- Brain training apps at a glance
- Ten brain training apps worth a look
- Matching an app to what you want
- What the research says about brain training
- Games, exercises and tests: three different styles
- Habits that do more for your brain than any app
- How to get the most from a brain training app
- My plain advice on brain training apps
- Frequently asked questions
A brain training app gives you short daily games or exercises that work on memory, attention, processing speed and problem solving, and it adjusts the difficulty as your scores improve. Some lean on published research, some are pure puzzles. Ten options follow, in no particular order, with an honest note on what the evidence says.
Brain training apps are some of the most downloaded apps in the world, and it's easy to see why. Ten minutes of games feels like a small, healthy habit, a better use of the commute than scrolling, and the scores give you something to beat tomorrow.
The apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and each description comes from the provider's own website or app store listing, read this week. If you prefer puzzles to scored games, my guide to logic puzzle games that keep your brain sharp is worth a look.
Brain training apps at a glance
I checked the free plan column on each provider's own website or app store listing, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page names the app, an account, a plan or a version of it as free. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the page I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start or a store download button, so check the provider's own page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrainGain | Brain games and tests app | Swapping scrolling for training | Yes |
| BrainHQ | Brain exercise programme | Research-minded users | Yes |
| CogniFit | Cognitive assessment and training | Testing before you train | Trial only |
| Impulse | Brain training toolkit | Understanding how your mind works | Trial only |
| IQ Masters | Brain teasers and IQ tests | Logic puzzles and IQ-style tests | Not stated |
| Lumosity | Brain training games app | A baseline score to beat | Not stated |
| Mind Games | Cognitive task games | Tracking your score history | Yes |
| MindPal | Daily brain trainer app | A personalised daily workout | Yes |
| NeuroNation | Memory and focus exercises | Memory practice with structure | Not stated |
| Peak | Brain games app | Variety across six skill areas | Yes |
Ten brain training apps worth a look
BrainGain
Best for: Phone users who want to replace idle scrolling with adaptive games, mental tests and a quick daily workout.
BrainHQ
Best for: Older adults and careful readers who want exercises backed by published research, with a free exercise every single day.
CogniFit
Best for: Families and professionals who want a cognitive assessment first, then training aimed at memory, concentration or reasoning.
Impulse
Best for: Curious users who want brain games alongside insight into their own focus and memory, starting with a short full-access trial.
IQ Masters
Best for: Puzzle fans who enjoy brain teasers, logic games and IQ-style tests more than daily memory drills.
Lumosity
Best for: Goal setters who like to take a short fit test first and then watch their scores move as the games adapt.
Mind Games
Best for: Puzzle lovers who want a collection of short games based on cognitive tasks, with every score saved so progress is visible.
MindPal
Best for: Busy people who want a daily set of games chosen around the skills they'd most like to improve.
NeuroNation
Best for: Adults who want structured memory and focus exercises from a team that leans on science, in short sessions.
Peak
Best for: Those who get bored easily and want 45 or more games across six categories, with quick daily workouts.
Matching an app to what you want
- Programmes built on published research: BrainHQ, CogniFit.
- A short daily workout chosen for you: MindPal, Lumosity.
- Lots of variety so you don't get bored: Peak, Mind Games.
- Logic puzzles and IQ-style tests: IQ Masters, BrainGain.
- Understanding your own focus: Impulse, NeuroNation.
What the research says about brain training
The U.S. National Institute on Aging says there currently isn't enough evidence that commercially available computer-based brain training apps have the same effect on thinking skills as the training studied in its large trials. In plain terms, you'll get better at the games, but don't expect an app alone to protect your memory.
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That doesn't make the apps pointless. They're a pleasant way to practise paying attention, they give you a daily routine, and many people simply enjoy them. The mistake is treating them as medicine rather than as a hobby.
Games, exercises and tests: three different styles
Game-style apps wrap each skill in a short, colourful challenge and pick a daily set for you. They're the easiest to stick with and the most fun.
Exercise-style apps feel more like training. The tasks are plainer and harder, and they're often built by teams that publish research. IQ and test apps sit at the other end, mixing brain teasers with tests that give you a score to compare.
Habits that do more for your brain than any app
- Move every day. Physical activity is one of the most studied habits for brain health.
- Sleep well. Memory depends on it, and no game makes up for a short night.
- Stay social. Conversation is a workout for attention, language and memory at once.
- Learn something new. A language, an instrument or a craft stretches you more than a familiar game.
Many brain training routines lean on words, and apps for growing your own vocabulary are compared in a roundup of word-building apps.
How to get the most from a brain training app
- Keep sessions short, ten or fifteen minutes is plenty.
- Play at the same time each day so it becomes a habit.
- Mix the skills rather than replaying the same game.
- Treat score drops as normal, they're often just a tired day.
- Pair the app with a walk or a call with a friend.
Do you make brain training, memory or focus apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on brain training apps
Choose the style you'll enjoy, keep sessions short, and think of the app as a fun daily habit rather than a cure. If you want the biggest return for your brain, spend the same ten minutes walking with a friend too, and you'll get the benefits of both.
For a calmer daily challenge, the puzzles in my round-up of daily word puzzle games are a good companion.
Frequently asked questions
Do brain training apps work?
You'll get better at the games themselves, but the National Institute on Aging says there isn't enough evidence that commercial apps improve everyday thinking in the same way as the training studied in its trials.
Are there free brain training apps?
Several apps on this list name a free version or free daily exercises on their own page, so check the free plan column.
How long should I use a brain training app each day?
Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty, and a regular habit matters more than long sessions.
Are brain training apps good for older adults?
Some are built with older adults in mind, and they're a pleasant routine, but keep exercise, sleep and social contact as the main plan.
What's the difference between brain games and brain exercises?
Games wrap each skill in a fun challenge, while exercise-style apps are plainer, harder and often based on published research.
Can brain training apps help with focus?
Many target attention and focus, and some also show you how your focus changes across the day.
