Productivity · head to head
Brain.fm vs Capacities
Brain.fm
Productivity
Scientifically-designed music to enhance focus and productivity
- From
- $14.99/month
- Rated
- -
Capacities
Productivity
A studio for your mind with object-based notes
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Capacities has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Brain.fm monthly plan at $14.99/month significantly more expensive per unit than annual plan ($8.33/month equivalent); Capacities pro plan pricing not prominently displayed on website
- They diverge on capability: Brain.fm covers Neuroscience-designed music, Capacities covers Object-based notes.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Brain.fm and Capacities actually diverge.
| Attribute | Brain.fm | Capacities |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $14.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Desktop | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2015 | 2020 |
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 Brain.fm
- Neuroscience-designed music
- Focus tracks
- Relaxation tracks
- Sleep tracks
- Offline mode
- Multiple genres
- Cross-platform access
- Ad-free experience
Only in Capacities
- Object-based notes
- Daily notes
- Properties and relations
- Graph view
- AI assistant
- Readwise
- Web clipper
- GDPR
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Brain.fm
- Knowledge workers requiring focus audio for deep work blocksnot Capacities
- ADHD individuals seeking neurologically-optimised audio for concentrationnot Capacities
- Students preparing for exams with learning and meditation supportnot Capacities
Capacities
- Productivitynot Brain.fm
- Collaborationnot Brain.fm
- Task managementnot Brain.fm
- Organizationnot Brain.fm
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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)
Capacities
- Pro plan pricing not prominently displayed on website
- Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Notion or Obsidian
- Limited third-party integration marketplace
Pricing, plan by plan
Brain.fm
$14.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Brain.fm review.
Capacities
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited spaces and objects
- Device synchronization
- Unlimited custom object types
- Pro$10/month
- Everything in Free
- Unlimited notes
- Advanced graph views
- Believer$149.88/year
- Everything in Pro
- Beta access to new features
Which should you pick?
Choose Brain.fm if
- You need neuroscience-designed music.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop.
- You also want focus tracks.
Choose Capacities if
- You need object-based notes.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.
- You also want daily notes.
Questions people ask
- Is Brain.fm or Capacities better?
- Neither clearly leads. Brain.fm starts at $14.99/month and Capacities at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Brain.fm or Capacities?
- Capacities has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $14.99/month for Brain.fm and Free for Capacities.
- Does Brain.fm or Capacities run on more platforms?
- Brain.fm runs on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop. Capacities runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Capacities for free?
- Yes. Capacities has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Brain.fm starts at $14.99/month.
- What is Brain.fm best used for?
- Brain.fm is most often used for knowledge workers requiring focus audio for deep work blocks, adhd individuals seeking neurologically-optimised audio for concentration, students preparing for exams with learning and meditation support. Of those, knowledge workers requiring focus audio for deep work blocks and adhd individuals seeking neurologically-optimised audio for concentration are not what Capacities is typically brought in for.
- What can Brain.fm do that Capacities cannot?
- Brain.fm covers Neuroscience-designed music, Focus tracks, Relaxation tracks, Sleep tracks. Capacities covers Object-based notes, Daily notes, Properties and relations, Graph view.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Capacities: What platforms does Capacities support?
Capacities is available on Web, Desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux), and Mobile (iOS, Android), allowing seamless work across devices.
SourceCapacities: Does Capacities have a free plan?
Yes, Capacities offers a free plan with unlimited spaces, objects, and blocks, device synchronization, unlimited custom object types, and 5GB media uploads total.
SourceCapacities: What AI features does Capacities include?
Capacities includes an AI Assistant available on Pro and higher plans for brainstorming, summarization, and contextual Q&A about your notes.
Source