The Anki alternative that speaks Markdown — and Claude
StudyCards keeps what makes Anki great — serious spaced repetition, cloze deletions, your data staying portable — and drops the friction. It runs in the browser with nothing to install, cards are plain Markdown with KaTeX math and code blocks, and your own Claude writes cards for you: unlimited on every plan, because we never resell AI. Bring your .apkg decks and keep studying.
- FSRS spaced repetition
- Imports Anki .apkg decks
- No install, no add-ons
StudyCards vs. Anki at a glance
| Feature | StudyCards | Anki |
|---|---|---|
| AI card generation | Yes:Built in: your own Claude writes cards via the copy-paste bridge or MCP — unlimited on every plan | Partly:Not built in — possible via third-party add-ons and external tools |
| Spaced repetition | Yes:FSRS scheduler, on by default for every deck | Yes:FSRS available — very powerful, with many settings to tune |
| Getting started | Yes:Web app: sign up and study, nothing to install | Partly:Desktop app plus separate mobile apps and sync setup |
| Card editing | Yes:Plain Markdown with live preview — KaTeX math and code blocks are first-class | Partly:HTML/CSS note templates — extremely flexible, but a steeper learning curve |
| Cloze deletions | Yes:Anki-compatible cloze syntax with hints, as a first-class card type | Yes:First-class card type |
| API & automation | Yes:Open REST API + MCP server — your Claude can create and edit cards directly | Partly:Via community projects such as AnkiConnect |
| Moving your decks | Yes:Imports Anki .apkg (Basic and Cloze, math and hints preserved); free tools export .apkg back | Yes:Native .apkg format |
| Price | Yes:Free plan with 10 decks and 1,000 cards — AI is never metered on any plan | Yes:Free and open-source on desktop; companion apps vary by platform |
This comparison is qualitative and based on our own experience with Anki as of mid-2026. Anki is excellent free software — if you love your current setup, keep it. StudyCards is for people who want the same scheduling science with less setup and a Claude-native workflow.
Bring your Anki decks with you
Switching takes minutes, not an evening. Your cloze cards, hints and math survive the trip — the importer maps Anki notes straight onto StudyCards’ Markdown cards.
- Export your deck from Anki as .apkg (enable “Support older Anki versions” in the export dialog).
- Create a free StudyCards account, open your deck and choose Import → Anki .apkg.
- Check the preview and import. Start studying with FSRS right away — no re-typing.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I import my existing Anki decks?
- Yes. StudyCards reads .apkg files directly in your browser — Basic and Cloze notes, hints, KaTeX math and formatting are preserved. Export from Anki with “Support older Anki versions” enabled, then use Import → Anki .apkg inside the app.
- Does StudyCards use the same spaced repetition as Anki?
- StudyCards schedules reviews with FSRS, the same modern algorithm family Anki users know — it is on by default, with nothing to configure. Your daily review habit transfers one to one.
- Is StudyCards free?
- Yes — the free plan includes 10 decks and 1,000 cards, with no credit card required. AI card generation is unlimited on every plan, because you bring your own Claude: we never meter or resell AI.
- What happens to my cloze cards?
- They stay cloze cards. StudyCards uses Anki-compatible cloze syntax as a first-class card type, so multi-blank cards and hints keep working — and each blank is reviewed separately, just like in Anki.