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Study Tipsby FlashRecall Team

AnkiDroid For iPhone: The Best Alternative Apps And The Powerful Study Hack Most Students Don’t Know About – Before You Give Up On AnkiDroid On iOS, Read This

AnkiDroid for iPhone doesn’t exist, but you’re not stuck. See why AnkiMobile feels clunky, how Flashrecall mimics AnkiDroid with SRS, AI cards, and faster ca...

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Wait… AnkiDroid For iPhone Doesn’t Exist?

If you’ve been searching the App Store for “AnkiDroid for iPhone” and finding nothing, you’re not crazy – AnkiDroid is Android-only.

On iPhone, there’s no official AnkiDroid app. There is an official Anki app called AnkiMobile, but it’s paid, feels a bit clunky to some people, and honestly, there are better, more modern options now.

If you just want something that:

  • Works on iPhone and iPad
  • Uses spaced repetition and active recall
  • Is fast, modern, and actually nice to use

…then you don’t need AnkiDroid. You can just use Flashrecall instead:

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

Let’s break down what’s going on, and what the best AnkiDroid-style option is on iOS.

Anki vs AnkiDroid vs iPhone: What’s The Difference?

Quick overview so it’s not confusing:

  • Anki (desktop & AnkiMobile)
  • The original spaced repetition flashcard system
  • Desktop app (Windows/Mac/Linux) is free
  • iOS app is called AnkiMobile, and it’s paid
  • AnkiDroid
  • Open-source app made by volunteers
  • Only for Android
  • Not available on iPhone at all
  • iPhone users
  • You can’t install AnkiDroid
  • You can buy AnkiMobile, or
  • Use a modern alternative like Flashrecall that gives you Anki-style learning without the clunky UI

So if you’re searching “AnkiDroid for iPhone,” what you actually want is:

> “An AnkiDroid-style flashcard app that works great on iOS.”

That’s exactly where Flashrecall fits.

Why People Love AnkiDroid (And What You Probably Want On iPhone)

People don’t love AnkiDroid just because of the name. They love what it does:

  • Spaced repetition so you don’t forget what you studied
  • Active recall – forcing your brain to pull the answer out
  • Full control over your flashcards
  • Works offline
  • Great for languages, exams, med school, uni, anything

The good news: you don’t need the exact same app to get the same benefits.

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

Let’s compare.

Flashrecall vs AnkiDroid On iPhone: What’s Better?

Since AnkiDroid doesn’t exist on iOS, the real comparison is:

> AnkiDroid (Android) style experience vs Flashrecall (iOS)

Here’s what most people care about:

1. Ease Of Creating Cards

With Anki/AnkiDroid, making cards can feel… slow. Lots of fields, manual typing, clunky UI.

With Flashrecall, you can create cards in a bunch of ways:

  • From images – take a photo of notes, textbook pages, slides → Flashrecall turns them into flashcards
  • From text – paste in your notes or copy-paste from anywhere
  • From PDFs – upload a PDF and turn key points into cards
  • From YouTube links – pull content from videos and make cards
  • From audio – record or upload and extract info
  • From a typed prompt – write “Make me flashcards about photosynthesis” and it generates them
  • Or just manual cards if you like full control

So instead of spending an hour formatting cards, you can spend that time actually studying.

2. Spaced Repetition & Active Recall (Built In, No Setup)

AnkiDroid is powerful, but the settings can be overwhelming:

  • Intervals
  • Ease factor
  • Deck options
  • Learning steps

With Flashrecall, spaced repetition is:

  • Built in
  • Automatic
  • Comes with auto reminders so you don’t have to remember to review

You just:

1. Add your cards

2. Study

3. Flashrecall handles the schedule and reminds you when it’s time

And yes, it’s pure active recall: you see a question, think of the answer, then flip the card. Exactly what you want.

3. Studying On iPhone & iPad (And Offline)

Flashrecall is made specifically for iPhone and iPad:

  • Clean, modern UI
  • Fast and responsive
  • Works offline, so you can study on the train, on a plane, or in a dead Wi‑Fi zone

If you’ve ever tried to force a desktop-style app onto your phone, you know how annoying that can feel. Flashrecall feels like it actually belongs on iOS.

How Flashrecall Actually Feels To Use (Real Scenarios)

Let’s walk through a few examples.

Example 1: Language Learning

You’re learning Spanish, Japanese, French, whatever.

With Flashrecall you can:

  • Paste vocab lists or grammar explanations → auto-generate flashcards
  • Add audio to cards so you can test listening + meaning
  • Use active recall to practice translations
  • Let spaced repetition handle what to review each day

You open the app on your iPhone for 10–15 minutes a day, and the app surfaces exactly what you’re about to forget.

