Anki App English: The Best Way To Learn Faster On iPhone (And A Smarter Alternative Most People Miss) – If you’re using Anki for English but want something way easier and more powerful on mobile, you’ll want to read this.
anki app english setup that actually works: turn texts, PDFs, YouTube and audio into flashcards, get spaced repetition done for you, and skip Anki’s clunky s...
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
So, You’re Looking For An Anki App For English?
So, you’re looking for an Anki app English setup to boost your vocabulary and grammar? Honestly, if you’re on iPhone or iPad, you should seriously try Flashrecall first: it has Anki-style spaced repetition, but it’s way easier to use and way better for English learners. You can turn texts, images, PDFs, YouTube links, and audio into flashcards instantly, and it reminds you exactly when to review so you don’t forget. It’s free to start, works offline, and feels much smoother than trying to force Anki to behave nicely on mobile. Grab it here and set up your English deck in minutes:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Anki vs Flashrecall For English: What’s The Difference?
Let’s break it down simply.
- Super powerful, but kind of clunky, especially on mobile
- Desktop is free, but the official iOS app is paid
- Importing decks, media, and add-ons can be confusing
- Great if you love tweaking every tiny setting, not so great if you just want to learn English quickly
- Same core idea as Anki: active recall + spaced repetition
- But:
- Modern, clean interface
- Way easier to create English flashcards from anything
- Built-in reminders so you don’t forget to study
- Free to start on iPhone and iPad
- No add-on chaos, it just works out of the box
If your main goal is “I want to learn English faster with flashcards”, Flashrecall will get you there with less stress.
Why Spaced Repetition Is So Good For English
Whether you use an Anki app or Flashrecall, the magic is the same: spaced repetition.
In normal words:
- See a word once → forget it in a few days
- See it again right before you’re about to forget → it sticks way longer
- Repeat that a few times → it moves into long-term memory
Flashrecall does this automatically:
- It schedules your reviews for you
- Shows you cards right before you’re likely to forget them
- Adjusts based on how easy or hard each card felt
So instead of cramming 200 words and forgetting 180, you:
- Study fewer words per day
- But remember way more of them long-term
That’s why apps like Anki became popular. Flashrecall just makes that whole process less painful and way more user-friendly.
Using Anki-Style Flashcards For English: What Actually Works
Let’s talk about how to use an “Anki app English” style setup effectively, whether you’re using Anki or Flashrecall.
1. Don’t Just Memorize Isolated Words
Instead of:
> “apple – a fruit”
Try:
- Front: “I ate a red apple for breakfast.” (highlight “apple”)
- Back: apple = a round fruit; examples: apple pie, apple juice
Flashrecall makes this easier because you can:
- Copy a sentence from a book, article, or chat
- Paste it into the app
- Turn it into a card in seconds
You can literally grab real English from:
- Netflix subtitles (screenshots)
- News websites
- Chat messages
- Textbooks or PDFs
And Flashrecall will help you turn all that into cards way faster than manually building everything in old-school Anki.
2. Use Images, Audio, And Context
For English, context is everything.
In Flashrecall, you can:
- Take a photo of a textbook page or worksheet → auto-generate flashcards
- Upload a PDF (like exam prep or grammar notes) → generate cards
- Paste a YouTube link from an English lesson → create cards from the content
- Add audio or pronunciation hints to your cards
So instead of typing every single word and definition like in classic Anki, you can:
- Snap a pic
- Let Flashrecall read it
- Turn it into cards in a couple of taps
That alone saves hours.
3. Make Cards For Grammar Too (Not Just Vocabulary)
Most people using an Anki app for English only focus on vocabulary. You’ll learn faster if you mix in grammar and patterns too.
Some ideas:
- Front: “I ___ (go) to the store yesterday.”
- Front: “What’s the difference between ‘since’ and ‘for’?”
- Front: “Form the present perfect: I / live / here / 5 years”
In Flashrecall, you can:
- Type these manually if you like control
- Or paste grammar explanations from a PDF / website and let the app help you build cards faster
Why Flashrecall Is Better Than Anki For English On iPhone
Let’s be real: Anki is powerful, but on iPhone it can feel like you’re fighting the app.
Here’s where Flashrecall just wins for most English learners:
1. Creating Cards Is Way Faster
With Flashrecall you can make flashcards from:
- Images (textbooks, worksheets, notes)
- Text (copy-paste from anywhere)
- PDFs (exam prep, grammar books, lecture slides)
- YouTube links (English lessons, TED talks, listening practice)
- Audio
- Or just type them manually if you want full control
No add-ons, no weird settings. Just:
1. Add your content
2. Generate cards
3. Start learning
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
For an “anki app English” workflow, this is basically Anki but with superpowers.
