Best app to study a textbook
The best app to study a textbook is the one that makes you answer questions from memory and brings material back before you forget it. If you want to build every card yourself, Anki is a strong choice. If you want to start from a textbook PDF and get chapter summaries, quiz questions and a review schedule without building them, try Mind86.
One short chapter, one quiz. No upload needed.
Try a sample chapterWhat to look for
- Questions from memory, not rereading. Practice testing beat restudying in a meta-analysis of 272 effects (g = +0.51; Adesope et al. 2017).
- Review spread over days. Material that returns just before you forget it is easier to keep than one long cram.
- How you get your textbook in. Typing cards by hand is flexible but slow. Starting from the chapter saves the setup time.
The apps, side by side
| Anki | Quizlet | Mind86 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Hand-built decks you control fully | Shared sets and quick study modes | Studying your own PDF or EPUB chapter by chapter |
| Starting point | You create the cards | You create or find a set | You upload a PDF or EPUB you own |
| Review timing | Schedules the next review for when you are most likely to forget (Anki's own description) | See Quizlet's site for current features | Quiz score sets when a chapter comes back |
| Price | Desktop is free; the iOS app is paid (apps.ankiweb.net) | See Quizlet's site for current plans | Free to start |
| Arabic and right-to-left | Check the app you use | Check the app you use | Yes, with an Arabic interface |
We only state what Anki says on its own site. Plans and features change, so check each app's page before you decide.
When another app is the better pick
- You want full control of how every card looks, or you use audio, images and add-ons: Anki.
- You want a set someone already made for a common course: Quizlet.
- You have a long textbook PDF and want a chapter map, summaries and questions without writing them: Mind86.
What to check with Mind86
Generated questions can be wrong or miss what your teacher cares about. Check answers against your own copy. The summary is a recap, not a replacement for reading the chapter.
Make quiz cards from your own books
Free account: upload a book you own and get quiz cards back when they are due.
Create a free accountQuestions
What is the best app to study a textbook? It depends on how you want to start. Anki suits people who build their own cards. Mind86 suits people who want to begin from a textbook PDF and get chapter questions and a review schedule.
Is Mind86 free? The sample chapter needs no account and no upload. A free account lets you upload your own PDF.
Does Mind86 work with Arabic textbooks? Yes. It reads Arabic and right-to-left text and has an Arabic interface.
Can I use Anki and Mind86 together? Yes. They are separate apps, and nothing stops you from using both.