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Education · head to head

Lumosity vs Rosetta Stone

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
Rosetta Stone logo

Rosetta Stone

Education

Learn languages through immersion

From
$13.25/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.; Rosetta Stone no pricing information available on homepage; requires navigating to /buy page
  • They diverge on capability: Lumosity covers Daily training set, Rosetta Stone covers Immersive learning.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lumosity and Rosetta Stone actually diverge.

Attributes where Lumosity and Rosetta Stone differ
AttributeLumosityRosetta Stone
Starting priceFree$13.25/month
Pricing modelFree with a subscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, iOS, Android
FoundedUnknown1992

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 Rosetta Stone

  • Immersive learning
  • Speech recognition
  • TruAccent
  • Live tutoring
  • Phrasebook
  • Stories
  • Audio companion
  • Mobile apps

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

Rosetta Stone

  • Language learning across 25+ languages with immersive methodnot Lumosity
  • Speech recognition practice via TruAccent toolnot Lumosity
  • Conversational fluency building through Chat Missionsnot Lumosity
  • Custom learning materials creation with Sapphire Studionot Lumosity
  • Professional and personal development language acquisitionnot 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.

Rosetta Stone

  • No pricing information available on homepage; requires navigating to /buy page
  • Multiple membership tiers exist but pricing not displayed on main site

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

Rosetta Stone

$13.25/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Rosetta Stone 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 Rosetta Stone if

  • You need immersive learning.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want speech recognition.
Rosetta Stone review

Questions people ask

Is Lumosity or Rosetta Stone better?
Neither clearly leads. Lumosity starts at Free and Rosetta Stone at $13.25/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lumosity or Rosetta Stone?
Lumosity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Lumosity and $13.25/month for Rosetta Stone.
Does Lumosity or Rosetta Stone run on more platforms?
Lumosity runs on iOS, Android, Web. Rosetta Stone runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Lumosity for free?
Yes. Lumosity has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rosetta Stone starts at $13.25/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 Rosetta Stone is typically brought in for.
What can Lumosity do that Rosetta Stone cannot?
Lumosity covers Daily training set, Brain Performance Index, Game library by domain, Fit Test assessment. Rosetta Stone covers Immersive learning, Speech recognition, TruAccent, Live tutoring.

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.

Rosetta Stone: Where can I find Rosetta Stone pricing information?

Rosetta Stone pricing is not displayed on the main homepage. Customers must navigate to the membership purchase pages or click the JOIN NOW button to access pricing information for individual, enterprise, or school membership options. Source: https://www.rosettastone.com

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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