Anki vs Memrise vs ZabanYar for Persian Vocabulary

Three vocabulary apps. Three different approaches to the same problem: how to remember Persian words long-term. Here's which one works best for Farsi.

The Quick Verdict

Anki is most powerful but requires the most setup. Memrise is most polished but least Persian-specific. ZabanYar is the only one built specifically for Farsi. Your choice depends on how much customization you want.

Head-to-Head

Criterion 1: SRS Quality (Weight: 30%)

Anki: 9/10 The gold standard of spaced repetition. The SM-2 algorithm is backed by decades of research. Fully customizable intervals, ease factors, and card types. You can optimize everything.

Memrise: 6/10 Proprietary algorithm that's less transparent. Works well enough but you can't tune it. The "difficult words" feature is helpful but less sophisticated than Anki's scheduling.

ZabanYar: 8/10 9-stage SRS system designed specifically for language vocabulary. More stages than Anki's default 4 (new/learning/young/mature), which means more gradual spacing. Less customizable than Anki but requires zero configuration.

Criterion 2: Persian Content Quality (Weight: 30%)

Anki: 5/10 Community decks for Farsi exist but quality varies wildly. Some have incorrect translations, missing audio, or romanization errors. Building your own deck from scratch is time-consuming but gives you exactly what you need.

Memrise: 6/10 Official Farsi course covers basics with native audio. Community courses expand coverage. But "Farsi" means Iranian Farsi only, with no Dari variants, and vocabulary selection can be random.

ZabanYar: 9/10 Every card is curated for Farsi learners. CEFR-leveled vocabulary. Native speaker audio. Transliteration included. AI-generated mnemonic images for the alphabet. The content is purpose-built for this one language.

Criterion 3: Ease of Use (Weight: 20%)

Anki: 4/10 The interface looks like it was designed in 2005 (because it was). Powerful but intimidating. Creating cards requires manual effort. Add-ons help but require technical comfort.

Memrise: 8/10 Beautiful, modern interface. Everything works out of the box. Progress tracking, streaks, and gamification make daily practice engaging. Zero setup required.

ZabanYar: 7/10 Clean, purpose-built interface. Less polished than Memrise but more focused. The alphabet module walks you through setup. Text import makes custom content easy.

Criterion 4: Value (Weight: 20%)

Anki: 9/10 Free on desktop (Mac, Windows, Linux) and Android. $25 one-time purchase on iOS. No subscription. Unlimited decks, unlimited cards, forever.

Memrise: 5/10 Free tier is limited (no difficult words review, no offline, ads). Pro at $8.49/month is expensive for what it offers. Content is good but not $100/year good.

ZabanYar: 7/10 Free tier includes alphabet module and limited daily reviews. Premium at $9.99/month unlocks unlimited reviews and AI features. Reasonable for a specialized tool.

Overall Scores

Who Should Choose What

Choose Anki If:

• You're a power user who wants total control
• You already use Anki for other subjects
• You'll invest time building or finding quality decks
• Budget is a priority (free forever on desktop)
• You're learning multiple languages (one app for all)

Choose Memrise If:

• You want the prettiest, most gamified experience
• You learn best with video clips and memes
• You're also learning other languages and want one platform
• You don't mind paying for a polished experience

Choose ZabanYar If:

• You want a Farsi-specific tool that works out of the box
• You're a beginner starting with the alphabet
• You want AI features (mnemonics, chat) alongside SRS
• You value curated Persian content over customization
• You want one app that covers alphabet + vocabulary + conversation

The Power Move: Anki + ZabanYar

Some serious learners use both:

• ZabanYar for its structured curriculum, alphabet module, and AI features
• Anki for custom cards from reading practice, movie vocabulary, and personal word lists

This combination gives you both curated content and unlimited customization.

A Note on Flashcard Strategy

Regardless of which app you choose, the strategy matters more than the tool:

1. Learn 5-10 new words per day (not 30)
2. Never skip reviews (even 5 minutes of review beats 0)
3. Add context (example sentences, not isolated words)
4. Review in both directions (Farsi→English AND English→Farsi)
5. Delete cards you've truly mastered (after 6+ months of easy reviews)

Related: Free vs Paid Resources | AI Farsi Tutors Compared | Best Free AI Tools

Get it wrong and the worst that happens is a warm laugh and a story they’ll tell for years. Get it right — refuse the tea twice, accept on the third — and you’ll watch a face open up. You didn’t just speak Persian. You played the game.