# BrainHQ vs StepWatcher

The clearest difference is price: BrainHQ at Free against StepWatcher's $2.99. StepWatcher's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

BrainHQ is free to download; StepWatcher costs $2.99 up front. BrainHQ sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $13.99 per month. StepWatcher asks for nothing beyond the download.

BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, StepWatcher every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainHQ | StepWatcher |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[4.6 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainhq/id537452201/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 47.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | — | **#196** |
| Size | 172 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Posit Science](https://appshunter.io/developer/329913981) | [Shawn Bierman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1534943389) |

## 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


### StepWatcher

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stepwatcher/id6764361086)

**Currently charting:** #196 Top Paid · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

**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 StepWatcher free?

StepWatcher costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do BrainHQ or StepWatcher have ads?

Neither BrainHQ nor StepWatcher shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BrainHQ or StepWatcher?

BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, and StepWatcher every 2 days. Most recently, BrainHQ was updated on November 12, 2026 and StepWatcher on November 5, 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.*