What made Elevate Apple’s App of the Year?

It’s one thing to be named Apple’s App of the Year. It’s another to still be leading the category 10 years later. 

Elevate won Apple’s App of the Year award in 2014 because it helped people train their brains in ways that actually mattered, like improving focus, memory, and communication skills.

And it didn’t stop there.

In the years since, Elevate has become one of the most loved and downloaded learning apps in the world. With a 4.8-star rating and millions of users, it’s still widely considered the best brain training app—and one of the most effective tools for building real-life skills.

Whether you’re trying to boost productivity, strengthen your memory, or just build a sharper routine, here’s why Elevate earned the title back then—and why it’s still worth downloading today.

Why Apple chose Elevate in the first place

When Apple named Elevate the Best iPhone App of 2014, they praised its “polished design and plenty of attention to detail,” and thoughtful approach to brain training in areas like reading comprehension, focus, writing, and math. 

Elevate also stood out by offering games rooted in cognitive science that’s backed by research. Instead of just entertaining users, it helped them grow. The app focused on measurable improvements in areas like writing, reading comprehension, and quick thinking.

At a time when most brain games were more flash than function, Elevate took a different path:

• Thoughtful UX design
• Personalized learning paths
• Progress that translated into real-world results

That approach helped shift public perception around mental fitness, creating a new standard for educational apps.

Design that helps people learn

One of the biggest reasons people stick with Elevate is how easy it is to build a habit. You can open the app and start training in seconds.

Every part of Elevate’s experience is designed to support consistent, rewarding learning. Progress streaks and visual stats make it easy to stay motivated. The layout reduces friction and decision fatigue, helping users stay on task. Fonts, color schemes, and button placement all reinforce clarity and focus.

“This app is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It's significantly contributed to my vocabulary growth and I've only been using it for a few weeks. Especially with streaks and daily notifications to help me push myself. This app is one of a kind.”

It’s a user experience learning app that understands how people learn best: with clear goals, achievable challenges, and small wins that build into lasting habits.

Brain training that shows up in real life

Elevate focuses on six core areas: writing, reading, speaking, math, memory, and focus. These are the same skills people rely on at work, school, or just navigating daily life.

But instead of generic challenges, the app drills into specific abilities like:

• Learning how to trim wordy sentences
• Practicing calculating tips in your head
• Improving your attention during distractions
• Building confidence when speaking or writing

When you first sign up, Elevate builds your personalized training program from a diagnostic quiz and performance data. From there, the difficulty adjusts as you grow. 

Users often report real-world results: writing emails faster, solving mental math problems with less stress, remembering more names at work, and focusing longer without losing steam. That’s why Elevate continues to top app review lists year after year: It helps with the stuff that actually matters.

“I found Elevate in 2016 and found it an excellent fit for me. I think that increasing your speed in addition to memory is a great way to keep your brain fit—the results of which can be seen in everything you do throughout your life.”

“It challenges various key skills that are actually relevant to the real world. For example, sometimes when I write things, I remember a grammar rule I learned in Elevate, and I apply it to my work.”

A brain training app that keeps growing

What keeps Elevate ahead of the curve is how it continues to evolve. The core brain training experience remains strong—but now there’s even more to explore:

• Daily Crossword: an extra challenge for word lovers
• Words of the Day: helps you grow your vocabulary naturally
• Wordbend: a fast-paced word puzzle that builds language fluency

Together, these additions help users build a flexible daily practice. Some train in the morning to boost focus, others check in with the app at lunch or unwind with it before bed. However it fits into your schedule, Elevate supports consistent mental engagement without adding pressure.

And in today’s world of AI tools and LLMs (Large Language Models), these skills matter more than ever. Tools like ChatGPT can help us work faster, but human skills—like reading critically, writing clearly, and staying mentally sharp—still make the biggest difference. Elevate brain training supports those core abilities in a way that’s personal, practical, and actually enjoyable.

Why Elevate still stands out as the best brain training app

What makes Elevate the best brain training app today? A combination of personalization, quality, and impact.

• It adapts to your needs
• It’s based on proven research
• It helps improve the skills that matter most

You also don’t need to train for an hour a day to see results. You just need to keep showing up—and Elevate makes that easy. Whether you’ve got five minutes or fifteen, there’s something in the app designed to strengthen your brain without draining your energy.

Plenty of brain training apps on iOS come and go, but Elevate remains one of the few that’s consistently recommended, updated, and trusted by millions of people worldwide.

Is Elevate worth it in 2025?

Yes. And it might be more worth it than ever.

With AI tools growing more powerful, human skills have become the new competitive edge. Focus, communication, memory, and decision-making are harder to fake—and more essential than ever.

That’s where Elevate shines. It helps people sharpen their edge, think more clearly, and communicate with confidence. And it does it through science-based games you’ll actually enjoy playing.

It’s been Apple’s App of the Year, held a 4.8+ rating for nearly a decade, and most importantly, it works. So, it’s still one of the smartest apps to have on your phone.

Ready to try Apple’s App of the Year?

Elevate earned its spot as Apple’s App of the Year by setting a new bar for brain training. But the real story is what’s happened since: the millions of people who’ve used it to write more clearly, think more critically, and feel more focused every single day.

If you’ve been thinking about trying Elevate—or coming back to it—there’s never been a better time. 

Download Elevate today and unlock your brain’s full potential.