Anki 2022: Is It Still Worth Using Or Are There Better Flashcard Apps Now? – Most People Stick With Old Habits…But Here’s How To Actually Learn Faster In 2025
Anki 2022 still nails spaced repetition, but the clunky setup, add-ons and dated UI push many toward smoother apps like Flashrecall. See if it’s time to switch.
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
So…Is Anki 2022 Still Good Today?
Alright, let’s talk about this straight: Anki 2022 was (and still is) a powerful flashcard app, but it feels old-school compared to newer options that are faster, simpler, and way nicer to use. When people say “anki 2022,” they usually mean that classic, slightly clunky app with great spaced repetition but a rough interface and lots of setup. It works, but you spend a ton of time managing decks, add-ons, and syncing instead of just…studying. That’s why a lot of people are switching to more modern apps like Flashrecall, which keeps the good parts of Anki (spaced repetition, active recall) but makes everything smoother, automatic, and actually fun to use:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
What People Mean When They Search “Anki 2022”
When someone types “anki 2022,” they’re usually wondering things like:
- Is Anki still worth using now?
- Are there better alternatives?
- Did Anki get any big updates around 2022?
- What’s the easiest way to use spaced repetition without all the techy setup?
So let’s break it down simply.
- ✅ Still had great spaced repetition
- ✅ Free on desktop, paid on iOS
- ❌ Outdated, clunky interface
- ❌ Steep learning curve (card types, add-ons, sync issues)
- ❌ Not very friendly for quick card creation on mobile
If you’re okay with tinkering and tweaking, Anki 2022 could be fine.
If you just want to make cards fast, get reminders, and study anywhere, something like Flashrecall honestly fits better in 2025.
What Made Anki 2022 So Popular?
To be fair, Anki became huge for a reason:
- Spaced repetition algorithm – It shows you cards right before you’re about to forget them.
- Customizable everything – Card types, cloze deletions, tags, filters, you name it.
- Community decks – Tons of shared decks for languages, med school, exams, etc.
- Cross-platform – Desktop, mobile, sync across devices.
The problem?
All that power came with friction:
- You had to manually manage your reviews.
- Making nice cards (with images, audio, formatting) took effort.
- The interface felt like using software from 2010.
- On iOS, Anki cost money and still didn’t feel very “mobile-native.”
So yeah, Anki 2022 worked, but it wasn’t exactly smooth.
What’s Changed Since 2022? Why People Are Looking Elsewhere
Since 2022, more and more learners have been saying:
> “I like spaced repetition…but I hate fighting with the app.”
Now people want:
- Fast card creation (from images, PDFs, YouTube, text)
- Auto reminders so they don’t forget to study
- Clean, modern UI that doesn’t feel like homework
- Good mobile apps that work offline
- Less configuration, more learning
That’s basically where Flashrecall comes in.
Flashrecall vs Anki 2022: What’s Actually Better?
Let’s compare them in real-life terms, not just buzzwords.
1. Making Cards
- Mostly manual typing.
- Adding images/audio is possible but clunky.
- Importing from PDFs, YouTube, etc. usually needs extra tools or add-ons.
- You can instantly make flashcards from:
- Images (e.g., textbook pages, lecture slides)
- Text
- Audio
- PDFs
- YouTube links
- Typed prompts
- Or just make cards manually if you like it simple.
- It’s built to be fast: snap a pic, highlight what matters, boom—card made.
If you’re tired of spending 30 minutes just formatting cards, Flashrecall is a lifesaver:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
2. Spaced Repetition And Active Recall
- Strong spaced repetition system.
- You choose “Again / Hard / Good / Easy” manually.
- No built-in “chat” or deeper explanation features.
- Has built-in spaced repetition with auto reminders, so you don’t have to remember to review.
- Uses active recall at its core: every card is designed to make you think, not just re-read.
- If you’re stuck, you can chat with the flashcard to get more explanation or context.
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
(This is huge for understanding, not just memorizing.)
So instead of just flipping cards, you can actually learn the concept behind them.
3. Study Reminders And Consistency
- Reviews show up when you open the app.
- If you forget to open it for a few days, your review pile explodes.
- No gentle “hey, time to study” notifications unless you set them up yourself.
- Has study reminders built-in.
- Sends you gentle nudges so you don’t fall off the wagon.
- Because it’s more modern and friendly, it doesn’t feel like a chore to open it.
Tiny difference, but it’s what keeps you consistent, and consistency is everything with spaced repetition.
4. Design And Ease Of Use
- Functional, but looks and feels old.
- Tons of menus and options that can overwhelm new users.
- Great if you’re a power user, not so great if you just want to study.
