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Anki works offline, and DeckOwl can build the cards you study

Upload your PDFs, slides, notes or photos and get flashcards with spaced repetition. Export them to Anki when you want to study with no connection.

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How offline Anki study fits with AI-made cards

Students planning a commute, a flight or a library session often ask is Anki offline before they download a deck. The short answer is that Anki's desktop app and AnkiDroid review cards locally, so an internet connection is only needed to sync through AnkiWeb.

Anki desktop and AnkiDroid review cards without a connection once the deck is on the device.
AnkiWeb sync needs internet and copies changes between devices when you reconnect.
DeckOwl generates the flashcards from your own PDFs, slides, notes or photos.
Plus at $99.90 per year or $9.99 per month includes Anki export and unlimited generations.

Example offline study flashcards for Anki decks

Does Anki desktop need internet to review cards?No, reviews run locally once the deck is on the computer, because the scheduling data is stored on the device.

What does AnkiWeb sync do?It copies your collection between devices, so reviews made offline appear everywhere after you reconnect.

Is AnkiDroid free on Android?Yes, AnkiDroid is a free app, so you can study cards offline on Android without paying for the reviewer.

Are images on Anki cards available offline?Yes, media files are stored with the collection, so pictures and audio display without a connection once synced.

Why sync Anki before a flight?Syncing first makes sure your device has your newest cards and review history before you lose internet access.

Generate the full set

Cards from your own material

Upload PDFs, DOCX, PPTX, plain text or photos of pages. DeckOwl reads them and drafts flashcards from your course content.

Spaced repetition built in

Cards are scheduled so you review them just before you would forget. Plus and Pro include the full spaced repetition workflow.

Export to Anki on Plus

Plus exports your flashcards as Anki-ready files. Once they are in Anki on your device, reviews run locally without internet.

How it works

Upload your notes

Add a PDF, slide deck, document or photo of a page. No credit card is needed to start on the Free plan.

Generate and review

DeckOwl creates flashcards, quizzes and mind maps. Study them in the browser, which requires an internet connection.

Export before you go offline

On Plus, export to Anki, then load the deck on your device before you leave Wi-Fi behind.

DeckOwl runs in the browser, so creating and studying cards there needs a connection. Exporting your generated flashcards to Anki on the Plus plan lets you move the same cards into an app that works without internet.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need internet to review Anki flashcards?

No, not once the deck is on your device. Desktop Anki and AnkiDroid review cards locally, and internet is only needed when you sync through AnkiWeb.

When should I sync Anki before studying offline?

Sync right before you leave a connection so your device has the latest cards and review history. Sync again when you are back online so other devices stay up to date.

Does DeckOwl work offline?

Studying in DeckOwl happens in the browser, so it needs an internet connection. Exporting your flashcards to Anki on the Plus plan lets you study them offline in Anki.

How much does exporting to Anki cost?

Export is a Plus feature at $99.90 per year or $9.99 per month, and the Free plan does not include exports. Students can get 40% off with a school email.

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