# Brainscape vs Mastering Spectroscopy

The clearest difference is rating: Brainscape at 4.8 against Mastering Spectroscopy's 3.3. Brainscape also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 40%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). Mastering Spectroscopy's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Brainscape sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Mastering Spectroscopy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Brainscape holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainscape has 21K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Brainscape's written reviews are positive against 40% of Mastering Spectroscopy's.

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, Mastering Spectroscopy every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | Mastering Spectroscopy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews)** | [3.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastering-spectroscopy/id1196400309/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **82.1% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#155** | — |
| Size | 42 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [Onlea Enterprises Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/995311636) |

## What reviewers say

### Brainscape

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

**Currently charting:** #155 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


### Mastering Spectroscopy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastering-spectroscopy/id1196400309)

Practice organic chemistry by analyzing IR, NMR, and mass spectrum data. Identify functional groups and proton types in graphs to build organic compounds.

**Highlights:** Analyze IR, NMR, and mass spectrum data, Identify functional groups, Identify proton types, Build organic compounds, Practice organic chemistry

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| access to all samples | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainscape free?

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

### Is Mastering Spectroscopy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Brainscape or Mastering Spectroscopy?

Brainscape is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Mastering Spectroscopy averages 3.3 from 6 ratings.

### Do Brainscape or Mastering Spectroscopy have ads?

Neither Brainscape nor Mastering Spectroscopy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Brainscape or Mastering Spectroscopy?

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and Mastering Spectroscopy every 4 months. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on October 17, 2026 and Mastering Spectroscopy on September 30, 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.*