Comparison

Charter5m vs Polymath

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

Head to head
About

Charter5m

Features
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Pass CFA Level I with focused 5-minute lessons. Spaced-repetition flashcards lock in every concept so it's still there on exam day. Charter5m turns CFA Level I prep into a daily app habit. Open it on the train, finish one micro-lesson, take a quick quiz, see one flashcard. That's a session. A few sessions a day and you cover the entire curriculum without burning out. WHAT YOU GET • 1,000+ micro-lessons across all 10 CFA Level I topics • FSRS-6 spaced repetition — the most accurate scheduling algorithm in flashcard apps today • A flashcard for every lesson, scheduled at the exact moment you're about to forget it • 1,500+ glossary terms with definitions and example usage • End-of-module quizzes to lock in mastery before you move on • 20 full-length 180-question mock exams in real CFA exam format • Performance analysis after every mock exam — a topic-by-topic breakdown of your strengths and weak spots, so you know exactly what to study next • Learn from every mistake — review each exam question with the correct answer and a full explanation • Bilingual Assist — tap any term to see it in your native language alongside the English • Daily reminders that respect your time • No ads, no tracking, no distractions TOPICS COVERED • Quantitative Methods • Economics • Financial Statement Analysis • Corporate Issuers • Equity Investments • Fixed Income • Derivatives • Alternative Investments • Portfolio Management • Ethical and Professional Standards KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU STAND Every full-length mock ends with an instant topic-by-topic breakdown — see what you've mastered and which topics are quietly costing you points. Then review every question you missed with a full worked explanation, so the same mistake never trips you up twice. It's like a tutor pointing straight at your weak spots and walking you through every fix — so you study what actually moves your score. 9 LANGUAGES SUPPORTED Read every lesson in English. Tap Bilingual Assist to see translations in Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Brazilian Portuguese, or Arabic — perfect for non-native English speakers preparing for an English-language exam. CHARTER5M PREMIUM Start free. Charter5m Premium unlocks unlimited daily lessons, unlimited spaced-repetition reviews, and all full-length mock exams so you can move through the curriculum at your own pace. • Charter5m Premium Monthly • Charter5m Premium 6 Months • Charter5m Premium Annual Every new subscriber gets a 7-day free trial. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscription in your Apple ID account settings. Terms of Use: https://charter5m.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://charter5m.com/privacy Questions, feedback, or feature requests? Email support@charter5m.com. Charter5m is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by CFA Institute. CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks of CFA Institute.

About

Polymath

Features
Read full description

Your notes, on cards. Every day. Polymath is the flashcard companion for candidates facing a serious finance or accounting exam. Photograph a page of your notes, paste a summary, or type a topic — and get a clean deck of flashcards in seconds, built only from the material you provide. Nothing invented. Then the real engine takes over: spaced repetition. Every card you grade is scheduled to come back right before you'd forget it — 1 day, 3 days, a week, a month. Open the app, clear what's due, keep your streak alive. A few focused minutes a day, all season. HOW IT WORKS • Snap a photo of your notes or formula sheet — cards in seconds (up to 5 pages per deck) • Paste any text: summaries, outlines, mnemonics • Or type a topic and pick your level • Grade each card "I knew it" or "Still learning" — the schedule adapts • Due cards, streak, and a home-screen widget keep the habit visible • A gentle evening reminder when cards are waiting BUILT FOR EXAM SEASON Made for candidates preparing for professional finance and accounting credentials — the CFA® exam, CPA exam, FRM® exam, and similar. Polymath works alongside whatever prep course you already use: your provider's notes in, your daily review habit out. FREE TO TRY 5 decks free, and daily reviews of them stay free forever. For more decks, subscribe monthly: • Basic — 25 new decks a month • Pro — 100 new decks a month Both are auto-renewable subscriptions that renew each month until cancelled. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://polymath-support.netlify.app/#privacy Your decks and progress live on your device. Your notes are processed transiently to build your cards and never stored on our servers. No account, no ads, no tracking. — CFA Institute does not endorse, promote, or warrant the accuracy or quality of the products or services offered by Polymath. CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute. Polymath is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with any exam provider or prep course.

Screenshots

Charter5m4 screens
Polymath4 screens

Verdict

The call

Charter5m and Polymath are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Charter5m sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Polymath sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Charter5m ships an update every 2 weeks, Polymath every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Charter5m versus Polymath: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCharter5mPolymath
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDoan NguyenLUCK THONG TAN

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Charter5m

Subscriptions2
  • Charter5m Premium7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Charter5m Premium7 Days trial$99.991 Year
2 purchases

Polymath

Subscriptions2
  • Basic1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Pro1 Month trial$9.991 Month

Questions

Is Charter5m free?
Charter5m is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Polymath free?
Polymath is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Charter5m or Polymath have ads?
Neither Charter5m nor Polymath shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Charter5m or Polymath?
Charter5m ships an update every 2 weeks, and Polymath every 3 weeks. Most recently, Charter5m was updated on October 17, 2026 and Polymath on October 7, 2026.

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