PDF to Anki
Convert a PDF to editable Anki flashcards
Get question-and-answer cards from your PDF. Review the wording, then download an Anki .apkg deck.
Make cards from my PDF · Open the converter and try the sample
No account or credit card needed for the free plan. Three conversions a day, the first five pages per conversion, and up to 20 cards. Anki export is included.
See the card before you make a deck
This example appears in our sample preview:
“Photosynthesis … takes place mainly in the chloroplasts.”
- Front
- Where in the plant cell does photosynthesis happen?
- Back
- In the chloroplasts.
You can edit the question and answer before exporting. The download is an Anki .apkg deck, not a PDF attachment or a screenshot of the page.
View the sample PDF. To explore the editable, prebuilt 15-card deck, open the homepage and choose “Try a sample PDF.” The sample does not use a conversion.
How to turn your PDF into an Anki deck
- Choose your PDF. Open the converter and select lecture notes, a chapter, or another PDF you want to review. Text PDFs and clear English scans are supported.
- Generate a first draft. Choose a card count and select “Generate flashcards.” The free plan reads the first five pages and makes up to 20 cards.
- Review against the source. Edit unclear questions, correct answers, and delete cards you do not need. AI can make mistakes.
- Download the deck. Select “Download Anki (.apkg)” in the results.
- Import into Anki. Open the downloaded .apkg file with Anki, or use Anki’s file-import feature. Check the imported cards before studying.
Once imported, use Anki for your review sessions. PDFtoDeck prepares the cards; it does not sync your Anki account or your Anki study history.
Make each card worth reviewing
A useful card asks one clear question. Before exporting, check whether the answer makes sense without the surrounding paragraph, whether any important condition is missing, and whether the wording matches your source.
For example, a broad question about an entire process may be better split into smaller questions. Keep the original PDF nearby while you review the draft.
What the free converter includes
- Three PDF-to-flashcard conversions per day.
- The first five pages of each PDF, even when the document is longer.
- Up to 20 cards per conversion.
- Editable cards, Anki .apkg export, CSV download, and text you can copy for Quizlet.
Dense text may be shortened to fit the generation limit. Clear English scans are supported with on-device OCR, but scan quality affects the result. Always compare the generated cards with the original PDF.
For larger documents and higher limits, see the current plan details and availability.
What happens to your PDF
Your browser reads the PDF. For flashcard generation, extracted text is sent to our server and DeepSeek. Read the privacy policy for provider details.
If you choose “Study now,” your deck and study progress are saved in this browser on this device. That local progress is separate from Anki.
Questions about PDF-to-Anki conversion
Can I convert a PDF to Anki for free?
Yes, within the free allowance: three conversions a day, the first five pages per PDF, and up to 20 cards per conversion. You can edit and export the cards without an account.
Do I need to format a CSV before importing?
Not when you use the Anki .apkg download. CSV is also available if you prefer to manage a text-based import yourself.
Will every page become a card?
No. PDFtoDeck drafts question-and-answer cards from the text it processes. It does not turn every page into an image card, and the free plan only reads the first five pages.
Can I use a scanned PDF?
Clear English scans are supported. Blurry or difficult layouts can affect recognition, so compare the draft with the PDF before studying.
Start with a few pages
See the draft, make it yours, and take it to Anki.
Anki is a separate product. This page describes a file-export workflow, not an official integration or affiliation.