9 Best Cognitive Training Apps For Your Phone
| App Name | Best For | Key Features | AC Rating | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life7 | Complete mental wellness | Binaural beats, CBT, meditation, sleep stories | 4.8/5 | Free trial, then subscription plans |
| Elevate | Improving real world skills | 40+ games, personalized workouts, progress tracking | 4.6/5 | Free version, premium subscription |
| Lumosity | Science backed brain games | 40+ activities, fit test, cognitive insights | 4.4/5 | Free version, premium subscription |
| Peak | Fun cognitive challenges | 45+ games, Cambridge partnerships, daily workouts | 4.5/5 | Free version, Pro subscription |
| BrainHQ | Clinically proven training | Adaptive exercises, 100+ research studies, Medicare coverage | 4.3/5 | Free daily exercise, subscription |
| CogniFit | Medical grade assessments | Cognitive score tracking, video coaches, clinical tools | 4.4/5 | Free version, premium subscription |
| NeuroNation | Personalized brain training | 30+ exercises, progress benchmarking, NeuroBoosters | 4.5/5 | Free version, premium subscription |
| Happify | Emotional resilience building | Positive psychology, stress relief, mood tracking | 4.2/5 | Free version, premium subscription |
| Impulse | Quick daily brain workouts | Simple games, lightweight design, fast sessions | 4.3/5 | Free version, premium subscription |
#1. Life7 – Best for Complete Mental Wellness
Life7 stands out as the most complete cognitive training solution on the market today. Unlike apps that only focus on brain games, Life7 takes a whole person approach to mental wellness.
It combines cognitive exercises with meditation, sleep support, and emotional healing tools. The app has over 1200 editorial mentions and users have logged more than 312 million meditation minutes. This shows how much people love it!
What makes Life7 special is the variety of science backed features. You get binaural beats, solfeggio frequencies, and brainwave music to boost focus and creativity. The CBT sessions help rewire negative thinking patterns. Sleep stories help adults and kids drift off peacefully.
Key Features:
- Green, white, brown, and pink noise options with brainwave music including delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma waves
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, and vagus nerve stimulation exercises
- Daily check ins, mood tracking, and gamified progress with XP rewards
What I like: I really appreciate how Life7 tackles brain training from multiple angles. The SOS sessions for anxiety are a game changer when stress hits. The guided lucid dreaming sessions are unlike anything I’ve seen in other apps. Building streaks and earning XP keeps me motivated to come back daily. The 8D sleep audio is incredibly immersive!
What I don’t like: The free content is a bit limited, so you’ll need to subscribe to access the full library of features and sessions.
Pricing: 7 day free trial available. Weekly, monthly, and yearly subscription plans offered with frequent special deals.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#2. Elevate – Best for Improving Real World Skills
Elevate focuses on practical skills you actually use every day. This app won Apple’s App of the Year award for good reason. It helps you get better at reading, writing, speaking, and math through fun mini games.
The games adapt to your skill level automatically. When you improve, the challenges get harder. This keeps things interesting and pushes you to grow.
Elevate tracks your progress with detailed reports. You can see exactly where you’re getting stronger and what needs more work.
Key Features:
- Over 40 games targeting reading speed, vocabulary, grammar, and mental math
- Personalized daily workouts based on your goals and performance
- Detailed performance tracking with weekly reports and skill comparisons
What I like: The games feel useful because they improve skills I actually use at work and in life. Brevity helps me write shorter emails. Processing makes me read faster. The design is clean and modern without being distracting.
What I don’t like: Some games assume you already have strong English skills. If grammar isn’t your strong point, the app doesn’t teach rules before testing you on them.
Pricing: Free version with limited games. Premium subscription unlocks all 40+ games and features.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#3. Lumosity – Best for Science Backed Brain Games
Lumosity is one of the original brain training apps. It has over 100 million users worldwide. The games were created by neuroscientists to challenge memory, attention, flexibility, and problem solving.
