# BrainHQ vs Basic Calculator X

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainHQ | Basic Calculator X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainhq/id537452201/reviews)** | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-x/id1542841694/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 47.8% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 25 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 173 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Posit Science](https://appshunter.io/developer/329913981) | [Magnus Vernersson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1491817395) |

## 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


### Basic Calculator X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-x/id1542841694)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*