Anki For Studying: 7 Powerful Tips To Learn Faster (And A Better Alternative) – Stop Wasting Time Reviewing Wrong And Start Actually Remembering Stuff

So, you know how people talk about using Anki for studying like it’s the secret to remembering everything forever? Anki for studying just means using a spaced repetition flashcard app to review stuff at smart intervals so it actually sticks in your brain instead of vanishing after the exam. It’s great in theory, but it can feel clunky, confusing, and way too much setup for a lot of people. That’s why a lot of students look for something like Anki but simpler—apps like Flashrecall that do the spaced repetition for you and make card creation way faster. If you want that Anki-style memory boost without wrestling with settings, Flashrecall is honestly a much smoother option:

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

What Does “Anki For Studying” Actually Mean?

When people say they’re “using Anki for studying,” they usually mean:

• They make digital flashcards
• The app schedules reviews using spaced repetition
• They use active recall (trying to remember the answer before seeing it)

That combo—spaced repetition + active recall—is what makes Anki and similar apps so effective. You see a card, try to remember, then rate how hard it was. The app then decides when you’ll see that card next.

• It automatically handles the spaced repetition for you
• You don’t have to mess with complicated settings or add-ons
• It’s built to be fast and modern on iPhone and iPad

So you still get the “Anki for studying” benefits, just without the friction.

Anki vs Flashrecall: What’s The Real Difference?

Let’s break it down simply.

1. Setup & Ease of Use

• Powerful, but the interface feels… old
• A lot of options, which is cool but also overwhelming
• Syncing and mobile can be annoying if you’re not techy

• Made to be simple and modern from the start
• Works smoothly on iPhone and iPad
• Free to start, no weird setup or plugins
• Super fast to make cards: from text, images, PDFs, YouTube, audio, or manual

If you’ve ever opened Anki and thought, “Okay, what do I even click?”, Flashrecall will feel way more natural.

2. Making Flashcards (This Is Where Most People Quit)

A lot of people stop using Anki for studying because making cards is too slow and manual.

• Images – Snap a pic of your notes or textbook, turn it into flashcards
• Text – Paste lecture notes, definitions, vocab lists
• PDFs – Import a PDF and pull key info into cards
• YouTube links – Great for lectures, language videos, tutorials
• Audio – Perfect for language listening or pronunciation
• Or just type cards manually if you like full control

That speed is a big deal. If making cards is painful, you simply won’t stick with it. Flashrecall removes that barrier.

3. Spaced Repetition & Active Recall (The Science Bit, But Simple)

Both Anki and Flashrecall are built on the same two ideas:

• Active recall – You look at the question, try to remember, then see the answer
• Spaced repetition – The app shows you hard cards more often and easy cards less often

• You don’t have to tweak algorithms
• You get study reminders so you don’t forget to review
• It tells you exactly what to review each day

So you still get the “Anki-style” memory boost, but without babysitting the system.

4. Studying On The Go (And Offline)

If you like studying on your phone:

• Flashrecall works offline, so you can review on the train, in class, or in a dead Wi‑Fi zone
• Works on both iPhone and iPad
• It’s designed to feel like a modern app, not an old desktop program squeezed onto a phone

Anki has mobile apps too, but a lot of people find them clunky or annoying to sync. Flashrecall is built mobile-first, which makes daily studying smoother.

How To Use “Anki-Style” Studying Effectively (With Flashrecall)

Let’s talk practical stuff. Here’s how to get the most out of this style of studying, no matter the app—then I’ll show you how Flashrecall makes each step easier.

1. Don’t Turn Your Notes Into Walls Of Text

Bad card:

> Q: What is photosynthesis?

> A: A long paragraph with everything your teacher ever said

Good card:

> Q: What gas is taken in during photosynthesis?

> A: Carbon dioxide

> Q: What gas is released during photosynthesis?

> A: Oxygen

Small, simple cards are way easier for spaced repetition systems to handle. Flashrecall makes it quick to split content into multiple small cards, especially if you’re importing from text or images.

2. Use It For Anything, Not Just Exams

People mostly hear about Anki for studying medicine or languages, but you can use this style for:

• School subjects (math formulas, history dates, definitions)
• University courses (theories, concepts, diagrams)
• Medicine and nursing (drugs, anatomy, conditions)
• Languages (vocab, grammar, example sentences, listening)
• Business (frameworks, sales scripts, terminology, interview prep)

Flashrecall is great for all of these because you can mix:

• Text cards
• Image cards (e.g., anatomy diagrams, charts, maps)
• Audio cards (e.g., pronunciation, listening practice)

So you’re not stuck with just boring text.

