Retain
Retain is a flashcard app that uses AI models and learning science to create personalized learning plans.
What Retain is
Retain is a flashcard app that uses AI models and learning science to create personalized learning plans. Learners can set a goal and receive a study plan, then use supported materials to build flashcards. Retain says its AI can generate relevant cards from PDFs, and its site lists PDF, PNG, and JPEG uploads. Its onboarding page also names images, YouTube videos, GoodNotes notes, and Notion notes as learning sources. Card types include cloze, image occlusion, and custom Anki formats; review is adaptive, and study modes and card formats are described as mixed. Decks and individual flashcards can be shared by link. Retain is available on Android, iOS, and the web. The Free plan is listed as free. Retain Ultra includes AI-powered study features, while Retain Pro is a paid in-app subscription with no price listed. Retain also offers B2B license packages for companies and educational institutions, with pricing available by contacting the company. 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.
Good
- Personalized study plans start from a learner's goal.
- PDF, PNG, and JPEG uploads are listed.
- Includes cloze, image occlusion, and custom Anki cards.
- Adaptive review and mixed study modes are available.
- Decks and cards can be shared by link.
Watch out
- AI-generated flashcards may contain errors or inaccuracies.
- Uploads may be temporarily restricted when the fair-use cap is reached.
- Usage data may be analyzed in aggregated and anonymized form.
Who it suits
Retain suits learners who want to turn study materials into flashcards and organize review around a goal. Its B2B licenses may also suit companies and educational institutions.
Verdict
Retain combines study planning, varied flashcard types, and adaptive review across Android, iOS, and web. Its AI-generated cards may be inaccurate, and subscription upload limits can temporarily restrict uploads when the fair-use cap is reached.
Plans and prices
From Retain's own pricing page, checked 20 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free download and use |
| Retain Ultra | — | AI-powered study features |
| Retain Pro | — | Paid in-app subscription |
The facts
Each one read from Retain's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Adaptive review
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- AI limitation
- The terms say AI-generated flashcards may contain errors or inaccuracies and Retain does not guarantee their correctness or completeness.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Business offering
- Retain offers B2B license packages for companies, schools, universities, and other educational institutions, with pricing available by contacting the company.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Card formats
- mixedchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Flashcard types
- The site lists cloze, image occlusion, and custom Anki flashcard types.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Learning materials
- Retain's onboarding page says it supports PDFs, images, YouTube videos, GoodNotes notes, and Notion notes as sources.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Payment processing
- The privacy policy says Stripe processes payments and Retain does not store credit card or payment information on its servers.checked 8 Oct 2026
- PDF flashcards
- Users can upload PDFs and Retain says its AI generates relevant flashcards from the material.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The privacy policy says usage data, including created flashcards and learning progress, may be analyzed in aggregated and anonymized form and used to improve AI models and algorithms.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Product
- Retain describes itself as a science-based flashcard app that uses AI models and learning science to create personalized learning plans.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Security
- The privacy policy says Retain uses industry-standard security measures but cannot guarantee absolute security.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Sharing
- Users can share decks and flashcards with a link, according to the product site.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Source formats
- mixedchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Study modes
- mixedchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Supported uploads
- The site lists PDF, PNG, and JPEG as currently supported file formats.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Upload limit
- The terms say subscriptions allow unlimited document uploads subject to a fair-use cap, and uploads may be temporarily restricted when that internal cap is reached.checked 8 Oct 2026
The company
- Company
- The legal notice identifies the maker as Retain Labs GmbH and gives its address as Goethestraße 4, 69509 Mörlenbach, Germany.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Mörlenbach, Germanychecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Study planning
- Retain says learners can set a goal and receive a personalized learning plan.checked 8 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Mobile apps
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Platforms
- The site links to iOS and Android apps and describes Retain as available on mobile and desktop.checked 8 Oct 2026
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