Anki vs Memrise: Features, Pricing, Pros & Cons
It has now become easier to learn something new. Many students now use flashcard apps and spaced repetition to remember information for a longer time.
Anki and Memrise are the two most popular apps. They help users improve memory by reviewing information simultaneously. But both follow entirely different ways.
Anki gives users complete control over their flashcards and study schedule. Memrise, however, offers structured lessons, interactive exercises, and native speaker videos.
It is not easy to choose a single app from these two. Pricing, supported platforms, learning methods, and ease of use also play important roles in deciding the right app based on your needs.
We will help you choose the right app in this Anki vs Memrise guide. You will learn if Anki or Memrise matches your study style and learning goals.
Anki vs Memrise – Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Anki | Memrise |
| Best For | Exam preparation, professional studies, custom learning | Language learning |
| Learning Method | Flashcards with spaced repetition | Structured language courses with spaced repetition |
| Card Creation | Create your own or download shared decks | Mostly official and ready-made courses |
| Ease of Use | Moderate to difficult | Beginner-friendly |
| Customization | Very high | Limited |
| Supported Subjects | Almost any subject | Primarily languages |
| Offline Mode | Yes | Limited on free plan |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web | Android, iOS, Web |
| Free Version | Yes | Yes (limited) |
| Premium Cost | iOS app requires a one-time purchase | Subscription plans available |
Anki vs Memrise: Key Features
Although both apps use spaced repetition to improve memory, their overall learning experiences differ slightly. Check the key feature difference below:
1. Learning Approach
Anki and Memrise aim at helping learning to help learners learn everything easily. But they follow different methods.
Anki
Anki is created for learners who want complete control over their study material. It allows you to create your own flashcards or download decks shared by other users. This app is ideal for:
- Medical students
- Engineering students
- Law students
- Competitive exam preparation
- Language learning
- Professional certifications
It schedules reviews based on your performance. This is why it helps you focus more on difficult topics.
Memrise
Language learners should especially use this platform. It has ready-made lessons with vocabulary, phrases, listening exercises, and speaking practice. It allows you to study without asking you to create everything yourself.
You will usually:
- Choose a language
- Follow guided lessons
- Complete quizzes
- Watch native speaker videos
- Review previous lessons automatically
Beginners will stay consistent using this structured approach.
3. Spaced Repetition System
Spaced repetition is the main feature of both apps. But they use it differently.
Anki
It is one of the most advanced review systems available. Anki has:
- Adjustable review intervals
- Multiple answer ratings (Again, Hard, Good, Easy)
- Detailed study statistics
- Custom scheduling options
- Support for advanced algorithms like FSRS
Experienced learners have greater control over long-term retention in this app.
Memrise
It also schedules reviews automatically. But it performs everything in the background.
You usually complete the lesson and the app decides when to return previously learned words or phrases.
Anyone can use it simply because there are no settings to manage.
3. Flashcard Creation
Anki
Creating flashcards manually is one of Anki’s biggest strengths.
You can create cards using:
- Text
- Images
- Audio
- Video
- Mathematical equations
- Cloze deletion cards
- Image occlusion
There are also several community-built decks for download. It helps you save hours of manual work.
Memrise
- Memrise only focuses on learning instead of creating content from the beginning.
- You can simply study from existing language courses.
- Although there are customization options, they are limited compared to Anki.
4. User Interface
Anki
It has a practical interface created around functionality. Anki has a fast, lightweight, and highly organized interface. The app, however, looks outdated and needs time to understand. Beginners might feel overwhelmed while using it.
Memrise
It has a much more modern experience compared to Anki. It has:
- Bright visuals
- Progress tracking
- Daily goals
- Streak rewards
- Interactive exercises
- Native speaker videos
Memrise is easier to use for beginners because everything is organized into guided lessons on this app.
5. Supported Platforms
Anki
You can use Anki on:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- iPad
- Web
You can also use Anki to synchronize your progress,
Memrise
Memrise, on the flip side, is available on:
- Android
- iPhone
- iPad
- Web browser
It also syncs your progress automatically after logging into your account.
Anki
Its large community is one of the reasons behind Anki’s popularity.
You can download thousands of decks covering:
- USMLE
- MCAT
- NEET
- UPSC
- GRE
- SAT
- Japanese
- German
- French
- Biology
- Chemistry
- History
You can save time using this app because you don’t always need to create your own material.
Memrise
- Official language courses are mainly available on Memrise.
- Its content is professionally organized and follows a step-by-step learning path.
- This is why it is suitable for beginners who want a structured experience instead of building custom decks.
