Impulse Brain Training Alternatives (and How to Cancel Impulse)
Impulse has great games, but no free tier after its 3-day trial and weekly plans that add up fast. Here’s how to cancel cleanly, and six apps you can try without a trial clock ticking.
Updated 2026-10-07. Ratings and prices from the US App Store and Google Play.
Why people look for an Impulse alternative
Impulse is huge. It has about 850,000 ratings on the US App Store at 4.7 stars, and 10M+ downloads on Google Play. The games are short and well made, and the app adds a pile of quizzes and tests. So the complaints aren’t usually about the games. They’re about the billing.
- No free tier. Impulse gives you a 3-day free trial with full access. After that it’s paid or nothing.
- Weekly plans. The App Store lists ImpulsePRO at $9.99 for a week, with discounted weekly offers from $6.99. Longer options include $39.99 for six months and a $99.99 lifetime plan (App Store, US, Oct 2026). The listing says the exact fee is shown in the app before you pay.
- It adds up. A $9.99 weekly plan left running for a year is about $520. That’s more than five years of most yearly brain training plans.
If that’s why you’re here, first cancel what you don’t want, then pick a replacement with pricing you’re comfortable with.
How to cancel Impulse
Deleting the app does not cancel the subscription. You cancel in the store that bills you:
- iPhone or iPad: open Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions. Choose Impulse and tap Cancel Subscription.
- Android: open the Google Play Store app, tap your profile picture, then Payments & subscriptions, then Subscriptions. Choose Impulse and tap Cancel.
Impulse’s store terms say auto-renewal must be turned off at least 24 hours before the current period ends, so don’t leave it to the last evening. You keep access until the period you’ve paid for runs out. If you were charged by mistake, you can ask Apple for a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com, or use the order history in your Google Play account. Whether you get one is up to the store.
Disclosure
We make Memo, which is on this list. We’ll be upfront about every app’s pricing, including ours: Memo has no weekly plan, just monthly or yearly. Figures are from the US App Store, October 2026.
Impulse alternatives at a glance
| App | Free option | Price (App Store, US, Oct 2026) | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memo | Every game playable free in the browser; 2 free in app | $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr, 7-day trial | 5.0 (3 ratings) |
| MindPal | Free to use, Pro upgrade | $7.99/mo, $39.99/yr, $99.99 lifetime | 4.7 (86k) |
| Elevate | Basic free version | $9.99/mo or $39.99/yr | 4.8 (544k) |
| Peak | Basic free version | Pro plans $2.99–$34.99 | 4.7 (146k) |
| Lumosity | Fit Test + limited daily games | Premium options $11.99–$89.00 | 4.7 (130k) |
| Mind Games | Many games free | Pro version $4.99 one-off | 4.6 (12k) |
1. Memo: try every game free before you pay anything
Memo has eight games: the Chimp Test, a Stroop test, a word recall test, a memory matching game, mental math, an angle puzzle, and free breathing and Do Nothing timers. Two differences from Impulse: there is no weekly billing, and you can play all of it free in your browser first and decide with no trial clock running. On price: Breathing and Do Nothing are free. Premium unlocks the other six games for $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year, after a 7-day free trial.
Good
- Every game has a free browser version on this site
- Breathing and Do Nothing are free in the app
- Short: about five minutes for the whole set
Not so good
- Brand new, with only 3 App Store ratings
- 8 games against Impulse’s dozens
- No adaptive difficulty, no IQ or personality tests
2. MindPal: the same feel, clearer pricing
MindPal is the closest match in style: lots of quick, colorful games and a personalized daily workout. Unlike Impulse, it publishes its prices in the store description: $7.99 a month, $39.99 a year, or $99.99 lifetime. It has 4.7 stars from about 86,000 reviews.
Good
- 40 games across seven skills, including language
- Free to use, with Pro as an upgrade
- Prices printed in the store listing
Not so good
- Fewer extras than Impulse (no personality tests)
- Smaller community
3. Elevate: a real free tier
If the trial-then-charge pattern is what put you off, Elevate’s basic free version is a relief. Its listing says you reach it by tapping the X after you sign up. The paid plans are $9.99 a month or $39.99 a year. It leans toward language and practical math rather than pure memory games.
Good
- Basic free version that doesn’t expire
- Strong on reading, writing and math
- 4.8 from 544k reviews
Not so good
- Less arcade-like than Impulse
- Full program is paid
4. Peak: big library, free basic version
Peak is the nearest thing to Impulse’s breadth with a free tier attached. Pro plans on the App Store run from $2.99 to $34.99 depending on the offer, and its rating is 4.7 from about 146,000 reviews.
Good
- 45+ games in six categories
- Under-five-minute “Coffee Break” workouts
- Free basic version
Not so good
- Lots of different offers in the store
- Several ownership changes since launch
5. Lumosity: the original
Lumosity is the brand most people compare everything to. Its free account is limited, but you can play some every day without a card on file. Premium options are listed from $11.99 to $89.00. See our Lumosity alternatives page for its full story.
Good
- 40+ games
- Free 10-minute Fit Test
- 4.8 on Google Play from 324k ratings
Not so good
- Free version is a small daily selection
- Settled FTC advertising charges in 2016
6. Mind Games: mostly free, old-school
Mind Games, by Mindware Consulting, is the anti-subscription option. Many games are free, and the Pro version is a separate $4.99 app on the App Store. The Android version is still updated. The iPhone version hasn’t had an update since May 2024, so expect an older look.
Good
- Many games free to play
- Pro is a one-off $4.99 app, not a subscription
- 10M+ downloads on Android
Not so good
- Dated design
- iPhone app hasn’t been updated since May 2024
A word on Impulse’s IQ tests
Part of Impulse’s appeal is its library of “IQ tests,” personality types and emotional intelligence quizzes. They’re fun, but an in-app quiz isn’t a validated IQ test, and practicing brain games doesn’t raise IQ. Large reviews of the research find people get better at the games they practice and much less at anything else. We go through it in do brain training apps work?.
How to avoid the next surprise charge
- Before starting any trial, put a reminder in your calendar for the day before it ends.
- Compare the weekly price × 52 with the yearly price. The yearly plan is almost always far cheaper.
- Prefer apps with a free tier or a free web version, so you know you like it before you pay.
- Check Settings → Subscriptions (iPhone) or Play Store → Subscriptions (Android) once a month.
Questions people ask
How do I cancel my Impulse subscription?
On iPhone: Settings → your name → Subscriptions → Impulse → Cancel Subscription. On Android: Google Play Store → profile picture → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions → Impulse → Cancel. Deleting the app doesn’t cancel it. Turn off renewal at least 24 hours before the period ends.
How much does Impulse cost?
On the US App Store in October 2026, ImpulsePRO is listed at $9.99 for a week (discounted weekly offers from $6.99), $39.99 for six months, and $99.99 for lifetime access. The app shows the exact price before you pay.
Is Impulse free?
Only for the 3-day trial, which includes full access. After that you need a paid plan. If you want something free, Elevate and Peak have basic free versions, and Memo’s games are free to play in the browser.
Are Impulse’s IQ tests accurate?
Treat them as entertainment. An in-app quiz isn’t a standardized, validated IQ test, and research finds that brain games improve the trained games far more than general intelligence.
Is there an app like Impulse with a lifetime plan?
Impulse itself has a $99.99 lifetime plan. MindPal also lists $99.99 lifetime, plus $7.99 monthly and $39.99 yearly options (US App Store, Oct 2026).