Best Anki Remote in 2026: Complete Buyer's Guide

If you use Anki daily, you already know the drill: 100s of flashcards waiting for you in the morning. However, a dedicated Anki remote changes that entirely. Research shows that by using an Anki remote, students completed 94% more cards in 46% less time compared to keyboard-only reviewers. More importantly, that kind of time savings compounds fast. Over a full year of daily reviews, you could reclaim 100s of hours, allowing for more time spent on practice questions or simply not burning out.

But which Anki remote is actually worth buying? In this guide, we compare every major option so you can make the right call.

What to Look for in an Anki Remote

Before diving into specific products, here are the five factors that separate a great Anki remote from a frustrating one:

Setup complexity: Some devices work the moment you turn them on. Others require third-party software like Karabiner Elements or AutoHotKey, custom key mapping, and sometimes a 30-minute YouTube tutorial just to get started. If you value your time, instant setup matters.

Battery life: You want a remote that never dies, or that's what it should feel like. Anything under 8 hours means you are charging mid-session, which defeats the purpose.

Ergonomics: You will be holding this device for hours every day. Comfortable, one-handed use with a neutral wrist position helps Anki marathons much more bearable.

Privacy and software: Some Anki Remotes require invasive key-remapping software that runs in the background that can also block exam proctoring tools. It's a must t

Customization: The ability to map buttons to specific Anki actions--reveal answer, undo, flag, navigate between decks-- separates a purpose-built Anki clicker from a generic Bluetooth device.

The Top Anki Remotes and Clickers Compared

1. Anki Remote 2 Pro by StudyRemote — Best Overall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Anki Remote 2 Pro is the only Bluetooth controller designed from the ground up specifically for Anki. It connects over Bluetooth, works as a keyboard input, and requires zero third-party software.

What makes it stand out:

• Instant setup. Turn it on, pair via Bluetooth, and start reviewing. No Karabiner, no AutoHotKey, no configuration guides. It works on Mac, Windows, iPad, iPhone, and Android.
• No third-party software. All remapping software has been removed. Your privacy stays protected, and there are no conflicts with exam proctoring apps like eCOMAT.
• Customizable via Anki add-on. The free Anki Remote add-on lets you remap every button to your preferred Anki actions. Two recommended modes come pre-programmed, and you can customize from there.
• Ergonomic one-handed design. Purpose-built for hours of daily use. The buttons are silent (library-friendly) but tactile, so you develop muscle memory fast.
• Up to 8 hours of battery life. More than enough for even the longest study marathons.
• Dedicated support. Complimentary unlimited technical support via email — something no generic controller offers.
• For anything you'd rather solve yourself, there's a public Anki Remote troubleshooting guide covering pairing, LEDs, and the reset pinhole.

The Anki Remote 2 Pro is available in Pearl White, Sky Blue, and Pastel Pink, with upgraded materials for a softer, more comfortable grip compared to the standard version.

Price: $39.90 (on sale from $49.90)

Best for: Anyone who wants a plug-and-play Anki clicker with zero setup friction. Especially valuable for medical students who cannot have Karabiner installed due to exam software restrictions.

→ Shop the Anki Remote 2 Pro

2. 8BitDo Zero 2 — A Budget Option

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 8BitDo Zero 2 is a tiny Bluetooth gaming controller that the Anki community adopted as a DIY remote. It is compact enough to fit on a keychain and costs around $20–27 on Amazon.

What you should know:

• Requires Karabiner Elements (Mac) or AutoHotKey (Windows). Out of the box, the buttons do not map to Anki actions. You need third-party key-remapping software to make it work, and the setup process is not straightforward. Multiple students have reported giving up during setup.
• Privacy concerns. Karabiner Elements runs at the kernel level and monitors all keystrokes. Some exam proctoring software (like eCOMAT) will not allow it on your machine, forcing you to uninstall and reinstall monthly.
• Shorter battery life. The 8BitDo lasts around 6-8 hours per charge, which may not cover a full study session.
• Durability issues. Community reports suggest the 8BitDo can glitch and stop working more frequently than dedicated remotes. One student reported replacing theirs three times in four months.
• No dedicated support. Sold through Amazon with no Anki-specific support channel. If you have a setup issue, you are searching forums on your own.

