Brainscape vs Retain

Brainscape is a flashcard study platform that uses AI to create cards and spaced repetition to organize review. Learners rate their confidence on a 1–5 scale, and the platform uses those ratings to adjust when cards return. AI can turn PDFs, documents, and presentations into flashcards. Cards can contain formatted text, images, sounds, and animated GIFs; users can invite students or instructors to contribute edits or feedback. Its library includes user-created and expert-certified cards across exams, languages, and professional certifications. Integrations support work with apps and tools, while the Ghost API can be used to create custom integrations. Brainscape is available on web, iOS, and Android. The individual Basic plan is free and includes 2,500 pre-loaded flashcards; the listed Pro (Individual) price is $7.99 a month, billed yearly. Enterprise group licensing has custom pricing. Brainscape says its AI features are opt-in and only raw study materials go to AI providers, which do not use Brainscape data to train their models. It also says it does not sell personal data or run personalized ads.

Retain is a flashcard app for Android, iOS, and the web. It uses AI models and learning science to create personalized learning plans: learners set a goal and receive a plan, and the AI can generate flashcards from uploaded PDFs. The site lists PDF, PNG, and JPEG uploads; its onboarding also names images, YouTube videos, GoodNotes notes, and Notion notes as learning sources. Card options include cloze, image occlusion, and custom Anki types, with mixed card formats and study modes and adaptive review. Decks and individual cards can be shared by link. The company also offers B2B licenses to businesses and educational institutions, with pricing available by contacting Retain. Its privacy policy says usage data, including flashcards and learning progress, may be analyzed in aggregated and anonymized form to improve AI models and algorithms.