Source-backed analysis8
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
8 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
Anki Review
Open-source spaced-repetition flashcards, free on desktop and Android
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Suits learners who need to retain large volumes of vocabulary or facts and will put time into setup. The interface is not beginner-first, the iOS app costs 24.99 USD, and since 2026 the project has been moving to AnkiHub's stewardship.
Best for: Medical or law students and exam candidates who must retain thousands of cards
Skip it if: Those who want ready-made lessons, learning paths and gamification
Pros
- Desktop and AnkiDroid are free and open source (desktop under AGPL v3+)
- FSRS scheduling since version 23.10, alongside SM-2
- Cards support audio, images, video and MathJax; the website says decks of 100,000+ cards run fine
Cons
- The iOS app costs 24.99 USD and still lacks add-ons
- AnkiMobile is rated only 4.0/5 on the App Store
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- AnkiDroid is rated 4.7/5 across 168K Google Play reviews
Cons
- Decks in an AnkiWeb account unused for 6 months can be deleted
- Since February 2026 the founder has been handing operations to AnkiHub; the announcement left the formal governance model to be defined later
Best for
- Language learners who want to build their own cards with audio and images
- People who prefer open-source software extendable with add-ons
Skip it if
- People who need add-ons on iPhone or iPad
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
Anki is a flashcard program that says it helps you spend more time on challenging material and less on what you already know. After each card you rate your recall, and Anki schedules the next review for when you are about to forget. According to Wikipedia it dates from 2006, and the desktop app is licensed under AGPL v3 or later.
Cards can hold audio, images, video and MathJax, layouts are customisable and add-ons can be installed. Since version 23.10 (31 October 2023) Anki includes an optional FSRS scheduler. The desktop app runs on Windows, macOS and Linux; AnkiDroid is a free community-built Android app; AnkiMobile is the official iOS app, and all sync through AnkiWeb.
Pricing and value
The desktop app, AnkiDroid and AnkiWeb sync are all free. AnkiMobile for iPhone and iPad is a one-time 24.99 USD purchase with no subscription. Notable limits are that add-ons do not run on iOS and some tasks, such as importing an existing collection, still go through the desktop app.
On 2 February 2026, Damien Elmes announced on the forum that he would gradually hand business operations and open-source stewardship to AnkiHub. The post commits to keeping Anki's core code open source with no pricing changes planned, and leaves a formal governance model to be defined later. Compared with Quizlet or Memrise, Anki is more a build-your-own, deeply tunable tool than a source of ready-made content.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Anki Desktop
PersonalFree
Free on Windows, macOS and Linux. Syncing through AnkiWeb is also free; per the AnkiWeb terms, decks in an account not accessed for 6 months or more may be deleted.
AnkiDroid (Android)
PersonalFree
Free and developed by community contributors. The Google Play description lists the SM-2 spaced-repetition algorithm and AnkiWeb sync.
AnkiMobile (iOS)
PersonalContact sales
One-time purchase of 24.99 USD on the App Store, no subscription. Supports SM-2 and FSRS, free AnkiWeb sync and Family Sharing for up to six members. Add-ons are not supported yet.
- Free plan limits
- The desktop app and AnkiDroid are completely free. Only the iOS app is paid, and the website says purchases help fund development.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
The sources read describe no separate refund policy for AnkiMobile; purchases and refunds follow App Store rules.
Privacy
Per the AnkiWeb privacy policy, when syncing the service stores card content, media files and review history; it is not visible to other users by default, but support staff can see it when investigating problems. It may use review history and options (not card text or media) for statistics. Access logs, including IP addresses, are deleted after 1 month. Data is stored on servers in the EU and USA. The desktop app sends an anonymous ID and OS version when checking for updates. The policy does not mention end-to-end encryption. AnkiMobile's App Store privacy label lists email and user content as linked to the user and crash data as not linked. On Google Play, AnkiDroid declares that some data types, such as personal info and photos and videos, may be shared with third parties, with encryption in transit and the option to request deletion.
Anki alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Is Anki free?
The desktop app, AnkiDroid and AnkiWeb sync are free. Only AnkiMobile on iOS is a one-time 24.99 USD purchase.
Does Anki support Vietnamese?
The AnkiMobile App Store page lists Vietnamese among its 34 interface languages, and the AnkiDroid Google Play description cites 100+ localisations. The sources read give no language list for the desktop app.
Is Anki still open source after the AnkiHub transition?
Per the 2 February 2026 post, the FAQ states Anki's core code will remain open source. The GitHub repository states the desktop license as AGPL v3 or later.
Can my AnkiWeb data be deleted?
It can. The terms say decks in an account not accessed for 6 months or longer expire. Keeping a local copy is advisable.
Review evidence & sources8
Scores
- Ease of use
- 6.6
- Features
- 8.8
- Value for money
- 9.0
- Performance
- 8.0
- Support
- 7.2
- Privacy & security
- 7.8
Why this score
The website says getting started is easy even though Anki supports complex workflows; newcomers still have to learn decks, note types and scheduling options. AnkiMobile is rated just 4.0/5.
Why this score
Customisable scheduling including FSRS, rich media, add-ons, shared decks and free sync cover nearly everything a flashcard app needs. Held back because add-ons do not run on iOS.
Why this score
Desktop and Android are free; only iOS is a one-time 24.99 USD with no subscription, where many flashcard apps charge monthly.
Why this score
The website says decks of 100,000+ cards are no problem and AnkiDroid scores 4.7/5; no independent benchmarks were found.
Why this score
A manual, FAQs and a forum are available, and AnkiDroid has its own help page. Sources show no live chat or phone support.
Why this score
Using the desktop app without sync keeps all data local, with no ads. Held back because synced data sits on EU/US servers, support staff can view it when troubleshooting, there is no end-to-end encryption, and AnkiDroid declares some data sharing with third parties.
What users say
- App Store (US) - AnkiMobile4.0/5 · 2,400
- Google Play (US) - AnkiDroid4.7/5 · 168,000
Sources
- Vendor-providedAnki websiteNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedAnkiWeb privacy policyNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedAnkiWeb terms and conditionsNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedAnki GitHub repositoryNov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedAnki forum: Anki's Growing Up (2026-02-02)Nov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (AnkiMobile)Nov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listing (AnkiDroid)Nov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: Anki (software)Nov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Damien Elmes (Ankitects) / AnkiHub
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Launched
- 2006
- Category
- Education
Capabilities
- Open source
- Works offline
- Mobile app
- Templates
- Integrations
Platforms
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- Vietnamese
- English
- French
- German
- Japanese
- Korean
- Chinese
Integrations
- AnkiWeb
- AnkiDroid
- Add-ons
Support
- Help center
- Community forum
Change history
- Company.Damien Elmes announced a gradual transition of business operations and open-source stewardship to AnkiHub; Anki's core is committed to staying open source.
- Feature.Version 23.10 switched numbering to year.month and added FSRS as an optional scheduler.
- Feature.Anki 2.1 released.
Full change history (5)
- Feature.Anki 2.0 released.
- Launch.Anki's birthdate, based on the oldest mention Damien Elmes could find in 2011.
About the author
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