Comparison

MN Executive Function Scale vs Obradovic Lab AMES

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

Head to head
About

MN Executive Function Scale

This app provides a brief, standardized assessment of executive function skills for ages 2 and up. Developed by neuroscience experts, it uses an engaging virtual card-sorting game to measure cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibitory control. Results are accessible via a secure web portal for tracking growth and early detection of difficulties.

Highlights
  • Standardized executive function assessment
  • Virtual card-sorting game
  • Adaptive to individual ability
  • Measures cognitive flexibility, working memory, inhibitory control
  • Secure web portal for score access and tracking
  • Early detection of EF difficulties
  • Formative assessment for educational programs
Features
Read full description

The Minnesota Executive Function Scale (MEFS) is a subscription service for assessing executive function skills using a brief, standardized instrument administered on an iPad®. Executive function refers to the neuro-cognitive skills needed for successful learning and performance in school, at work, and in life. They include cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibitory control. How does the MEFS work? The MEFS is easy to use, but is intended to be administered only by trained and certified examiners. That is how you can be sure the MEFS results and norms are reliable and valid. The App will be fully accessible to subscribing organizations with secure login credentials provided by Reflection Sciences upon signed user license agreement. FEATURES + Created by leading research experts in developmental neuroscience + Early childhood version designed for ages 2-7 + Select an avatar to play along + Virtual card-sorting game with 7 levels of challenge + Intuitive drag and drop responses + Adaptive to individual EF ability + Takes 3 to 7 min to complete (average 4 min) + Reliable, valid, and normed + Backed by a secure web portal to immediately access scores and track growth on individuals or groups + Screening provides early detection of potential EF difficulties + Formative assessment complements educational curricula and programs designed to improve EF skills + Youth and Adult U.S. norms based on over 34,000 individuals

About

Obradovic Lab AMES

This iPad application is designed for researchers to assess executive functions and delay of gratification in children. It features three distinct tasks and has been validated with children aged 4-12 across multiple countries.

Highlights
  • Executive function assessment
  • Delay of gratification tasks
  • Child-focused research tool
  • Validated with ages 4-12
  • Cross-cultural testing
Features
Read full description

The Assessment of Motivation, Effort, and Self-Regulation (AMES) is an iPad app for researchers. It includes three tasks designed to assess executive functions and delay of gratification in children. The app has been tested extensively with children age 4 to 12 in the U.S., Ivory Coast, and Ghana.

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Obradovic Lab AMES at 5.0 against MN Executive Function Scale's 3.0. Obradovic Lab AMES also leads on monetization model (free vs subscription) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.1). MN Executive Function Scale's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Obradovic Lab AMES holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MN Executive Function Scale ships an update every 2 months, Obradovic Lab AMES every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 2, 2026 and June 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
MN Executive Function Scale versus Obradovic Lab AMES: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMN Executive Function ScaleObradovic Lab AMES
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings22
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS15.111.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperReflection Sciences LLCStanford University

Customer experience

MN Executive Function Scale

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Obradovic Lab AMES

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

MN Executive Function Scale

No in-app purchases

None

Obradovic Lab AMES

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MN Executive Function Scale free?
MN Executive Function Scale is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Obradovic Lab AMES free?
Obradovic Lab AMES is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MN Executive Function Scale or Obradovic Lab AMES?
Obradovic Lab AMES is rated higher. MN Executive Function Scale averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Obradovic Lab AMES averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do MN Executive Function Scale or Obradovic Lab AMES have ads?
Neither MN Executive Function Scale nor Obradovic Lab AMES shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MN Executive Function Scale or Obradovic Lab AMES?
MN Executive Function Scale ships an update every 2 months, and Obradovic Lab AMES every 5 months. Most recently, MN Executive Function Scale was updated on September 2, 2026 and Obradovic Lab AMES on June 9, 2026.

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