Jambo vs Retain
Jambo
jambo.cardsRetain
retain.cardsSide by side
| Figure | Jambo | Retain |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £3.13/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 3 |
| Spec score · Flashcard apps | 8.6 (#7) | 8.1 (#18) |
| Spec score · AI Flashcard Generators | 8.6 (#8) | 8.0 (#19) |
| Adaptive review | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile apps | No | Yes |
| Product | Jambo is a flashcard app for language study and exam revision, with spaced repetition and translation. | Retain describes itself as a science-based flashcard app that uses AI models and learning science to create personalized learning plans. |
| Source formats | mixed | mixed |
| Study modes | It offers Slam spaced repetition, Cram, Exam, and Shazam multiple choice study modes. | mixed |
Plans
In their own words
Jambo
Jambo is a flashcard app for language learning and exam revision, with spaced repetition, translation, and AI-assisted card creation. Its Slam review schedule uses fixed intervals of 1, 3, 7, 14, and 30 days. Card generation can start from a prompt, pasted text, a URL, or an uploaded PDF. The built-in Translator supports 30 languages and can save results to a selected deck; free translations use Gemini, while paid tiers also offer DeepL for longer translations. Every tier supports CSV export, and Sushi adds Anki.apkg export with spaced-repetition progress. Coffee and Sushi include ElevenLabs audio plays with daily limits. Class Mode lets teachers share decks with students invited by email, and updates preserve student progress. Jambo is available on Android, iOS, and the web, and the maker says there are no ads on any tier. The free plan allows 2,000 cards, 15 decks, five AI generations per day, and 100 translations per day. A 14-day trial is also listed.
Retain
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.