Head-to-head
Lumosity vs Elevate
Lumosity
70
Winner
Elevate
Elevate
80
Choose Elevate for a more comprehensive cognitive training experience.
Elevate edges out Lumosity with a higher lifetime rating and a broader range of engaging games, despite some user complaints about subscription practices. While both apps offer free and paid options, Elevate's features are generally more appreciated by users.
Head to head
Lumosity Lumosity offers a variety of brain games but many are locked behind a paywall, limiting free users to just a few options.
Elevate Elevate provides a wider range of games, though many are also behind a paywall, with only one daily game available for free users.
Lumosity Users find Lumosity's interface sometimes confusing and frustrating, especially with game instructions.
Elevate Elevate is generally considered easy to use, but users have reported issues with bugs and login problems.
Lumosity Lumosity has had complaints about account issues and customer support, with some users experiencing significant frustration.
Elevate Elevate users have also faced reliability issues, particularly with login and subscription management.
Lumosity Lumosity's pricing is viewed as high for the limited free access and the subscription model.
Elevate Elevate is also criticized for its pricing structure, with many features locked behind a subscription, but it offers a broader range of games for the price.
Lumosity Lumosity's support has been described as poor, with users struggling to resolve issues.
Elevate Elevate's customer service has also received negative feedback, particularly regarding subscription cancellations.
Pick Lumosity if
you prefer a simpler app with a focus on specific brain training games.
Pick Elevate if
you want a more diverse range of cognitive challenges and are willing to navigate subscription complexities.
Evidence note: Both apps have free and paid tiers, but Elevate's higher lifetime rating and broader feature set give it the edge despite some negative feedback.
Frequently asked
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.
- [R1] Lumosity Not Actually Free: Like Impulse and every single one of these apps, it's not actually free. You have a limited selection of things you can do unless you pay an unfair amount of money per month. Just make the app a one time purchase instead of lying about being free and helping.
- [R34] Lumosity 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.
- [R66] Elevate nice, but you need premium.: Theres only 1 game available if you dont have premium, which is the DAILY game that you can only play ONCE a day. How lame.
- [R82] Elevate all paid content: everything shown in ads is paid content, free version of the app is just bombardment with pop ups asking you to pay them on a subscription basis in order to access 95% of the app
- [R6] Lumosity ADHD puzzles need improvement: I am diagnosed with ADHD and so I was pleased to see Lumosity’s devotion it. However, I find the puzzle to be very confusing.
- [R9] Lumosity Maybe: Some games are great and too many don’t explain the how well enough. Its frustrating too often.
- [R70] Elevate Issues with log in: Activities stimulating but constant error message trying to log in. Frustrating as need to uninstall and reinstall app. Plus purchased paid version which will be a loss if this continues
- [R72] Elevate Buggy!: It has become very buggy on an iPad.
- [R10] Lumosity 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!
- [R31] Lumosity 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.
- [R64] Elevate Cannot cancel trial subscription: While the training is decent, users cannot cancel free trial subscription and are forced to pay after the trial ends. There is no option to cancel it, users have to contact customer service and they wouldn’t do anything. This is designed on purpose. Poor customer service. Poor intention by developer.
- [R73] Elevate Subscription: Still tried to take out 39.99 after I canceled the free trial way before the 7 days was up.
- [R12] Lumosity 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
- [R52] Lumosity $20 jump in 1 year: Price hike with very little changes is not good customer service. I enjoy this app but this decision was not in the interest of the user. Not worth it.
- [R88] Elevate overpriced: overpriced for some learning app 😅 took $40 from me
- [R90] Elevate App is Good, Subscription not so much: Elevate could be an amazing app, and after having the free trial for a while it has improved my language skills. My only gripe is that Every. Single. Feature is blocked behind a pay wall. I understand having a premium for some features but all of them?? I’d much rather just pay up front for the app instead of having to pay a subscription I didn’t know about w
- [R43] Lumosity Cheated: While their games are fine, their service is not good. They deleted my account without consent or notification after I upgraded my subscription to premium. That left me without access to premium features. Now their solution is like create a new account and they will restore access to remainder duration of my subscription. Again, I have to create a new account they can not restore my old a
- [R112] Elevate Bad: They charge still after your subscription is cancelled
Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store