# Brainscape vs Flashside

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Flashside at none against Brainscape's 4. Flashside also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 82%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Brainscape's advantage is ratings volume (21K vs 2) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Brainscape sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Flashside asks for nothing beyond the download.

Flashside holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainscape has 21K ratings behind it against 2, 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 100% of Flashside's.

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, Flashside every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | Flashside |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashside/id1518971790/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 82.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 42 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [CQUELLE GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457513606) |

## 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


### Flashside

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashside/id1518971790)

Create, study, and master any subject with this free flashcard application. It offers offline access, custom deck creation, and smart review features to enhance learning and retention for students and lifelong learners.

**Highlights:** Create custom flashcards, Study offline, Smart review modes, Multi-subject support, 100% free, no ads or subscriptions

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainscape free?

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

### Is Flashside free?

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

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

Flashside is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Flashside averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Brainscape or Flashside have ads?

Neither Brainscape nor Flashside shows ads.

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

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and Flashside every 5 weeks. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on October 14, 2026 and Flashside on September 29, 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.*