# BrainHQ vs iPACES Studies

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iPACES Studies at none against BrainHQ's 2. iPACES Studies also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). BrainHQ's advantage is ratings volume (22K vs 4). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BrainHQ sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $13.99 per month. iPACES Studies asks for nothing beyond the download.

iPACES Studies holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BrainHQ has 22K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, iPACES Studies every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainHQ | iPACES Studies |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainhq/id537452201/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipaces-studies/id1452121691/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 47.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 172 MB | 753 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Posit Science](https://appshunter.io/developer/329913981) | [iPACES LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1817523745) |

## What reviewers say

### BrainHQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainhq/id537452201)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BrainHQ | $13.99 | per month |
| BrainHQ | $94.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🧠 Scientifically-backed brain exercises
- 🤓 Challenging and engaging games
- 🧠 Noticeable cognitive improvements
- 👍 Customizable training focus
- 🤝 Responsive customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🤔 Unclear instructions and scoring
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🙈 Limited free version
- 🎨 Lack of diversity in some exercises

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### iPACES Studies

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipaces-studies/id1452121691)

Engage in neuro-exercises designed to enhance cognitive function. This application offers a preview of research-backed mental training or a pathway to join a scientific study.

**Highlights:** Cognitive function improvement, Neuro-exercise training, Research study participation, Preview of mental exercises, Designed for Apple Watch

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BrainHQ free?

BrainHQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is iPACES Studies free?

iPACES Studies is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BrainHQ or iPACES Studies?

iPACES Studies is rated higher. BrainHQ averages 4.6 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while iPACES Studies averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do BrainHQ or iPACES Studies have ads?

Neither BrainHQ nor iPACES Studies shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BrainHQ or iPACES Studies?

BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, and iPACES Studies every 3 weeks. Most recently, BrainHQ was updated on November 7, 2026 and iPACES Studies on November 2, 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.*