Comparison

Elevate vs Brilliant

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

Head to head
About

Elevate

Enhance cognitive abilities like focus, memory, and math skills with a personalized daily training program. Improve productivity, earning power, and self-confidence through engaging brain games designed by experts.

Highlights
  • 40+ brain training games
  • Performance tracking
  • Personalized workouts
  • Adaptive difficulty
  • Workout calendar
  • Vocabulary expansion
  • Math problem solving
Features
Read full description

Elevate is a brain training program designed to improve your mind’s focus, memory, speaking abilities, processing speed, math skills, and more. Each person is provided with a personalized training program that adjusts over time to maximize results. The more you train with Elevate, the more you’ll improve critical cognitive skills that are proven to boost productivity, earning power, and self-confidence. 90%+ report improved vocabulary, math skills, and overall mental sharpness when they frequently use Elevate. IN THE NEWS “Elevate comes out ahead” in the battle of the brain training apps. – CNET Elevate is a “cognitive pick-me-up” with games that are “good for mental breaks throughout the workday.” – Washington Post. FEATURES • 40+ Brain Training Games: Improve your critical cognitive skills like focus, memory, processing, math, precision, and comprehension with 40+ brain training games. • Performance Tracking: Track your progress and compare your mind’s performance over time with weekly reports and insights. • Personalized Workouts: Customize your daily training focus and choose between 3 and 5 games. Get personalized daily workouts that include the skills you need most. • Adaptive Progression: Train your brain with adaptive difficulty progression that ensures your experience is challenging. • Workout Calendar: Stay motivated by tracking your training streaks and keeping your mind active daily. • And more! WHY YOU NEED ELEVATE • Express yourself more effectively in writing. Write with clarity, persuasiveness, and concision. • Improve your spelling and punctuation. Avoid common writing pitfalls. • Become a better reader. Read everyday materials faster and with greater understanding. • Expand your vocabulary. • Quickly and easily solve everyday math problems. Get better at comparing prices, splitting bills, and calculating discounts and markups. • Speak more effectively. Become more articulate and better at communicating tone and meaning. • Keep your mind engaged and challenged every day with short, effective exercises. RESEARCH BEHIND ELEVATE Elevate's games are designed in collaboration with experts in neuroscience and cognitive learning and are based on extensive scientific research. Elevate’s brain training algorithms further focus the learning experience by drawing from research in memory studies to develop a personalized training program for each member. ELEVATE SUBSCRIPTION TERMS Elevate offers a 7-day free trial as well as a basic free version. To access the free version, tap the X in the upper left-hand corner after you sign up for an account. If you choose to subscribe, you will be charged a yearly subscription fee according to your country. The subscription fee will be shown in the app before you complete the payment. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each subscription term, unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the term. Subscription renewals cost the same as the original subscription, and your credit card will be charged through your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. You may manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal at any time after purchase by going to your iTunes Account Settings. Refunds will not be given for any unused portion of the term. For additional information, please read our Terms of Service (https://www.elevateapp.com/terms) and Privacy Policy (https://www.elevateapp.com/privacy).

About

Brilliant

Master math and computer science through interactive, visual lessons. This app focuses on active problem-solving and personalized practice to build critical thinking and STEM skills. Ideal for students and lifelong learners seeking to deepen their understanding and confidence.

Highlights
  • Interactive problem-solving lessons
  • Personalized practice sets
  • Visual explanations of concepts
  • Expert-crafted STEM courses
  • Real-time feedback
  • Builds critical thinking skills
Features
Read full description

Brilliant is a superintelligent tutor for math and coding. Our team of experts from MIT and Harvard has built a world-class personalized learning system. For students from grade 5 to college and beyond – you work through problems with a tutor that sees where you’re stuck, can sketch right on your screen, asks the right questions, and guides you to real a-ha moments. Forget memorizing formulas. Brilliant is designed to build real understanding and help you excel. It’s there when you need it, adapts to how you think, and makes learning feel like a fun challenge instead of a chore. Master everything from foundational math and algebra to college-level calculus, Python, computer science, AI, neural networks, algorithms, data analysis, physics, and more. Join over 10 million people using Brilliant to reach their learning goals. WHY BRILLIANT WORKS - One-on-one learning for all
 Private tutoring is the most effective way to learn, but it’s expensive, hard to schedule, and out of reach for most families. Brilliant’s tutor works with you one-on-one, every single day, for a fraction of the cost. No scheduling. No waiting. Just learning.
 - Like someone sitting next to you Brilliant’s tutor can see what’s on your screen and react in real time, from highlighting parts of a problem to creating visualizations that bring hard concepts to life. - Expert-crafted curriculum Every course is crafted by our team of human experts from top institutions around the world. And with new and updated courses added every month, there’s always something new to explore. - Learning that adapts to you Brilliant’s tutor personalizes your experience in real time, adjusting to your skill level, filling gaps before they become problems, and helping you build confidence as you go. - Build true problem-solving skills Brilliant doesn’t give you answers. It guides you through problems and to your own a-ha moments. So while you’re learning, you’re also building critical thinking and analytical skills – and having fun. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING “Koji doesn’t judge. It feels like talking to the most patient teacher.” — Alan “Going through a lesson with Koji is more active, interactive, and guided than traditional learning.” — Lory “She read the problem out loud and figured it out on her own — ‘Oh! I know! Never mind, Mom, I got it!’ I'm seeing those breakthroughs more often.” — Arianne Send feedback to ios@brilliant.org. LIKE US: https://facebook.com/brilliantorg FOLLOW US: https://x.com/brilliantorg Privacy Policy: https://brilliant.org/privacy_policy/ Terms of Use: https://brilliant.org/terms-of-use/

