- Best Study Apps Mac Os
- Best Study Apps Microsoft
- Best Study Apps Mac Os
- Best Study Apps Mac Pro
- Best Mac Os Apps
Wunderlist is the best task manager app you can get without paying for it. You can create different lists and add time-sensitive projects to them, create tasks with recurring due dates, and share your lists with others. It syncs across Mac and iOS, so you can take your lists with you everywhere you go. MacFly Pro is a maintenance app that clears the useless files from the disk. Students are notorious for their untidiness. Their laptops are no exception. They tend to have all kinds of duplicate files littering the disk – essay drafts, academic paper copies, discarded apps, innumerable photos.
No matter what your major, you’re bound to take a class that requires you to memorize large amounts of information. Whether it’s historical dates, medical terms, equations, or quotes from your professor’s favorite TV show, memorizing information can be a challenge.
To make memorization easier, people have come up with all kinds of systems and techniques. And one of the most powerful systems is flashcards.
You probably made paper flashcards in school, but the right digital apps can make flashcards an even more powerful tool. Plus, they’re a lot easier to manage than a bunch of pieces of paper.
Since the app stores and internet are flooded with flashcard apps that all claim to be the best, it can be difficult to find the app that’s right for your needs. To save you time, we tested over a dozen flashcard apps and narrowed them down to our six favorites.
Whether you’re studying for a final exam or a standardized test like the GRE, there’s an app on this list that will make your studies easier and more effective.
1. Anki
Overview: A powerful flashcard app that uses spaced repetition to make your studies more efficient and effective.
Even after testing many other flashcard apps, Anki remains my top recommendation. While some of the other apps on this list have slicker interfaces and more features, Anki remains superior for helping you learn, retain, and review information.
To use Anki, you first create a flashcard in the way you’re used to (a term on one side and a definition on the other, for example). You then organize these cards into “Decks” based on whatever information you’re trying to learn.
Once you’re ready to study, Anki will show you one side of each card. When you think you have the answer (or if you can’t remember), you flip the card over to reveal it.
After you’ve revealed the answer, Anki will ask you to rate how difficult it was for you to recall it. Based on this difficulty rating, Anki will decide when to show you the card again. This could be as soon as a few minutes from now or as long as a month.
The idea behind this is to review information only when you’re about to forget it. This way, you spend the most time studying the concepts that are difficult for you and don’t waste time reviewing information you already know.
If you’re curious to learn more about the principles that Anki is based on, check out our guide to spaced repetition.
Pricing: Free (except for the iOS app, which is $24.99)
Platforms: Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows, Web
2. Brainscape
Overview: A flashcard app that uses spaced repetition, though you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro version to add images and sounds to cards.
Brainscape seems like a fairly simple flashcard app on the surface, but it includes some advanced features that are helpful for tracking your progress and ensuring that you’ve learned information thoroughly.
To get started with Brainscape, you’ll need to create a class. This could be a real class you’re taking, or just a general subject you’re learning. Within each class, you can then create decks of flashcards on more specific topics.
Creating flashcards in Brainscape is quite easy, with each card’s question in one column and the answer in another. Be aware that the free version only allows you to add text; you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro version to add images and sounds (the Pro version starts at $9.99 per month).
After you’ve created your deck, you can start studying it. When you reveal the answer to a question, Brainscape will ask you to rate how well you knew the answer on a scale of 1 (“Not At All”) to 5 (“Perfectly”).
Based on your ratings, the app assigns you a “Mastery” score ranging from 0% to 100%, and it will continue to quiz you until you’ve reached a 100% Mastery. This is more or less the same as the spaced repetition system that Anki uses.
Pricing: Free (with a Pro version that lets you add images/sounds and study other users’ flashcard decks)
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
3. Quizlet
Overview: A simple flashcard app that emulates the experience of studying paper flashcards.
Are you looking for an app that mimics paper flashcards without a lot of added bells and whistles? Then Quizlet is a great choice.
Once you sign up, the app makes it simple to start creating cards on the topic of your choice. In addition to text, you can also add images from your computer or Quizlet’s library.
When it’s time to study your cards, Quizlet gives you a variety of options. You can “flip” the cards over to mimic studying paper cards, but you can also study the cards using games or fill-in-the-blank tests.
If you’re trying to learn how to spell words (such as with a foreign language or technical vocabulary), there’s also an option to listen to a computer-generated recording and type what you hear.
My only criticism of Quizlet is how it suggests answers/definitions for your cards. For instance, if you type “function” on one side of a card, Quizlet will suggest definitions like “a relation in which each element of the domain is paired with exactly one element of the range.”
While this is supposed to be a helpful feature, I don’t suggest using it. To truly learn information, you need to put it into your own words and make the cards yourself. Only then will you understand what you’re learning.
Pricing: Free (with paid, pre-made flashcard decks for specific topics)
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
4. Chegg Prep
Overview: A solid flashcard app that grades you on each of your study sessions.
Chegg is our top recommendation for saving money on textbooks, so I was interested to see that they also offer a flashcard tool called Chegg Prep.
The flashcard features are fairly standard, letting you create two-sided cards with basic text formatting and the option to add images. Studying the cards is fairly similar to paper cards, with the option to flip the card over to reveal the other side.
After you flip a card, Chegg will ask you if you got the answer right (“Got it”) or if you need to review it again (“Note quite”). Based on this information, you’ll receive a score at the end of each study session, with the option to study the cards again if you want.
