Guru vs Deckbase
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Guru
This app helps students import existing flashcard decks, review them using an AI-powered spaced repetition system, and even generate new cards from PDFs and notes. It includes a study lock feature to minimize distractions during review sessions.
- Import existing flashcard decks
- AI-powered spaced repetition (FSRS)
- Generate flashcards from PDFs and notes
- Study Lock to block distracting apps
- Controller support for reviews
- Organized deck management
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Flashcard Guru imports your Anki decks (.apkg and .colpkg) with cards, media, sub-decks and scheduling state intact, then reviews them on iPhone and iPad with the FSRS scheduler, online or offline. Open a deck straight from Files, AirDrop, Safari downloads or the share sheet. Importing decks and daily review are free. Pro unlocks card editing, cross-device sync, Study Lock and unlimited decks: US$4.99/month after a 3-day free trial, US$39.99/year, or US$24.99 once for Lifetime (includes 5,000 AI credits). Requires iOS 17 or later. ■ Import your decks ・.apkg and .colpkg packages, including large shared decks with tens of thousands of cards ・Cards, cloze deletions, images, audio, sub-decks and scheduling state come through ・Browse the deck tree before you start reviewing ■ Review with FSRS ・Study cards when they are due, with Again, Hard, Good and Easy ratings ・One card per note per day, so cloze siblings don't stack up ・Cram Mode before exams without rebuilding your deck ■ Turn material into cards ・Create draft cards from PDFs, notes and lectures with AI credits ・Review and edit generated cards before studying ・Image occlusion cards for diagrams and anatomy ■ Stay focused ・Study Lock (optional) shields selected distracting apps until today's review is done ・Review with touch, gestures, or a paired game controller ・Built for fast daily sessions on iPhone and iPad ■ Export and sync ・Every deck exports back to a standard .apkg ・Pro syncs decks, cards and review progress with the GuruOwl web app ■ Pro access Choose a monthly or yearly subscription, or the one-time Lifetime unlock. AI card generation uses credits. Subscriptions can be cancelled any time in App Store settings. Flashcard Guru is an independent app and is not affiliated with Anki, AnkiMobile or AnkiWeb. ■ Legal Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://guruowl.com/app/privacy
Deckbase
This AI-powered study assistant generates flashcards from various file types and chat inputs. It utilizes spaced repetition for effective long-term memory retention and offers AI-generated images and audio for enhanced learning.
- AI chat assistant for instant flashcard generation
- AI image and audio generation for mnemonic aids
- Bulk flashcard creation from documents and files
- OCR for generating cards from photos and scans
- Spaced repetition for memory retention
- Clean and focused study interface
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Deckbase is your AI study assistant. Ask in chat or upload files to generate flashcards in bulk, then review with spaced repetition so you remember what matters long-term. Why Deckbase: - AI chat assistant Ask questions in chat and get flashcards generated instantly. - AI image & audio generation Auto-generate mnemonic images and pronunciation audio for every card. - Bulk AI card generation from your materials Turn PDFs, notes, images, DOCX, Excel, CSV, and .apkg into first-draft flashcards in seconds. - OCR flashcards from photos and scans Capture text from images and turn it into cards without typing. - Spaced repetition workflow Review at the right time to reduce forgetting and improve retention. - Clean study experience Focused interface built for repeatable daily review. - Flexible study workflow Generate, edit, and review cards quickly in a focused mobile experience. - Flexible for many learners Useful for exam prep, medical study, language vocabulary, and professional learning. How it works: 1. Add files (PDF, notes, images, DOCX, Excel, CSV, or .apkg) or start with chat 2. Generate AI flashcards in bulk 3. Edit and organize with templates 4. Review with spaced repetition Legal: Privacy Policy: https://www.deckbase.co/privacy-policy Terms and Conditions: https://www.deckbase.co/terms-and-conditions
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Guru at 4.0 against Deckbase's 1.0. Guru also leads on ads (none vs shown). Deckbase's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Guru sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Deckbase sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Guru holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.
Guru ships an update every 3 days, Deckbase every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Guru | Deckbase |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better | 1.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Every 4 days |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 112 MB | 131 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 剑 肖 | Yosuke Sakurai |
Customer experience
Guru
Deckbase
In-app purchases
Guru
- Flashcard Guru Pro Weekly3 Days trial$2.997 Days
- Flashcard Guru Pro Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Flashcard Guru Pro Yearly$39.991 Year
- 500 AI Credits$4.99
- Lifetime Pro$24.99
Deckbase
- Basic Month7 Days trial$5.991 Month
- Pro Month7 Days trial$11.991 Month
- Basic Year7 Days trial$59.001 Year
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- Pro Year7 Days trial$119.001 Year








