If you struggle with procrastination, if you work from home, or if you just can’t seem to stay focused, this full review of Brain.fm will show you one tool can turn all those around to help you become a productivity powerhouse.
(Review Last Updated August 16, 2024)
So, the big question…what is Brain.fm and can it really help you get instant focus to crush your procrastination and get things done? This full review will show you the good, the bad, and answer the questions you didn’t even know you had about Brain.fm.
First off a disclaimer: I am an affiliate for Brain.fm because I’ve been using it since 2015 and absolutely love the app. This does not affect what I share below. It does mean that if you purchase Brain.fm through my affiliate link you’ll save 10% with code robbymiles10 and I earn a commission. It’s not enough to send me on a tropical vacation, but it helps me keep the servers running.
What is Brain.fm?
Brain.fm is a science-based music app designed by neuroscientists and music engineers to help you get your brain into a specific state almost immediately.
Put simply, they use science to dang near instantly change the way your brain works to help you focus.
Whether you’re trying to get focused, relaxed, meditate, or sleep, it will help you get in the right flow for the task at hand.
The team behind Brain.fm received funding from the National Science Foundation to study the impact of music and our brains. The research includes testing against placebo controls, measuring electrical activity via EKG, and using blood flow to measure functional networks in the brain compared to other audio inputs. Just look at what’s going on in your brain.
Their EEG testing measured the electric currents of study participants. And when comparing the study group to the placebo group, they discovered the special sauce of Neural Phase Locking. That’s a fancy way of saying they discovered how to lock in a mental state based on the music you listen to.
You can read all about their research studies here.
Their science-driven and researched-based approach has helped me and my family focus, relax, meditate, and sleep better.
Every day has certain rhythms. After lunch, I tend to lose focus. Instead of reaching for an energy drink, I put on my noise-canceling headphones, turn on Brain.fm, and get to work. I’m focused, energized, and ready to complete my afternoon projects within a matter of minutes.
My kids beg for us to “put on the brain music” so they can sleep at night. As a matter of fact, I’m listening now to stay in the zone as I write this review 😁.
What’s So Good About Brain.fm?
Like I said at the beginning of this review, Brain.fm is for you if you work from home, struggle with procrastination, or just can’t seem to stay focused. Here are just a few great things about Brain.fm.
#1 – Brain.fm Gets My Mind In The Right State, In A Minute Or Less
As much as I love research and writing, I really struggle to focus and sit down and write posts like this all in once setting. I absolutely hate when I have to answer emails.
But, the right music and brain wavelength make it so much easier.
Whether it’s turning on Deep Work, Light Work, or Creative Flow, Brain.fm helps me immediately get in the right frame of mind for whatever work I need to do.
Sometimes after I’ve been on Zoom calls all day it’s hard to get back to work and actually get things done. I’ll listen to 15 minutes of Recharge, and I’m good to go for the next focused block of time.
#2 – Brain.fm Helps Get My Kids To Bed
I mentioned earlier how my kids ask for “brain music.”
Apparently, I trained them for that when they were just babies.
When we first purchased Brain.fm in 2015, my wife and I tried to do an experiment on the kids…totally ethically since no children were harmed while listening to music in their sleep.
Roughly 15 minutes before we wanted the kids to be in bed, we started the Wind Down music and picked 8 hours.
Within a few minutes, the kids started calming down and getting ready for bed.
Then instead of waking up in the middle of the night and trying to climb into my bed, they slept the whole night through!
#3 – The App Keeps Improving
The team at Brain.fm didn’t just patent their technology and rest on their success. They continue to conduct new studies and add new tracks to their continually growing library.
They’ve recently added new features to make it easier to use, easier to bookmark your favorite tracks and easier to jump back in right where you left off.
But the biggest updates have been the ability to select the type of activity you are doing, the genre of music, and the Neural Effect Level (aka the intensity).
One of my favorite recent additions has been offline listening.
I have no doubt they will continue to improve the app for the foreseeable future.
What’s Not So Good About Brain.fm?
#1 – Science Is Slow
Because everything they do is based on neuro-scientific research, it takes time to get new tracks. So, if you’re someone who gets bored listening to the same or similar tracks on repeat, you may have to wait to get newer tracks.
#2 – In-App Encouragement
For some people, this won’t be a problem, but it drives me crazy. After completing a focused block of work and listening, I get some sort of congratulations from the app saying how great I’m doing for staying focused.
I’m not a fan of this shallow pop-up-driven encouragement, but other folks I know love it because it keeps them motivated.
Luckily, in a recent update, the developers gave us the option to turn this off.
#3 – The Web App Leaves Something To Be Desired (Fixed)
The recently updated Brain.fm iOS and Android apps are great, but the web app looks and functions like it was designed in the early 2000s. The menus are not intuitive, favorite tracks seem hidden, and the whole aesthetic is dated. It’s the same great music, but the packaging is a turn-off. Stick to the mobile apps.
As of this update, the web app works exactly like the mobile app. I mainly use it as a web app on my Mac.
Who is Brain.fm for (and Who Is It NOT For)?
Brain.fm isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. I have several productivity buddies who use other similar apps like Focus@Will.
Who is Brain.fm for?
If you’re looking for a way to get instantly focused or relaxed that’s backed by research then Brain.fm is for you.
This includes anyone who:
- Works from home
- Works in a distracting office
- Needs to stay focused for long periods of time
- Wants a way to recharge between appointments
- Wants to get better or deeper sleep
Who is Brain.fm NOT for?
If you’ve already got a playlist for work and are comfortable doing things the way you’ve always done them then Brain.fm is probably not for you.
That includes anyone who:
- Is not sure how to choose quality apps. If that’s you check out Step 4 in this post.
- Is unwilling to try something new
- Is unwilling to start another subscription, even though it’s less than a cup of fancy coffee each month.
- Doesn’t want to achieve instant focus
What’s Included With Brain.fm?
When you start the free trial or subscribe, you get unlimited access to Brain.fm.
This includes:
- Unlimited sessions
- Access to every category of music to focus, relax, meditate, or sleep
- Offline access for those times when you’re not connected.
What’s the Risk in Trying Out Brain.fm?
Let me be straightforward with you…There is NO risk. Not only is everything they do backed by scientific studies, but their guarantees also can’t be beat compared to most other apps.
You can start a free trial without entering any credit card info. If you’re not satisfied after testing things out, cool. Just stop using it.
Even after you make a purchase, there’s almost no risk. The annual subscription is backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee, and you can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no contracts.
If after reading this review you decide to purchase a subscription, save 10% by using promo code robbymiles10 at checkout.
So, what are you waiting for?
Have Questions?
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