Comparison

PassNote vs Engram

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

Head to head
About

PassNote

Features
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Snap a photo β†’ Mask the answers β†’ Tap to reveal & memorize! PassNote is the easiest way to turn any textbook, notes, or PDF into a powerful memorization tool. Perfect for: β€’ Students preparing for exams (college, certification, civil service) β€’ Language learners memorizing vocabulary β€’ Anyone who needs to memorize by repetition Key Features: β€’ Photo & PDF Import: Snap a photo or import files instantly β€’ Masking: Drag to create masks over key content. Tap to reveal, tap again to hide. β€’ Study Mode: Pinch zoom, swipe pages, focus mode β€’ Self-Test Mode: Grade yourself, then review only what you got wrong β€’ Writing Tools: Pen, marker, eraser with line-straightening β€’ iCloud Sync: Study on iPhone, review on iPad β€” seamlessly The digital version of the classic "red sheet" study method. Download free and start memorizing in 3 seconds. Note: The app interface is currently in Korean. English support coming soon! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Engram

Features
Read full description

You study something, you know it, and a week later it's gone. Sound familiar? Forgetting isn't a willpower problem. Most of the time it comes down to two things: how you encode information, and when you review it. Engram is a flashcard app built around exactly those two things. β–  Review right before you forget FSRS, a modern spaced repetition algorithm, predicts when each card is about to slip away and brings it back just in time. You don't re-read everything every day. Fewer reviews, longer-lasting memory. β–  Practice how you remember Five encoding strategies from memory research, practiced on your actual cards: - Rephrase: put it in your own words - Self-reference: connect it to your own life - Teach: organize it as if explaining to someone - Story: link ideas into a narrative - Visualize: picture it in your head On-device AI comments on what you write. In Teach mode it becomes a short dialogue that helps you find the fuzzy spots in your understanding. β–  Memory Palace Place the things you want to remember along a familiar route, then walk it in your head. A classic mnemonic technique, practiced inside the app. β–  Brain Check Short mini-games measure traits like working memory and plot them on a radar chart. Note: the mini-games are for measuring and tracking your own memory traits. They are not claimed to improve memory overall. β–  Quick capture Make cards from photos, audio, or text. You can also sketch things by hand to remember them. β–  Private by design Your study data and all AI processing stay on your iPhone. Nothing is sent to a server, and no account is required. β–  Engram Pro Unlimited decks, memory palaces, and AI, plus iCloud sync. Β₯600/month or Β₯4,000/year, with a 7-day free trial on the yearly plan. Good for exam prep, language vocabulary, technical terms, names, and anything else you want to keep for the long run. Note on effectiveness: Engram does not claim to improve general memory or intelligence on its own. What it provides is practice with encoding strategies, review scheduling based on spaced repetition, and measurement of your own memory traits. ――― Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://gokigen.space/engram/privacy Subscriptions renew automatically unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Your account is charged through the App Store, and you can manage or cancel renewal anytime in your account settings after purchase.

Screenshots

PassNote4 screens
Engram4 screens

Verdict

The call

PassNote and Engram are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters β€” price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them β€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. PassNote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Engram sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
PassNote versus Engram: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPassNoteEngram
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad β€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size12 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerjoonwon ChangHirosuke Yonekubo

In-app purchases

2 purchases

PassNote

Subscriptions1
  • ν•©κ²©λ…ΈνŠΈ Pro μ›” ꡬ독$1.991 Month
One-time1
  • ν•©κ²©λ…ΈνŠΈ Pro 평생 μ†Œμž₯$17.99
2 purchases

Engram

Subscriptions2
  • Engram Pro (Monthly)$3.991 Month
  • Engram Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$24.991 Year

Questions

Is PassNote free?
PassNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Engram free?
Engram is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PassNote or Engram have ads?
Neither PassNote nor Engram shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PassNote or Engram?
PassNote ships an update weekly, and Engram weekly. Most recently, PassNote was updated on October 25, 2026 and Engram on October 24, 2026.

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