Mochi vs Retain

Mochi is a flashcard and note-taking app for making study materials with Markdown and reviewing them through spaced repetition. It is available on Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. The Free plan is free forever, does not require sign-up, and includes unlimited cards and decks, import and export, and unlimited offline use. Data stays on the user’s device and syncs when online. Pro adds synchronization of cards and notes across devices, 10 GB of cloud storage for synced materials and attachments, and the ability to publish decks by link or in the deck library. It also includes AI completion, AI integration and language services subject to monthly limits. Limits reset at the start of each calendar month, unused amounts do not carry over, and a service stops when its limit is reached. Pro costs $5 per month when billed annually; monthly Pro is also listed at $5 per month. Documentation and forum support are included, with email support on Pro. After downgrading, cards and notes remain usable offline, but Pro features stop at the billing period’s end.

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.