Anki Guide – The Simple Beginner’s Guide (And Why Flashrecall Makes Learning Even Easier)

If you’re looking for a simple, no-nonsense Anki guide, here’s the easiest breakdown of how Anki works and how to get real results from it. Anki is powerful, but it can feel overwhelming, especially when you're new.

If you want the same benefits of active recall + spaced repetition without the complicated setup, Flashrecall is a much faster, beginner-friendly option — but more on that in a moment.

Let’s get into how Anki works and how to use it properly.

🧠 What Anki Is (In Simple Terms)

Anki is a flashcard app that uses spaced repetition, meaning it shows you cards right before you forget them.

The idea is simple:

• Make flashcards
• Review daily
• Tap how difficult each card was
• Anki schedules the next review

If you stick to it, it works extremely well.

⚙️ How To Use Anki Properly (Beginner-Friendly Guide)

✔ 1. Create a Deck

Organise your flashcards by subject:

• Japanese
• Medicine
• CFA
• School chapters
• Language vocab

A deck = a group of cards.

✔ 2. Add Flashcards

Each card has:

• Front → Question
• Back → Answer

Examples:

• “何ですか？” → “What is it?”
• “What is mitosis?” → “Cell division producing two identical daughter cells.”

Active recall = thinking BEFORE flipping.

✔ 3. Review Every Day

Anki will show you cards based on difficulty:

• Easy → comes back later
• Hard → comes back sooner

Do your “due card” reviews daily to get long-term results.

✔ 4. Avoid Overcomplicated Decks

Many beginners overload themselves with:

• too many templates
• add-ons
• complicated settings
• giant shared decks

Start small.

Keep cards simple and clean.

One idea per flashcard.

✔ 5. Focus on Recall, Not Rereading

The most common mistake:

People flip too fast.

The correct method:

1. Look at the front

2. Think for a few seconds

3. Try to recall

4. Flip

5. Rate difficulty

That’s how real memory is built.

⚠️ The Downsides of Anki (Why Many Beginners Quit)

Anki works, but:

• the iOS version is paid
• the interface feels old
• creating cards is slow
• plugins aren’t available on mobile
• setup can be confusing
• shared decks are often low quality
• not great for quick studying

This is why many people look for a simpler, modern alternative.

🚀 Why Flashrecall Is the Easier Version of Anki

If you want the same science-backed learning but without the setup, Flashrecall is the smoother option.

✔ Make Flashcards From Anything

Flashrecall can auto-generate flashcards from:

• images
• text
• typed prompts
• PDFs
• audio
• screenshots
• lecture slides
• YouTube videos

Zero manual typing needed.

✔ Built-In Active Recall (Done Properly)

Flashrecall forces:

question → think → answer → flip → rate

No passive studying.

✔ Automatic Spaced Repetition

No complicated settings.

No plugins.

No tweaking.

Flashrecall schedules your reviews perfectly.

✔ Free To Use

Unlike Anki on iPhone, Flashrecall is completely free to start.

✔ Modern, Clean, Simple UI

Perfect for fast 5–10 minute study sessions.

🎯 Final Takeaway

Anki is a great tool — but it’s not always beginner-friendly.

If you want the power of spaced repetition without the complexity, Flashrecall gives you the same benefits with:

• no setup
• no manual card creation
• no confusing features
• a clean modern design
• AI-powered flashcards

Use either tool — but if you want the easier path, Flashrecall will help you learn faster with way less friction.

Related Articles

• Anki Examples – Simple Flashcard Examples And Why Flashrecall Makes It Even Easier
• Anki How To – A Simple Guide (And an Easier Alternative With Flashrecall)
• Beautiful Anki Cards – How to Make Stunning Flashcards (And Why Flashrecall Makes It 10× Easier)
• Anki Guides Hub - Complete Guide to Anki Flashcards and SRS
• Anki Flashcard App – Flashrecall Lets You Make Flashcards From Images, Text, Prompts, Audio, PDF, YouTube Videos and More!

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.