Hey everyone building Retrieve, a native SwiftUI flashcard app for iOS.
The pitch: AnkiMobile is powerful but clunky and dated. Brainscape locks AI behind a subscription. Flashcards Deluxe can't search across decks. Retrieve aims to fix all three native SwiftUI, the real FSRS spaced-repetition algorithm, a Home/Lock Screen widget showing cards due, and cross-deck search. Free to use, with a one-time unlock for premium features (no subscription).
I’m Scott, the solo iOS developer behind Retrieve.
I built Retrieve because I wanted a flashcard app with real algorithmic rigor that actually felt like a native, modern iOS app without locking core utilities behind a monthly subscription.
While legacy options suffer from dated interfaces and newer AI apps aggressively gate basic features behind recurring fees, Retrieve takes a different path: modern FSRS spaced repetition, fully native performance, and a transparent one-time purchase.
With Retrieve, you get:
Proven FSRS Spaced Repetition: Smart scheduling that maximizes retention while minimizing review time.
Native iOS Integrations: Dynamic home screen widgets, image occlusion, and cloze deletion support.
Global Search & Seamless Import: Search across all your decks instantly, plus full .apkg support to bring your existing Anki libraries over.
Zero Infrastructure, 100% On-Device: Fast, private, and lightweight (built with SwiftData), with CloudKit sync coming next.
No Subscriptions: Core study features are completely free. Upgrade once to unlock power utilities—pay once, keep forever.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, and feature requests. Thanks for checking it out!