For Anki learners
An Anki alternative made only for French
Anki is powerful, but the blank canvas is part of the work. Madeleine starts with the deck already done: 1,274 useful French words and everyday phrases, native audio on every item, and adaptive review that stays out of the way.
The short answer
Reviewed September 8, 2026
Madeleine is a focused Anki alternative for French learners who do not want to build, find, or maintain a deck. Anki is still better for custom cards, shared decks, detailed controls, and subjects beyond French.
Side by side
Anki and Madeleine, on the parts of French that matter.
| Dimension | Anki | Madeleine |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Build or import a deck, choose settings, and maintain it | Open the app and start; the French curriculum is ready |
| Scope | Any subject, language, or card type | French vocabulary and everyday phrases only |
| Content | Your own cards or community-made shared decks | A finite, curated set of 1,274 high-frequency items |
| Audio | When a deck includes it, or through built-in text-to-speech and add-ons | Native French audio on every item, in four voices |
| Review model | FSRS available as an opt-in, with detailed controls and scheduling options | FSRS-6, tuned in the background with no settings to manage |
| Interface | Powerful and highly configurable | Quiet, focused, and designed for one daily French practice |
| Best for | People who want full control or study many subjects | French learners who want a useful deck without deck work |
When Anki is the better choice
Choose Anki if you want to write your own cards, study from community decks, learn several subjects, use add-ons, or tune how every review behaves. That flexibility is Anki's strength. Madeleine deliberately gives it up to make one French practice feel immediate.
What Madeleine will not do: teach a full French course, let you build cards, or make you fluent by itself. It builds a stronger vocabulary and listening foundation.
Where Madeleine removes the work
- The 1,274 items are chosen and ordered for useful French, not inherited from a random deck.
- Every word and phrase includes native audio, so reading and listening develop together.
- Four voices add useful variation without extra files or card templates.
- FSRS-6 schedules reviews without a settings project or a growing wall of overdue cards.
- The finite curriculum gives you a clear end instead of another deck to maintain forever.
Sources
Checked September 8, 2026
Anki is free and open source on desktop and Android; AnkiMobile for iOS is a one-time $24.99 purchase. Features and prices may change.
Anki is a trademark of Ankitects Pty Ltd. Madeleine is not affiliated with or endorsed by Anki.
French flashcards, with the setup removed.
A finite curriculum, native audio, and adaptive review in a calm iPhone app. No account, no streaks, and no deck maintenance.
iPhone with iOS 26 or later. No standard trial: the free browser flashcards are the way to try it first.
FAQs
- Is Madeleine an Anki replacement?
- Only for one job: learning high-frequency French vocabulary and everyday phrases. Anki remains the better tool when you want to make your own cards, import shared decks, study many subjects, or control every review setting.
- Does Madeleine use spaced repetition?
- Yes. Madeleine uses FSRS-6, a modern open spaced-repetition algorithm. It schedules reviews for you without exposing a wall of settings.
- Can I import my Anki deck?
- No. Madeleine uses one curated French curriculum rather than imported or user-made decks. If your own cards are central to how you learn, Anki is the better fit.
- Can I try the French flashcards first?
- Yes. The Madeleine website includes 100 free French flashcards with native audio. They work in the browser with no account or download.