Quick Overview

SuperMemo is the original spaced repetition software, created by Dr. Piotr Woźniak in the 1980s. It pioneered the SM algorithm family and introduced the concept of incremental reading. It's respected by a niche but devoted community of learners.

Mayinab is a modern study app that uses the SM-2 algorithm — the very algorithm Dr. Woźniak created in 1987 — wrapped in a chat-style interface with 7 note types, Markdown + LaTeX, and full offline support.

Think of it this way: SuperMemo invented the engine. Mayinab puts that engine in a modern car.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Mayinab 🍵	SuperMemo
SRS algorithm	✓ SM-2	✓ SM-18 (latest)
UI design	✓ Modern, clean	✗ Dated, complex
Setup time	✓ 0 min: open and type	✗ Hours of learning
Offline mode	✓ 100% offline	✓ Desktop is offline
Price	✓ Free forever	✗ $5.99/mo (web) / $66 desktop
Note types	✓ 7 types	~ Text + flashcards
Incremental reading	✗ Not available	✓ Built-in
Markdown + LaTeX	✓ Built-in	~ HTML-based editor
Privacy	✓ Local data, no tracking	✓ Local data (desktop)
Desktop split-view	✓ Resizable	~ Multiple windows
Drawing pad	✓ Built-in	✗ Not available
Platforms	✓ All (Win/Mac/Linux/Mobile)	✗ Windows only (desktop) / Web

The Algorithm: SM-2 vs SM-18

This is the most nuanced comparison point. Both apps are rooted in the same research by Dr. Woźniak.

Mayinab uses SM-2, the algorithm published in 1987. It remains the most widely-adopted spaced repetition algorithm in the world (Anki uses it too). SM-2 is simple, well-understood, and effective. Each card tracks an ease factor that adapts based on recall quality. It works excellently for the vast majority of learners.

SuperMemo has evolved through 18 iterations to SM-18, a significantly more complex algorithm that models memory stability, retrievability, and uses advanced statistical methods. SM-18 is theoretically more optimal than SM-2, particularly for users with very large collections (10,000+ items) or decades of learning history.

In practice, the difference is marginal for most students. SM-2 produces excellent retention rates, and its simplicity means fewer edge cases and more predictable behavior. SM-18's advantages become noticeable mainly for power users with massive long-term collections.

User Interface: Modern vs Legacy

This is where the comparison becomes most dramatic.

SuperMemo's desktop app (Windows only) has an interface from the early 2000s. It uses a complex multi-window layout with toolbars, trees, and menus that require significant time to learn. The web version (supermemo.com) is more modern but still not intuitive. Many potential users abandon SuperMemo because the learning curve is too steep.

Mayinab was designed for today's students. The chat-style timeline is as natural as texting. Creating a flashcard takes one command (/flashcard). The split-view on desktop, command palette (Ctrl+K), and sidebar navigation feel inspired by modern tools like Discord and VS Code. You can be productive within seconds of opening the app.

If you've ever tried SuperMemo and felt overwhelmed, Mayinab solves that exact problem.

Incremental Reading

SuperMemo's unique killer feature is incremental reading: a method for reading articles piece by piece, extracting important fragments, and converting them into flashcards, all scheduled by the SRS algorithm. It's a powerful study technique championed by Dr. Woźniak.

Mayinab does not have incremental reading. Instead, it focuses on a different workflow: you take notes (text, audio, images, video) in a chat timeline and create flashcards alongside them. The notes and flashcards coexist, giving you context when reviewing.

If incremental reading is essential to your workflow, SuperMemo is the only app that does it properly. For most students who take traditional notes and make flashcards, Mayinab's approach is more intuitive and equally effective.

Pricing & Platform Support

Mayinab is 100% free on all platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. All features included. The only paid option is Vault (encrypted cloud backup) starting at $1.50/month.

SuperMemo has a fragmented pricing model. The desktop app (Windows only) costs a one-time fee of approximately $66. The web version (supermemo.com) costs $5.99/month. The mobile app (Android/iOS) is free but limited and doesn't sync seamlessly with the desktop version. There's no native macOS or Linux support.

For students who use Mac, Linux, or need a consistent cross-platform experience, SuperMemo simply doesn't work. Mayinab runs natively everywhere.

Privacy

Both apps respect privacy in different ways. SuperMemo desktop stores data locally, similar to Mayinab. SuperMemo web requires an account and stores data on their servers.

Mayinab stores everything locally on all platforms. No account is ever required. Zero tracking, zero analytics. Optional encrypted backup uses AES-256.

When SuperMemo Is Better

• Incremental reading: The only app that implements this technique properly.
• SM-18 algorithm: If you have 10,000+ cards and decades of learning history, SM-18's advanced modeling may produce measurably better scheduling.
• Maximum SRS optimization: For learners who want the most algorithmically advanced scheduling available.
• Long-term Windows users: If you're already invested in SuperMemo's ecosystem and comfortable with its UI.

When Mayinab Is Better

• Modern UI: Chat-style interface vs. 2000s-era desktop, instant productivity.
• Cross-platform: Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS. SuperMemo desktop is Windows-only.
• Free forever: No $66 desktop license or $5.99/month subscription.
• Notes + flashcards: 7 note types in one timeline. SuperMemo focuses on flashcards and incremental reading.
• Zero setup time: Open, type, study. No hours-long learning curve.
• Markdown + LaTeX: Native support for formulas and formatted text.
• Media-rich studying: Audio, video, images, file attachments, drawing pad.
• Privacy on all platforms: Local data everywhere, not just on Windows desktop.