WeaveWords vs Anki: Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated October 12, 2026 · 6 min read

Short answer: WeaveWords and Anki schedule reviews with the same SM-2 algorithm, so the memory science is the same. The difference is everything around it. In WeaveWords you type a word and AI fills in the translation, an example sentence and pronunciation; web and Android sync for free. Anki makes you build each card yourself (or set up add-ons to help), and its official iOS app is paid. Anki wins on customization, add-ons and shared decks for any subject. WeaveWords wins on how quickly a new word becomes a ready-to-review card.

Where they're the same: SM-2 scheduling

Both apps decide when you see a card again from how well you remembered it. Rate a card as hard and it comes back soon; rate it as easy and the gap grows, roughly 1 day, then 6, then about two weeks, then over a month. That is the SM-2 algorithm, and it's what Anki was built on. If SM-2 has worked for you in Anki, reviews in WeaveWords will feel familiar. You can try the numbers yourself in the SM-2 calculator.

One difference: newer Anki versions also offer FSRS, an optional scheduler that fits intervals to your own review history. WeaveWords uses SM-2 only, which keeps the schedule predictable and easy to reason about.

Card creation: typing vs one word

This is where most Anki users feel the gap. A good vocabulary card in Anki needs the word, a translation, an example sentence and ideally audio. You either type all of that or set up add-ons and note templates to fetch it. Many people stop adding words because each one takes a minute.

In WeaveWords you type the word. AI adds the translation and an example sentence in context, and text-to-speech adds pronunciation. You can edit anything it got wrong, add your own notes, or attach an image. The card is ready to review straight away.

Platforms, sync and price

Anki on desktop, AnkiWeb and AnkiDroid is free, and sync between them is free. The official iPhone app, AnkiMobile, is a paid one-time purchase. WeaveWords runs in the browser and on Android with one account and automatic sync; an iOS app is coming. The core app is free for unlimited collections and reviews. Pro is a monthly subscription that adds AI images, two extra practice modes, advanced statistics and hands-free Audio Learning on mobile.

Customization and add-ons

Anki is closer to a toolkit than an app. Custom note types, card templates with HTML and CSS, cloze deletions, image occlusion and hundreds of community add-ons let you shape it around any workflow. Its shared deck library covers subjects far beyond languages.

WeaveWords is narrower on purpose. It's built for vocabulary: collections, six practice modes, filters such as "hardest first", push reminders, and public share links for words and collections. There are no add-ons or custom templates.

Which should you choose?

Choose Anki if

• you rely on add-ons, custom note types or cloze-heavy decks;
• you study subjects other than languages, such as medicine or law, with shared decks;
• you want fully offline, file-based decks that you control completely.

Choose WeaveWords if

• you like how SM-2 works but stopped adding words because building cards takes too long;
• you want audio and example sentences on every card without any setup;
• you learn on the web and an Android phone and want both in sync for free.

How to move your Anki deck to WeaveWords

1. In Anki, go to File → Export and choose Anki Deck Package (.apkg).
2. In WeaveWords, open Collections → Import, pick Anki and upload the file (up to 100 MB).
3. Check the field mapping it detects (word, translation, examples, notes) and choose a collection.
4. Start reviewing. Your words and fields come over, but Anki's review history does not, so cards start fresh on the WeaveWords schedule. See the import guide.

Free accounts can run 5 imports; Pro removes the limit. For a wider look at the options, see Best Anki Alternatives in 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Do WeaveWords and Anki use the same algorithm?

Yes. Both use SM-2 to schedule reviews from how well you recall each card. Anki also offers FSRS as an optional scheduler; WeaveWords uses SM-2 only.

Can I import my Anki deck into WeaveWords?

Yes. WeaveWords imports Anki .apkg files. Your words and fields come over, but review history doesn't, so cards start fresh on the WeaveWords SM-2 schedule.

Is WeaveWords free like Anki?

The core app is free, including unlimited collections and reviews on web and Android. Pro is an optional monthly subscription for AI images, two extra practice modes, advanced statistics and Audio Learning.

Does WeaveWords work offline?

On Android, due words are cached so reviews work without a connection and sync when you're back online. Free accounts have a capped number of offline reviews per session. Anki works fully offline on every platform.

Is Anki better than WeaveWords?

For deep customization, add-ons and non-language subjects, Anki is the stronger tool. For learning vocabulary without building cards by hand, WeaveWords gets you to a review-ready card faster with the same SM-2 scheduling.