On the positive side, it is small, affordable, and once configured, it works well for basic review sessions.

If you're weighing these two specifically, we did a full head-to-head on Anki Remote 2 Pro vs 8BitDo with battery life, longevity, and support side by side.

Price: $20–27

Best for: Students on a tight budget who are comfortable with technical setup and do not need exam-proctoring compatibility.

3. MedSchoolBro Anki Clicker — Alternative Hardware Option

The MedSchoolBro Anki Clicker is another hardware controller built for Anki, sold through the MedSchoolBro educational platform.

What you should know:

• Instant setup on Mac or PC. Pairs via Bluetooth without additional software.
• Pre-programmed controls. Comes with popular button mappings out of the box, with further customization available through their own Anki add-on.
• USB-C charging. Modern charging standard included.
• Bundled with study resources. MedSchoolBro often bundles the clicker with Anki decks and study guides.

The MedSchoolBro clicker is a solid option, though it comes from a smaller operation primarily known for study content rather than hardware. Availability can be inconsistent (frequently out of stock), and long-term reliability data is more limited.

Price: Check medschoolbro.com for current pricing

Best for: Students already in the MedSchoolBro ecosystem who want a bundle deal.

4. Anki Clicker App — Best Software Alternative

The Anki Clicker App takes a different approach entirely. Instead of a physical device, it turns your smartphone into a wireless remote for Anki.

What you should know:

• No hardware to buy. Download the app on iOS or Android, install a free bridge add-on in Anki Desktop, and your phone becomes the controller.
• Swipe gestures and virtual D-Pad. Review cards with swipe gestures that feel more intuitive than button presses for some users.
• Built-in analytics. Track retention rates and session duration in real time with visual charts.
• No Bluetooth pairing issues. Connects over your local network rather than Bluetooth.

The trade-off is that you are still using a screen, which can be a distraction. You also need your phone charged and nearby, and the app requires the Anki Desktop bridge add-on to function.

Price: Free / Freemium

Best for: Users who want to try remote Anki reviewing before committing to a hardware purchase.

5. Ankimote — Free Phone-Based Option

Ankimote is a free Anki add-on that lets you control Anki from your phone's web browser. No app download required — just install the add-on and navigate to a local URL on your phone.

What you should know:

• Completely free. No cost whatsoever.
• Basic controls. Covers the essentials (show answer, rate card) but lacks advanced features.
• Requires same network. Your phone and computer must be on the same Wi-Fi network.
• Less polished. The interface is functional but minimal compared to dedicated apps or hardware.

Price: Free

Best for: Users who want to experiment with remote reviewing at zero cost.

6. Logitech Mouse Setup — DIY Approach

Some users repurpose a Logitech mouse (like the MX Anywhere 3) by remapping extra buttons to Anki shortcuts using Logi Options+ or Karabiner Elements.

What you should know:

• Uses hardware you may already own. No new purchase required if you have a multi-button mouse.
• Requires software configuration. You still need Logi Options+ or Karabiner to remap buttons.
• Not ergonomic for long sessions. A mouse is not designed for one-handed card review. You are still desk-bound.

Price: $50–80 (if purchasing new)

Best for: Users who already own a Logitech mouse and want to try Anki reviewing without buying a separate device.

What the Anki Remote add-on does (and how to customize each button)

Setup complexity is one thing. What you do with the remote once it's paired is another. Every option in this guide handles customization differently — and understanding those differences is the difference between a remote that fits your review style and one that fights it.

What the Anki Remote add-on unlocks

The free Anki Remote add-on (installed via code 693153301 in Anki's add-on menu) is what turns the Anki Remote 2 Pro from a Bluetooth keyboard into a fully customizable Anki controller. Without it, the core buttons still work — Show Answer, Again/Hard/Good/Easy — because those map to standard keyboard shortcuts. With it, you get:

• Per-button remapping. Every button on the remote can be reassigned to any Anki action from a dropdown menu.
• Left joystick functions. The joystick doesn't do anything by default; the add-on lets you set it as Undo, Suspend, Flag, or scroll for image-heavy cards.
• Two pre-programmed modes. Key Mode (buttons match Anki's on-screen answer layout) and Game Mode (answer choices arranged clockwise). Both are configurable further.
• Action-specific mappings for Reveal Next (a common query), Bury Card, Mark for Review, and deck navigation.
• Update-able as your workflow evolves. Add-on updates ship regularly; your button layout can change as your review style does.

