Turn Any PDF into a Ready-to-Import Anki Deck
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
Upload your file
Supported: .pdf, .doc, .docx · Max 5 MB
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.pdf, .doc, .docx supported
Free · No account required · Trusted by professionals across industries
Powered by EDITHLY AI
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 |
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.