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2026 Comparison

Brain.fm vs NSDR

Brain.fm is a polished focus music app built on patented amplitude modulation, with its own peer-reviewed study. It costs $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year. NSDR.co is free, with binaural-beat focus sessions, a Pomodoro timer and guided NSDR.

Read our full Brain.fm reviewWhat Brain.fm costs

Quick Verdict

Brain.fm has the bigger product: a large music library, offline downloads, mobile and desktop apps, an ADHD setting and research on its own music. NSDR.co is free, needs no account, and puts binaural-beat focus sessions, a Pomodoro timer and 50+ guided NSDR and sleep sessions on one site. If free focus music keeps you on task, you save $99.99 to $179.88 a year.

N

NSDR is best for

People who want free binaural-beat focus sessions, a Pomodoro timer and guided NSDR between work blocks, without creating an account

B

Brain.fm is best for

People who want offline downloads, native apps, a large music library and an ADHD setting, and are happy to pay for them

Feature Comparison

Side-by-Side Breakdown

Price

NSDRFree
Brain.fm$14.99/mo or $99.99/yr

Binaural Beats

NSDR
Brain.fm

Amplitude-Modulated Music

NSDR
Brain.fm

Focus Sessions

NSDR49 across 4 modes
Brain.fmLarge library

Guided NSDR Sessions

NSDR
Brain.fm

Relax, Sleep & Meditation Modes

NSDRSleep & NSDR sessions
Brain.fm

Pomodoro Timer

NSDR
Brain.fm

Account Required

NSDR
Brain.fm

Works Without Headphones

NSDR
Brain.fm

Offline Downloads

NSDR
Brain.fm

Apps

NSDRWeb
Brain.fmWeb, iOS, Android, desktop

Research

NSDRBinaural beat studies (mixed)
Brain.fmOwn peer-reviewed study (2024)

Free Trial

NSDRFree, always a free plan
Brain.fmYes, length varies
Detailed Analysis

How They Stack Up

The Science Behind the Sound

Brain.fm and NSDR.co put rhythm into sound in different ways, and the evidence behind each is different too.

N
NSDR
Uses binaural beats: a slightly different tone in each ear, so it needs headphones
Each Focus Mode follows a preset binaural-beat frequency arc, layered under music or ambient sound
The evidence is mixed: a 2023 review found 5 of 14 EEG studies supported brainwave entrainment and 8 contradicted it
We explain how binaural beats work and where the research falls short
B
Brain.fm
Adds fast amplitude modulation inside human-composed music, which Brain.fm says produces stronger neural phase locking than binaural beats
Peer-reviewed study (Woods et al., Communications Biology, 2024): fast modulation helped sustained attention early in a task
In the same paper, 16 Hz modulation helped people with more self-reported ADHD symptoms more than other rates
The study's first author works for Brain.fm, and Brain.fm says it is supported by a National Science Foundation grant

Music Library & Experience

Brain.fm offers breadth and native apps. NSDR.co is a smaller, free toolkit that runs in the browser.

N
NSDR
49 focus sessions across 4 modes, plus ambient sounds
50+ guided NSDR and sleep sessions on the same site
No account or setup: open the browser and start
Needs a connection; there are no offline downloads
B
Brain.fm
Focus, Relax, Sleep and Meditation modes, including guided meditation, body scans and Power Nap
Offline downloads and apps for web, iOS, Android and desktop
An onboarding quiz sets stimulation level, with an ADHD boost setting
Works through speakers, since the rhythm is in the music itself

Focus + Recovery

Both apps cover more than focus. The difference is the kind of rest each one offers between work blocks.

N
NSDR
Guided NSDR sessions sit next to Focus Mode, so you can rest between blocks without switching apps
A 10-minute NSDR session fits a break between Pomodoro blocks
Free, with a promise that there will always be a free plan
Fewer focus sessions and no offline mode
B
Brain.fm
Relax, Sleep and Meditation modes, including body scans and a Power Nap activity
Built-in timers, including a Pomodoro timer
No NSDR sessions
Subscription only after the free trial
Pricing

What You'll Pay

Best Value

NSDR

Focus Music + NSDR

$0always a free plan
5 focus tracks with binaural beats
Full NSDR protocol library
Pomodoro timer integration
No account required
Web-based, no download
Try Free Now

Brain.fm

Subscription Required

$14.99/month

Or $99.99/year on the annual plan. No permanent free tier.

Pricing as of October 2026. Subject to change.

FAQ

Common Questions

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