Merlin Bird ID vs Anki
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Merlin Bird ID is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 8.8. Merlin Bird ID wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Anki on 3.
Beginner and backyard birders, hikers and curious kids
Med students, language learners and anyone memorizing large volumes of facts
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Merlin Bird ID | Anki |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning | Learning |
| Category rank | #2 of 10 | #4 of 10 |
| Developer | Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Damien Elmes and AnkiHub |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | — | ✓ |
| Windows | — | ✓ |
| Linux | — | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Merlin Bird ID better than Anki?
Merlin Bird ID is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 8.8. Merlin Bird ID wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Anki on 3.
Which is cheaper, Merlin Bird ID or Anki?
Merlin Bird ID: Completely free, funded by Cornell Lab members and supporters. Anki: Free on desktop, Android and web; iPhone app AnkiMobile is $24.99 one time. On value for money, Merlin Bird ID scores higher.
Do Merlin Bird ID and Anki work on the same devices?
Only Anki runs on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web.
Which is more private, Merlin Bird ID or Anki?
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
Merlin Bird ID
- Free, with no ads or in-app purchases
- Identifies birds by sound in real time
- Works offline once you download a region
- Only covers birds
- No Mac, Windows or web version
- Some users report glitches saving sightings
Merlin answers the question every backyard birder asks. Hold up your phone and Sound ID names the birds singing around you as they sing, snap a picture for Photo ID, or answer five quick questions about what you saw. Download a Bird Pack and it works with no signal. It's free with no ads, built by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It only does birds, but it does them brilliantly.
Full Merlin Bird ID review
Anki
- Smart scheduling means less review time for the same recall
- Free and open source on desktop, Android and the web
- Fully customizable cards, decks and study settings
- Dated interface with a steep learning curve
- The iPhone and iPad app, AnkiMobile, is a paid download
Anki is the most effective flashcard tool you can use, if you are willing to put in the work. Its FSRS scheduler shows each card just before you would forget it. It is free and open source everywhere except iPhone, where AnkiMobile is a one-time purchase, and AnkiHub is now taking over stewardship from its creator. The catch: a dated interface and real setup effort. Ideal for med students and serious language learners.
Full Anki review
