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Find out if Anki is free on iPhone and what to use instead

Anki's iPhone app is a paid download. DeckOwl turns your PDFs, slides, notes, and photos into flashcards with spaced repetition, and a free plan lets you start without a credit card.

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What Anki costs on iPhone and what to use instead

Whether Anki is free on iPhone depends on which version you use. The desktop program and the free AnkiWeb sync service cost nothing, but the iOS app, AnkiMobile, is a paid download, so check the App Store for the current price before you buy.

Anki's desktop program and AnkiWeb sync are free to use.
AnkiMobile on iPhone is a paid app, so confirm the current price in the App Store.
DeckOwl's free plan includes 3 generations per month and browser study, with no exports.
DeckOwl Plus is $39 per year or $7.99 per month and adds unlimited generations and Anki export.

Example spaced repetition flashcards for study apps

What does spaced repetition do?It schedules reviews at growing intervals, so cards you recall well appear less often and cards you forget come back sooner.

What did Ebbinghaus show about forgetting?Memory declines quickly after learning unless the material is reviewed, which is why repeated review at spaced intervals works better than cramming.

What is active recall?Pulling an answer from memory before checking the source, which strengthens retention more than rereading the same notes.

What is a cloze deletion flashcard?A card that hides part of a sentence, such as The mitochondria is the ___ of the cell, so you recall the missing term.

Why keep one fact on each flashcard?Single-fact cards are easier to grade honestly, and the scheduler can track each fact on its own so you do not waste time on what you already know.

Generate the full set

Cards from your own material

Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes, or a photo of a page, and get flashcards built from that exact content.

Spaced repetition built in

Cards you find hard return sooner and cards you know are spaced further apart, so review time goes to what you are about to forget.

Export when you need it

The free plan studies in the browser. Plus adds Anki, CSV, PDF, and DOCX export along with unlimited generations.

How it works

Upload your notes

Add a PDF, slide deck, document, or photo of your textbook page.

Review and edit the cards

Check the generated flashcards and remove or rewrite any that miss the point.

Study on a schedule

Open the deck in your browser each day and let spaced repetition set what comes up next.

If you want to make cards from your own material without paying for a separate app, DeckOwl's free plan includes 3 generations per month and browser study, though it does not allow exports. Plus costs $39 per year or $7.99 per month and includes unlimited generations and export to Anki.

Whether you choose a paid mobile app or a browser-based option, the deciding factors are the same: how often you will review on your phone, whether you need your cards in another app, and how many new decks you create each month.

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Frequently asked questions

How many flashcards should I make per topic?

There is no fixed number, but keep each card to one fact and split long lists into smaller decks. Start with the facts most likely to appear on a test from each lecture or chapter.

How often should I review flashcards with spaced repetition?

Review a little every day so the scheduler can space out cards you already know. Missed cards come back sooner, so short daily sessions usually work better than long weekly ones.

Can DeckOwl make cards I can move into Anki?

Yes. You generate cards from your PDFs, notes, slides, or photos, and exporting to Anki is a Plus feature at $39 per year or $7.99 per month.

Does DeckOwl have a free plan?

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

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Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.