Screenshots

Elevate4 screens
Brilliant4 screens

Verdict

The call

Elevate and Brilliant both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 79% of Brilliant's written reviews are positive against 59% of Elevate's. Elevate's advantage is ratings volume (544K vs 33K). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. Elevate sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Brilliant sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Elevate against 4.7 for Brilliant. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elevate has 544K ratings behind it against 33K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Elevate's written reviews are positive against 79% of Brilliant's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
Elevate versus Brilliant: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElevateBrilliant
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (544K ratings) — better4.7 (33K ratings)
Positive reviews59.3% of reviews79.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings544K — better33K
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#31 — better#84
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size574 MB104 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Mind CompanyBrilliant.org

Customer experience

Elevate

All ratings544,296 ratings
Positive95.5%
Neutral2.8%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews2,979 reviews
Positive59.3%
Neutral10.6%
Negative30.0%

Brilliant

All ratings32,990 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews3,645 reviews
Positive79.0%
Neutral7.7%
Negative13.4%

User reviews

Elevate

From 544K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Effective brain training
  • 👍 Enjoyable and engaging games
  • ✨ Improves cognitive abilities
  • 💡 Customizable training
  • 🧠 Helps with memory, math, and reading skills

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
  • ⏱️ Overly focused on speed rather than learning
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🇺🇸 US-centric content not suitable for all users
  • 🤔 Confusing scoring system and progress tracking

Brilliant

From 33K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Quick exercises, fast improvement
  • 👍 Engaging and easy learning
  • 👍 Effective learning of complex topics
  • 👍 Intuitive and challenging but not intimidating
  • 👍 Wonderful learning tool

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • 🔍 Limited variety of learning methods
  • 🔍 Limited course selection
  • 🔍 Inconsistent explanations and unclear wording

Bugs and requests

Elevate

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login issues after app updates
  • Inability to restore purchases
  • Inconsistent performance across devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • More diverse game selection
  • Better explanations for incorrect answers
  • Ability to review past performance
  • Customizable difficulty levels
  • Metric system support for non-US users

Brilliant

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Progress not saving correctly
  • Explanations not loading properly
  • Home page not loading
  • Difficulty cancelling subscription

Requested features

6 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Offline mode
  • Spaced repetition practice
  • Ability to bookmark/save difficult problems
  • More detailed explanations
Show 1 more
  • More courses in other scientific fields

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Elevate

Subscriptions11
  • Elevate Subscription$3.991 Month
  • Elevate Subscription2 variants$4.991 Month
  • Elevate Subscription$7.991 Month
Show 8 more
  • Elevate Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Elevate Premium$19.991 Year
  • Elevate Subscription$21.991 Year
  • Elevate Premium14 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Elevate7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • 1 Year With 7-Day Trial7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Elevate Premium7 Days trial2 variants$39.991 Year
  • Elevate Premium7 Days trial$49.991 Year
16 purchases

Brilliant

Subscriptions16
  • Brilliant Premium - Personal stats & exclusive problems$19.991 Month
  • Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts2 variants$24.991 Month
  • Brilliant Premium$24.991 Month
Show 13 more
  • Brilliant Premium with Tutor$30.001 Month
  • Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts$74.991 Year
  • Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts$96.991 Year
  • Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts$111.991 Year
  • Brilliant Premium$111.991 Year
  • Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts2 variants$119.991 Year
  • Brilliant Premium$127.991 Year
  • Brilliant Premium7 Days trial$127.991 Year
  • Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts$149.991 Year
  • Brilliant Premium7 Days trial$149.991 Year
  • Brilliant Premium7 Days trial$159.991 Year
  • Brilliant Premium with Tutor7 Days trial$167.991 Year
  • Brilliant Premium with Tutor7 Days trial$191.991 Year

Questions

Is Elevate free?
Elevate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Brilliant free?
Brilliant is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Elevate or Brilliant?
Elevate is rated higher. Elevate averages 4.8 out of 5 from 544K ratings, while Brilliant averages 4.7 from 33K ratings.
Do Elevate or Brilliant have ads?
Both Elevate and Brilliant show ads.
Which is updated more often, Elevate or Brilliant?
Elevate ships an update weekly, and Brilliant weekly. Most recently, Elevate was updated on October 15, 2026 and Brilliant on October 15, 2026.
Which is more popular, Elevate or Brilliant?
Elevate currently peaks at #31 in the App Store charts, and Brilliant at #84. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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