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Choose between an Anki deck and a collection package

Flashcards from your PDFs, slides, notes or photos, with spaced repetition. Export to Anki on the Plus plan.

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What separates the two Anki files

Choosing between an Anki deck vs collection package comes down to how much you need to move. A deck is a shareable slice of cards, while a collection package is a full backup of everything built up in Anki. Knowing which one you have keeps you from overwriting months of review history.

Deck: one subject's cards, sharable with others
Collection package: every deck, setting and review history
Importing a collection package replaces your current collection
Back up your collection before importing anything new

Example Anki deck and collection package facts

What does a .colpkg collection package contain?Your full Anki collection: every deck, note type, media file, review history and preference setting.

What does a deck package (.apkg) contain?Selected decks with their notes, cards and media, optionally including scheduling information.

What happens when you import a collection package into Anki?It replaces your current collection, so back up existing cards before importing.

When should you share a single deck instead of a full collection?When someone needs one subject's cards without your other decks, settings or review history.

Why keep a periodic collection package backup?It preserves every deck, your review history and your settings if the local database is lost or damaged.

Generate the full set

Deck files for sharing

Export one subject's cards as an Anki deck so a classmate can import just that material.

Full collection backups

A collection package keeps every deck, setting and review history together in one file.

Spaced repetition first

Study in the browser with spaced repetition, then export to Anki when you want to continue there.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text notes, or photos of pages.

Study the flashcards

Review generated cards with spaced repetition in your browser, no credit card needed to start.

Export to Anki

On the Plus plan, export your cards to Anki and choose the file that fits your study setup.

Most students start with a deck for one course and only need a full collection package when switching computers or recovering a broken setup. Before importing either file, back up your current collection, because importing a collection package replaces what is already there. DeckOwl lets you study in the browser on the free plan and exports to Anki on Plus.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an Anki deck and a collection package?

A deck file contains selected cards from one or more decks, while a collection package contains your entire Anki library, including settings and review history. Use a deck to share material and a collection package to back up everything.

Should I import a deck or a collection package into Anki?

Import a deck to add cards without changing what you already have. Import a collection package only when you want to replace your current collection, since it overwrites existing data.

Is exporting to Anki free in DeckOwl?

No. Export to Anki is part of the Plus plan, which costs $39/year or $7.99/month. The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser.

How many flashcards should I make for one exam topic?

Start with the key terms and definitions from your lecture slides, usually one card per fact you might be asked to recall. Add more cards as review shows you gaps.

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Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.