Comparison

BrainHQ vs SonicTonic

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BrainHQ

This app offers a scientifically-backed brain training program designed to improve cognitive functions like memory, attention, and processing speed. It features adaptive exercises that adjust to your performance, fitting into your daily routine with sessions as short as five minutes.

Highlights
  • Scientifically validated brain exercises
  • Improves memory and processing speed
  • Adaptive training adjusts to performance
  • Daily free exercise
  • Personalized brain fitness goals
  • Flexible training sessions
Features
Read full description

Train your brain with BrainHQ from Posit Science—the most rigorous program available for better brain health, and the only one backed by more than 100 scientific papers showing benefits - including the breakthrough NIH-funded ACTIVE study. Now with new features that contribute to your brain fitness success!

 BrainHQ represents the culmination of 30 years of research in neuroscience and brain health. Top scientists from around the world helped to develop and test the BrainHQ exercises. The result: a training system that comprehensively improves brain performance, from the most basic elements of perception through the most complex elements of memory, attention, and cognitive function.

 No other brain fitness program can match BrainHQ in scientific proof. More than 100 publications from independent, randomized controlled trials have shown that the exercises and assessments in BrainHQ drive real change. These changes include: • cognitive improvements, such as better memory and faster processing speed • real-world improvements, including safer driving and improved quality of life • physical brain changes, like healthier white matter and more coordinated neurons. 
 All of this means that BrainHQ works—in laboratory studies, and in the lives of everyday people:

 •"BrainHQ is a no-brainer must-have in my book…This training has expanded my visual, fine-tuned my audio and even my reflexes seem to be getting faster. BrainHQ is fun and gives me the challenges I need to keep my brain working out on a daily basis." - C. MacDonald

 •"Only a few months into the BrainHQ exercises the difference is clear, this isn’t left to speculation, I saw drastic improvements…and my family has noticed a strong improvement." - A. Amitrano

 And leading publications agree: “Our testers concluded that Posit's product—one of the few so far to undergo clinical trials and peer-reviewed research—had the firmest scientific grounding.” - Wall Street Journal
 The BrainHQ app helps you set and achieve your brain training goals—so it not only works, it works for you.
 Each exercise adapts to your performance and gets more challenging as your performance improves, just like a personal trainer for your brain.
 The training is designed to fit into your life: train for just 5 minutes in your spare time, or do a complete workout in an hour. 
BrainHQ is a free download, and includes a free exercise every day. 
For full access, we offer the following recurring subscription options:

 1 month: $13.99
 1 year: $94.99

 These prices are for United States customers. Pricing in other countries may vary and actual charges may be converted to your local currency depending on your country or residence. 

Monthly subscription are billed once per month, and an annual subscriptions are billed once per year. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Privacy Policy: https://www.brainhq.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.brainhq.com/terms

About

SonicTonic

This app uses sound and music, informed by neurophysiology, to improve mental well-being. It helps reduce stress, enhance sleep, and boost concentration without requiring any practice.

Highlights
  • Stress reduction
  • Sleep improvement
  • Concentration stimulation
  • Learning ability enhancement
  • Anxiety and phobia treatment
  • Uses neurophysiological knowledge
Features
Read full description

SonicTonic uses sound and music to calm the mind and positively influence mental health. It was designed using the latest neurophysiological knowledge. As it requires no training or practice, it is easy to use and is very quick and effective. It can be used to help extinguish thoughts, reduce stress, improve sleep, stimulate concentration and increase learning abilities. There are also Tonics that treat a number of other problems such as anxiety, phobias and general psychological problems. SonicTonic influences the listener's state of consciousness by administering finely balanced combinations of medically documented methods such as: Neural training, autosuggestion, ASMR, imagination, autogenic training, breathing exercises, and music. By using the application, you agree to our terms and conditions (https://sonictonic.io/terms-and-conditions/).

Screenshots

BrainHQ4 screens
SonicTonic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: BrainHQ at 22K against SonicTonic's 11. BrainHQ also leads on chart position (#191 vs unranked). SonicTonic's advantage is review sentiment (71% vs 48%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. BrainHQ sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $13.99 per month and SonicTonic sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for BrainHQ against 4.5 for SonicTonic. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BrainHQ has 22K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 48% of BrainHQ's written reviews are positive against 71% of SonicTonic's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, SonicTonic every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
BrainHQ versus SonicTonic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrainHQSonicTonic
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (22K ratings) — better4.5 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews47.5% of reviews70.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22K — better11
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#191 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size172 MB57 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperPosit ScienceGROVES Sound Branding GmbH

Customer experience

BrainHQ

All ratings21,963 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral5.3%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews387 reviews
Positive47.5%
Neutral17.1%
Negative35.4%

SonicTonic

All ratings11 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive70.8%
Neutral8.3%
Negative20.8%

Bugs and requests

BrainHQ

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent app crashes
  • Audio issues on iOS
  • Inconsistent performance across devices
  • Progress reset issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Apple Watch app
  • Apple TV app
  • Better progress tracking in-app
  • Customizable difficulty levels
  • More diverse representation in exercises

SonicTonic

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

BrainHQ

Subscriptions2
  • BrainHQ$13.991 Month
  • BrainHQ$94.991 Year
13 purchases

SonicTonic

Subscriptions6
  • Monthly subscription$2.991 Month
  • Premium (monthly)14 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription14 Days trial$6.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Yearly Subscription Offer$9.991 Year
  • SonicTonic Annual Discount1 Month trial$24.991 Year
  • Premium (annually)1 Month trial$34.991 Year
One-time7
  • 10 Credits$0.99
  • Single Purchase Category 1$0.99
  • Single Purchase Category 2$1.99
Show 4 more
  • Single Purchase Category 3$2.99
  • 30 Credits$3.99
  • 80 Credits$8.99
  • Premium (lifetime)$179.99

Questions

Is BrainHQ free?
BrainHQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SonicTonic free?
SonicTonic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, BrainHQ or SonicTonic?
BrainHQ is rated higher. BrainHQ averages 4.6 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while SonicTonic averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.
Do BrainHQ or SonicTonic have ads?
Neither BrainHQ nor SonicTonic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BrainHQ or SonicTonic?
BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, and SonicTonic every 2 weeks. Most recently, BrainHQ was updated on October 17, 2026 and SonicTonic on October 17, 2026.

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