Comparison

Cortex Brain Training vs Brain Training

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

Head to head
About

Cortex Brain Training

Features
Read full description

Cortex. Seventeen brain games and puzzles in one calm app. No subscription, no tracking. Seventeen focused brain games and classic puzzles, plus Peak Hours: a personal cognitive instrument you won't find in other brain trainers. Try everything free for 3 days, then unlock it all with a single purchase. No subscription, no ads, no accounts, and nothing leaves your device. PEAK HOURS A quick reaction check you can take any time of day. Over time it charts when your mind is sharpest and reveals whether you're a morning lark, a night owl, or steady all day. Fully private, stored only on your phone. THE GAMES Memory, focus, reading, timing and spatial skills, each built around a real task: - N-Back, Sequence Memory and Remember-To for memory - Stroop, Track and Peripheral Vision for attention - Schulte Table and Speed Reader for visual scanning and reading - Mental Rotation for spatial reasoning - Inner Clock for your sense of time - Number Sequences for pattern reasoning SKILL DRILLS - Mental Math: learn a real trick, then drill it - Speed Math and Estimation for arithmetic fluency and number sense CLASSIC PUZZLES - Nonogram: solve the number clues to reveal a hidden picture - Sudoku and Word Search, as pure puzzles 3-DAY FREE TRIAL, THEN PAY ONCE Every game is unlocked free for 3 days. Keep them all forever with a single one-time purchase. No weekly trials, no renewing subscription, no surprise charges. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No accounts, no analytics, no advertising, no third-party trackers. The app works fully offline and your stats stay on your phone. Privacy here isn't a setting you switch on; it's how the app is built. BUILT FOR FOCUS A precision design made for concentration, not a candy-coloured slot machine. Make it yours with multiple themes, light or dark, and a custom accent colour. Track your personal bests at your own pace. Now fully available in nine languages.

About

Brain Training

Engage in science-based games designed to enhance memory, attention, focus, and cognitive speed. Track your progress, compete on leaderboards, and enjoy daily workouts tailored to your abilities.

Highlights
  • 20 science-based cognitive games
  • Daily rotating 3-game workouts
  • Adaptive difficulty
  • Progress tracking and trends
  • Global leaderboards
  • Leveling system and player names
Features
Read full description

Train your brain in just a few minutes a day. Brain Training: Memory & Focus packs 20 science-based games into one bold app — a complete gym for your memory, attention, focus, processing speed, mental flexibility, and spatial skills. BUILT ON REAL COGNITIVE TESTS These aren't random puzzles — the catalog is built on classic tasks from cognitive psychology: • Dual N-Back — the famous working-memory trainer with adaptive difficulty • Stroop — tap the ink color, not the word, and beat interference • Block Recall — the Corsi block-tapping test: how long a sequence can you hold? • Number Sprint — race through a Schulte table from 1 to 25 • Name Recall — the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam: learn faces, then name them a day later • Digit Span, Go/No-Go, Mental Rotation, Paper Fold, and more 20 GAMES ACROSS 6 COGNITIVE AREAS • MEMORY: Memory Match · Block Recall · Pattern Flash · Name Recall • WORKING MEMORY: Dual N-Back · Digit Span · Mirror Span • ATTENTION: Stroop · Go/No-Go · Swarm Track • PROCESSING SPEED: Number Sprint · Symbol Decode · Field Scan • FLEXIBILITY: Task Switch · Rule Hunt · Design Dash • SPATIAL: Mental Rotation · View Point · Paper Fold · Path Link YOUR DAILY WORKOUT Every day brings a fresh 3-game workout that rotates across cognitive areas — or pin your own three favorites. Complete it for a daily bonus and keep your day streak alive. EARN POINTS, LEVEL UP, CLIMB THE RANKS Every session earns Brain Points, and streaks multiply them. Level up from ROOKIE to LEGEND, claim your unique player name, and compete on global leaderboards — weekly and all-time, overall and per game. WATCH YOURSELF IMPROVE Adaptive difficulty keeps every game right at the edge of your ability. Track best spans, best times, and accuracy for every game, celebrate new records, and follow your trends week after week. FREE TO TRAIN, PRO TO GO DEEPER 9 games are free forever — including Memory Match, Dual N-Back, Stroop, and Number Sprint — along with the daily workout, streaks, leaderboards, and headline stats. Brain Games Pro unlocks 11 advanced games (each with a free preview session), bigger Memory Match boards (6×6 and 8×8), every card pack, and full progress charts. Start with a free trial, then choose monthly, yearly, or a one-time lifetime pass. Whether you're warming up in the morning, taking a mental break, or chasing a leaderboard spot, Brain Training gives your mind a fast, fun workout. Download free and start training today. Brain Games Pro is an auto-renewable subscription. Your Apple Account is charged at confirmation; it renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ · Privacy: https://brain-games-app.web.app/privacy

Screenshots

Cortex Brain Training4 screens
Brain Training4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Brain Training at every 5 days against Cortex Brain Training's every 2 weeks. Brain Training also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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. Cortex Brain Training sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Brain Training sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cortex Brain Training ships an update every 2 weeks, Brain Training every 5 days. Both last shipped on September 17, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Cortex Brain Training versus Brain Training: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCortex Brain TrainingBrain Training
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB72 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStephane de BarbansonAhmed Sayed Mokhtar Mohamed

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Cortex Brain Training

One-time1
  • Unlock all games$3.99
3 purchases

Brain Training

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$59.99

Questions

Is Cortex Brain Training free?
Cortex Brain Training is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Brain Training free?
Brain Training is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Cortex Brain Training or Brain Training have ads?
Neither Cortex Brain Training nor Brain Training shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cortex Brain Training or Brain Training?
Cortex Brain Training ships an update every 2 weeks, and Brain Training every 5 days. Most recently, Cortex Brain Training was updated on September 17, 2026 and Brain Training on September 17, 2026.

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