Verdict
The serious spaced-repetition system, and the one medical students actually use. Buying it funds the free desktop version rather than unlocking anything.
Best for
Someone already using Anki on a computer who needs the same decks on a phone.
Dealbreaker
Sixteen of the last two hundred reviews describe syncing destroying their decks, ten call it overpriced and nine call the interface baffling. It is the dearest app here by five times and the lowest rated.
The facts.
Pulled from the App Store, not written by hand.
Price
$24.99 once
In-app purchases
Unknown
Ads
Unknown
Platforms
iPhone, iPad
Rating
4.0★ (2,335)
Version
25.09
Last updated
Sep 8, 2025
Released
May 27, 2010
Attributes
Native appOne-time purchaseNo subscription
Category
Education, Productivity
What reviews consistently say.
Themes grouped from 200 App Store reviews. Source feed ›
Praised for
Sync and multi-device13 reviews
Value for money10 reviews
Subscription pricing and paywalls5 reviews
Ease of use and design5 reviews
Import and export3 reviews
Battery and performance2 reviews
Complained about
Sync and multi-device16 reviews
Too expensive10 reviews
Confusing interface9 reviews
Crashes and stability5 reviews
Import and export4 reviews
Timer and session length2 reviews
Where this comes from
16 of 200 recent reviews raised: Sync and multi-device (negative)App Store reviews ›
13 of 200 recent reviews raised: Sync and multi-device (positive)App Store reviews ›
10 of 200 recent reviews raised: Value for money (positive)App Store reviews ›
10 of 200 recent reviews raised: Too expensive (negative)App Store reviews ›
9 of 200 recent reviews raised: Confusing interface (negative)App Store reviews ›
5 of 200 recent reviews raised: Crashes and stability (negative)App Store reviews ›
4 of 200 recent reviews raised: Import and export (negative)App Store reviews ›
3 of 200 recent reviews raised: Import and export (positive)App Store reviews ›
A companion to the free desktop Anki, sold to fund its developmentApp Store listing ›
Where we recommend it
Flashcard apps you buy once ›Spaced-repetition and flashcard apps that charge a single price, with the catch on each.
Alternatives with the same rule.
Every app here is a single purchase. None of them can start charging you monthly for what you already bought. Also with a catch.
$4.99 once · 4.8★ (883) · Updated Aug 27, 2025
Verdict. Flashcard Hero is a straightforward flashcard maker whose iCloud sync between iPhone and Mac is what people actually praise, though a handful describe sync breaking or failing outright. It works offline too, which matters for the syncing being a bonus rather than a requirement.
Best for. Someone who makes flashcard decks on a Mac and studies them on an iPhone, and wants that sync to just work most of the time without a subscription.
Dealbreaker. A minority of reviewers report iCloud sync failing or being unreliable, and importing from other tools like CSV files or a Windows version is described as clunky or unsupported.
$4.99 once · 4.6★ (1,101) · Updated Jan 26, 2021
Verdict. A straightforward flashcard maker praised mainly for being simple to build and study cards in, with iCloud sync as a bonus feature — though that sync isn't universally reliable.
Best for. Someone who wants to type up their own flashcard decks quickly on an iPhone or iPad without fussing over settings, and doesn't need to import from a spreadsheet or printer.
Dealbreaker. Some users report the iCloud sync between devices breaking, and at least one reviewer got no response after contacting support about it.
$4.99 once · 4.5★ (335) · Updated Sep 16, 2026
Verdict. Flashcards Deluxe leans on import/export power and cross-device sync rather than flashy design, and long-time users say it's held up for years without adding a subscription. The interface trades polish for depth, which a chunk of reviewers find confusing.
Best for. Someone building large decks from spreadsheets or existing files who wants sync across an iPhone and iPad without worrying about a monthly fee creeping in later.
Dealbreaker. Several reviewers call the interface confusing and unintuitive, and the removal of direct Quizlet importing has frustrated people who relied on it.