Lumosity vs Elevate vs Peak vs Impulse: Brain Training Apps Compared

Does brain training work? What the research says

Scientists have argued about this for years. In 2014, a statement from the Stanford Center on Longevity and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, signed by more than 70 scientists, said brain game claims are often exaggerated and that there is little evidence of broad, everyday benefits. A few months later, 133 scientists and practitioners signed a reply arguing that many trials do show useful, lasting benefits from certain kinds of training. Both groups agreed that claims should match the evidence.

In 2016, a team led by Daniel Simons reviewed the studies that brain training companies themselves cited. They found strong evidence that people get better at the games they practice, less evidence for closely related tasks, and little evidence that training improves unrelated tasks or everyday thinking. Many studies had design problems, such as small samples or weak comparison groups.

The large ACTIVE trial in older adults is often cited as the strongest support. It found lasting gains in the trained skills, especially visual processing speed, but early results showed no clear effect on daily life, and later findings on daily tasks and dementia risk have important limits. So the plain answer is: you will likely get better at the games, but evidence for far transfer to IQ, school, work or dementia prevention is weak or contested.

Lumosity vs Elevate vs Peak: what the 2016 FTC case means

In January 2016, Lumos Labs, the company behind Lumosity, agreed to pay $2 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges over its advertising. The FTC said ads claimed the games could improve performance at school, work and sports, and could delay age-related decline and dementia. In the FTC's words, "Lumosity simply did not have the science to back up its ads." A $50 million judgment was suspended because of the company's finances.

The order requires the company to have competent and reliable scientific evidence before making those kinds of claims. The case was about advertising claims, not about whether the games are fun or well made. Today, Lumosity's own site describes a large study of its training and says more research is needed to link those gains to everyday life. It is a useful reminder to read any brain training app's claims carefully.

Lumosity

Lumosity, made by Lumos Labs, is one of the best-known brain training apps. The company says it has 120 million members, and it publishes research using its games.

• Focus: daily workouts across memory, attention, speed, problem-solving, math and word skills, with 40+ games that adapt as you play
• Platforms: web browser, iPhone, iPad and Android
• Free option: free to start, with a paid Premium subscription for full access
• Price: in October 2026 the US App Store listed a one-month subscription at $14.99. Other plans vary, so check current pricing
• Strengths: a long track record, a large and polished game library, and published studies

Elevate

Elevate, from The Mind Company, leans toward everyday language and math skills more than the others.

• Focus: reading, writing, speaking, memory and math, plus daily puzzles, with 40+ games
• Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision and Android
• Free option: a free version with one three-game workout a day, a game of the week and basic tracking
• Price: in October 2026 the company listed $39.99 a year with a 7-day free trial, or $9.99 a month, at US App Store prices. Check current pricing
• Strengths: polished design and a strong focus on everyday language and math skills

Peak

Peak, made by Synaptic Labs, offers short workouts and a built-in coach that adjusts your plan.

• Focus: memory, attention, problem-solving, mental agility, language, coordination and emotion control, with 45+ games in six categories
• Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Android
• Free option: a basic free version that, according to its store listings, includes ads. Peak Pro unlocks the full catalog and tailored workouts
• Price: check current pricing in your app store
• Strengths: a wide game variety, quick sessions, and advanced training programs the company says were developed with university researchers

Impulse, and is Impulse brain training legit?

Impulse - Brain Training is made by GMRD Apps Limited. It is a real, actively updated app sold through the official Apple App Store and Google Play, where it is widely downloaded and well rated.

• Focus: a personal daily plan for memory, processing speed, attention, mental math and problem-solving, plus IQ, personality and emotional intelligence tests
• Platforms: iPhone and Android
• Free option: a 3-day free trial with full access, after which the subscription renews automatically unless you turn it off at least 24 hours before the period ends
• Price: check current pricing, since several plan lengths are offered
• Strengths: a large, growing game collection and a simple daily routine

A vision-focused Lumosity alternative

Lumosity, Elevate, Peak and Impulse mostly train thinking skills like memory, attention, language and math. They mostly do not target how your two eyes work together. If that is the skill you care about, a vision-focused app may be a better fit.

Optics Trainer's Vision and Brain Training apps are game-based training for iPhone, iPad, Android, web browsers and Meta Quest. The games focus on eye teaming, convergence and divergence, depth perception and visual reaction. Some binocular games give each eye its own target while both eyes stay open. Optics Trainer was not tested in the studies above, and we do not claim it improves IQ, memory, school or work performance, prevents dementia or treats ADHD. It is a way to practice visual skills, and it is not a diagnosis or treatment. If you have an eye condition, use it alongside your eye care professional's plan. Optics Trainer is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or prescribed care. Consult your eye care professional for guidance about your specific condition.

The apps start with a 7-day free trial. After that, mobile and web access is $14.99 a month or $149.99 a year. On the web, a free account includes 3 plays a day.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Federal Trade Commission. Lumosity to pay $2 million to settle FTC deceptive advertising charges for its brain training program. 2016
2. Stanford Center on Longevity. A consensus on the brain training industry from the scientific community. 2014
3. Cognitive Training Data. Open letter response to the Stanford Center on Longevity. 2014
4. Simons DJ, et al. Do "brain-training" programs work? Psychol Sci Public Interest. 2016
5. Association for Psychological Science. Brain-training claims not backed by science, PSPI report shows. 2016
6. Ball K, et al. Effects of cognitive training interventions with older adults: a randomized controlled trial (ACTIVE). JAMA. 2002
7. Edwards JD, et al. Speed of processing training results in lower risk of dementia. Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2017
8. Lumosity
9. Lumosity: Brain Training (App Store)
10. Elevate (The Mind Company)
11. Elevate - Brain Training Games (App Store)
12. Peak Brain Training
13. Peak - Brain Training (App Store)
14. Impulse - Brain Training (App Store)
15. Impulse - Brain Training Games (Google Play)

Related guides

• Visual Brain Training: What It Is, What the Research Says, and How to Practice