In an increasingly digital world, flashcard apps are becoming more and more popular — especially among students who want to prepare for exams efficiently. But with so many apps available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Today, we’ll focus on two leading flashcard apps and evaluate them using objective criteria. Our comparison is based on the three most important factors for students: learning efficiency, user-friendliness, and cost. This will help you find the app that best fits your study needs.

Comparison Criteria

In the following section, we compare two of the most popular flashcard apps: Retain and StudySmarter. To determine which app best suits your needs, we evaluate both based on three key criteria: learning efficiency, cost, and user-friendliness.

1. Learning efficiency is the top priority, as students want to make the most of their study time. Flashcard apps that incorporate innovative methods like Spaced Repetition or personalized study plans help anchor knowledge faster and more sustainably — allowing students to achieve the same results in less time. Learning efficiency is further broken down into two areas: the efficiency of creating learning materials and the efficiency of studying (e.g., through modern techniques).

2. Cost is also an important consideration: while both apps offer free versions, they differ in terms of pricing for premium features and content.

3. Finally, user-friendliness is critical: an intuitive interface and modern design allow you to stay focused on learning, without getting lost in complicated menus and functions.

To objectively evaluate the apps, we assign a score from 1 to 5 for each criterion - 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest. This comparison is designed to help you make an informed decision by clearly highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each app.

Comparison

Studysmarter

StudySmarter is a popular learning app designed specifically for students, offering a wide range of features to make studying more efficient.

Learning Efficiency: StudySmarter allows users to create flashcards from PDFs, although user feedback on this feature is mixed. The app only supports very basic flashcard types, such as simple text cards, and lacks options like image occlusion or cloze deletions, which can be helpful for certain learning styles. It runs a standard Spaced Repetition algorithm in the background, but this is not based on the latest scientific research. On the plus side, StudySmarter also offers practice tests that help users better assess their knowledge. Score: 4/5

Cost: The basic version of StudySmarter is free and includes essential features. However, more advanced features - such as AI-generated flashcards - require a premium subscription. This subscription costs around €5.80 per month and grants unlimited access to AI-created flashcards. StudySmarter only offers an annual subscription, which may be a financial hurdle for some users. Score: 3/5

User-Friendliness: StudySmarter stands out with a clear and intuitive user interface that makes navigation and studying easier. Like other apps (e.g., Quizlet), it includes ads, but they are not overly intrusive. Despite the ads, the app delivers a pleasant user experience- especially for students seeking a simple and accessible learning platform. Score: 4/5

Retain

Retain is an innovative learning app that stands out through its integration of cutting-edge technology and user-friendly features. It currently offers students the most efficient tools for exam preparation.

Learning Efficiency: Retain excels in advanced flashcard creation. With its Co-Pilot Mode, flashcards can be generated using AI models — speeding up the otherwise tedious creation process by a factor of 10–50x. Each flashcard includes a source reference, increasing user trust in the AI-generated content. Like Anki, Retain supports advanced flashcard types such as image occlusion and cloze deletions, enabling more targeted and flexible learning. The app also offers the best Anki integration on the market, allowing seamless import of existing decks. Retain is built on the latest research in Spaced Repetition and Active Recall, which studies show can save up to 20% of study time compared to apps like Anki. A unique feature is the ability to see your predicted knowledge level on exam day, helping students plan and prepare more effectively. Score: 5/5

Cost: The free version of Retain already includes many features, including unlimited Anki deck imports, making it comparable to Anki’s free version. For users looking to accelerate their learning and monitor progress, there’s a low-cost upgrade for €2.99 per month. An extended plan that includes additional AI-generated flashcards is available for €6.99 per month (with 10 pages included in the free plan). Score: 3/5

User-Friendliness: Retain features a minimalist, Notion-inspired design that provides an intuitive and modern user experience. The app is free from unnecessary features and focuses on the essentials, making it easy to use and keeping the focus on learning. Its clear and structured layout simplifies navigation and creates a very pleasant learning environment. Score: 4/5

Conclusion

After a detailed comparison of the best free learning apps in 2024, Retain comes out on top with a total score of 12 out of 15 points. Thanks to its combination of cutting-edge learning algorithms, an intuitive interface, and flexible pricing options, Retain offers the best balance of efficiency, user experience, and cost.

While StudySmarter scores high in learning efficiency and usability, Retain edges ahead in both areas. Both apps can help you achieve the same learning results — but Retain will get you there in significantly less time. If you want to make the most of your free time, Retain is the ideal choice. Try Retain today and take your studying to the next level!

Want to see how Retain compares to other apps like Quizlet or Anki Pro? Click here to find out.