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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Lumosity vs Impulse

Lumosity 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner Impulse
Impulse 4.7★ · Free + IAP 75

Impulse generally offers a more engaging and effective brain training experience, despite its aggressive monetization tactics, while Lumosity struggles with outdated content and persistent technical issues.

Full reviews: Lumosity · Impulse

Impulse, with a higher lifetime rating, is praised for its engaging brain training and IQ-like tests, though users frequently criticize its aggressive ads and paywalls. Lumosity, while having a loyal user base for its brain exercises, faces complaints about its high price, lack of new content, and significant technical and customer support issues.

Head to head

Features and Content edge: ImpulseR2R5R7R9
Lumosity Lumosity offers a variety of brain-training games that users find stimulating and helpful for cognitive abilities, especially for older adults and those with brain injuries R2R5. However, many users complain about a lack of new games, with some saying 'new games coming' promises have gone unfulfilled for over a year R7R39R41. Some find the existing games simplistic or confusing, with poor tutorials R9R13.
Impulse Impulse is lauded for its IQ-like tests and a variety of exercises that users find effective for strengthening thinking ability, focus, and memory . However, a significant number of users report that there haven't been any new games or levels added for a long time, leading to boredom and a feeling of stagnation R66.
Ease of Use tieR2R8R14R19
Lumosity Lumosity generally provides a straightforward experience for many, with some users finding it easy to pick up and use R2R8R14. However, some users, particularly older ones, report difficulty understanding game instructions . Recent updates have also made the app less enjoyable for long-term users, with changes to game mechanics and scoring R19.
Impulse Impulse is generally considered easy to use for its core brain games . However, some users with vision issues find certain games challenging . The app's frequent ads and paywalls significantly disrupt the user experience, making it frustrating to navigate and use without a subscription R67R70R75R93.
Reliability and Support tieR4R22R25R31
Lumosity Lumosity users report significant issues with app functionality, including inability to log on, progress not being counted, and lost streaks R4R22R25. Customer support is frequently described as unresponsive or unhelpful, with users being sent 'in cereals by AI' or having accounts deleted without consent R4R25R31.
Impulse Impulse users experience software freezing and unresponsiveness, rendering the app useless at times . A major concern for Impulse is its predatory subscription practices, with users reporting being charged repeatedly even after cancelling subscriptions, and the company somehow obtaining new credit card information .
Price and Value tieR1R10R12R13
Lumosity Lumosity is widely criticized for its high price, with users calling it 'a fortune,' 'too expensive,' and 'greedy' R1R13R21. Many feel the free version is too limited, offering only a few games per day and locking most content behind a paywall R12R28. There are also complaints about bait-and-switch tactics for subscriptions R10.
Impulse Impulse is also heavily criticized for its aggressive monetization, with users feeling that 'everything is premium' and that the app is a 'money grab' . Users are frustrated by paywalls that prevent them from seeing results of tests they've already completed, even during free trials . The weekly subscription cost is considered very expensive .
Pick Lumosity if

you are an older adult or someone recovering from a brain injury looking for stimulating brain exercises and don't mind the subscription cost, or if you prefer a more established platform with a loyal, long-term user base R5.

Pick Impulse if

you are looking for IQ-test like challenges and games that help with focus and memory, and are willing to pay for a subscription to avoid ads and unlock full content .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews related to their free-to-play models and subscription costs, indicating that many users are frustrated by paywalls and limited free content. Impulse has a higher volume of complaints regarding predatory billing practices and intrusive ads, despite its higher lifetime rating, which may be influenced by its larger user base and more recent, negative-skewed reviews.

