app or website be taken as medical advice. Please consult your doctor if you have a medical condition. The products on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). People with epilepsy should not use mind entrainment products without the approval of an appropriate medical physician. However rare, there is a risk of seizure associated with individuals who are predisposed to seizures. Consult your doctor directly if you have any questions or concerns regarding Isochronic beat technology's effect on epilepsy. Do not drive a car or operate dangerous machinery while listening to this product. This technology can produce hyper-relaxed states that can interfere with your ability to react as needed while driving or operating machinery. There are no known contraindications to medication or chemical therapies, but if in doubt, consult your doctor. If you have any questions consult the doctor who provides your treatment.

Screenshots

BrainWave4 screens
Isochronic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: BrainWave at 368 against Isochronic's 66. BrainWave also leads on price ($3.99 vs $5.99). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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

BrainWave costs $3.99 and Isochronic $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 — 4.8 for BrainWave against 4.8 for Isochronic. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BrainWave has 368 ratings behind it against 66, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of BrainWave's written reviews are positive against 92% of Isochronic's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, Isochronic every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
BrainWave versus Isochronic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrainWaveIsochronic
Price$3.99 — better$5.99
Rating4.8 (368 ratings) — better4.8 (66 ratings)
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews92.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings368 — better66
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size158 MB3 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperBanzai LabsCML Studio

Customer experience

BrainWave

All ratings367 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral1.4%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral5.0%
Negative7.5%

Isochronic

All ratings67 ratings
Positive98.5%
Neutral1.5%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive92.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative4.0%

User reviews

BrainWave

From 368 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Works well for fitness
  • 🧘‍♀️ Promotes tranquility and relief
  • 🎧 Calming and listenable soundscapes
  • 🎯 Improves hand-eye coordination
  • 💡 Game changer for sports

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Stops playing in background
  • 📉 Makes app useless for workouts
  • ⚠️ Apps freeze on iOS26
  • ⏳ Not being developed further
  • 🖼️ Outdated graphics

Isochronic

From 66 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and easy to use
  • ✨ Customizable tones
  • 🚀 Works in the background
  • 💡 Effective for focus and sleep
  • ✅ Delivers isochronic tones

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Random pausing with notifications
  • 🔊 Clicking effect with speakers
  • 🤔 Lack of guidance on tone usage
  • 🖱️ Sliders not 100% accurate
  • 🗂️ Information spread out

Bugs and requests

BrainWave

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App stops playing in the background when not selected
  • Apps freeze repeatedly under iOS26
  • The speed program crashes
  • App crashes when trying to start a cycle with the speed setting

Requested features

16 requests
  • Fix background playback issue
  • Update app for iOS26
  • Add a 'rise and shine' program
  • Add ability to save specific playlists to specific programs
  • Consolidate apps into one
Show 11 more
  • Allow in-app purchases of sound collections
  • More background sounds
  • Greater ability to customize/blend sounds and save them
  • Update to include similar offerings to AmbiScience for customization
  • List frequencies or evidence of effectiveness
  • List frequencies used
  • Explain all possible effects of using a specific frequency
  • Offer Isochronic Tones
  • Allow use with own testing music (like Brain Waves 30)
  • Choice for specific sports and explanation of benefits
  • Make Dream Inducers free

Isochronic

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Tone pauses randomly when receiving a notification
  • Clicking effect in speakers
  • Info buttons do not provide information

Requested features

21 requests
  • Extend timer duration
  • Gradually ramp down volume at stop
  • Type desired frequencies instead of scrolling
  • Timer for frequency ramp duration
  • Multiple sections for frequency and duration
Show 16 more
  • Increase carrier frequency range to 20kHz
  • Wider range of frequencies for intuition
  • More slots to save presets
  • More information on frequency usage
  • Ability to use 3 different Isochronic tones at once
  • iPad version
  • Centralized location for frequency information
  • Longer session timers
  • Easier interface for music selection
  • Expand tone frequency below 4Hz (e.g., 0Hz)
  • Ability to ramp up and down to chosen frequencies
  • Store presets
  • Include white, brown, and pink noise background sounds
  • Expand carrier frequency below 100Hz
  • Add binaural delay between left and right channel
  • Add additional carrier frequencies

In-app purchases

None

BrainWave

No in-app purchases

None

Isochronic

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BrainWave free?
BrainWave costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Isochronic free?
Isochronic costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BrainWave or Isochronic?
BrainWave is rated higher. BrainWave averages 4.8 out of 5 from 368 ratings, while Isochronic averages 4.8 from 66 ratings.
Do BrainWave or Isochronic have ads?
Neither BrainWave nor Isochronic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BrainWave or Isochronic?
BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, and Isochronic every 6 weeks. Most recently, BrainWave was updated on October 23, 2026 and Isochronic on October 23, 2026.

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