Anki iOS Price: Is It Worth Paying When Flashrecall Does More For Free? – Before you buy Anki on iOS, you should really see what smarter, cheaper options like Flashrecall can do for you.
anki ios price is about $24.99 upfront, but this guide shows why a free‑to‑start app like Flashrecall (auto flashcards, modern SRS, iPhone/iPad) might be sma...
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
Anki iOS Price vs Better Study Apps: What You Actually Need To Know
Alright, let’s talk about anki ios price straight up: Anki on iOS is a one‑time paid app (around $25, depending on your region), and honestly, it’s decent if you’re okay building everything manually. But if you want something that feels modern, makes flashcards for you, and doesn’t charge you upfront, Flashrecall is a way better deal. Flashrecall is free to start, runs on iPhone and iPad, has built‑in spaced repetition, and can turn your notes, PDFs, images, and even YouTube links into flashcards automatically. If you’re deciding where to put your time and money, it makes way more sense to try Flashrecall first:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
How Much Does Anki iOS Actually Cost?
Let’s clear this up quickly:
- AnkiMobile (iOS) – Paid app, usually around $24.99 (one‑time purchase)
- Anki Desktop (Windows/Mac) – Free
- AnkiDroid (Android) – Free (community‑made app)
So if you’re on iPhone or iPad and you want the official Anki app, you’re paying that one‑time iOS price.
Is that automatically bad? Not really. But here’s the catch:
- You’re paying upfront, before you even know if you’ll like the workflow
- The interface feels old‑school and clunky for a lot of people
- You still have to create most cards manually or mess with add‑ons, imports, settings, etc.
That’s why a lot of students start searching for “anki ios price” and then end up thinking:
“Wait… is there something that just… does more… and doesn’t cost money right away?”
Yep. That’s where Flashrecall comes in.
Why Flashrecall Is a Better Deal Than Paying for Anki on iOS
If you’re going to spend time building a flashcard habit, you want something that:
- Is easy to use from day one
- Actually helps you create cards fast
- Handles spaced repetition automatically
- Works great on iPhone and iPad
- Doesn’t make you pay just to test if you like it
Flashrecall checks all of that.
1. Free To Start vs Paying Upfront
- Anki iOS: Pay first, then hope it fits your style
- Flashrecall: Free to start, no pressure, just download and try
If you’re a student, med student, language learner, or just broke (we’ve all been there), paying $25 before you even know if you’ll stick with flashcards hurts a bit.
With Flashrecall, you can download it here:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Try it, see if you vibe with it, and upgrade only if you actually use it.
2. Flashcards Made Automatically (This Is The Real Game Changer)
Anki is powerful, but it’s also manual. You type your question, type your answer, repeat x100, and suddenly you’ve spent more time making cards than learning.
Flashrecall flips that:
You can make flashcards instantly from:
- Images – Snap a pic of your textbook page or notes → Flashrecall turns it into cards
- Text – Paste your notes or lecture summary → cards generated for you
- PDFs – Upload your slides or study guides → instant flashcards
- YouTube links – Drop a link → get cards from the content
- Audio – Perfect for language learning or recorded lectures
- Or just type a prompt, and it builds cards for you
You can still make cards manually if you’re picky about wording, but you don’t have to do everything by hand like with Anki.
This alone saves hours, especially before big exams.
3. Built-In Spaced Repetition (Without You Babysitting Settings)
Both Anki and Flashrecall use spaced repetition, which is what makes flashcards so powerful.
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
But here’s the difference:
- Anki: Tons of settings, intervals, steps, ease factors… powerful, but confusing
- Flashrecall: Spaced repetition is built in and automatic
- It reminds you when to review
- You don’t have to think about intervals
- You just open the app, and it tells you what’s due
So instead of tweaking settings and watching YouTube tutorials on “how to set up Anki,” you just… study.
4. Study Reminders So You Don’t Fall Off
We all say “I’ll study every day,” and then suddenly it’s been 5 days and we’ve done nothing.
Flashrecall has study reminders built in:
- Gentle nudges to review your cards
- Keeps your streak going
- Makes it way easier to build a habit
Anki technically can do notifications, but Flashrecall leans into this more like a modern app: it actually helps you remember to remember.
5. You Can Chat With Your Flashcards (Seriously)
This is something Anki just doesn’t do.