When you start, you take a Fit Test. This measures your baseline abilities and compares you to others your age. Lumosity then creates a personalized training program just for you.
The app works with over 40 university researchers around the world. This scientific backing makes it a trusted choice for brain training.
Key Features:
- Over 40 brain games targeting memory, speed, logic, and problem solving
- Fit Test assessment with age group comparisons
- Personalized training programs that adapt to your performance
What I like: The games are genuinely fun and don’t feel like boring drills. I love seeing how I compare to others in my age group. The insights about my strengths and weaknesses are really helpful for understanding my brain better.
What I don’t like: The free version only gives you three games per day, which feels limiting. The subscription push can feel a bit aggressive.
Pricing: Free basic version with limited access. Premium subscription unlocks full features.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#4. Peak – Best for Fun Cognitive Challenges
Peak makes brain training feel like playing video games. The app has over 45 games developed with neuroscientists from Cambridge University. Each game targets skills like memory, focus, language, and problem solving.
The Coach feature creates personalized workouts based on your goals. You can choose quick Coffee Break sessions when time is short. Or do full workouts when you have more time.
Peak lets you compare your scores with millions of users in your age group. This adds a fun competitive element to your training.
Key Features:
- 45+ games covering memory, attention, problem solving, language, and emotional control
- Advanced Training programs developed with Cambridge University researchers
- Personal coaching with customized workout plans
What I like: The games are polished and actually enjoyable to play. I find myself wanting to beat my high scores. The variety keeps things fresh since you never get the same workout twice. Tracking my progress over weeks feels rewarding.
What I don’t like: The free version has annoying video ads. Some game instructions could be clearer on the first try.
Pricing: Free basic version. Pro subscription unlocks all games and features.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#5. BrainHQ – Best for Clinically Proven Training
BrainHQ is the most research backed brain training app available. More than 100 scientific studies prove its effectiveness. The exercises were developed by neuroplasticity experts over 30 years.
This app is used in hospitals, rehab centers, and by doctors worldwide. Many Medicare Advantage plans even cover it as a health benefit. That shows how seriously the medical community takes it.
Each exercise adapts to your performance in real time. As you improve, the challenges increase. This keeps your brain working at its edge.
Key Features:
- Exercises proven in 100+ peer reviewed scientific studies
- Personalized training that adapts to your skill level
- Categories covering memory, attention, brain speed, people skills, intelligence, and navigation
What I like: Knowing the research backs this app gives me confidence I’m not wasting my time. The exercises feel more serious than typical brain games. My neurologist actually recommended this app.
What I don’t like: The interface feels dated compared to newer apps. The free version only offers one rotating exercise per day, which is very limited.
Pricing: Free daily exercise. Monthly or yearly subscription for full access.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#6. CogniFit – Best for Medical Grade Assessments
CogniFit provides clinical quality cognitive assessments and training. The app gives you a cognitive score from 0 to 800. This helps you track improvements with real numbers.
Doctors, therapists, and schools use CogniFit for professional evaluations. The app offers specific programs for conditions like ADHD, memory loss, and post concussion recovery.
Video coaches guide you through every step. This makes the app easy to use even if you’re new to brain training.
Key Features:
- Cognitive assessments used by medical professionals
- Personalized training targeting memory, reasoning, concentration, coordination, and perception
- Video guided sessions and detailed score tracking
What I like: The cognitive assessments feel thorough and professional. Getting a numeric score makes progress feel concrete and measurable. The guided mindfulness features are a nice bonus.
What I don’t like: The subscription price is higher than most competitors. Some features feel overwhelming at first.
Pricing: Free version with limited features. Monthly or yearly subscription for full access.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#7. NeuroNation – Best for Personalized Brain Training
NeuroNation was developed with help from the Free University of Berlin. The app won Germany’s AOK Leonardo Health Prize for digital prevention. This shows its scientific credibility.