2. Built-In Spaced Repetition And Study Reminders
Flashrecall has:
- Automatic spaced repetition
- Study reminders so you actually open the app
- Smart scheduling so you don’t have to think about:
- “How many cards today?”
- “When should I review this deck?”
You just open the app and it shows you:
- “Here’s what you need to review today.”
That’s it.
3. Works Offline (Perfect For Commutes)
No Wi-Fi? No problem.
Flashrecall works offline on:
- iPhone
- iPad
So you can:
- Review English vocab on the train
- Do a quick 5-minute grammar session in a café
- Study on a flight
All your progress syncs when you’re back online.
4. You Can Chat With Your Flashcards
This is something classic Anki doesn’t really do.
In Flashrecall, if you’re unsure about a card, you can:
- Chat with the flashcard
- Ask for:
- More examples
- A simpler explanation
- Translations
- Usage in a sentence
Example:
- Card: “nevertheless”
- You: “Give me 3 more simple example sentences.”
- Boom — extra practice without leaving the app.
This is insanely useful for English learners who don’t want to constantly Google every word.
5. Modern, Simple, And Free To Start
Flashrecall:
- Has a clean, modern interface
- Is free to start
- Made specifically for fast, easy flashcard learning
If you’ve ever opened Anki on desktop or mobile and thought:
> “Why is this so complicated?”
…Flashrecall will feel like a breath of fresh air.
Again, you can grab it here:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
How To Use Flashrecall As Your “Anki App English” Setup
Here’s a simple step-by-step to turn Flashrecall into your English learning machine.
Step 1: Install The App
- Download Flashrecall on your iPhone or iPad:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Open it, make a free account, and you’re ready.
Step 2: Create Your First English Deck
You can:
- Make a deck called “English – Vocabulary”
- Another called “English – Grammar”
- And maybe “English – Phrases” for natural expressions
You can create cards:
- Manually (word + definition + example)
- From screenshots of your textbook
- From PDFs or notes your teacher gave you
- From YouTube videos you’re learning from
Step 3: Add Cards From Real Life
Next time you see a new English word:
- In a movie
- In a book
- In a chat
- On social media
Just:
1. Screenshot or copy it
2. Drop it into Flashrecall
3. Turn it into a card
You’ll build a personal English deck that actually matches how you use the language, not just some random word list.
Step 4: Review A Little Every Day
You don’t need 2-hour sessions.
With spaced repetition, 10–20 minutes per day is already powerful.
In Flashrecall:
- Open the app
- Do your “Due today” cards
- Add a few new ones if you feel like it
The app will:
- Handle the scheduling
- Remind you when it’s time to study
- Keep your English vocabulary and grammar fresh
Step 5: Use Chat To Go Deeper
If you’re stuck on a word or grammar point:
- Open the card
- Use the chat feature to ask for:
- More examples
- Simpler explanations
- Translations into your native language
This turns your flashcards into a mini English tutor instead of just static cards.
When Should You Still Use Classic Anki?
To be fair, there are cases where classic Anki might still make sense:
- You’re deeply invested in the Anki ecosystem already
- You love tweaking every setting and using custom add-ons
- You’re using pre-made Anki decks from the internet and don’t mind the setup
But if your goal is simply:
> “I want an Anki-style app for English that’s easy on iPhone and helps me remember words and grammar”
…then Flashrecall is honestly the smoother, faster option.
Final Thoughts: The Smarter Way To Do “Anki App English”
If you’re searching for “anki app english”, what you actually want is:
- Spaced repetition
- Active recall
- Easy card creation
- A smooth mobile experience
Flashrecall gives you all of that:
- Instantly create cards from images, PDFs, text, audio, and YouTube
- Built-in spaced repetition and reminders
- Works offline
- Chat with cards when you’re unsure
- Great for vocabulary, grammar, exam prep, business English, or casual learning
- Free to start on iPhone and iPad
So instead of wrestling with a clunky setup, you can just… start learning.
Try it here and turn your English study into something you’ll actually stick with:
👉 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's the best way to learn vocabulary?
Research shows that combining flashcards with spaced repetition and active recall is highly effective. Flashrecall automates this process, generating cards from your study materials and scheduling reviews at optimal intervals.
Related Articles
- AnkiApp Web: The Complete Guide to Smarter Online Flashcards (And a Better Alternative Most Students Don’t Know About) – Discover how to study faster on any device and why many learners are switching to a more modern app.
- Kado Flashcards: The Essential Guide To Smarter Studying (And A Better Alternative Most Students Don’t Know About) – Before you commit to Kado, read this and see why many learners are quietly switching to a faster, easier flashcard app.
- Robot Anki: The Complete Guide To Smarter Learning Robots, Flashcards, And Faster Memory Boosts – Discover How To Go Beyond Anki With Powerful Tools Most Learners Ignore
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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