Anki vs RemNote
Two of the most-used serious spaced repetition tools. Flashcards-first vs. note-taking with built-in flashcards. Here's when each one wins.
Last updated May 2026 · 6 min read
TL;DR
- · Anki — wins on raw spaced repetition power, customization, free desktop, ~$25 iOS one-time. Steeper learning curve.
- · RemNote — wins on integrated note-taking + flashcards in one tool. Cleaner UI; subscription model.
- · Both support FSRS. The choice is workflow preference more than feature parity.
Side-by-side
| Feature | Anki | RemNote |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Flashcards | Notes + flashcards integrated |
| Spaced repetition algorithm | SM-2, FSRS | FSRS |
| Note-taking | No | Yes (Roam-style) |
| Learning curve | Steep | Moderate |
| Customization (CSS, JS, add-ons) | Extensive | Limited |
| Free tier | Yes (desktop, web, Android) | Yes with caps |
| Mobile experience | $25 iOS one-time | Subscription-only |
| Community deck library | ~100K AnkiWeb decks | Smaller |
| Image occlusion | Add-on | Built-in |
| AI features | Add-on | Built-in (paid) |
| Best for | Med school, vocabulary, custom | Research, study notes + cards |
Anki — where it wins
Anki is the gold standard for serious spaced repetition. Open-source desktop is free; the add-on ecosystem extends to almost anything (image occlusion, hierarchical tags, custom card types). Med school's AnKing deck, language learners' Refold decks, hobbyist trivia decks — the community produces enormous shared resources.
Where it falls short: card creation is slow, UI is utilitarian, the iOS app costs $25 one-time. Beginners often abandon Anki for “simpler” tools then come back.
RemNote — where it wins
RemNote merges note-taking (Roam-style bidirectional links, block hierarchy) with spaced-repetition flashcards generated from your notes. The pitch: as you take notes, flag concepts; they become flashcards automatically; spaced review happens in the same app where you take notes.
For workflows where note-taking and flashcard study are tightly coupled (research, course study, knowledge work), RemNote eliminates the back-and-forth between separate tools.
Where it falls short: customization is limited; the subscription model (free tier caps) bothers some users; community decks are smaller.
Migration considerations
Both support import/export but the data models differ. Anki cards transfer to RemNote with some friction; RemNote's structured notes don't fully transfer to Anki's flat card model.
If you've invested in one already and it works, switching is usually not worth the friction.
FAQ
Is RemNote a better Anki? Not better; different model. RemNote wins if you want notes + cards integrated; Anki wins for pure flashcards.
Which has better FSRS support? Both. Anki added FSRS as built-in in 23.10; RemNote uses it by default.
For med school? Anki — AnKing deck and the community are unmatched in medicine.
For language learning? Anki — Refold and similar curated decks.
For research / PhD work? RemNote — notes + spaced retrieval integrated.
Need quizzes (not flashcards)?
SimpleQuizMaker generates quizzes from PDFs and notes in seconds — pair with Anki / RemNote for spaced retrieval.