Anki Alternatives for iPhone: Cheaper Apps That Work
AnkiMobile costs about $25 one time in the US, so here's the deal. The best Anki alternatives for iPhone are AnkiWeb in Safari (free, uses your real Anki decks), Noji (polished, freemium), Knowt and Gizmo (free tiers with AI card making), and Brainscape (confidence-based review). If you already use Anki on a computer, AnkiWeb in Safari is the cheapest way to keep your exact schedule on your phone.
If the real reason Anki isn't working is that making cards takes forever, FlashDeck builds them from your notes and schedules them for you: Build my study plan.
Why people look for an AnkiMobile alternative
Scroll any "anki for iphone reddit" thread and the same three complaints come up:
- The price. Anki is free on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android, but the official iPhone app, AnkiMobile, is a paid one-time purchase. When you're 16 and AnkiDroid users are paying nothing, that feels unfair.
- The look. AnkiMobile is functional but not exactly aesthetic.
- The setup. Note types, decks, settings. It's a lot.
Fair note: AnkiMobile's price helps fund Anki's development, and the desktop app stays free because of it. Plenty of people think it's worth it. If you're on the fence, read Is Anki worth it?.
Is Anki free on iPhone?
The app isn't, but AnkiWeb (Anki's website) is free and works in your iPhone browser. More on that below.
AnkiDroid alternatives for iPhone
AnkiDroid is Android only. There's no free official iOS twin. Your iPhone options are AnkiMobile, AnkiWeb in the browser, or a different app.
What to keep: real spaced repetition
Before you pick any app like Anki for iPhone, make sure it keeps the part of Anki that actually matters: spaced repetition. That means:
- Cards you get wrong come back soon.
- Cards you get right come back later, with growing gaps.
- The app decides what's due today, so you don't have to.
Lots of flashcard apps just let you flip cards in a loop. That's fine the night before, but it's not what makes Anki users remember things months later.
Quick red-flag checklist
- No "due today" count? Probably not real spaced repetition.
- Only shuffle mode? Not spaced repetition.
- Every card shows up every day? Definitely not.
The best free and cheap iPhone options
| Option | Cost | Spaced repetition | Uses your Anki decks? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnkiWeb in Safari | Free | Yes (Anki's) | Yes, directly | Existing Anki users |
| AnkiMobile | One-time, around $25 US | Yes (Anki's) | Yes | Heavy daily users |
| Noji | Free tier + subscription | Yes | Import options; test first | People who want a pretty app |
| Knowt | Free tier + paid extras | Offers spaced review | Mostly Quizlet-style import | Free AI cards and Learn mode |
| Gizmo | Free tier + paid | Yes, core feature | Check the app | Streak lovers |
| Brainscape | Free tier + Pro | Confidence-based | Not directly | Disciplined learners |
Prices and free limits change and vary by country. Check the App Store before subscribing, and watch out for trials that auto-charge.
Noji
Noji is the app formerly known as Anki Pro. It is not made by the Anki team. It looks great and is easy to start, but key features may need a subscription. Full comparison: Anki vs Noji.
Knowt and Gizmo
Both make cards from your notes with AI and have free tiers. Knowt feels like Quizlet; Gizmo feels like Duolingo. See Knowt vs Gizmo.
What about "Anki alternative for iPhone Gemini"?
Some people search for using Google's Gemini (or another chatbot) as an Anki replacement. A chatbot can help you turn notes into question-answer pairs, but it doesn't schedule reviews or remember what you missed. You'd still need a flashcard app for that.
Can you use AnkiWeb in Safari?
Yes. This is the free move.
- Make a free AnkiWeb account at ankiweb.net.
- Sync your decks from Anki on a computer (or create cards on AnkiWeb).
- On your iPhone, open Safari and log in to AnkiWeb.
- Tap Study. It uses the same schedule as your desktop.
- Optional: Share > Add to Home Screen, so it opens like an app.
Downsides: it needs internet, it's slower than the app, and it's plainer. But it's free and it's the real Anki schedule.
The part that still sucks
Even with AnkiWeb, you still have to make all the cards yourself. Typing 150 cards from one bio lecture is honestly where most Anki journeys end. You make them for a week, fall behind, and the "due" pile explodes.
FlashDeck handles the card-making. Paste typed notes, slide text or a PDF (up to 30,000 characters or 20 pages) and it writes one card per fact, definition or formula, only from what you pasted. Then it shows you just the cards you're about to forget each day. Build my study plan
Moving your Anki decks
If you're switching apps:
- Export from Anki desktop as a .apkg (Anki package) or as plain text.
- Check the new app's import options. Some accept .apkg; others want text or CSV.
- Test with a small deck first. Images, audio and formatting might break.
- Expect to lose review history in most non-Anki apps. Your cards move; your schedule may not.
- Keep a backup of the original deck.
Which one to pick
- Already use Anki on a laptop and broke: AnkiWeb in Safari.
- Use Anki every day for med, nursing or languages: AnkiMobile is probably worth the one-time cost.
- Hate how Anki looks: Noji.
- Want free AI cards: Knowt or Gizmo.
- Want cards made from your notes plus a daily plan without setup: FlashDeck ($4.99 a month, $29.99 a year or $120 lifetime, 7-day refund).
Bottom line on Anki alternatives for iPhone: keep the spaced repetition, ditch whatever part was making you quit.
Skip the setup, keep the schedule
If you want the Anki effect without the Anki homework, paste your notes into FlashDeck, get cards in seconds, delete the ones you don't need, and from tomorrow spend about ten minutes a day on only what you're about to forget.
FAQ
Is Anki worth it on iPhone?
If you'll use it every day for months, AnkiMobile's one-time price is usually worth it, and it supports Anki's development. If you're not sure, try AnkiWeb in Safari for free first.
What is the best free Anki alternative for iPhone?
AnkiWeb in Safari is the best free option because it uses Anki's real schedule and your existing decks. If you want a separate app, Knowt and Gizmo have free tiers.
Are there apps like Anki for iPhone with the same algorithm?
AnkiMobile and AnkiWeb use Anki's scheduler. Other apps use their own spaced repetition systems, so check each one's help page if the exact algorithm matters to you.
What does Anki iPhone app Reddit say?
Most threads say AnkiMobile is pricey but worth it for heavy users, recommend AnkiWeb as the free workaround, and warn that apps with "Anki" in their name aren't always official.
Can I import my Anki decks to another iPhone app?
Often yes, through an .apkg or text export, but review history usually doesn't transfer. Test with one small deck first.