Anki: free flashcard app with spaced repetition for exam revision

By AiCoN | Published 18 October 2026 | Sources checked 18 October 2026

Anki is a free, open-source flashcard app that uses spaced repetition: it shows you a card again just before you are likely to forget it. The computer version (Windows, Mac, Linux) and the Android app (AnkiDroid) are free. Only the iPhone/iPad app (AnkiMobile) is paid, and that money funds Anki's development.

Good to knowAnkiDroid on Android is free and made by volunteers; AnkiMobile on iOS is the only paid app, sold by the Anki team to fund development. Free sync across devices runs through AnkiWeb, which needs a free account. Shared decks made by other users vary in quality - check a deck before you trust it for an exam.

Why students like it

Spaced repetition: cards you find hard come back sooner, easy ones later, so revision time goes to weak spots
Works offline after setup; sync across phone and computer with free AnkiWeb
Cards can hold audio, images, video and scientific notation
Handles very large decks (100,000+ cards)
Thousands of free shared decks to download, plus add-ons to extend it

Platforms and cost

Windows 10+, macOS 13+, Linux: free (current version 26.09.3)
Android: AnkiDroid, free, developed by contributors
iPhone/iPad: AnkiMobile, the only paid app; purchases fund Anki's development

How to start

Download Anki for your platform from apps.ankiweb.net
Create a deck and add cards, or grab a free shared deck
Review daily - rate each card honestly and Anki schedules the next review
Make a free AnkiWeb account to sync between devices

We read the official Anki site and download page on 18 October 2026. Anki is free and open source; we have no affiliation with the project.

Source: Anki official site. Checked 18 October 2026. This is an AiCoN explainer, an independent guide.

Scoped recheck 23 October 2026: official Anki site and download section. Current desktop version 26.09.3, Windows 10+, macOS 13+ and Linux builds, free AnkiWeb sync, free volunteer-made AnkiDroid and paid AnkiMobile all remain as described; no other fact changed. Added the official Anki logo (copyright Alex Fraser) under the project's alternative licence for blogs and similar works: used unmodified, this guide links to apps.ankiweb.net and is AiCoN's own independent content, not material from the Anki project. Original publication date unchanged.