Free Anki & Quizlet alternative
Why Synapse
Synapse is a free flashcard app built around ease of use: a clean, modern interface with light/dark mode and color themes, no required configuration, and a dashboard you customize yourself — drag-and-drop widgets for a focus timer, study streak, daily goal ring, and more. It replaces Anki's dense preference dialogs and Quizlet's ad-cluttered pages with something you can pick up in minutes. Under the hood, Synapse schedules reviews with FSRS-5 by default (Anki defaults to the older SM-2 and requires manually enabling FSRS), includes a built-in optimizer that fits scheduling to your own review history, and imports existing Anki .apkg decks directly — so switching does not mean starting from zero.
Synapse vs. Anki vs. Quizlet
| Feature | Synapse | Anki | Quizlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (public beta) | Free desktop + AnkiDroid; AnkiMobile (iOS) is a $24.99 one-time purchase | Free with ads; Quizlet Plus ~$7.99/mo removes ads and unlocks offline access |
| Platforms | Web (desktop and mobile browser) | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, plus a limited AnkiWeb sync client | Web, iOS, Android |
| Dashboard customization | Drag-and-drop widget board — focus timer, study streak, daily goal ring, leaderboard, notes, and more | None built in — a fixed deck list; some customization via third-party add-ons | None — fixed layout |
| Scheduling algorithm | FSRS-5 by default, with a built-in optimizer that fits weights to your review history | SM-2 by default; FSRS is available but must be turned on manually in deck options | Proprietary "Learn" algorithm — not a published spaced-repetition model |
| Anki (.apkg) import | Yes — legacy and modern zstd-compressed exports, including cloze and image occlusion | Native (it's Anki's own format) | No |
| Mobile experience | Responsive web app; no dedicated iOS/Android app yet | Native apps — free on Android, paid on iOS | Native apps, free with ads |
Why switch from Anki or Quizlet
Anki's desktop interface is dense with preference dialogs, and Quizlet's free experience is cluttered with ads — both take real effort to learn.
Synapse is a minimalist interface with light/dark mode and several color themes, with zero configuration required to start reviewing.
Neither Anki nor Quizlet let you shape your home screen around how you actually study.
Synapse's dashboard is a drag-and-drop widget board — focus timer, study streak, daily goal ring, leaderboard, notes, and more — arranged however you like and synced across your devices.
Anki's FSRS scheduler is opt-in and buried in deck options; Quizlet relies on a proprietary algorithm and paywalls its Plus features.
Synapse runs FSRS-5 by default for every deck, with a one-click weight optimizer, and is free during the public beta with no ads.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Synapse free?
- Yes. Synapse is free during its public beta, with no ads and no card limits. A cosmetic-only Pro tier (extra themes, deck cover art) is planned for later, but it won't gate scheduling or study features.
- Can I customize the Synapse dashboard?
- Yes. The dashboard is a drag-and-drop widget board — add, remove, and rearrange widgets like a focus timer, study streak, daily goal ring, leaderboard, and notes. Your layout is saved to your account and synced across devices.
- Can I import my Anki decks into Synapse?
- Yes. Synapse imports .apkg files exported from Anki directly in your browser, including modern zstd-compressed exports, cloze cards, and image-occlusion cards.
- What spaced-repetition algorithm does Synapse use?
- FSRS-5. Synapse also includes a built-in optimizer, on the Stats page, that refits the FSRS weights to your own review history for more accurate scheduling.
- Is Synapse available on mobile?
- Synapse is a responsive web app that works in any mobile browser. There is no dedicated iOS or Android app yet.
- How is Synapse different from Quizlet?
- Synapse schedules reviews with FSRS, a published spaced-repetition algorithm, instead of Quizlet's proprietary study modes. It has no ads, has a customizable widget dashboard, and imports Anki decks directly, which Quizlet does not support.
Bring your decks over
Import your existing Anki deck or start fresh — free, during the public beta.