Elevate has the most genuinely useful free tier — a few full games every day. Zenelia’s free tier is the most honest for evaluating an app before you buy. Most other apps offer only a limited taste designed to push you toward a subscription.
Brain training apps almost all use the same business model: a free tier that gives you a taste, and a subscription that unlocks everything. The real question is which free tiers are genuinely useful on their own — and which are just teasers. We tested them all.
How the free tiers compare
| App | Best for | Price (annual) | Rating | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevate | Most generous free tier | Free / ~$40 yr | 8.4 | iOS, Android |
| Zenelia | Best free trial experience | Free / $44.99 yr | 9.1 | iOS |
| Lumosity | Rotating free games | Free / $109.99 yr | 7.4 | iOS, Android, Web |
| Peak | Limited daily free games | Free / ~$35–40 yr | 8.0 | iOS, Android |
Elevate — the most genuinely useful free tier
Of all the apps we tested, Elevate has the free tier that stands best on its own. Free users get a few full games every day — not locked previews, but complete exercises. For a casual user who wants to sharpen practical skills like writing and mental math without paying anything, Elevate’s free version has real, lasting value. You may simply never need the subscription.
Zenelia — the best free tier for evaluating an app
Zenelia’s free tier takes a different and honest approach. You get four games, two training sessions per week, basic cognitive tracking, and a preview of its AI coach. It is not designed as a permanent free app — it is designed to let you genuinely evaluate whether Zenelia suits you before paying. If you want to test an app properly before committing, this is the model that respects you most. And with a 7-day free trial of premium on top, you can experience the full app at no cost before deciding.
Lumosity and Peak — limited tastes
Lumosity offers a few rotating games per day on its free tier. It is enough to get a feel for the app, but it is clearly built to move you toward the (expensive) $109.99-a-year subscription. Peak is similar — a limited set of daily free games, with full statistics and the bulk of the catalog reserved for Pro.
Neither free tier is bad, but neither is a destination on its own. They are previews.
A note on CogniFit
It is worth knowing that CogniFit does not offer a free tier at all — you cannot play any games without starting a subscription (it does have a 7-day free trial of premium). If a genuine free option matters to you, CogniFit is not it.
Are free brain training apps worth using?
Yes — with the same honest caveat that applies to paid ones. A free brain training app is a perfectly good way to enjoy a daily cognitive habit. Just keep your expectations realistic: as we explain in our guide on whether brain training works, no app — free or paid — will make you broadly “smarter” on its own. Use one because you enjoy it and it gives your day structure.
The bottom line
If you want a free brain training app you can genuinely use long-term, Elevate is the clear pick — its free tier offers real games every day. If you want to properly evaluate an app before paying, Zenelia’s free tier and trial are the most honest way to do that. Lumosity and Peak give you a taste but expect you to subscribe. For the full picture on the paid versions, see our complete brain training roundup.