# Brainscape vs Alpha

The clearest difference is price: Brainscape at Free against Alpha's $1.99. Brainscape also leads on chart position (#184 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 26.0). Alpha's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Brainscape is free to download; Alpha costs $1.99 up front. Brainscape sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Alpha asks for nothing beyond the download.

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, Alpha every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | Alpha |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 82.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#184** | — |
| Size | 42 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [Michael Hoereth](https://appshunter.io/developer/368238101) |

## What reviewers say

### Brainscape

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

**Currently charting:** #184 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


### Alpha

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpha-air-traffic-control/id6762569578)

**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 Alpha free?

Alpha costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Brainscape or Alpha have ads?

Neither Brainscape nor Alpha shows ads.

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

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and Alpha every 3 days. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on October 28, 2026 and Alpha on October 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.*