In Flashrecall, if you’re unsure about a concept, you can literally chat with the flashcard:
- Ask follow‑up questions
- Get explanations in simpler language
- Get extra examples or context
So instead of just flipping a card and thinking, “I kind of get it… maybe?”, you can dig deeper right there in the app.
It’s like having a mini‑tutor built into your deck.
6. Works Offline, Just Like Anki – But Feels Way More Modern
Both Anki iOS and Flashrecall work offline, which is huge for:
- Commuting
- Studying on planes
- Bad Wi‑Fi campuses
The difference is the experience:
- Flashrecall has a clean, modern UI
- Feels fast and smooth
- Designed for iPhone and iPad from the ground up
If you’ve ever opened an app and thought, “Wow, this looks like it’s from 2010,” you know what I mean. Function matters, but so does how it feels to use it every day.
Anki iOS vs Flashrecall: Quick Comparison
Pricing
- Anki iOS:
- One‑time purchase (around $25)
- No free trial on iOS
- Flashrecall:
- Free to start
- Optional upgrades if you want more power
- You can test it properly before spending anything
Card Creation
- Anki:
- Mostly manual
- Can import decks, but creating your own is time‑consuming
- Add‑ons exist, but not on iOS
- Flashrecall:
- Instantly creates flashcards from images, PDFs, text, audio, YouTube links, typed prompts
- Manual card creation also available
- Great for fast deck building before exams
Learning Features
- Both:
- Spaced repetition
- Active recall (question → answer format)
- Flashrecall extras:
- Study reminders
- Chat with your flashcards when you’re unsure
- Designed to help you understand, not just memorize
Platforms
- Anki:
- iOS app (paid)
- Desktop (free)
- Android via AnkiDroid (separate app)
- Flashrecall:
- Works on iPhone and iPad
- Perfect if you’re mainly in the Apple ecosystem
Who Should Actually Pay For Anki iOS?
To be fair, Anki isn’t bad. It’s just not the best fit for everyone.
You might still want Anki iOS if:
- You’re already deep into the Anki ecosystem with lots of custom decks and add‑ons on desktop
- You like tweaking settings and having full control over every tiny detail
- You’re okay with a more old‑school interface for the sake of flexibility
But if you’re:
- Just starting with flashcards
- Want something that just works
- Prefer a modern, fast, easy app
- Don’t want to pay before you test it
Then it makes way more sense to start with Flashrecall.
Realistic Use Cases Where Flashrecall Beats Paying For Anki iOS
1. Language Learning
You can:
- Screenshot example sentences
- Paste vocab lists
- Use audio for pronunciation
- Chat with cards when you don’t understand a grammar point
Flashrecall turns all that into usable flashcards quickly, instead of you typing every single word manually.
2. Med School / Nursing / Exams
You’ve got:
- Massive PDFs
- Lecture slides
- Dense notes
With Flashrecall, you can:
- Import those PDFs or notes
- Auto‑generate cards
- Use spaced repetition and reminders to not fall behind
You don’t waste hours formatting cards. You spend that time actually learning.
3. Uni Courses, Business, Or Just General Learning
Anything:
- History
- Law
- Finance
- Programming concepts
- Certification exams
If it’s text, notes, slides, or video → Flashrecall can probably turn it into flashcards for you.
So… Is The Anki iOS Price Worth It?
Honestly? Only if you already know you love Anki and want it on every device.
If you’re just getting into flashcards or you’re comparing options, paying $25 upfront when Flashrecall exists feels unnecessary.
With Flashrecall you get:
- Free to start
- Automatic card creation from images, PDFs, text, audio, YouTube
- Built‑in spaced repetition with auto reminders
- Study notifications so you don’t forget to review
- Ability to chat with your flashcards when you’re stuck
- Works great on iPhone and iPad
- Fast, modern, and actually nice to use daily
So before you drop money on Anki iOS, do the simple thing:
👉 Download Flashrecall here and try it first:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
If it does everything you need (and for most people, it will), you’ve just saved yourself the Anki iOS price and gotten a smoother study experience on top.
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.
Related Articles
- Apps Like Anki: 7 Powerful Alternatives (And Why Flashrecall Might Be Your New Favorite)
- Brainscape Pro: Is It Worth It In 2025? 7 Things You Should Know Before Upgrading – And The Smarter Flashcard Alternative Most People Miss
- Apps Like Quizlet Learn: 7 Powerful Alternatives To Study Faster (And Actually Remember) – Looking for smarter flashcard apps like Quizlet Learn? Here’s how to pick the right one and the one app most students end up sticking with.
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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