# Brainscape vs Flashcards by HS

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Flashcards by HS at none against Brainscape's 4. Flashcards by HS also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 83%). Brainscape's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Brainscape sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Flashcards by HS asks for nothing beyond the download.

Brainscape holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainscape has 22K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Brainscape's written reviews are positive against 93% of Flashcards by HS's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, Flashcards by HS every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | Flashcards by HS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews)** | [4.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashcards-by-hs/id1182307237/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 82.7% of reviews | **93.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#177** | — |
| Size | 42 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [KAZUTERU YOKOI](https://appshunter.io/developer/605271729) |

## What reviewers say

### Brainscape

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567)

**Currently charting:** #177 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

This app uses AI and spaced repetition to help you learn faster and remember longer. Create your own multimedia flashcards or access a vast marketplace of expert-curated content for various subjects and exams. It's designed for serious learners who want to optimize their study time.

**Highlights:** AI-powered flashcard maker, Spaced repetition algorithm, Expert-curated flashcard marketplace, Create multimedia flashcards, Collaborative content creation, Active recall and self-assessment

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Brainscape Pro | $19.99 | per month |
| Brainscape Pro | $59.99 | per 6 months |
| Brainscape Pro | $95.99 | per year |
| Brainscape Pro Lifetime | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Amazing flashcard app
- 👍 Great for studying and learning
- 👍 Helpful for passing exams and tests
- 👍 Convenient to use on mobile devices
- 👍 Effective spaced repetition algorithm

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and syncing issues
- 🔒 Limited functionality in free version
- 👎 Difficult to edit and organize cards
- 👎 Inaccuracies in some pre-made decks

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when switching between cards
- Syncing issues causing data loss
- Difficulty importing and organizing custom cards
- Inconsistent performance on different devices

**Requested features**

- Allow more customization of cards (e.g., adding images, audio)
- Improve search and browsing functionality
- Provide more detailed progress tracking and statistics
- Offer family/group subscription plans
- Add support for more languages


### Flashcards by HS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashcards-by-hs/id1182307237)

Create custom flashcards with images and sounds to aid learning. Supports multiple languages and offers flexible card and list formats. Organize your study sessions with adjustable question order and answer flipping.

**Highlights:** Image and sound integration, Speech synthesizer, Customizable card formats, Adjustable question order, Flip question and answer

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainscape free?

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

### Is Flashcards by HS free?

Flashcards by HS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Brainscape or Flashcards by HS?

Brainscape is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Flashcards by HS averages 4.6 from 5 ratings.

### Do Brainscape or Flashcards by HS have ads?

Flashcards by HS shows ads; Brainscape does not.

### Which is updated more often, Brainscape or Flashcards by HS?

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and Flashcards by HS every 4 months. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on November 6, 2026 and Flashcards by HS on November 2, 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.*