01 · Direct answer
They are not the same kind of audio product.
Brain.fm explicitly says it is not a binaural-beats app. Its product uses acoustic modulation embedded in functional music. Hamen gives you curated sessions built from binaural differences, isochronic rhythms, steady or pulsed pure tones, color noise and ambient beds.
That distinction changes the experience. In Brain.fm, the main choice is usually the activity—focus, sleep, relax or meditate—plus music and an intensity-style control. In Hamen, the library exposes the frequency-oriented session, compatible signal mode, tone level, ambient choice and timer.
Hamen treats frequency labels as descriptions of audio settings and library organization. Brain.fm links product research, but any study should be read for its actual task, comparison groups, outcomes and conflicts—not turned into a universal promise.
02 · Side by side
What you actually get.
| Criterion | Hamen | Brain.fm |
|---|---|---|
| Primary model | Frequency-first listening tool | Functional music for focus, sleep, relaxation and meditation |
| Binaural beats | Available in compatible beat sessions; stereo headphones needed | Brain.fm says its technology is not binaural beats |
| Signal control | Visible curated rate; binaural/isochronic or steady/pulse depending on session | Music and “neural effect” style controls; modulation is mostly abstracted |
| Catalog | 79 sessions across nine pathways | Functional music organized around mental activities and genres |
| Timer | Sleep timer with fade-out and five-day listening plans | Session timing plus Pomodoro/interval-oriented tools publicly documented |
| Platforms | iPhone and Android | Web, iOS, Android and desktop |
| Offline | Core tones/noise and bundled ambience are generated or stored locally; platform network exceptions apply | Offline downloads are publicly documented for mobile |
| Device surfaces | iOS Home/Lock widgets and Live Activities; Android Home widget and media controls | iOS widget and Control Center support documented |
| US web price | Free download; optional localized Premium shown in app | $14.99/month or $99.99/year when checked |
Snapshot checked 20 August 2026. Trials, taxes, platform prices and promotions vary. Hamen features describe current release behavior; not every Hamen session offers every signal mode.
03 · Focus, sleep and everyday use
Brain.fm is more focused on “choose a task.”
Brain.fm’s strength is low-friction functional music. It has a broader listening footprint across web and desktop, provides music genres and advertises controls such as an ADHD-oriented boost and neural-effect intensity. If you want a long focus block at a laptop without thinking about acoustic setup, Brain.fm may fit better.
Hamen is more hands-on. For a focus routine, you can choose an alpha-, beta- or gamma-labeled session, switch among the modes that session supports, balance tone and ambience, and set a timer. Those labels describe the audio—not measured attention, productivity or an ADHD treatment.
For sleep, both products provide evening-oriented audio. Brain.fm offers sleep music as part of its functional catalog. Hamen offers low-stimulation sessions, color-noise fields, ambient beds and timer fade-out. Hamen does not track sleep stages and does not claim to treat insomnia.
04 · Evidence
Brain.fm has product research; Hamen has a conservative evidence standard.
Brain.fm links a 2024 peer-reviewed Communications Biology paper involving its amplitude-modulated music. It is relevant to Brain.fm’s own product category, not validation for Hamen or binaural beats generally. The paper’s disclosures and the tested task still matter when interpreting the result.
Hamen instead links broader auditory and binaural research, labels the strength of evidence, and states when a study did not test Hamen. We explain well-described acoustics separately from mixed human-outcome evidence. Neither approach makes an audio app a medical treatment.
Read Hamen’s evidence notes for binaural perception, EEG-band labels, 40 Hz auditory responses, sleep research, noise colors and named frequencies.
05 · Decision
Choose based on interaction style, not hype.
If you want to see and shape the signal.
Best fit for curated Hz-oriented sessions, transparent mode choices, pure tones and noise, mobile widgets and a research page that states limitations.
If you want functional music that travels further.
Best fit for focus-first music, broader web/desktop access, genre variety, offline mobile downloads and more work-session timing options.
There is no reason to treat the choice as permanent. Some listeners may use functional music for daytime work and a simpler tone/noise ritual at night. The honest question is which interface helps you build the routine you will actually use.
06 · FAQ
Hamen and Brain.fm questions.
Is Brain.fm a binaural beats app?
No. Brain.fm explicitly says it does not use binaural beats as its core technology. It describes rhythmic acoustic modulation embedded within music.
Which app offers more manual frequency control?
Hamen. It presents curated frequency-oriented sessions and compatible signal choices directly. Hamen does not yet let users type an arbitrary custom carrier or beat frequency.
Which works on desktop?
Brain.fm offers web and desktop access. Hamen is currently available for iPhone and Android only; a web/desktop player is an exploration item, not a released feature.
Do I need headphones?
For Hamen’s binaural mode, yes: separate left and right signals require stereo headphones. Other Hamen modes and Brain.fm audio can be heard through speakers.
Which is better for ADHD?
Hamen does not diagnose or treat ADHD. Brain.fm markets ADHD-oriented controls, but product marketing should not replace clinical guidance. Choose based on the listening workflow, and seek qualified care for a health concern.
Sources
Official Brain.fm references.
- Brain.fm product site and official pricing
- Brain.fm science page
- Brain.fm Neural Effect support
- 2024 Communications Biology paper
- Brain.fm App Store and Google Play
Brain.fm is a trademark of its owner. Hamen and Prizmaly are not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Brain.fm.