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Turn your own notes into flashcards for Anki and AnkiDroid

Anki and AnkiDroid share the same deck format, so the real choice is where you study. Upload your own material and get flashcards with spaced repetition either way.

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How the two compare for studying

Anki is the flashcard engine and AnkiDroid is the Android app that runs its decks, so the choice in anki flashcards vs ankidroid is mostly about where you study. Desktop Anki gives you the full editor for note types and add-ons, while AnkiDroid fits short reviews on a phone.

  • Desktop Anki offers a fuller editor and add-on support.
  • AnkiDroid lets you review on Android with the same deck files.
  • Sync between devices runs through an AnkiWeb account in both apps.
  • Generating cards from your own notes is usually faster than writing them by hand.
Example AnkiDroid study cards
What is a cloze deletion card in Anki?A card that hides one or more words in a sentence, written as {{c1::word}}, so you recall the hidden part.
What is the difference between a deck and a note type in Anki?A deck groups cards for review and scheduling, while a note type defines the fields and card templates.
What does the Again button do when reviewing in AnkiDroid?It sends the card back to a learning step so you see it again soon in the same session, since you missed it.
Where does AnkiDroid store synced decks for sync?Sync runs through an AnkiWeb account, which keeps your collection so it can match across Android and desktop.
What default ease does Anki use for new cards?Around 250 percent, which sets how quickly the review interval grows after each successful answer.
Generate the full set

Works from your own material

Upload PDFs, DOCX, PPTX, plain notes or photos of pages and get flashcards built from them.

Spaced repetition built in

Cards are scheduled so you see the ones you are about to forget, instead of rereading everything.

Export when you need it

Plus exports to PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV, so decks can move into AnkiDroid on your phone.

How it works

Upload your source

Add a PDF, slide deck, set of notes or a photo of a page. No credit card is needed to start.

Review the generated cards

Check the flashcards against your material and keep the ones that matter for your course.

Study or export

Study in the browser on the free plan, or export to Anki on Plus and continue in AnkiDroid.

Both use the same spaced repetition approach, which means the deck you build matters more than the app you open it in. Cards made from your own lecture slides or textbook chapters tend to be more useful than generic decks, because you already know what the exam will ask.

DeckOwl can generate the cards from your material, then either study them in the browser or export them to Anki on the Plus plan.

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Frequently asked questions

Does AnkiDroid use the same decks as desktop Anki?

Yes, AnkiDroid reads Anki decks and can sync them through AnkiWeb, so reviews on your phone appear on a computer after sync. Some advanced add-ons may not run on Android.

How many new cards should I add per day in AnkiDroid?

Start with a number you can finish each day, often 10 to 20 new cards. Raise the limit once your daily reviews stay manageable.

Can I export DeckOwl flashcards to Anki?

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

Is DeckOwl free to try?

Yes, the free plan includes 3 generations per month and no credit card is needed to start. Students get 40% off with a school email.

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Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.