Learning With Anki: 7 Proven Tips To Study Smarter (And A Better Alternative You’ll Actually Use) – If you like learning with Anki but wish it was faster, prettier, and less fiddly, this guide (and app rec) is for you.

So, What Is “Learning With Anki” Really About?

Alright, let’s talk about learning with Anki: it basically means using Anki’s spaced repetition flashcards to remember stuff long‑term instead of cramming and forgetting a week later. You make cards, review them at smart intervals, and Anki keeps track of when you should see each one again so your brain actually keeps the info. It’s super popular for languages, med school, exams, and anything memory-heavy. The same idea powers apps like Flashrecall, which takes that spaced repetition system and wraps it in a cleaner, faster, more modern experience on your phone:

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

Let’s break down how learning with Anki works, what most people get wrong, and why a simpler app like Flashrecall might actually fit your life better.

How Learning With Anki Works (In Normal-Person Terms)

Spaced Repetition, But Not Complicated

Here’s the basic idea:

• You create flashcards (front = question, back = answer).
• You review them.
• When you mark a card as “easy”, you’ll see it less often.
• When you mark it as “hard”, you’ll see it more often.
• Anki slowly increases the time between reviews so you see cards right before you’d normally forget them.

That’s spaced repetition. It’s backed by a ton of memory research, but in practice it just means:

Flashrecall uses the same concept, but instead of you fiddling with settings and intervals, it just gives you:

• automatic spaced repetition
• built-in study reminders
• and a clean “here’s what to review today” screen

so you don’t have to think about the system at all.

Why People Love Learning With Anki (And Why Some Quit)

The Good Stuff

People stick with Anki because:

• It works for long-term memory.
• You can use it for literally anything: vocab, med facts, formulas, dates, definitions.
• There are tons of shared decks online.

If you’re consistent, it’s honestly kind of magic how much you remember.

The Annoying Stuff

But a lot of people drop it because:

• The interface feels old and clunky.
• Syncing between devices can be confusing.
• Making cards can be slow.
• Getting started feels overwhelming with all the settings.

That’s where something like Flashrecall comes in. It keeps the good (spaced repetition, active recall) and removes the “I have to watch a 30-minute YouTube tutorial just to use this app” part.

You can grab Flashrecall here if you want to try it while you read:

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

Flashrecall vs Learning With Anki: What’s Different?

You can totally keep learning with Anki if it works for you. But if you’ve ever thought “I wish this was just easier,” here’s how Flashrecall compares.

1. Card Creation: Manual vs Instant

• You mostly type cards manually.
• You can add media, but it’s a bit fiddly.
• Turning a PDF, YouTube video, or lecture notes into cards takes time.

• You can still make cards manually if you want full control.
• But you can also create cards instantly from:
• images (screenshots, textbook photos)
• text
• PDFs
• audio
• YouTube links
• typed prompts
• It’s literally: drop content → get flashcards.

So instead of spending an hour building a deck, you spend that hour actually studying it.

2. Spaced Repetition Settings: Tweak Everything vs Auto-Pilot

• You can customize everything: intervals, ease factors, new card limits, etc.
• That’s powerful, but also… a lot.
• New users often feel lost: “What settings should I use for language vs med school vs exams?”

• Spaced repetition is built-in and automatic.
• You just review what’s due each day.
• No need to tweak anything unless you want to.
• You also get auto reminders so you don’t forget to open the app.

If you like systems, Anki is fun.

If you like “open app → study → done,” Flashrecall feels way smoother.

3. Interface & Speed: Old-School vs Modern

• Desktop is powerful, but looks dated.
• Mobile apps vary depending on platform.
• There’s a learning curve just to feel comfortable.

• It’s built as a fast, modern, easy-to-use iOS app.
• Works on both iPhone and iPad.
• Clean layout, minimal friction, no weird menus.
• Works offline, so you can study on the train, plane, or in bad Wi‑Fi.

If the interface of Anki has ever made you procrastinate, that alone is a good reason to try something smoother.

4. Extra Help: Just Cards vs Cards + Chat

This is a big one.

• You flip cards.
• If you don’t understand something, you Google it or check a textbook.

• You can literally chat with the flashcard.
• Stuck on a concept? Ask follow-up questions right inside the app.
• It can explain terms, break down formulas, or give examples.

