BrainGym vs Lumosity
Both apps are sometimes called "brain training". They are not the same thing. This is the honest comparison: what each one is good at, and which one you should pick for the goal you actually have.
A note on the FTC settlement
In January 2016, Lumos Labs (Lumosity's parent) settled an FTC complaint for $2 million over "unfounded" claims that the app could prevent or delay cognitive decline and improve performance at school and work. Lumosity subsequently softened its marketing. This is public record (FTC press release: "Lumosity to Pay $2 Million to Settle FTC Deceptive Advertising Charges").
We bring it up not to dunk on Lumosity, but because it is the same evidence problem the entire category lives with. The studies BrainGym cites (Simons 2016, Melby-Lervåg 2016, Redick 2013) are the same studies the FTC relied on. We try to stay on the right side of them by avoiding the claims that got Lumosity in trouble.
Pick BrainGym if
- You want to practise sitting with hard problems instead of being entertained.
- You read research and care that the product does not overclaim.
- You prefer one focused session a day over a streak treadmill.
Pick Lumosity if
- You want a polished casual game you can play in 60-second bursts.
- You like the streak-and-leaderboard reward loop.
- You are happy with reaction-time training as the primary goal.
Try BrainGym in two minutes
The fastest way to know if BrainGym is the right fit for you is to do one session. The guest demo is a Treadmill audiobook with focus checkpoints, no signup, around two minutes.