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Education · head to head

Lumosity vs Merlin Bird ID

Lumosity logo

Lumosity

Education

Brain training game app from Lumos Labs, which paid an FTC settlement in 2016 over unsupported cognitive improvement claims

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Merlin Bird ID logo

Merlin Bird ID

Education

Free bird identification app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology using photo, sound and step-by-step ID

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; Merlin Bird ID it only identifies birds, so it is not useful for plants, insects or other wildlife the way a general nature app is.
  • They diverge on capability: Lumosity covers Daily training set, Merlin Bird ID covers Sound ID.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lumosity and Merlin Bird ID actually diverge.

Attributes where Lumosity and Merlin Bird ID differ
AttributeLumosityMerlin Bird ID
Pricing modelFree with a subscriptionFree, no ads and no in-app purchases
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebiOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Merlin Bird ID

  • Sound ID
  • Photo ID
  • Step-by-step ID
  • Offline regional packs
  • eBird-linked suggestions
  • No account required for basic use

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 Merlin Bird ID
  • Someone comparing Lumosity against Elevate to decide between abstract cognitive games and practical skills practicenot Merlin Bird ID
  • A user who wants a long historical performance trend across many game sessionsnot Merlin Bird ID
  • A buyer evaluating whether the current marketing claims about cognitive benefit are consistent with the 2016 FTC settlement findings before subscribingnot Merlin Bird ID

Merlin Bird ID

  • A casual walker who hears a bird and wants to know what it is without paying for an appnot Lumosity
  • A birdwatcher building a life list who wants identification tied to real regional sighting datanot Lumosity
  • Someone teaching a child to identify birds without exposing them to ads or a paywallnot Lumosity
  • A hiker who wants offline bird identification in an area with no signalnot 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.

Merlin Bird ID

  • It only identifies birds, so it is not useful for plants, insects or other wildlife the way a general nature app is.
  • Sound ID can struggle in noisy environments or with overlapping bird calls, since it depends on a clean audio signal.
  • Being a free institutional project, feature releases and interface polish move more slowly than a funded commercial app.
  • Photo ID accuracy drops for juvenile birds, moulting birds or poor-quality photos, more so than for well-lit adult specimens.
  • It has no social or gamified layer, so users who want streaks, badges or a community feed will find it plain by comparison.

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

Merlin Bird ID

Free
  • Merlin Bird IDFree
    • All identification modes included
    • Offline regional bird packs
    • No account required for identification

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.
Lumosity review

Choose Merlin Bird ID if

  • You need sound id.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want photo id.
Merlin Bird ID review

Questions people ask

Is Lumosity or Merlin Bird ID better?
Neither clearly leads. Lumosity starts at Free and Merlin Bird ID at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lumosity or Merlin Bird ID?
Lumosity starts at Free and Merlin Bird ID at Free.
Does Lumosity or Merlin Bird ID run on more platforms?
Lumosity runs on iOS, Android, Web. Merlin Bird ID runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Lumosity for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Merlin Bird ID is typically brought in for.
What can Lumosity do that Merlin Bird ID cannot?
Lumosity covers Daily training set, Brain Performance Index, Game library by domain, Fit Test assessment. Merlin Bird ID covers Sound ID, Photo ID, Step-by-step ID, Offline regional packs.

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.

Merlin Bird ID: Is Merlin Bird ID really free with no catch?

Yes. It has no ads, no in-app purchases and no subscription; it is funded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as a research and outreach tool.

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.

Merlin Bird ID: How is it different from eBird?

Merlin identifies birds; eBird is where you log checklists and sightings that feed the research database Merlin draws its suggestions from.

Lumosity: Is Lumosity free?

A small daily set of games is free. The full library and personalised training programme require a paid subscription.

Merlin Bird ID: Does it work offline?

Yes, once you download the regional bird pack for your area.

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