Same FSRS spaced repetition algorithm. None of the setup. Free on every platform — including iOS, where Anki costs $24.99 — with curated CEFR decks, audio, AI flashcard extraction, and one-click import of your existing Anki decks.
Anki is powerful, free on desktop, and open source — and it has earned its reputation the hard way. But most people who quit Anki quit for the same four reasons: the $24.99 iOS app, the desktop-first interface that feels a decade old, the fact that basics like dark mode or daily goals need community add-ons, and a learning curve that turns "study Spanish" into "configure a scheduler." If any of those are your reason, you don't have to give up the algorithm that makes Anki work.
| Feature | Words on Repeat | Anki |
|---|---|---|
| Spaced repetition algorithm | FSRS | FSRS / SM-2 |
| Price | Free tier, all platforms | Free desktop; $24.99 iOS |
| Runs in the browser | Yes, nothing to install | Limited (AnkiWeb, basic) |
| Ready-made curated decks | 185+ CEFR-graded, 12 languages | Community shared decks |
| Audio pronunciation | Built in | Via add-ons |
| AI flashcards from URL / PDF / YouTube | Built in | No |
| Quiz games & crosswords | 8 modes | No |
| Daily reminders | Push + email | No (mobile-app only) |
| Dark mode, stats, goals | Out of the box | Add-ons / partial |
| Import Anki decks (.apkg) | Yes | — |
| Complex note types, LaTeX, add-on ecosystem | No | Unmatched |
In Anki: File → Export → "Anki Deck Package (.apkg)". One file, all your cards.
Create a free account, open Import, and upload the .apkg. Your cards arrive study-ready. You can also paste a plain word list or point the AI extractor at an article, PDF, or YouTube video.
FSRS schedules every card from day one — each word comes back right before you'd forget it. Push or email reminders tell you when reviews are due, on any device.
Should anyone stick with Anki? Yes: if your workflow depends on image occlusion, LaTeX, complex note types, or specific community add-ons, Anki's ecosystem is unmatched and you should keep it. If you mainly study language vocabulary and want the same scheduling science without the setup, that's the job this app was built for. For the deeper comparison, read the full Anki alternatives breakdown, see FSRS vs SM-2 explained, or check the full app comparison.
Yes. Words on Repeat is free and runs in the browser on every platform — including iOS, where Anki's official app costs $24.99. The free tier includes FSRS spaced repetition, curated CEFR-graded decks for 12 languages, audio, quiz games, and daily reminders.
Yes — it schedules reviews with FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler), the modern memory-model algorithm that Anki itself now offers as its recommended scheduler. Each card gets its own due date based on your review history.
Yes. Upload your exported .apkg file and your cards are imported as study-ready flashcards. You can also paste plain word lists or let the AI extractor build a deck from an article, PDF, or YouTube video.
No. Words on Repeat runs entirely in the browser and installs as a PWA on phones for offline study and push reminders. There is nothing to configure — FSRS scheduling, audio, and dark mode work out of the box.
Power users who rely on complex note types, LaTeX, image occlusion, or specific community add-ons. Anki's plugin ecosystem is unmatched — if your workflow depends on it, keep it. If you mainly study vocabulary and want the same scheduling without the setup, a browser-based FSRS app is the simpler path.
Feature and pricing data based on publicly available information as of August 2026. Anki is a trademark of its respective owners; this site is not affiliated with the Anki project.