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Learn to make Anki flashcards you will actually remember

Upload PDFs, slides, notes or photos of pages and get flashcards with spaced repetition. Study in the browser for free, or export to Anki on a paid plan.

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Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

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Writing cards that hold up in review

A good Anki flashcards tutorial starts with the card, not the software. Anki shows you whatever you put on each side, so a card that asks two things at once makes every review feel like a guess. Keep one fact per card, put a specific question on the front, and write the answer in your own words.

Write questions that need recall, not recognition.
Use cloze deletions for definitions and formulas.
Limit new cards per day so reviews do not pile up.
Tag decks by unit so you can study one topic at a time.

Example Anki flashcards on basic study concepts

What is spaced repetition?Reviewing material at increasing intervals, timed to just before you would forget it, which strengthens long-term recall.

What does the Again button do in Anki?It sends the card back to the learning queue so you see it again soon in the same session, and it lowers the card's ease.

Cloze example: The capital of Australia is {{c1::Canberra}}.Canberra. Cloze deletions hide one term so you recall it from context, which works well for definitions.

Why should a flashcard ask only one fact?Because a card with two answers can be marked wrong when you recall only one, making the rating unreliable and reviews harder to judge.

What is the difference between active recall and rereading?Active recall means pulling the answer from memory before checking, while rereading only shows it again, so it feels familiar without testing retrieval.

Generate the full set

Cards from your own material

Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text file or a photo of a page. The generator reads the text and drafts cards from it.

Spaced repetition built in

Cards come back at increasing intervals, so you review each one just before you would forget it.

Export to Anki

Paid plans export decks to Anki, plus CSV and PDF, so your cards move with you.

How it works

Add your material

Upload notes or slides, or photograph a page. Text recognition reads images as well as typed files.

Review the drafted cards

Edit any card that is too long or vague. Keep one fact per card so each review is quick.

Study or export

Study in the browser on the free plan, or export to Anki on Plus or Pro to keep your schedule in Anki.

Spacing does most of the work. Each time you answer, Anki schedules the next review based on how well you recalled the card, so easy cards drift apart and hard ones return sooner. Rate honestly, since marking a card Easy when you hesitated pushes it out too far.

If you already have lecture slides or a textbook chapter, you do not need to type cards by hand. Generate a first draft from your own file, then trim and rewrite the cards that do not match what your instructor emphasized.

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Frequently asked questions

How many new cards should I add to Anki each day?

Many students start with 10 to 20 new cards a day and adjust based on how long reviews take. If reviews keep piling up, lower the new card limit for a few days.

What makes a good Anki card for science or medical courses?

Use one fact per card, a precise prompt, and an answer you can check against your notes. Cloze cards work well for drug names, doses and formulas.

Do I need to know Anki before using DeckOwl?

No. You can study generated cards in your browser on the free plan. Export to Anki is available on the Plus and Pro plans.

Can I export my flashcards to Anki for free?

Exports are a paid feature. Plus includes Anki, PDF, DOCX and CSV export, and students get 40% off with a school email. No credit card is needed to start.

Generate free flashcards

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.