The best flashcard apps
The best flashcard app depends on how you study. To remember things for months or years, choose an app built on spaced repetition, such as Anki, Recall or RemNote. To revise shared sets before a test, Quizlet is quicker to start with.
In short
- Anki gives the most control and is free everywhere except on iPhone and iPad.
- Recall is the simplest way to get modern spaced repetition, with AI to help make cards. It runs in a browser.
- RemNote suits people who take notes, and Mochi suits people who write in Markdown.
- Quizlet is built for quick revision with shared sets, with spaced repetition as an option on its website.
How do the best flashcard apps compare?
The five apps differ most in how central spaced repetition is, which devices they run on, and what the free plan includes.
| App | Best for | Spaced repetition | Price | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anki | full control, free on most devices | Yes, FSRS or SM-2 | Free; iOS app US$24.99 | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux |
| Recall | ease of use and AI | Yes, FSRS | Free plan; Pro US$11.99 a month or US$59.99 a year | Web, Claude, ChatGPT |
| RemNote | turning your notes into flashcards | Yes, SM-2 or FSRS | Free plan; Pro US$10 a month or US$96 a year | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux |
| Quizlet | ready-made sets and study games | Optional, website only | Free with ads; Quizlet Plus from US$35.99 a year | Web, iOS, Android |
| Mochi | people who write in Markdown | Yes, its own or FSRS | Free; Pro US$6 a month or US$60 a year | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux |
Anki
Best for full control, free on most devices
Anki is the best-known spaced repetition app. It offers FSRS, custom card templates, and thousands of shared decks and add-ons. It is free on computers, the web and Android, while the iPhone and iPad app is a one-time purchase. Its many settings take time to learn.
Strengths
- Free and open source
- Fine control over cards and scheduling
- Huge library of shared decks and add-ons
Limits
- Clunky interface and a steep learning curve
- iPhone and iPad app costs US$24.99
Recall
Best for ease of use and AI
Recall is a web app built on FSRS that keeps settings to a minimum. Making and editing cards is simple, and AI can fill in answers, translations and audio. Connectors for Claude and ChatGPT let you build and manage decks by chatting.
Strengths
- FSRS set up for you
- AI to fill in cards, and decks managed from Claude or ChatGPT
- Imports Anki decks with their review history
Limits
- Runs only in a browser, with no offline mode
- Free plan limited to 3 decks
- Few shared decks
RemNote
Best for turning your notes into flashcards
RemNote combines a note-taking app and a flashcard app: any line of your notes can become a card. It schedules reviews with SM-2 by default, or FSRS, and lets you annotate PDFs next to your notes.
Strengths
- Notes and flashcards in one place
- Unlimited notes and cards on the free plan
- Apps on every major platform
Limits
- Many features and settings to learn
- PDF annotation, image occlusion and AI limited on the free plan
Quizlet
Best for ready-made sets and study games
Quizlet is a study app known for its huge library of shared sets and its games. Since August 2026, its website offers an optional spaced repetition method in Flashcards. Its other study modes only quiz you within a session.
Strengths
- Huge library of shared sets
- Quick to start, with varied study modes
- Tools for teachers and classes
Limits
- Spaced repetition only on the website
- Ads and limits on the free plan
Mochi
Best for people who write in Markdown
Mochi is a minimal, offline-first app in which cards are Markdown documents. You grade each review with two buttons, Remembered or Forgot, and Mochi schedules it with its own algorithm or FSRS.
Strengths
- Markdown cards with templates
- Free with unlimited cards
- Works offline on every platform
Limits
- Sync between devices needs Pro
- Only two grading buttons
How do you choose a flashcard app?
Four questions narrow the choice quickly:
- Do you want to remember for months? Pick an app built around spaced repetition, not one where it is an option.
- How much setup will you accept? Anki rewards tuning; Recall and Mochi work well without it.
- Where do you study? Anki is paid on iPhone and iPad, and Recall runs only in a browser.
- Will you make or find your cards? Anki and Quizlet have large libraries of shared cards. Recall and RemNote use AI to help make them.
How did we choose these apps?
We selected five flashcard apps that each suit a different kind of learner, and that offer spaced repetition, whether it is central or optional. Every fact comes from our app profiles, which are checked against each app’s official website, documentation and store listings.
Which other apps did we consider?
Knowt offers Quizlet-style study modes, spaced repetition included, free on your own sets. It covers much the same need as Quizlet, so we left it out of this selection.
SuperMemo has the most advanced scheduling of any app we profile. But its main program runs only on Windows and takes time to learn, which makes it a niche choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free flashcard app?
Anki is free with no limits on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and the web; only its iPhone and iPad app is paid. Mochi is also free with unlimited cards, while Recall and RemNote have free plans with some limits.
Which flashcard apps use spaced repetition?
Anki, Recall, RemNote and Mochi are built around spaced repetition. Quizlet offers it as an option on its website.
What is the best flashcard app for iPhone?
RemNote, Mochi and Quizlet have free iPhone apps. Anki’s iPhone app costs US$24.99 once. Recall runs in Safari and can be added to the home screen.