# Brainscape vs R2R

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Brainscape at 22K against R2R's 9. Brainscape also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). R2R's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 83%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). 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 R2R sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

R2R holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainscape has 22K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Brainscape's written reviews are positive against 100% of R2R's.

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, R2R every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | R2R |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews) | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r2r-advanced-chemistry/id1268437563/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 82.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 151 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **10.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [James Styles](https://appshunter.io/developer/1537953716) |

## What reviewers say

### Brainscape

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

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


### R2R

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r2r-advanced-chemistry/id1268437563)

This educational app helps students revise chemistry topics by asking targeted questions. It identifies weak areas and allows for random or topic-specific practice. An optional upgrade provides over 500 additional questions.

**Highlights:** Targeted chemistry questions, Identifies weak revision topics, Random and topic-specific practice, Exam board tailoring, Optional extra question packs

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Extra Questions Pack | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainscape free?

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

### Is R2R free?

R2R is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Brainscape or R2R?

R2R is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while R2R averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.

### Do Brainscape or R2R have ads?

Neither Brainscape nor R2R shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Brainscape or R2R?

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and R2R every 3 months. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on November 7, 2026 and R2R on November 3, 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.*