The best Anki alternatives
The best Anki alternative depends on what you want to change. Recall keeps FSRS and your review history while removing most of the setup. RemNote and Mochi also import your decks with their history, and both have free iPhone apps.
In short
- Recall gives you Anki’s core, FSRS scheduling, without the setup. It imports your decks with their review history, so you switch without starting over.
- RemNote suits people who take notes, and Mochi people who want a simpler, free app.
- SuperMemo goes the other way, with even more advanced scheduling, on Windows only.
- Quizlet suits revision before a test more than long-term memorisation.
Why look for an alternative to Anki?
Most people switch because of the setup. Anki leaves card templates, learning steps and the scheduler to you, with little guidance on which settings matter. Many find its interface clunky.
Others want a free iPhone app: AnkiMobile costs US$24.99. See our Anki profile for the details.
How do the best Anki alternatives compare?
The five apps differ most in how much setup they need, whether they keep your review history, and how they run on iPhone.
| App | Best for | Imports Anki decks | On iPhone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recall | ease of use and AI | Yes, with review history | In Safari, as a web app | Free plan; Pro US$11.99 a month or US$59.99 a year |
| RemNote | notes and flashcards together | Yes, with review history | Free app | Free plan; Pro US$10 a month or US$96 a year |
| Mochi | a simpler, free app | Yes, with review history | Free app | Free; Pro US$6 a month or US$60 a year |
| SuperMemo | the most advanced algorithms | Not documented | Language app only | Windows US$64 one-time; app free tier, Premium from US$99.99 a year |
| Quizlet | ready-made sets and study games | No | Free app | Free with ads; Quizlet Plus from US$35.99 a year |
Recall
Best for ease of use and AI
Recall keeps what Anki does well, FSRS scheduling and your review history, and removes most of the setup. Making and editing cards is simple, and AI can fill them in. Connectors let you build decks from Claude or ChatGPT. It runs only in a browser.
Strengths
- Imports Anki decks with their review history
- FSRS set up for you, with almost no settings
- AI to fill in cards, and decks managed from Claude or ChatGPT
Limits
- Runs only in a browser, with no offline mode
- No add-ons, and custom card templates are not imported
RemNote
Best for notes and flashcards together
RemNote imports Anki decks with their review history, and lets you write new cards inside your notes. It uses SM-2 by default, like Anki, and offers FSRS as a beta option. Its apps are free on every platform, iPhone included.
Strengths
- Imports Anki decks with their review history
- Notes and flashcards in one place
- Free apps on every platform
Limits
- FSRS still in beta
- Many features and settings to learn
Mochi
Best for a simpler, free app
Mochi is a minimal, offline-first app with unlimited free cards on every platform, iPhone included. It imports Anki decks with their review history, and cards are written in Markdown. Reviews use two buttons, with Mochi’s own algorithm or FSRS.
Strengths
- Imports Anki decks with their review history
- Free with unlimited cards, offline on every platform
- Simple Markdown cards
Limits
- Sync between devices needs Pro
- Only two grading buttons
SuperMemo
Best for the most advanced algorithms
SuperMemo is the original spaced repetition software, and Anki’s SM-2 scheduler comes from it. Its Windows program runs several algorithms side by side and offers incremental reading. It suits Anki users who want even more control, not less.
Strengths
- The most advanced scheduling of any app here
- Incremental reading
- One-time purchase
Limits
- Runs only on Windows
- Complex interface, and no documented Anki import
Quizlet
Best for ready-made sets and study games
Quizlet suits people who find Anki too much for revision before a test. It has a huge library of shared sets, study games and practice tests. Spaced repetition is only an option in Flashcards on its website.
Strengths
- Huge library of shared sets
- Quick to start, with varied study modes
- Free iPhone app
Limits
- No Anki import
- Spaced repetition only on the website
How do you move your decks from Anki?
Export your decks from Anki as an Anki package (.apkg), with scheduling information included. Recall, RemNote and Mochi import that file with your review history, so your cards keep their schedule.
Some things don’t carry over. All three drop Anki’s custom styling and scripts, so cards with custom templates may look different. In Recall, numbered clozes (c1, c2…) on one card are all hidden at once instead of becoming separate cards.
When should you stay with Anki?
Stay with Anki if you rely on its add-ons, custom card templates or shared decks, or if you like tuning its settings. It is also the only open-source app here.
How did we choose these apps?
We selected five apps that cover the main reasons people leave Anki: less setup, a free iPhone app, or a different way of studying. Every fact comes from our app profiles, which are checked against each app’s official website, documentation and store listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anki really US$25?
Only on iPhone and iPad. AnkiMobile is a one-time purchase of US$24.99. Anki is free on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and the web, including sync between devices.
Can you keep your review history when you leave Anki?
Yes, with Recall, RemNote or Mochi. Each imports Anki packages with their review history, so your cards keep their schedule. Export your decks from Anki with scheduling information included.
What is the best free Anki alternative?
Mochi is free with unlimited cards on every platform, iPhone included. RemNote is also free with unlimited cards. Recall has a free plan limited to 3 decks.