If you've been using Anki for more than a few days, you've probably developed a familiar routine: open your deck, review your cards, and use your keyboard to move through each session. This is where an Anki Remote excels.
For many students, that's exactly how Anki begins—and for shorter study sessions, it's a perfectly effective setup.
But as your daily review volume grows, especially during MCAT or medical school preparation, you may start noticing the repetitive nature of constantly reaching for the keyboard.
That's when many students begin asking:
Is an Anki controller actually better than a keyboard?
The answer depends on your study habits. In this guide, we'll compare both approaches and explain when a dedicated controller like StudyRemote (formerly Anki Remote) can improve your review experience. Check out the pricing page for comparison.
What You'll Learn
- Why most students start with a keyboard
- When a keyboard begins to feel limiting
- Typical Anki review volumes
- How StudyRemote changes the review experience
- Whether an Anki controller is right for you
The Default Way Students Use Anki
For most people, Anki starts with a Keyboard.
Typical workflow:
-
Press space bar to reveal the answer
-
Press 1 to 4 to grade the card
-
Move quickly through reviews
It’s simple, efficient and requires not setup.
For short sessions, it works perfectly.
And if you’re just getting started with Anki, there’s no reason to change everything.
Why the Keyboard Works Well
There’s a reason almost everyone uses a keyboard for Anki at first.
-
No extra tools needed
-
No setup or configuration
-
Familiar and easy to use
-
Works across all devices
It’s the most accessible way to use Anki.
For casual studying and short sessions, a keyboard is usually more than enough.
Where the Keyboard Starts to Breakdown
The limitations don’t show up right away.
They show up over time.
Once you start reviewing large numbers of cards daily, small issues become noticeable.
-
Repeating the same key presses hundreds of times
-
Staying locked into one position at your desk
-
Reaching forkeys constantly
-
Losing focus during longer sessions
These aren’t major problems individually, but they add up.
How Many Cards do students Usually Review?
For many students, especially in medical or pre-med tracks, daily review volume is high.
As an MS1, I try to hit about 150 news/day and feel pretty accomplished when I do. I should note that this (plus 400ish) reviews takes me a LONG time... probably 6ish hours. By the end of the day my brain is done! - reddit user
Typical ranges look like this:
-
100-200 cards/day (early stage)
-
300-600 cards/day (consistent study)
-
700+ cards/day (examp prep)
At any level, even small inefficiencies start to matter.
When you’re pressing a key hundreds of times in a session, the experience becomes less about learning and more about managing repetition.
How StudyRemote Changes the Workflow
An Anki controller like StudyRemote (formerly Anki Remote) takes that repetitive input and simplifies it.
Instead of relying on a keyboard, you use a small handheld controller to move through your cards.
In practice, that means:
-
No reaching for keys
-
No fixed typing posture
-
Fewer interruptions during review
You’re still doing the same Anki process, just with less physical friction.
What Actually Feels Different
The biggest difference isn’t speed, it’s how the session feels.
With a keyboard:
-
You stay anchored to your desk
-
Your hands stay in the same position
-
Movement is repetitive
With a controller:
-
You can lean back and change posture
-
Your hands move less
-
The flow feels smoother
It’s a small shift, but over longer session, it becomes more noticeable.
Keyboard vs StudyRemote: Side-by-Side
|
Feature |
Keyboard |
StudyRemote |
|
Setup |
None |
Minimal |
|
Cost |
Free |
Paid |
|
Comfort (long sessions) |
Moderate |
Higher |
|
Flexibility |
Low |
High |
|
Learning curve |
None |
Very low |
Both work. The difference is how they scale with your study habits.
Final Verdict
A keyboard is still the simplest most accessible way to use Anki.
For many students, it’s all they need.
But as study volume increases, the experience changes.
For longer, more consistent review sessions, a hands-free Anki remote like StudyRemote can make the process feel smoother and sustainable.
