Education · head to head
Labster vs Lumosity
Lumosity
Education
Brain training game app from Lumos Labs, which paid an FTC settlement in 2016 over unsupported cognitive improvement claims
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Lumosity has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Labster customization is limited and labs cannot be easily adapted to specific course learning outcomes; Lumosity lumos Labs settled with the US FTC in 2016 for 2 million dollars over deceptive claims that its games improved real-world cognitive performance and could delay age-related decline, and the company was barred from making such claims without solid supporting evidence, a fact any buyer evaluating cognitive benefit claims should weigh.
- They diverge on capability: Labster covers Virtual simulations, Lumosity covers Daily training set.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Labster and Lumosity actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).
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 Labster
- Virtual simulations
- 3D environments
- Theory pages
- Quizzes
- Lab reports
- Mobile access
- Multiplayer
- Canvas
Only in Lumosity
- Daily training set
- Brain Performance Index
- Game library by domain
- Fit Test assessment
- Insights and tips
Both cover
- Progress tracking
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Labster
- Virtual labsnot Lumosity
- Pre-lab preparationnot Lumosity
- Supplemental learningnot Lumosity
- Remote educationnot Lumosity
Lumosity
- An adult wanting a short daily game habit with a cognitive theme, treated as entertainment rather than medical interventionnot Labster
- Someone comparing Lumosity against Elevate to decide between abstract cognitive games and practical skills practicenot Labster
- A user who wants a long historical performance trend across many game sessionsnot Labster
- A buyer evaluating whether the current marketing claims about cognitive benefit are consistent with the 2016 FTC settlement findings before subscribingnot Labster
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Labster
- Customization is limited and labs cannot be easily adapted to specific course learning outcomes
- Simulations can lag or freeze depending on operating system and connection speed
- Cannot fully replace hands-on physical lab experience and data collection
- Students report preference for tactile physical lab experience over virtual simulations
Lumosity
- Lumos Labs settled with the US FTC in 2016 for 2 million dollars over deceptive claims that its games improved real-world cognitive performance and could delay age-related decline, and the company was barred from making such claims without solid supporting evidence, a fact any buyer evaluating cognitive benefit claims should weigh.
- The free tier is limited to a small daily set of games, and the personalised training programme the product is built around is a paid-only feature.
- As with the brain training category broadly, evidence that improved performance on the specific games transfers to real-world cognitive ability remains contested, independent of the marketing claims addressed by the settlement.
- The subscription auto-renews and, like most mobile subscriptions, requires cancelling through app store account settings rather than within the app.
- The game library has not changed dramatically in years, and long-term subscribers report the exercises becoming repetitive well before a years subscription is up.
Pricing, plan by plan
Labster
On request- Student Access$49/month
- Course simulations
- Mobile access
- Progress tracking
- Institution$undefined/month
- All simulations
- LMS integration
- Analytics
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Custom content
- API access
- Priority support
Lumosity
Free- Lumosity$11.99/month
- Free tier gives a small daily set of games
- Full subscription unlocks the complete game library and personalised programme
- Annual plans typically run $59.99 to $79.99, cheaper per month than monthly billing
Which should you pick?
Choose Lumosity if
- You need daily training set.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want brain performance index.
Questions people ask
- Is Labster or Lumosity better?
- Neither clearly leads. Labster starts at On request and Lumosity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Labster or Lumosity?
- Lumosity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Labster and Free for Lumosity.
- Does Labster or Lumosity run on more platforms?
- Labster runs on Web. Lumosity runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Lumosity for free?
- Yes. Lumosity has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Labster starts at On request.
- What is Labster best used for?
- Labster is most often used for virtual labs, pre-lab preparation, supplemental learning, remote education. Of those, virtual labs and pre-lab preparation are not what Lumosity is typically brought in for.
- What can Labster do that Lumosity cannot?
- Labster covers Virtual simulations, 3D environments, Theory pages, Quizzes. Lumosity covers Daily training set, Brain Performance Index, Game library by domain, Fit Test assessment. Both handle Progress tracking.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Labster: What STEM subjects does Labster cover?
Labster provides interactive 3D simulations across biology, chemistry, physics, and other STEM subjects, designed for university, college, and high school students.
Lumosity: What was the FTC settlement about?
In 2016 the FTC found Lumos Labs advertising made unsupported claims that Lumosity games could delay cognitive decline, protect against conditions like Alzheimers, and improve real-world performance. The company paid 2 million dollars and was barred from such claims without solid evidence.
Labster: How many students has Labster served?
Labster has served over 6 million students and thousands of institutions globally with its virtual lab simulations.
Lumosity: Is Lumosity still available and does it still make cognitive claims?
Yes, the app and games remain available, but the company is legally restricted from the specific unsupported claims covered by the settlement.
Lumosity: Is Lumosity free?
A small daily set of games is free. The full library and personalised training programme require a paid subscription.
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