Anki
Best free spaced-repetition engine if you will build small, honest decks — brutal if you import 10,000 orphan cards.
Version tested: Anki desktop + AnkiMobile/AnkiDroid workflows commonly used by language learners (2026).
Time on tool: Ongoing use for root-family and verb cards beside Explorer practice — not as a sole course.
What it does well
- Spaced repetition that actually resurfaces weak items instead of relying on guilt streaks.
- Fully offline once decks are built; no subscription required on desktop.
- Flexible card types — cloze, audio, images — when you need more than word→gloss.
Where it falls short
- Setup friction is real; the default UI intimidates beginners.
- Shared “10k most common words” decks create recognition without production.
- Anki does not teach listening, speaking, or register by itself.
Compare with
Stronger long-term memory tool than Duolingo-style apps; weaker as a first exposure system than graded video or a tutor. Pair small Anki decks with the Root Explorer so cards come from families you already studied, and with a 15-minute listen so your ear keeps moving.
Verdict
Use Anki for 10–20 new cards a day max, sourced from material you met in context. Skip giant shared decks. If the queue fills you with dread, shrink it — a tiny deck you finish beats a museum of overdue cards.