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Education · head to head

Lumosity vs Melodics

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
Melodics logo

Melodics

Education

MIDI-only practice app for keyboard, pad controllers and electronic drums, precise rather than beginner-gentle

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.; Melodics it requires MIDI-capable hardware to function at all, so it is not usable with an acoustic piano, an acoustic guitar or any instrument without a MIDI connection.
  • They diverge on capability: Lumosity covers Daily training set, Melodics covers MIDI-only input.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lumosity and Melodics actually diverge.

Attributes where Lumosity and Melodics differ
AttributeLumosityMelodics
Pricing modelFree with a subscriptionPer user per month or year
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebmacOS, Windows, iPadOS

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 Melodics

  • MIDI-only input
  • Pad controller support
  • Electronic drum support
  • Keyboard exercises
  • Precision scoring
  • Genre-focused content

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

Melodics

  • A beat-maker with an MPC or Launchpad-style controller wanting structured finger drumming practicenot Lumosity
  • A keyboardist who owns a MIDI keyboard and wants exact timing and note accuracy feedback rather than microphone approximationnot Lumosity
  • An electronic drummer practising on a MIDI drum kit who wants graded exercisesnot Lumosity
  • A producer wanting to build pad-based performance technique for live sets rather than studio programmingnot 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.

Melodics

  • It requires MIDI-capable hardware to function at all, so it is not usable with an acoustic piano, an acoustic guitar or any instrument without a MIDI connection.
  • Its content is weighted toward electronic, hip-hop and contemporary genres, so a classical piano student will find the repertoire a poor fit compared with Flowkey.
  • It is not aimed at complete beginners deciding whether to learn an instrument, since it assumes you already own compatible gear and have basic familiarity with it.
  • Platform support is narrower than the microphone-based apps in this cluster, without the same breadth of mobile phone accessibility.
  • The precision it offers only matters if your MIDI hardware itself has good build quality and low latency; cheap or poorly calibrated controllers will still produce inconsistent scoring regardless of your playing.

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

Melodics

Free
  • MelodicsFree
    • Limited lesson access
  • Premium$9.99/month
    • Full lesson library
    • Precision MIDI scoring
    • Available around $120 a year on annual billing

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 Melodics if

  • You need midi-only input.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iPadOS.
  • You also want pad controller support.
Melodics review

Questions people ask

Is Lumosity or Melodics better?
Neither clearly leads. Lumosity starts at Free and Melodics at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lumosity or Melodics?
Lumosity starts at Free and Melodics at Free.
Does Lumosity or Melodics run on more platforms?
Lumosity runs on iOS, Android, Web. Melodics runs on macOS, Windows, iPadOS.
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 Melodics is typically brought in for.
What can Lumosity do that Melodics cannot?
Lumosity covers Daily training set, Brain Performance Index, Game library by domain, Fit Test assessment. Melodics covers MIDI-only input, Pad controller support, Electronic drum support, Keyboard exercises.

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.

Melodics: Do I need special hardware for Melodics?

Yes, a MIDI keyboard, pad controller or electronic drum kit is required; there is no microphone-only mode.

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.

Melodics: Does it teach classical piano?

Not really, its content leans toward electronic, hip-hop and contemporary genres rather than classical repertoire.

Lumosity: Is Lumosity free?

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

Melodics: How does it compare to Yousician or Flowkey on accuracy?

It is more precise because it reads exact MIDI data rather than inferring notes from audio, but only for users who own the required hardware.

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