The Anki add-ons with the most ratings on AnkiWeb cover review heatmaps, text to speech, image occlusion cards, AI and sync helpers, new looks and study games. AnkiWeb shows a ratings count and a modified date for each, but no star average or download total. Eleven follow in no particular order, as of Oct 2026.
Add-ons change what Anki does, from how your cards sound to how your review history looks. You find them on AnkiWeb, Anki's own site, which lists 3,776 add-ons as of Oct 2026, and you install each one with a short code from its page.
The eleven here have the most ratings on that list. They're alphabetical and in no particular order, and each description is a plain version of what the add-on's own page says. If you're still deciding where the rest of your study notes should live, my guide to note-taking apps will help.
How these Anki add-ons were chosen
The evidence comes from the AnkiWeb add-ons list and each add-on's own page on AnkiWeb, as of Oct 2026. AnkiWeb shows a ratings count, a modified date and the lowest Anki version each add-on supports. It doesn't show a star average, a download count or a publisher in the list, so the ratings count and modified date are the only numbers here. The free plan column says Not stated because no page names a plan.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anki Leaderboard | Study game | Competing with friends on reviews | Not stated |
| AnkiBrain (AnkiChatGPT) | AI study helper | ChatGPT-style help inside Anki | Not stated |
| AnkiConnect | Bridge to other apps | Letting other programs search decks and create cards | Not stated |
| AnkiHub | Shared deck service | Subscribing to and collaborating on shared decks | Not stated |
| Ankimon | Study game | A game layer on your reviews | Not stated |
| AwesomeTTS | Text to speech | Adding spoken audio to flashcards | Not stated |
| HyperTTS | Text to speech | Hearing your cards read aloud | Not stated |
| Image Occlusion Enhanced | Image card maker | Hiding parts of an image to test yourself | Not stated |
| Onigiri | New look | A more modern look for Anki | Not stated |
| Review Heatmap | Review stats | Seeing your review history as a heatmap | Not stated |
| Synapse | New look | A redesigned, more modern Anki | Not stated |
Eleven Anki add-ons with the most ratings
Anki Leaderboard
Best for: Friends revising together who want a leaderboard to compete on and keep each other going (446 ratings as of Oct 2026).
AnkiBrain (AnkiChatGPT)
Best for: Students who want a ChatGPT-style helper inside Anki; its page asks you to use the Qt6 version of Anki and links its source code (586 ratings as of Oct 2026).
AnkiConnect
Best for: Language learners using apps like Yomichan, since it lets outside programs query your decks and create new cards over a simple HTTP API (518 ratings as of Oct 2026).
AnkiHub
Best for: Study groups who want to subscribe to and work on shared decks together, from the AnKing team; it asks you to sign up (400 ratings as of Oct 2026).
Ankimon
Best for: Learners who need a game to keep going with reviews, from two developers who sign as Unlucky-life and h0tp (2,479 ratings as of Oct 2026, the most here).
AwesomeTTS
Best for: Adding speech to your flashcards, so you hear a word or phrase as well as read it (930 ratings as of Oct 2026).
HyperTTS
Best for: Hearing cards read aloud, from a second text to speech add-on with the same promise of speech on your flashcards (699 ratings as of Oct 2026).
Image Occlusion Enhanced
Best for: Studying from diagrams and pictures, by hiding parts of an image and testing yourself on what's underneath (1,011 ratings as of Oct 2026).
Onigiri
Best for: Giving Anki a more modern look for your study sessions, from a creator who signs as Peace (563 ratings as of Oct 2026).
Review Heatmap
Best for: Seeing your review history as a heatmap, so gaps and streaks are easy to spot at a glance (2,315 ratings as of Oct 2026).
Synapse
Best for: Turning Anki into a more modern, polished version, built solo by a medical student from Germany in their spare time (1,381 ratings as of Oct 2026).
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Ratings pile up, updates don't always follow
Review Heatmap carries 2,315 ratings with a modified date of June 30, 2022, and Image Occlusion Enhanced has 1,011 ratings with April 9, 2022. Meanwhile Synapse, with 1,381 ratings, was modified on October 29, 2026, and Ankimon, the most-rated here at 2,479, on August 13, 2026. All as of Oct 2026.
A ratings count keeps growing long after an add-on's last change, so a high number tells you lots of people cared enough to rate it, not that it's kept up with Anki. AnkiWeb doesn't show a star average either, so you can't tell from the list whether those ratings were happy ones.
That's why the lowest Anki version on each page matters. Check it against the version you're running before you paste in the code.
Which Anki add-on type for which study problem
- You're learning a language with a pop-up dictionary app: pick a bridge add-on that lets other programs create cards in your decks.
- You want to hear your cards: pick a text to speech add-on.
- You learn from diagrams, maps or anatomy pictures: pick an image occlusion add-on, so you can hide labels and test yourself.
- Motivation is the problem: pick a study game or a leaderboard to compete with friends.
- Anki's look puts you off: pick a redesign add-on, after checking the lowest Anki version it needs.
- You study from shared decks with a group: pick a shared deck service, knowing it may ask you to sign up.
Installing Anki add-ons without breaking your collection
- Sync or back up your collection first, so you can roll back if something goes wrong.
- Copy the code from the add-on's AnkiWeb page.
- In Anki, open Tools, then Add-ons, then Get Add-ons, and paste the code.
- Restart Anki, then try one review session before you add the next add-on.
- Add one at a time. If something looks odd, you'll know which add-on did it.
If you're pairing Anki with AI to make cards or explanations, my roundup of AI writing tools that help students study smarter covers the writing side.
Do you make Anki add-ons? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on picking Anki add-ons
Fix one study problem at a time. If you can't hear your language cards, add speech. If you can't see your progress, add a heatmap. If you're bored, add a game. Five add-ons you use beat twenty you forgot you installed, and every extra one is something else that can clash when Anki updates.
Read the ratings count as a sign of how many people have used an add-on over the years, then look at the modified date and the lowest Anki version. Those two tell you more about whether it'll sit happily on your setup today.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What are Anki add-ons?
They're small programs that change what Anki does, such as adding speech to cards, a heatmap of your reviews or a new look. You get them from AnkiWeb.
How do I install an Anki add-on?
Copy the code from the add-on's AnkiWeb page, then in Anki open Tools, Add-ons, Get Add-ons, paste the code and restart Anki.
Does AnkiWeb show star ratings for add-ons?
No. The add-ons list shows a ratings count, a modified date and the lowest Anki version, but no star average and no download count.
Why does an add-on with lots of ratings have an old modified date?
Ratings keep adding up over the years, even when the add-on hasn't changed. Check the lowest Anki version it supports before you install.
How many Anki add-ons should I use?
As few as solve your problem. Add them one at a time, so you know which one is behind any change you see.
