BrainWave: Altered States is a lifestyle app for iOS that uses binaural audio sequences to stimulate specific brain states for sleep and focus.
Product velocity
Maintenance
Daily rank 🇺🇸
#65
▲32Lifestyle · paid
Sentiment
4.9
1k reviews
Nemesis
BetterSleep: Relax and Sleep
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
Users hire this app to achieve non-pharmacological mental states, relying on the proprietary entrainment algorithms to bypass the limitations of standard ambient noise apps.
For Individuals seeking non-pharmacological methods for sleep aid, stress reduction, focus, and meditation.
What does it look like?
Key features
Multi-stage binaural sequences that layer frequencies to guide brain states.
Allows layering of binaural beats with third-party audio from Spotify, iTunes, or audiobook readers.
Exports time spent in relaxation and meditation programs to Apple Health.
How much does it cost?
One-time purchase model anchored by a 15-year history of development and 1,300+ reviews.
Velocity
Maintenance developmentShow more...
5 versions in history. Development pace: maintenance.
Who built it?
Banzai Labs
6 apps tracked · Lifestyle
BrainWave: Neuro Trainer ™
NeuralStack.io™: Focus & Sleep
BrainWave: Dream Inducer ™
BrainWave: 37 Binaural Series™
BrainWave: Sharp Mind ™User Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Recent user voice shows a thrilled sentiment. Users appreciate customizable binaural audio layers allow users to blend background sounds with personal music libraries.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Customizable binaural audio layers allow users to blend background sounds with personal music libraries
- Technical regressions post-update cause flat tones instead of functional brainwave audio output
49 of 49 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Thrilled overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for BrainWave: Altered States ™
How's the Lifestyle market?
The app maintains a 4.88 rating across 1,332 total ratings, positioning it as a high-authority niche utility. Its $4.99 price point contrasts with the subscription-heavy landscape of meditation apps, signaling a focus on legacy power users over broad-market recurring revenue.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
By Ipnos Software Inc.
With nearly 400,000 reviews and a long-standing market presence, this app dominates the sleep-sound niche by offering a massive library of customizable soundscapes.
- Offers a highly granular sound-mixing engine that allows users to layer multiple tracks simultaneously
- Provides a comprehensive library of guided sleep meditations that complement the core soundscape features
- Maintains a long-term content update cycle that keeps the sound library fresh for legacy users
Endel: Focus & Sleep SoundsContender
Brain.fm: Focus & Sleep MusicContender
Pzizz - Sleep, Nap, FocusContenderUnlock the head-to-head verdict: where this rival wins, and where it loses.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for BrainWave: Altered States ™
Where is it heading?
The binaural audio market is consolidating around subscription-based platforms that offer broader content libraries and adaptive AI features. BrainWave's current maintenance-mode updates leave it exposed to these rivals, so the PM must pivot to a unified interface to remain relevant.
- Technical regressions in the latest update cause flat audio output, which directly erodes the core value proposition and drives negative sentiment.
- The app maintains a consistent update cadence, but recent focus on minor sound additions fails to address the critical playback stability complaints.
The SWOT
- 15-year brand authority in binaural audio
- Proprietary Progressive Brainwave Entrainment algorithm
- Flexible external audio mixing engine
- Consolidate fragmented apps into a single interface
- Expand B2B partnerships for sleep aid
- Integrate wearable heart-rate data
Next best moves
Rebuild audio playback engine because recent updates caused flat tone output → restore core functionality
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The app's fragmented multi-app model is not just an outdated development approach…
Read the full takeFeature gaps
Real-time adaptive soundscapes (available in Endel but absent here) +1
Since the last report: The app faces a decline in functional reliability due to post-update technical regressions, while its competitive positioning has sharpened against subscription-based meditation platforms.
Bottom line
The app holds a strong niche position through proprietary entrainment algorithms, but technical regressions threaten its 15-year brand equity, so the PM must prioritize playback stability to prevent further user churn.
Unlock 3 critical frictions, 3 market threats, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeReport last updated