# Brainscape vs Kyoku Flashcards

The clearest difference is price: Brainscape at Free against Kyoku Flashcards's $3.99. Brainscape also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (22K vs 109). Kyoku Flashcards's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Brainscape is free to download; Kyoku Flashcards costs $3.99 up front. Brainscape sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Kyoku Flashcards asks for nothing beyond the download.

Brainscape holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainscape has 22K ratings behind it against 109, 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 73% of Kyoku Flashcards's.

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, Kyoku Flashcards every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | Kyoku Flashcards |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews)** | [4.1 (109 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kyoku-flashcards/id1484406208/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 109 |
| Positive reviews | **82.7% of reviews** | 73.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#166** | — |
| Size | 42 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [David Cordero](https://appshunter.io/developer/480825650) |

## What reviewers say

### Brainscape

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

**Currently charting:** #166 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


### Kyoku Flashcards

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kyoku-flashcards/id1484406208)

Create, organize, and study digital flashcards using your Apple Pencil. Add images, choose templates, and utilize spaced repetition for effective learning. Sync across devices and share your decks.

**Highlights:** Create custom flashcards with writing or drawing, Add images to flashcards, Choose from various templates, Organize cards into decks and folders, Spaced repetition study method, iCloud sync across devices, Export and share flashcard decks

**Features:** Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive interface
- ✨ Seamless Apple Pencil integration
- 🚀 Efficient for handwritten flashcards
- 💯 Helpful for studying and improving GPA
- 🎨 Customizable card designs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🔄 Sync issues between devices
- 📁 Lack of organization options (folders, search)
- ✏️ No text input option
- 🔍 Missing advanced review features (SRS, reminders)

**Reported bugs**

- Images not displaying correctly
- Inability to move or delete cards
- Unexpected data loss or card deletion

**Requested features**

- Add text input option
- Implement spaced repetition system (SRS)
- Allow for more card organization (folders, search)
- Improve sync and backup functionality
- Provide more customization options (colors, templates)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainscape free?

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

### Is Kyoku Flashcards free?

Kyoku Flashcards costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Brainscape or Kyoku Flashcards?

Brainscape is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Kyoku Flashcards averages 4.1 from 109 ratings.

### Do Brainscape or Kyoku Flashcards have ads?

Neither Brainscape nor Kyoku Flashcards shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Brainscape or Kyoku Flashcards?

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and Kyoku Flashcards every 9 days. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on November 1, 2026 and Kyoku Flashcards on October 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.*