# ArcX vs Cortex

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cortex at 100% against ArcX's 0%. Cortex also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.7) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 3 weeks). ArcX's advantage is monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ArcX sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Cortex sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Cortex holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of ArcX's written reviews are positive against 100% of Cortex's.

ArcX ships an update every 3 weeks, Cortex every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ArcX | Cortex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcx/id6444228322/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-nootropic-and-peptide-ai/id6762236719/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Size | 80 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [ArcX Technology Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1525351498) | [Grimes AI LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893497411) |

## What reviewers say

### ArcX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcx/id6444228322)

Control your smart ring, receive personalized music recommendations, and manage your profile. Features include SOS for emergencies and integration with smartwatches for heart rate-based music.

**Highlights:** Personalized music recommendations, Smart ring configuration, SOS emergency feature, Heart rate-based music adaptation, Profile management, Dashboard control hub

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arcx Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Arcx Premium | $49.99 | per year |


### Cortex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-nootropic-and-peptide-ai/id6762236719)

This AI-powered coach helps you build and optimize a personalized supplement regimen based on your goals and sensitivities. It tracks your progress, provides research-backed compound information, and offers cycling schedules. Access requires a subscription.

**Highlights:** Personalized supplement stack creation, AI research coach for optimization, Daily tracking with correlation analysis, Compound profiles with evidence tiers, Research summaries on interactions, Cycling and washout schedules

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cortex (Monthly) | $19.99 | per month |
| Cortex (Annual) | $139.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ArcX free?

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

### Is Cortex free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ArcX or Cortex?

Cortex is rated higher. ArcX averages 1.7 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Cortex averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do ArcX or Cortex have ads?

Neither ArcX nor Cortex shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ArcX or Cortex?

ArcX ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cortex every 11 days. Most recently, ArcX was updated on October 27, 2026 and Cortex on October 23, 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.*