Comparison

Brilliant vs Hivemind

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

Head to head
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/

About

Hivemind

This AI-powered study app transforms your learning experience by integrating educational content into a familiar social media feed format. It offers personalized feeds, interactive exercises, and unique learning modes to help you master any subject quickly and effectively.

Highlights
  • AI Study Feeds
  • Podcast to Posts Summaries
  • PDF & Web Content Import
  • Blended Topic Feed
  • Interactive Exercises
  • Feynman Mode
Read full description

Stop doomscrolling - start learning 10× faster. Hivemind is the first AI-powered study app that feels like your favorite social feed. Forget boring flashcards and instead let your existing habits turn you into an academic weapon: Memes, micro-lessons, quizzes, and instant explanations keep you locked in and leveling up. This is the fastest way to learn anything. Why Hivemind? AI Study Feeds – Type a topic (“organic chemistry”, “SwiftUI”, “K-pop history”) and get a personalized AI feed packed with memes, exercises, examples and quick takes. Podcast → Posts – Drop any podcast link; we transcribe, summarise, and turn it a full-fledged social feed. Perfect for commuters with no time to listen. PDF & Web Import – Share research papers, slide decks, or articles straight into the app. Coming soon: video import. Main Feed - Blend all topics into one addictive scroll that makes you smarter at lightspeed. Interactive Exercises – Spaced-repetition flashcards and mini-tests lock knowledge into long-term memory. Feynman Mode – Teach the AI to truly master a subject and comprehend what you just scrolled through. It was never easier to become a genius and master any topic as fast as possible. Please reach out to us, if you have any questions or ideas for improvements. We want to hear from you! Please be aware that this is a subscription-based app. We currently don't have a free tier but we are working on it. We answer any email fast, so please check your Spam folder if you haven't gotten an answer after two days. Support: https://gethivemind.app/support Privacy Policy: https://gethivemind.app/privacy Terms of Service: https://gethivemind.app/terms EULA: https://gethivemind.app/eula

Screenshots

Brilliant4 screens
Hivemind4 screens

Verdict

The call

Brilliant and Hivemind both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 79% of Brilliant's written reviews are positive against 30% of Hivemind's. Brilliant also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (32K vs 12). 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. Brilliant sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Hivemind sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. 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 — 4.7 for Brilliant against 4.7 for Hivemind. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brilliant has 32K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of Brilliant's written reviews are positive against 30% of Hivemind's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Brilliant versus Hivemind: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrilliantHivemind
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (32K ratings)4.7 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews79.1% of reviews — better30.2% of reviews
Number of ratings32K — better12
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#66 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.4
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB94 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperBrilliant.orgAether Technologies UG (haftungsbeschränkt)

Customer experience

Brilliant

All ratings32,174 ratings
Positive94.5%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews3,583 reviews
Positive79.1%
Neutral7.6%
Negative13.2%

Hivemind

All ratings12 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews179 reviews
Positive30.2%
Neutral11.7%
Negative58.1%

User reviews

Brilliant

From 32K 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

Hivemind

From 12 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Highly effective for learning
  • 👍 Engaging and efficient format
  • 🚀 Reduces time spent on social media
  • 👍 Diverse topics covered
  • 🚀 Improves studying experience

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Paywall blocks access to app
  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes prevent progress
  • 🔒 No free trial or demo available
  • 🔒 Confusing subscription options
  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance

Bugs and requests

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

Hivemind

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Progress bar not updating correctly
  • Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • Onboarding process issues
  • Compatibility problems with older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add video format support
  • Implement dark mode
  • Allow saving of favorite posts/comments
  • Improve chat/discussion functionality
  • Provide iPad version

In-app purchases

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
10 purchases

Hivemind

Subscriptions9
  • Starter Weekly$3.997 Days
  • Starter Plan Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Pro Plan Monthly3 Days trial$13.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Premium Plan Monthly$21.991 Month
  • Pro Plan 3 Months3 Days trial$29.993 Months
  • Pro Plan Yearly3 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Starter Plan Yearly$59.991 Year
  • Welcome Offer3 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Premium Plan Yearly$179.991 Year
One-time1
  • 100 Credits$9.99

Questions

Is Brilliant free?
Brilliant is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hivemind free?
Hivemind is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Brilliant or Hivemind?
Brilliant and Hivemind are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 32K and 12 ratings respectively.
Do Brilliant or Hivemind have ads?
Both Brilliant and Hivemind show ads.
Which is updated more often, Brilliant or Hivemind?
Brilliant ships an update weekly, and Hivemind weekly. Most recently, Brilliant was updated on September 24, 2026 and Hivemind on September 23, 2026.

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