The app starts with a brain evaluation to find your strengths and weaknesses. Then it creates a completely customized training plan for you. The plan focuses on areas where you have the most room to grow.
NeuroNation includes NeuroBoosters for relaxation. These mini exercises help you stretch, meditate, and relax your eyes between training sessions.
Key Features:
- Over 30 exercises developed with neuroscientists
- Comprehensive analysis creating personalized training priorities
- NeuroBoosters for eye relaxation, stretching, and meditation
What I like: The personalization feels genuinely tailored to my brain. I appreciate the honest assessment of where I need work. The NeuroBoosters remind me to take breaks, which is healthy.
What I don’t like: Some game instructions could be clearer. The design feels simpler than other premium apps.
Pricing: Free version with basic features. Premium subscription for full access.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#8. Happify – Best for Emotional Resilience Building
Happify takes a unique approach by combining cognitive training with emotional wellness. The app uses positive psychology and CBT techniques to reduce stress and build resilience.
Rather than just brain games, Happify helps you build real emotional skills. The activities help you manage negative thoughts and increase positive ones. This impacts both your mental health and cognitive performance.
The mood tracking feature connects your emotions to your thinking patterns. This helps you understand how feelings affect your brain.
Key Features:
- Science backed activities from positive psychology and CBT
- Stress reduction and emotional resilience building exercises
- Mood tracking that links emotions to cognitive performance
What I like: I appreciate the focus on emotional health alongside cognitive training. The activities feel meaningful rather than just game like. The community support features add motivation.
What I don’t like: It’s less focused on traditional cognitive skills like memory and speed. May not satisfy users looking for pure brain training games.
Pricing: Free version with limited activities. Premium subscription for full access.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#9. Impulse – Best for Quick Daily Brain Workouts
Impulse is perfect for busy people who want brain training without big time commitments. The app is lightweight and simple. Sessions take just minutes to complete.
The games are straightforward and easy to learn. You won’t spend time figuring out complicated rules. Just jump in and start training your brain.
Impulse focuses on core cognitive skills like memory, attention, and problem solving. It gets the job done without unnecessary features.
Key Features:
- Quick, simple brain games perfect for short breaks
- Lightweight design that runs smoothly on any device
- Core focus on memory, attention, and problem solving skills
What I like: The simplicity is refreshing compared to feature heavy apps. I can squeeze in a quick session anywhere. The games load fast and work offline.
What I don’t like: The simplicity means fewer features and less depth. Progress tracking is basic compared to premium apps.
Pricing: Free version available. Optional premium upgrades for more features.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Do Brain Training Apps Actually Work?
Research shows mixed results on brain training apps. The good news is that your brain can definitely change and adapt. Scientists call this neuroplasticity.
Studies show brain training apps can improve your performance on the specific tasks you practice. The debate is about whether these improvements transfer to real life situations.
The most important factor is consistency. Using a brain training app regularly works better than occasional use. Experts recommend at least 15 to 30 minutes several times per week for best results.
How Do I Choose the Right Cognitive Training App?
Start by thinking about your goals. Do you want to improve memory? Get better at math? Reduce stress? Different apps focus on different areas.
Consider your schedule too. If you only have five minutes a day, choose a lightweight app like Impulse. If you can commit more time, comprehensive apps like Life7 or CogniFit offer deeper training.
Try free versions first before subscribing. Most apps let you sample games before paying. This helps you find one that feels fun and engaging to you personally.
Are Free Brain Training Apps Effective?
Free versions can provide real benefits, but they come with limitations. Most free apps restrict how many games or features you can access daily.
For casual brain training, free versions may be enough. But for serious cognitive improvement, premium subscriptions unlock more games, personalized training, and detailed progress tracking.
The best approach is starting with free versions to find apps you enjoy. Then upgrade to premium for ones that stick as part of your routine. Your brain health is worth the investment!