# Brainscape vs HSI

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Brainscape at 22K against HSI's 6. Brainscape also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and chart position (#186 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Brainscape against 4.7 for HSI. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainscape has 22K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 83% and 82% positive.

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, HSI every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | HSI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews)** | [4.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsi-instrument-approach-sim/id1278956934/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **82.7% of reviews** | 81.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#186** | — |
| Size | 42 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [NATHAN STANKEVICIUS](https://appshunter.io/developer/923933206) |

## What reviewers say

### Brainscape

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

**Currently charting:** #186 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


### HSI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsi-instrument-approach-sim/id1278956934)

Practice instrument approaches with realistic HSI displays and customizable navigation modes. Import your own approach plates to fly procedures as published. This app is designed for student pilots, instrument-rated pilots, and flight instructors.

**Highlights:** Import custom PDF approach plates, Realistic HSI instrument display, Multiple navigation modes (VOR, TACAN, LOC, NDB), Fix to Fix (Point to Point) training, Adjustable speed control for practice, Privacy-focused with zero data collection

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Upgrade | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainscape free?

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

### Is HSI free?

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

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

Brainscape is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while HSI averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.

### Do Brainscape or HSI have ads?

Neither Brainscape nor HSI shows ads.

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

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and HSI every 2 months. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on November 3, 2026 and HSI on November 1, 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.*