Best Flashcard Apps: Anki vs Quizlet vs RemNote Compared
Reviewed by Prof. Dr. Alexander Holtermann · Updated 16 October 2026 · 5 min read
Anki has the strongest spaced repetition, Quizlet the easiest sharing and games, RemNote combines notes and cards. Pick the app you will open every day.
Key takeaways
- Flashcards work because of retrieval practice and spaced repetition; the app only organises when you review which card.
- Anki is free on desktop and Android, highly customisable and uses modern scheduling algorithms (including FSRS); its learning curve is steeper.
- Quizlet is easy to start with, has millions of shared sets and study games; advanced features are part of a paid plan, and its spacing is less configurable.
- RemNote turns your notes directly into flashcards with spaced repetition; Professor Digital’s study lab at /lernen creates cards from your own material and schedules them with FSRS.
- Making your own cards is part of learning. Shared decks save time but often contain errors or do not match your course.
Why flashcard apps work
Two of the best-supported learning techniques in cognitive psychology are retrieval practice (testing yourself instead of re-reading) and distributed practice (spreading reviews over time instead of cramming) (Dunlosky et al., 2013; Cepeda et al., 2006). Flashcards combine both: you see a question, try to recall the answer, check and rate how well you knew it.
A spaced repetition algorithm then schedules the next review: cards you know well come back after longer intervals, cards you struggle with come back soon. Paper systems such as the Leitner box do this roughly; apps do it precisely and for thousands of cards. The best app is therefore the one that (1) schedules reviews well, (2) makes it easy to create good cards and (3) you actually open every day.
Comparison table
General overview as of late 2026. Prices and plans change frequently, so check the provider’s website; many features described here are available in free versions.
| App | Spaced repetition | Card creation | Sharing | Platforms | Cost (general) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anki | Strong and configurable; FSRS available | Flexible (cloze, images, audio, templates) | Shared decks, export files | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, web | Free on desktop, web and Android; iOS app paid |
| Quizlet | Learn mode with adaptive review; less configurable | Very easy, auto-suggestions | Millions of public sets, classes | Web, iOS, Android | Free tier; paid plan for advanced features |
| RemNote | Built-in spaced repetition | Cards created inside notes | Shared documents | Web, desktop, mobile | Free tier; paid plan |
| /lernen (Professor Digital) | FSRS-based memory deck | Cards generated from your own lecture material, checked against the source | Study groups (Lerncrew) | Web and app | Part of Professor Digital |
Anki: maximum control
Anki is open source (the desktop version) and has been the standard among medical students and language learners for years. Its strengths are the scheduler, which can use the modern FSRS algorithm, and flexible card types: basic, reversed, cloze deletions (fill-in-the-gap), images, audio and image occlusion. Thousands of add-ons and shared decks exist. Free sync between devices runs through AnkiWeb.
Drawbacks: the interface looks technical, settings can overwhelm beginners, and missing a few days produces a pile of due cards. A good start: use default settings (or enable FSRS), create cards for one course only and review daily.
RemNote and Professor Digital’s study lab
RemNote combines note-taking and flashcards: while you take notes, you mark a line as a question-answer pair, and it enters your spaced repetition queue. This suits students who want notes and review in one place and who like structured, outline-style notes. It also supports PDF annotation.
Professor Digital’s study lab at /lernen takes a different route: you upload your own lecture slides, notes or scripts, and the study lab creates flashcards and practice questions from them, each checked against the source passage. Cards are scheduled in a memory deck with the FSRS algorithm, and you can study together in a study group. It is one option among several and works offline in the app.
How to write good flashcards
The app matters less than the cards. Proven rules:
- One fact per card: “What does a p-value of .03 mean?” rather than “Explain hypothesis testing”.
- Understand first, then memorise: make cards after you have understood a topic.
- Use cloze deletions for definitions and formulas: “Cronbach’s alpha above {{.70}} is usually considered acceptable.”
- Add context: source, lecture number or an example, so the card makes sense in three months.
- Make your own cards where possible; creating them is part of learning.
- Review daily, even for 10 minutes. Consistency beats long sessions.
Which app should you choose?
A quick decision guide:
| Your situation | Sensible choice |
|---|---|
| Medicine, law, languages: thousands of facts over years | Anki |
| Vocabulary or definitions with a study group | Quizlet |
| You want notes and flashcards in one place | RemNote |
| You want cards created from your own lecture material | /lernen |
| You prefer paper | Leitner box with index cards |
Frequently asked questions
Is Anki better than Quizlet?
For long-term memorisation of many facts, Anki’s configurable spaced repetition is usually stronger. Quizlet is easier to start with and better for sharing sets and quick group revision.
Is Anki free?
Anki is free on Windows, macOS, Linux, the web and Android; the official iOS app is paid. Syncing via AnkiWeb is free. Check the official website for current details.
Does Quizlet use spaced repetition?
Quizlet’s Learn mode adapts to your answers and repeats difficult items, but scheduling is less transparent and configurable than in dedicated spaced repetition apps such as Anki or RemNote.
What is FSRS in Anki?
FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler) is a modern scheduling algorithm that models how memory fades and plans reviews accordingly. Anki can use it instead of its older default algorithm; Professor Digital’s study lab also uses FSRS.
Should I use shared Anki or Quizlet decks?
They save time, but check them for errors and fit with your course. Cards you create yourself are usually more effective because making them is part of learning.
Sources and further reading
- Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58.
- Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Wixted, J. T., Rohrer, D., & Fischer, H. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354–380.
- Documentation of Anki, Quizlet and RemNote (consulted 2026).
Your university’s examination regulations and style guide always take precedence.
Related articles
- Flashcards and spaced repetitionWrite one question per card in your own words, answer before you flip, and review on a growing schedule: cards you know move back, cards you miss return soon.
- Study techniquesPractice testing and spaced practice work best; interleaving, elaboration and self-explanation help; highlighting and rereading do little on their own.
- How to study for examsStart four weeks out: map what is tested, quiz yourself rather than reread, take past papers under timed conditions, and use the final week to review and sleep.
- Note-takingTake notes in your own words rather than verbatim, use a structure like the Cornell method and review them within a day by testing yourself, on paper or laptop.
- Study groupsEffective study groups have 3–5 members, meet regularly, come prepared and spend most of the time quizzing and explaining, not rereading together.
