CogniFit vs N
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CogniFit
Engage in fun mental games designed to test, train, and improve your cognitive functions. Monitor your progress with personalized scores and track improvements in areas like memory, focus, and reaction time. This app offers a scientific approach to brain health for users of all ages.
- Personalized brain training sessions
- Cognitive score monitoring
- Improve memory, focus, and reaction time
- Track cognitive age
- Guided mindfulness techniques
- Interactive brain games
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Your mind changes every day. Some days feel clear. Others feel harder to navigate. CogniFit brings a new daily approach to brain health, helping you understand how your mind performs, adapts, and evolves over time. Built on more than 20 years of published research, CogniFit combines cognitive assessment, adaptive training, and daily guidance into a single system designed to support mental clarity, focus, and long-term cognitive wellbeing. ‣ Your Brain Age At the center of the experience is your Brain Age: a simple way to understand how your mind is performing today, and how it changes over time. Monitor your daily and weekly cognitive scores, set goals, and build a personalized training plan around your own rhythm. ‣ Five Abilities, One Evolving Picture Memory, focus, coordination, reasoning, and perception are measured over time to reveal patterns in how your mind performs day to day, alongside up to 22 other cognitive abilities, including processing speed and reaction time. ‣ Built Around You Training sessions adjust gradually, adapting difficulty, pace, and cognitive focus based on how you perform. The more you use CogniFit, the more the experience adapts to you. ‣ Guidance Throughout the Day Gentle reminders, reflections, and quick check-ins help support consistency throughout the day, especially during moments when focus or energy feels lower. ‣ Grounded in Cognitive Science Developed by neuroscience experts, CogniFit's patented Individualized Training System (ITS) is used by the scientific community, universities, hospitals, families, and medical centers around the world. ‣ The Benefits • Track your cognitive score (0-100) daily and weekly • Personalized training sessions based on the areas you want to focus on • A custom weekly plan, built around your routine • Scores across cognitive domains, including reasoning, coordination, memory, perception, and attention • Compare your Brain Age to your actual age • Guided mindfulness techniques to support your mental wellbeing • More than 100 interactive games, including Penguin Explorer, Mahjong, and Reaction Field • Video Coaches to guide you through every step • Brain games and brain teasers for adults and children alike ‣ Designed for Everyday Life A complete redesign brings a calmer, more intuitive experience that fits naturally into your routine. Short sessions, clearer feedback, and a more focused interface make daily cognitive care simple, approachable, and sustainable. Small moments, repeated daily, that's how real change happens. Are you ready to understand your brain a little better, every day? Pricing and Conditions CogniFit offers monthly ($9.99/mo) and annual ($59.99/yr) subscription packages. All amounts are in USD. All subscriptions are processed through the user’s app store account. Currency conversions for user’s outside of the US may apply. All subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled. For complete details, please review: https://www.cognifit.com/terms-and-conditions
N
This app offers a scientifically validated cognitive training program designed to enhance intelligence. It uses the dual n-back method to improve learning, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Track progress, compete with friends, and customize your experience to boost cognitive abilities.
- Dual n-back cognitive training
- IQ enhancement
- Progress tracking and streaks
- Social competition and leaderboards
- Customizable voices and settings
- Weekly habit option
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The N-Back Challenge provides a special type of cognitive training, “dual n-back,” that helps you raise your IQ in just a few minutes per day. Sounds implausible? The N-Back Challenge is based on a decade’s worth of scientific studies, published in top peer-reviewed journals, including Nature. (For more details, see https://nbackchallenge.com/science.) The catch? It’s no fun at all! Indeed, the training is designed to be maximally exhausting. If you are determined enough to make it through 20 sessions, however, science suggests that you stand to reap powerful benefits. Intelligence is the ultimate cognitive ability: You need it to learn, reason, solve novel problems, and see connections. Higher IQs have been linked to improved academic achievement, professional success, and even better health. Since it will take you just 7 hours, in total, to complete the N-Back Challenge, not much more than the length of a single school day, it may prove to be the best investment of time you’ve ever made! ------------------------------ SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND: Not only has the dual n-back paradigm been validated in top peer-reviewed journals, but our two founders – both PhDs, one with a focus on neuroscience, the other with a focus on higher education – have taken particular care to thoroughly align the app with the prevailing scientific research. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS: In order to help you stay motivated, the N-Back Challenge allows you to visually monitor your progress over time, build up “streaks,” and compare yourself against other learners across various stats. COMPETE AGAINST YOUR FRIENDS: Perhaps the most powerful way of making sure you remain motivated to complete the Challenge is to tackle it together with friends or colleagues. To make it more fun, we’ve provided leaderboards that allow you to compete based on who has completed the most sessions, racked up the longest streak, and more. CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE: The N-Back Challenge allows you to choose between different voices across multiple languages, turn on notifications, and customize their timing and style. There are advanced settings for turning on instant button feedback, controlling the n-back level, and tweaking the game speed. And if you are too busy to complete one session every day, you may switch to the Weekly Habit, which gives you a full week to