Anki is the better app overall, scoring 8.8 to 8.0. Anki wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Memrise on 1.
Med students, language learners and anyone memorizing lots of facts
Learners who want to understand and speak everyday language
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Anki | Memrise |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning | Learning |
| Category rank | #4 of 12 | #10 of 12 |
| Developer | Damien Elmes and AnkiHub | Memrise Limited |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
| Linux | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Anki better than Memrise?
Anki is the better app overall, scoring 8.8 to 8.0. Anki wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Memrise on 1.
Which is cheaper, Anki or Memrise?
Anki: Free on desktop, Android and web; iPhone app AnkiMobile is $24.99 one time. Memrise: Free with ads; Pro listed at $61.99 a year or $329.99 lifetime in the US App Store. On value for money, Anki scores higher.
Do Anki and Memrise work on the same devices?
Only Anki runs on Mac, Windows, Linux.
Which is more private, Anki or Memrise?
Anki scores higher on privacy (9.5/10). No ads or tracking. AnkiMobile's label links contact info and your cards (for AnkiWeb sync) to you; diagnostics are unlinked. The desktop app works fully offline without an account.
Strengths and weaknesses
Anki
- Smart scheduling means you review less and still remember
- Free and open source on desktop, Android and the web
- Fully customizable cards, decks and study settings
- Looks dated and is hard to learn
- AnkiMobile, the iPhone and iPad app, costs money
Anki is the most effective flashcard app you can use, if you're willing to put in the work. Its FSRS scheduler shows each card just before you'd forget it. It's free and open source everywhere except iPhone, where AnkiMobile is a one-time purchase. AnkiHub is now taking over from its creator. The catch: it looks dated and takes real effort to set up. Ideal for med students and serious language learners.
Full Anki review
Memrise
- Real people speaking real, everyday language
- AI chat partner for speaking practice
- An Editors' Choice app on the App Store
- The free plan is limited and shows ads
- No offline mode
- Community courses were moved out of the app
Memrise teaches the language people actually speak. Lessons are built around short videos of native speakers in everyday situations, and then you practice talking with MemBot, its AI chat partner. Official courses cover the popular languages, and newer extras add exam prep and stories. The free plan is limited and shows ads, there's no offline mode, and the old community courses no longer live in the app.
Full Memrise review
