Comparison

BrainHQ vs Dementia & Cognitive Test

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

Dementia & Cognitive Test

Monitor cognitive health with short exercises inspired by neuropsychological tasks. Track memory, attention, and emotions over time to identify early changes. The app provides a risk profile and history trends, but is not a diagnostic tool.

Highlights
  • Cognitive exercises for memory, attention, and emotions
  • Symptom screening questionnaire
  • Personalized risk profile based on lifestyle factors
  • History and trends tracking
  • Monthly test reminders
  • Privacy-focused, no account or cloud storage
Features
Read full description

Worried about memory lapses — yours or a loved one's? Dementia & Cognitive Test helps you monitor cognitive health over time with short exercises inspired by standard neuropsychological tasks. The app is not a diagnostic tool. It's built to catch changes early and give you a clear picture of your cognitive health over time. --- 10 TESTS, 5 COGNITIVE DOMAINS Memory, attention, planning, orientation, and emotions — covered by 10 short exercises inspired by standard neuropsychological tasks (Reaction Time, Trail Making, Sequential Planning, Emotion Recognition, and more). TEST PACKAGES FOR EVERY SCHEDULE Quick (3–4 min, 7 tests) or Standard (8–12 min, 10 tests) — pick the one that fits your time. SYMPTOM SCREENING An 11-question, ~3-minute questionnaire flags early warning signs worth paying attention to. RISK PROFILE Age, education, family history, and health and lifestyle factors combine into a personal Risk Index — Low, Moderate, or High — with the contributing factors listed clearly. HISTORY & TRENDS Unlimited local history with charts over 6 months, 12 months, or your full history, plus a radar view across all five tracked domains, so you can see whether you're stable, improving, or it's time to pay attention. REMINDERS THAT KEEP YOU CONSISTENT A monthly test reminder and an annual profile refresh — so tracking becomes a habit, not a one-off. PRIVACY FIRST No account, no cloud. Every test result and every profile detail stays on your device. --- WHAT THIS APP IS NOT Dementia & Cognitive Test does not diagnose Alzheimer's or dementia. It cannot replace a medical exam. Think of it as an early-warning system for tracking changes over time, not a clinical tool. --- Built for adults 45+, caregivers, and families with a history of dementia or Alzheimer's. Free to use, no account needed. Download free. Track your mind, one test at a time.

Screenshots

BrainHQ4 screens
Dementia & Cognitive Test4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Dementia & Cognitive Test at none against BrainHQ's 2. Dementia & Cognitive Test 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 1) and chart position (#194 vs unranked). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dementia & Cognitive Test 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, Dementia & Cognitive Test every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
BrainHQ versus Dementia & Cognitive Test: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrainHQDementia & Cognitive Test
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (22K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews47.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings22K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#194 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size172 MB32 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperPosit ScienceAdaptine s.r.o.

Customer experience

BrainHQ

All ratings21,963 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral5.3%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews390 reviews
Positive47.2%
Neutral17.2%
Negative35.6%

Dementia & Cognitive Test

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
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

Dementia & Cognitive Test

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

Dementia & Cognitive Test

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BrainHQ free?
BrainHQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dementia & Cognitive Test free?
Dementia & Cognitive Test is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BrainHQ or Dementia & Cognitive Test?
Dementia & Cognitive Test is rated higher. BrainHQ averages 4.6 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Dementia & Cognitive Test averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do BrainHQ or Dementia & Cognitive Test have ads?
Neither BrainHQ nor Dementia & Cognitive Test shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BrainHQ or Dementia & Cognitive Test?
BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, and Dementia & Cognitive Test every 3 weeks. Most recently, BrainHQ was updated on November 11, 2026 and Dementia & Cognitive Test on November 5, 2026.

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