Example 2: Med School / Nursing / Exams

Pharmacology, anatomy, path, lab values… you know the pain.

Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :

Flashrecall spaced repetition reminders notification

With Flashrecall:

  • Take photos of lecture slides or textbook pages → convert to cards
  • Upload PDFs from your notes
  • Turn long explanations into bite-sized Q&A cards
  • Get study reminders so you don’t skip days when things get crazy

Perfect for:

  • USMLE, NCLEX, MCAT
  • Uni exams
  • Board exams
  • Any heavy memorization

Example 3: Business, Certifications, Or Work Stuff

Studying for:

  • AWS, Azure, Google Cloud certs
  • Finance exams (CFA, ACCA, etc.)
  • Company product knowledge, sales scripts, SOPs

You can:

  • Paste documentation or notes → auto cards
  • Make concept cards like “What is X?” / “Why use Y?”
  • Use chat with the flashcard if you’re unsure and want more explanation

That last one is huge: instead of leaving the app to Google something, you can just ask inside Flashrecall and get clarification.

“Chat With The Flashcard”? What’s That?

This is where Flashrecall really pulls away from Anki-style apps.

If you’re reviewing a card and think:

> “I kind of get this, but not fully…”

You can chat with the flashcard:

  • Ask it to explain the concept more simply
  • Ask for another example
  • Ask for a quick summary

It turns your flashcards into a mini tutor instead of just static Q&A.

AnkiDroid can’t do that. AnkiMobile can’t do that. Flashrecall can.

Why Flashrecall Is A Great “AnkiDroid For iPhone” Replacement

Let’s put it side by side in terms of what you probably care about:

FeatureAnkiDroid (Android)iPhone AnkiDroid?Flashrecall (iOS)
Runs on iPhone/iPad
Spaced repetition✅ (automatic)
Active recall
Auto study reminders⚠️ manual-ish✅ built-in
Create from images/PDF/YouTube❌ / limited
Chat with flashcards
Works offline
Modern, simple UIDepends
Free to start

So if you’re on iPhone and thinking “I wish there was AnkiDroid here” — the actual answer is:

> Use an app that gives you the same spaced repetition power, but is designed for iOS from the ground up.

That’s Flashrecall:

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

How To Switch To Flashrecall In 5 Minutes

If you’re coming from Anki/AnkiDroid or just starting fresh, here’s a simple way to get going.

Step 1: Install Flashrecall

Download it on your iPhone or iPad here:

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

It’s free to start, so you can try it without committing.

Step 2: Create Your First Deck

Pick one thing you’re studying:

  • “Spanish A1 vocab”
  • “Biochem midterm”
  • “AWS Cloud Practitioner”

Create a deck with that name so everything’s organized.

Step 3: Add Cards The Fast Way

Instead of typing everything one by one, try:

  • Paste a chunk of notes and let Flashrecall turn it into cards
  • Snap a photo of your textbook or slides
  • Drop in a YouTube link of a lecture and generate cards from it
  • Or type a prompt like:

> “Create 15 flashcards about the Krebs cycle for med students.”

You can always edit or delete cards later, so don’t worry about perfection.

Step 4: Start A Quick Session

Do a 5–10 minute session:

  • See the question
  • Answer in your head (active recall)
  • Flip to check
  • Rate how hard it was

Flashrecall will automatically schedule when to show that card again using spaced repetition.

Step 5: Let The App Handle The Boring Stuff

You don’t need to:

  • Manually calculate review intervals
  • Remember when to study
  • Decide which cards to see each day

Flashrecall:

  • Sends study reminders
  • Surfaces cards right before you forget them
  • Keeps you on track without you obsessing over settings

So… What Should You Use Instead Of AnkiDroid On iPhone?

Since AnkiDroid for iPhone doesn’t exist, you’ve got three realistic options:

1. Buy AnkiMobile (official iOS app)

  • Works, but dated UI and manual setup

2. Use some random flashcard app with no spaced repetition

  • Easy, but you’ll forget most of what you study

3. Use Flashrecall

  • Modern, fast, free to start
  • Automatic spaced repetition + active recall
  • Makes cards from images, PDFs, YouTube, text, audio, or manually
  • Works offline on iPhone and iPad
  • Lets you chat with your flashcards when you’re confused

If what you really wanted was “AnkiDroid, but for iPhone,”

Flashrecall is honestly the closest thing — just simpler, smarter, and nicer to use.

Try it here and set up your first deck in a few minutes:

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

Once you’ve done a couple of sessions, you’ll probably stop missing AnkiDroid entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Quizlet good for studying?

Quizlet helps with basic reviewing, but its active recall tools are limited. If you want proper spacing and strong recall practice, tools like Flashrecall automate the memory science for you so you don't forget your notes.

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.

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