An AnkiConnect alternative that works without Anki open

AnkiConnect lets a script talk to Anki Desktop, but only while the desktop app is running on the same machine. The Ankinize REST API does the same job on a server: scripts, CI jobs, AI agents and browser extensions add and read cards with no desktop app open, and the cards sync to Anki on every device.

AnkiConnect and Ankinize side by side#

	AnkiConnect	Ankinize REST API
What it is	An add-on that opens an HTTP port inside Anki Desktop.	A sync server that exposes the same Collection over REST.
Anki Desktop must be running	Yes, on the same machine (localhost:8765).	No. The API runs on the server.
Reach it from a server, CI or a phone	Not without tunnelling your desktop.	Yes, over HTTPS with an API key.
Gets cards to your devices	Through Anki's own sync, after you sync the desktop.	Cards sync to Anki Desktop, AnkiDroid and AnkiMobile the next time they sync.
Search	Anki search syntax with findNotes and findCards.	The same Anki search text in `q`, plus typed builders in the SDK.
Batches and safe retries	multi for several actions.	Batch endpoints, and an `Idempotency-Key` header so a retry never adds a card twice.
Drive Anki's windows (browser, add dialog)	Yes: the gui actions.	No. It works on the data, not the interface.
Account and cost	None. Free and local.	An Ankinize account (free 200 MB), or your own server.
Who maintains it	A community add-on, outside the Anki team.	Ankinize, independent of Anki and AnkiWeb.

Add a note#

The same task in both. Ankinize names a note type and a deck as strings, and keys fields by camelCase name (Back Extra is backExtra).

curl localhost:8765 -X POST -d '{
  "action": "addNote",
  "version": 6,
  "params": { "note": {
    "deckName": "Reading", "modelName": "Basic",
    "fields": { "Front": "What is FSRS?", "Back": "A spaced repetition scheduler." }
  } }
}'

Find notes#

Anki's search syntax carries over, so a query you have already written for AnkiConnect works unchanged.

curl localhost:8765 -X POST -d '{
  "action": "findNotes", "version": 6,
  "params": { "query": "deck:Reading is:due" }
}'

Action by action#

AnkiConnect action	Ankinize endpoint
deckNames, deckNamesAndIds	`GET /api/v1/decks`
createDeck	`POST /api/v1/decks`
addNote	`POST /api/v1/notes`
addNotes	`POST /api/v1/notes/batch-create`
findNotes	`GET /api/v1/notes?q=`
findCards	`GET /api/v1/cards?q=`
notesInfo	`GET /api/v1/notes/{id}`
updateNoteFields	`PATCH /api/v1/notes/{id}`
deleteNotes	`POST /api/v1/notes/batch-delete`
getTags	`GET /api/v1/tags`
storeMediaFile	`PUT /api/v1/media/{name}`
answerCards	`POST /api/v1/cards/{id}/answer`

Next#

Make a key under API Keys & Devices (see Authentication), then try the calls in the API reference or install the TypeScript SDK. To let an AI agent do it, read AI agents and Ankinize.