Guru vs ForgeQ
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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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 and daily review are free for up to 5 decks. 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. 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
ForgeQ
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Turn any PDF, textbook, or lecture slide into flashcards — instantly, and free. ForgeQ uses AI to read your material and generate high-quality flashcards in seconds, then schedules your reviews with FSRS — the same modern spaced- repetition science that outperforms older algorithms at helping you actually remember what you study. 100% FREE TO STUDY Creating flashcards, reviewing with spaced repetition, tracking your progress — all completely free, no subscription required. WHY FORGEQ WORKS - Upload any PDF, lecture slide, or textbook chapter — AI extracts the key concepts automatically - FSRS spaced repetition shows you the right card at the right moment, so nothing slips through the cracks before an exam - Built for real coursework: medical terminology, law school case law, language vocabulary, and more - Clean, distraction-free review flow — no ads, no clutter WANT AI-GENERATED PRACTICE QUESTIONS TOO? Upgrade to Pro for AI-generated quiz questions from your own material — try it free for 14 days on the monthly plan, cancel anytime. HOW IT WORKS 1. Upload a PDF, slide deck, or your notes 2. AI turns it into a flashcard deck in seconds 3. Study with FSRS-scheduled reviews that adapt to what you already know "I stopped spending hours making cards by hand — I just upload my lecture slides and start reviewing." — early ForgeQ user Stop retyping your notes into flashcards. Download ForgeQ free and start remembering more of what you study. Terms of Use: https://forgeq.netlify.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://forgeq.netlify.app/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Guru at every 3 days against ForgeQ's every 2 months. ForgeQ's advantage is iOS requirement (15 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 ForgeQ sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Guru ships an update every 3 days, ForgeQ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Guru | ForgeQ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 113 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | 剑 肖 | Mohamed Shehab |
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
ForgeQ
- ForgeQ Subscription14 Days trial$6.991 Month
- ForgeQ Subscription - 1 year$69.991 Year









