The best flashcard apps in 2026
The best flashcard app depends on what you're studying for. For remembering things long-term, Anki is hard to beat and free on most devices. For quick review before a class quiz, Quizlet or Knowt are easier. Here's how the main options compare.
Which one should you use?
| If… | Use |
|---|---|
| You want to remember things for months or years | Anki |
| You want something simple for this week's quiz | Quizlet or Knowt |
| You want Quizlet-style features without paying | Knowt |
| You take notes on a computer and want cards from them | RemNote |
| Making the cards is the part you never get to | Cramsmith, then export to Anki or Quizlet |
Comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Paid plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anki | Long-term memory with spaced repetition | Desktop, web and Android are free | iPhone and iPad app is a one-time purchase |
| Quizlet | Quick class review and ready-made sets | Making and studying flashcards; Learn and tests are limited | Plus: $7.99/month or $35.99/year |
| Knowt | A Quizlet-style app with a generous free plan | Unlimited sets and studying | Ultra: $24.99/month or $149.99/year |
| Brainscape | Confidence-based repetition and premade exam decks | Basic plan: create cards and study with spaced repetition | Pro: $19.99/month |
| RemNote | Notes and flashcards in one place | Notes and basic flashcard review | Pro: $8/month; Pro with AI: $18/month |
| Cramsmith | Making the cards for you from notes or a PDF | 1 try a day without sign-up; 5 generations a month with a free account | Pro: $7.99/month or $59/year |
Anki
Best for: long-term memory with spaced repetition.
The most powerful option and the favorite of medical and language students. You build or import every card yourself, and the interface takes some getting used to, but the scheduling is excellent and the free versions have no limits.
Quizlet
Best for: quick class review and ready-made sets.
The easiest to start with and full of sets other students made. The free plan caps Learn mode and practice tests, which are the parts most useful before an exam.
Knowt
Best for: a Quizlet-style app with a generous free plan.
Imports Quizlet sets and has Learn-style modes for free. The paid plan adds AI features such as summaries of PDFs and videos.
Brainscape
Best for: confidence-based repetition and premade exam decks.
You rate how well you know each card from 1 to 5 and it decides when to show it again. Strong for some professional exams; the paid plan is pricey month to month.
RemNote
Best for: notes and flashcards in one place.
Turn lines of your notes into flashcards as you write them. Great if you take notes digitally; overkill if you only want to drill a word list.
Cramsmith
Best for: making the cards for you from notes or a PDF.
Not a replacement for the apps above: paste your notes or upload a PDF and it pulls out the terms and definitions, then export the deck to Anki or Quizlet and study there. (Full disclosure: Cramsmith is our product.)
Try it on your own notes with the flashcard maker, or make a practice quiz from the same material.
What makes a flashcard app good
- Spaced repetition. Reviews spread out over days and weeks beat cramming the same cards over and over.
- Active recall. You should have to produce the answer before you flip the card, not just recognize it.
- Getting cards in quickly. Import, sharing and AI generation matter, because the deck you never finish making is the one you never study.
- Being able to leave. Export to a plain format, so your cards aren't stuck if the app changes its pricing.
More comparisons: Quizlet alternatives, Quizlet vs Anki and is Quizlet free?
Questions
What is the best free flashcard app?
Anki is the strongest free option: unlimited cards and excellent spaced repetition on desktop, web and Android. Knowt is the most generous free Quizlet-style app.
Is Anki better than Quizlet?
For long-term memory, usually yes, because its spaced repetition schedules reviews just before you'd forget. Quizlet is faster to start and better for quick review and shared class sets. See our Quizlet vs Anki comparison for details.
What is spaced repetition?
A review schedule that shows a card again after longer and longer gaps as you keep getting it right. It's the most efficient way to move facts into long-term memory.
Can I make flashcards automatically?
Yes. Several apps now generate cards with AI. Cramsmith turns pasted notes or a PDF into a term-and-definition deck you can export to Anki or Quizlet.