BrainHQ vs Inclivio
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Scientifically validated brain exercises
- Improves memory and processing speed
- Adaptive training adjusts to performance
- Daily free exercise
- Personalized brain fitness goals
- Flexible training sessions
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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
Inclivio
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Inclivio is an industry-leading experience sampling method (ESM) and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) application for completing short, real-time check-ins about your day as part of research studies and programs. If you’ve been invited to a study, Inclivio is where you’ll receive check-ins (short surveys), survey reminders, and the ability to self-initiate surveys sent by your study team. Social scientists, medical researchers, market researchers, and polling companies want you to share your opinions, mood, and experiences in real time, from your phone, to better understand how thoughts, feelings, behaviors, symptoms, and daily events change across situations and over time — not just what you remember later. Inclivio makes this “in-the-moment” participation simple with quick surveys sent directly to your phone. With Inclivio you can: • Complete short surveys (“check-ins”) at scheduled times or within a response window • Receive reminders and notifications so you don’t miss time-sensitive surveys • Start a survey yourself when your study team enables self-initiated check-ins • Review study instructions and contact information (when provided) • Participate securely, with data transmitted using encryption in transit • Communicate securely in-app with your research team Important notes • An invitation is required. Inclivio is used only for studies or programs you’ve been enrolled in • What you see (surveys, schedule, reminders) depends on the specific study you joined • Your consent materials and study team will explain what is collected, how it is used, and who can access it
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Inclivio at none against BrainHQ's 2. Inclivio also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6). BrainHQ's advantage is ratings volume (22K vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. BrainHQ sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $13.99 per month. Inclivio asks for nothing beyond the download.
Inclivio 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 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, Inclivio every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BrainHQ | Inclivio |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (22K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 47.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 22K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #185 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 172 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Posit Science | Pingr Tools, LLC |
Customer experience
BrainHQ
Inclivio
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
Inclivio
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
BrainHQ
- BrainHQ$13.991 Month
- BrainHQ$94.991 Year
Inclivio
No in-app purchases









