Anki and Lumi, side by side
Every row comes from public material, numbered against the source list below and checked on 27 Sep 2026. Where something is not published, we say so rather than guess. Features change; check the source before you decide.
| Feature | Anki | Lumi |
|---|---|---|
| What it is[2][5] | AnkiGeneral-purpose flashcard program for any subject | LumiAdaptive practice, diagnostics and revision app for NEET UG and JEE |
| Scheduling algorithm[1][3][4] | AnkiSM-2 (legacy) and FSRS; FSRS available from Anki 23.10, AnkiMobile 23.10 and AnkiDroid 2.17 | LumiFSRS |
| Default desired retention[3][4] | Anki90% | Lumi0.9 (90%) |
| Content[1][4][5][7][8] | AnkiYou write or import your own cards and decks | LumiNEET and JEE questions supplied, plus AI-generated flashcards; free NCERT notes and lessons on lumineet.com |
| What gets scheduled[3][4] | AnkiEach card you create | LumiOver 12,000 NEET and over 11,000 JEE concept atoms |
| Ability estimate[1][4] | AnkiNot stated publicly | Lumi2PL Item Response Theory per subject |
| Mock exams[1][4] | AnkiNot stated publicly | LumiAdaptive exams using Fisher information to pick questions |
| Platforms[1][2][5][8] | AnkiWindows, macOS and Linux; AnkiDroid on Android; AnkiMobile on iOS; free AnkiWeb sync | LumiiOS and Android, plus free notes and lessons on the web |
What Anki offers
- Desktop Anki and AnkiDroid at no cost, per Anki's own site.
- Full control over every card, its wording and its format, including images and LaTeX.
- One tool for any subject.
- Open source software, extensible with add-ons on desktop.
- FSRS settings you can tune yourself in deck options.
What Lumi gives you
- FSRS scheduling from day one, with no hours spent writing NEET or JEE cards.
- A question practice layer that tells you which concepts are weak, not just which cards are due.
- An ability estimate per subject from Item Response Theory.
- Adaptive mock exams alongside revision in the same app.
- Free on lumineet.com: NCERT notes and a doubts page for every NEET chapter, interactive lessons with simulations and YouTube classes for NEET and JEE, and a 780-question NEET bank with full solutions.
Same scheduler, different job
FSRS, the Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler, is an open algorithm. Anki's manual describes it as an alternative to Anki's legacy SM-2 algorithm that estimates how much you are likely to forget, and it sets a default desired retention of 90%. Lumi runs FSRS at the same 0.9 retention target.
So the scheduling maths is not what separates the two. What differs is everything around it: in Anki you decide what the cards are and how they are worded; in Lumi the items are concept atoms, the questions are supplied, and an Item Response Theory model and a knowledge tracing model decide how strong you are and what to practise next.
What does it cost?
- Anki, as listed on apps.ankiweb.net on 27 Sep 2026: desktop Anki is free; AnkiDroid for Android is free.
- AnkiMobile, as listed on the India App Store on 27 Sep 2026: ₹2,499, a one-time purchase.
- Lumi: a free plan and paid monthly plans; current plans are in the app.
Frequently asked questions
Does Lumi use the same algorithm as Anki?
Yes, for scheduling. Anki offers FSRS alongside its legacy SM-2 scheduler, and Lumi uses FSRS at a desired retention of 0.9. Lumi adds an Item Response Theory ability estimate and simpleKT knowledge tracing, which are not part of Anki's scheduler.
Is Anki good for NEET?
Anki is a capable general flashcard tool with FSRS, and many students use it for memorisation-heavy subjects like biology. The work is in writing or finding good NEET cards. Lumi supplies NEET and JEE questions and schedules concept atoms for you.
How does FSRS compare with SM-2?
Anki's manual describes FSRS as able to help you remember more material in the same amount of time by more accurately estimating how much you are likely to forget, and notes it avoids the "ease hell" problem of SM-2.
How much does Anki cost in India?
Desktop Anki and AnkiDroid are free. AnkiMobile for iPhone and iPad was listed at ₹2,499 on the India App Store on 27 Sep 2026. Lumi has a free plan and paid monthly plans, with current plans shown in the app.
Can I use Anki and Lumi together?
Yes. Some students keep personal Anki decks for facts they want in their own words, and use Lumi for question practice, ability estimates and mock exams.
Sources · Checked on 27 Sep 2026
- 1AnkiMobile Flashcards on the App Store (India)
- 2Anki website (apps.ankiweb.net)
- 3Anki Manual: Deck options (FSRS)
- 4Lumi: How it works (FSRS, 2PL IRT, simpleKT)
- 5Lumi NEET AI on the App Store (India)
- 6Lumi: free NEET question bank (lumineet.com/questions)
- 7Lumi: free NCERT notes and doubts pages (lumineet.com/ncert)
- 8Lumi Learn: free interactive lessons for NEET and JEE (lumineet.com/learn)