Best PDF Reader For Studying: 7 Powerful Tips To Turn Any PDF Into High-Score Flashcards Fast – Most Students Don’t Know Trick #3

So, you’re trying to figure out the best PDF reader for studying, right? Honestly, the “best” setup isn’t just a PDF reader – it’s a reader plus something that actually helps you remember what’s inside. That’s why I’d go with whatever basic PDF reader you like paired with Flashrecall, because Flashrecall can turn your PDFs into smart flashcards in seconds and then drill you with spaced repetition so you actually remember the content. Instead of just highlighting and forgetting, you can import or copy text from your PDF into Flashrecall, auto-generate flashcards, and get review reminders right when you’re about to forget. If you want to actually learn from your PDFs and not just stare at them, grab Flashrecall here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Why A “Normal” PDF Reader Isn’t Enough For Studying

Alright, let’s talk about this honestly:

Most people use a PDF reader like this:

• Open the file
• Highlight everything in yellow
• Add a few random comments
• Close it
• Forget 90% of it by next week

The problem isn’t the PDF app itself. The problem is that reading and highlighting alone are terrible for memory. If you want good grades or to actually understand stuff long-term, you need:

• Active recall – testing yourself
• Spaced repetition – reviewing at the right time
• Summarizing – turning big chunks into bite-sized questions

A pure PDF reader doesn’t do that. It just shows you the content. That’s why the real move is:

> Use any decent PDF reader you like + use Flashrecall to pull out the important info and actually learn it.

Flashrecall works on iPhone and iPad and lets you turn your PDFs into flashcards super fast:

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

What You Actually Need In A PDF Setup For Studying

When you say “best PDF reader for studying”, you’re probably looking for something that helps you:

• Read clearly (zoom, scrolling, dark mode, etc.)
• Highlight and annotate easily
• Organize multiple PDFs for a course or exam
• Quickly turn key points into something you can revise

So the ideal setup is:

1. A simple PDF reader you’re comfortable with (Apple Books, GoodReader, Notability, etc.)

2. Flashrecall, which handles the learning side:

• Makes flashcards instantly from text and PDFs
• Uses spaced repetition automatically
• Has active recall built in (you see the question, try to remember, then reveal the answer)
• Sends study reminders so you don’t forget to review

You don’t need a crazy “all-in-one” reader that tries to do everything badly. A clean PDF reader + Flashrecall is usually way more effective.

How Flashrecall Turns Any PDF Into A Study Machine

Here’s where Flashrecall really beats just using a fancy PDF app.

1. Turn PDF Content Into Flashcards In Seconds

You can:

• Copy text from your PDF and paste it into Flashrecall
• Or use text snippets from your lecture notes / slides
• Or use PDFs as your source and manually pull out the key bits

Then Flashrecall can generate flashcards for you, so you’re not stuck typing everything over.

You can:

• Create cards from definitions, formulas, diagrams (via images), or explanations
• Make question-answer cards, cloze deletions, or simple prompts
• Even create cards manually if you like full control

Instead of re-reading the same PDF 5 times, you now have a deck that actually tests you.

2. Built-In Spaced Repetition (No Extra Work)

The hardest part of studying with flashcards is remembering when to review. Flashrecall handles that automatically:

• It tracks how well you remember each card
• It schedules the next review at the perfect time
• You get auto reminders so you don’t have to think about it

So you read your PDF once, pull out the important stuff into Flashrecall, and from then on, the app keeps your memory sharp with almost no effort.

3. Active Recall Instead Of Passive Reading

PDFs are passive: you read, maybe understand, then forget.

Flashrecall is built around active recall:

• You see a question
• You try to answer from memory
• Then you reveal the answer and rate how hard it was

This is exactly what boosts memory for exams, languages, medicine, law, business – basically anything.

4. Works Offline, So You Can Study Anywhere

Got your PDFs saved already? Nice. With Flashrecall:

• Your flashcards are available offline
• You can study on the train, in class, on a plane, wherever
• Perfect if your PDF reader also works offline (most do)

Flashrecall vs “Advanced” PDF Readers For Studying

You might be thinking about apps like:

• PDF Expert
• GoodNotes / Notability (for annotated PDFs)
• Apple Books
• Adobe Acrobat

These are great for reading and annotating, but here’s the catch:

So instead of hunting for a “magic” PDF reader that somehow does everything, it’s usually smarter to:

• Use a PDF reader you already like
• Use Flashrecall to actually remember what’s inside those PDFs

You can grab Flashrecall here (free to start):

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

How To Study PDFs Effectively Using Flashrecall (Step-By-Step)

Here’s a simple workflow you can steal.

