Anki vs Quizlet vs Others:Which is Best in 2024?
Complete comparison of the top 4 flashcard apps. Find the best spaced repetition software for your learning needs, budget, and study style.
🏆 Winner: Anki for Serious Students
For medical school, law school, and intensive learning: Anki wins with advanced spaced repetition, unlimited free usage, and complete customization. For casual studying: Quizlet offers better user experience but requires subscriptions.
Platform-by-Platform Breakdown
Detailed analysis of each flashcard app's strengths and weaknesses
Anki
Best For:
Serious learners who want complete control
Pricing:
Free (Desktop), $24.99 (Mobile)
Pros
- Completely free on desktop with no limitations
- Most advanced spaced repetition algorithm
- Unlimited customization with HTML/CSS
- 1000+ community add-ons available
Cons
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Interface looks dated compared to modern apps
- Mobile app requires one-time purchase
- Setup can be overwhelming initially
Quizlet
Best For:
Students who want simple, social studying
Pricing:
Free (limited), $47.88/year premium
Pros
- Very user-friendly interface
- Large library of pre-made study sets
- Social features and sharing
- Multiple study modes (games, tests)
Cons
- Limited free version with ads
- No advanced spaced repetition
- Requires subscription for offline access
- Limited customization options
Memrise
Best For:
Language learning with gamification
Pricing:
Free (basic), $89.99/year premium
Pros
- Excellent for language learning
- Engaging gamification elements
- Video content from native speakers
- Good mobile experience
Cons
- Most expensive premium option
- Limited beyond language learning
- Repetition algorithm is basic
- Heavy focus on entertainment over efficiency
Brainscape
Best For:
Confidence-based repetition learning
Pricing:
Free (limited), $79.99/year premium
Pros
- Confidence-based repetition system
- Clean, modern interface
- Good for professional certification
- Decent analytics and progress tracking
Cons
- Limited free version
- Expensive premium subscription
- Less customization than Anki
- Smaller community and content library
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of key features across all platforms
| Feature | 🧠 Anki | 📚 Quizlet | 🌱 Memrise | ⚡ Brainscape |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pricing & Free Features | ||||
| Free flashcard creation | Unlimited forever | Limited to 8 study sets | Basic courses only | Limited to 50 cards |
| No ads | Always ad-free | Ads in free version | Ads in free version | Ads in free version |
| Offline access | Full offline functionality | Premium only ($47.88/year) | Premium only ($89.99/year) | Premium only ($79.99/year) |
| Premium cost per year | $0 (Desktop) / $24.99 (Mobile) | $47.88/year | $89.99/year | $79.99/year |
Spaced Repetition & Learning | ||||
| Advanced spaced repetition algorithm | SuperMemo 2 + customizable | Basic repetition only | Simple algorithm | Confidence-based repetition |
| Customizable intervals | Full control over scheduling | No interval customization | Fixed intervals | Limited customization |
| Learning analytics | Detailed statistics & graphs | Premium only | Premium only | Basic analytics |
| Card maturity tracking | Complete lifecycle tracking | Not available | Not available | Not available |
Customization & Power Features | ||||
| Custom card templates | Unlimited HTML/CSS customization | Limited preset options | No customization | No customization |
| Add-ons & plugins | 1000+ community add-ons | No add-on support | No add-on support | No add-on support |
| Media support (audio/video/images) | Unlimited media embedding | Good media support | Good media support | Basic media support |
| Bulk import/export | Multiple formats supported | Premium only | Limited import | Premium only |
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to the most common questions about flashcard app comparisons