Paladin app review (2026): price, free version and score

We make Aurelius, a direct alternative to Paladin, so we are not neutral. That is why this review sticks to what Paladin's own App Store and Google Play listings say, read on October 20, 2026, and scores it with the same public rules as every other app on this site (how we rate).

What is the Paladin app?

Paladin: Learn History is a history learning app made by Brainstash Inc, listed as Deepstash SRL on Google Play: the company behind the Deepstash app. It launched on the App Store in September 2024 and is in the Education category, rated 13+ on the App Store and Everyone 10+ on Google Play.

Its listing promises "the stories of history's greatest personalities in just 5 minutes". Lessons are "centered around key figures like Cleopatra, Abraham Lincoln, and more", animated, and "followed by a quiz". As you progress you "level up" and unlock collectible characters, each with its own backstory.

How Paladin lessons work

Each lesson is a short animated story about one person, then a quiz on what you just watched. That quiz-after-every-lesson design is the strongest thing about Paladin: being tested right after you read is one of the best-documented ways to remember (Roediger & Karpicke, 2006).

What the listing does not say

It does not describe a path through history in time order, how many lessons or eras there are, where the content comes from, or who checks it. If it does these things, the listing doesn't tell you, and our score only counts what listings say.

How much does Paladin cost?

Paladin is free to download. Its US App Store listing shows these Pro subscriptions (read October 20, 2026):

Why six yearly prices?

Apps often show different offers to different people (introductory discounts, win-back offers, regional tests). The listing doesn't explain which you will see, so check the payment sheet before you confirm. For comparison, Aurelius lists one monthly ($9.99) and one yearly ($79.99) price, and Nibble lists $19.99 a month.

How to cancel Paladin

On iPhone: Settings → your name → Subscriptions → Paladin → Cancel (Apple's guide). On Android: Google Play → profile → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions (Google's guide). Deleting the app does not cancel the subscription.

Is Paladin free?

Downloading is free. The listing does not say which lessons, if any, you can take without Pro, so expect a paywall early. If you want to learn history without paying, Histopia keeps its lessons free and Khan Academy is free and nonprofit: see the best free history apps.

Is Paladin legit and well rated?

Yes. It is published by a known company, has 4.6 from 23,623 US App Store ratings and 4.6 from 19,124 Google Play reviews, and more than 500,000 Google Play downloads (October 20, 2026). That is the strongest track record of any history-only app we cover, and it is why Paladin gets full marks on our ratings criterion.

Paladin score: 4.6/10

Paladin vs Aurelius

Both make short illustrated lessons with a quiz after each, on iPhone and Android. The difference is structure: Paladin tells stories about people; Aurelius, our app, teaches 127 lessons across 13 eras in chronological order, from Ancient Egypt to the Cold War, with credited paintings and fact-checked lessons, for $9.99 a month. Paladin wins clearly on ratings and animation. Full comparison: Aurelius vs Paladin.

Is Paladin worth it?

If you love animation and want quick stories about famous people, Paladin does that well, and its ratings show many people enjoy it. If you want to understand how events connect, an app built as a course in order teaches more per minute. Other options: Paladin alternatives.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Paladin cost a month?

$12.99 a month for Pro on the US App Store (October 20, 2026). There is also a 3-month plan at $24.99 and yearly plans listed at six prices between $29.99 and $99.99. Prices vary by country.

Is the Paladin app free?

It is free to download, but the listing does not say what you can learn without Pro. Most of the app sits behind the subscription. For free history lessons, try Histopia or Khan Academy.

Is Paladin a real, reputable app?

Yes. It is published by Brainstash Inc on the App Store and Deepstash SRL on Google Play, has 4.6 from 23,623 US App Store ratings and 4.6 from 19,124 Google Play reviews, with 500K+ downloads.

Is Paladin on Android?

Yes, Paladin: Learn History is on Google Play (Everyone 10+), as well as on iPhone and iPad (13+ on the App Store).

Does Paladin teach history in order?

Its listing describes lessons about key figures, not a chronological path. For history in order, Aurelius is built as 13 eras from Ancient Egypt to the Cold War.

Is Paladin accurate?

Its listing does not describe sources, image credits or fact-checking, so we cannot tell you from the listing. Treat any app's simplified stories as a starting point and check what matters.

What is the best alternative to Paladin?

Aurelius, our app, scores 9.2/10 against Paladin's 4.6: also 5-minute lessons with a quiz after each, but in chronological order, with credited sources and a lower monthly price ($9.99). Free alternatives: Histopia and Khan Academy.

The bottom line

Paladin is a polished, popular way to meet famous historical figures in five minutes, with a quiz after each story. It is less suited to learning history as a whole: no ordered path or sources on its listing, and a price that changes with the offer you see. If that matters to you, try Aurelius free for 3 days.

Sources

1. Paladin: Learn History, US App Store listing and in-app purchases, and Google Play listing (US), read October 20, 2026.
2. Roediger, H. L., & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). "Test-enhanced learning." Psychological Science, 17(3), 249–255. PubMed
3. Apple, "Cancel a subscription from Apple" (support.apple.com); Google, "Cancel a subscription on Google Play" (support.google.com).