Step 1: Read Your PDF Once, But Don’t Over-Highlight

Open your PDF in whatever reader you like. While reading:

• Highlight only key ideas, not everything
• Mark definitions, formulas, dates, and “this will be on the exam” lines
• Add short comments where something feels important

The goal is to identify what should become flashcards.

Step 2: Move Key Content Into Flashrecall

Now open Flashrecall on your iPhone or iPad:

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

You can:

• Copy-paste important sentences from your PDF into Flashrecall
• Turn them into question–answer pairs
• Or paste a chunk of text and let Flashrecall help generate cards from it

Example from a biology PDF:

• From PDF: “Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell and are responsible for ATP production.”
• In Flashrecall:
• Q: What organelle is known as the powerhouse of the cell and produces ATP?
• A: Mitochondria

Do this for:

• Definitions
• Concepts
• Diagrams (you can use images and make cards about them)
• Example problems (math, physics, etc.)

Step 3: Let Spaced Repetition Handle The Timing

Once your cards are in:

• Start a study session in Flashrecall
• Rate how easy or hard each card was
• Flashrecall will auto-schedule your next review for each card

You don’t need to remember when to come back to that chapter – the app does it for you and sends study reminders so you stay on track.

Step 4: Use Chat To Clarify Confusing Stuff

Stuck on something from your PDF? In Flashrecall, you can:

• Chat with your flashcards to get explanations
• Ask follow-up questions if you’re unsure
• Turn those clarifications into new cards

It’s like having a tiny tutor built into your study deck.

Why Flashrecall Works So Well For PDF-Based Studying

Let’s be real: most of us have:

• Lecture PDFs
• Research articles
• Textbook PDFs
• Exam prep PDFs (MCAT, USMLE, bar exam, CFA, etc.)

The problem is never “I don’t have enough material.” It’s “I can’t remember all this.”

Flashrecall is basically built for that situation:

• Great for any subject – languages, medicine, school, uni, business, tech, anything
• Fast, modern, and easy to use – no clunky UI, no weird setup
• Free to start – you can test it with one PDF or one course
• Works on iPhone and iPad, so you can study anywhere

And because it supports:

• Text
• Images
• Audio
• PDFs (as content you pull from)
• Even YouTube links and typed prompts

…you’re not limited to just one type of source.

Quick Tips To Make Your PDF + Flashrecall Setup Even Better

A few pro moves:

1. Turn Headings Into Questions

From your PDF: “Causes of World War I”

In Flashrecall:

• Q: What were the main causes of World War I?
• A: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism (MAIN)

2. One Fact Per Card

Don’t cram 5 ideas into one flashcard. Break them up so reviews stay quick and focused.

3. Review A Little Every Day

With spaced repetition and reminders, 10–20 minutes a day is enough to keep huge PDFs fresh in your mind.

4. Use Offline Time

On the bus, in waiting rooms, between classes – open Flashrecall and knock out a quick review session. Offline support makes it super easy.

So… What’s The Best PDF Reader For Studying?

Honestly:

• Use any clean PDF reader you like for reading and annotating
• But if you want to actually remember what you read, pair it with Flashrecall

Flashrecall is what turns your PDFs from “stuff I once read” into “stuff I actually know,” thanks to:

• Instant flashcard creation from your content
• Built-in active recall
• Automatic spaced repetition
• Study reminders
• Offline studying
• A friendly, fast interface on iPhone and iPad

If you’re serious about studying from PDFs and not just collecting them, grab Flashrecall here and try it on your next chapter or lecture:

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Is there a free flashcard app?

Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.

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

• Electronic Flash Card Maker: The Best Way To Study Faster On Your Phone (Most Students Don’t Know This) – Turn notes, PDFs, and even YouTube videos into smart flashcards in seconds.
• Make Your Own Flashcards: 7 Powerful Tricks To Learn Faster (Most Students Don’t Know) – Turn anything you’re learning into smart, auto-review flashcards hat practically make you remember.
• Best Flashcards: 7 Powerful Ways To Study Smarter (And The App Most Students Don’t Know About) – Discover how to turn any content into smart flashcards and actually remember it.