RemNote vs Anki: Notes App or Flashcard App?
RemNote vs Anki is really a question about how you study. RemNote is a notes app with flashcards built in: you write notes, mark lines as cards, and it schedules reviews. Anki is a pure flashcard app: no notes, just a deep, customizable spaced repetition engine. If you want one place for notes and review, go RemNote. If you already take notes elsewhere and want the most control over review, go Anki.
If you're stuck because turning notes into cards is the step you never finish, FlashDeck makes the cards from your pasted notes and tells you which ones are due today: Build my study plan.
RemNote vs Anki at a glance
| RemNote | Anki | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Notes app plus flashcards | Flashcard app only |
| Card making | Inline in your notes with special syntax | Separate card editor |
| Spaced repetition | Built in, with scheduler options including FSRS | Built in, classic scheduler or FSRS |
| Price | Free plan; paid Pro plan for extras | Free on desktop, web, Android; paid iPhone app |
| Learning curve | Moderate: new note style to learn | Moderate to steep: settings and add-ons |
| Vibe | Modern, all-in-one | Old-school, powerful, huge community |
Both work. The better one is the one that fits your existing habit.
Notes and cards in one place
This is RemNote's whole pitch, and it's a good one.
How RemNote flashcards work
You type notes in bullet form. When a line is worth remembering, you add a quick symbol (like :: or >>) and that line becomes a flashcard. Your notes and cards live side by side, so when you miss a card you can jump straight to the context.
Example from a bio lecture:
Mitochondria >> site of cellular respiration and ATP production
That's now a card. No copy-pasting into a second app.
How Anki handles it
Anki doesn't do notes. You take notes in Google Docs, OneNote, Notion or paper, then make cards in Anki separately. More steps, but you keep your notes wherever you already like them.
RemNote vs Notion and RemNote vs Obsidian
People also compare RemNote to Notion and Obsidian. Quick take:
- Notion is great for organizing everything (class schedules, group projects) but doesn't schedule flashcard reviews natively.
- Obsidian is a local-first notes app; flashcard review needs community plugins.
- RemNote is built specifically for studying, so review is baked in.
If you're choosing a note taking app with flashcards, RemNote is the one designed for exactly that.
Spaced repetition quality
Both apps show cards right before you'd forget them and space them further apart as you get them right.
- Anki has years of heavy use behind it, especially in med school communities, and offers the FSRS scheduler as an option in recent versions.
- RemNote has its own scheduler and also supports FSRS as an option.
Honest answer for RemNote vs Anki spaced repetition: for most students, the algorithm difference won't be what makes or breaks your grade. Showing up daily will. A perfect scheduler you open twice a month loses to a basic one you open every morning.
The part that's hard alone isn't the math of scheduling, it's knowing what to review today and actually doing it. FlashDeck shows only the cards you're about to forget, you tap Knew it or Missed it, and misses come back tomorrow while known cards move to 3 days, a week, then longer. Build my study plan
Price and devices
Is RemNote free? Yes, there's a free plan that covers notes and flashcard review. A paid Pro plan adds extras (things like PDF annotation and more features). Check RemNote's pricing page for current details.
Anki is free on desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux), on AnkiWeb in the browser, and on Android through AnkiDroid. The official iPhone app is a one-time purchase.
| Device | RemNote | Anki |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop | Yes (app and browser) | Yes (desktop app, free) |
| Android | Yes | Yes (AnkiDroid, free) |
| iPhone | Yes | Yes (paid one-time) |
| Browser | Yes | Yes (AnkiWeb, simpler) |
Learning curve
RemNote learning curve
You'll need a few days to get used to its structure: everything is a bullet (called a "Rem"), and card syntax takes a minute. Once it clicks, note-taking and card making feel like one step.
Anki learning curve
Anki's basics take 15 minutes. Its deep settings take... forever, if you let them. Beginners often get stuck on deck options, note types and add-ons. Tip: keep the defaults for your first month.
Switching from Anki to RemNote
RemNote can import Anki decks, so switching doesn't mean starting from zero. Still, test it with one class first before moving your whole life over.
Which one should you use?
RemNote or Anki? Pick based on your habits, not the hype.
Use RemNote if...
- You don't have a note system you love yet
- You want notes and cards linked together
- You like a modern, clean interface
- You're starting a new semester or term and can build fresh
Use Anki if...
- You already take notes somewhere else and like it
- You're doing big premade decks (common in med school)
- You want maximum control and a massive community of add-ons and guides
- You're on Android or laptop and want it free
Brainscape vs RemNote vs Anki
If you're also weighing Brainscape, check our Brainscape vs Anki breakdown. Short version: Brainscape is simplest to start, RemNote is best for notes plus cards, Anki is the power tool.
The RemNote vs Anki decision gets easier when you ask one question: do I want to change how I take notes, or just add review on top?
Keep your notes, get the cards anyway
Don't want to learn a new note system or build cards one by one? Paste your class notes, slides text or a PDF of up to 20 pages into FlashDeck and get question-and-answer cards in seconds, then about ten minutes of review a day. It tracks cards learned, due and missed per deck.
FAQ
Is RemNote better than Anki?
RemNote is better if you want notes and flashcards in the same app. Anki is better if you want pure flashcard power and already have a note system. Neither is objectively better for everyone.
What does RemNote vs Anki Reddit say?
Threads usually split the same way: RemNote fans love the all-in-one workflow, while Anki fans value stability, control and the huge shared-deck community. Lots of people try RemNote and go back to Anki, and vice versa. Try both for a week with one class.
Is RemNote free?
Yes, RemNote has a free plan with notes and spaced repetition flashcards. The paid Pro plan adds extra features. Check their site for current pricing.
Is RemNote good for med school in 2026?
Some med students use it happily, especially for their own notes. But many med school communities are built around shared Anki decks, which is a strong reason people stick with Anki for boards prep.
Can I use RemNote and Anki together?
You can, but it's usually overkill. Running two review queues means twice the daily reviews and twice the chance you'll skip one. Pick one home for your cards.