In short
Anki rewards people willing to learn it; Memnos rewards people who want the same method without the setup. Both run on FSRS, both are free, and Memnos imports Anki decks in .apkg format.
Anki, in short
Anki is the historic reference for spaced repetition: free, open-source, endlessly configurable, with a huge library of shared decks and add-ons for almost anything. The trade-off is well known: the interface and card creation take real time to learn, and most of the ecosystem assumes you are comfortable tinkering.
Memnos, in short
Memnos is a web app built around simplicity: you paste your notes, AI drafts the cards, and FSRS schedules the reviews without you setting anything up. You can start without an account. With a free account you can also import your existing Anki decks (.apkg files) and export your cards whenever you want.
Side-by-side comparison
| Memnos | Anki | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Immediate — try it in two minutes, no account | Powerful, but a famously steep learning curve |
| Platforms | Web (PC, Mac, mobile browser), installable as a PWA | Windows, Mac, Linux, AnkiWeb; AnkiDroid free, AnkiMobile (iOS) paid |
| FSRS algorithm | Yes, on by default, nothing to configure | Yes, to be enabled in the settings |
| AI card generation | Yes, from a topic or pasted text | Not natively (third-party add-ons) |
| Anki deck import (.apkg) | Yes, up to 500 cards on the free plan (account required) | Native format |
| Interface languages | English, French, German and Spanish | Many languages; community and add-ons mostly English |
| Shared decks | No — you create, generate or import your own cards | Yes, a vast library of community decks |
| Exporting your cards | JSON export at any time | Very thorough .apkg / text export |
| Price | Free; free plan guaranteed, optional Pro later | Free everywhere except AnkiMobile on iOS (one-off purchase) |
When Anki is still the better choice
- You want total control: custom note types, add-ons, fine-grained algorithm settings.
- You plan to use ready-made community decks (languages, medicine, exam prep).
- You are happy to invest setup time in a tool that will do exactly what you want, for years.
When Memnos suits you better
- You want to start right now, with no tutorial and no settings to learn.
- You would rather generate cards from your own notes than type them one by one.
- You want something hosted in Europe, with a no-account trial.
Is there a free alternative to Anki?
Yes. Memnos is free, can be tried without an account, and uses the same FSRS algorithm as Anki, enabled by default. It imports Anki decks in .apkg format. The difference: no add-on ecosystem, but nothing to configure either.
Can you import your Anki decks into Memnos?
Yes. Export your deck from Anki as .apkg, then in Memnos open New card → Import and drop the file in: the cards are added to the deck of your choice. Import is free up to 500 cards per account (unlimited will come with the Pro plan) and requires a free account. Your Memnos cards stay exportable as JSON at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Is Memnos really free?
Yes. A free plan will always exist: reviewing and exporting your cards will never be locked. An optional Pro subscription will come later to cover AI and hosting costs, at a price announced clearly and in advance.
Do you have to give up Anki to try Memnos?
No. If Anki works for you, keep it. Memnos takes two minutes to try without an account, so you can make up your own mind at no risk.
Try Memnos in two minutes
Paste your notes, get cards, let FSRS schedule the reviews. No account needed.
Try without an account