# Tandem vs BrainNow

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BrainNow at 100% against Tandem's 47%. BrainNow also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). Tandem's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months) and chart position (#167 vs unranked). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tandem sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. BrainNow asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tandem ships an update weekly, BrainNow every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tandem | BrainNow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tandem-practice-languages/id959001619/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **39K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 47.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#167** | — |
| Size | 304 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tripod Technology GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/606999648) | [ScandiEdu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1060079703) |

## What reviewers say

### Tandem

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tandem-practice-languages/id959001619)

**Currently charting:** #167 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Connect with native speakers worldwide for language exchange. Practice speaking, improve pronunciation, and boost vocabulary through 1-to-1 chats or group audio sessions. Offers in-app translation and message correction to aid learning.

**Highlights:** Connect with native speakers, 1-to-1 chats and group audio parties, In-app translation, Message correction, Voice and video calls, Learn 300+ languages

**Features:** Family Sharing, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tandem Pro | $14.99 | per month |
| Tandem Pro | $14.99 | per month |
| Tandem Pro | $26.90 | per 3 months |
| Tandem Pro | $26.90 | per 3 months |
| Tandem Pro Intro - 12 months | $39.99 | per year |
| Tandem Pro Plus - 12 months | $64.99 | per year |
| Tandem Pro | $69.90 | per year |
| Tandem Pro | $69.90 | per year |
| Tandem Pro | $69.99 | per year |
| Tandem Pro Intro - 12 months | $80.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for language learning
- 👍 Helpful features like translation and correction
- 🌎 Connects people from around the world
- 💡 Innovative concept for language exchange

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app
- 💬 Difficulty maintaining conversations
- 📤 Excessive ads and paywalls
- 🔒 Privacy and safety concerns
- ⚠️ Moderation issues and unfair bans

**Reported bugs**

- Messages not being delivered or synced properly
- Frequent crashes and app instability
- Login and account issues when switching devices

**Requested features**

- Better search and filtering options
- Ability to save/review past conversations
- Group chat or language party features
- More language options beyond just popular ones


### BrainNow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainnow/id1060079704)

This app offers a daily 10-minute brain stimulation learning method for young children. It features flash videos, interactive games, progress tracking, and the ability to create personalized learning content. An alarm function helps establish a consistent learning routine.

**Highlights:** Daily 10-minute brain stimulation learning, Flash videos with character pattern recognition, Interactive wrap-up games, Study progress and achievement reports, Customizable flashcard creation, Daily learning alarm

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tandem free?

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

### Is BrainNow free?

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

### Do Tandem or BrainNow have ads?

Tandem shows ads; BrainNow does not.

### Which is updated more often, Tandem or BrainNow?

Tandem ships an update weekly, and BrainNow every 6 months. Most recently, Tandem was updated on November 7, 2026 and BrainNow on November 2, 2026.

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