Ankidroid For PC: The Best Alternatives To Study Faster On Desktop (Most Students Don’t Know These) – Stop fighting with clunky setups and use tools that actually make flashcards easy and fun.
AnkiDroid for PC isn’t real—Android-only. See why emulators suck, what people actually want, and how Flashrecall gives you modern SRS flashcards without the...
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
Stop Trying To Force AnkiDroid On PC (There’s A Better Way)
If you’ve been googling “AnkiDroid for PC,” you’ve probably already hit the main problem:
AnkiDroid is Android-only.
On desktop, you’re “supposed” to use regular Anki… which:
- Looks outdated
- Can be confusing to set up
- Syncing across devices can be annoying
If what you really want is:
> “A simple, modern flashcard app that works on phone, tablet, and feels good to use”
…then it’s worth looking at better alternatives instead of trying to hack AnkiDroid onto your computer.
That’s where Flashrecall comes in:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Flashrecall is a fast, modern flashcard app with built‑in spaced repetition, active recall, and super easy card creation from images, PDFs, YouTube, text, audio, or just typing. It works on iPhone and iPad, and you can comfortably use it on desktop via your iPad or side‑by‑side with your computer while you study.
Let’s break down what you’re actually looking for with “AnkiDroid for PC,” and how to get that same power without the headache.
What People Really Mean By “AnkiDroid For PC”
Most people searching this don’t literally need “AnkiDroid” on Windows or Mac. They want:
- ✅ Spaced repetition that’s automatic
- ✅ Active recall (so you’re forced to think, not just re-read)
- ✅ A clean interface that isn’t from 2005
- ✅ Sync across phone/tablet and something that works next to their computer
- ✅ Easy card creation from notes, slides, or videos
Anki technically does all this, but:
- The UI is clunky
- Add-ons are confusing
- Sync can be finicky
- It’s not exactly beginner-friendly
Flashrecall is basically what people wish Anki/AnkiDroid felt like: fast, modern, and simple.
Option 1: Emulators (The “Hacky” Way To Run AnkiDroid On PC)
Let’s get this out of the way.
Yes, you can run AnkiDroid on PC using an Android emulator like:
- Bluestacks
- LDPlayer
- NoxPlayer
But here’s what that usually means in practice:
- You install a big emulator just to run one app
- It eats RAM and battery
- It feels slower and more laggy than using a native app
- You now have another place where sync can break
It works, but it’s clumsy. If you’re serious about studying, you want something you can open in 2 seconds and just start reviewing.
That’s why a lot of people end up switching to a dedicated flashcard app that’s actually designed for modern devices.
Option 2: Regular Anki On PC (Good… If You Can Tolerate The UX)
The “official” path is:
- Use Anki on PC (Windows/Mac/Linux)
- Use AnkiDroid on Android
- Sync via AnkiWeb
This gives you powerful customization, but:
- The interface is not intuitive
- Card creation is slow if you’re working from PDFs, slides, or screenshots
- No built-in “smart” tools to help you create cards faster
- It can feel like you’re spending more time managing Anki than actually learning
If you love tweaking and configuring, Anki is fine.
If you just want to learn efficiently with minimal friction, there are smoother options.
Option 3: Using Flashrecall As Your “AnkiDroid-Style” Study System
If you’re okay not being locked into the Anki ecosystem, Flashrecall is a way better experience for most students.
👉 Download it here:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Flashrecall gives you what you wanted from AnkiDroid, but in a clean, fast, modern app that works great alongside your PC.
Why Flashrecall Beats The Whole AnkiDroid + PC Setup
Instead of manually copying and pasting everything into card fields, Flashrecall lets you create cards from:
- 🖼 Images – snap a pic of your textbook, whiteboard, or slides
- 📄 PDFs – pull questions straight from lecture notes or practice exams
- 🔗 YouTube links – turn video content into cards
- 🎙 Audio – great for language learning or listening-heavy subjects
- ✍️ Typed prompts – of course, you can still make cards manually
This is huge if you’re studying from lecture slides, handwritten notes, or long PDFs. What would take 30 minutes in Anki can take 5 in Flashrecall.
Anki makes you choose settings like:
- Ease factor
- Interval modifier
- Learning steps
- New card limits
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
Flashrecall just… does it for you.
It has built-in spaced repetition with automatic reminders, so you see the right cards at the right time, without needing to dig through settings or watch tutorial videos.
You:
- Open the app
- Tap “Study”
- Flashrecall handles the scheduling
Flashrecall is built around active recall by default:
- You see the question
- You try to answer from memory
- Then you reveal the answer and rate how well you knew it
No passive re-reading. No lazy scrolling. Just pure “brain workout” style studying.
