BrainHQ Cost (2026): Prices, Plans & How to Get It Free

If you have been researching brain training apps and BrainHQ keeps coming up, the price is often the first sticking point. Here is exactly what BrainHQ costs, what you get for the money, and how it compares to the alternatives.

BrainHQ pricing at a glance

The math is straightforward: paying annually saves you $72 over 12 months of the monthly plan. A year of BrainHQ costs less than seven months on the monthly plan, so if you expect to keep using it for seven months or more, the annual plan is the better choice. If you are unsure, start monthly and switch to annual once the habit sticks.

How BrainHQ pricing compares

BrainHQ sits at the pricier end of the brain training market. Here is the honest comparison:

At $96/year, BrainHQ costs more than double Elevate or Peak. Lumosity’s and CogniFit’s prices vary by plan and platform, so check the app for your exact price before comparing.

What you get for the $96

BrainHQ’s premium price reflects several things:

The scientific pedigree. BrainHQ was developed under neuroscientist Michael Merzenich, a pioneer in neuroplasticity research, and centers on processing-speed training — the area with the strongest long-term evidence in the field. The large, NIH-funded ACTIVE Trial found that this specific type of training produced measurable, lasting benefits in older adults, though the National Institute on Aging says there is not enough evidence that commercial brain-training apps have the same effect as the trial’s training. If evidence-based training is your priority, BrainHQ has the deepest published research record in the category.

A personalized program. Your subscription includes unlimited access to all BrainHQ exercises, a personalized training plan aligned with your goal, and progress tracking to keep you consistent.

Ongoing content updates. BrainHQ regularly refines its exercises based on ongoing research.

For a full assessment of what the app is actually like to use — not just what it costs — see our complete BrainHQ review.

The honest catches at that price

Two things worth knowing before committing $96:

The interface feels dated. BrainHQ has not modernized its design at the pace of competitors. On mobile, some exercises require rotating your phone to landscape mode, which is awkward for a daily habit. If you want a smooth, modern experience, this can be frustrating.

The pace is deliberately slow. BrainHQ’s training is unhurried by design — this suits methodical, careful training for cognitive health but can feel tedious if you want quick daily sessions.

Is BrainHQ worth it at $96/year?

For a deeper look at the 2026 research behind BrainHQ, see is BrainHQ worth it.

The honest answer depends on your goal:

Worth it if: You are specifically focused on cognitive health, particularly if you are an older adult interested in processing-speed training. The ACTIVE Trial research alignment is real, and the deeper evidence record justifies the premium for users who prioritize science over polish.

Not worth it if: You want a smooth, modern daily habit at a fair price. For that, look at Elevate at around $40/year for practice in everyday skills like reading, writing, and math, or Peak at around $35/year for a polished all-rounder. Neither includes BrainHQ’s Double Decision exercise or its research record.

Getting BrainHQ through Medicare Advantage or a library

BrainHQ is not covered by Original Medicare. Medicare.gov says Original Medicare doesn’t cover fitness programs, though Medicare Advantage plans may offer them as extra coverage, and that is the route BrainHQ uses. For 2026, BrainHQ’s official list names three Medicare Advantage plans that include it at no cost to members: Elderplan, Kaiser Permanente (Mid-Atlantic), and SummaCare, where it covers all members except those in the Garnet, Topaz, or Quartz HMO plans. Each plan has its own BrainHQ sign-up page, linked from that list.

BrainHQ says a plan that isn’t on the list may no longer include BrainHQ, even if it did in the past. If yours isn’t listed, call the member services number on your card and ask what brain health or fitness benefits you have now. BrainHQ also says some Medicaid plans offer it as a benefit, so the same question is worth asking there.

Public libraries are the other no-cost route. Participating libraries let patrons use the full version of BrainHQ, with every feature subscribers get, free with a library card. BrainHQ publishes a list of participating libraries on its website, and our BrainHQ free trial guide covers every free option in more detail.

BrainHQ group pricing

BrainHQ publishes group pricing for clinics, senior living communities, schools, teams, and employers that want to give people their own BrainHQ accounts and track their progress from an admin portal. Prices are per license, per month:

Licenses can be reassigned to different users each month, and the group plans include downloadable usage and progress reports. Enterprise adds options such as single sign-on and API access, and BrainHQ says volume discounts start at 20 licenses.

