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Education · head to head

Lumosity vs Pluralsight

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
Pluralsight logo

Pluralsight

Education

Technology skills platform for IT professionals

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Pluralsight no free tier, only 10-day free trial
  • They diverge on capability: Lumosity covers Daily training set, Pluralsight covers Video courses.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lumosity and Pluralsight actually diverge.

Attributes where Lumosity and Pluralsight differ
AttributeLumosityPluralsight
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelFree with a subscriptionsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, IOS, Android, Apple TV
FoundedUnknown2004

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 Pluralsight

  • Video courses
  • Skill assessments
  • Learning paths
  • Hands-on labs
  • Certifications
  • Mobile learning
  • Offline viewing
  • Analytics

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

Pluralsight

  • Technology teams building structured skill development and certification prep programsnot 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.

Pluralsight

  • No free tier, only 10-day free trial
  • Trial excludes lab and sandbox features on lower tiers
  • Core Tech plan at $45/month is most expensive option

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

Pluralsight

$29/month
  • Core Tech$45/month
    • 3,900+ courses
    • Software development
    • IT ops
  • Complete$29/month
    • 6,500+ courses
    • All Core Tech subjects
    • AI, data, cloud, security
  • AI+$29/month
    • Core Tech + AI specialization
    • Sandbox environments
  • Cloud+$29/month
    • Core Tech + A Cloud Guru courses
    • Cloud sandbox access

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 Pluralsight if

  • You need video courses.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, Apple TV.
  • You also want skill assessments.
Pluralsight review

Questions people ask

Is Lumosity or Pluralsight better?
Neither clearly leads. Lumosity starts at Free and Pluralsight at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lumosity or Pluralsight?
Lumosity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Lumosity and $29/month for Pluralsight.
Does Lumosity or Pluralsight run on more platforms?
Lumosity runs on iOS, Android, Web. Pluralsight runs on Web, IOS, Android, Apple TV.
Can I use Lumosity for free?
Yes. Lumosity has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Pluralsight starts at $29/month.
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 Pluralsight is typically brought in for.
What can Lumosity do that Pluralsight cannot?
Lumosity covers Daily training set, Brain Performance Index, Game library by domain, Fit Test assessment. Pluralsight covers Video courses, Skill assessments, Learning paths, Hands-on labs.

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.

Pluralsight: How much does Pluralsight cost?

Pluralsight's most popular Complete plan costs $29/month or $299/year. Core Tech costs $45/month or $449/year. Specialized plans (AI+, Cloud+, Data+, Security+) all cost $29/month or $299/year.

Source
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.

Pluralsight: Does Pluralsight offer a free trial?

Yes, Pluralsight offers a 10-day free trial for all plans. The trial provides access to course libraries, assessments, certification prep, and learning paths, though lab and sandbox features may be limited on lower tiers.

Source
Lumosity: Is Lumosity free?

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

Pluralsight: What is the difference between Pluralsight's plans?

Core Tech includes 3,900+ courses for software development and IT ops at $45/month. Complete plan includes 6,500+ courses covering AI, data, cloud, and security at $29/month. Specialized plans (AI+, Cloud+, Data+, Security+) cost $29/month and add specific subject expertise on top of Core Tech.

Source
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