Frequently asked

Is Lumosity worth the price?
Many users find Lumosity's subscription price to be too high, with complaints about it costing 'a fortune' and being 'greedy' R1R21. While some long-term users find value in the brain exercises, others feel the content is not worth the cost, especially given the limited free access and lack of new games R13R28R39.
Does Impulse have too many ads?
Yes, Impulse is heavily criticized for having 'way too many ads' that are constant, non-skippable, and interrupt almost every action, making the free experience frustrating and feeling like an 'ad delivery system' R67R70R75R93.
Are there age restrictions for Lumosity?
Lumosity has age restrictions that prevent some younger users from accessing the app, with reviews from 9 and 12-year-olds stating they were not allowed in despite the app being advertised as 9+ R3R16.
Do these apps offer new content regularly?
Both Lumosity and Impulse receive complaints about a lack of new content; Lumosity users report promises of 'new games coming' going unfulfilled for over a year, and Impulse users state that after a year, they've completed all puzzles and games with no new additions R7R39R41R66.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Lumosity 5/5 · US Keep you thinking: This game is a great to play it keeps your brain thinking and making fast decisions.
  2. [R5] Lumosity 5/5 · US ATN: Love the variety and challenge Shows me my areas that need work. I am 85 and have had 2 concussions from falls .
  3. [R7] Lumosity 2/5 · US New games: They keep saying new games coming it’s been over a year and nothing!
  4. [R9] Lumosity 3/5 · US Maybe: Some games are great and too many don’t explain the how well enough. Its frustrating too often.
  5. [R8] Lumosity 4/5 · US Lumo11: Lumosity is a nice game that trains your brain. If you want to challenge you’re brain this is the right app:)
  6. [R14] Lumosity 5/5 · US Great app: Nice way to Keep your brain in a good shape
  7. [R19] Lumosity 2/5 · US Used to love it: I renewed my subscription every year for at least 4 years because I enjoyed the challenge of many of the games and especially LOVED the train game. I worked my way up to the top level & managed 60 trains every day. I competed against my personal best each day & used that to judge how my brain was functioning each time. However, recently they changed the program & you only got the
  8. [R4] Lumosity 1/5 · US Not working at all: I have been using the paid this app for several years. However, in the past week I have not been able to log on, being sent in cereals by AI, not getting responses to my email, etc. VERY FRUSTRATED- PLEASE FIX THIS!
  9. [R22] Lumosity 2/5 · US App prob: This is the second time in as many weeks that my progress has not been counted ! I’m at almost 1500 days and it’s frustrating trying to get answers from the app
  10. [R25] Lumosity 1/5 · US Lost 126 day streak: I lost my 126 day streak along with all my badges simply because I wanted to change my email address. Now they are acting as if I am brand new and having me start all over. Support is absolutely the worst I have ever dealt with.
  11. [R31] Lumosity 1/5 · US Sign in: Ridiculous!!!!!! Hardest time ever on an app to reset password !!!!!!!
  12. [R1] Lumosity 1/5 · US Liars: It costs a fortune you learn only after a huge time waste. It data mines worse than the fed. Only good to age 55.
  13. [R10] Lumosity 2/5 · US Great App, bait and switch payment plan: I have found Lumosity to be a fun and challenging app. I thought about doing a trial subscription, but when I tried to subscribe for a monthly plan, it immediately shifted to a yearly subscription. I am a musician, and there are music apps that try to do this same thing, and worse, after having a free trial subscription, they charge you and make it impossib
  14. [R12] Lumosity 3/5 · US Paying 😔: I wish you didn’t have to pay to use Lumosity. Most people try to find websites to better them selves and we shouldn’t have to pay to do that
  15. [R13] Lumosity 2/5 · US Quite silly and basic: The games are very simplistic. One is shown directions but then once one begins to play the games move faster and there are more moving parts. Why not just show the games as they are meant to be played? The games are very rudimentary with poor graphics. I paid before I had tried it enough. It is not worth the price. A five year old may enjoy them.
  16. [R21] Lumosity 3/5 · GB Too expensive.: I love it. I do hope you will be able to make it more affordable
  17. [R28] Lumosity 2/5 · US The games are cool but not free: The games are fun, but 90% of the games on the app are locked. You have to pay to access more.
  18. [R67] Impulse 1/5 · US Too many adds: Poor
  19. [R70] Impulse 1/5 · US Way too many ads: I understand you want people to buy but the ads are way too much!
  20. [R75] Impulse 3/5 · US Ta chido: Está bien, pero tiene muchos anuncios y no se puede usar offline
  21. [R93] Impulse 3/5 · GB My opinion: This is a great app and I really like it a lot. However when they added adds I started to go off it and not like it anymore as there is practically an add after every activity you do!
  22. [R3] Lumosity 3/5 · US Umm fix: I’m 12 and it’s not letting me in
  23. [R16] Lumosity 1/5 · US WHAT DO YOU MEAN NOT MY AGE: I LITERALLY AM 9 AND THEY SAY ITS NOT MY AGE ON THE PAGE IT SAYS 9+ AND IT DOESENT LET ME IN
  24. [R39] Lumosity 3/5 · GB Still samey after all these years: I used to play this on the way to work years ago and thought it was pretty good at the time. I decided to have another look at it and was a little bit disappointed in how it hadn’t really developed. But then if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. All the old games are still going strong. There are a few new ones but there was not enough development in the app to persuad
  25. [R41] Lumosity 5/5 · US ONE STAR: I am, by their stats one of the top five players of Highway Hazards. I have been playing lumosity since i was in high school, and i get that they are making cool updates aesthetic and sort of game play wise. But it has been OVER 6 (SIX) months of “Coming Soon” with no update and they dont answer dms. Absolutely disappointed. WOULDNT ALLOW ME TO POST WITH ONE STAR.
  26. [R66] Impulse 3/5 · US Not enough updates: After a year, have already completed all the puzzles and some of the games, and there haven’t been any new ones added. I’m also not convinced of the value of some of the exercises. I probably won’t renew my subscription.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store