In an increasingly digital world, flashcard apps are becoming more and more popular - especially among students preparing for exams efficiently. But with so many apps available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Today, we’re focusing on two leading flashcard apps and evaluating them based on objective criteria. Our comparison is based on the three most important factors for students: learning efficiency, user-friendliness, and cost. This will help you find the app that best fits your study needs.

Comparison Criteria

In the following section, we compare two of the most popular flashcard apps: Anki and Retain. To determine which app is better suited to your needs, we assess both based on three core criteria: learning efficiency, cost, and user-friendliness.

Learning efficiency is the top priority, as students want to make the most of their study time. Flashcard apps that offer innovative methods such as Spaced Repetition or personalized learning plans help students retain knowledge faster and more sustainably - allowing them to learn more in less time. Learning efficiency is further divided into two aspects: how efficiently learning materials can be created, and how effectively they can be studied (e.g., through cutting-edge techniques).

Cost is also a major factor. While both apps offer free versions, they differ significantly when it comes to pricing for advanced features and premium content.

Finally, user-friendliness plays a crucial role: an intuitive interface and modern design help you stay focused on studying - without getting bogged down in complex menus or unnecessary features.

To objectively evaluate both apps, we assign a score from 1 to 5 for each criterion - 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest. This comparison will help you make a well-informed decision by clearly outlining the strengths and weaknesses of each app.

Anki

Anki is a popular learning app best known for its ability to help users retain knowledge effectively through flashcards.

Learning Efficiency: Anki uses the Spaced Repetition algorithm and Active Recall to optimize learning. However, its default algorithm is based on the outdated SM-2 model, which is nearly 40 years old. While this method still delivers decent results, creating flashcards is a completely manual and time-consuming process, as there is no AI support. In addition, all users are given the same default study plan — regardless of whether their exam is in three days or they want to refresh their Spanish skills over two years. While these settings can be adjusted, most students never touch them due to their complexity. Score: 3/5

Cost: Anki offers its web, Android, and desktop versions completely free, making it an attractive option for many students. However, the iOS app costs a one-time fee of €29.99, which may be a barrier for some. Nevertheless, Anki remains the most cost-effective app in this category. Score: 5/5

User-Friendliness: Anki has an outdated and less intuitive interface, with many configurable options that can be confusing for new users. The steep learning curve often requires support from YouTube tutorials (such as from AnKing) in order to use the app effectively. Score: 2/5

Retain

Retain is an innovative learning app that stands out through its integration of cutting-edge technology and user-friendly features. It currently offers students the most efficient tools for preparing for exams.

Learning Efficiency: Retain excels in advanced flashcard creation. With Co-Pilot Mode, flashcards can be generated using AI models — accelerating the typically tedious creation process by a factor of 10–50x. Each flashcard includes a source reference, which increases user trust in the AI-generated content. Just like Anki, Retain supports advanced flashcard types such as image occlusion and cloze deletions, allowing for flexible and targeted learning. The app features the best Anki integration on the market, making it easy to import any Anki deck. Retain also relies on the latest research in Spaced Repetition and Active Recall, which, according to studies, leads to a 20% time savings compared to other apps like Anki. A unique feature is the ability to see a forecast of your knowledge level on exam day — helping students plan and prepare more effectively. Score: 5/5

Cost: The free version of Retain includes many useful features, including unlimited Anki imports, making it comparable to Anki’s free version in many ways. For users looking to accelerate learning and monitor their progress, a low-cost upgrade is available for €2.99 per month. Additional AI-generated flashcards are available with a premium plan for €5.99 per month (with 10 pages per month included even in the free plan). Score: 3/5

User-Friendliness: Retain features a clean, Notion-inspired design that delivers an intuitive and modern user experience. The app avoids unnecessary clutter and focuses on what matters — making it easy to use and helping students stay focused. The interface is clearly structured, which makes navigating the app simple and creates a very pleasant study environment. Score: 4/5

Conclusion

After a detailed comparison of the best free learning apps in 2024, Retain comes out on top with a total score of 12 out of 15 points. With its combination of cutting-edge learning algorithms, an intuitive user interface, and flexible pricing options, Retain offers the best balance between efficiency, usability, and cost.

While Anki scores points for its affordability, Retain stands out for the significant time savings it offers students during the learning process. Both apps can deliver the same learning results — but Retain helps you get there much faster. If you want to have more free time and still ace your exams, Retain is the ideal choice.

Try Retain today!

Want to see how Retain stacks up against other apps like Quizlet or Anki Pro? Click here to find out.