complete each session. ------------------------------ ARE YOU… … A PARENT? Give your children an edge at school or university by nudging them to complete the N-Back Challenge. Indeed, why not tackle the Challenge together as a family? … A GRANDCHILD? Help your grandparents (and other older relatives) fight cognitive decline by introducing them to dual n-back. (See https://nbackchallenge.com/decline.) … A KNOWLEDGE WORKER? Share the N-Back Challenge with your HR department. Dual n-back may well be the single most cost-effective way of making knowledge workers more productive. (See https://nbackchallenge.com/work.) … A TEACHER? Use dual n-back to enhance students' problem-solving skills. You can have a big impact, with a minimal investment of time! (See https://nbackchallenge.com/class.) ------------------------------ HOW IT WORKS: The N-Back Challenge is free as long as you stick to the program. When you miss or delay a session, we ask you to support us with a “coffee,” which you can buy in-app or earn — for example, by using the Share link in the Settings to invite friends. (Each of you will receive a free coffee.) You can also unlock unlimited free breaks by becoming a premium subscriber. CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Do you have any questions or suggestions? Like to say hello? We’re happy to hear from you! Just drop us a note at support@nbackchallenge.com. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: To learn more about dual n-back and the N-Back Challenge, browse our repository of articles at https://nbackchallenge.com/articles. Privacy Policy: https://nbackchallenge.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://nbackchallenge.com/terms-of-use
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: CogniFit at weekly against N's monthly. CogniFit also leads on ratings volume (1.7K vs 239). N's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (83% vs 71%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. CogniFit sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and N sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
N holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CogniFit has 1.7K ratings behind it against 239, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of CogniFit's written reviews are positive against 83% of N's.
CogniFit ships an update weekly, N monthly. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.
| Parameter | CogniFit | N |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (1.7K ratings) | 4.7 (239 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 71.0% of reviews | 82.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.7K — better | 239 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 238 MB | 72 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | CogniFit | Rivuspurus |
Customer experience
CogniFit
N
User reviews
CogniFit
From 1.7K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Varied and interesting
- 👍 Great design, learn about strengths and weaknesses
- 👍 Challenging and engaging
- 👍 Amazing app
- 👍 Comprehensive assessments and personalized training
Room to improve
- 💰 Free but not free, locked features require payment
- 🐛 Freezes and crashes, app not working properly
- 🐛 Inconsistent audio, issues with Bluetooth devices
- 🐛 Confusing instructions, difficult to understand some games
- 🐛 Glitchy controls, unresponsive buttons
N
From 239 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🧠 Effective working memory improvement
- 🎮 Excellent gamification and motivation system
- 💰 Free to use with affordable payment options
- 🎨 Clean, polished, intuitive user interface
- 📚 Scientifically-backed with educational articles
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent mid-session freezes and crashes
- 🔊 Unclear letter pronunciation (some letters sound similar)
- 💳 Controversial 'coffee' paywall for missed days
- 🔌 Requires internet connection (not offline compatible)
- ⚠️ Inconsistent instant feedback on answers
Bugs and requests
CogniFit
Reported bugs
5 issues- Constant need to restart iPad to get app to work
- Games freezing and progress not saved
- Buttons and controls not working as expected
- Inconsistent loading and crashing issues
- Personalized training not functioning properly
Requested features
6 requests- More language options
- Ability to skip games during personalized training
- Option to practice specific weak areas
- Clearer instructions and tutorials for all games
- Accommodate for color blindness and visual impairments
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- More engaging and less repetitive games
N
Reported bugs
10 issues- Mid-session freezing and soft locks (most common)
- Sound not generating for letters during gameplay
- Buttons greyed out preventing interaction
- App crashes when accessing stats
- Double coffee charge on streak breaks
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- Sound disabled when button pressed simultaneously with letter
- App crashes on startup
- Sync failures between iPad and iPhone
- Game freezing on specific levels (Level 2, 4)
- Countdown ends but first tile/letter doesn't appear
Requested features
10 requests- Single n-back and quad n-back modes
- Lock screen widgets for streak reminders
- Color-position dual n-back mode
- More granular settings (interference, probability, trial count)
- Penalty system for incorrect answers
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- Game Center leaderboard integration
- iPad and desktop versions with synced accounts
- Offline gameplay capability
- Data export for personal analysis
- Extended play duration at higher levels
In-app purchases
CogniFit
- Monthly Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Monthly Premium7 Days trial$6.991 Month
- Monthly Premium7 Days trial$7.991 Month
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- Monthly Premium7 Days trial$8.991 Month
- Monthly Premium7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Monthly Subscription 50% Off$9.991 Month
- Subscription Monthly$12.991 Month
- Monthy Basic$19.991 Month
- Monthly Basic$19.991 Month
- CogniFit Premium7 Days trial$19.991 Month
- CogniFit Premium7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Yearly Subscription 50% Off$59.991 Year
- Yearly Basic$119.991 Year
- Assessment - Full price$49.99
N
- Premium (monthly)$8.991 Month
- Premium (annual)$54.991 Year
- 1 cup of coffee$1.99
- 4 cups of coffee$5.99
- Pizza$7.99
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- 7 cups of coffee$8.99
- 10 cups of coffee$10.99









