---
id: anki
version: "26.8.1"
license: AGPL-3.0-or-later
license_treatment: agpl
maintenance: active
---

# anki — Python library for Anki, the spaced repetition flashcard program

License: agpl · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 276.3K/mo

## What it is and what it does

Anki is a Python library that exposes the core scheduling and database engine behind Anki, the popular spaced-repetition flashcard application. It wraps a Rust backend (rslib) and provides a programmatic interface to collections, notes, cards, decks, scheduling algorithms (FSRS/SM-2), media management, import/export, and synchronisation with AnkiWeb. The library is primarily used by Anki add-on developers and anyone building automation or custom workflows around flashcard learning.

The package depends on seven runtime libraries: decorator, distro, markdown, orjson, protobuf, requests, and typing-extensions. It requires Python 3.10 or later and ships as platform-specific compiled wheels (macOS ARM64/x86-64, Linux aarch64/x86-64, Windows amd64/ARM64). Installation has medium friction due to these compiled dependencies, but the project is actively maintained with a large, engaged community.

Use it for:

- Build Anki add-ons that extend the desktop application with custom scheduling, UI, or data-processing features.
- Automate flashcard generation and bulk import from external data sources into Anki collections.
- Create custom spaced-repetition learning applications that leverage Anki's scheduling algorithms.
- Programmatically query and analyse learning statistics from existing Anki collections.
- Synchronise flashcard data between Anki and external learning platforms or databases.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Provides Python access to Anki's core spaced-repetition engine, wrapping the Rust backend to let you programmatically open, query, and modify flashcard collections, schedules, and media.

Yes, if you are building Anki add-ons, automating flashcard workflows, or need programmatic access to spaced-repetition scheduling. The library is actively maintained, well-established (29756 stars), and has no known vulnerabilities. The AGPL-3.0-or-later license requires that derivative works be open-source; verify this aligns with your project before use. Medium install friction (compiled wheels, Python 3.10+ required) is a minor trade-off for core functionality.

## Install

pip install anki
uv add anki
poetry add anki

## Installing anki

Before you install: Medium install friction due to compiled wheels (abi3, platform-specific); active maintenance with recent release (9 days old) and strong repository signals (29756 stars, last commit 2026-08-14). Requires Python 3.10+.

License in practice: AGPL-3.0-or-later: derivative works and modifications must be released under AGPL. Suitable for open-source projects and add-ons; proprietary applications using this library must comply with copyleft obligations or seek alternative licensing.

Quickstart:

pip install anki

from anki import Collection

col = Collection('/path/to/collection.anki2')
notes = col.find_notes('deck:Default')
print(len(notes))

Requires Python 3.10 or later; platform-specific compiled wheels (macOS, Linux, Windows); Anki collection file path must exist and be readable.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the Rust backend is bundled in the wheel or requires separate installation.
- Performance characteristics when working with large collections (thousands of cards).
- Stability guarantees for the Python API across minor version updates.

## Package facts

- License: AGPL-3.0-or-later (agpl)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 276.3K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

anki flashcard api, spaced repetition python, anki collection library, flashcard scheduling algorithm, anki add-on development, anki database access, memory learning automation, spaced-repetition, flashcard-engine, add-on-development

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/anki) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/anki/)