# Anki vs StepGenie: Flashcards for USMLE (2026)

_Last reviewed 2026-10-07._

## Is there a good alternative to Anki for medical school?

Yes, if what you want is spaced repetition without building and maintaining a deck. StepGenie ships 40,575 pre-made cards scheduled with FSRS, the algorithm Anki offers as an option since version 23.10, alongside its question bank. Anki remains free on desktop and Android and suits students who want to write and tune their own cards.

> StepGenie ships 40,575 pre-made flashcards scheduled with FSRS and filterable by system and discipline, in the same web app as its 15,371-question bank.

## Anki and StepGenie flashcards compared

| Dimension | StepGenie | Anki |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Setup | None: the pre-made decks are there when you sign in | Install Anki, then download or subscribe to a deck and choose add-ons |
| Scheduling algorithm | FSRS, targeting 90% retention | SM-2 by default; FSRS can be switched on in deck options from Anki 23.10, with 90% desired retention as its default |
| Where the cards come from | 40,575 pre-made cards from StepGenie, tagged by system and discipline | Community decks such as the AnKing Step Deck, or cards you write yourself |
| Keeping a deck current | Updated by StepGenie | AnKing deck updates now come through AnkiHub, a $5-a-month subscription with scholarships available |
| Customisation | Filter a deck by system or discipline | Note types, card templates, scheduling options and a large add-on ecosystem |
| Platforms | Web app in any browser, including phones and tablets | Desktop for Windows, macOS and Linux, AnkiWeb, AnkiMobile for iOS and AnkiDroid for Android |
| Cost | The free plan includes a couple of decks; Pro is $49 a month or $249 a year | Free on desktop, AnkiWeb and Android; AnkiMobile is a paid iOS app |
| Link to your questions | Same app as the question bank and AI tutor; cards are organised by deck and tag, not generated from the questions you miss | None built in; add-ons such as AMBOSS's link cards to its Qbank |

_Anki and AnkiHub details from apps.ankiweb.net, the Anki manual and the AnkiHub FAQ, checked October 7, 2026. StepGenie prices are list prices from its plan configuration._

## Anki's real cost is setup and upkeep, not the software

Anki itself is free on desktop and Android, so the real cost of an Anki workflow is the time spent setting it up and keeping a deck current.

A typical medical setup involves a large community deck, a few add-ons, scheduling choices and a tagging convention, all before the first review. The AnKing deck's updates now arrive through AnkiHub, which adds a subscription to the picture.

Any spaced-repetition queue builds a backlog after time off, StepGenie's included; what differs is how much configuration sits between you and your first review.

StepGenie removes the setup layer: the cards exist when you arrive, the scheduler runs on its own, and decks filter by system and discipline.

## Both can schedule with FSRS

StepGenie schedules every card with FSRS, and Anki has offered FSRS as an option since version 23.10, so the scheduler need not be the difference.

Anki's manual describes FSRS as an alternative to its legacy SM-2 algorithm that estimates more accurately how much you are likely to forget, so it can help you remember more in the same time. In Anki it is switched on in deck options and defaults to 90% desired retention; StepGenie's scheduler targets the same 90%.

Because the algorithm can be the same, a claimed retention advantage on scheduling alone deserves scepticism from either direction.

What actually differs is who writes the cards, how much setup comes first, and whether the cards live in the same place as your questions.

## Pre-made decks versus writing your own

Pre-made decks save the hours of writing cards, while writing your own forces you to process the material, and both approaches have real advantages.

StepGenie's 40,575 cards are written for the USMLE and tagged by system and discipline, and a card can carry an image and an explanation as well as the answer.

Anki users mostly start from a community deck -- AnkiHub describes the AnKing Step Deck as the largest and most up-to-date deck for Steps 1 to 3 -- and many add their own cards on top.

Neither choice is wrong. The useful question is whether you will still be maintaining the deck in your busiest month.

## Choosing between them

Deciding between Anki and StepGenie comes down to whether you want to build a study system or work inside one.

Anki suits students who enjoy tuning their own deck, want to write cards themselves and have the discipline to keep the queue clear through clinical years.

StepGenie suits students who want the questions, the explanations, the AI tutor and the spaced repetition in one web app, with the scheduling handled and the cards already written.

