# Brainscape vs FlashStacks

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Brainscape at 21K against FlashStacks's 8. Brainscape also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and chart position (#136 vs unranked). FlashStacks's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 82%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). 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 FlashStacks sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Brainscape holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainscape has 21K ratings behind it against 8, 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 FlashStacks'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, FlashStacks weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | FlashStacks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews)** | [4.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashstacks-flashcard-study/id6762071988/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 82.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#136** | — |
| Size | 42 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [Bailey Skewes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892771018) |

## What reviewers say

### Brainscape

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

**Currently charting:** #136 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


### FlashStacks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashstacks-flashcard-study/id6762071988)

Transform study materials into interactive Home Screen widgets. AI generates flashcards from PDFs, and spaced repetition optimizes learning. Visualize concepts with image occlusion and track progress with detailed stats.

**Highlights:** Home and Lock Screen widgets, AI-powered PDF to flashcard generation, Spaced repetition learning, Image occlusion cards, Progress tracking and stats, Customizable widget themes

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FlashStacks Premium — Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| FlashStacks Premium — Annual | $34.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainscape free?

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

### Is FlashStacks free?

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

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

Brainscape is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while FlashStacks averages 4.6 from 8 ratings.

### Do Brainscape or FlashStacks have ads?

Neither Brainscape nor FlashStacks shows ads.

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

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and FlashStacks weekly. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on October 3, 2026 and FlashStacks on September 27, 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.*