How to Import Your Anki Decks (and Keep Your Progress)
The biggest thing stopping Anki users from trying anything else isn't features — it's fear of losing their decks. Years of cards and review history feel impossible to walk away from. The good news: you don't have to. Standard .apkg files import cleanly, and the move is reversible. Here's exactly how it works.
What's actually in an .apkg file
When you export a deck from Anki, the .apkg file contains your cards (fronts, backs, fields), the note types, and the scheduling state — when each card is next due and how it's been performing. That last part is what people are most afraid of losing, and it's precisely what a good importer preserves.
Importing into StudyTab, step by step
- Export from Anki. In Anki: select the deck → Export → choose "Anki Deck Package (.apkg)". Leave "include scheduling information" ticked so your history comes along.
- Import into StudyTab. Upload the
.apkg— your cards arrive as a deck, with their review history intact, so the schedule continues rather than resetting to zero. - Review as normal. Due cards show up on schedule. Because StudyTab schedules with FSRS (the same modern algorithm class Anki's FSRS uses), your spaced-repetition timing carries the same logic forward.
Why people switch (and why you might)
If Anki already does everything you need, there's no reason to move — it's a brilliant, free tool. People usually switch for what Anki doesn't do without add-ons and manual effort:
- AI card generation from PDFs, videos, web pages and handwritten photos — instead of typing every card.
- Exam-grade card types out of the box: MCQ, cloze with LaTeX, picture quizzes.
- Linked notes and a knowledge graph that flags your weak spots.
- A grounded AI tutor that answers from your own material.
There's a full, honest breakdown on the Anki alternative page — including where Anki still wins.
No lock-in, either direction
The reason importing is safe is the same reason switching is safe: you can export again. Your cards aren't held hostage. That cuts both ways — bring decks in to try something new, and take them out if it's not for you. A tool that won't let your data leave is a tool to be suspicious of.
Bottom line
Don't let years of Anki history trap you in a "maybe later." Standard .apkg import carries your cards and your scheduling across, the move is fully reversible, and you can finally stop hand-typing cards. Try it on one deck and see how it feels — your progress comes with you.
Bring a deck over and add AI on top: import free into StudyTab.