Comparison

N'Back vs N

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

N'Back

Enhance sensory and working memory with this brain training application. It offers various modes to test your ability to recall sequences of numbers, progressing through different 'N' levels.

Highlights
  • Sensory memory improvement
  • Working memory enhancement
  • N'Back exercises
  • Flash Mode
  • Slow Mode
  • Step Mode
Features
Read full description

Improve Sensory Memory & Working Memory using N'Back. ◆Flash Mode / Slow Mode / Step Mode Tap the number key matches the one from N steps earlier in the sequence. In 1'Back 1 task1: count & memorize 2 task2: count & memorize 3 __keyboard__: answer for task1 4 task3: count & memorize 5 __keyboard__: answer for task2 6 task4: count & memorize : In 2'Back 1 task1: count & memorize 2 task2: count & memorize 3 task3: count & memorize 4 __keyboard__: answer for task1 5 task4: count & memorize 6 __keyboard__: answer for task2 7 task5: count & memorize :

About

N

This app offers a scientifically validated cognitive training program designed to enhance intelligence. It uses the dual n-back method to improve learning, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Track progress, compete with friends, and customize your experience to boost cognitive abilities.

Highlights
  • Dual n-back cognitive training
  • IQ enhancement
  • Progress tracking and streaks
  • Social competition and leaderboards
  • Customizable voices and settings
  • Weekly habit option
Read full description

The N-Back Challenge provides a special type of cognitive training, “dual n-back,” that helps you raise your IQ in just a few minutes per day. Sounds implausible? The N-Back Challenge is based on a decade’s worth of scientific studies, published in top peer-reviewed journals, including Nature. (For more details, see https://nbackchallenge.com/science.) The catch? It’s no fun at all! Indeed, the training is designed to be maximally exhausting. If you are determined enough to make it through 20 sessions, however, science suggests that you stand to reap powerful benefits. Intelligence is the ultimate cognitive ability: You need it to learn, reason, solve novel problems, and see connections. Higher IQs have been linked to improved academic achievement, professional success, and even better health. Since it will take you just 7 hours, in total, to complete the N-Back Challenge, not much more than the length of a single school day, it may prove to be the best investment of time you’ve ever made! ------------------------------ SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND: Not only has the dual n-back paradigm been validated in top peer-reviewed journals, but our two founders – both PhDs, one with a focus on neuroscience, the other with a focus on higher education – have taken particular care to thoroughly align the app with the prevailing scientific research. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS: In order to help you stay motivated, the N-Back Challenge allows you to visually monitor your progress over time, build up “streaks,” and compare yourself against other learners across various stats. COMPETE AGAINST YOUR FRIENDS: Perhaps the most powerful way of making sure you remain motivated to complete the Challenge is to tackle it together with friends or colleagues. To make it more fun, we’ve provided leaderboards that allow you to compete based on who has completed the most sessions, racked up the longest streak, and more. CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE: The N-Back Challenge allows you to choose between different voices across multiple languages, turn on notifications, and customize their timing and style. There are advanced settings for turning on instant button feedback, controlling the n-back level, and tweaking the game speed. And if you are too busy to complete one session every day, you may switch to the Weekly Habit, which gives you a full week to complete each session. ------------------------------ ARE YOU… … A PARENT? Give your children an edge at school or university by nudging them to complete the N-Back Challenge. Indeed, why not tackle the Challenge together as a family? … A GRANDCHILD? Help your grandparents (and other older relatives) fight cognitive decline by introducing them to dual n-back. (See https://nbackchallenge.com/decline.) … A KNOWLEDGE WORKER? Share the N-Back Challenge with your HR department. Dual n-back may well be the single most cost-effective way of making knowledge workers more productive. (See https://nbackchallenge.com/work.) … A TEACHER? Use dual n-back to enhance students' problem-solving skills. You can have a big impact, with a minimal investment of time! (See https://nbackchallenge.com/class.) ------------------------------ HOW IT WORKS: The N-Back Challenge is free as long as you stick to the program. When you miss or delay a session, we ask you to support us with a “coffee,” which you can buy in-app or earn — for example, by using the Share link in the Settings to invite friends. (Each of you will receive a free coffee.) You can also unlock unlimited free breaks by becoming a premium subscriber. CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Do you have any questions or suggestions? Like to say hello? We’re happy to hear from you! Just drop us a note at support@nbackchallenge.com. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: To learn more about dual n-back and the N-Back Challenge, browse our repository of articles at https://nbackchallenge.com/articles. Privacy Policy: https://nbackchallenge.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://nbackchallenge.com/terms-of-use

Screenshots

N'Back4 screens
N4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: N at 4.7 against N'Back's 4.0. N also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 9 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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. N'Back sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and N sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

N holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: N has 237 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of N'Back's written reviews are positive against 83% of N's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

N'Back ships an update every 9 months, N monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
N'Back versus N: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterN'BackN
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (3 ratings)4.7 (237 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews82.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3237 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsMonthly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB72 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperYasuyoshi OtaRivuspurus

Customer experience

N'Back

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative30.0%

N

All ratings237 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral0.4%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews93 reviews
Positive82.8%
Neutral3.2%
Negative14.0%

Bugs and requests

N'Back

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

N

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Mid-session freezing and soft locks (most common)
  • Sound not generating for letters during gameplay
  • Buttons greyed out preventing interaction
  • App crashes when accessing stats
  • Double coffee charge on streak breaks
Show 5 more
  • Sound disabled when button pressed simultaneously with letter
  • App crashes on startup
  • Sync failures between iPad and iPhone
  • Game freezing on specific levels (Level 2, 4)
  • Countdown ends but first tile/letter doesn't appear

Requested features

10 requests
  • Single n-back and quad n-back modes
  • Lock screen widgets for streak reminders
  • Color-position dual n-back mode
  • More granular settings (interference, probability, trial count)
  • Penalty system for incorrect answers
Show 5 more
  • Game Center leaderboard integration
  • iPad and desktop versions with synced accounts
  • Offline gameplay capability
  • Data export for personal analysis
  • Extended play duration at higher levels

In-app purchases

1 purchases

N'Back

One-time1
  • Add Levels (3'Back-10'Back) and Remove Ads$2.99
7 purchases

N

Subscriptions2
  • Premium (monthly)$8.991 Month
  • Premium (annual)$54.991 Year
One-time5
  • 1 cup of coffee$1.99
  • 4 cups of coffee$5.99
  • Pizza$7.99
Show 2 more
  • 7 cups of coffee$8.99
  • 10 cups of coffee$10.99

Questions

Is N'Back free?
N'Back is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is N free?
N is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, N'Back or N?
N is rated higher. N'Back averages 4.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while N averages 4.7 from 237 ratings.
Do N'Back or N have ads?
N'Back shows ads; N does not.
Which is updated more often, N'Back or N?
N'Back ships an update every 9 months, and N monthly. Most recently, N'Back was updated on September 11, 2026 and N on September 17, 2026.

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