Education · head to head
Anki vs Lumosity
Anki
Education
Free open source spaced repetition flashcard app, free everywhere except iOS where it is a paid one-time purchase
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Lumosity
Education
Brain training game app from Lumos Labs, which paid an FTC settlement in 2016 over unsupported cognitive improvement claims
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Anki the interface is functional rather than polished, and new users often find the initial setup, deck creation and add-on ecosystem confusing compared with a guided app like Memrise.; Lumosity lumos Labs settled with the US FTC in 2016 for 2 million dollars over deceptive claims that its games improved real-world cognitive performance and could delay age-related decline, and the company was barred from making such claims without solid supporting evidence, a fact any buyer evaluating cognitive benefit claims should weigh.
- They diverge on capability: Anki covers Spaced repetition scheduling, Lumosity covers Daily training set.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Anki and Lumosity actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Anki
- Spaced repetition scheduling
- Cross-platform sync
- Shared deck library
- Custom card types
- Add-ons
- Open file format
Only in Lumosity
- Daily training set
- Brain Performance Index
- Game library by domain
- Fit Test assessment
- Progress tracking
- Insights and tips
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Anki
- A medical student using a large shared deck to memorise anatomy or pharmacology facts on a fixed exam timelinenot Lumosity
- A language learner building custom vocabulary decks with audio and images tailored to their own study materialnot Lumosity
- A self-directed learner who wants full control over the scheduling algorithm and does not want a subscriptionnot Lumosity
- An iPhone-only user deciding whether the one-time AnkiMobile price is worth it versus using the free web interface insteadnot Lumosity
Lumosity
- An adult wanting a short daily game habit with a cognitive theme, treated as entertainment rather than medical interventionnot Anki
- Someone comparing Lumosity against Elevate to decide between abstract cognitive games and practical skills practicenot Anki
- A user who wants a long historical performance trend across many game sessionsnot Anki
- A buyer evaluating whether the current marketing claims about cognitive benefit are consistent with the 2016 FTC settlement findings before subscribingnot Anki
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Anki
- The interface is functional rather than polished, and new users often find the initial setup, deck creation and add-on ecosystem confusing compared with a guided app like Memrise.
- iOS users pay a one-time fee of around $24.99 to $29.99 for AnkiMobile while every other platform is free, which is an unusual asymmetry that surprises new users comparing app store prices before they understand it funds development.
- Anki has no content of its own; a new user gets an empty deck and either has to build cards manually or trust the quality of a community-shared deck of unknown accuracy.
- The default scheduling algorithm requires understanding concepts like ease factor and interval to tune effectively, and default settings are not optimal for every subject or workload.
- Shared decks, especially large medical school decks, can carry factual errors or become outdated, and there is no editorial review process verifying their accuracy.
Lumosity
- Lumos Labs settled with the US FTC in 2016 for 2 million dollars over deceptive claims that its games improved real-world cognitive performance and could delay age-related decline, and the company was barred from making such claims without solid supporting evidence, a fact any buyer evaluating cognitive benefit claims should weigh.
- The free tier is limited to a small daily set of games, and the personalised training programme the product is built around is a paid-only feature.
- As with the brain training category broadly, evidence that improved performance on the specific games transfers to real-world cognitive ability remains contested, independent of the marketing claims addressed by the settlement.
- The subscription auto-renews and, like most mobile subscriptions, requires cancelling through app store account settings rather than within the app.
- The game library has not changed dramatically in years, and long-term subscribers report the exercises becoming repetitive well before a years subscription is up.
Pricing, plan by plan
Anki
Free- AnkiFree
- Desktop apps for Windows, Mac and Linux are free and open source
- AnkiDroid on Android is free and open source, built by a separate volunteer team
- AnkiMobile on iOS is a one-time purchase, commonly $24.99 to $29.99, funding development
Lumosity
Free- Lumosity$11.99/month
- Free tier gives a small daily set of games
- Full subscription unlocks the complete game library and personalised programme
- Annual plans typically run $59.99 to $79.99, cheaper per month than monthly billing
Which should you pick?
Choose Anki if
- You need spaced repetition scheduling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want cross-platform sync.
Choose Lumosity if
- You need daily training set.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want brain performance index.
Questions people ask
- Is Anki or Lumosity better?
- Neither clearly leads. Anki starts at Free and Lumosity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Anki or Lumosity?
- Anki starts at Free and Lumosity at Free.
- Does Anki or Lumosity run on more platforms?
- Anki runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Web. Lumosity runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Anki for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Anki best used for?
- Anki is most often used for a medical student using a large shared deck to memorise anatomy or pharmacology facts on a fixed exam timeline, a language learner building custom vocabulary decks with audio and images tailored to their own study material, a self-directed learner who wants full control over the scheduling algorithm and does not want a subscription, an iphone-only user deciding whether the one-time ankimobile price is worth it versus using the free web interface instead. Of those, a medical student using a large shared deck to memorise anatomy or pharmacology facts on a fixed exam timeline and a language learner building custom vocabulary decks with audio and images tailored to their own study material are not what Lumosity is typically brought in for.
- What can Anki do that Lumosity cannot?
- Anki covers Spaced repetition scheduling, Cross-platform sync, Shared deck library, Custom card types. Lumosity covers Daily training set, Brain Performance Index, Game library by domain, Fit Test assessment.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Anki: Why is the iOS app not free when everything else is?
AnkiMobile is a paid one-time purchase, commonly around $24.99 to $29.99, that the developer states directly funds ongoing development of the free desktop apps, AnkiWeb sync and infrastructure used by every platform.
Lumosity: What was the FTC settlement about?
In 2016 the FTC found Lumos Labs advertising made unsupported claims that Lumosity games could delay cognitive decline, protect against conditions like Alzheimers, and improve real-world performance. The company paid 2 million dollars and was barred from such claims without solid evidence.
Anki: Is Anki really free on Android?
Yes. AnkiDroid, the Android app, is free and open source, built and maintained by a separate volunteer development team from the desktop project.
Lumosity: Is Lumosity still available and does it still make cognitive claims?
Yes, the app and games remain available, but the company is legally restricted from the specific unsupported claims covered by the settlement.
Anki: Do I need to pay for sync?
No. AnkiWeb, used to sync decks and review history across devices, is free.
Lumosity: Is Lumosity free?
A small daily set of games is free. The full library and personalised training programme require a paid subscription.
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