Installation takes ~30 seconds: Anki desktop → Tools → Add-ons → Get Add-ons → paste the code → restart Anki.

How each option compares on customization

 

The important distinction: add-on vs. third-party software

There's a difference between an Anki add-on (a small script that runs inside Anki itself) and third-party software like Karabiner or AutoHotkey (system-level tools that intercept all your keystrokes).

Anki add-ons are sandboxed, don't require permissions outside of Anki, and don't conflict with exam proctoring software. Third-party remapping tools run at the operating-system level, need extensive permissions (Input Monitoring on macOS), and can conflict with proctored exam software like eCOMAT.

If exam-software compatibility matters to you — as it does for most medical, dental, and PA students — this is a bigger deal than the customization capabilities themselves. An add-on-based remote (Anki Remote 2 Pro, MedSchoolBro) is safe to use during a proctored exam period. A Karabiner-dependent remote (8BitDo, some Logitech setups) may need to be uninstalled the week of a board exam.

What's worth customizing (and what isn't)

Most users over-customize when they first get a remote and end up back at defaults within a week. If you're new to physical Anki review, start with the pre-programmed Key Mode and use it for a month before changing anything. The two customizations actually worth making early:

• Map the joystick to Undo. By far the most-requested change. You'll misclick Good instead of Hard often enough that quick-Undo access is more valuable than any other custom function.
• Assign a button to Reveal Next if you frequently use cloze deletions or multi-part cards. This is the specific function users search for most (82 impressions on "anki reveal next shortcut" alone).

Everything else — flagging, burying, deck-switching — comes up rarely enough during a normal review session that keyboard shortcuts still make sense.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Anki Remote 2 Pro if: You want the easiest possible setup, you study for long sessions, you care about privacy and exam software compatibility, or you simply want the best-in-class Anki clicker without compromise. It is the top choice for medical students, dental students, and anyone doing 200+ reviews per day.

Choose the 8BitDo Zero 2 if: You are on a tight budget, you are comfortable with technical setup, and you do not need exam-proctoring compatibility. Just know that you may spend an extra hour or 2 troubleshooting than reviewing.

Choose the Anki Clicker App if: You want to try remote reviewing without buying hardware. It is a great way to experience the productivity benefits before investing in a dedicated device.

Choose Ankimote if: You want a completely free, no-commitment way to test phone-based Anki control. But you will lose out on the tactile feeling.

Where to buy the Anki Remote (US, Australia, UK, Canada, and international shipping)

The Anki Remote 2 Pro is available through several channels, but they're not equivalent. Here's the honest breakdown by region.

United States

• studyremote.com (official) — Primary channel. Ships nationwide, current $39.90 pricing (on sale from $49.90), stackable discount codes, unlimited email support, and the current 2 Pro model with the upgraded materials. If you're a US medical, dental, or PA student, email info@studyremote.com about the student discount — it's not published on the site but it's real.
• Amazon US — Carries older Anki Remote inventory and the 8BitDo Zero 2. Prime shipping is fast, but no direct support channel and typically no stackable discounts. Fine if you're already committed to Prime and want fast shipping; less ideal if you might need setup help.

Australia

Australian shipping is available through studyremote.com — international shipping calculates at checkout, typically 7–14 business days. 

United Kingdom

Same story as Australia — direct shipping from studyremote.com is the safest route. 

Canada

Direct shipping to Canada via studyremote.com works reliably. Duties are minimal on a $40 item under most CBSA thresholds. Amazon.ca listings should be double-checked against studyremote.com — if the seller name doesn't match, you're likely looking at a generic clicker rebranded.

Rest of world

studyremote.com ships internationally to most countries. Delivery times vary 7–21 business days depending on destination. If your country isn't listed at checkout, email support — additional destinations are added regularly.

