Anki alternatives for iPhone, for when you want spaced repetition without building every deck
Knowverse comes first because its courses are already made, so there are no decks to build: ideas come back as flashcards and quizzes over time. It is not a deck builder and does not import Anki decks.
AnkiMobile is the official Anki app for iPhone and iPad, bought once, with decks you build or import. The five apps below are ranked by whether review is scheduled for you, how much setup you need, and whether they are free to download.
Knowverse is our own app. We rank it first for this need and explain why. Details about the other apps come from their App Store listings, checked on 2026-11-07.
We ordered the list by three practical factors: automatic review scheduling so you don’t set intervals yourself, the amount of deck creation or import work required before the first session, and whether the core experience is free to try. Apps that handle scheduling and need little prep appear higher, while those that ask you to build or import decks first sit lower.
1
Knowverse - Learn in minutes
Thomas Rossi Mel · Free download · New app, no ratings yet
Knowverse is the best Anki alternative for iPhone if you want ready‑made courses with automatic spaced review.
Knowverse delivers step-by-step courses across 17 subject categories, breaking each topic into one idea at a time with guided visual flows, reveal cards, flashcards and quizzes. Flashcards and quizzes make you recall key ideas and revisit them over time, and daily streaks encourage a habit. It runs on iPhone and iPad, is free to download and is English only. Because the courses are ready-made, there is no deck to create or import, and you cannot add your own cards.
Good
Ready-made courses across 17 subject categories
Flashcards and quizzes bring ideas back over time
Daily streaks encourage consistency
Less good
New app, no ratings yet
English only, iOS only
Best for: Learners who want ready-made spaced courses
Bold Learning Solutions, Inc. · Free download · paid plan in listing · 4.8 ★ (21,639 ratings)
Brainscape suits learners who want AI‑generated flashcards and a confidence‑based review schedule.
Brainscape lets you create flashcards from notes, PDFs, images, or text, and also offers a large library of expert and community decks for exams, languages, and certifications. After each card you rate confidence from 1 to 5, and the app schedules spaced repetition accordingly. Core text flashcard creation and sharing are free, while unlimited access to premium content and optional features needs a paid Pro plan. The app works on iPhone and iPad.
Good
AI flashcard creation from notes and PDFs
Large library of expert and community decks
Confidence-based spaced repetition
Less good
Unlimited premium content needs a paid Pro plan
Some features, such as bookmarks and card reversibility, are optional extras
Best for: Students who want AI‑generated flashcards
RemNote is ideal if you already take notes and want flashcards generated from them.
RemNote blends note-taking, PDF annotation and flashcards with built-in spaced repetition. You create flashcards directly from your notes, link ideas with backlinks, tag content and embed multimedia, and you can import from other note-taking apps. Notes work with or without internet access, and the listing describes an unlimited free plan. Because it is a full knowledge-management tool, there is more to learn before you can review efficiently.
Good
Flashcards created directly from notes
Combines notes, PDFs and spaced repetition
Works offline, with an unlimited free plan
Less good
Steeper learning curve than pure flashcard apps
More features than needed for simple review
Best for: Note‑takers who want integrated flashcards
SmartCards+ fits people who already have Anki or Quizlet decks and want automated scheduling.
SmartCards+ uses a spaced repetition algorithm that predicts when you will forget a card and shows it at the optimal moment. You can import decks from Anki or Quizlet, create rich media cards with text, images, and audio, and view detailed recall statistics. The app syncs via cloud, supports Apple Watch and home‑screen widgets, and runs on iPhone and iPad. Because there is no built‑in library, you start by adding or importing your own material.
Good
Imports Anki and Quizlet decks easily
Advanced SRS algorithm schedules reviews
Supports Apple Watch and widgets
Less good
You must build or import cards first
Rich cards take time to set up
Best for: Users with existing Anki or Quizlet decks
Quizlet Inc · Free download · paid plan in listing · 4.8 ★ (1,141,302 ratings)
Quizlet works well for students who want study sets, practice tests, and spaced review in one app.
Quizlet turns notes, recordings, or uploaded files into flashcards, study guides, and practice tests. Its Learn mode adapts to your level, while spaced repetition resurfaces items you are about to forget. You can listen to podcasts of your sets, play a puzzle game with your material, and study with friends. The listing describes Quizlet Plus subscriptions. The app works on iPhone and iPad.
Good
Turns notes into flashcards and study guides
Adaptive practice and practice tests
Spaced repetition resurfaces material
Less good
Built around study sets for school and exams
The listing describes Quizlet Plus subscriptions
Best for: Students preparing for tests and classes
Brainscape, RemNote, SmartCards+ and Quizlet describe spaced repetition in their listings, and Knowverse brings ideas back as flashcards and quizzes over time. Knowverse needs no setup because its courses are ready-made.
Can I import my Anki decks into these apps?
The SmartCards+ listing says you can import decks from Anki or Quizlet, and RemNote lists importing from other note-taking apps. Knowverse does not import decks.
Are these apps free?
All five are free downloads. Brainscape has a paid Pro plan for unlimited premium content, and the Quizlet listing describes Quizlet Plus subscriptions. AnkiMobile is a one-time purchase. Check each App Store page for current prices.
Pick the Anki alternative that matches how much prep you want. If you prefer ready-made courses that bring ideas back over time, start with Knowverse. For flashcards you create, try Brainscape; for note-centric workflows, RemNote; for existing Anki or Quizlet decks, SmartCards+; and for study sets, Quizlet. All five are free downloads, so you can try the one that fits how you study.
Sources: Apple App Store listings, checked 2026-11-07. Prices, ratings and features come from each app’s App Store listing on that date and can change.
