The Problem with Anki on Desktop
Anki has been the gold standard for spaced repetition for over 15 years. It's powerful, customizable, and has a loyal community. But let's be honest: using Anki on Windows feels like stepping into a time machine.
The interface hasn't fundamentally changed since the late 2000s. Card creation requires understanding note types, card types, and templates. For a student who just wants to make flashcards and study, the learning curve is unnecessarily steep.
That's where Mayinab enters the picture. It's a modern study app that combines flashcards with spaced repetition, chat-style notes, and a beautiful UI designed for today's students.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Mayinab | Anki |
|---|---|---|
| UI Design | Modern, clean UI | Dated (2000s era) |
| Setup Time | 0 min: open and type | ~30 min learning curve |
| SRS Algorithm | SM-2 (configurable) | SM-2 / FSRS |
| Note Types | 7 types (text, flashcard, checklist, image, audio, video, file) | Flashcards only |
| Markdown + LaTeX | Full support | LaTeX (complex setup) |
| Offline | 100% offline | 100% offline |
| Price (all platforms) | Free everywhere | $24.99 on iOS |
| Drawing Pad | Built-in | Not available |
| File Upload | Drag & drop | Not native |
| Split View (Desktop) | Resizable panels | Single window |
| Keyboard Shortcuts | Ctrl+K, Ctrl+F, 10+ | Basic shortcuts |
| Themes | Light, Dark, custom colors | Add-on required |
| Anki Import | CSV import supported | — |
| Ad-free | Forever, no ads | No ads |
UI & UX: Night and Day
This is where Mayinab truly shines. While Anki uses a traditional form-based interface with menus, dialogs, and separate windows, Mayinab presents everything in a chat-style interface that feels as natural as texting a friend.
On Windows, Mayinab takes advantage of desktop real estate with a resizable split-view, a Discord-style sidebar for navigating topics, and a command palette (Ctrl+K) for instant navigation. It feels like a modern app, not a legacy tool.
Creating a flashcard in Anki requires choosing deck, note type, filling front/back fields, and clicking "Add." In Mayinab, you type /flashcard in the chat bar. That's it. The card appears inline with your other notes.
Spaced Repetition: Same Power, Better Experience
Both apps use the SM-2 algorithm, the proven spaced repetition system. Your learning outcomes will be equally effective. The difference is in the experience surrounding it.
Mayinab makes SRS feel integrated rather than separate. Your flashcards live alongside your notes, checklists, and media. When it's time to review, you get a clean review interface with flip and typing modes, streak tracking, and daily reminders. No need to juggle between a "note-taking app" and a "flashcard app."
Beyond Flashcards: The Full Picture
Anki is laser-focused on flashcards, and it's great at that. But most students need more than just flashcards. They need:
- General notes with Markdown formatting and LaTeX for math
- Checklists for tracking study goals
- Image notes with annotations via the built-in scribble pad
- Audio and video notes for recorded lectures
- File attachments with drag & drop
- Organization with subjects → topics and unlimited nesting
Mayinab bundles all of this in one app, offline and ad-free. No need for five different tools.
Desktop Power Features
On Windows, Mayinab really comes alive with features designed for large screens:
- Resizable split-view with draggable dividers: read notes on one side, review flashcards on the other
- Sidebar topic tree inspired by Discord's channel list and VS Code's explorer
- Command palette (Ctrl+K) for instant search across all subjects and topics
- Full keyboard navigation: Ctrl+F (search), Ctrl+Shift+E (sidebar), and more
- Custom themes: light, dark, or fully custom colors and wallpapers
What About Anki Add-ons?
One of Anki's strengths is its add-on ecosystem. You can extend Anki with community-created plugins for custom scheduling, UI tweaks, media handling, and more.
Mayinab takes a different approach: everything is built-in. Instead of hunting for add-ons to get basic features (dark mode, better UI, image occlusion), Mayinab ships with all of this out of the box. No compatibility issues, no broken add-ons after updates.
Switching from Anki
Already have Anki decks? Mayinab supports Anki CSV import, so you can bring your existing cards over. Export your Anki decks as CSV, import into Mayinab, and your cards will be organized in the chat timeline with full SRS scheduling preserved.
🍵 The Verdict
Anki is still an excellent choice for power users who love customization and don't mind the dated interface. Its add-on ecosystem is unmatched.
Mayinab is the better choice for students who want a modern, beautiful, all-in-one study app that just works. If you've ever opened Anki and felt overwhelmed, or wished it looked as good as the other apps you use daily, give Mayinab a try.
- Want maximum customization and don't mind complexity → Anki
- Want a modern UX, fast setup, all-in-one solution → Mayinab