Turn Any PDF into a Ready-to-Import Anki Deck
Upload a PDF and EDITHLY writes a full flashcard deck from it, then emails you a real .apkg file — ready to import straight into Anki desktop, AnkiDroid, or AnkiMobile.
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Supported: .pdf, .doc, .docx · Max 5 MB
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.pdf, .doc, .docx supported
Free · No account required · Trusted by professionals across industries
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What Is PDF to Anki?
PDF to Anki is for people who already use Anki and don't want a workaround — upload a PDF and get back an actual .apkg file, the same format Anki imports natively, not an export you have to convert yourself. EDITHLY reads the document, writes a complete flashcard deck, and packages it as a real Anki file, emailed to you in minutes.
- Upload a PDF, Word doc, or notes file up to 5 MB
- AI reads the document and writes a full flashcard deck from it
- You get a genuine .apkg file — not a CSV or a workaround — attached as a .zip
- Import directly into Anki desktop, AnkiDroid, or AnkiMobile with File → Import
- Free to generate, no account required to try
Trusted by professionals across industries
How to Convert PDF Files to Anki Deck
Three simple steps — no account, no installation, no design skills required.
Upload Your PDF
Upload any PDF, Word doc, or notes file — up to 5 MB.
AI Writes the Deck
EDITHLY reads the document and writes a complete flashcard deck from it.
Get Your .apkg File
We'll email you a real Anki package — unzip it and use File → Import in Anki.
Who Uses PDF to Anki
Real workflows, not hypotheticals — this is how people actually put it to use.
Turning a pharmacology chapter straight into an importable Anki deck
A dense chapter on drug classes becomes a real .apkg file you drop straight into your existing Anki collection, no manual retyping between the source PDF and Anki's card editor.
Converting a case reading into your existing Anki collection
Case briefs become cards that land directly in Anki, sitting alongside decks you've already built, instead of living in a separate app you'd have to check independently.
Building the week's deck without touching Anki's editor
A lecture PDF becomes an importable deck in the time it takes to upload it, skipping the part of Anki that takes the longest: manually writing every card.
Turning a study guide PDF into a deck for your existing Anki routine
A certification study guide becomes an Anki deck that fits directly into a review habit you've already built, instead of starting a separate system.
Why Use EDITHLY to Create Anki Decks?
A Real .apkg File
Not a workaround — a genuine Anki package, ready for Anki's own File → Import.
Free, No Signup to Try
Generate your first Anki deck for free, no account required.
Minutes, Not Hours
Skip typing every card by hand — EDITHLY writes the deck from your PDF.
Doing This Manually vs. PDF to Anki
| What You're Doing | The Manual Way | With EDITHLY |
|---|---|---|
| Getting a PDF chapter into Anki | 1–2 hours of manual card writing directly in Anki's editor | Upload the PDF, get an .apkg file by email in minutes |
| Formatting cards correctly for import | N/A — cards are written straight into Anki already | N/A — arrives as a ready .apkg, no formatting step |
| Covering every concept in a dense chapter | Easy to miss less-obvious details under time pressure | AI scans the full document systematically |
| Cost | Free (just your time) | Free |
What People Say
“I already run my whole review system in Anki. Getting an actual .apkg file back instead of some export I'd have to reformat means it just drops into my existing collection.”
“I build a lot of decks from the same textbook every year. Uploading the chapter and getting a real Anki file back saves the part I dread most — the manual card entry.”
Want Unlimited Anki Decks?
Sign up for EDITHLY free — get 5 free conversions per month, plus AI document chat, mind maps, flashcards, and more.
Trusted by professionals across industries · No credit card required
Tips for Better Results
- Upload well-structured PDFs — a source with real headings produces better-organized cards than one long unbroken block of text.
- Check the emailed .apkg deck's card count before importing into a large existing collection, so you know what you're adding.
- Rename the deck inside Anki after import if you run multiple decks per subject — the imported deck name comes from your source file by default.
- For very long documents, consider splitting into chapters and generating multiple smaller decks rather than one massive one.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Expecting a CSV or plain text file instead of a real .apkg — the whole point of this tool is a file Anki imports natively, with zero manual formatting.
- Forgetting to unzip the email attachment before trying to import — the .apkg is inside a .zip, not attached directly.
- Uploading a PDF with no real structure and expecting the same card quality as a well-organized chapter.
Where This Tool Has Limits
- Document size is capped at 5 MB on this tool — compress larger files first with the free File Size Shrinker.
- Card quality depends on how much substantive, well-organized content is in the source PDF.
- This tool doesn't touch your existing Anki review history or scheduling — it only adds new cards for you to review going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get a real Anki file, or something I have to convert myself?+
A real .apkg file — the same format Anki desktop, AnkiDroid, and AnkiMobile all import natively. It's attached to the email as a .zip; unzip it, then use File → Import in Anki.
Is this free?+
Yes. Generating and exporting an Anki deck from a PDF is free, no account required to try.
How many cards will I get from one PDF?+
Depends on content density — a typical 10-page chapter produces roughly 30–60 cards.
Can I edit the deck before importing it into Anki?+
Yes — open the share link in the confirmation email to review and edit cards inside EDITHLY before importing, or edit directly in Anki after import.
Does this work on scanned PDFs?+
Yes, scanned PDFs are processed with OCR. Clean, typed PDFs produce the most accurate cards.
What if I don't have a PDF, just a topic in mind?+
Use EDITHLY's Prompt to Anki tool instead — type any topic and skip the document entirely.