# Brainscape vs Gizmo

The clearest difference is update cadence: Gizmo at every 4 days against Brainscape's every 3 weeks. Gizmo also leads on chart position (#16 vs #166). Brainscape's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 65%). On price, rating, ratings volume 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 Gizmo sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. 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 4.8 for Gizmo. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22K and 16K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Brainscape's written reviews are positive against 65% of Gizmo's.

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, Gizmo every 4 days. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | Gizmo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews) | **[4.8 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gizmo-ai-tutor/id1610516671/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 16K |
| Positive reviews | **82.7% of reviews** | 65.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #166 | **#16** |
| Size | 42 MB | 195 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [GIZMO AI LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599281873) |

## 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


### Gizmo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gizmo-ai-tutor/id1610516671)

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Free · Education, #35 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

Transform any content into interactive flashcards and quizzes with AI. Utilize spaced repetition and active recall for effective learning, or explore a vast library of pre-made study decks. Gamified features make studying engaging and fun.

**Highlights:** AI content import, Scan handwritten notes, Interactive quizzing, Spaced repetition, Pre-made flashcard decks, Study organization, Gamified learning

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gizmo Unlimited | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Gizmo Unlimited | $12.99 | per month |
| Gizmo Unlimited | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| Gizmo Unlimited | $24.99 | per month |
| Gizmo Unlimited | $29.99 | per 7 days |
| Gizmo Unlimited | $51.00 | per year |
| Gizmo Unlimited | $77.99 | per year |
| Gizmo Unlimited | $102.99 | per year |
| Gizmo Unlimited | $154.99 | per year |
| Gizmo Unlimited | $309.99 | per year |
| 1000 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| 5000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 30,000 Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| 60,000 Coins | $29.99 | one-time |
| 100,000 Coins | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for studying and learning
- 👍 Engaging and motivating features
- 🎓 Useful for students and academics
- 🤖 Effective AI-powered tools

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy at times
- ⏱️ Restrictive time limits and lives system
- 💰 Pushing for paid subscription
- 🌐 Limited language support

**Reported bugs**

- Flashcards not saving properly
- Importing notes/PDFs not working reliably
- Freezing and crashing issues
- Inconsistent behavior across platforms

**Requested features**

- Allow more customization of flashcards
- Improve stability and reduce glitches
- Provide more language options
- Offer a way to delete decks permanently


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainscape free?

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

### Is Gizmo free?

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

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

Gizmo is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Gizmo averages 4.8 from 16K ratings.

### Do Brainscape or Gizmo have ads?

Neither Brainscape nor Gizmo shows ads.

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

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and Gizmo every 4 days. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on November 1, 2026 and Gizmo on November 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Brainscape or Gizmo?

Brainscape currently peaks at #166 in the App Store charts, and Gizmo at #16. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*