Is Anki free on Android, and how to turn your notes into cards
Yes, the Android app AnkiDroid is free. DeckOwl is a separate tool that turns your PDFs, slides, notes and photos into flashcards with spaced repetition.
What the free version of Anki on Android includes
Students often ask whether Anki is free on Android before they install anything, and the short answer is yes. AnkiDroid, the community app for Android, is free and open source, so you can review a deck on your phone without paying for the app itself.
- AnkiDroid is free to download and use on Android, with optional sync through AnkiWeb.
- Anki's iOS app is a paid purchase, so Android users have the no-cost option.
- DeckOwl's free plan includes 3 generations per month and browser study, with no exports.
- Anki export is included on the Plus plan, which also adds unlimited generations.
Upload what you already have
Drop in PDFs, DOCX files, PPTX slides, plain text notes or photos of pages. Photos are read with text recognition.
Spaced repetition built in
Flashcards come back at the right intervals, so you spend less time on cards you already know and more on the ones you miss.
Export when you need it
On the Plus plan you can export to Anki, along with PDF, DOCX and CSV, and study those decks on your Android phone.
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 and quiz questions, then edit or delete anything that does not match your course.
Study or export
Study in the browser on the free plan, or export to Anki on Plus and continue on AnkiDroid.
Costs come up in two other places. Anki's iPhone app is a paid purchase, and some people also want cloud sync or a way to make cards from lecture slides and scanned pages. That is where a generator like DeckOwl fits, since it creates the cards from your own material.
DeckOwl's free plan gives you 3 generations per month and lets you study in the browser. Exporting to Anki requires the Plus plan, so plan around that if you want your decks on your Android phone.
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Frequently asked questions
Is AnkiDroid the same as Anki?
AnkiDroid is the Android app that uses the same open-source Anki flashcard format and spaced repetition scheduling. Decks can move between AnkiDroid, the desktop app and AnkiWeb.
How many flashcards should I make per study session?
Start with about one lecture's worth of new cards and adjust based on how long your daily reviews take. If reviews start piling up, make fewer new cards for a few days.
Can I export DeckOwl cards to Anki on Android?
Yes, but export is a Plus feature. The free plan lets you study in the browser, and Plus adds Anki, PDF, DOCX and CSV export.
Do I need a credit card to try DeckOwl?
No. You can start on the free plan without a credit card, and students get 40% off with a school email.
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