The right CompTIA flashcard app depends on how you study. Anki is the most powerful and has free community decks, but the iOS app costs $24.99 and has a real learning curve. Quizlet and Brainscape are polished but subscription-based. CertFlash is the simplest no-subscription option for iPhone: ready-made CompTIA decks with spaced repetition, a free A+ deck, and a one-time $5.99 unlock for the rest. If you want practice exams instead of flashcards, Pocket Prep is the better tool.
This guide compares the apps people actually reach for when studying CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+. If you are still deciding which certifications to take and in what order, start with our CompTIA certification roadmap, then come back here to pick a study tool.
What actually matters in a CompTIA flashcard app
Every app here can show you cards. The differences that affect whether you actually pass come down to four things:
Ready-made vs build-your-own
Do the CompTIA decks already exist, or do you have to build or import them yourself? Building your own teaches you, but it is slow when an exam is weeks away.
Pricing model
A one-time purchase versus a recurring subscription. You only study for an exam for a few months, so paying once usually beats paying monthly.
Real spaced repetition
True spaced repetition (FSRS or SM-2) schedules reviews based on what you forget. Basic "flip through the deck" review does not, and it wastes time on cards you already know.
Where you study
Desktop-first, web, or iPhone-native. If you mostly study in short bursts on your phone, a native iPhone app matters more than raw power.
The comparison at a glance
Scroll sideways to see all columns. Confirm current competitor pricing on the App Store.
| App | Best for | Pricing | Spaced repetition | CompTIA decks | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anki | Power users, free desktop study | Free desktop/Android iOS $24.99 once | Yes (FSRS / SM-2) | Community decks, free, quality varies | Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Quizlet | Quick sets, casual review | Subscription for full features | Basic review, not true SRS | Huge user library, quality varies | iOS, Android, Web |
| Brainscape | Polish across devices | Subscription | Confidence-based repetition | Some curated CompTIA content | iOS, Android, Web |
| Pocket Prep | Practice questions, not cards | Freemium + paid packs | N/A (question bank) | CompTIA question packs | iOS, Android, Web |
| CertFlash | iPhone, ready-made, no subscription | A+ deck free $5.99 once | Yes (built-in spaced repetition) | Purpose-built A+, Net+, Sec+, CySA+, Linux+, Cloud+, PenTest+ | iOS, iPadOS |
Each app, and who it is for
Anki
Best for: power users who want the strongest algorithm and free desktop study
Anki is the gold standard for spaced repetition. It is free on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android, supports the modern FSRS algorithm, and has a large library of community-made CompTIA decks you can download for nothing. For a serious, long-haul study habit, nothing schedules reviews better.
Trade-offs: the iPhone app, AnkiMobile, is a separate $24.99 one-time purchase, the interface is dated, and there is a real learning curve to setup, sync, and deck management. Community deck quality varies, so you have to vet what you download.
Quizlet
Best for: quick, casual review from a massive ready-made library
Quizlet is polished, works on web and mobile, and has an enormous library of user-created CompTIA sets, so you can start reviewing in seconds. It is the easiest on-ramp if you just want to flip through cards.
Trade-offs: its review is not true spaced repetition, the best features sit behind a subscription, and because sets are user-made, quality and accuracy are inconsistent for exam-critical material.
Brainscape
Best for: a clean, cross-device experience if you do not mind paying monthly
Brainscape is well-designed and consistent across web, iOS, and Android, using a confidence-based repetition system where you rate how well you know each card. It is a pleasant daily-review experience.
Trade-offs: it is subscription-based, and its curated CompTIA content is narrower than Anki's community depth, so you may end up making your own cards anyway.
Pocket Prep
Best for: exam-style practice questions, as a complement to flashcards
Pocket Prep is not a flashcard app, it is a practice-question bank with explanations, organized by CompTIA exam. It is excellent for testing whether you can apply knowledge to scenario-style questions, which is how CompTIA actually tests you.
Trade-offs: it does not build raw recall the way flashcards do, and full access is freemium with paid question packs or a subscription. Most people use it alongside a flashcard app, not instead of one.
CertFlash
Best for: studying CompTIA on iPhone with ready-made decks and no subscription
CertFlash is an iPhone-native app built specifically for CompTIA. The decks already exist and are mapped to the exam objectives, so there is no building or importing the way there is in Anki. It uses spaced repetition, the full A+ deck is free, and a single one-time $5.99 unlock adds Network+, Security+, CySA+, Linux+, Cloud+, and PenTest+. No account, no subscription, and scanning of your progress stays on the device.
Less ideal if: you want free desktop study, the depth of Anki's community decks, or scenario-style practice exams. In those cases Anki or Pocket Prep is the better fit, and CertFlash pairs well with either.
Get CertFlash on the App Store — free A+ deck →Which should you choose?
You want maximum power and free desktop study, and will invest setup time
Choose Anki. The algorithm and free community decks are unmatched, as long as you are fine with the $24.99 iOS app and the learning curve.
You study on iPhone and want ready-made cards with no subscription
Choose CertFlash. Purpose-built CompTIA decks, spaced repetition, a free A+ deck, and a one-time unlock for the rest.
You want a huge library for quick review and mostly use the web
Choose Quizlet, accepting that its review is basic and full features need a subscription.
You want exam-style practice questions, not flashcards
Choose Pocket Prep, ideally alongside a flashcard app for recall.
You want a polished cross-device experience and do not mind a subscription
Choose Brainscape.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best CompTIA flashcard app for iPhone?
It depends on how you study. Anki is the most powerful and has free community decks, but the iOS app is $24.99 and complex. CertFlash is the simplest no-subscription iPhone option, with ready-made A+, Network+, Security+, CySA+, Linux+, Cloud+, and PenTest+ decks and a free A+ deck. Quizlet suits quick, casual review.
Is there a free CompTIA flashcard app?
Partly. Anki is free on desktop and Android but $24.99 on iOS. Quizlet has a limited free tier. CertFlash gives its full A+ deck free, with a one-time $5.99 unlock for the other certs and no subscription.
What is the best app to study for Security+ specifically?
For flashcards, Anki has community Security+ decks (free on desktop) and CertFlash has a ready-made Security+ deck for iPhone with spaced repetition. For exam-style practice questions instead of cards, Pocket Prep has Security+ question banks with explanations.
Do these apps use real spaced repetition?
Anki (FSRS and SM-2) and CertFlash use spaced repetition. Quizlet's review is more basic and is not true spaced repetition. Brainscape uses a confidence-based repetition system.
Should I use flashcards or practice exams for CompTIA?
Both, for different jobs. Flashcards (Anki, CertFlash) build fast recall of facts, acronyms, and ports. Practice questions (Pocket Prep) test scenario-style application. A common approach is to drill recall with flashcards, then check readiness with practice questions.
Disclosure: this guide is published by IT Study Hub, which is run by Fogarty Holdings, the maker of CertFlash. We have kept the comparison honest and point to other apps wherever they fit better. Pricing and features change, so confirm current details on the App Store before buying.