Is Anki Free in 2026? The Full Pricing Breakdown
Free on most platforms, $24.99 on one, here is exactly what costs what
TL;DR
Quick answer: Anki is <strong>free on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android (AnkiDroid), and AnkiWeb</strong>. The only paid part is <strong>AnkiMobile on iOS, a one-time $24.99</strong>, not a subscription. There are no ads and no feature paywalls. If the iOS price is the issue, free alternatives like Flica cover it.
"Is Anki completely free?" is one of the most common questions new learners ask in 2026, partly because most apps in this category run subscriptions. Anki is unusual: it is genuinely free on almost every platform, with one well-known exception.
Below is the exact 2026 pricing for every platform, why the iOS app costs money, what you do not pay for, and the best free options if $24.99 on iPhone is a dealbreaker.
Anki Pricing by Platform (2026)
Here is the complete picture. Prices are current as of May 2026.
| Platform | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows / Mac / Linux | Free | Full-featured desktop Anki |
| Android (AnkiDroid) | Free | Community app, full-featured |
| iOS (AnkiMobile) | $24.99 one-time | Funds the whole project |
| AnkiWeb (sync + web review) | Free | Account required for sync |
| Shared decks (AnkiWeb) | Free | Thousands of community decks |
| Add-ons | Free | Community-built, optional |
Why iOS Costs $24.99
AnkiMobile's one-time $24.99 is the funding model for the entire Anki ecosystem. The developer keeps desktop, AnkiDroid, AnkiWeb, and sync free and open-source; the iOS app is what sustains development. It is a single purchase, not a recurring subscription, and it includes future updates.
- One-time purchase, not a monthly or yearly subscription
- Funds everything else, keeps the rest of Anki free
- No upsells inside, buying it unlocks the full app
- Updates included, no separate version charges
Compared to subscription flashcard apps at $7.99/month, a one-time $24.99 pays for itself in about three months of equivalent use.
What You Do NOT Pay For
A lot of the confusion comes from assuming Anki monetizes like everything else. It does not. There is no ad tier, no premium features, and no locked algorithm.
- No ads, anywhere, on any platform
- No feature paywall, FSRS, add-ons, and sync are all free
- No account fee, AnkiWeb sync is free with a free account
- No per-deck charges, shared decks are free to download
FSRS, the modern scheduling algorithm, is free in Anki on every platform, including the free desktop and Android versions.
How to Use Anki Entirely for Free
If you never want to pay anything, you can run a complete, synced Anki setup at zero cost by avoiding the iOS app.
- Desktop (free), primary card creation and review
- AnkiDroid on Android (free), mobile review on the go
- AnkiWeb (free), sync across devices and review in a browser
- iPhone users, review via AnkiWeb in Safari instead of buying AnkiMobile
AnkiWeb's browser review on iPhone is clunky compared to a native app, it works, but it is the main reason iOS users look for alternatives.
Free if You're on iOS: Alternatives
If you are on iPhone and don't want to pay $24.99, and don't want a degraded browser experience, modern free apps fill that gap. Anki alternatives like Flica are free on iOS and ship the same FSRS algorithm Anki uses.
- Flica, free on iOS and Android, FSRS built-in, AI card generation
- Quizlet, free with ads (no true spaced repetition)
- AnkiDroid, free, but Android-only
Flica is on the App Store (https://apps.apple.com/app/flica) and Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.flica), the FSRS scheduling and AI generation are free.
FAQ
Is Anki completely free in 2026?
Anki is free on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android (AnkiDroid), and AnkiWeb. The only paid component is AnkiMobile on iOS, a one-time $24.99 purchase. There are no ads, subscriptions, or feature paywalls on the free platforms.
Why does Anki cost money on iPhone but not Android?
AnkiMobile (iOS) is the official app built by Anki's developer and funds the entire open-source project. AnkiDroid (Android) is a separate community-built app released for free. Both are full-featured; only the iOS app costs $24.99, as a one-time purchase.
Is the $24.99 a subscription?
No. AnkiMobile is a single one-time purchase that includes future updates. There is no recurring monthly or yearly fee, and no in-app upsells after buying.
Can I use Anki on iPhone without paying?
Yes, you can review your synced decks for free through AnkiWeb in the iPhone's browser. It works but is less smooth than a native app, which is why many iOS users choose a free native alternative like Flica instead.
Is FSRS free in Anki?
Yes. FSRS, the modern spaced-repetition algorithm, is built into Anki and free on every platform, including the free desktop and Android versions. You do not pay extra for it.
The Bottom Line: Effectively Free, With One Exception
Anki is one of the few genuinely free tools in its category, no ads, no subscription, no locked features, on desktop, Android, and the web. The single exception is the one-time $24.99 iOS app, which funds everything else.
If you are on iPhone and want a native experience without the $24.99, Flica is free on iOS and Android and ships with the same FSRS algorithm, plus AI card generation. It's the simplest way to get Anki-grade scheduling at no cost on any device.
Free FSRS on Every Device
Flica is free on iOS and Android with FSRS built-in and AI card generation from YouTube, PDFs, and text. No one-time fee, no subscription.
References
- AnkiMobile pricing, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ankimobile-flashcards/id373493387 (accessed May 2026)
- AnkiDroid, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ichi2.anki (accessed May 2026)
- Anki Manual, pricing and platforms (accessed May 2026)
- Ye, J. (2023). Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler (FSRS), open-source repository