What it is
Anki MCP lets an AI assistant work with Anki, the spaced-repetition flashcard app. It exposes 53 tools: 42 for everyday operations such as syncing with AnkiWeb, fetching due cards, presenting a card, rating it Again, Hard, Good or Easy, suspending and rescheduling, and managing decks, notes, note types and media, plus 11 that drive the Anki desktop interface.
The project now recommends its AnkiMCP add-on for most setups, which runs the server inside Anki with no Node.js or AnkiConnect, and supports HTTP clients such as claude.ai and ChatGPT. This standalone server remains maintained for stdio clients like Claude Code and Cursor and needs Anki running with the AnkiConnect add-on. MIT-licensed with 531 stars; v0.27.0 shipped on 4 October 2026.
Install
AnkiMCP add-on, or the standalone server with AnkiConnectOur review
An AI can quiz you brilliantly and still leave nothing behind when the chat ends. Anki MCP fixes that by working inside the system that remembers: cards it creates are real notes, and when it quizzes you, rate_card records the review so Anki schedules the next one.
The tool set is thorough at 53 tools. It can sync with AnkiWeb, pull due cards with answers hidden by default, explain a card you got wrong, reschedule without faking a review, and handle note types, including right-to-left languages. Turning lecture notes into a deck is a single request.
Choosing the right edition matters. The maintainers recommend the AnkiMCP add-on for most people, since it runs inside Anki with no Node.js or AnkiConnect and works with web clients such as claude.ai. This standalone server is the choice for stdio clients like Claude Code and Cursor, or a one-click bundle for Claude Desktop.
53 tools is a lot of context for a study session, and an agent can create cards faster than you can check them. A deck of hundreds of auto-generated cards with subtle errors is worse than a small one you wrote yourself, so review what it adds.
Where it earns its place
A medical student with 300 pages of lecture notes
Turn each lecture into a deck and review it daily
Ask the assistant to draft cards per lecture, check them, then run daily due-card sessions where it explains misses. Free.
An adult learner studying Arabic
Practise vocabulary with a tutor that explains mistakes
Use the right-to-left note type support and let the assistant present due cards and rate answers.
Before you commit
- Setup
- Most users: install the AnkiMCP add-on from AnkiWeb. Standalone: install AnkiConnect in Anki, then add the server to Claude Code or Cursor, or use the .mcpb bundle in Claude Desktop.
- Integrations
- Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor over stdio; claude.ai and ChatGPT through the add-on over HTTP; AnkiWeb sync.
- Data and privacy
- Works against your local Anki collection; card content goes to the assistant's model when it reads cards. MIT.
- Limits
- 53 tools add context; Anki must be open; the 11 GUI tools drive the desktop app directly.
What's good
- Reviews are recorded on the real Anki schedule
- Creates and edits notes, decks and media
- Hides answers by default when fetching due cards
- Actively released, with an add-on edition for web clients
What's not
- Needs Anki running, plus AnkiConnect for this edition
- Large tool list uses context
- Auto-generated cards need checking
Best for
Anki users who want an AI to create cards and run review sessions with them.
Alternatives
Anki MCP: common questions
- Is Anki MCP worth it?
- Turns an AI tutor session into reviews that actually count, because the ratings land on your real Anki schedule. We rate it 4.0 out of 5.
- How much does Anki MCP cost?
- Free and open source under MIT; Anki desktop is free.
- What are the downsides of Anki MCP?
- Needs Anki running, plus AnkiConnect for this edition; large tool list uses context; auto-generated cards need checking.
- Who is Anki MCP best for?
- Anki users who want an AI to create cards and run review sessions with them.
- Is Anki MCP safe for company data?
- Works against your local Anki collection; card content goes to the assistant's model when it reads cards. MIT.
- What are the best Anki MCP alternatives?
- The closest alternatives we have reviewed are Memory (reference server).
Answers checked Oct 24, 2026.
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