Learning Guides · Study Tools · Flashcards
Pick the app that fixes the part of studying you find hardest:
- Knowt if you want several practice modes on the same set of terms.
- Anki if you want full control over your cards and review timing.
- RemNote if you want your notes and flashcards in one place.
- Brainscape if you like a simple reveal-and-rate routine.
About the links: this guide compares published features and free-plan limits; it is not a hands-on test of every paid plan. The links below are ordinary links: we have no paid partnership with these four apps. If that changes, paid links will be labelled. Our disclosure.
At a glance
| App | Best for | Free plan includes | Check before paying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knowt | Varied practice on your own sets | Learn, Practice Test, Spaced Repetition, Match and Flashcards | Monthly limit on AI summaries; Ultra adds AI access and removes ads |
| Anki | Control over cards and review timing | Desktop program, add-ons and free AnkiWeb sync | Desktop, AnkiWeb, AnkiDroid and AnkiMobile are separate apps; check the iOS price |
| RemNote | Notes and flashcards together | Unlimited notes and flashcards | Free plan lists 3 annotated PDFs and 5 image-occlusion cards |
| Brainscape | A steady reveal-and-rate routine | Making and studying your own text cards | Image/audio cards, private content and extra collections need Pro |
Summary of each provider’s own plan pages, checked September 2026. Plans change: confirm on the provider’s site before you subscribe.
Which one fits you? 30-second check
Pick the answer closest to you. Nothing is saved or sent.
01 Knowt Varied practice
Consider Knowt when you want to turn a set of terms into more than a flip-through session. Its student help page lists Learn, Practice Test, Spaced Repetition, Match and Flashcards on your own sets in the free plan.
02 Anki Full control
Consider Anki if you want to adjust card layouts and review timing instead of choosing an app mainly for its ready-made modes. It supports media, customisation and add-ons, with free AnkiWeb synchronisation.
03 RemNote Notes + cards
Consider RemNote when the friction is rewriting your notes into a separate flashcard system. Its free plan combines unlimited notes and flashcards; paid plans expand features such as PDF annotation and image occlusion.
04 Brainscape Simple routine
Consider Brainscape if you like a consistent sequence: see a question, recall the answer, then rate your confidence from 1 to 5. The rating decides when the card returns.
How to choose
Start with the part of studying that feels difficult, not with the longest feature list. Try each candidate on a small set of your own material for a few days before paying for anything.
Then check two things on the provider’s site: the current free-plan limits, and the total cost of the subscription over the time you will actually use it. If Quizlet already does what you need, there is no reason to switch just because another app has more features.
Questions
Do I need a paid plan to use spaced repetition?
Not necessarily. Knowt lists Spaced Repetition among its free study modes on your own sets, Anki is built around scheduled reviews, and Brainscape’s free text cards use its confidence-based repetition. Check each provider’s current plan page, as limits change.
Is Anki free?
The official desktop program and AnkiWeb synchronisation are free. The mobile apps are separate products, so check the price of the iOS app before relying on it.
Which app is best for diagrams and PDFs?
RemNote supports PDF annotation and image occlusion, but the free plan lists only 3 annotated PDFs and 5 image-occlusion cards. If diagrams are central to your course, test those limits first.
Screenshots were saved in September 2026 and include Worksheet365 annotations; interfaces and plans may change. Marketing claims visible in screenshots belong to the providers. Our editorial approach · Affiliate disclosure
