Education · head to head
Lumosity vs MasterClass
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: 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.; MasterClass annual membership required with no option to purchase individual courses
- They diverge on capability: Lumosity covers Daily training set, MasterClass covers High-quality video.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Lumosity and MasterClass actually diverge.
| Attribute | Lumosity | MasterClass |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Free with a subscription | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | Unknown | 2015 |
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 Lumosity
- Daily training set
- Brain Performance Index
- Game library by domain
- Fit Test assessment
- Progress tracking
- Insights and tips
Only in MasterClass
- High-quality video
- Workbooks
- Community
- Mobile apps
- Offline viewing
- Smart TV apps
- Session stories
- Smart TV platforms
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Lumosity
- An adult wanting a short daily game habit with a cognitive theme, treated as entertainment rather than medical interventionnot MasterClass
- Someone comparing Lumosity against Elevate to decide between abstract cognitive games and practical skills practicenot MasterClass
- A user who wants a long historical performance trend across many game sessionsnot MasterClass
- A buyer evaluating whether the current marketing claims about cognitive benefit are consistent with the 2016 FTC settlement findings before subscribingnot MasterClass
MasterClass
- Learning from expertsnot Lumosity
- Inspirationnot Lumosity
- Skill developmentnot Lumosity
- Entertainmentnot Lumosity
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
MasterClass
- Annual membership required with no option to purchase individual courses
- No instructor interaction or personalized feedback on student work
- No hands-on exercises, assignments, or peer discussion with other students
- Limited interactivity with focus on entertainment value over practical skill development
- Difficult to cancel subscription according to customer reviews
Pricing, plan by plan
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
MasterClass
On request- Individual$10/month
- All classes
- One device
- Mobile access
- Duo$15/month
- All classes
- Two devices
- Offline viewing
- Family$20/month
- All classes
- Six devices
- All features
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.
Choose MasterClass if
- You need high-quality video.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want workbooks.
Questions people ask
- Is Lumosity or MasterClass better?
- Neither clearly leads. Lumosity starts at Free and MasterClass at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Lumosity or MasterClass?
- Lumosity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Lumosity and On request for MasterClass.
- Does Lumosity or MasterClass run on more platforms?
- Lumosity runs on iOS, Android, Web. MasterClass runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Lumosity for free?
- Yes. Lumosity has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MasterClass starts at On request.
- What is Lumosity best used for?
- Lumosity is most often used for an adult wanting a short daily game habit with a cognitive theme, treated as entertainment rather than medical intervention, someone comparing lumosity against elevate to decide between abstract cognitive games and practical skills practice, a user who wants a long historical performance trend across many game sessions, a buyer evaluating whether the current marketing claims about cognitive benefit are consistent with the 2016 ftc settlement findings before subscribing. Of those, an adult wanting a short daily game habit with a cognitive theme, treated as entertainment rather than medical intervention and someone comparing lumosity against elevate to decide between abstract cognitive games and practical skills practice are not what MasterClass is typically brought in for.
- What can Lumosity do that MasterClass cannot?
- Lumosity covers Daily training set, Brain Performance Index, Game library by domain, Fit Test assessment. MasterClass covers High-quality video, Workbooks, Community, Mobile apps.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
MasterClass: What is the pricing structure for MasterClass?
MasterClass requires an annual membership with no single-course purchase option. Standard plan costs $10/month, Plus is $15/month with offline access, and Premium is $20/month for up to 6 devices.
SourceLumosity: 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.
MasterClass: How many courses are available on MasterClass?
MasterClass has over 200 video classes taught by celebrities and experts, with each course containing approximately 20 videos of about 10 minutes each plus detailed workbooks.
SourceLumosity: Is Lumosity free?
A small daily set of games is free. The full library and personalised training programme require a paid subscription.
MasterClass: Does MasterClass provide certificates or formal credentials?
No. MasterClass does not provide certificates upon completing a course, so it does not offer formal recognition for course completion.
SourceMasterClass: Do MasterClass courses include personalized feedback from instructors?
No. All MasterClass courses are pre-recorded videos, so there is no direct interaction with instructors or personalized feedback on student work.
SourceRelated pages
More on MasterClass
Other head to heads
- Lumosity vs Elevate
- Lumosity vs Busuu
- Lumosity vs Memrise
- Lumosity vs Anki
- Lumosity vs PictureThis
- Lumosity vs Replit AI Agent
- Lumosity vs Photomath
- Lumosity vs Miro Education
- Lumosity vs Blackboard
- Lumosity vs Skoolur
- Lumosity vs Wooclap
- Lumosity vs Jackrabbit Class
- Lumosity vs Lightspeed Systems
- Lumosity vs Open edX
- Lumosity vs Quizizz
- Lumosity vs Rosetta Stone
- Lumosity vs Khan Academy
- Lumosity vs Codecademy
- Lumosity vs DataCamp
- Lumosity vs Babbel
- Lumosity vs GoStudent
- Lumosity vs Brilliant
- Lumosity vs GoGuardian
- Lumosity vs Simply Piano
- MasterClass vs Elevate
- MasterClass vs Busuu
- MasterClass vs Memrise
- MasterClass vs Anki
- MasterClass vs PictureThis
- MasterClass vs Replit AI Agent
- MasterClass vs Photomath
- MasterClass vs Miro Education
- MasterClass vs Blackboard
- MasterClass vs Skoolur
- MasterClass vs Wooclap
- MasterClass vs Jackrabbit Class
- MasterClass vs Lightspeed Systems
- MasterClass vs Open edX
- MasterClass vs Quizizz
- MasterClass vs Rosetta Stone
- MasterClass vs Khan Academy
- MasterClass vs Codecademy
- MasterClass vs DataCamp
- MasterClass vs Babbel
- MasterClass vs GoStudent
- MasterClass vs Brilliant
- MasterClass vs GoGuardian
- MasterClass vs Simply Piano