SuperMemo
SuperMemo is the oldest spaced repetition software, first written by Piotr Woźniak in 1987. It now comes as two separate products. SuperMemo for Windows is a desktop program with advanced algorithms and incremental reading. The SuperMemo app, for the web and mobile, offers language courses and your own flashcards.
Which platforms does SuperMemo run on?
SuperMemo for Windows runs only on Windows 10 and 11, with no native version for Mac or Linux. The SuperMemo app runs in a browser and on iPhone, iPad and Android. The two products are separate: they share no account and no data. The mobile apps can download a course for offline study.
| Platform | Notes |
|---|---|
| Windows | SuperMemo for Windows, on Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit recommended). One-time purchase. |
| Web | The SuperMemo app, in a modern browser on any computer. |
| iPhone and iPad | The SuperMemo app on iPhone and iPad. Courses can be downloaded for offline study. |
| Android | The SuperMemo app. Courses can be downloaded for offline study. |
How does SuperMemo schedule reviews?
SuperMemo for Windows runs five algorithms side by side: SM-20, SM-19, SM-15, SM-2 and FSRS. Each gets more weight in your schedule the better it predicts your recall. You grade each answer on a scale from 0 to 5, and can set how much forgetting you accept. The app uses its own unpublished algorithm, aiming for 90% recall, with three buttons: I know, Almost and I don’t know.
What cards can you make in SuperMemo?
SuperMemo for Windows makes question-and-answer and cloze cards, with images and other media. It is also built for incremental reading: you import articles, PDFs or web pages, read them bit by bit and turn key passages into cards. The app focuses on ready-made language courses, about 300 in 25 languages. You can also make your own cards and courses.
- Shared decks
- App: about 300 courses in 25 languages, plus courses published by users. Windows: collections such as Advanced English sold separately.
- Import
- Windows: PDF, EPub, email, web pages, Wikipedia, YouTube and images for incremental reading; collections from SuperMemo 16 to 19. App: no import documented.
- Export
- No export documented for the app.
- Add-ons and integrations
- The SuperMemo API offers SM-20 scheduling to developers. No plugin system is documented.
How does SuperMemo track your progress?
SuperMemo for Windows has detailed statistics, including forgetting curves and charts of how well each algorithm predicts your recall. The app keeps it simple: new cards, repetitions and study time, by day, week, month or overall.
Is SuperMemo free?
Partly. SuperMemo for Windows costs US$64 as a one-time purchase, and SuperMemo 16, an older version, is free. The app has a free tier limited to 20 cards a day. Premium unlocks the courses and AI features, from US$99.99 a year in the US App Store. Courses can also be bought one by one.
| SuperMemo for Windows | SuperMemo app | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | US$64 one-time | Free tier; Premium from US$99.99 a year |
| Free option | SuperMemo 16, an older version | 20 cards a day and 140 a month |
| Platforms | Windows | Web, iPhone, iPad and Android |
| Ready-made content | Sold separately | About 300 language courses |
What are SuperMemo's strengths and limits?
Strengths
- Several algorithms weighted by how well they predict your recall (Windows)
- Incremental reading of articles, PDFs and books (Windows)
- One-time purchase for the Windows program
- About 300 ready-made language courses (app)
Limits
- Steep learning curve and complex interface (Windows)
- Windows program has no Mac, Linux or mobile version
- The two products share no account or data
- No import or export documented for the app
Who is SuperMemo best for?
SuperMemo is best for people who want the most advanced scheduling and will invest time in a complex tool. SuperMemo for Windows suits dedicated learners and heavy readers, thanks to incremental reading. The app suits language learners who want ready-made courses on their phone.
Our review
SuperMemo started spaced repetition software, and SuperMemo for Windows is still where its ideas appear first. No other app covered here weighs several algorithms by how well they predict your memory. Incremental reading has no close equivalent elsewhere.
The cost is a steep learning curve and a complex interface. It runs only on Windows, with no official mobile companion for reviews on the go.
The SuperMemo app is a different, simpler product, mostly for language courses. It suits learners who want content ready to study rather than a tool to build their own system.