Anki is a free, open-source spaced repetition flashcard program that schedules reviews at increasing intervals so learners memorize facts, languages, and exam material with less total study time.
Anki is a free, open-source flashcard application built around spaced repetition, a scheduling method that shows difficult cards more often and easy cards less often. Learners create or download decks, review due cards each day, and rate how well they remembered each answer, which adjusts the next interval automatically. Cards support images, audio, video, and LaTeX for scientific notation, so the same tool handles language vocabulary, medical facts, geography, and law. Anki runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, with AnkiWeb syncing progress between devices. It suits students, language learners, and professionals who need durable recall rather than short-term cramming.
Anki stores everything in a local collection file, so it works offline and keeps working without an account, while AnkiWeb syncs decks and review history across devices. The scheduler has moved beyond the original SM-2 algorithm: since version 23.10 the Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler, or FSRS, is available as an optional algorithm trained on the user's own review history, and it typically produces fewer reviews for the same retention. Add-ons extend the interface, and shared decks cover subjects from medical licensing exams to languages. Analysts who track study data alongside other reporting tools sometimes pair it with Microsoft PowerBI Desktop, though Anki itself needs only modest hardware to run well.
Anki reduces total study time by scheduling each card at the moment it is about to be forgotten, which is the core reason spaced repetition outperforms rereading and highlighting. Learners review only the cards that are due, so a daily session stays short even when a deck holds thousands of items, and the algorithm adapts to individual recall instead of following a fixed timetable. The FSRS scheduler, trained on the user's own review history, can deliver the same retention with fewer repetitions than the older SM-2 method, saving further hours over a semester. Decks are portable and sync through AnkiWeb, so progress follows the learner between a desktop, a phone, and a tablet without manual copying. Because Anki is open source and content-agnostic, it accepts images, audio, video, and LaTeX, and thousands of shared decks remove the work of building material from scratch. The practical result is measurable recall with less daily effort.
Key capabilities and highlights.
Anki schedules each card based on how well it was recalled, showing difficult items more often and easy ones at longer intervals. Reviews are limited to cards that are actually due, which keeps daily sessions short. The method is the reason Anki produces durable recall with less total study time than rereading or highlighting notes.
The Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler, integrated since version 23.10, models memory using difficulty, stability, and retrievability, and it can be trained on a user's own review history. Benchmarks suggest it reaches the same retention with fewer reviews than the older SM-2 method, which cuts daily workload over long study periods.
Cards accept images, audio, video, and LaTeX for scientific and mathematical notation. This makes Anki usable for anatomy diagrams, pronunciation clips, chemistry equations, and language audio in the same deck. Content is entered through a note editor with fields and card templates, so one note can generate several question types.
Thousands of user-made decks cover medical licensing exams, languages, geography, history, law, and music theory. Importing a shared deck removes the work of authoring cards from scratch, which matters for students preparing for standardized tests. Decks can be edited locally after import to match a specific curriculum.
AnkiWeb syncs decks and review history between desktop, mobile, and browser clients, so progress follows the learner across devices. The desktop collection works offline, and changes merge on the next sync. Free AnkiWeb accounts also host shared decks and add-on data without a subscription.
Add-ons extend Anki with features such as enhanced statistics, improved editors, image occlusion, and integration with other study services. They install from a built-in browser and can be disabled without affecting the collection. The ecosystem lets users adapt the interface to specific workflows without waiting for official releases.
Anki ships clients for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with AnkiDroid for Android and AnkiMobile for iOS available separately. AnkiDroid is free and open source, while AnkiMobile is a paid app that funds desktop development. All clients sync through AnkiWeb, so a deck created on one platform is available on the others.
A query language lets users find cards by tag, deck, due date, or review history, which helps when managing large collections. Built-in statistics show review counts, retention, and forecast workload over time. These tools make it easier to spot problem cards and adjust study habits based on actual performance data.
Browse historical releases and previous builds.
Common questions about Anki.
Yes. Anki is open-source software released under the AGPL-3.0-or-later license and is free on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android through AnkiDroid. AnkiWeb syncing is also free. The iOS app, AnkiMobile, is paid and helps fund desktop development.
Anki runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux for desktop, with AnkiDroid for Android and AnkiMobile for iOS. AnkiWeb provides a browser-based review option. Decks and progress sync between all clients through a free AnkiWeb account.
Spaced repetition schedules reviews at increasing intervals based on how well each item was remembered, so difficult cards appear more often and easy ones less often. Anki automates this scheduling, which is why it produces durable long-term recall with fewer total reviews than rereading or highlighting.
FSRS, the Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler, is a modern scheduling algorithm integrated into Anki since version 23.10. It models memory using difficulty, stability, and retrievability, and it can be optimized on a user's own review history. Benchmarks indicate it reaches the same retention with fewer reviews than the older SM-2 algorithm.
Yes. The desktop and mobile clients store the collection locally, so reviews work without an internet connection. AnkiWeb sync is only needed to move progress between devices, and it merges changes the next time the client connects.
Yes. Cards can include images, audio clips, video, and LaTeX for scientific and mathematical notation. This makes the same tool suitable for anatomy diagrams, language pronunciation, chemistry equations, and music theory, without needing separate applications for each subject.
The shared decks section of AnkiWeb hosts thousands of user-made decks covering medical licensing exams, languages, geography, history, law, and music theory. Decks can be downloaded and edited locally, which is useful when a course follows a specific textbook or curriculum.
Anki is a free, open-source spaced repetition flashcard program that schedules reviews at increasing intervals so learners memorize facts, languages, and exam material with less total study time.
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