If you are buying for one other person, BrainHQ also sells gift subscriptions: 12 months at the standard $96, with no automatic renewal. The term starts only when the recipient redeems the gift code.

How to save on BrainHQ

Choose annual over monthly. You save $72 over the year — that is real money on an already-expensive app.

Check whether you can get it free. Some Medicare Advantage plans include BrainHQ at no cost, and participating public libraries offer full access with a library card. See the Medicare section above, and check before paying.

Use the free Daily Spark first. One free exercise a day is enough to judge BrainHQ’s style and pace. If the slow pace and dated interface bother you in week one, they will bother you at month twelve too. See our BrainHQ free trial guide for every free route.

Add family on a website annual plan. Each extra family member costs $59 a year rather than $96. Family members can only be added on the website, not to a subscription bought through the App Store or Google Play.

Weigh the app price against the refund. The Apple App Store lists BrainHQ at $13.99 a month or $94.99 a year, slightly less than the website. Website purchases, though, come with BrainHQ’s 30-day refund guarantee and are the only way to add family members.

Consider the alternatives seriously. At $96/year, BrainHQ costs roughly what two cheaper brain training subscriptions do. If you mainly want an engaging daily habit rather than research-focused training, one cheaper app like Elevate or Peak may suit you better.

BrainHQ vs the cheaper alternatives: the honest short version

Choose BrainHQ if: The scientific pedigree and ACTIVE Trial research matter most to you, and the dated interface is a fair trade.

Choose Elevate if: You want practical skill training (writing, math, vocabulary) rather than abstract cognitive exercises. $39.99/year. The skills are practical, though evidence that gains carry over outside the app is limited.

Choose Peak if: You want a polished all-rounder at fair value. Around $35-40/year.

For the full comparison across the whole category, see our best brain training apps roundup.

Common questions

How much does BrainHQ (Brain HQ) cost? In the US, $14 a month or $96 a year on the website, which works out to $8 a month on the annual plan. The Apple App Store lists $13.99 a month or $94.99 a year.

How much is BrainHQ per month? $14 on the monthly plan, or $8 a month if you pay $96 for the year.

Is BrainHQ free? Partly. The Daily Spark gives you one free exercise a day, and some Medicare Advantage plans and public libraries include full access at no cost. There is no standard free trial for individuals.

Is BrainHQ covered by Medicare? Not by Original Medicare. Some Medicare Advantage plans include it: BrainHQ’s 2026 list names Elderplan, Kaiser Permanente (Mid-Atlantic), and SummaCare.

How much does it cost to add a family member? $59 per person per year, on an annual plan bought through the website.

Does BrainHQ offer group pricing? Yes. Group licenses cost $14, $19, or $25 per license per month depending on the tier, and the Pro tier comes with a free one-month trial of 10 licenses.

Is it cheaper to buy BrainHQ on the website or in the app? Slightly cheaper in the Apple App Store, at $13.99 a month or $94.99 a year. But website purchases come with BrainHQ’s 30-day refund guarantee, while app store purchases follow Apple’s or Google’s refund rules.

Is BrainHQ worth the cost? If you value the deepest research record in brain training, yes. If you mainly want an engaging daily habit, cheaper apps like Elevate and Peak may suit you better.

The bottom line

BrainHQ at $96/year is not cheap, but it delivers something specific: the deepest scientific record in brain training, tied to the ACTIVE Trial research on processing speed. For users prioritizing evidence over experience, it is worth the premium. For everyone else, cheaper apps such as Elevate at $39.99/year or Peak at around $35/year may be a better fit for a daily habit. Start with the free Daily Spark, check whether your Medicare Advantage plan or library covers it, decide within a week or two whether the pace and interface work for you, and if not, walk away and try one of the alternatives instead.

Sources

• BrainHQ subscription plans (BrainHQ Support)
• BrainHQ family plans (BrainHQ Support)
• BrainHQ refund policy (BrainHQ Support)
• BrainHQ and Medicare offerings, full list for 2026 (BrainHQ Support)
• BrainHQ group pricing
• BrainHQ for libraries
• BrainHQ on the App Store
• Gym memberships and fitness programs (Medicare.gov)
• Ten-year effects of the ACTIVE cognitive training trial (Rebok et al., Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2014)
• Cognitive health and older adults (National Institute on Aging)