ipad notes app with built in spaced repetition flashcards for exam revision
The step that kills most revision systems is the transfer: notes live in one app, flashcards in another, and moving material between them is the moment people quit — 100 Notes Studio is built for this.
Short answer
100 Notes Studio builds the study tools into the notebook: linked flashcards and cloze cards made from your own pages, reviewed with FSRS — the open-source spaced-repetition scheduler that Anki also uses. Handwriting and PDF text recognition run on the device, so search covers titles, body text, handwriting and attachments, and audio recordings can be pinned to the page they explain.
The free version already includes the core editor, twenty-nine brushes, PDF markup, page audio, handwriting search and the study tools — one active notebook, unlimited pages, two styles — so you can test the whole loop before the single one-time upgrade that adds unlimited notebooks, all hundred styles, vector-ink PDF export, page history and encrypted backup. No account, no ads, no third-party tracking, no external AI, and it works offline. If flashcards are all you want, Anki goes deeper — the case for 100 Notes is notes, PDFs, audio and cards living in one place.
What to look for before choosing
- Flashcards and cloze cards created from the notes themselves.
- FSRS spaced repetition — the same open scheduler Anki uses.
- On-device recognition so handwriting is searchable at revision time.
- Audio pinned to the page it explains.
- A free tier that includes the study tools; one-time upgrade, no subscription.
A practical decision process
- Take one lecture's notes and turn the key points into linked or cloze cards.
- Run an FSRS review session the next day.
- Search a term you only wrote by hand to confirm recognition.
- Work offline once to confirm nothing needs a connection.
- Upgrade once only if the one-notebook free tier proves the loop.
Quick comparison
| Need | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Check whether useful features require a subscription, a one-time unlock, or neither. | The cheapest app on day one may not be cheapest after a year. |
| Privacy model | Prefer on-device work when the content is sensitive. | Private documents, resumes, study data, and family content deserve careful handling. |
| Export / lock-in | Confirm file formats, sharing, backup, and deletion controls. | A good app should help you finish the task, not trap your work. |
Where 100 Notes Studio fits
100 Notes Studio fits exam-season students who want notes, PDFs, audio and spaced-repetition cards in one offline app instead of shuttling between two.
Free to startOne-time unlockNo subscription
This is a publisher-authored buying guide from the app developer. App Store features and prices can change, so confirm details on the listing before purchase.
FAQ
Anki is free and has FSRS — why this?
If flashcards are all you need, Anki is deeper. 100 Notes' case is that the notes, PDF markup, recordings and cards live in one app — and its free tier includes the study tools, so you can test that claim before paying.
Does the recognition happen in a cloud?
No — handwriting and PDF text recognition run on the device, with no account, no external AI and no third-party tracking.
What limits does the free version have?
One active notebook with unlimited pages and two of the hundred styles; the editor, brushes, PDF markup, audio, search and study tools are all included. A single one-time upgrade removes the limits.