# Brainscape vs Flashcard Max

The clearest difference is rating: Brainscape at 4.8 against Flashcard Max's 4.3. Brainscape also leads on ratings volume (21K vs 21). Flashcard Max's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ads 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. Flashcard Max asks for nothing beyond the download.

Brainscape holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainscape has 21K ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 82% and 83% positive.

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, Flashcard Max every 5 days. Both last shipped on September 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | Flashcard Max |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews)** | [4.3 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashcard-max/id1430950704/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 21 |
| Positive reviews | 82.0% of reviews | **83.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 42 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [Max Myers](https://appshunter.io/developer/683535296) |

## 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


### Flashcard Max

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashcard-max/id1430950704)

Create, study, and share digital flashcards with rich media like images and text. Features include OCR for text extraction, customizable study modes, and the ability to cover parts of images. Syncs with a desktop companion app for seamless workflow.

**Highlights:** Create flashcards with text and images, Extract text from images (OCR), Customize study modes, Listen to flashcards, Share flashcard files, Integrates with desktop app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- 💰 Completely free with no ads or in-app purchases
- 🖼️ Ability to add images and screenshots to flashcards
- 📚 Powerful spaced repetition study feature
- 🎨 Customizable text formatting and colors

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Data loss issues - cards and text randomly deleted
- 🔄 Poor syncing between desktop and mobile versions
- 🖥️ Cannot use split-screen with other applications
- 🌙 Dark mode incompatibility on some devices
- 📊 Limited card organization and sorting options

**Reported bugs**

- Flashcard text randomly deletes or disappears
- Edits on mobile version don't save properly
- Ctrl+Z undo function removes all formatting on card
- App crashes when switching keyboard languages
- App freezes on certain decks requiring force quit

**Requested features**

- Automatic cloud syncing between devices (iCloud/Google Drive)
- Subfolder/nested folder organization
- Alphabetical card sorting and sequencing controls
- Batch text formatting for all cards at once
- Export to PDF or printable format


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainscape free?

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

### Is Flashcard Max free?

Flashcard Max is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Brainscape or Flashcard Max?

Brainscape is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Flashcard Max averages 4.3 from 21 ratings.

### Do Brainscape or Flashcard Max have ads?

Neither Brainscape nor Flashcard Max shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Brainscape or Flashcard Max?

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and Flashcard Max every 5 days. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on September 27, 2026 and Flashcard Max on September 27, 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.*