Learnco
PDF to Flashcards
Upload any PDF — a textbook chapter, lecture slides, a research paper — and Learnco's AI turns it into a full deck of flashcards in seconds. Every card is built around spaced repetition so you actually remember what you study.
How it works
Three steps from raw content to a full study session.
- 1
Upload your PDF
Drag and drop a PDF from your laptop, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Learnco handles textbooks, lecture slides, scanned notes, and research papers up to hundreds of pages.
- 2
Generate flashcards
Our AI reads the document and extracts the key terms, definitions, concepts, and relationships — then writes clean front/back flashcards you can study immediately.
- 3
Review with spaced repetition
Learnco schedules each card with the SM-2 spaced repetition algorithm, so you see cards right before you'd forget them. That's the fastest way to move facts into long-term memory.
Why students use Learnco
Built for how students actually study — not another generic AI wrapper.
Handles any PDF — big or small
From a 2-page handout to a 400-page textbook, Learnco reads the whole document. It works with lecture slides, scanned notes, and research papers too.
Smart term and concept extraction
Instead of dumping random sentences onto cards, Learnco identifies the definitions, formulas, and relationships your instructor is actually going to test.
SM-2 spaced repetition built in
Every deck uses the same SM-2 algorithm behind Anki and SuperMemo. You rate each card and Learnco schedules the next review at the optimal interval.
Edit, reorder, and add your own
Not happy with a card? Edit the front or back, delete it, or add your own. Your deck, your rules — the AI just gives you a head start.
One upload, many formats
The same PDF can generate flashcards, notes, a practice quiz, and even an audio podcast. Study however works best for you.
Free tier with no credit card
Convert PDFs to flashcards on the free plan. Upgrade only if you want unlimited uploads, larger documents, and priority processing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn a PDF into flashcards?
Upload your PDF to Learnco, click 'Generate flashcards,' and wait about 30 seconds. The AI reads the entire document and builds a ready-to-study deck with front/back cards. You can edit any card before studying.
Is the PDF to flashcards converter free?
Yes. Learnco has a free tier that lets you convert PDFs to flashcards, notes, and quizzes without a credit card. Paid plans unlock unlimited uploads, larger PDFs, audio podcasts, and priority processing.
Does it work with scanned PDFs and handwritten notes?
Yes. Learnco extracts text from standard PDFs and uses OCR on scanned documents. It works best when the scan is clear — blurry handwriting is still a hard problem for any AI.
How is this different from making flashcards in Quizlet or Anki?
Quizlet and Anki make you type every card by hand. Learnco reads your PDF and writes the cards for you, then schedules reviews with SM-2 spaced repetition just like Anki — but without the manual data entry.
Can I export flashcards to Anki or another app?
You can study your decks directly in Learnco with built-in spaced repetition, and we're continuing to expand export options. Most students find they don't need Anki anymore since Learnco handles review scheduling for them.
Will this work for medical school, law school, or other heavy reading?
Yes. Students in pre-med, medical school, law, nursing, and other reading-heavy programs use Learnco to turn case briefs, anatomy chapters, and board review PDFs into flashcard decks.
Upload a PDF and get a full flashcard deck in 30 seconds
Stop copying definitions into Quizlet by hand. Let Learnco read your PDF and build a spaced repetition deck for you — free to start.