Whether you want to improve your memory, or learn to relax and switch off, there are thousands of interesting apps that you could add to your smart phone. But we've selected 12 of what we consider to be the most interesting brain training apps, no matter what your goal may be - from apps that will help you concentrate better and those that you can learn from to apps that will help you accomplish your goals and more - we've got it covered!
Best Apps to Boost Your Memory
The following apps will help you improve memory for names, faces, information, and other data which you will surely find useful in your everyday life.
Available on: iOS
Price: Free to try. Full version costs $4.99
Use it: To help make memorizing numbers and facts easier by using spaced repetition.
About: The app allows users to add banks of phone numbers, quotes or other facts to memorize, with built-in formats for a number of popular categories. It also sets retest reminders with different options, which is based on the idea that spacing out tests helps long-term memory.
Available on: Android
Price: Free with ads
Use it: To exercise spatial and visual memory, and to boost focus and concentration.
About: This app is one of the more popular brain games on Android, and it has received a number of good reviews too. It includes a number of different workout activities designed to exercise spatial and visual memory, focus, and concentration.
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: Free with limited access. Full range is available at a monthly subscription of $11.99
Use it: To train different areas of your mind, including attention, memory and problem solving.
About: This app is fairly well-known and gets very good reviews. It incorporates different games and exercises to train different areas of your mind, including attention, memory and problem solving. The app also sets reminders and allows you to track your progress.
Best Apps that'll Train Your Brain to Learn
These brain training apps will help develop better brain plasticity, as well as improve the ability to analyze situations, make decisions, apply logic, and absorb new information.
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: Free (with adverts)
Use it: To exercise your mental math and problem-solving skills.
About: Kakuro is a great challenge for anyone who likes Sudoku, and though it may be similar to the popular number game, Kakuro involves larger and more complex grids in which you must identify the digits in the rows and columns based on their sums. It therefore involves a little more math than Sudoku.
Available on: Android*
Price: Free (with adverts)
*On iOS, Mathemagics offer similar math training for $2.99
Use it: To improve your speed at mathematical calculations or learn helpful mental tricks.
About: This app contains problems and step-by-step solutions to train your brain to solve basic and complex equations better. It includes sections for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and squaring.
Available on: iOS, Android and Browsers
Price: $2.99
Use it: To expand and build upon your vocabulary.
About: This app takes a less intensive approach to vocabulary building: it allows you to look up the meanings to words with plain-text explanations, grammar tips and pronunciations. It also includes a game with a point-based achievement system to encourage you to learn new words.
Best Apps to Help You Relax Your Mind
These apps are great to help keep your mind free from stress, and promote relaxation.
Available on: iOS, Android and Browsers
Price: Free. Premium options are available.
Use it: To learn to meditate and relax deeply.
About: Calm.com offers different types of guided meditation and relaxation. The sessions are pretty short too (just two minutes), allowing you to take a short break from daytime stress at any time. It offers different nature scenes, ambient sounds and lots more.
Available on: Android
Price: Free
Use it: To train your brain to consciously control your breath rate and depth - helpful for relaxing and beating stress.
About: This app uses visual and audio cues to help you practice and master deep, slow breaths. It also allows you to adjust the length of a session and the duration of breaths to match your level. It also includes a timer with a gauge to help you space out your breaths.
Best Apps to Improve Your Concentration
Concentration and focus are important brain skills. These apps provide exercises to boost your concentration and will help in minimizing distractions too.
Available on: Android
Price: Free
Use it: To promote focus while working.
About: Music with words are generally distracting, but this app offers a list of classical songs to promote focus. Based on the concept of the Baroque effect and the Mozart effect, specific songs are chosen which are structured in a way that promotes mental activity.
Available on: Android
Price: Free
Use it: To help manage focus and energy in order to improve productivity.
About: The app may be set for a specific amount of time - 25 minutes is suggested - during which you have a specific goal in mind to complete. Once the 25 minutes are up, you take a short break and then repeat again. After the fourth interval, you take a longer break. The idea is that periods of work with scheduled breaks helps maintain focus and prevent burnout and procrastination.
Best Apps to Boost Your Mood
Several apps are designed to improve your mood, providing reminders, and motivation.
Available on: iOS
Price: Free or $11.99 per month with pro features.
Use it: To boost your mood and build skills for happiness.
About: Based on research from psychologists and neuroscientists, this app provides activities such as thankfulness, self-confidence, savoring and empathy.
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: Free
Use it: To improve your life with fitness, better moods, productivity and more.
About: This app is basically a life coach on your phone. It lets you choose a goal, choose from three types of coaching (advice, motivation and prompting) and helps you to work towards a desired goal. You can also hire real-life coaches through the app.