So your flashcards aren’t just “right/wrong” — they become a mini tutor.

How To Use Anki-Style Learning Effectively (With Any App)

Whether you stick with learning with Anki or switch to Flashrecall, the method is similar. Here’s how to make it actually work.

1. Focus On Active Recall

Don’t just “look” at the card and flip it.

Do this instead:

• See the front.
• Pause and force yourself to answer from memory.
• Then flip and check.

Both Anki and Flashrecall are built around this active recall idea — it’s why flashcards beat rereading notes.

Flashrecall has built-in active recall by design: the whole flow is “question first, answer second,” and you rate how well you knew it.

2. Keep Cards Simple (One Idea Per Card)

Common mistake with learning with Anki: cards that look like mini essays.

Bad example:

> “Explain all causes, symptoms, and treatments of heart failure.”

Better example:

• “What are the main causes of heart failure?”
• “What are key symptoms of heart failure?”
• “First-line treatment for heart failure?”

Flashrecall makes it easy to split things up because creating cards is so fast — especially when you’re generating them from text, PDFs, or prompts.

3. Study A Little Every Day

Spaced repetition only works if you show up.

• Short daily sessions beat long weekly marathons.
• Even 10–20 minutes a day adds up fast.
• The goal is consistency, not perfection.

Flashrecall helps here with study reminders and a clear “today’s cards” view. No guilt, just: open, review, done.

4. Use It For Everything, Not Just One Class

People often start learning with Anki for one thing (usually languages or med school) and forget they can use it for:

• School subjects
• Uni courses
• Medicine and nursing
• Law definitions and cases
• Business concepts
• Coding syntax
• Interview prep
• Even random life stuff (names, capitals, trivia)

Flashrecall is built exactly for that kind of “anything and everything” learning. If it’s info you don’t want to forget, you can turn it into cards.

Example: What Learning With Anki Looks Like (But In Flashrecall)

Let’s say you’re learning Spanish vocab.

1. Manually type each word + translation.

2. Maybe add audio or example sentences if you’re patient.

3. Set your deck options.

4. Review daily.

1. Paste a vocab list, upload a PDF, or use a YouTube link of a Spanish lesson.

2. Let the app generate flashcards for you.

3. Start reviewing with built-in spaced repetition.

4. If a word confuses you, chat with the flashcard to get examples or grammar explanations.

Same concept (spaced repetition + active recall), but much less friction.

When Anki Might Still Be Better For You

To be fair, there are situations where classic learning with Anki wins:

• You love tweaking every little setting.
• You’re deep into a complex, multi-deck workflow.
• You’re already fully set up and it’s working fine.

If that’s you, no need to switch.

But if you’re:

• overwhelmed by setup,
• tired of clunky interfaces,
• or just want something that feels like a modern iOS app…

…then Flashrecall will probably feel like a breath of fresh air.

Getting Started: Try An Anki-Style Workflow In Flashrecall

If you like the idea of learning with Anki but want it simpler, here’s a quick way to start in Flashrecall:

1. Download the app (free to start)

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

2. Pick one topic

Don’t start with 10 decks. Choose one: a language, an exam, one class.

3. Import or create cards

• Snap a photo of your notes.
• Paste some text.
• Upload a PDF.
• Or just type a few cards manually.

4. Do a 10-minute review every day

Let the built-in spaced repetition handle the timing.

5. Use chat when you’re stuck

Ask your cards follow-up questions instead of leaving things half-understood.

Stick with that for a week and you’ll feel how similar it is to learning with Anki — just smoother and more “phone-native.”

Final Thoughts

Learning with Anki is basically about using spaced repetition and active recall to remember more in less time. It works — that’s why so many students and professionals swear by it.

But if the setup, interface, or complexity has ever made you quit, you don’t have to give up on the method itself. You can keep the science and swap the app.

Flashrecall gives you:

• automatic spaced repetition
• instant flashcards from images, text, PDFs, audio, and YouTube
• built-in active recall
• study reminders
• offline support
• chat with your flashcards
• a fast, modern iOS experience

Try it out here and see if it fits your style better than classic Anki:

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

Same memory science. Less hassle.

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's the best way to learn vocabulary?

Research shows that combining flashcards with spaced repetition and active recall is highly effective. Flashrecall automates this process, generating cards from your study materials and scheduling reviews at optimal intervals.

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.

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