Anki Site Alternatives: The Best Way To Study Faster On iPhone (Most Students Don’t Know This) – Discover a faster, easier flashcard app that feels modern instead of clunky.
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Anki Site vs Modern Flashcard Apps: What’s Actually Best For You?
If you’ve been Googling around the Anki site, you’re probably trying to figure out one thing:
> “Is Anki really the best option for flashcards… or is there something easier and more modern I can use?”
Short answer: Anki is powerful, but it’s also clunky, dated, and not exactly beginner‑friendly.
If you want something that actually feels good to use on iPhone or iPad, you should seriously look at Flashrecall:
👉 Download Flashrecall here (free to start):
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Let’s break down what the Anki site gives you, where it struggles, and how Flashrecall fixes pretty much all of that while still giving you spaced repetition and active recall.
What You Get From The Anki Site (And Why People Use It)
The official Anki site is where you:
- Download Anki for desktop
- Find links to mobile versions
- Browse documentation and add-ons
- Grab shared decks
People love Anki because:
- It uses spaced repetition (SRS) to help you remember long term
- It’s highly customizable with add-ons
- It’s been around forever, so there’s tons of decks and tutorials
But there are some big problems most people quietly run into.
The Big Problems With Anki (That Nobody Mentions On The Site)
If you’ve tried Anki, you’ve probably felt at least one of these:
1. The Interface Feels… 2005
Anki is powerful, but it looks and feels like old software:
- Cluttered menus
- Confusing settings
- Not exactly “tap and go” on mobile
You can get used to it, but there’s a learning curve.
If you just want to make cards and start studying, it’s kind of a pain.
2. Making Cards Takes Forever
On Anki, creating good flashcards is often:
- Manual
- Repetitive
- Time‑consuming
You copy-paste stuff, format fields, tweak card types… and suddenly 30 minutes are gone and you’ve made like 12 cards.
3. Syncing And Mobile Can Be Annoying
To use Anki across devices, you have to:
- Set up AnkiWeb
- Sync manually sometimes
- Deal with weird conflicts if you forget to sync properly
On top of that, the iOS app experience just doesn’t feel like a modern native app. It works, but it’s not smooth.
4. Easy To Fall Off The Habit
Anki expects you to:
- Open it every day
- Keep up with your review queue
- Not ignore the mountain of cards when you’re busy
If you miss a few days, the backlog can feel brutal.
Meet Flashrecall: A Modern Alternative To The Anki Site
If you like the idea of Anki (spaced repetition, active recall, flashcards) but hate the friction, Flashrecall is basically what you wish Anki felt like on iPhone and iPad.
👉 Try Flashrecall on the App Store (free to start):
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Here’s how it compares and why a lot of people prefer it.
1. Same Science As Anki (Spaced Repetition + Active Recall), Less Hassle
Anki’s biggest strength is the learning science: spaced repetition and active recall.
Flashrecall has that built in too:
- Active recall: You see the question, try to answer from memory, then reveal the answer.
- Spaced repetition: Flashrecall automatically schedules your reviews so you see cards right before you’d normally forget them.
You don’t have to:
- Tweak complicated settings
- Install add-ons
- Figure out custom intervals
Flashrecall just handles the scheduling automatically and sends study reminders, so you don’t have to remember to open the app or keep up with a scary queue.
2. Making Flashcards Is Way Faster (This Is The Game Changer)
This is where Flashrecall absolutely destroys the classic Anki workflow.
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
With Flashrecall, you can make flashcards instantly from:
- Images – Take a photo of a textbook page, slide, whiteboard, etc.
- Text – Paste notes, definitions, articles.
- Audio – Great for language learning, pronunciation, lectures.
- PDFs – Upload a PDF and pull cards from it.
- YouTube links – Turn videos into flashcards.
- Typed prompts – Just type what you’re learning and let the app help generate cards.
And of course, you can still create cards manually if you like full control.
Example:
You’re studying for a biology exam. Instead of manually typing every definition on Anki:
1. Snap a photo of your textbook page in Flashrecall
2. Let it generate flashcards from the content
3. Start reviewing in minutes
You spend your time learning, not formatting.
3. Clean, Modern, Actually-Nice-To-Use Design
If the Anki site feels like old-school software, Flashrecall feels like a modern iOS app:
- Simple, clean interface
- Easy navigation
- No confusing menus or weird settings
You can:
- Create a deck in seconds
- Start a study session with one tap
- See exactly what you need to review today
No “what does this button do?” feeling. It just works.
4. You Don’t Have To Remember To Remember
One of the biggest reasons people drop Anki is:
“I forgot to open it for a week… and now I’m buried.”
