Swiftflip is a flashcard app for iOS, watchOS and macOS that helps you remember what you learn. It uses spaced repetition to show you cards right before you forget them.
This guide walks you through creating your first deck and completing your first practice session.
Create a Deck
Open Swiftflip and tap the + button in the top right corner. Choose "New Deck" and give it a name. For this example, we will create a deck called "Spanish Basics".
Pick a name that describes what you are learning. If you are studying for a specific exam or course, use that name.
Add Cards
Tap your new deck to open it, then tap + to add a card. Type a word on the front and its translation on the back. The front is the question or prompt, the back is the answer you want to recall.
Keep each card focused on one thing. Instead of putting five words on one card, make five separate cards. One idea per card makes review faster and retention stronger.
Add a few cards to start:
- hola → hello
- gracias → thank you
- por favor → please
- sí → yes
- no → no
Five to ten cards is a good starting point. Add more as you go.
Practice
Go back to your deck and tap "Practice". You will see the front of a card. Try to remember the answer before revealing it. Then tap or swipe to flip the card.
After seeing the answer, rate how well you knew it. If you got it right easily, swipe right. If you struggled or got it wrong, swipe left. Your rating determines when the card appears again.
Work through all your cards. The first session is quick since you only have a few cards. As your deck grows, sessions get longer, but the app keeps them manageable by spreading reviews over time.
Come Back Tomorrow
After your first session, Swiftflip schedules your cards for review. The app shows how many cards are due so you know when to practice.
A few minutes each day is enough. Ten cards daily beats seventy once a week.
The first week feels intensive. Stick with it. The workload settles as easy cards get spaced further apart.
Build a Routine
Habit stacking: attach practice to something you already do. Right after your morning coffee. During your commute. The existing habit triggers the new one.
Enable notifications in Settings if you want a daily reminder.
Watch Your Progress
Cards you know well appear less often. Difficult cards appear more frequently.
Keep adding cards as you learn new material. Over time, older cards feel effortless while newer cards still require work.