# BrainHQ vs Steady

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Steady at 100% against BrainHQ's 48%. Steady also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). BrainHQ's advantage is ratings volume (22K vs 4) and chart position (#116 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BrainHQ sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $13.99 per month and Steady sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Steady 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 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of BrainHQ's written reviews are positive against 100% of Steady's.

BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, Steady fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainHQ | Steady |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainhq/id537452201/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steady-mood-and-panic/id6800914833/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 47.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#116** | — |
| Size | 172 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Posit Science](https://appshunter.io/developer/329913981) | [Steady Wellness Limited Liability Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/6800914835) |

## What reviewers say

### BrainHQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainhq/id537452201)

**Currently charting:** #116 Top Grossing · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

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


### Steady

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steady-mood-and-panic/id6800914833)

This app offers a private, gentle companion for managing depression and panic. It learns your patterns to provide timely nudges and support, with features like mood check-ins, guided breathing, and a skills library. Access advanced pattern analysis and thought reframing with an optional subscription.

**Highlights:** Mood check-ins, Guided breathing and grounding, Safety plan access, Skills library, Crisis resources, Free-text check-ins, Mood pattern analysis

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Annual | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BrainHQ free?

BrainHQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Steady free?

Steady is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, BrainHQ or Steady?

Steady is rated higher. BrainHQ averages 4.6 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Steady averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do BrainHQ or Steady have ads?

Neither BrainHQ nor Steady shows ads.

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

BrainHQ ships an update every 2 months, and Steady fortnightly. Most recently, BrainHQ was updated on October 23, 2026 and Steady on October 9, 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.*