3. Review A Little Every Day, Not In Huge Cram Sessions

Spaced repetition works best when you:

• Study consistently
• Do short daily reviews instead of one massive cram

Flashrecall helps with this by:

• Sending study reminders so you don’t forget
• Showing you a daily queue of cards that are “due”
• Handling all the timing for you

So instead of thinking, “Ugh, I should study,” you just open the app and it tells you what to do.

4. Actually Try To Remember Before Flipping The Card

This is where a lot of people mess up. They just flip through cards reading both sides. That’s not active recall.

Proper way:

1. Read the front

2. Pause and try to answer in your head (or out loud)

3. Then flip and check

Both Anki and Flashrecall are built around this idea, but Flashrecall adds a nice touch:

You can chat with the flashcard if you’re unsure and want more explanation. So if a concept doesn’t click, you’re not just stuck staring at the same front/back—you can actually dig deeper right there.

5. Rate Your Difficulty Honestly

When you use Anki for studying, you usually see buttons like “Again / Hard / Good / Easy.” Same basic idea in Flashrecall: you tell the app how well you knew it, and it schedules the next review.

Be honest:

• If it was hard: choose the harder option so it comes back sooner
• If it was easy: let it be pushed further out

That’s how you get super efficient reviews instead of wasting time on stuff you already know.

Why Many People Quit Anki (And Stick With Flashrecall Instead)

Common reasons people drop Anki:

• Too many settings and decks to manage
• Making cards feels like a chore
• Interface feels outdated
• Syncing across devices is annoying

Flashrecall was basically built to fix those pain points:

• Fast card creation from images, text, PDFs, YouTube, audio, or manual input
• Automatic spaced repetition—no need to configure anything
• Modern, clean UI that doesn’t feel like homework
• Works offline and smoothly on iPhone and iPad
• Free to start, so you can test it without committing

You still get the “Anki for studying” benefits—better memory, less cramming—but in a package that’s way easier to stick with long term.

Grab it here if you want to try it:

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

Example: How You Might Use Flashrecall Instead Of Anki

Let’s say you’re learning a language and thinking of using Anki for studying vocab.

With Flashrecall, you could:

1. Paste a vocab list from your textbook or notes

2. Let the app turn that into flashcards automatically

3. Add audio for pronunciation or listening practice

4. Set a daily reminder so you review for 10 minutes every evening

5. Use the built-in spaced repetition so old words show up just before you’d forget them

Or for med school:

1. Import a PDF of drug lists or lecture slides

2. Turn key points into cards (side effects, mechanisms, dosages)

3. Use image cards for anatomy diagrams

4. Review offline whenever you have spare time in the hospital or library

Same idea as Anki. Just far less friction.

So… Should You Still Use Anki For Studying?

If you love tweaking settings, installing add-ons, and customizing everything, Anki is still great. It’s powerful and has a huge community.

But if you:

• Want the benefits of Anki (spaced repetition + active recall)
• Don’t want to fight with a clunky interface
• Prefer something fast, modern, and easy on your phone
• Like the idea of making cards instantly from images, text, PDFs, YouTube, or audio

…then Flashrecall is honestly the better move for most people.

You get the same science-backed learning method, but in an app that actually feels nice to use every day—and that’s what really matters, because the best study app is the one you’ll actually open.

You can try Flashrecall for free here:

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

Use it like “Anki for studying,” but with way less hassle.

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.

How can I study more effectively for this test?

Effective exam prep combines active recall, spaced repetition, and regular practice. Flashrecall helps by automatically generating flashcards from your study materials and using spaced repetition to ensure you remember everything when exam day arrives.

Related Articles

• Anki Revision: 7 Powerful Tricks To Study Smarter (And The Better Alternative Most Students Don’t Know) – Stop wasting hours reviewing cards the wrong way and start using revision that actually sticks.
• Anki Flashcards YouTube: 7 Powerful Ways To Learn Faster (And A Smarter Alternative) – Stop only watching Anki videos and start actually learning with flashcards that are way easier to make and review.
• Anki Flip Cards: 7 Powerful Upgrades To Study Faster (And The App Most Students Don’t Know About) – Stop wasting time flipping the same cards and switch to smarter tools that actually help you remember.