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Productivity · head to head

AnyList vs Brain.fm

AnyList logo

AnyList

Productivity

Grocery list and recipe app with fast list sorting and cross-household sharing, sold as a paid subscription

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Brain.fm logo

Brain.fm

Productivity

Scientifically-designed music to enhance focus and productivity

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Brain.fm has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: AnyList it requires a paid subscription for full functionality, competing directly against Bring and Samsung Food, which are free for a similar core task.; Brain.fm monthly plan at $14.99/month significantly more expensive per unit than annual plan ($8.33/month equivalent)
  • They diverge on capability: AnyList covers Real-time list sync, Brain.fm covers Neuroscience-designed music.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AnyList and Brain.fm actually diverge.

Attributes where AnyList and Brain.fm differ
AttributeAnyListBrain.fm
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer user per yearsubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, iOS, Android, Desktop
FoundedUnknown2015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AnyList

  • Real-time list sync
  • Store-layout sorting
  • Recipe import
  • Meal planning calendar
  • Barcode scanning
  • Multiple list support

Only in Brain.fm

  • Neuroscience-designed music
  • Focus tracks
  • Relaxation tracks
  • Sleep tracks
  • Offline mode
  • Multiple genres
  • Cross-platform access
  • Ad-free experience

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AnyList

  • A household that grocery shops together and wants a list that instantly reflects what a partner already addednot Brain.fm
  • Someone who wants their shopping list automatically ordered to match their regular store layoutnot Brain.fm
  • A home cook who saves many recipes online and wants ingredients converted into a list automaticallynot Brain.fm
  • A family planning meals for the week who wants that plan linked directly to a shopping listnot Brain.fm

Brain.fm

  • Focus and deep worknot AnyList
  • Sleep improvementnot AnyList
  • ADHD supportnot AnyList
  • Stress reductionnot AnyList
  • Creative work sessionsnot AnyList

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AnyList

  • It requires a paid subscription for full functionality, competing directly against Bring and Samsung Food, which are free for a similar core task.
  • Store-layout sorting has to be configured per store, which takes upfront setup time before it pays off.
  • Recipe import quality depends on how a source website is structured, similarly to other recipe-import tools.
  • It lacks the appliance integration that Samsung Food offers for households with Samsung smart kitchen hardware.
  • A household unwilling to pay may find a free competitor covers their needs adequately, making the subscription hard to justify.

Brain.fm

  • Monthly plan at $14.99/month significantly more expensive per unit than annual plan ($8.33/month equivalent)
  • ADHD mode available only with active subscription; no trial access to specialised features
  • No offline mode documented; requires internet connectivity for audio delivery
  • Content library composition not published (proprietary vs. licensed music distinction unclear)

Pricing, plan by plan

AnyList

On request
  • AnyList Complete$9.99/year
    • Full recipe manager
    • Store-layout item sorting
    • Meal planning calendar

Brain.fm

Free
  • Monthly$14.99/month
    • Task-based audio across all categories
    • Focus modes: Deep Work, Creativity, Learning, Light Work, Motivation
    • Relaxation modes: Unwind, Destress, Recharge, Chill
  • Yearly$99.99/year
    • All monthly plan features
    • 40% savings vs. monthly billing
    • Task-based audio across all categories

Which should you pick?

Choose AnyList if

  • You need real-time list sync.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want store-layout sorting.
AnyList review

Choose Brain.fm if

  • You need neuroscience-designed music.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want focus tracks.
Brain.fm review

Questions people ask

Is AnyList or Brain.fm better?
Neither clearly leads. AnyList starts at On request and Brain.fm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AnyList or Brain.fm?
Brain.fm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for AnyList and Free for Brain.fm.
Does AnyList or Brain.fm run on more platforms?
AnyList runs on iOS, Android, Web. Brain.fm runs on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop.
Can I use Brain.fm for free?
Yes. Brain.fm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. AnyList starts at On request.
What is AnyList best used for?
AnyList is most often used for a household that grocery shops together and wants a list that instantly reflects what a partner already added, someone who wants their shopping list automatically ordered to match their regular store layout, a home cook who saves many recipes online and wants ingredients converted into a list automatically, a family planning meals for the week who wants that plan linked directly to a shopping list. Of those, a household that grocery shops together and wants a list that instantly reflects what a partner already added and someone who wants their shopping list automatically ordered to match their regular store layout are not what Brain.fm is typically brought in for.
What can AnyList do that Brain.fm cannot?
AnyList covers Real-time list sync, Store-layout sorting, Recipe import, Meal planning calendar. Brain.fm covers Neuroscience-designed music, Focus tracks, Relaxation tracks, Sleep tracks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AnyList: Is AnyList free?

There is a free trial, but full ongoing use requires a paid subscription.

Brain.fm: How much does Brain.fm cost?

Brain.fm costs $14.99/month or $99.99/year. The yearly plan offers 40% savings compared to paying monthly.

Source
AnyList: How is it different from Bring?

AnyList charges a subscription for a more capable recipe manager and store-layout sorting; Bring is free with a simpler feature set.

Brain.fm: Can I try Brain.fm before paying?

Yes. Brain.fm offers a free trial before you commit to either the monthly or yearly paid plan.

Source
AnyList: Does it support recipe import?

Yes, it can import recipes from websites and convert ingredients into shopping list items.

Brain.fm: What audio modes does Brain.fm offer?

Brain.fm includes task-based audio for Focus (Deep Work, Creativity, Learning, Light Work, Motivation), Relaxation (Unwind, Destress, Recharge, Chill), Sleep (Guided Sleep, Deep Sleep, Sleep and Wake, Wind Down, Power Nap), and Meditation (Guided and Unguided).

Source
Brain.fm: Can I cancel Brain.fm anytime?

Yes. You can cancel at any time from your Account Overview or by contacting support. There are no long-term contracts.

Source
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