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Drops alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Drops: mostly vocabulary, not a full course, and free version caps daily practice time. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Drops, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Memrise currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Anki logoAnkiOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +35 of 562.6
  1. Anki logo

    1. AnkiTop pick

    Best for: Self-directed learners who want free, customisable spaced-repetition flashcards

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Drops

    Free, fully customisable flashcards for serious vocabulary building.

    Pros

    • Free and open source on desktop and Android
    • Highly customisable cards and scheduling
    • Large library of shared decks and add-ons

    Cons

    • Dated interface and steep learning curve
    • Official iOS app is paid
    • You must build or choose decks yourself
    Visit Anki Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Anki a good Drops alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Sync
    Free AnkiWeb sync
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.ankiweb.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop price
    Free on Windows, Mac and Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.ankiweb.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Android app
    AnkiDroid, free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.ankiweb.net(opens source in a new tab)
    iOS app
    AnkiMobile, paid, funds development
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.ankiweb.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Deck size
    Handles 100,000+ cards
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.ankiweb.net(opens source in a new tab)

The best Drops alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Memrise logo

Best Drops alternative for most people

Memrise

Vocabulary taught through native-speaker videos and spaced review.

Anki logo

Best Drops alternative for a free option

Anki

Free, fully customisable flashcards for serious vocabulary building.

Duolingo logo

Best Drops alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Duolingo

Full free course that also teaches sentences and grammar.

Anki logo

Best Drops alternative for open source

Anki

Free, fully customisable flashcards for serious vocabulary building.

Anki logo

Best Drops alternative for Mac

Anki

Free, fully customisable flashcards for serious vocabulary building.

Anki logo

Best Drops alternative for Windows

Anki

Free, fully customisable flashcards for serious vocabulary building.

Anki logo

Best Drops alternative for Linux

Anki

Free, fully customisable flashcards for serious vocabulary building.

Lingvist logo

Best Drops alternative for iPhone and Android

Lingvist

Adaptive vocabulary learning in sentence context.

Clozemaster logo

Best Drops alternative for working in the browser

Clozemaster

Learn words in context through fill-in-the-blank sentences.

Drops alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Drops?

Memrise ranks first right now. Vocabulary taught through native-speaker videos and spaced review. Anki and Duolingo follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Drops?

Yes. Memrise (free plan + paid), Anki (open source), Duolingo (free plan + paid) and Clozemaster (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Drops?

Yes: Anki.

Which Drops alternatives work on Linux?

Anki runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Drops?

The complaints we hear most: mostly vocabulary, not a full course; free version caps daily practice time; little sentence or conversation practice.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Drops, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.