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Education · head to head

Lumosity vs PowerSchool

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
PowerSchool logo

PowerSchool

Education

More Power, Stronger School

From
On request
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.; PowerSchool no pricing information published on website
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lumosity and PowerSchool actually diverge.

Attributes where Lumosity and PowerSchool differ
AttributeLumosityPowerSchool
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree with a subscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb

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 PowerSchool

Nothing recorded that Lumosity does not also cover.

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

PowerSchool

  • Managing student enrollment and family communications at scalenot Lumosity
  • Tracking attendance, grades, and course performance across schoolsnot Lumosity
  • Planning budgets and managing school financial resourcesnot Lumosity
  • Recruiting and supporting teachers with performance analyticsnot 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.

PowerSchool

  • No pricing information published on website

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

PowerSchool

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the PowerSchool review.

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 PowerSchool if

Nothing in the data separates PowerSchool from Lumosity on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

PowerSchool review

Questions people ask

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

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.

PowerSchool: How much does PowerSchool cost?

PowerSchool does not publish pricing on their website. Visitors are directed to contact the company directly through their contact page for pricing details.

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.

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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