# Brain Dump vs Columns.app

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Columns.app at none against Brain Dump's 7. Brain Dump's advantage is review sentiment (72% vs 50%) and ratings volume (65 vs 3). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Brain Dump sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Columns.app asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Brain Dump against 4.3 for Columns.app. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brain Dump has 65 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Brain Dump's written reviews are positive against 50% of Columns.app's.

Brain Dump ships an update every 2 weeks, Columns.app every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brain Dump | Columns.app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brain-dump-adhd-notes-and-ideas/id6448230631/reviews) | **[4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/columnsapp/id6468962770/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **65** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **72.4% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 118 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Francesco Leoni](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484190257) | [Columns, inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711067600) |

## What reviewers say

### Brain Dump

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brain-dump-adhd-notes-and-ideas/id6448230631)

This app prioritizes quick thought capture without immediate organization. It's designed for individuals who frequently switch tasks or have minds that jump between ideas, allowing for immediate writing and later sorting. Features include widgets, Siri integration, and AI-powered note transformation.

**Highlights:** Write first, sort later, Quick capture widgets, Siri and Shortcuts integration, AI-powered note transformation, Customizable calm interface, iCloud sync across devices, Import from Apple Notes and Evernote

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro: Monthly Clarity | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $10.99 | per month |
| Pro: Yearly Serenity | $34.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $89.99 | per year |
| BrainDump Ask Drops | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


### Columns.app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/columnsapp/id6468962770)

Organize your thoughts and tasks with a unique column-based list manager. Ideal for planning, tracking, and managing projects, ideas, or collections. It offers a structured, linear approach similar to mind maps for clear visualization.

**Highlights:** Organize with linear columns, Plan and track progress, Manage projects and ideas, Create roadmaps, Teamwork organization

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brain Dump free?

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

### Is Columns.app free?

Columns.app is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Brain Dump or Columns.app?

Columns.app is rated higher. Brain Dump averages 4.3 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while Columns.app averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do Brain Dump or Columns.app have ads?

Neither Brain Dump nor Columns.app shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Brain Dump or Columns.app?

Brain Dump ships an update every 2 weeks, and Columns.app every 3 weeks. Most recently, Brain Dump was updated on November 14, 2026 and Columns.app on November 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*