Why Choose Mayinab Over AnkiMobile on iPhone?
AnkiMobile is the official Anki app for iOS — and it costs $24.99. It's one of the most expensive apps on the App Store, with an interface that still feels dated and confusing. Many students pay the price and still struggle with Anki's complexity.
Mayinab uses the same SM-2 algorithm as Anki, but it's completely free on iPhone with a modern, intuitive interface designed for how you actually study.
Notes + Flashcards in One App
AnkiMobile is flashcard-only. If you want to take notes, you need a separate app — Apple Notes, Notion, OneNote. Then you create flashcards separately. That's two apps, two workflows, double the friction.
In Mayinab, you take notes and create flashcards in the same timeline. Type /flashcard right where you're studying. When it's time to review, SM-2 serves your cards. No context switching, no app juggling.
7 Note Types, Not Just Cards
Mayinab gives you text notes, flashcards, checklists, images, audio, video, and file attachments. Organized by Subject → Topic with a sidebar. Your entire study life in one app, not scattered across seven different tools.
Zero Setup, Instant Start
AnkiMobile requires you to understand note types, card templates, fields, and deck structure before you can effectively create cards. With Mayinab, open it, create a subject, and start typing. That's it. Zero configuration.
Free, Unlike AnkiMobile
AnkiMobile costs $24.99 on the App Store. Mayinab is completely free with all features included. No in-app purchases for core functionality, no ads, no limits on decks or cards. Optional cloud backup starts at $1.50/month if you want cross-device sync.
Syncs with All Your Devices
Mayinab runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android. Study on your iPhone at the café and continue on your Mac at home. Free encrypted cloud backup keeps everything in sync across the Apple ecosystem and beyond.
Who Should Stay with AnkiMobile?
- Power users who rely on complex note types, cloze deletions, and custom card templates
- People who already have massive Anki libraries synced via AnkiWeb
- Users who need community shared decks from AnkiWeb
For everyone else — especially students who want a simple, modern, all-in-one study app on iPhone without paying $25 — Mayinab is the better choice.
Mayinab vs AnkiMobile (iPhone)
| Feature | Mayinab | AnkiMobile |
|---|---|---|
| Spaced Repetition | SM-2 built-in | SM-2 built-in |
| Notes | 7 types (text, flashcard, etc.) | Flashcards only |
| UI Design | Modern, clean | Dated, complex |
| Setup Required | None (instant start) | Note types, fields, templates |
| Markdown + LaTeX | Full support | LaTeX only (image-based) |
| Organization | Subject → Topic tree | Decks only |
| Cross-Platform | iOS/Mac/Win/Linux/Android | Via separate Anki apps |
| Offline | 100% | 100% |
| Account Required | No | For sync (AnkiWeb) |
| Price | Free | $24.99 |
🍵 Mayinab at a Glance
- ✓ Spaced repetition with SM-2 algorithm
- ✓ Modern, beautiful UI: designed for iPhone & iPad
- ✓ Notes + flashcards in the same app
- ✓ 7 note types in a chat interface
- ✓ Markdown + LaTeX rendering
- ✓ 100% offline, no account, no ads
- ✓ Free on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Linux & Android
- ✓ Anki CSV import: bring your decks