How to choose a spaced repetition app
Updated 2026-06-20
"Best" depends on what you're learning and whether you'll stick with it. The app you open every day beats the powerful one you abandon. Here are the criteria that actually predict whether you'll keep going — and where the popular options land.
What to look for
- A modern scheduler (FSRS) — it decides when you review, and it's the single biggest factor in efficiency.
- Import: can you bring decks you already have (Anki .apkg)? Re-typing thousands of cards kills momentum.
- An interface you'll open daily — the best algorithm is useless if the app is a chore.
- Offline study and sync, so a commute or a flight isn't a lost session.
- Sensible defaults: you should be reviewing in minutes, not configuring.
- A fair price — ideally a genuinely useful free tier.
How the options compare
| Recense | Anki | Quizlet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FSRS scheduling | Built in | Yes (recent) | No |
| Import .apkg | Yes | Native | No |
| Modern interface | Yes | Dated | Yes |
| Offline | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Free core | Yes | Yes (iOS paid) | Free tier + ads |
The honest take
If you want maximum control and live in add-ons, Anki is unmatched. If you want quick study games for a test this week, Quizlet is fine. If you want Anki's proven scheduling without its interface — FSRS, Anki import, a clean app you'll actually open, free to start — that's exactly what we built Recense to be.
Frequently asked
- What's the best spaced repetition app?
- The best one is the one you'll use daily. Prioritise FSRS scheduling, deck import and an interface you enjoy. Recense combines all three with a free core; Anki wins on raw configurability; Quizlet suits quick, short-term quizzing.
- Do I need a paid app?
- No. Recense's core — FSRS study, decks, the community Hub and Anki import — is free, and Anki is free on desktop and Android. Pay only if a specific feature earns it.
- Is Recense good for languages specifically?
- Yes — it's language-agnostic, handles any front/back pair, and the Hub is built for sharing vocabulary decks.
Try it for yourself
FSRS scheduling, Anki import, free core. Start a session in two minutes.
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