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Get an Anki deck from your own notes and review it on schedule

Upload a PDF, slides, notes or a photo of a page and get flashcards with spaced repetition, ready to study in the browser or export to Anki.

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Why the deck matters more than the app

Most people asking about how to use an Anki deck already have the material they need to learn, such as lecture slides, a textbook chapter, or handwritten notes. The hard part is turning that material into cards you can review on a schedule.

  • Upload a PDF, slide deck, DOCX, or photo of notes
  • Review cards in the browser on the free plan
  • Let spaced repetition set the order of your reviews
  • Export the finished deck to Anki on Plus
Example first-year biology flashcards
What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?Mitosis produces two genetically identical diploid cells, while meiosis produces four genetically distinct haploid gametes.
Which organelle produces most of a cell's ATP?The mitochondrion, through cellular respiration, since it houses the electron transport chain.
Where does the Calvin cycle take place?In the stroma of the chloroplast, where it uses ATP and NADPH from the light reactions to fix carbon dioxide.
What is osmosis?The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to one of higher solute concentration.
What is the function of ribosomes?They synthesize proteins by translating mRNA into a polypeptide chain.
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Flashcards from your material

Upload PDFs, DOCX and PPTX files, plain notes, or photos of pages. The text is read and turned into question-and-answer cards.

Spaced repetition built in

Cards come back at the intervals that help you remember them, so you spend less time rereading and more time recalling.

Export to Anki on Plus

Plus lets you export your deck to Anki, along with PDF, DOCX and CSV. The free plan studies in the browser.

How it works

Upload your study material

Add the lecture slides, chapter, or notes you need to learn. Photos of printed pages work too.

Review the generated cards

Read through the flashcards, edit anything that looks off, and start your first study session.

Study daily and export if needed

Work through the cards each day and let spaced repetition choose what comes next. Export to Anki on Plus.

If you were hoping to download a ready-made deck, those exist, but they rarely match your course. DeckOwl builds a deck from your own file or photo, then schedules each card so it returns just before you would be likely to forget it.

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Frequently asked questions

How often should I review an Anki deck?

Review it every day in short sessions, since spaced repetition works best with frequent, brief reviews. Cards you answer correctly will appear less often, and missed cards will return sooner.

How many flashcards should I make for a first biology unit?

Start with the key terms, definitions, and processes from one lecture or chapter, which often means a few dozen cards. Add more as you move through the unit, so the deck stays manageable.

Can I export my flashcards to Anki?

Yes, export to Anki is included on the Plus plan at $39/year or $7.99/month. The free plan lets you study the cards in your browser but does not include exports.

Do I need a credit card to start?

No. You can start on the free plan without a credit card, which includes 3 generations per month.

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Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.