Is Tomaru better than Anki for learning vocabulary?
For language vocabulary, Tomaru is the better choice: it uses the same FSRS algorithm but comes with curated exam decks, has FSRS on from the start, works out your daily load from your exam date, and is free on iPhone. Choose Anki if you're studying non-language subjects, want custom card templates or add-ons, or need to work fully offline.
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Key points
- Tomaru and Anki both use the open-source FSRS algorithm to schedule reviews.
- Tomaru uses FSRS from the start, while Anki still defaults to SM-2 and you have to turn on FSRS yourself at the bottom of the deck options.
- Tomaru includes 243 public decks where every card has an example sentence and its translation, while Anki has no official decks and its shared decks aren't reviewed.
- Tomaru is free on both iPhone and Android, while Anki's iPhone app, AnkiMobile, is a US$24.99 one-time purchase.
- Tomaru can import your Anki decks and review history from Settings on tomaruai.app in a desktop browser.
Side-by-side
| Tomaru | Anki | |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling algorithm | FSRS, on by default | SM-2 by default; FSRS must be turned on manually |
| Tuning to your memory | Once you have enough reviews, one tap in the app recalculates it and applies it to all your devices | Optimize parameters in the deck options |
| Ready-made decks | 243 official public decks, all free | User-shared decks only |
| What's on each card | Example sentence, translation, part of speech, usage note in your language, audio, and images on most cards; word breakdowns, sentence breakdowns, and readings | Depends on the deck author |
| Exam-date planning | Enter your exam date to get your daily new words | No |
| When you're short on time | Smart Study: even with 5, 10, or 15 minutes, the most valuable reviews come first | Cards in due order |
| How the front tests you | Word, Meaning, Listen, Sentence, or Spell, switched directly in settings | Edit card templates yourself |
| Custom templates and add-ons | No custom HTML/CSS or add-ons | Supported, with maximum flexibility |
| Offline | Requires an internet connection | Works fully offline |
| iPhone price | Free | US$24.99 one-time |
| Ads | None in the study flow | None |
Why choose Tomaru for language vocabulary?
Anki solves the question of when to review. Learning language vocabulary raises three more problems, and Tomaru handles all of them for you:
- Where the cards come from: Tomaru's decks are already built, so you don't spend hours hunting for decks and checking for typos.
- How much to learn each day: Tomaru uses your exam date and your past answer speed to calculate your daily new words and approximate study time.
- How to make words stick: the back of each Tomaru card breaks down words and sentences and shows readings, and you also get an AI dictionary and sentence corrections.
When should you choose Anki?
- You're studying non-language subjects like medicine, law, or programming.
- You want to design your own HTML/CSS card templates or use Anki add-ons.
- You need to work fully offline.
Related questions
Do Tomaru and Anki use the same FSRS?
Yes, both use the open-source FSRS. When Tomaru recalculates scheduling based on your memory, it uses the official FSRS optimizer.
Can I move my Anki decks to Tomaru?
Yes. Sign in at tomaruai.app in a desktop browser and import your Anki decks and review history in Settings; they then sync to the iOS and Android apps.
Is Tomaru a free alternative to Anki?
For language vocabulary, yes. Tomaru also uses FSRS, its vocabulary features are free with no ads, the iPhone app costs nothing, and it comes with exam decks.
Can I customize card fields in Tomaru?
When you make your own cards, you can fill in fields such as the front, back, pronunciation, part of speech, example sentence, sentence translation, and notes, and add images and image occlusion; however, you can't customize HTML templates the way you can in Anki.
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