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Make Anki cards from any PDF without typing them by hand

Upload a PDF, slides, notes or a photo of a page. DeckOwl turns the material into flashcards with spaced repetition, and Plus lets you export them to Anki.

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Why students search for a way to make Anki cards from a PDF

Typing cards by hand from a 40-page chapter takes hours, which is why many students look for a faster way to make Anki cards from a PDF that still reflects what the course actually covers.

  • Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text or image files
  • Edit or delete any card before you export
  • Study in the browser on the free plan with 3 generations per month
  • Export to Anki, CSV, PDF or DOCX on Plus at $99.90/year or $9.99/month
Example flashcards: World War I causes
What does MAIN stand for in the causes of World War I?Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism.
Which event in June 1914 is usually cited as the trigger for World War I?The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914.
What was the Triple Entente?An understanding between France, Russia and the United Kingdom that linked their security interests.
Which three countries formed the original Triple Alliance?Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.
What was the blank check Germany gave Austria-Hungary in July 1914?Unconditional German support for Austria-Hungary's response to Sarajevo, which encouraged a harsh ultimatum to Serbia.
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Works with your own files

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text or images. Photos of pages are read with text recognition.

Spaced repetition built in

Cards come back at the right intervals so you review what you are about to forget.

Export to Anki on Plus

Plus includes Anki, CSV, PDF and DOCX export, so your cards can move into the study app you already use.

How it works

Upload your PDF

Drop in a chapter, lecture deck or set of notes. No credit card is needed to start.

Review the generated cards

Check the flashcards DeckOwl creates and keep the ones that matter for your course.

Study or export

Study in the browser on the free plan, or export to Anki with Plus.

An AI generator reads the document, pulls out terms, dates and relationships, and writes question-and-answer pairs you can edit before you study. You stay in control of what goes into the deck.

Once the cards are ready, spaced repetition schedules reviews so the hard ones return more often than the easy ones.

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Frequently asked questions

How many flashcards should I make from one PDF?

Start with the sections you need to learn for an exam, then keep one fact per card so each answer can be recalled quickly. A long chapter often works best as several small decks rather than one large one.

What is a good way to study World War I causes with flashcards?

Make cards for the MAIN categories, the key events in order, and the alliances that drew countries into the war. Review the cards you miss most often on a spaced schedule rather than cramming them the night before.

Can I export the cards to Anki?

Yes, Anki export is part of the Plus plan at $99.90/year or $9.99/month. The free plan lets you study in the browser, but exports are not included.

Does it work with scanned pages or slides?

Yes, it accepts PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text and images, and photos of pages are read with text recognition. Upload the file you already have and review the cards it creates.

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Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.