One of the biggest problems with self-study is… you forget to study.
Flashrecall has smart study reminders, so you get a nudge when it’s time to review. You don’t have to remember your review schedule — the app does it for you.
Perfect for exam season, language learning, or long-term subjects like medicine or law.
You might be thinking:
> “But I really want something on my PC.”
Here’s how a lot of people actually study effectively:
- Notes, slides, or textbook on the computer screen
- Flashcards on phone or iPad right next to it
Flashrecall is perfect for this:
- Works on iPhone and iPad
- Works offline, so you can study anywhere
- Fast and responsive, so reviews don’t feel like a chore
If you have an iPad, it basically becomes your “flashcard screen” while your laptop is your “content screen.” It’s a super efficient setup.
This is something Anki/AnkiDroid just doesn’t do.
If you’re unsure about a concept, you can literally chat with the flashcard inside Flashrecall to go deeper:
- Ask for another explanation
- Ask for examples
- Ask for a simpler breakdown
It’s like having a tutor built into your flashcards.
Flashrecall isn’t just for vocab:
- 📚 School & university subjects
- 🧠 Medicine, nursing, pharmacy
- 💼 Business, finance, coding concepts
- 🌍 Languages (vocab, grammar, phrases, listening)
- 📝 Exams like MCAT, USMLE, SAT, bar exam, etc.
If it can be turned into a question and answer, Flashrecall can handle it.
How Flashrecall Compares To AnkiDroid + PC
Let’s put it side-by-side:
| Feature / Experience | AnkiDroid + PC Setup | Flashrecall |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Android + desktop Anki | iPhone + iPad (works great next to your PC) |
| Interface | Old-school, cluttered | Clean, modern, fast |
| Spaced Repetition | Powerful but needs configuration | Built-in, automatic, no setup needed |
| Card Creation From PDFs/Images | Manual, time-consuming | Automatic from images, PDFs, text, audio, YouTube |
| Sync & Setup | Can be confusing for beginners | Just log in on your devices |
| Study Reminders | Needs add-ons/config | Built-in reminders |
| Chat With Flashcards | Not possible | Yes, you can ask cards to explain more |
| Learning Curve | Steep for many new users | Beginner-friendly, intuitive |
| Cost | Free (with some paid add-ons or AnkiMobile) | Free to start, simple and modern |
If you’re super-deep into Anki add-ons and custom card types, you might stay there.
If you just want a simple, powerful flashcard system that helps you remember more with less effort, Flashrecall is way more pleasant.
A Simple Way To Use Flashrecall With Your PC Workflow
Here’s a practical setup you can copy:
1. Open your study material on PC
- Lecture slides
- Online course
- PDF textbook
- Research papers
2. Use Flashrecall on your phone or iPad
- Snap screenshots or photos of key parts
- Turn them into flashcards instantly
- Or copy/paste text into cards
3. Review daily with spaced repetition
- Let Flashrecall’s built-in SRS handle the schedule
- Use the study reminders so you don’t fall behind
4. When stuck, chat with your cards
- Ask for a simpler explanation
- Get extra examples or context
You get the same effect you wanted from “AnkiDroid for PC,” but in a way that’s smoother and faster.
So… What Should You Actually Do?
If you:
- Already love Anki and don’t mind the clunky UI → stick with Anki on PC + AnkiDroid on Android.
- Are tired of fighting with Anki and just want something clean, fast, and effective → try Flashrecall.
You don’t need an emulator. You don’t need a complicated setup. You just need a tool that makes it easy to create cards and hard to forget what you’ve learned.
👉 Grab Flashrecall here (free to start):
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Use it for a week next to your PC, and you’ll probably stop worrying about “AnkiDroid for PC” altogether. You’ll just be… learning.
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.
How can I study more effectively for this test?
Effective exam prep combines active recall, spaced repetition, and regular practice. Flashrecall helps by automatically generating flashcards from your study materials and using spaced repetition to ensure you remember everything when exam day arrives.
Related Articles
- AnkiApp Flashcards: 7 Powerful Reasons To Switch To A Faster, Smarter Study App Today – Most Students Don’t Realize How Much Easier Flashcards Can Be Until They Try This
- Quizlet Create Quiz Alternatives: 7 Powerful Ways To Study Smarter (Most Students Don’t Know These) – Stop wasting time on clunky quizzes and switch to tools that actually help you remember long term.
- AnkiDroid App Download: Why Most Students Are Switching To This Powerful Flashcard Alternative Instead
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...
Credentials & Qualifications
- •Software Development
- •Product Development
- •User Experience Design
Areas of Expertise
Ready to Transform Your Learning?
Start using FlashRecall today - the AI-powered flashcard app with spaced repetition and active recall.
Download on App Store