Anki Windows 11: The Best Alternatives, Hidden Problems, And A Faster Way To Learn On Any Device – Before You Commit, Read This

Anki On Windows 11: Good… But Is It Really Your Best Option?

If you’re searching for “Anki Windows 11”, you probably want a simple way to study with flashcards on your laptop and actually remember what you learn.

Anki is powerful. It’s free. It uses spaced repetition.

But it’s also… kind of clunky, hard to set up, and very 2008.

If you want something that’s faster, modern, and actually fun to use, it’s worth looking at alternatives that work across devices – especially if you also study on your phone.

That’s where Flashrecall comes in:

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

Flashrecall gives you all the spaced repetition power you want from Anki, but with:

• A much smoother interface
• Automatic card creation from images, PDFs, YouTube, text, audio, and more
• Built-in reminders so you don’t forget to review
• Works perfectly on iPhone and iPad (and offline)

Let’s break down Anki on Windows 11, what’s good, what sucks, and how Flashrecall can make your whole study setup way easier.

What People Like About Anki On Windows 11

Let’s be fair first. Anki is popular for real reasons:

✅ 1. It’s Free And Open Source

You can install Anki on Windows 11 without paying anything. If you’re a student on a budget, that’s obviously attractive.

✅ 2. It Uses Spaced Repetition

Anki’s whole thing is spaced repetition:

• Shows you cards right before you’re about to forget
• Uses your performance (“Again”, “Good”, “Easy”) to space reviews
• Helps move info into long-term memory

Flashrecall does this too, but with automatic spaced repetition and reminders built in, so you don’t have to think about settings or schedules.

✅ 3. It Has Tons Of Shared Decks

You can download pre-made decks for:

• Medical school
• Languages
• Exams (MCAT, USMLE, Step, bar exams, etc.)
• Programming
• Geography and more

If you’re deep into a niche subject, those shared decks can be helpful.

The Hidden Problems With Anki On Windows 11

Here’s where most people start to get frustrated.

❌ 1. The Interface Feels Old And Confusing

On Windows 11, Anki technically works… but:

• The UI looks outdated
• Menus are packed with options you don’t understand yet
• Customizing decks, card types, and add-ons can feel like learning a second subject

If you just want to start studying quickly, this can be a huge barrier.

• Clean, modern, and actually pleasant to use
• Designed so you can create cards in seconds and start reviewing immediately
• Simple enough for beginners, but powerful enough for heavy learners

Download it here if you want something that doesn’t feel like homework just to set up:

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

❌ 2. Making Cards Manually Takes Forever

With Anki on Windows 11, you’ll usually:

1. Copy text

2. Paste text

3. Format front and back

4. Add cloze deletions (if you know how)

5. Repeat… hundreds of times

If you’re studying from:

• PDFs
• Lecture slides
• Screenshots
• YouTube videos

…this gets painful quickly.

With Flashrecall, you can instantly turn content into flashcards from:

• Images – take a screenshot of a slide or textbook page → Flashrecall turns it into cards
• PDFs – upload a PDF → auto-generated flashcards
• YouTube links – paste the link → cards from the video’s content
• Text or typed prompts – paste notes or type a topic → Flashrecall generates cards for you
• Audio – record or upload audio and generate cards

And if you’re old-school, you can still create cards manually whenever you want.

Result: you spend time studying, not formatting.

❌ 3. Syncing And Cross-Device Use Can Be Annoying

Yes, Anki can sync between Windows and phone, but:

• You need to set up an AnkiWeb account
• The mobile app experience isn’t as smooth
• The iOS app (AnkiMobile) is paid, and still feels outdated

Most people today study on multiple devices:

• Laptop for deep sessions
• Phone for quick reviews on the go
• Tablet for lectures and PDFs

Flashrecall is built exactly for that style:

• Works on iPhone and iPad
• Works offline, so you can review even on a plane or subway
• Syncs your progress so you can pick up where you left off
• Has study reminders so you don’t forget to review

Grab it here and you’ll always have your flashcards in your pocket:

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

❌ 4. Steep Learning Curve For New Users

With Anki, you pretty much have to:

• Watch YouTube tutorials
• Learn about card types, cloze deletions, note types, add-ons, etc.
• Tweak settings like intervals, ease factor, lapses, and so on

If you’re into tinkering, that’s cool.

If you just want “open app → make cards → study”, it’s overkill.