Flashrecall helps you stay consistent without guilt:
- Smart study reminders to nudge you to review
- Built-in spaced repetition so your deck doesn’t explode into chaos
- Short, focused sessions you can do anywhere
You open the app, it shows you exactly what to do today. No stress, no “you have 1,000 overdue cards” panic.
5. Works Wherever You Study (And Even Offline)
Flashrecall:
- Works on iPhone and iPad
- Works offline, so you can review on the bus, on a plane, or in a classroom with bad Wi‑Fi
Study a few cards while waiting in line, between classes, or before bed. You don’t need a perfect setup — just your phone.
6. Perfect For Pretty Much Anything You’re Learning
Everything people use Anki for, you can do in Flashrecall — but faster and easier:
- Languages – Vocabulary, phrases, grammar patterns, listening practice with audio
- Exams – SAT, MCAT, USMLE, bar exam, nursing, anything
- School subjects – History dates, formulas, concepts, definitions
- University – Medicine, law, engineering, business, computer science
- Work & business – Terminology, frameworks, sales scripts, product knowledge
Because Flashrecall can pull cards from PDFs, YouTube, notes, and images, it’s super flexible no matter what you’re studying.
7. You Can Even Chat With Your Flashcards
This is something you definitely won’t find on the classic Anki site.
In Flashrecall, if you’re stuck on a concept, you can literally chat with the flashcard to understand it better.
For example:
- Don’t get a physics formula? Ask the card to explain it step by step.
- Confused by a legal definition? Ask for a simpler breakdown or examples.
- Learning a language phrase? Ask for more example sentences.
It turns your deck from a static set of Q&A into an interactive tutor.
8. Free To Start, Easy To Test
Anki is free on desktop, but on iOS the official app is paid, and you still have to deal with the old-school interface.
Flashrecall is:
- Free to start, so you can try it without commitment
- Fast to set up — download, create a deck, import content, and you’re learning in minutes
👉 Grab it here and see how it feels compared to Anki:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
When Should You Use Anki vs Flashrecall?
To be fair, Anki still has its place. Here’s a quick breakdown.
Anki Might Be Better If:
- You love tinkering with settings and add-ons
- You’re already deep into the Anki ecosystem with tons of custom decks
- You don’t mind the older UI and manual workflow
- You mostly use desktop and don’t care much about mobile experience
Flashrecall Is Probably Better If:
- You want a modern, clean, easy app on iPhone/iPad
- You like the idea of spaced repetition but hate complex setups
- You want to create cards instantly from images, PDFs, YouTube, text, or audio
- You want study reminders and automatic scheduling
- You like the idea of chatting with your cards when you’re confused
- You want something that just works without a tutorial rabbit hole
How To Switch From “Anki Site Browsing” To Actually Learning Faster
If you’ve spent more time reading about Anki than actually studying, do this:
1. Decide what you’re learning right now
One subject, one exam, one language. Don’t overcomplicate it.
2. Install Flashrecall on your iPhone or iPad
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
3. Create your first deck in 5 minutes
- Snap a photo of your notes or textbook
- Or paste in some text
- Or drop a PDF / YouTube link
4. Do a 10-minute review session
Let the built-in spaced repetition handle the rest. Just show up when the app reminds you.
5. Stick with it for one week
After 7 days of short, consistent sessions, you’ll feel the difference:
- Stuff actually sticks
- You don’t panic before tests
- You stop rereading and start remembering
Final Thoughts: Don’t Get Stuck On The Anki Site, Start Actually Studying
The Anki site is great if you want a powerful, old-school, highly customizable tool and you’re willing to wrestle with it.
But if you want:
- The same memory benefits (spaced repetition + active recall)
- A faster, easier, more modern experience on iPhone and iPad
- Instant flashcards from your real study materials
- Smart reminders so you don’t fall off
…then Flashrecall is honestly the better move for most people.
Stop researching tools and start actually learning.
👉 Download Flashrecall and try it free:
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
- Android Anki Alternatives: The Best Way To Study Smarter (That Most Students Don’t Know About) – Stop fighting clunky flashcard apps and learn a faster, easier way to remember everything.
- Anki For iPhone: The Best Alternatives, Hidden Downsides & A Smarter Way To Study Faster – Most Students Don’t Know There’s A Faster, Easier Option Than Classic Anki
- Anki App Free: Why Most Students Outgrow It And The Best Free Alternative To Learn Faster – Discover a modern flashcard app that keeps Anki’s power but fixes its biggest headaches.
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

FlashRecall Team
FlashRecall Development Team
The FlashRecall Team is a group of working professionals and developers who are passionate about making effective study methods more accessible to students. We believe that evidence-based learning tec...
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- •Software Development
- •Product Development
- •User Experience Design
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