4 alternativesAnki: Free, open source
The best Anki alternatives
For most people the best alternative to Anki is Merlin Bird ID, and the best free one is Sky Guide.
Merlin Bird IDPick it if you hear birds every morning and want their names with zero birding experience.FreeCompare at a glance
Anki is highlighted, so you can see what you give up and what you gain.
| App | Price | How you pay | Mac | iPhone | iPad | Watch | App Store | Developer | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Anki | Free, open source | Free | 4 | ||||||
| Merlin Bird ID | Free | Free | 4.9 | ||||||
 Sky Guide | Free to start | Free, with paid upgrades | 4.8 | ||||||
 Duolingo | Free to start | Free, with paid upgrades | 4.7 | ||||||
 LookUp | Free to start | Free, with paid upgrades | 4.7 |
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The alternatives, in order
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Pick it if you hear birds every morning and want their names with zero birding experience.
Free bird ID by song, photo or 3 quick questions, from the Cornell Lab, and it works offline.
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Pick this if you get clear night skies and want every star, planet and satellite named.
Point your iPhone at the night sky and it names every star, planet and satellite, free and offline.
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Pick this if you're starting a new language and need a daily streak to keep you practicing.
Free, bite-size lessons in 40+ languages, plus math and chess, with a streak that keeps beginners coming back.
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Pick it if you are building your English vocabulary for an exam or for work and want new words to stick.
Oxford definitions plus an illustrated word a day and spaced repetition quizzes that make new words stick.
When Anki is still the right pick
You're studying for an exam or a language and need thousands of facts to stick for months.
Anki prices and verdictFree, open source