Comparison

Second Brain vs Cadencia

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

Head to head
About

Second Brain

Features
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The first ADHD app that comes ready to use - no setup, no configuration, no building from scratch. Every productivity app expects you to design the system yourself. By the time you're done setting up, you've already lost momentum. Second Brain flips that. Open the app and you'll find a library of 20+ real-life tasks - paying bills, refilling prescriptions, scheduling appointments, doing laundry, filing taxes - each broken into small, clear steps you can follow one at a time. DAILY ROUTINES Install a Morning Routine, Evening Wind-Down, or Sunday Reset and get guided through your day one card at a time. Customize them or build your own. CHECK-INS Gentle prompts throughout the day. Feeling off track? Tap into a recovery flow and reset without judgment. HANDS-FREE MODE Tasks are read aloud as you go - perfect for mornings when your phone is across the room. SMART DEFAULTS Recurring tasks regenerate automatically. Tasks surface when they're due - not before. Your most recent task stays at the top. Less clutter, less thinking. No account. No cloud. No subscription. Your data stays on your device. Built for the ADHD brain that wants a second brain - without having to build one.

About

Cadencia

Features
Read full description

Most planners fail ADHD brains. Cadencia is built for how yours actually works. Plan your day visually, capture tasks in seconds, and see exactly what fits, without the usual overwhelm. If you've tried ten planners and quit all of them, it wasn't you. The problem with most planners: Most productivity apps were designed for neurotypical brains. They assume you can estimate how long things take. They assume tasks won't pile up invisibly. They assume a to-do list is enough. If you have ADHD, you already know none of that is true. The solution: Cadencia works with time perception, not against it. See your entire day on a visual timeline. Capture tasks the moment they appear in your brain, before they disappear. Features: • Visual daily timeline: see your time as a shape, not a list • Instant task capture: add tasks in seconds, sort them later • Time block planning: assign tasks to real time slots, not wishful thinking • Clean, distraction-free interface: nothing to overwhelm you when you open the app Cadencia Pro: For the features your brain actually needs to see the full picture: • Weekly view: your entire week on one screen • Monthly view: spot patterns, plan ahead • Unlimited projects: no cap on what you're managing • Accent palettes: make it feel like yours • Calendar sync, task breakdown engine, and energy tracker: coming soon And many more features to build your best life! No free trial. No "remember to cancel." Just a subscription you choose, or don't. Download free. Upgrade when you're ready. Who it's for: Cadencia was built for ADHD brains, time-blind brains, and anyone who's ever planned a productive day and then watched it collapse. If you're neurodivergent or just someone who thinks visually, this is the daily planner that fits. By using Cadencia, you agree to Apple's standard Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Second Brain4 screens
Cadencia4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Second Brain at none against Cadencia's 3. Cadencia's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Cadencia sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Second Brain asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Second Brain ships an update every 3 weeks, Cadencia weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and August 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
Second Brain versus Cadencia: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSecond BrainCadencia
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.616.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJikku ChackoFrancois El-Daher

In-app purchases

None

Second Brain

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Cadencia

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Yearly$44.991 Year
One-time1
  • Cadencia Pro Lifetime$79.99

Questions

Is Second Brain free?
Second Brain is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cadencia free?
Cadencia is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Second Brain or Cadencia have ads?
Neither Second Brain nor Cadencia shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Second Brain or Cadencia?
Second Brain ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cadencia weekly. Most recently, Second Brain was updated on September 10, 2026 and Cadencia on August 21, 2026.

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