Comparison

Guru vs Bowerbird

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

Bowerbird

Features
Read full description

Most flashcard apps run their AI in the cloud — they meter it, charge per generation, and send your notes to a server. Bowerbird doesn't. Its AI runs entirely on your iPhone, so card-making is fast, works in airplane mode, and your notes never leave your device. SNAP, CARDS, REMEMBER Point your camera at a page of notes. Bowerbird reads it on-device and turns it into clean flashcards — no retyping. Tables become cards instantly. Paste an export from another flashcard app, or a plain list of terms, and it splits them in one tap. STUDY THAT ACTUALLY STICKS Bowerbird schedules every review with FSRS-6, the modern spaced-repetition algorithm serious students rely on. See exactly when each card comes back, watch your memory strength grow, and keep a daily streak. EXAM MODE Set your exam date and Bowerbird plans backward — ramping up retention and making sure every card is seen before the big day. FREE FOREVER Unlimited decks, cards, scheduling, stats, paste import, and table scans. BOWERBIRD PRO Unlimited AI card-making and exam mode. - Yearly — $19.99/year, with a 7-day free trial - Monthly — $4.99/month - Lifetime — $39.99, one-time Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. PRIVATE BY CONSTRUCTION On-device AI. On-device OCR. No servers, no accounts, no analytics. Data collected: none. Privacy Policy: https://fxjima.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Guru4 screens
Bowerbird4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Guru at 17.0 against Bowerbird's 26.0. 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Guru sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Bowerbird sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Guru versus Bowerbird: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGuruBowerbird
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB2 MB
Age rating9+4+
Developer剑 肖Mihai Marin

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Guru

Subscriptions3
  • 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
One-time2
  • 500 AI Credits$4.99
  • Lifetime Pro$24.99
3 purchases

Bowerbird

Subscriptions2
  • Bowerbird Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Bowerbird Pro Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Bowerbird Pro Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Guru free?
Guru is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bowerbird free?
Bowerbird is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Guru or Bowerbird have ads?
Neither Guru nor Bowerbird shows ads.

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