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A hosted alternative to open source flashcard apps for your notes

DeckOwl turns PDFs, slides, notes and photos of pages into flashcards with spaced repetition. Start free with no credit card.

Create flashcards nowFree · No credit card required

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

Free · First set needs no signup · Creates flashcards in seconds

Open source or hosted: which fits your study routine

Students who type in an open source flashcard app usually want code they can read, host or change, which is a different need from getting cards made quickly. DeckOwl is a hosted tool and not an open source project, but it can turn your own files into spaced repetition cards without any setup.

Use DeckOwl when you want cards from your own material without installing anything.
Choose an open source app when you need to inspect or modify the code itself.
Export to Anki from Plus if you want to keep your cards in a separate tool.
Start on the Free plan with 3 generations per month and no credit card.

Example open source licensing flashcards

What does open source mean?Software whose source code is publicly available to read, use, modify and share under a license.

What is the MIT License?A permissive open source license that allows reuse with few conditions, provided the copyright notice is kept.

What is copyleft?A licensing approach where modified versions must be distributed under the same open terms as the original.

What is the GPL?The GNU General Public License, a copyleft license that requires derivative works you distribute to be open source too.

What is a fork in open source?A new project started from a copy of existing source code, often to diverge in direction or continue maintenance.

Generate the full set

Cards from your own files

Upload PDFs, DOCX, PPTX, plain text or photos of pages and get flashcards built from that material.

Spaced repetition built in

Cards come back at the intervals your memory needs, so you review less of what you already know.

Export when you need it

Plus adds PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV export, so your cards can leave the app if your plans change.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, slide deck, set of notes or a photo of a textbook page.

Review the generated cards

Check the flashcards, then study them in the browser with spaced repetition.

Export or keep studying

On Plus or Pro, export to Anki, CSV, PDF or DOCX. The Free plan keeps you in the browser.

If open source matters to you, check the license before you rely on any study tool for exams. Permissive licenses like MIT let people reuse code with few conditions, while copyleft licenses like GPL require modified versions to stay open under the same terms.

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Frequently asked questions

What does open source mean for a study app?

Open source means the source code is publicly available and can be read, used, modified and redistributed under a license. It does not automatically mean the app is free to use or that it suits every learner.

What is the difference between MIT and GPL licenses?

MIT is a permissive license that allows reuse with few conditions, including in proprietary software. GPL is a copyleft license that requires modified versions you distribute to be released under the same terms.

Can I export my DeckOwl flashcards to Anki?

Yes, but Anki export is a paid feature on Plus, which costs $39/year or $7.99/month. The Free plan lets you study in the browser without exports.

Is DeckOwl free to start?

Yes, the Free plan includes 3 generations per month and browser study. No credit card is needed to start, and students get 40% off with a school email.

Generate free flashcards

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.