# Brainscape vs Deck

The clearest difference is rating: Brainscape at 4.8 against Deck's 4.0. Brainscape also leads on ratings volume (21K vs 4) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Deck's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 82%). 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 Deck sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Brainscape holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainscape has 21K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 82% of Brainscape's written reviews are positive against 100% of Deck's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, Deck every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | Deck |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deck-flashcard-app/id1545176753/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 82.1% 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 |
| Best chart rank | **#173** | — |
| Size | 42 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [Haaris Iqubal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1545176755) |

## What reviewers say

### Brainscape

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

**Currently charting:** #173 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


### Deck

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deck-flashcard-app/id1545176753)

Learn intuitively with a flashcard app that rebuilds remembering habits using a smart algorithm. Add text, equations, photos, GIFs, or sketches to cards and manage them with tags and reminders. Track progress and utilize practice or test modes.

**Highlights:** Add text, equations, photos, GIFs, sketches, Create and manage decks with tags, Intuitive suggestion-based learning, Progress tracking and test modes, Import decks from cloud services, iCloud sync across Apple devices, Dark mode and adjustable text size

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscribe - 3 Month Family | $1.99 | per 3 months |
| Subscribe - Yearly Family | $6.49 | per year |
| Buy - Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainscape free?

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

### Is Deck free?

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

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

Brainscape is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Deck averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Brainscape or Deck have ads?

Neither Brainscape nor Deck shows ads.

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

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and Deck every 3 months. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on October 17, 2026 and Deck on October 9, 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.*