- Fast, modern, easy to use interface.
- Clear buttons, clean layout, no “what does this weird option mean?” moments.
- Designed to feel like a 2025 app, not a ported desktop tool.
If you’ve ever opened Anki and thought, “Yeah… I’ll figure this out later,” Flashrecall is the opposite of that.
5. Studying Anywhere (Offline, Devices, etc.)
- Works across desktop and mobile (with some setup).
- iOS app is paid.
- Sync can be a little finicky for some users.
- Works on iPhone and iPad.
- Works offline, so you can study on the bus, plane, or in a dead Wi‑Fi zone.
- Free to start, so you can try it without committing.
Perfect if you’re cramming on the go or bouncing between home, school, and work.
What Can You Actually Use Flashrecall For?
Same stuff people used Anki 2022 for—just easier:
- Languages
- Vocabulary, phrases, grammar patterns
- Snap pics of textbook pages or import from PDFs
- Exams & School
- High school subjects, university courses
- Definitions, formulas, diagrams, dates
- Medicine & Nursing
- Drugs, mechanisms, anatomy, pathology
- Turn lecture slides into cards quickly
- Business & Work
- Concepts, frameworks, interview prep, sales scripts
Basically, if you can write it, screenshot it, or paste it, you can make it into a flashcard.
“But I Already Have Anki Decks From 2022…”
Totally fair. If you’ve been using Anki since 2022, you might:
- Have big decks already built
- Feel used to the workflow
- Be hesitant to switch
You don’t have to abandon Anki completely. A lot of people:
- Keep old decks in Anki
- Use a newer app like Flashrecall for new material, quick capture, or specific subjects
- Slowly shift over as they see what feels better day-to-day
Think of it less like “Anki vs Flashrecall” and more like:
When Anki 2022 Still Makes Sense
Anki is still fine if:
- You love tweaking settings and add-ons.
- You’re deep into a giant med or language deck already.
- You mostly study on desktop and don’t care about modern UI.
But if you:
- Study mostly on your phone or tablet
- Want less setup and more studying
- Like taking pics of notes, PDFs, or slides to turn them into cards
- Want reminders and a smoother experience
…then it’s honestly worth trying something built after 2022, like Flashrecall.
How To Move From “Anki 2022 Mindset” To A More Modern Workflow
Here’s a simple way to upgrade how you study:
1. Keep what works
- Spaced repetition
- Active recall
- Short, focused sessions
2. Drop what drains you
- Overcomplicated card types
- Spending forever formatting cards
- Feeling guilty when your review count explodes
3. Try a simpler flow in Flashrecall:
- Take a photo of your notes or slides.
- Let Flashrecall instantly make flashcards from it.
- Let the built-in spaced repetition + reminders handle when to review.
- If something’s confusing, chat with the flashcard to get it explained.
You still get the memory benefits of Anki 2022, but without the friction.
Grab it here if you want to test it out:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
So…Should You Still Use Anki 2022 In 2025?
Here’s the honest summary:
- Yes, Anki 2022 is still usable and powerful if you don’t mind the older design and manual setup.
- But if you want something:
- Quicker to use
- Nicer to look at
- Easier to maintain
- With automatic reminders and modern features
…then Flashrecall is just a better fit for how most people actually study now.
You don’t get bonus points for using the most complicated app.
You get results from the one you’ll actually open every day.
If you’re curious how studying could feel without the Anki 2022 friction, try Flashrecall for free and see the difference for yourself:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
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
- Anki 2.1: The Complete Modern Alternative Guide (And The One App Most Students Don’t Know About) – Before you sink hours into tweaking Anki, read this and see how a newer app can do the hard work for you.
- Advanced Browser Anki: Powerful Alternatives, Pro Tips, And A Smarter Way To Study Faster – Stop Wasting Time Clicking Through Decks And Let Your Flashcards Work For You
- Anki Store Alternatives: The Best Flashcard App Most Students Don’t Know About Yet – Stop Wasting Time Configuring Decks And Start Actually Learning Faster
Research References
The information in this article is based on peer-reviewed research and established studies in cognitive psychology and learning science.
Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380
Meta-analysis showing spaced repetition significantly improves long-term retention compared to massed practice
Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378
Review showing spacing effects work across different types of learning materials and contexts
Kang, S. H. (2016). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 12-19
Policy review advocating for spaced repetition in educational settings based on extensive research evidence
Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966-968
Research demonstrating that active recall (retrieval practice) is more effective than re-reading for long-term learning
Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27
Review of research showing retrieval practice (active recall) as one of the most effective learning strategies
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58
Comprehensive review ranking learning techniques, with practice testing and distributed practice rated as highly effective

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