Memory and study

Flashcard apps rely on spaced repetition: you see a card again just before you would forget it, and the gap grows each time you remember. That simple idea is why Anki, Brainscape, RemNote, Quizlet and Knowt are popular with language learners, medical students and anyone with an exam to pass. It spends your review time on what you are about to lose.

The apps differ in how cards get made. Anki and Brainscape are built around cards you write or download. RemNote turns notes into cards as you write them. Quizlet and Knowt can generate study sets and practice questions from notes, slides or videos with AI, which saves time and needs checking, since generated questions can be wrong or miss what matters.

Writing your own cards takes longer, and it is part of the learning. Deciding what to ask and how to phrase it forces you to understand the material. A common approach is to let AI draft cards from your notes and then edit them, deleting anything vague and rewriting questions so each one tests a single fact.

Keep cards short. One clear question with one clear answer works far better than a card that asks you to recall a whole paragraph. Add images or audio where they help, such as pronunciation for language cards.

Featured self-improvement tools: memory and study

SponsoredMemory and study This position is open Put your tool at the top of the memory and study page. Paid spots are always labeled Sponsored. From $99 a month. Get featured

What a featured listing costs ยท from $99 a month

5 self-improvement tools in memory and study

Anki

by Ankitects

Free, open-source flashcards that use spaced repetition to show each card right before you would forget it.

  • Free plan or free version
  • Mobile app
  • Works in a web browser

Quizlet

Flashcards and study games, with AI features that turn notes into study sets and practice tests.

  • Free plan or free version
  • Mobile app
  • Works in a web browser

RemNote

A note-taking app where your notes become flashcards, with spaced repetition and AI to make questions.

  • Free plan or free version
  • Mobile app
  • Works in a web browser

Knowt

Turns notes, slides and videos into flashcards and practice questions for students.

  • Free plan or free version
  • Mobile app
  • Works in a web browser

Brainscape

Flashcards where you rate how well you know each card, and it repeats the hard ones more often.

  • Free plan or free version
  • Mobile app
  • Works in a web browser

The hardest part is daily review. Spaced repetition only works if you do your reviews most days; skip a week and the pile grows. Start with a small number of new cards a day so the review load stays manageable, and treat the daily session like brushing your teeth: short and every day.

Mix flashcards with other study. Cards are excellent for facts, vocabulary and definitions, and weaker for understanding how ideas connect. Practice questions, explaining a topic out loud and working problems fill that gap. Many students use cards for the facts and practice tests for everything else.

If you are studying for an exam, start early. Spaced repetition needs time for the gaps to grow, so cards added a month before an exam do more than the same cards added two days before. Shared decks can save time for common subjects, and it is still worth checking them for errors and trimming cards you don't need.

Short daily sessions add up. Ten minutes of review on the bus or before bed keeps a deck under control, and most of these apps work on a phone for exactly that reason.

Questions about memory and study

Is spaced repetition worth the effort?

For things you need to remember for a long time, such as vocabulary or exam facts, it is one of the most efficient methods. The catch is daily review, so keep new cards to a number you can handle each day.

Should I let AI make my flashcards?

AI can draft cards quickly from your notes. Check and edit them, because generated questions can be wrong or test the wrong detail. Writing or editing cards yourself also helps you learn.

Which flashcard app is free?

Anki is free on desktop, Android and the web, with a paid iPhone app. Quizlet, RemNote, Knowt and Brainscape all have free plans with some features reserved for paid tiers.

How many new cards should I add per day?

Start with around ten to twenty and adjust. New cards create future reviews, so adding too many at once leads to a review pile that is hard to keep up with.

Related categories