MCAT Anki alternatives: 6 options compared honestly

Anki is the default flashcard tool for MCAT prep, and for good reason. It is free on desktop, endlessly configurable, and has huge shared decks. But it also has a learning curve, and some students spend more time tweaking settings than studying. This guide covers when to stay, when to switch, and what each alternative is actually good at.

Should you leave Anki at all?

Probably not, if it is working. If you open Anki every day, clear your reviews, and your content scores are climbing, keep going. Changing tools mid-prep resets your review history and habits.

There is some evidence behind the habit, too. A study in Medical Science Educator found Anki use was associated with higher USMLE Step 1 scores (Lu et al., 2021). That study was observational and self-reported, and it was about Step 1, not the MCAT. So treat it as a hint, not proof.

Consider an alternative if one of these sounds like you:

• You skip reviews because the interface or setup feels like a chore.
• You want cards built from your own notes, PDFs, or lecture slides without typing them.
• You want multiple-choice quizzes, not only flip cards.
• You need something that keeps you motivated day to day.

What MCAT studying needs from a flashcard tool

The MCAT tests a wide range of content, from amino acids to sociology terms. A useful tool should do four things:

1. Space your reviews. Cards you know well should come back less often. Spacing beats cramming for long-term retention (Kornell, 2009).
2. Make you recall, not recognize. Seeing the answer and nodding is not the same as producing it.
3. Handle volume. Thousands of cards across biology, chemistry, physics, and psych/soc.
4. Fit your material. Premade decks cover the standard content. Your own weak spots need your own cards.

If you want the deeper version of the first two points, read active recall vs spaced repetition.

The options

Anki (with FSRS)

Anki is free on desktop and Android (AnkiDroid). The iPhone app, AnkiMobile, is a $24.99 one-time purchase. Since version 23.10, Anki includes the FSRS scheduler as an option alongside the older SM-2 algorithm (release notes).

• Good fit for: power users who want full control, add-ons, offline study, and big shared MCAT decks.
• Drawback: setup and settings take time to learn. Card creation is manual by default.

Memm

Memm is a flashcard product from MedSchoolInsiders, built around pre-med and medical content. It is paid, so check its site for current plans and what the MCAT content includes.

• Good fit for: students who want curated pre-med content and do not want to build or tune decks.
• Drawback: less control than Anki, and you pay for it.

Brainscape

Brainscape uses confidence-based repetition: you rate each card from 1 to 5. The free Basic plan includes unlimited typed cards, import, sharing, spaced repetition, and study access to 2,500 preloaded cards. It runs on web, iOS, and Android. Pro adds unlimited AI-generated cards; see the pricing page for the current price.

• Good fit for: students who like a simple rating system and expert-made decks.
• Drawback: the full premade library and unlimited AI cards sit behind Pro.

Quizlet

Quizlet has a massive library of user-made sets, including plenty of MCAT topics. The free plan limits some study modes, and paid tiers unlock more. Check Quizlet's plans for current details.

• Good fit for: quick review of existing sets and studying with classmates who already use it.
• Drawback: user-made sets vary in accuracy, so check facts against your prep books.

Knowt

Knowt has a generous free plan with unlimited file creation, a free Learn mode, practice tests, spaced repetition, and Quizlet import. The paid Ultra plan is $149.99 per year or $24.99 per month and adds AI summarizers and an ad-free experience. It runs on iOS, Android, web, and as a Chrome extension.

• Good fit for: budget-conscious students who want a free tier with lots of features.
• Drawback: the free plan shows ads, and its full prep content focuses on AP, SAT, and ACT rather than the MCAT.

BrainLift

BrainLift turns photos of notes, PDFs, typed notes, or a topic into quizzes and flashcard decks. Wrong quiz answers can become a "practice my mistakes" deck. It includes spaced repetition with self-rating, an AI tutor chat, and XP, quests, and streaks. It runs on iPhone, iPad, and the web, with no Android app yet.

• Good fit for: students who want cards and multiple-choice quizzes made from their own material, plus a loop for fixing mistakes.
• Drawback: no huge premade MCAT deck like the shared Anki decks, and no Android.

Comparison table

Prices and features checked on October 31, 2026 from public sources; check each product's site.

For a deeper side-by-side, see BrainLift vs Anki.

Flashcards aren't practice questions

Flashcards are great for discrete facts: enzyme kinetics terms, hormone sources, physics equations. They are weak for what makes up much of your score: passage reasoning.

CARS has no content to memorize. You improve it by doing timed passages and reviewing why each wrong answer was wrong. The science sections work the same way. Knowing a fact on a card does not guarantee you can apply it inside a dense experimental passage.

So budget your time on purpose:

• Use cards for content you keep forgetting.
• Use full passages and practice exams for reasoning and timing.
• Review every missed question and write down why you missed it.

A hybrid setup

You do not have to pick one tool. Many students do well with a split like this:

1. Core content: one premade deck in Anki, or Brainscape if you prefer it. Do your reviews daily.
2. Practice questions: official AAMC materials and third-party passages, done on a timer.
3. Error deck: every question you miss becomes one or two cards about the exact concept you got wrong.
4. Weekly check: look at your error deck. The topics that keep showing up are your study priorities.

Step 3 is where most students fall off, because writing cards after a long practice session is tedious. If you'd rather skip that step, BrainLift can turn your missed quiz answers into a deck for you. The method matters more than the app, and it is covered in how to learn from practice test mistakes.

If you are planning your whole MCAT study setup, the pre-med study guide has more.

Product names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used here only to identify them. BrainLift is not affiliated with them.

FAQ

Is Anki worth it for the MCAT?

For many students, yes. It is free on desktop and Android, has large shared MCAT decks, and offers strong spacing with FSRS. It is worth it if you will actually do your reviews every day.

What is the easiest Anki alternative for pre-meds?

If you want less setup, Brainscape and Memm offer simpler interfaces with premade content. If you want cards made from your own notes and PDFs, an AI tool like BrainLift or Knowt removes the typing.

Can I use Anki and another app at the same time?

Yes. A common split is a premade deck in Anki for core content and a second tool for cards and quizzes from your own material or mistakes. Just keep each card in one place so you do not review it twice.

Do flashcards help with CARS?

Not much. CARS rewards reading and reasoning skill, which you build with timed passages and careful review of wrong answers. Save flashcards for science and psych/soc content.

Does Anki have FSRS?

Yes. Anki added FSRS as an optional scheduler in version 23.10, alongside the older SM-2 algorithm. You can turn it on in the deck options.