# Brainscape vs Black Spectacles

The clearest difference is rating: Brainscape at 4.8 against Black Spectacles's 3.8. Brainscape also leads on ratings volume (21K vs 13). Black Spectacles's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (100% vs 82%). 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. Black Spectacles asks for nothing beyond the download.

Brainscape holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainscape has 21K ratings behind it against 13, 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 Black Spectacles'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, Black Spectacles fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and August 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | Black Spectacles |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews)** | [3.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-spectacles/id6754046991/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | 82.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 42 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [Black Spectacles, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1474708769) |

## 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


### Black Spectacles

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-spectacles/id6754046991)

Prepare for ARE® and CSE® exams with engaging videos, flashcards, and quizzes. Download content for offline viewing anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Exam preparation, Engaging videos, Interactive flashcards, Quizzes, Offline video downloads

**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 Black Spectacles free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Brainscape or Black Spectacles?

Brainscape is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Black Spectacles averages 3.8 from 13 ratings.

### Do Brainscape or Black Spectacles have ads?

Neither Brainscape nor Black Spectacles shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Brainscape or Black Spectacles?

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and Black Spectacles fortnightly. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on September 27, 2026 and Black Spectacles on August 31, 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.*