Best Brainscape Alternatives in 2026
Brainscape has great certified content. But what if your topic isn't in their library?
Matthew Metzger
Former Fortune 200 VP of Learning
Where Brainscape Falls Short
The best Brainscape alternatives include Loxie for books and general topics, Anki for full customization, Quizlet for academic content, and RemNote for note-takers.
Brainscape's certified content is excellent - for subjects they cover. For everything else, you're building your own flashcards. If your learning goals fall outside their library, these alternatives fill the gap (which is why Loxie, covering hundreds of books and topics, is our top pick).
Loxie – Best Brainscape Alternative for Books and General Topics
What it is: Loxie is a learning and retention app that provides pre-built content for books and topics across categories Brainscape doesn't cover: business, self-help, health, relationships, hobbies, religion, and more. It includes free learning resources (8-10 minute video overviews, 30-45 minute podcast deep dives, written summaries) plus spaced repetition drills.
How it works: Browse the catalogue, explore topics through free learning content, then add them to your shelf. Loxie serves daily questions using spaced repetition – similar to Brainscape's approach, but for different subject matter.
What makes it different: Where Brainscape focuses on certifications and academic subjects, Loxie focuses on books and lifelong learning topics. Both provide pre-built content so you don't have to create flashcards yourself. Different libraries for different learning goals.
Limitations: Loxie doesn't cover professional certifications – that's Brainscape's strength. The catalogue includes hundreds of books and topics. Check the current catalogue to see what's available.
Best for: People learning from books and general topics. Anyone whose learning goals fall outside Brainscape's certified library. Lifelong learners who want pre-built content without creating flashcards.
Pricing: All learning content is free. Retention drills have a free tier. Pro ($59.99/year or $7.99/month)* for unlimited drills and advanced features.
Try it: loxie.app
Anki – Best Brainscape Alternative for Full Control
What it is: Anki is a free, open-source flashcard app with a highly customizable spaced repetition algorithm. It's the most powerful option for people who want complete control over their learning system.
How it works: Create your own flashcards or download from a massive library of community-shared decks. Anki schedules reviews based on your performance, with extensive options to customize intervals, card types, and deck settings.
What makes it different: More powerful and customizable than Brainscape. Completely free on desktop and Android. Huge community creating and sharing decks across every subject imaginable.
Limitations: The interface is dated and confusing compared to Brainscape's polished design. There's a significant learning curve. Creating quality flashcards takes time – and community decks vary wildly in quality.
Best for: Power users who want maximum control. People comfortable with a steeper learning curve. Those who need flexibility Brainscape doesn't offer.
Pricing: Free on desktop, Android, and AnkiWeb. iOS app is ~$25 (one-time).*
Quizlet – Best Brainscape Alternative for Academic Subjects
What it is: Quizlet is a flashcard platform with millions of user-generated study sets covering academic subjects. It's simpler than Brainscape with a more modern, approachable interface.
How it works: Search for existing flashcard sets or create your own. Study using various modes including Learn, Test, and Match. The app tracks which cards you struggle with.
What makes it different: Massive library of pre-made academic content – far more than Brainscape for school subjects. Easier to get started with. Game-like study modes make practice more engaging.
Limitations: The spaced repetition algorithm is less sophisticated than Brainscape's confidence-based system. Content is user-generated, so quality varies. Better for short-term cramming than long-term retention.
Best for: Students who want a simpler alternative to Brainscape. Those studying academic subjects where Quizlet's library is stronger.
Pricing: Free with ads and limits. Quizlet Plus is $7.99/month or $35.99/year.*
Certification-Specific Apps – Best for Focused Exam Prep
What it is: Many professional certifications have dedicated prep apps: UWorld for medical exams, Magoosh for GRE/GMAT, BarMax for the bar exam, and others.
How it works: These apps focus exclusively on one exam or certification. They typically include practice questions, explanations, progress tracking, and study schedules tailored to that specific test.
What makes it different: Deeper coverage of a single exam than Brainscape can offer. Often includes features beyond flashcards: practice tests, video explanations, score predictions.
Limitations: Only useful for the specific exam they cover. Typically expensive. Once you pass, the app has no further value.
Best for: People preparing for specific high-stakes exams where dedicated prep tools exist. Those who want the deepest possible preparation for one certification.
Pricing: Varies widely. Typically $100-500+ depending on the exam and features.*
RemNote – Best Brainscape Alternative for Integrated Note-Taking
What it is: RemNote combines note-taking with built-in flashcard and spaced repetition features. Take notes, convert key points to flashcards, and review – all in one app.
How it works: Take notes normally, then use formatting to mark items as flashcards. RemNote schedules reviews automatically. Your notes and flashcards live together in the same system.
What makes it different: Seamless integration between notes and flashcards. No need to create cards separately – they emerge from your notes. Good for people who already take detailed notes while learning.
Limitations: You still create your own content – the workflow is just smoother. There's a learning curve to the system. Less polished than Brainscape's interface.
Best for: People who take detailed notes and want flashcards integrated into their workflow. Those who find creating flashcards separately from notes too cumbersome.
Pricing: Free tier available. Pro ~$8/month.*
Which Brainscape Alternative Should You Use?
It depends on what you're learning:
For books and general topics: Loxie. Pre-built content for subjects Brainscape doesn't cover – business books, self-help, health, hobbies, and more. Free learning resources plus retention drills.
For full control and customization: Anki. More powerful than Brainscape, free on most platforms, but steeper learning curve.
For academic subjects: Quizlet. Simpler interface, massive library of student-created content.
For specific high-stakes certifications: Dedicated prep apps (UWorld, Magoosh, BarMax, etc.). Deeper than Brainscape for individual exams.
For note-takers: RemNote. Flashcards integrated with your note-taking workflow.
Here's the honest assessment: Brainscape is excellent for what it covers. The certified content is genuinely high quality. But if your learning goals fall outside their library, you need a different tool.
The question is whether you want to build your own content (Anki, RemNote) or use pre-built content (Loxie for books and topics, Quizlet for academic subjects, dedicated apps for specific certifications).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brainscape better than Anki? For ease of use and certified content, yes. Brainscape is more polished and the expert-created decks are high quality. For power, customization, and price, Anki wins. It depends on whether you value convenience or control.
What topics does Brainscape cover well? Professional certifications (bar exam, medical boards, CPA), languages, and some academic subjects. The certified content in these areas is excellent. For topics outside this list, the content is user-generated and inconsistent.
Is there a free Brainscape alternative? Anki is free on desktop and Android. Loxie's learning content and basic retention drills are free. Quizlet has a limited free tier. None match Brainscape's certified content quality for free, but they offer different strengths.
Can I use Brainscape and another app together? Yes. Use Brainscape for certifications where their content is strong. Use Loxie for books and general topics. Use Anki for subjects where you want to build custom cards. Different tools for different purposes.
Why doesn't Brainscape have content for books? Their business model focuses on certified, expert-created content for specific exams and subjects. Creating quality content for thousands of books would require a different approach – which is what Loxie does.
What's confidence-based repetition? Brainscape's system where you rate how well you know each card (1-5). Cards you rate lower appear more frequently. It's similar to spaced repetition but weighted by your self-reported confidence rather than just right/wrong answers.
Should I switch from Brainscape to something else? Only if your learning goals have changed. If Brainscape's certified library covers what you're studying, stick with it. If you're learning from books or topics outside their library, add a complementary tool like Loxie.
*App prices change frequently and may vary by region or promotional offers. We've included approximate pricing to help you compare, but always check the official app or website for current rates before subscribing.
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