# Brainscape vs Hivemind

Brainscape and Hivemind both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 82% of Brainscape's written reviews are positive against 30% of Hivemind's. Brainscape also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). Hivemind's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases 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 and Hivemind sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 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 4.7 for Hivemind. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainscape has 21K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of Brainscape's written reviews are positive against 30% of Hivemind's.

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, Hivemind weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | Hivemind |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews)** | [4.7 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hivemind-study-by-scrolling/id6737344456/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | **82.1% of reviews** | 30.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 42 MB | 94 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [Aether Technologies UG (haftungsbeschränkt)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1805575829) |

## 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


### Hivemind

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hivemind-study-by-scrolling/id6737344456)

This AI-powered study app transforms your learning experience by integrating educational content into a familiar social media feed format. It offers personalized feeds, interactive exercises, and unique learning modes to help you master any subject quickly and effectively.

**Highlights:** AI Study Feeds, Podcast to Posts Summaries, PDF & Web Content Import, Blended Topic Feed, Interactive Exercises, Feynman Mode

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starter Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Starter Plan Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Pro Plan Monthly | $13.99 | per month |
| Premium Plan Monthly | $21.99 | per month |
| Pro Plan 3 Months | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro Plan Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Starter Plan Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Welcome Offer | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Plan Yearly | $179.99 | per year |
| 100 Credits | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Highly effective for learning
- 👍 Engaging and efficient format
- 🚀 Reduces time spent on social media
- 👍 Diverse topics covered
- 🚀 Improves studying experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paywall blocks access to app
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes prevent progress
- 🔒 No free trial or demo available
- 🔒 Confusing subscription options
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance

**Reported bugs**

- Progress bar not updating correctly
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Onboarding process issues
- Compatibility problems with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add video format support
- Implement dark mode
- Allow saving of favorite posts/comments
- Improve chat/discussion functionality
- Provide iPad version


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainscape free?

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

### Is Hivemind free?

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

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

Brainscape is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Hivemind averages 4.7 from 12 ratings.

### Do Brainscape or Hivemind have ads?

Hivemind shows ads; Brainscape does not.

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

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hivemind weekly. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on September 25, 2026 and Hivemind on September 23, 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.*