Ali Abdaal Anki Method: 7 Powerful Study Secrets (And a Better iOS Alternative) – Learn how to use Ali’s Anki-style system on a faster, more modern flashcard app.

Ali Abdaal Anki Method… But On a Simpler, Faster App

If you like Ali Abdaal’s videos about Anki, active recall, and spaced repetition, you’re already way ahead of most students.

But there’s one problem:

That’s where Flashrecall comes in – it gives you the Ali Abdaal-style learning system (active recall + spaced repetition) in a clean, modern app that’s actually fun to use.

You can grab it here (free to start):

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Let’s break down how Ali Abdaal studies with Anki and how you can copy the exact method using Flashrecall on your iPhone or iPad.

1. What Ali Abdaal Actually Does With Anki (In Simple Terms)

Ali’s whole system is basically:

1. Turn what you’re learning into questions

2. Force your brain to recall the answer (active recall)

3. Review at smart intervals (spaced repetition)

That’s it. No magic. Just science + consistency.

He used this to get through medical school, and he still uses the same principles to learn new skills, languages, and random facts.

Flashrecall is built around the same ideas:

• You create flashcards (manually or automatically)
• The app makes you actively recall
• Then it schedules reviews with spaced repetition, so you don’t forget

But it does this in a much more modern, fast, and flexible way than classic Anki on iOS.

2. Why Anki on iOS Feels So Painful (And Why People Quit)

If you’ve tried Anki on your phone, you’ve probably hit at least one of these:

• The interface looks… ancient
• Syncing and decks feel confusing
• Making cards on mobile is slow
• It’s not exactly intuitive for beginners
• It’s powerful, but you have to fight it to get what you want

Ali stuck with Anki because he’s a nerd (in a good way) and was willing to deal with the friction.

Most of us?

If the app is annoying, we just stop using it – and then all the “Anki magic” disappears.

That’s why a lot of people look for an “Ali Abdaal Anki but easier” solution.

Flashrecall basically takes the same learning principles and wraps them in a clean, fast iOS experience.

3. Flashrecall vs Anki on iOS: What’s Actually Better?

Let’s compare the two like Ali would in a YouTube video.

✅ 1. Creating Cards Is Way Faster

With Anki:

• You usually type everything manually
• Importing media or PDFs is clunky
• Making cards from lectures or YouTube is a pain

With Flashrecall, you can create cards from almost anything:

• Images – Screenshot lecture slides, textbook pages, or notes → Flashrecall turns them into flashcards
• Text – Paste notes or copy from a website → auto-generate cards
• Audio – Record explanations or voice notes → turn them into cards
• PDFs – Upload your notes or lecture slides → extract key points
• YouTube links – Drop in a link and make cards from the content
• Or just type cards manually if you like full control

So instead of spending hours “doing Anki admin,” you spend more time actually studying.

👉 Download Flashrecall here:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

✅ 2. Built-In Active Recall (Just Like Ali Talks About)

Ali always says:

> “Don’t just reread. Test yourself.”

Flashrecall is literally built around that idea:

• It shows you a prompt, hides the answer, and forces you to recall from memory
• You tap to reveal the answer and rate how well you remembered it
• The app then adjusts when you’ll see that card again

Same principle as Anki, just cleaner UI and smoother flow.

✅ 3. Spaced Repetition Without Thinking About It

Ali loves spaced repetition because it saves time:

• You don’t revise everything every day
• You only see what you’re about to forget

Flashrecall has automatic spaced repetition baked in:

• You don’t have to manually schedule reviews
• The app sends study reminders so you don’t forget to open it
• Cards you know well show up less often
• Cards you struggle with show up more

You get the same “Anki brain upgrade” without needing to tweak settings for hours.

✅ 4. “Chat With Your Flashcard” When You’re Stuck

This is something Anki doesn’t really do.

In Flashrecall, if a card doesn’t make sense or you want more context, you can literally chat with the flashcard:

• Ask: “Explain this in simpler terms”
• Or: “Give me another example of this concept”
• Or: “How does this relate to X?”

It’s like having a mini tutor inside your deck.

Super handy for complex topics like medicine, law, engineering, or languages.

✅ 5. Works Offline, On iPhone and iPad

Ali talks a lot about “removing friction.”

Flashrecall helps with that too:

• Works offline, so you can study on the train, plane, or in bad WiFi
• Runs on iPhone and iPad, so you can switch devices easily
• Designed to be fast, modern, and simple – no 90s-looking UI

And yes, it’s free to start, so you can test if it fits your workflow without committing.

4. How to Copy Ali Abdaal’s Anki Workflow Using Flashrecall

Let’s turn this into a practical mini-guide.

Step 1: Decide What You’re Studying

Ali always starts from:

“What exam / skill / topic am I optimizing for?”

You can use Flashrecall for:

• School subjects (math, physics, history, etc.)
• University courses
• Medicine (like Ali did)
• Languages (vocab, grammar patterns)
• Business, marketing, coding concepts
• Random knowledge you want to keep

Create a deck for each subject or course.

