# Brainscape vs Plain Flashcards

The clearest difference is rating: Brainscape at 4.8 against Plain Flashcards's 4.4. Brainscape also leads on ratings volume (21K vs 281) and review sentiment (82% vs 73%). Plain Flashcards's advantage is 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 Plain Flashcards sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Brainscape holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainscape has 21K ratings behind it against 281, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Brainscape's written reviews are positive against 73% of Plain Flashcards's.

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, Plain Flashcards weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainscape | Plain Flashcards |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainscape-study-flashcards/id442415567/reviews)** | [4.4 (281 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plain-flashcards-ai-and-study/id971833934/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 281 |
| Positive reviews | **82.2% of reviews** | 73.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brainscape](https://appshunter.io/developer/380833754) | [Going Merry LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1820776999) |

## 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


### Plain Flashcards

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plain-flashcards-ai-and-study/id971833934)

Create flashcards from text, PDFs, or images using AI. Supports spaced repetition, translation, and pronunciation for over 20 languages. Syncs across devices and offers customizable study sessions.

**Highlights:** AI flashcard generation from text, PDF, or image, Spaced repetition system (SRS), Translation and pronunciation for 20+ languages, iCloud sync across devices, Customizable study sessions and reminders, Import and export card data

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plain Flashcards Plus - Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Plain Flashcards Plus - Annual | $17.99 | per year |
| Say Thanks | $1.99 | one-time |
| Support the Mission | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 💰 Completely free, no ads or subscriptions
- 🖼️ Ability to add photos to cards
- 🌐 Built-in translation function
- 🚀 Efficient for studying and saving time

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔀 Cards automatically shuffle and cannot be turned off
- 🗂️ Cannot move or rename sets of cards easily
- 🔄 Editing order is inconsistent
- 🖱️ Swiping to move cards can be finicky
- 🔍 No search function within decks

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot turn off shuffle feature
- Cards automatically shuffle and cannot be turned off
- Cannot rename or move sets of cards and have them stay in order
- Editing order is inconsistent
- Swiping to move cards is finicky

**Requested features**

- Option to turn off shuffle
- Ability to move multiple cards at once
- Search function within decks
- Folders for organizing decks
- Ability to merge decks


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainscape free?

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

### Is Plain Flashcards free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Brainscape or Plain Flashcards?

Brainscape is rated higher. Brainscape averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Plain Flashcards averages 4.4 from 281 ratings.

### Do Brainscape or Plain Flashcards have ads?

Neither Brainscape nor Plain Flashcards shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Brainscape or Plain Flashcards?

Brainscape ships an update every 3 weeks, and Plain Flashcards weekly. Most recently, Brainscape was updated on October 19, 2026 and Plain Flashcards on October 11, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*