Verdict
Flashcards Deluxe leans on import/export power and cross-device sync rather than flashy design, and long-time users say it's held up for years without adding a subscription. The interface trades polish for depth, which a chunk of reviewers find confusing.
Best for
Someone building large decks from spreadsheets or existing files who wants sync across an iPhone and iPad without worrying about a monthly fee creeping in later.
Dealbreaker
Several reviewers call the interface confusing and unintuitive, and the removal of direct Quizlet importing has frustrated people who relied on it.
The facts.
Pulled from the App Store, not written by hand.
Price
$4.99 once
In-app purchases
Unknown
Ads
Unknown
Platforms
iPhone, iPad
Rating
4.5★ (335)
Version
4.86
Last updated
Sep 16, 2026
Released
Mar 27, 2009
Attributes
Native appOne-time purchaseNo subscription
Category
Education, Reference
What reviews consistently say.
Themes grouped from 200 App Store reviews. Source feed ›
Praised for
Import and export19 reviews
Ease of use and design15 reviews
Sync and multi-device11 reviews
Subscription pricing and paywalls8 reviews
Value for money5 reviews
Battery and performance3 reviews
Customer support2 reviews
Complained about
Confusing interface6 reviews
Sync and multi-device4 reviews
Import and export3 reviews
Crashes and stability2 reviews
Where this comes from
19 of 200 recent reviews raised: Import and exportApp Store reviews ›
15 of 200 recent reviews raised: Ease of use and designApp Store reviews ›
11 of 200 recent reviews raised: Sync and multi-deviceApp Store reviews ›
8 of 200 recent reviews raised: Subscription pricing and paywallsApp Store reviews ›
6 of 200 recent reviews raised: Confusing interfaceApp Store reviews ›
11 of 200 recent reviews raised: Sync and multi-deviceApp Store reviews ›
19 of 200 recent reviews raised: Import and exportApp Store reviews ›
Listed at $4.99 once on the App StoreApp Store listing ›
Where we recommend it
Flashcard apps you buy once ›Spaced-repetition and flashcard apps that charge a single price, with the catch on each.
Alternatives with the same rule.
Every app here is a single purchase. None of them can start charging you monthly for what you already bought. Also with a catch.
$4.99 once · 4.8★ (883) · Updated Aug 27, 2025
Verdict. Flashcard Hero is a straightforward flashcard maker whose iCloud sync between iPhone and Mac is what people actually praise, though a handful describe sync breaking or failing outright. It works offline too, which matters for the syncing being a bonus rather than a requirement.
Best for. Someone who makes flashcard decks on a Mac and studies them on an iPhone, and wants that sync to just work most of the time without a subscription.
Dealbreaker. A minority of reviewers report iCloud sync failing or being unreliable, and importing from other tools like CSV files or a Windows version is described as clunky or unsupported.
$4.99 once · 4.6★ (1,101) · Updated Jan 26, 2021
Verdict. A straightforward flashcard maker praised mainly for being simple to build and study cards in, with iCloud sync as a bonus feature — though that sync isn't universally reliable.
Best for. Someone who wants to type up their own flashcard decks quickly on an iPhone or iPad without fussing over settings, and doesn't need to import from a spreadsheet or printer.
Dealbreaker. Some users report the iCloud sync between devices breaking, and at least one reviewer got no response after contacting support about it.
$24.99 once · 4.0★ (2,335) · Updated Sep 8, 2025
Verdict. The serious spaced-repetition system, and the one medical students actually use. Buying it funds the free desktop version rather than unlocking anything.
Best for. Someone already using Anki on a computer who needs the same decks on a phone.
Dealbreaker. Sixteen of the last two hundred reviews describe syncing destroying their decks, ten call it overpriced and nine call the interface baffling. It is the dearest app here by five times and the lowest rated.