Frequently Asked Questions

Creating flashcards is incredibly simple:

• Type or paste your content into the text box on the homepage
• Format each flashcard as: Question | Answer
• Put each flashcard on its own line
• Click "Start Studying" and you're done!

No account creation, no email verification, no waiting. You can start studying in under 10 seconds.

BuildFlashCards supports three different separators:

• Pipe character ( | ) - Recommended, easiest to see
• Tab - Great if copying from spreadsheets
• Comma ( , ) - Works with CSV files

Choose whichever works best for your workflow. The pipe character is usually the best choice because it's unlikely to appear in your actual flashcard content.

No! You never need to create an account to use BuildFlashCards. We built this tool specifically to avoid the hassle of signups, email verification, and password management.

Just open the website and start creating flashcards immediately. Your data is saved locally in your browser, so you can close the tab and come back later without losing your work.

Yes! Click the "Upload CSV" button to import flashcards from:

• CSV files (from Excel, Google Sheets, etc.)
• Text files with your flashcards
• Any file with question-answer pairs

Your file should have questions in the first column and answers in the second column, separated by commas, tabs, or pipes.

Yes, 100% free! There are no hidden costs, premium tiers, or paywalls. You can:

• Create unlimited flashcards
• Study as much as you want
• Use all features without restrictions
• Access everything without paying anything

No. We built BuildFlashCards because we were frustrated with other flashcard apps that started free and then added paywalls. We're committed to keeping this tool completely free forever.

We created this for students who just want to study without barriers. That mission won't change.

Unlimited! There's no limit on the number of flashcards you can create. Whether you need 10 flashcards or 10,000, BuildFlashCards can handle it.

The only limitation is your browser's localStorage capacity, which is typically around 5-10MB - enough for tens of thousands of flashcards.

Yes! BuildFlashCards is free to use for any purpose - personal study, classroom teaching, tutoring, corporate training, or any other use case. No attribution or permission required.

BuildFlashCards includes everything you need for effective studying:

• Instant creation - Start studying in seconds
• Card flipping - Click or press Space to reveal answers
• Progress tracking - Mark cards as known to track learning
• Shuffle mode - Randomize card order for better retention
• Keyboard shortcuts - Navigate without using your mouse
• CSV import/export - Upload and download flashcard decks
• Auto-save - Your cards are saved automatically
• Mobile-friendly - Study on any device

Currently, BuildFlashCards only supports text-based flashcards. We focused on making text flashcards as fast and simple as possible.

For most studying scenarios - vocabulary, definitions, facts, formulas - text flashcards are the most effective and efficient option.

BuildFlashCards focuses on simplicity rather than complex algorithms. You can manually control your studying by:

• Marking cards you know to focus on what needs practice
• Shuffling cards for varied practice
• Reviewing regularly on your own schedule

This gives you full control over your study method without complicated scheduling systems.

Yes! Use the "Download" button to save your flashcards as a CSV file. You can then:

• Email the file to classmates or study groups
• Share it via cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)
• Post it to your class forum or Discord

Anyone can upload your CSV file to BuildFlashCards and start studying immediately.

Speed up your studying with these shortcuts:

• Space - Flip the current flashcard
• Right Arrow (→) - Next card
• Left Arrow (←) - Previous card
• K - Mark card as known/unknown

Using keyboard shortcuts means you can study without ever reaching for your mouse!

Your flashcards are stored locally in your browser using localStorage. This means:

• Your flashcards never leave your device
• We cannot see what you're studying
• No data is sent to our servers
• Your flashcards stay completely private

We collect minimal analytics data (via Google Analytics) to understand how people use the site - things like page views and button clicks. We do not collect:

• Your flashcard content
• What you're studying
• Personal information
• Email addresses or names
• Study habits or patterns

Your study content is completely private and never tracked.

Your flashcards are as secure as your browser. Since they're stored locally:

• They can't be hacked from our servers (we don't have any flashcard servers)
• They can't be leaked in a data breach
• Only you can access them from your device

Just make sure to keep your device secure with a password or PIN.

