Education · head to head
Memrise vs PictureThis
Memrise
Education
Vocabulary and spaced repetition language app built around video clips of native speakers
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
PictureThis
Education
Commercial plant identification app with a short free trial that converts to an annual subscription
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Memrise has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Memrise the free tier caps daily reviews tightly enough that consistent vocabulary building in practice requires the Pro subscription.; PictureThis the free trial converts to a paid annual subscription automatically, and a documented pattern of user complaints describes unexpected charges when the trial was not cancelled in time.
- They diverge on capability: Memrise covers Spaced repetition flashcards, PictureThis covers Plant identification.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Memrise and PictureThis actually diverge.
| Attribute | Memrise | PictureThis |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Free with a Pro subscription | Per year, sold via a short free trial that auto-renews |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Memrise
- Spaced repetition flashcards
- Learn with Locals videos
- Official courses
- Speaking practice
- Offline mode
- Grammar bot
Only in PictureThis
- Plant identification
- Disease diagnosis
- Care reminders
- Plant care library
- Toxicity warnings
- My Garden tracking
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Memrise
- A learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcardsnot PictureThis
- Someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting Memrise purely for vocabulary retentionnot PictureThis
- A traveller wanting practical phrase recognition for a specific trip rather than formal fluencynot PictureThis
- A learner comparing subscription convenience against building free custom decks in Ankinot PictureThis
PictureThis
- A gardener who wants ongoing care reminders and disease diagnosis, not just a one-off identificationnot Memrise
- Someone willing to pay for a more polished interface than the free nonprofit alternativesnot Memrise
- A plant owner who wants toxicity warnings for pets and childrennot Memrise
- A buyer who reads the trial terms carefully and sets a reminder to cancel before it convertsnot Memrise
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Memrise
- The free tier caps daily reviews tightly enough that consistent vocabulary building in practice requires the Pro subscription.
- Memrise phased out much of its earlier community-created course library in favour of official courses, so learners who relied on community decks for less common languages lost access to that content.
- It teaches vocabulary and set phrases well but offers comparatively thin grammar instruction, so it works best as a companion to a grammar-focused course rather than a standalone method.
- Language coverage for the flagship Learn with Locals video feature and speaking practice is uneven, concentrated in a handful of popular languages.
- Unlike Anki, the spaced repetition algorithm and content are closed and cannot be customised or exported, so a learner cannot take their review data to another tool.
PictureThis
- The free trial converts to a paid annual subscription automatically, and a documented pattern of user complaints describes unexpected charges when the trial was not cancelled in time.
- Cancellation has to be done through App Store or Play Store account settings, not by deleting the app, which catches users off guard.
- It solves the same core identification problem that Seek, PlantNet and Merlin solve for free, so the paid tier is competing against genuinely free options for the same task.
- Care guidance for uncommon or exotic species is criticised as generic rather than specific.
- Being a commercial product from a company that publishes near-identical identification apps for other categories, its plant-specific depth is not obviously deeper than a dedicated botanical tool.
Pricing, plan by plan
Memrise
Free- Memrise Pro$8.99/month
- Free tier allows basic vocabulary practice with daily limits and ads
- Pro unlocks Learn with Locals videos, full official courses and offline mode
- Annual Pro plans typically run $69.99 to $89.99, cheaper per month than monthly billing
PictureThis
On request- PictureThis Annual$39.99/year
- Unlimited plant identifications
- Disease diagnosis
- Care reminders and guides
Which should you pick?
Choose Memrise if
- You need spaced repetition flashcards.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want learn with locals videos.
Choose PictureThis if
- You need plant identification.
- You work on iOS, Android.
- You also want disease diagnosis.
Questions people ask
- Is Memrise or PictureThis better?
- Neither clearly leads. Memrise starts at Free and PictureThis at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Memrise or PictureThis?
- Memrise has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Memrise and On request for PictureThis.
- Does Memrise or PictureThis run on more platforms?
- Memrise runs on iOS, Android, Web. PictureThis runs on iOS, Android.
- Can I use Memrise for free?
- Yes. Memrise has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PictureThis starts at On request.
- What is Memrise best used for?
- Memrise is most often used for a learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcards, someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting memrise purely for vocabulary retention, a traveller wanting practical phrase recognition for a specific trip rather than formal fluency, a learner comparing subscription convenience against building free custom decks in anki. Of those, a learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcards and someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting memrise purely for vocabulary retention are not what PictureThis is typically brought in for.
- What can Memrise do that PictureThis cannot?
- Memrise covers Spaced repetition flashcards, Learn with Locals videos, Official courses, Speaking practice. PictureThis covers Plant identification, Disease diagnosis, Care reminders, Plant care library.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Memrise: Is Memrise free?
A limited amount of vocabulary practice is free with daily caps and ads. Learn with Locals videos, full courses and offline mode require Memrise Pro.
PictureThis: Is there a free version?
A limited free tier exists with restricted identifications and ads; full use requires the paid subscription.
Memrise: What is Learn with Locals?
Short video clips of native speakers using vocabulary and phrases in real settings, intended to show how language is actually spoken rather than textbook delivery.
PictureThis: How long is the free trial and does it auto-renew?
The trial is typically about seven days and auto-renews into the annual subscription unless cancelled beforehand through your App Store or Play Store settings.
Memrise: Can I still use community-created courses?
Memrise moved away from most of its earlier community course library toward its own official courses, so availability of community content is now limited.
PictureThis: Is PictureThis the same as PlantNet or Seek?
No. PlantNet and Seek are free nonprofit identification tools; PictureThis is a commercial subscription product with more built-in care features.
Related pages
More on PictureThis
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