Is Anki worth buying for your study routine?
Anki is free on several platforms, and its iOS app is a paid purchase. Here is how to judge whether it fits how you study, and when a generator that builds cards from your own material saves more time.
How Anki compares with generating your own cards
Most students asking this are weighing a free flashcard app against a paid tool, so the real question is whether whether Anki is worth buying depends on how much time you want to spend writing cards by hand. Anki's desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux and its Android app are free, while the iOS app is a paid download.
- Anki's desktop and Android apps are free, and the iOS app is paid.
- Writing good cards by hand takes time that many students would rather spend reviewing.
- Generating cards from PDFs, slides, notes, or images still needs a quick check for accuracy.
- Exporting to Anki is a paid feature on DeckOwl's Plus plan.
Cards from your own material
Upload PDFs, DOCX, PPTX files, plain notes, or photos of pages and get flashcards built from that exact content.
Spaced repetition built in
Cards are scheduled for review at growing intervals so you spend time on the facts you are about to forget.
Anki export when you need it
The Plus plan exports to Anki, PDF, DOCX and CSV, so you can keep your cards wherever you already study.
How it works
Upload your material
Add a PDF, slides, notes, or an image of a page. Text recognition reads photos as well as typed files.
Review with spaced repetition
Study the generated flashcards in the browser and let the schedule bring back the ones you miss.
Export if you want Anki
On the Plus plan, export your deck to Anki and keep studying in the app you already prefer.
Anki is strong when you already have well-made cards and want fine control over scheduling. If your study material arrives as lecture slides, PDFs, or photos of textbook pages, the slower part is often turning it into cards, and that is where a generator can help. DeckOwl's free plan includes 3 generations per month for studying in the browser, and the Plus plan adds unlimited generations and exports.
Whichever you choose, the deciding factor is consistent daily review. A free app with cards you actually study beats a paid tool you open once a week.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Anki free to use?
The desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux and the Android app are free. The iOS app is a paid purchase.
How many flashcards should I make for an exam?
Make cards only for facts you cannot yet recall, rather than copying every line of your notes. Review them in short daily sessions so spaced repetition can schedule the ones you keep missing.
Does spaced repetition work better than rereading notes?
For most people, yes, because spaced repetition makes you retrieve facts at growing intervals. Rereading feels productive but usually produces weaker long-term recall.
Does DeckOwl export to Anki?
Yes, Anki export is included in the Plus plan at $99.90/year or $9.99/month. The free plan lets you study in the browser with 3 generations per month but does not include exports.
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