# NBack for iPad vs 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy

The clearest difference is price: 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy at Free against NBack for iPad's $2.99. 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 50%) and ratings volume (47 vs 1). NBack for iPad's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 9). On update cadence there is nothing between them.

活字帖 | Live Calligraphy is free to download; NBack for iPad costs $2.99 up front. 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. NBack for iPad asks for nothing beyond the download.

NBack for iPad holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy has 47 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of NBack for iPad's written reviews are positive against 84% of 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

NBack for iPad ships an update every 12 months, 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NBack for iPad | 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nback-for-ipad/id504739398/reviews)** | [4.5 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/live-calligraphy/id554212306/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **47** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **84.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 3 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yasuyoshi Ota](https://appshunter.io/developer/1500357652) | [哲 盛](https://appshunter.io/developer/554212449) |

## What reviewers say

### NBack for iPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nback-for-ipad/id504739398)

This application offers a cognitive training tool designed to enhance working memory and mental acuity. It utilizes the N-Back task, a scientifically recognized method for improving cognitive abilities. Users can train their memory through various levels of difficulty.

**Highlights:** Working memory training, N-Back task implementation, Multiple difficulty levels (1'Back to 10'Back), Cognitive ability enhancement, iPad optimized

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/live-calligraphy/id554212306)

Practice Chinese brush calligraphy on your iPad or iPhone. This app uses original strokes from master calligraphers to help you feel like a true master. It focuses on character structure and offers various classic scrolls for learning.

**Highlights:** Practice Chinese brush calligraphy, Uses original master strokes, Focuses on character structure, Offers 8 classic handscrolls, Learn from ancient calligraphers

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Namo Amitābha | $0.99 | one-time |
| Confucius Passed Away | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ode to Qin | $0.99 | one-time |
| Heart Sutra | $0.99 | one-time |
| Thousand Character Classic | $0.99 | one-time |
| Timely Clearing After Snowfall | $1.99 | one-time |
| Poem of Fragrance | $1.99 | one-time |
| Basic Strokes | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lan Ting | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NBack for iPad free?

NBack for iPad costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy free?

活字帖 | Live Calligraphy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NBack for iPad or 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy?

NBack for iPad is rated higher. NBack for iPad averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy averages 4.5 from 47 ratings.

### Do NBack for iPad or 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy have ads?

活字帖 | Live Calligraphy shows ads; NBack for iPad does not.

### Which is updated more often, NBack for iPad or 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy?

NBack for iPad ships an update every 12 months, and 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy every 6 months. Most recently, NBack for iPad was updated on October 20, 2026 and 活字帖 | Live Calligraphy on October 29, 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.*