Academic Apps: A List of Favorites for School and Study

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In addition to learning, I have a slight obsession with productivity, planning, and organization. And though the writer in me will always prefer Moleskine and ink, the student/teacher in me nerds out every time I get a chance to try a new app that promises to help me take notes, organize, focus, remember, search, visualize, or store information better. I really can’t help myself.

For many students, incorporating apps into the study process can help increase motivation and enjoyment: whether it’s gamifying - accruing points and rewards - or increasing satisfaction - making things feel more organized or visually appealing.

Below is a list of apps and programs I’ve used/tested at length with an asterisk * marking my personal favorites.

Timers that Remove Distractions

*Forest - Plants a tree every time you want to focus. Any time you try to leave the app, the tree withers away which is a surprisingly effective deterrent to scrolling (who wants to kill a tree?). I like the visual appeal, adjustable pomodoro timer with breaks, ability to connect with friends, that your time accrued unlocks rewards (i.e., cooler-looking plants), and that there are daily-weekly-monthly-yearly views.

Study Bunny - Much like Forest, but with a cute bunny. Any time you want to leave the app, the bunny cries (again, pretty effective scroll-hole deterrent). You can use time rewards to unlock coins and decorate your bunny’s room. It can feel a bit kitsch, but the functionality and focus you get are fairly equivalent. You can pay for an ad-free version, or even watch ads to earn carrots to feed your bunny and keep them smiling.

Freedom - Has timer and time-setting functions, but is more focused on the distraction-blocking capability. Is designed more for computer use than phone, so if focusing while on your laptop is a problem for you this might be the one you want. Does have a paywall, which may deter some students on a budget.

Tasks & ToDo Lists

*Smart Tasks - Is a task list with some pretty impressive integrations. You can connect this app to any number of calendars and other list or note apps to keep everything organized and in one place. It’s customizable, with categories, colors, and general visual appeal, has multiple views, and syncs across devices. Personally, I like that I can have it open on my computer when I’m using a timer app, so I can tick off tasks without breaking flow.

ToDoist - Has much the same capability as Smart Tasks, the major difference honestly is the look and feel. For those who are familiar, ToDoist has an aesthetic similar to Reminders. Though I found the categorization elements a little less seamless than Smart Tasks, the functionality and integration are similar.

Microsoft Office ToDo - May be what you want if you’re already using Microsoft Office for school. The tasks integrate with Outlook Email and Onedrive, are available in an app, and sync across devices. The look is typical Office-y-utilitarian and not particularly customizable, more about function than fashion.

Visualization

*Miro - Is what you want for any projects that require brainstorming, mind-mapping, planning, or collaboration. The usability is so powerful, I don’t want to reduce it, but if I had to describe it in a nutshell? Sticky notes on steroids. Last month alone I used it to outline a book, create a timeline, and organize a web-sync project.

*Prezi - Is a classic that I feel is always worth a mention. Presentation software known for making PowerPoints look like kindergarten doodles, Prezi now has a fantastic feature that allows you to present “over” video. For example, you could give a presentation in an online class without the boring screen-share-watch-my-cursor-while-I-drone-on scenario.

*Canva - Seems to finally be making its way from media-marking to mainstream, and for good reason. It’s user-friendly - you don’t have to be a designer to make professional-looking graphics - and has templates for anything you may want to make: posters, flyers, presentations, covers, etc. There is a free version that covers the basics, but the best functions are behind the monthly Premium paywall - though, I have heard from others that a student/teacher discount may be available.

Databases

*Notion - Is a powerhouse and personal favorite for so many reasons. In simplistic terms, it’s a place to organize, store, and share information. But really, the functions and capability feel truly endless. There are so many features that help you organize in different ways, making connections and relationships between pieces of information. There are also endless clever functions such as “toggle” “tables” and different types of lists that are a nerdy dream. Visual elements are clean, appealing, and completely customizable, though there are endless templates available if you want to start with some structure. Currently, I believe there are free and premium versions available. Syncs across devices, though, the phone app isn’t quite as easy to use as the web and computer versions.

Evernote - Is an evergreen organizational tool with much the same functionality as Notion. If you want to clip, organize, and store, Evernote is a solid option. Though not quite as customizable and seamless an experience, it is simpler, and in some ways easier to “get up and running” quickly. Syncs across devices.

OneDrive - Is a solid option if, again, you’re using Microsoft Office suite for school/work. The file-sharing function is a nice (maybe the best) feature, and helps you avoid emailing documents back and forth. It’s cloud-based, and though auto-save can be glitchy at times, more often than not helps prevent that panicky “did I save it somewhere?” feeling. It is also probably most recognizable format-wise, as visuals are in the “folder —> document” format most of us know and feel familiar with.

Flashcards

*Quizlet - Flashcards are attractive and easy to use. If you want simple setup, categorization, and timing - these are your cards. One feature that is surprisingly useful is the ability to share with students and friends. There is a premium paywall, but discount versions for teachers and students.

Anki - Flashcard system is plain but powerful: completely customizable in regard to category, media, and timed repetition. Though a bit complicated setup-wise and lacking in aesthetics, it’ll be a favorite for those who want to master both a subject and a system.

References

Mendeley - Is a reference manager, and essentially a place to store and organize your research. It is downloadable as a program and plugin, and for the most part does a nice job of collecting and organizing sources. Though, personally, I’ve found that using it for citation purposes can be a bit tricky - you’ll want to double-check that the information pulled is accurate and organized in the correct arrangement for the formatting style you choose.

Zotero - Is quite similar to Mendeley in purpose and function. Though, recently many libraries have begun to partner with Zotero, integrating plugins into their websites and databases. So it may be worth checking out at your college or university. I find the same citation concern holds true here as well - double-check that the information is accurate and citation formatting is correct.

If there is an app or program I’ve missed feel free to recommend using the Contact Me form. I’m always happy to try something new and potentially useful. My goal is to keep this list updated and evergreen, adjusting as-needed, and will put the last edit date here to indicate: November 2021.

Be cool, excel in school,

MARYREDINGWRITES