Education · head to head
Lumosity vs SkySafari
Lumosity
Education
Brain training game app from Lumos Labs, which paid an FTC settlement in 2016 over unsupported cognitive improvement claims
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
SkySafari
Education
Astronomy app sold in three tiered editions, from a cheap star chart to telescope control
- From
- On request
- 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.; SkySafari the three tiers are separate purchases, so upgrading from Basic to Plus or Pro later means buying again rather than paying the price difference.
- They diverge on capability: Lumosity covers Daily training set, SkySafari covers Tiered editions.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Lumosity and SkySafari actually diverge.
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 SkySafari
- Tiered editions
- Telescope control
- Large object catalogue
- Event finder
- Observing log
- Time control
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 SkySafari
- Someone comparing Lumosity against Elevate to decide between abstract cognitive games and practical skills practicenot SkySafari
- A user who wants a long historical performance trend across many game sessionsnot SkySafari
- A buyer evaluating whether the current marketing claims about cognitive benefit are consistent with the 2016 FTC settlement findings before subscribingnot SkySafari
SkySafari
- An amateur astronomer with a motorised telescope mount who needs live control from a phone or tabletnot Lumosity
- A serious hobbyist who wants a deep-sky catalogue far larger than a casual sky map app providesnot Lumosity
- Someone planning an observing session who wants an event finder for conjunctions and eclipsesnot Lumosity
- A buyer choosing Basic first as a cheap star chart with no intention of telescope controlnot 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.
SkySafari
- The three tiers are separate purchases, so upgrading from Basic to Plus or Pro later means buying again rather than paying the price difference.
- Even the Basic tier costs more than a comparable free or freemium app like Star Walk 2 for a casual user.
- Telescope control only works with compatible motorised mounts, so it is useless to someone with a manual telescope or no telescope at all.
- Pricing fluctuates with frequent promotional sales, so the list price is not a reliable guide to what most buyers actually pay.
- The interface, particularly on the Pro tier, has a steeper learning curve than a simple AR sky map app aimed at casual users.
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
SkySafari
On request- SkySafari Basic$4.99/one-time
- Core star chart
- Modest object catalogue
- No telescope control
- SkySafari Plus$14.99/one-time
- About 2.5 million stars and 32,000 deep-sky objects
- Telescope control
- Event finder and observing log
- SkySafari Pro$29.99/one-time
- Largest catalogue tier
- Telescope control
- Advanced observation planning tools
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 SkySafari if
- You need tiered editions.
- You work on iOS, Android, macOS.
- You also want telescope control.
Questions people ask
- Is Lumosity or SkySafari better?
- Neither clearly leads. Lumosity starts at Free and SkySafari at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Lumosity or SkySafari?
- Lumosity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Lumosity and On request for SkySafari.
- Does Lumosity or SkySafari run on more platforms?
- Lumosity runs on iOS, Android, Web. SkySafari runs on iOS, Android, macOS.
- Can I use Lumosity for free?
- Yes. Lumosity has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SkySafari 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 SkySafari is typically brought in for.
- What can Lumosity do that SkySafari cannot?
- Lumosity covers Daily training set, Brain Performance Index, Game library by domain, Fit Test assessment. SkySafari covers Tiered editions, Telescope control, Large object catalogue, Event finder.
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.
SkySafari: What is the difference between Basic, Plus and Pro?
Basic is a simple star chart, Plus adds a much larger catalogue and telescope control, and Pro adds an even larger catalogue and advanced planning tools.
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.
SkySafari: Can I upgrade from Basic to Plus later?
Not as a discounted upgrade; each tier is sold as a separate one-time purchase.
Lumosity: Is Lumosity free?
A small daily set of games is free. The full library and personalised training programme require a paid subscription.
SkySafari: Does it work with any telescope?
Only telescopes with compatible motorised mounts and a supported connection method can be controlled from the app.
Related pages
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 MasterClass
- Lumosity vs Jackrabbit Class
- Lumosity vs Lightspeed Systems
- Lumosity vs Open edX
- Lumosity vs Quizizz
- Lumosity vs Rosetta Stone
- Lumosity vs Star Walk 2
- Lumosity vs Sky Guide
- Lumosity vs Stellarium
- Lumosity vs Hapara
- Lumosity vs Clever
- Lumosity vs Securly
- Lumosity vs Infinite Campus
- Lumosity vs Bark for Schools
- Lumosity vs Gaggle
- SkySafari vs Elevate
- SkySafari vs Busuu
- SkySafari vs Memrise
- SkySafari vs Anki
- SkySafari vs PictureThis
- SkySafari vs Replit AI Agent
- SkySafari vs Photomath
- SkySafari vs Miro Education
- SkySafari vs Blackboard
- SkySafari vs Skoolur
- SkySafari vs Wooclap
- SkySafari vs MasterClass
- SkySafari vs Jackrabbit Class
- SkySafari vs Lightspeed Systems
- SkySafari vs Open edX
- SkySafari vs Quizizz
- SkySafari vs Rosetta Stone
- SkySafari vs Star Walk 2
- SkySafari vs Sky Guide
- SkySafari vs Stellarium
- SkySafari vs Hapara
- SkySafari vs Clever
- SkySafari vs Securly
- SkySafari vs Infinite Campus
- SkySafari vs Bark for Schools
- SkySafari vs Gaggle