# RemNote vs Retain

The clearest difference is update cadence: RemNote at every 3 days against Retain's every 3 weeks. RemNote also leads on ratings volume (1.7K vs 4). Retain's advantage is review sentiment (89% vs 73%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RemNote sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Retain sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Retain holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RemNote has 1.7K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of RemNote's written reviews are positive against 89% of Retain's.

RemNote ships an update every 3 days, Retain every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RemNote | Retain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remnote-notes-and-flashcards/id1545429784/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retain-ai-flashcards/id6469217518/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 73.4% of reviews | **88.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 179 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.5 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RemNote, LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1545430266) | [Paul Evans](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711681032) |

## What reviewers say

### RemNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remnote-notes-and-flashcards/id1545429784)

This learning tool combines note-taking, knowledge management, and flashcards with spaced repetition for efficient studying. Organize thoughts, link concepts, and create study materials directly from your notes. It supports PDF annotation, multimedia embedding, and offline access.

**Highlights:** Note-taking and knowledge management, Smart flashcard creation, Spaced repetition system, Linked references, PDF annotation, Multimedia embedding, To-do lists with reminders

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RemNote Pro Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| RemNote Pro + AI Monthly | $29.99 | per month |
| Pro + MCAT Monthly | $29.99 | per month |
| Pro + AI + MCAT Monthly | $39.99 | per month |
| RemNote Pro Yearly | $149.99 | per year |
| RemNote Pro + AI Yearly | $299.99 | per year |
| RemNote Pro + MCAT Yearly | $299.99 | per year |
| RemNote Pro + AI + MCAT | $399.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient note-taking and flashcard creation
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🎓 Helpful for studying and retaining information
- 💻 Seamless cross-device sync and accessibility
- 🔍 Powerful organization and search capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and performance issues
- 🔄 Syncing problems between devices
- 🔍 Steep learning curve for some features
- 📱 Mobile app limitations compared to desktop
- 💰 Subscription cost concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Crashing issues on iOS devices
- Syncing failures between desktop and mobile
- Inconsistent behavior when indenting/outdenting notes
- Bugs with image occlusion flashcards
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Handwriting and drawing support
- Improved mobile app stability and features
- Better integration with other productivity apps
- More customization options for note-taking
- Enhanced spaced repetition algorithms


### Retain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retain-ai-flashcards/id6469217518)

This minimalist flashcard app uses AI to help you create and study. Its intelligent spaced repetition algorithm optimizes review intervals for efficient learning and rapid progress. Choose from different card layouts to keep your study sessions engaging.

**Highlights:** AI-generated flashcards, Customizable card layouts, Spaced repetition algorithm, Minimalist design, Progress tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RemNote free?

RemNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Retain free?

Retain is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, RemNote or Retain?

Retain is rated higher. RemNote averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Retain averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do RemNote or Retain have ads?

Neither RemNote nor Retain shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RemNote or Retain?

RemNote ships an update every 3 days, and Retain every 3 weeks. Most recently, RemNote was updated on October 27, 2026 and Retain on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*