Tool profile
Anki: cost, fit and limits
Anki is a spaced repetition flashcard program made by Ankitects Pty Ltd, with a free desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, free AnkiWeb sync, a paid iOS app and a free community Android port.
What to know first
Anki is free on the desktop and syncs through AnkiWeb at no cost. The iOS app, AnkiMobile, is a paid purchase whose price the homepage does not show, and AnkiDroid for Android is free and funded by donations. The homepage describes scheduling and add-ons and names no AI feature, so every card is typed, imported or made by an add-on.
Anki at a glance
| Maker | Ankitects Pty Ltd, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Flashcard Apps in 2026, rank 7 of 11 |
| Website | apps.ankiweb.net |
Who Anki is best for
Learners who want a free scheduler
The desktop app and AnkiWeb sync cost nothing, which suits a student who will make cards by hand and has no budget for subscriptions.
Heavy deck builders
The vendor says decks of more than 100,000 cards work without problems, so a long-term learner with a large collection should not hit a size limit.
People who like customizing
Custom card layouts, review timing options and add-ons let a user shape the app, which is the main reason it is the common reference tool.
Anki plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop | Free | Windows, macOS and Linux app with free AnkiWeb sync, audio, images, video and scientific markup on cards. |
| AnkiMobile (iOS) | Price not shown on the page | The official iOS app, sold as a purchase, with no price on the homepage; check the App Store listing. |
| AnkiDroid (Android) | Free | Developed by contributors and funded by donations, so the Android port is free to install and run. |
Checked November 2026.
What Anki does
- Spaced repetition scheduling
- Anki schedules each card by how well you remembered it, and the vendor describes custom review timing so users can tune intervals to their own needs.
- AnkiWeb sync
- Free sync across devices keeps the desktop, iOS and Android copies of a collection in line without a subscription, which differs from Mochi, where sync is a Pro feature.
- Rich card content
- Cards can hold audio, images, video and scientific markup, which suits medicine, languages and maths. The vendor lists these formats as built in, so a diagram or a spoken sentence can sit on a card.
- Custom layouts
- Card layouts can be changed, so a learner can show only the prompt and answer fields that matter for a given deck, such as hiding a translation until the answer side.
- Add-ons
- Add-ons extend the program in ways the core app does not cover. We did not check any individual add-on, so whether any AI add-on is reliable is outside what we can state here.
How Anki handles your data
The homepage and AnkiWeb pages we opened do not state a training position, retention period, hosting region or certification for AnkiWeb. The privacy policy and terms were not opened, so account data handling is unverified. Because the desktop app stores a collection on the user's own computer and AnkiWeb is optional for sync, a learner who skips sync keeps cards local, but that is an inference from the app design rather than a vendor statement.
Where Anki falls short in practice
- No AI named. The pages describe scheduling only, so card writing, grading and tutoring stay manual unless you find an add-on that fits, and add-ons come from the community rather than from the vendor.
- Split mobile apps. Official mobile access is divided across three store listings, with the iOS app sold separately and its price missing from the homepage, so budget for a purchase if you study mostly on an iPhone.
- Policies unread. The privacy policy and terms were not opened, so account data practices for AnkiWeb are not verified in this review, and nothing is claimed about retention or training.
Works with
Alternatives to Anki
Anki: common questions
Is Anki free?
The desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux is free, and AnkiWeb sync is free. AnkiDroid on Android is free too, funded by donations. The iOS app, AnkiMobile, is sold as a purchase, and the homepage does not show its price, so check the App Store listing before you buy.
Does Anki have AI features?
The homepage describes spaced repetition scheduling and add-ons and names no AI feature. Add-ons extend the program, but we did not verify any of them. Treat Anki as a manual-card tool, and use a separate generator if you want cards drafted from PDFs or video.
Can Anki handle very large decks?
The vendor says decks of 100,000 cards or more work without problems. That is the vendor's claim and we did not test it. Large decks also need good tagging and regular syncing, which is a workflow question rather than a limit stated on the page.
Why is the Anki iOS app paid?
The homepage says AnkiMobile is sold as a purchase and shows no price. It also describes the desktop app and AnkiDroid as free, with AnkiDroid built by contributors and funded by donations. The page does not explain the pricing model, so read the App Store listing for the current cost.
How does Anki compare with AI flashcard apps?
Anki gives mature scheduling, rich cards and free sync, but no AI is named on its pages, so you write or import every card. Apps such as RemNote, Knowt and Brainscape name AI card creation. Choose Anki for control and cost, and choose an AI app for speed of card making.