An Anki Alternative With a Pomodoro Timer Built In
Last updated: 23 Oct 2026 · Author: Abdalla Idris, maker of Focus Flow
Disclosure: I build Focus Flow. This page compares it with Anki as fairly as I can. Anki details are from its own site and manual as of October 2026.
The Short Answer
If you want spaced-repetition flashcards and a Pomodoro timer in the same free app, Focus Flow (focusflowstudy.com) does both in the browser, with no ads. Anki is still the stronger pure flashcard tool, with a huge shared-deck library and add-ons, but it has no timer of its own. Most students who ask for "Anki with a Pomodoro timer" are really asking for one place to time a review block and see it count towards the day.
Key Facts
- Focus Flow flashcards use the classic SM-2 algorithm, the one Anki's scheduler grew out of. You rate each card Forgot, Hard, Good or Easy.
- Focus Flow has a Pomodoro timer with four modes (Classic 25/5, Deep Work 50/10, Quick Sprint 15/3 and Custom) and a count-up Flowmodoro timer, in the same app as the flashcards.
- Anki is free on desktop and Android. Its official iPhone app, AnkiMobile, is a one-time purchase.
- Anki itself has no Pomodoro timer. Desktop users can add one through community add-ons.
- Focus Flow is a web app: it runs in any modern browser and installs as a PWA. There is no Anki deck import, so you build your cards inside the app.
Side by Side
| Focus Flow | Anki | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to use, no ads | Free on desktop, web and Android; paid iPhone app |
| Scheduling | SM-2 with 4 ratings | SM-2-based scheduler, with FSRS as an option |
| Built-in study timer | Pomodoro (4 modes) and Flowmodoro | None (add-ons on desktop) |
| Shared decks | No public deck library | Large shared-deck library on AnkiWeb |
| Add-ons | None | Hundreds of desktop add-ons |
| Exams and deadlines | Exam countdowns, assignment tracker, tasks | Not included |
| Platforms | Any browser, installable PWA | Desktop apps, AnkiWeb, AnkiDroid, AnkiMobile |
| Account | Free account with a verified email for flashcards | Optional AnkiWeb account for sync |
Why a Timer Belongs Next to Your Flashcards
Flashcard reviews are easy to put off because they have no natural end. A timed block fixes that. Start a 15-minute Quick Sprint, clear the cards that are due, and stop when the timer rings. If a review set is going well, a count-up timer lets you finish it instead of being cut off at minute 25.
In Focus Flow the two sit in the same app and the same account. Your focus minutes feed the daily goal, streak and XP, and the Exams page counts down to each paper so you can see how many review days are left. You do not need to switch between a flashcard app and a timer tab.
Where Focus Flow Is the Better Fit
- You want one free app, not three. Timer, flashcards, assignments and exam dates live together.
- You use an iPhone and do not want to pay. Focus Flow runs in Safari and installs to the home screen at no cost.
- You make your own cards. Most university decks are personal anyway: your lecturer's slides, your notes.
- You revise with friends. Focus Rooms put a group on one shared Pomodoro timer, with chat locked until the break.
Where Anki Is Still the Better Choice
Be honest with yourself here. Pick Anki if:
- you rely on shared decks, such as large medical or language decks;
- you want FSRS or fine control over scheduling settings;
- you use add-ons, image occlusion workflows or heavy formatting;
- you already have thousands of cards in Anki. There is no import, so moving would mean rebuilding them.
Plenty of students use both: Anki for a big shared deck, and Focus Flow for timed study blocks, deadlines and their own course cards.
How to Run a Flashcard Block in Focus Flow
- Create a free account and verify your email.
- Make a deck for one course and add 10 to 20 cards from this week's lecture.
- Start a Pomodoro block and review only the cards due today.
- Rate honestly. Cards you mark Forgot or Hard come back the next day.
- Use the 7-day forecast to see how many reviews are coming before your exam.
Want to try the timer before signing up? The home page runs a 10-minute quick session with no account. For a wider look at flashcard apps, read the best free alternatives to Anki, and for the schedule itself, the spaced repetition schedule guide.
Comparing more flashcard apps? Read the best free alternatives to Anki