Comparison

BrainHQ vs Basic Calculator X

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

Basic Calculator X

This app provides essential arithmetic functions, including square roots and percentages. It allows users to perform multiple calculations sequentially, storing previous results for easy reuse. Users can manage their calculation history by deleting individual entries or clearing all saved data.

Highlights
  • Four arithmetic methods
  • Square and square-root functions
  • Pi and percentage calculations
  • Sequential calculation support
  • Calculation history table
  • Delete individual/all calculations
Features
Read full description

A basic calculator with some useful features. - The four arithmetic methods with positive and negative numbers. square, square-root, pi, percent - You can do several calculations in a row. When you press the equal-sign, the current calculation is stored in the table on the left. These can then be used again in new calculations. - You can delete all saved calculations in the table. Either click on "Delete Individual", and choose which ones you want to delete, or you simply click "Delete All". More information on www.matteappar.se

Screenshots

BrainHQ4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: BrainHQ at 4.6 against Basic Calculator X's 3.3. BrainHQ also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 25 months) and ratings volume (22K vs 3). Basic Calculator X's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (67% vs 48%). On price, ads and device support 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. Basic Calculator X asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BrainHQ holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BrainHQ has 22K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 48% of BrainHQ's written reviews are positive against 67% of Basic Calculator X's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, Basic Calculator X every 25 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and June 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
BrainHQ versus Basic Calculator X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrainHQBasic Calculator X
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (22K ratings) — better3.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews47.8% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 25 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPad
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size173 MB1 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperPosit ScienceMagnus Vernersson

Customer experience

BrainHQ

All ratings21,975 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral5.3%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews383 reviews
Positive47.8%
Neutral17.2%
Negative35.0%

Basic Calculator X

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

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

Basic Calculator X

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

BrainHQ

Subscriptions2
  • BrainHQ$13.991 Month
  • BrainHQ$94.991 Year
None

Basic Calculator X

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BrainHQ free?
BrainHQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Basic Calculator X free?
Basic Calculator X is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BrainHQ or Basic Calculator X?
BrainHQ is rated higher. BrainHQ averages 4.6 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Basic Calculator X averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.
Do BrainHQ or Basic Calculator X have ads?
Neither BrainHQ nor Basic Calculator X shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BrainHQ or Basic Calculator X?
BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, and Basic Calculator X every 25 months. Most recently, BrainHQ was updated on October 2, 2026 and Basic Calculator X on June 3, 2026.

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