7. Gamification
Anki
Learning is the main feature of Anki. It has Progress statistics, Daily review counts, and study history. The app, however, does not have game-like elements.
Memrise
This app keeps learners engaged through Daily streaks, Experience points, Achievement badges, progress tracking, Leaderboards, and interactive challenges. These features motivate users to practice daily.
Anki Pros & Cons
Anki has strengths and weaknesses. It works well for learners who want to complete control over their study material. The app, however, is not the easiest to learn.
| Pros | Cons |
| Free on Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and the web. | The interface feels outdated compared to modern learning apps. |
| It uses an advanced spaced repetition system for long-term memory. | New users might need time to understand the settings. |
| It supports text, images, audio, video, and mathematical formulas. | Creating quality flashcards may be time-consuming. |
| Thousands of community-created decks are available for different subjects. | Some advanced features require additional learning. |
| Highly customizable card types and study settings. | The official iPhone app requires a one-time purchase. |
| It works for medicine, engineering, law, languages, and competitive exams, etc. | |
| Offline study is supported. | |
| Regularly updated by an active open-source community. |
Memrise Pros & Cons
Memrise aims to make language learning simple and enjoyable. You can use this app without extra setup. Check the top weaknesses and strengths here:
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy for beginners to start using. | It is mainly created for language learning. |
| Ready-made language courses save time. | This app has limited customization compared to Anki. |
| Native speaker videos improve listening and pronunciation. | Fewer options for subjects like medical or engineering. |
| Interactive exercises keep learning engaging. | Many advanced features need a paid subscription. |
| Daily streaks and achievements encourage regular practice. | It has less flexibility for developing personalized study material. |
| Clean and modern interface. | |
| It is available on Android, iPhone, and the web. |
Anki vs Memrise: Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Anki | Memrise |
| Free Version | Yes | Yes (limited features) |
| Android | Free | Free |
| Windows | Free | Web version available |
| macOS | Free | Web version available |
| Linux | Free | Not available as a desktop app |
| iPhone | One-time purchase | Free with optional subscription |
| Premium Plan | Not required | Monthly, yearly, and lifetime plans |
Anki Pricing
Most versions of Anki are completely free. Check the plans of Anki below:
- Windows – Free
- macOS – Free
- Linux – Free
- Android – Free
- Web – Free
- iPhone – One-time purchase of $24.99 (One-time, lifetime purchase)
There are no recurring subscription fees after purchasing the iOS app. But they run a donation program where you can donate to cover their running development costs.
Memrise Pricing
Memrise has free and premium plans.
Although you will get access to basic learning tools for free, the paid version unlocks extra features. Some of those are:
- Advanced lessons
- Extra practice activities
- AI conversation tools
- Offline learning
- Premium content
Its premium plan starts at $24.99 per month. You can also purchase the lifetime plan at $329.99.
You can get a more complete experience if you plan to use it regularly.
Who Should Use Anki?
You should use Anki if you:
- Study large amounts of information.
- Need long-term memory retention.
- Prefer creating your own flashcards.
- Want complete control over your study schedule.
- Are preparing for competitive exams.
- Study medicine, law, engineering, science, or similar subjects.
- Like downloading community-created decks.
The app also rewards you for investing time in setting up your study system.
Who Should Use Memrise?
You should choose Memrise if you:
- Want to learn a new language.
- Prefer guided lessons instead of building flashcards.
- Enjoy interactive activities.
- Like earning streaks and achievements.
- Want native speaker pronunciation videos.
- Need a simple app that works immediately.
It often feels less overwhelming than Anki for those casual language learners.
FAQs on Anki vs Memrise
Is Anki better than Memrise?
The right choice depends on your learning goals. Although Anki is ideal for those who need complete control over their flashcards and study schedule, Memrise is ideal for people who like structured language lessons with minimal setup.
Is Anki completely free?
The app is free on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and through AnkiWeb. The official iPhone app, however, needs a one-time purchase. You do not need to pay any recurring subscription after buying it.
Is Memrise only for language learning?
Learning languages has now become the primary focus of Memrise. It has also offered other types of content in the past.
Which app is better for medical students?
Anki has become the preferred choice for most medical students because it supports highly customizable flashcards. Many students preparing for medical students uses Anki for daily revision.
Which app has a better spaced repetition system?
Both use spaced repetition. But Anki has more control over review intervals and scheduling. Memrise, in contrast, keeps the process automatic.
Final Verdict
Anki and Memrise have helped millions of learners improve their memory through spaced repetition.
Memrise is best if your goal is language learning with a simple yet engaging experience. Anki is best for those preparing for competitive exams, university courses, or professional certifications.
Apart from choosing the best app, you should also use it consistently to succeed.