Step 2: Turn Your Material Into Flashcards (The Fast Way)

Instead of manually typing every single card like in Anki, try this:

• Screenshot key lecture slides
• Import images into Flashrecall
• Let the app help you turn them into Q&A-style flashcards

• Upload your PDF or paste your notes
• Extract the important bits
• Turn definitions, formulas, and key ideas into question–answer pairs

• Watching a video about “renal physiology” or “stocks 101”?
• Drop the YouTube link into Flashrecall
• Turn the main points into cards

The goal is the same as Ali’s:

Flashrecall just makes that part way less painful.

Step 3: Make Good Cards (Ali’s Style)

Ali always recommends:

• One idea per card
• Clear, simple wording
• Avoid huge walls of text

Examples:

❌ Bad card:

“Explain everything about the cardiac cycle.”

✅ Better cards:

• “What are the 4 phases of the cardiac cycle?”
• “What happens in the isovolumetric contraction phase?”
• “What closes at the start of ventricular systole?”

You can do exactly this in Flashrecall:

• Keep cards short and focused
• Use images when helpful (e.g., diagrams, charts)
• Add tags or organize by topic if you want

Step 4: Review Daily (Let Spaced Repetition Do Its Thing)

Ali’s big point:

Consistency beats intensity.

With Flashrecall:

• Open the app once or twice a day
• Do your due cards (the ones scheduled for review)
• Rate how well you remembered each answer

The app automatically:

• Moves easy cards further into the future
• Brings hard cards back sooner
• Keeps your workload manageable

You also get study reminders, so even on busy days, you don’t completely forget.

Step 5: Use “Chat With The Flashcard” When Confused

This is where Flashrecall goes beyond classic Anki.

If a concept feels fuzzy:

• Open the card
• Ask the built-in chat to explain it differently, simplify it, or give examples
• You can then turn those explanations into new, clearer cards

This helps you do what Ali always talks about:

5. Realistic Use Cases (How You Might Actually Use This)

If You’re a Med Student (Ali Abdaal Style)

• Import lecture PDFs, guidelines, or textbook pages
• Turn them into focused Q&A cards
• Use images for anatomy, path slides, ECGs
• Review daily with spaced repetition
• Use chat to break down complicated physiology

If You’re Learning a Language

• Paste vocab lists or subtitles
• Create cards with:
• Front: word in target language
• Back: meaning + example sentence
• Add audio so you remember pronunciation
• Use chat to ask for more example sentences or grammar explanations

If You’re Studying for School or Uni Exams

• Create one deck per subject
• Turn formulas, definitions, and key facts into cards
• Use images for graphs, maps, or diagrams
• Let reminders keep you on track so you’re not cramming last minute

6. So… Anki or Flashrecall If You’re an Ali Abdaal Fan?

If you:

• Love tinkering with settings
• Don’t mind older-looking interfaces
• Are already deep into the Anki ecosystem

…then classic Anki is still great.

But if you:

• Want Ali’s method without the technical headache
• Prefer a clean, modern iOS app
• Want fast card creation from images, PDFs, YouTube, audio, etc.
• Like the idea of chatting with your flashcards when you’re stuck

…then Flashrecall is probably the better fit for you.

You still get:

• Active recall
• Spaced repetition
• Study reminders
• Works offline
• Great for any subject or exam

Just in a way that’s easier to stick with long term.

7. Try the “Ali Abdaal Anki System” in Flashrecall Today

If you’ve been inspired by Ali Abdaal’s Anki videos but couldn’t quite make Anki on iOS work for you, don’t give up on the method.

The tool was the problem, not the science.

Try running Ali’s exact approach inside Flashrecall instead:

• Turn what you learn into questions
• Review with spaced repetition
• Stay consistent with reminders
• Use chat to go deeper when you’re confused

You can download Flashrecall for free on iPhone and iPad here:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Set up one deck today, do a 10-minute session, and you’ll instantly feel why this style of learning is so powerful.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Anki good for studying?

Anki is powerful but requires manual card creation and has a steep learning curve. Flashrecall offers AI-powered card generation from your notes, images, PDFs, and videos, making it faster and easier to create effective flashcards.

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

How do I start spaced repetition?

You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.

What is active recall and how does it work?

Active recall is the process of actively retrieving information from memory rather than passively reviewing it. Flashrecall forces proper active recall by making you think before revealing answers, then uses spaced repetition to optimize your review schedule.

Related Articles

• AnkiDroid App Download: Why Most Students Are Switching To This Powerful Flashcard Alternative Instead
• Anki App For Mac: 7 Powerful Reasons To Try This Faster, Easier Flashcard Alternative Instead – Most Students Don’t Know There’s A Simpler Way To Get Anki-Style Study On Apple Devices
• AnkiApp Flashcards: 7 Powerful Reasons To Switch To A Faster, Smarter Study App Today – Most Students Don’t Realize How Much Easier Flashcards Can Be Until They Try This