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Learn to use Anki flashcards without hours of typing

Upload your slides, PDFs or class notes and get a flashcard deck you can study in the browser or export to Anki.

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 account · 3 sets a month · Creates flashcards in seconds

Why start with your own material

Learning how to use the Anki flashcards app gets easier once you have cards worth reviewing. Many students spend more time typing cards than studying them, which is where generated decks save the most effort.

Generate flashcards from PDFs, slides, notes and images
Review with spaced repetition on a schedule
Study in the browser on the free plan with 3 generations per month
Export to Anki, CSV, PDF or DOCX on Plus or Pro

Example Anki review and card questions

What does the Again button do in Anki's review screen?It puts the card back into the learning queue so you see it again soon in the same session. Hard, Good and Easy schedule the card further into the future.

What is a note type in Anki?It is a template that defines a note's fields and how they generate one or more cards, such as Basic or Cloze.

How does a Cloze card hide text in Anki?Wrap the text in double braces with a number, like {{c1::answer}}, and Anki creates a separate card for each cloze number.

What is a subdeck in Anki?A deck nested inside another deck, such as Biology::Chapter 3, which lets you review one unit without the rest of the course.

What can you do in the Anki browser?Search, edit, tag and suspend cards across all decks. Searches like tag:biology or deck:Anki help you find specific cards quickly.

Generate the full set

Cards from your own material

Upload PDFs, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes or photos of pages and get flashcards built from what you actually need to learn.

Spaced repetition built in

Cards come back on a schedule that adjusts to how well you recall them, the same review idea that Anki is known for.

Export when you need it

Plus plans export to Anki, CSV, PDF and DOCX, so your decks can move into the app you already use.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, slide deck, notes file or a photo of a textbook page. Text recognition reads images for you.

Review the generated flashcards

Check the front and back of each card, edit anything that looks wrong, then start studying.

Study on a schedule or export to Anki

Review daily with spaced repetition in the browser, or export the deck to Anki on a Plus plan.

DeckOwl reads your lecture slides or notes and writes question-and-answer cards you can check before studying. You keep control of the wording, and the review schedule handles what to see next.

If you already know Anki's review buttons and deck structure, you can bring the cards over with an export. If you are new to it, you can study the generated deck in the browser first.

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Frequently asked questions

How often should I review flashcards with spaced repetition?

Review a little every day rather than cramming once, because spaced repetition shows you cards just before you are likely to forget them. Most students find that 15 to 30 minutes a day works well for a single course.

How many flashcards should I make for one chapter?

Aim for one fact or concept per card so each card can be answered in a few seconds. A typical chapter often works well with 20 to 50 cards, but the right number depends on how dense the material is.

Can I export my DeckOwl flashcards to Anki?

Yes, but exports to Anki, CSV, PDF and DOCX are included on the Plus plan at $99.90 per year or $9.99 per month. The free plan lets you study in the browser with 3 generations per month.

Do I need a credit card to try DeckOwl?

No, you can start on the free plan without a credit card. Students with a school email get 40% off Plus or Pro.

Generate free flashcards

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.