• Spaced repetition is built-in and automatic
• You don’t have to tune a million settings
• Just tell Flashrecall what you’re learning, and it handles the scheduling
• You can chat with your flashcards if you’re unsure about a concept and want extra explanation

So instead of wrestling with settings, you’re actually learning.

Anki Windows 11 vs Flashrecall: What’s Better For You?

Let’s compare based on what actually matters when you’re trying to pass exams or learn faster.

1. Speed Of Creating Cards

• Mostly manual
• Paste, type, format
• Very time-consuming with large volumes of material

• Turn images, PDFs, YouTube links, audio, and text into flashcards instantly
• Great for lecture slides, textbooks, notes, and online videos
• You can still build manual cards when you want full control

If your time is limited (which it usually is), Flashrecall wins here.

2. Ease Of Use

• Powerful but intimidating
• Lots of menus, settings, and jargon
• Can feel like you’re learning a tool instead of your subject

• Fast, modern, and easy to use
• Designed to feel like a friendly study companion, not a clunky tool
• Perfect if you want to get started in minutes, not hours

3. Study Features

Both Anki and Flashrecall use active recall and spaced repetition – the two key ingredients to actually remembering stuff long term.

But Flashrecall adds some quality-of-life features:

• Built-in active recall: you’re always prompted to retrieve answers from memory
• Automatic spaced repetition with smart scheduling
• Study reminders so you don’t accidentally ghost your decks
• Chat with the flashcard: if you’re stuck or confused, you can interact and learn more right inside the app

So you’re not just memorizing – you’re actually understanding.

4. Where And What You Can Study

Both tools are great for:

• Languages (vocab, grammar, phrases)
• Exams (SAT, MCAT, USMLE, bar, etc.)
• School subjects (math, history, biology, chemistry)
• University courses
• Medicine and nursing
• Business, marketing, coding concepts, and more

But Flashrecall makes it easier to pull content from anywhere:

• Screenshot your slides → cards
• Upload your PDF notes → cards
• Paste that 2-hour YouTube lecture → cards
• Type a topic like “French past tense basics” → Flashrecall generates cards

Basically, if you can see it, read it, or watch it, you can probably turn it into flashcards with Flashrecall in seconds.

“But I Really Want A Windows App…”

Totally fair. If your main device is a Windows 11 laptop or PC, here’s a simple setup that works well:

• Use Anki on Windows if:
• You love total control and customization
• You don’t mind a steep learning curve
• You’re okay with a dated interface
• Use Flashrecall on your phone/tablet if:
• You want speed, convenience, and a modern UI
• You study a lot from images, PDFs, and YouTube
• You want automatic spaced repetition, reminders, and offline support
• You like the idea of chatting with your flashcards when you’re stuck

Plenty of people even do both:

• Use your Windows 11 machine to gather resources
• Use Flashrecall to turn them into cards and review on the go

How To Switch From Anki-Style Studying To Flashrecall Smoothly

If you’re used to the Anki way of doing things, here’s how to transition without losing momentum:

1. Pick one subject to move first

Don’t move your entire Anki life at once. Start with:

• One language deck
• One exam subject
• One uni course

2. Import your content into Flashrecall

• Export notes or copy key material
• Upload PDFs or slides
• Paste YouTube lecture links
• Let Flashrecall auto-generate cards for you

3. Let Flashrecall handle the scheduling

• No need to obsess over intervals
• Just show up when the app reminds you

4. Use quick sessions

• 5–15 minutes a day is enough if you’re consistent
• Do a few sessions while commuting, waiting in line, or lying in bed

5. Chat with your cards when confused

• Use the chat feature to deepen understanding instead of just memorizing

So, Should You Use Anki On Windows 11 Or Switch To Flashrecall?

If you:

• Love tweaking settings
• Want maximum control over every interval
• Don’t mind a dated UI

…then Anki on Windows 11 will do the job.

But if you:

• Want something fast, modern, and easy
• Like the idea of instant flashcards from images, PDFs, audio, and YouTube
• Want automatic spaced repetition and study reminders
• Study across iPhone and iPad, sometimes offline
• Prefer an app that feels like a smart study partner, not a project

…then Flashrecall is going to feel so much better.

You can try it free and see for yourself:

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

No complicated setup. Just:

1. Install

2. Create or auto-generate a few cards

3. Start reviewing

You’ll get the memory benefits people chase with Anki – but with way less friction.

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.

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