Yes! Since your data is stored locally in your browser, you control it completely:

• Clear your browser's localStorage to remove all flashcards
• Delete the text from the input box
• Clear your browser's cache and cookies

Once deleted from your browser, your flashcards are gone forever (we don't have any backups because we never received them in the first place).

BuildFlashCards works on all modern browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Safari (Mac and iOS)
• Microsoft Edge
• Opera

As long as your browser supports localStorage, BuildFlashCards will work perfectly.

Once you've loaded the website, you can study your existing flashcards offline. However, you need an internet connection to:

• Initially load the website
• Create new flashcards (if you refresh the page)

Your saved flashcards remain accessible offline as long as you don't close your browser tab.

Yes! BuildFlashCards is fully responsive and works great on:

• Smartphones (iPhone, Android)
• Tablets (iPad, Android tablets)
• Laptops and desktop computers

The interface automatically adapts to your screen size for the best studying experience.

If you clear your browser's cache, cookies, or localStorage, your flashcards will be deleted. To prevent losing your work:

Since flashcards are stored locally in each browser, they won't automatically sync between devices. To use your flashcards on multiple devices:

• Download your flashcards as a CSV from the first device
• Transfer the file (email, cloud storage, USB, etc.)
• Upload the CSV on your other device

This takes just a few seconds and gives you full control over where your data goes.

We deliberately chose not to include cloud sync to protect your privacy. Cloud sync would require:

• Creating user accounts
• Storing your flashcards on our servers
• The ability to see what you're studying

This goes against our core principle: your study content should be completely private. The download/upload feature gives you control over your data without compromising privacy.

There are a few reasons your flashcards might not appear:

• Different browser: Flashcards are saved per-browser. If you switched from Chrome to Firefox, you'll need to re-upload your deck.
• Private/Incognito mode: These modes don't save localStorage data permanently.
• Cleared browser data: Clearing cache/cookies removes localStorage.
• Different device: Flashcards don't sync between devices automatically.

This is why we recommend downloading backups regularly using the "Download" button.

There's no dedicated mobile app, but you don't need one! BuildFlashCards works perfectly in your mobile browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.).

A web-based tool means:

• No app downloads or updates required
• Works on any device with a browser
• Always the latest version automatically
• No storage space used on your device

If you have a question that wasn't answered here:

• Check out our complete tutorial for step-by-step instructions
• Read our about page to learn more about our mission
• Visit our blog for study tips and guides

We love hearing from users! While we're committed to keeping BuildFlashCards simple and focused, we're always interested in feedback that aligns with our core values:

• Speed and simplicity
• Privacy first
• No accounts required
• Completely free

If you have suggestions that enhance these principles, we'd love to hear them.

BuildFlashCards and Quizlet serve different needs:

BuildFlashCards is better if you want:

• No account creation
• Complete privacy
• Instant start (under 10 seconds)
• Zero ads
• Truly free (no premium tier)
• Simple, distraction-free interface

Quizlet is better if you want:

• Cloud sync across devices
• Shared class decks
• Study games and activities
• Mobile apps
• Advanced features (with paid subscription)

We built BuildFlashCards for students who just want to paste their notes and start studying immediately, without any friction or barriers.

Anki is powerful but complex. BuildFlashCards is simple but effective:

BuildFlashCards advantages:

• Web-based (no download required)
• Start studying in under 10 seconds
• No learning curve
• Simple, intuitive interface
• No account setup

Anki advantages:

• Advanced spaced repetition algorithms
• Extensive customization options
• Add-ons and plugins
• Image and audio support
• Powerful for serious long-term memorization

Choose BuildFlashCards if you want something simple and fast. Choose Anki if you want maximum power and don't mind the complexity.

Here are our top tips for effective flashcard studying:

• Study regularly: Review flashcards multiple times over several days, not all at once
• Shuffle frequently: Randomize the order to avoid memorizing sequences instead of content
• Test both directions: If learning vocabulary, create cards for both "English → Spanish" and "Spanish → English"
• Keep cards simple: One fact per card works better than cramming multiple concepts
• Say answers out loud: Vocalizing helps reinforce memory
• Mark what you know: Focus study time on cards you haven't mastered yet
• Review before bed: Memory consolidation happens during sleep

Check out our blog for more detailed study strategies!