Where NOT to buy

• Temu, AliExpress, and third-party marketplace listings. These are almost always generic Bluetooth clickers with no add-on support, no warranty, and no relationship to the actual Anki Remote product. 
• Unofficial Amazon sellers. If the Amazon listing doesn't show StudyRemote as the seller, verify authenticity before purchasing. Counterfeit listings appear periodically.

Pricing at a glance

• Anki Remote 2 Pro (official): $39.90 (from $49.90). Discount codes and student pricing available.
• 8BitDo Zero 2: $20–27 on Amazon. Add the time cost of Karabiner setup.
• MedSchoolBro Anki Clicker: Pricing varies; check medschoolbro.com. Often bundled with study content.
• Anki Clicker App: Free with paid analytics tier.
• Ankimote: Free.
• Logitech Mouse: $50–80 if buying new.

What you're actually paying for at $39.90

At $39.90, you're not just paying for hardware. You're paying for:

• Hardware designed specifically for Anki (not a repurposed gaming controller)
• The free Anki Remote add-on with ongoing updates
• Unlimited email support from the team that built the product
• A warranty a marketplace seller can't match
• Compatibility with exam proctoring software throughout board season

For a tool you'll use daily across years of med school, dental school, MCAT prep, or Step 1/2/3 studying, the direct-purchase premium is one of the cheaper study investments you'll make.

→ Shop the Anki Remote 2 Pro at studyremote.com

Why an Anki Remote Is Worth It

The math is simple. If you review 200 cards per day and an Anki remote helps you complete them in 46% less time, that is roughly 30 minutes saved daily. Over a year, that adds up to over 180 hours — time you could spend on practice questions, board prep, clinical skills, or rest.

Beyond speed, there are ergonomic benefits. Keyboard-based Anki reviewing involves repetitive finger movements that can contribute to wrist strain and carpal tunnel symptoms over months of daily use. A purpose-built remote keeps your wrist in a neutral position and lets you study from the couch, a treadmill, or anywhere that is not your desk.

Over 10,000 students at 158+ schools already use the Anki Remote. The question is not really whether a remote helps — the research is clear on that. The question is which one fits your workflow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Anki remote? An Anki remote (also called an Anki clicker or Anki controller) is a small Bluetooth device that connects to your computer or tablet and lets you control Anki flashcard reviews without touching your keyboard. You hold it in one hand and press buttons to show answers, rate cards, undo, and navigate.

Do Anki remotes work with AnkiDroid and AnkiMobile? The Anki Remote 2 Pro works with Mac, Windows, iPad, iPhone, and Android devices. Compatibility varies by product, so check the specific remote you are considering.

Is an Anki remote worth the money? For students reviewing 100+ cards per day, the time savings alone justify the cost within the first few weeks. Students using the Anki Remote report completing 94% more cards in 46% less time. The ergonomic benefits and reduced strain provide additional long-term value.

Can I use an Anki remote on a treadmill? Yes — this is one of the most popular use cases. A Bluetooth Anki clicker lets you review cards hands-free while walking, which many students find improves both focus and retention.

Does the 8BitDo work with exam proctoring software? The 8BitDo requires Karabiner Elements (Mac) or AutoHotKey (Windows), which can conflict with exam proctoring tools like eCOMAT. The Anki Remote 2 Pro does not require any third-party software, making it safe to use alongside proctoring apps.

What is the difference between an Anki remote and an Anki clicker? They are the same thing. "Anki remote," "Anki clicker," and "Anki controller" all refer to a Bluetooth device used to control Anki flashcard reviews wirelessly.

The Verdict

For most Anki users, the Anki Remote 2 Pro is the clear winner. It combines instant setup, long battery life, silent buttons, full customization, exam-software safety, and dedicated support — all in an ergonomic package designed specifically for the way you actually study.

The 8BitDo is a reasonable budget pick if you are comfortable with technical tinkering, and the app-based options are good for testing the waters. But if you want something that just works from day one and keeps working through years of daily reviews, the Anki Remote 2 Pro is the standard.

→ Get the Anki Remote 2 Pro