Running two full review queues at once is the option to avoid, because they compete for the same limited daily attention and the neglected one turns into a backlog.

## How StepGenie compares to each

### Anki with the AnKing deck

- **Best for:** Students who want to write and tune their own cards and will keep a deck current for months.
- **Known for:** Free, open-source spaced repetition on every major platform, with deep customisation, a large add-on ecosystem and community decks such as the AnKing Step Deck.
- **Where StepGenie wins:** StepGenie gives you FSRS scheduling with no setup: the cards already exist, tagged by system and discipline, in the same web app as your question bank and AI tutor.

### UWorld flashcards

- **Best for:** UWorld subscribers who want premade cards in the same app as their QBank.
- **Known for:** ReadyDecks premade flashcards and SmartCards you build from UWorld content and images, both with spaced repetition, included with UWorld QBank subscriptions.
- **Where StepGenie wins:** StepGenie's cards come on a plan that starts free and runs month to month, so the flashcards do not depend on buying a fixed-term QBank subscription first.

### AMBOSS Anki add-on

- **Best for:** Students who already run Anki and want library definitions and Qbank links inside their cards.
- **Known for:** An add-on that shows AMBOSS definitions and images when you hover over a term in an Anki card, and links cards and Qbank sessions in both directions.
- **Where StepGenie wins:** StepGenie removes the need for two apps and an add-on: flashcards, questions and Ask AI sit in one web app that runs in any browser.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I use Anki and StepGenie together?

You can, but two spaced-repetition queues compete for the same daily review time and one usually gets neglected. If you already keep a deck current, keep it and use StepGenie for questions, visual explanations and Ask AI. If your deck has a large backlog, moving to a single scheduled queue is generally the cleaner fix.

### What is FSRS and does it matter?

FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler) predicts when you are about to forget a card more accurately than the older SM-2 method, which Anki's manual says can help you remember more in the same amount of time. StepGenie uses it for every card; Anki offers it as an option from version 23.10. With the algorithm shared, curation and setup are the real differences.

### Is Anki free for medical students?

Anki is free on Windows, macOS and Linux, on AnkiWeb and on Android through AnkiDroid; AnkiMobile, the official iOS app, is paid. The AnKing Step Deck's updates are now published through AnkiHub, which charges $5 a month and offers scholarships, as its FAQ stated on October 7, 2026. StepGenie's free plan includes a couple of flashcard decks.

### How many cards a day is realistic during medical school?

Sustainable daily review load matters more than new-card volume, because every new card adds reviews for months. Students who add aggressively during a light week often abandon the deck during a heavy one. Set new cards to a number you could still clear in your busiest week, whichever app you use.

### Do I still need flashcards if I am doing questions?

Usually, because questions train reasoning and cards protect recall, and the exam needs both. The useful arrangement is to point your card review at the systems your question blocks flag: StepGenie's 40,575 FSRS cards filter by system and discipline, so a weak system from this week's blocks can become this week's review.

## Related

- [best-qbank-visual-learners](https://www.stepgenie.app/compare/best-qbank-visual-learners)
- [best-step-1-qbanks](https://www.stepgenie.app/compare/best-step-1-qbanks)
- [best-uworld-alternatives](https://www.stepgenie.app/compare/best-uworld-alternatives)

## Sources

- Anki -- official site (desktop, AnkiWeb, AnkiMobile, AnkiDroid) -- https://apps.ankiweb.net/ (checked 2026-10-07)
- Anki manual -- deck options, FSRS section -- https://docs.ankiweb.net/deck-options.html (checked 2026-10-07)
- AnkiHub FAQ -- AnKing deck updates and subscription -- https://www.ankihub.net/faq (checked 2026-10-07)
- UWorld -- USMLE Step 1 product and pricing page -- https://medical.uworld.com/usmle/usmle-step-1/ (checked 2026-10-07)
- AMBOSS -- USMLE prep page (Qbank, AI Mode, memberships, free trial) -- https://www.amboss.com/us/usmle (checked 2026-10-07)
- StepGenie plan configuration (list prices and free-plan limits; the same configuration drives the pricing page) -- https://www.stepgenie.app/#pricing (checked 2026-10-07)