ANKI vs. Quizlet (Or is there something better?)

Most people weigh up Anki vs. Quizlet when they are researching flashcard solutions. Thousands of learners search for the best flashcard tool every month—especially when they’re preparing for IT certification exams. Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering:

• “Which one helps me actually remember this stuff?”

• “Do I need all the customization Anki offers?”

• “Are Quizlet decks accurate enough for certification-level learning?”

• “Is there a better alternative built for IT pros?”

These are good questions to ask because Anki and Quizlet are two of the most popular flashcard apps available today. But your experience will depend on how you study (and what you’re studying for). They can feel very different—and sometimes limiting. If you’re prepping for certs like CCNA, A+, Security+, AWS, Azure, or CISSP, you'll need something more targeted and precise than generic user-made decks.

That’s where CBT Nuggets Flashcards come in. These new CBT Nuggets flashcards bridge the gap between the customization of Anki and the ease of Quizlet. Finally, there’s something both tools are missing: exam-aligned flashcards designed by the very trainers that you are running through, built directly into your IT training platform.

Here’s a breakdown of Anki vs. Quizlet vs. CBT Nuggets Flashcards that will let you decide which one will help you study smarter, remember longer, and walk into your exam with more confidence.

Anki vs. Quizlet: What You Actually Experience

On the surface, you wouldn’t expect much difference between these platforms, but each has features that may or may not work for your unique learning style.

If You Love Customizing Everything, You Might Like Anki

Anki gives you plenty of control. You can tweak your settings, build your own decks from scratch, and control exactly how often cards reappear. It's a power user's dream for customization. 

But, as with most things in life, there’s a catch. If you don’t have the time or inclination to configure your own study system, then Anki feels like extra homework. The extra setup time can feel like a speed bump when you're in the zone and motivated to study. 

If You Want Something Simple and Fast, You Might Like Quizlet

On the other end of the spectrum, we have Quizlet, which offers the opposite experience. You can open the app, find a deck, and start studying in seconds. The interface is clean, and there is minimal friction when getting started. For quick study sessions, it gets the job done.

But here’s the real problem. You don’t always know if that deck was made by a certified expert, or a well-intentioned enthusiast who might have missed the mark on a few questions. For general topics, that’s not a deal breaker. For certification exams where accuracy really matters, it’s a little risky. If you drill on inaccurate information, you could memorize a few incorrect answers—which is sometimes all it takes to fail an exam.

If You Want Structure and Flexibility, CBT Nuggets Flashcards Deliver Both

With CBT Nuggets, you don’t have the binary choice between “build everything yourself” and “trust random decks someone uploaded.”

You get two things learners have been asking for forever:

1. Trainer-created flashcards that come straight from the course material: Finish a skill, and the matching flashcards unlock instantly. No hunting, no guessing, and no building from scratch.

2. The ability to make your own flashcards whenever you want:  Want to add notes, acronyms, or memory hacks? You can create personal cards right alongside the trainer-provided ones, giving you plenty of options.

It’s the balance most learners have wanted but never had: expert-backed accuracy and personal customization, all inside the platform you're already using to train.

CBT Nuggets Flashcards: A Better Fit for IT Pros

Here’s what makes CBT Nuggets Flashcards different from standalone flashcard apps:

Flashcards Appear Automatically as You Learn Skills

When you finish a video, the related flashcards unlock instantly. You don’t have to search for decks and wonder if the content matches what you just watched. It does. The cards are tied directly to the skill you just completed—taking the guesswork out of your drills so you can practice with confidence.

Created by Expert Trainers

You don’t have to guess if a set is accurate or exam-relevant because the trainer who built your course also built your flashcards. Your trainers know what shows up on exams and what matters on the job. That expertise goes directly into every card.

Confidence-Based Review System

Rate your recall for each card as you go. This self-assessment helps you identify those weak spots fast. You can power through the concepts you already know, and spend more time on the ones giving you trouble. 

Create Your Own Flashcards, Too

Combine the default cards with your custom cards. Maybe you have a special way of phrasing questions that helps you remember your study notes better. Maybe there’s an advanced concept you really want to emphasize. Add your own cards and build a deck that fits exactly how you learn.

Everything in One Platform

CBT Nuggets keeps everything in one place: training videos, virtual labs, practice exams, and flashcards. No more switching between apps and juggling logins for different accounts, or finding your scattered study notes in random locations. Everything that you need for cert prep is right where you are already learning. 

Final Thoughts

Anki and Quizlet both have their place in the online learning ecosystem. Anki is great if you want complete control and aren’t squeamish about the setup time for your cards. Quizlet works right out of the box if you need something fast, and you aren’t obsessed with accuracy. But, if you’re serious about IT certifications (which you are if you’re reading this), neither of these tools was built with you specifically in mind.

CBT Nuggets Flashcards give you exam-focused content that is automatically tied to the skills you’re already learning. You get the best mix of accuracy, ease of use, and personal customization in one platform. If you want a tool designed specifically for certification preparation, CBT Nuggets is the better fit.

Ready to try them out? Get a free week and test flashcards in your next CBT Nuggets skill.