While the scoring system isn’t useless, it doesn’t affect how often you’ll see cards as it would in Anki or Brainscape. This isn’t a big deal if you’re studying a small amount of information, but it could be problematic if you need to memorize hundreds of terms for an exam like the MCAT or GRE.
Pricing: Free
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
5. Cram
Overview: A basic flashcard app that offers a variety of ways to study your cards, including games.
Cram is a fairly straightforward flashcard app with some interesting features for reviewing and studying your cards.
To start, you create a set of flashcards with a title of your choice. From there, you add information to the front and back of the card using text and (optionally) images.
Notably, you can also create a “Hint” side to the card if you want (which can be a useful way to emulate a real person quizzing you on the cards).
From there, you have many options for studying the cards. There’s a fairly standard flashcard mode where you flip the cards, which also lets you tell the app if you got the answer wrong or right.
Cards that you get right won’t show up in future study sessions, while cards that you get wrong will appear again. This isn’t as sophisticated as the system in Anki or Brainscape, but it’s still helpful.
Beyond the basic flashcard mode, you can also choose to study your cards using matching, multiple-choice, true/false, or fill-in-the-blank tests.
There are even two games you can use to study, “Jewels of Wisdom” and “Stellar Speller.” While interesting, I’m not sure how much learning value there is in these games (though that could just be my preference).
Pricing: Free (with a paid option that removes ads and gives you additional formatting tools)
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
6. IDoRecall
Overview: A flashcard app that integrates with your study materials.
IDoRecall is a spaced repetition flashcard app, similar to Anki. However, it also has some important and exciting differences.
Most notably, IDoRecall is an app designed specifically for studying academic material. Instead of leaving you to create cards on your own, the app lets you upload the material you’re studying and create cards directly from it.
These cards then link back to the study material, letting you quickly refresh your memory if you can’t remember something when you’re reviewing it.
The app supports a variety of media formats, including PDFs, PowerPoints, Word Docs, images, and YouTube videos. And once you’ve created your cards, IDoRecall uses spaced repetition to ensure you only study the material you’re about to forget.
Finally, the app lets you create virtual study groups where you can share files and learning materials with classmates. This is extremely helpful if you’re studying with a group for a big exam.
Pricing: A free version is available with a limit of 200 cards and 10 MB of file storage. To get unlimited cards and file uploads, you’ll need to subscribe to the paid plan for $96 / year or $16 / month.
Platforms: Web (though the company claims that desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux are in development)
Flashcards Are About Technique (Not Apps)
I hope this guide has helped you find a flashcard app to improve your studies.
But I also want to emphasize that to truly succeed with flashcards, you need to learn how to create them correctly. The best app in the world isn’t very useful if you’re not writing effective questions.
For more information on how to make and study flashcards (on paper or digitally), check out this guide.
Image Credits: file cabinet
Make your Mac invincible
Whether you’ve received your first college homework or just opened that letter of acceptance to the university of your dreams — it means the best time to buy a MacBook has arrived. Studying at a university or college today has become more challenging than ever before, but there are ways to make your efforts less strenuous, by surrounding yourself with good and reliable technology.
Many students around the globe consider Apple to be providing some of the best laptops for college students, and rightfully so. Apple’s operating system has established itself as the most intuitive, trusted, and fastest platform around — it’s highly appreciated by anyone who doesn’t want to take the risk of their work going missing due to a hardware malfunction. Not the least important feature of Mac computers is their immunity to viruses, which comes with a benefit of saving on antivirus software. Pretty good news so far.
Study faster on Mac with this app
Best Study Apps Mac Os
Get Studies, a handy flashcard creator that accelerates your learning. Hit new milestones on Mac with a personalized digital tutor.
How To Find The Best Mac For Education
Best Study Apps Microsoft
The process of choosing the best MacBook for college depends on the kind of student you are, the type of assignments you get, and what you’ve generally come to expect from your computers. Apple is known for making their products to last, so even if you decide to buy a cheap Mac laptop for university, it should still be in good shape long after your graduation.
Since your studies will include both theory and practice, it’s crucial for your laptop to be able to support all the apps necessary during your time in college. If you’re not anticipating to be working on any complex projects over the course of your studies, then a cheap Mac laptop will be a reasonable purchase for you.
To ease the process of finding the best Mac education pricing and quickly resolve the age-old question of whether to get MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro for college, take a look at the following aspects.
What you need to know about Mac laptop prices
When you first start comparing Mac laptop prices, it might seem as though MacBook deals for college students are not that cheap. However, once you dive deeper into your search for the top computer on the market, you’ll not only find many cheap Mac laptops, but realize that even the most expensive models are completely worth their price, due to their exceptional longevity and overall efficiency.
Besides, if you’re a registered student, you’re eligible for the Apple college discount to use towards your new Mac from Apple’s Education Store. Occasionally, there are some back-to-school deals too, usually during the summer months — the right time to buy a MacBook.
Best Study Apps Mac Os
Want to find additional ways to save money but still get the best MacBook for college? Consider shopping at Apple’s refurbished store or buying a cheap Mac laptop secondhand.
Now that you know everything about Mac education pricing, let’s explore some of the best laptops for college students on the market right now.
Performance: 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019)
If you’re looking to get the most power in a portable package, this is the best laptop for college, period. MacBook Pro runs on the latest Intel processors and could be configured with up to 8 TB of storage. Depending on your needs, this can be seen as an advantage or drawback, since as an average student you might not need all that power and hard drive space. A larger display is another great feature of this Mac for students, but it also makes the laptop heavier than the competitor models. It even looks more expensive than other Mac laptops, but arguably the price is fully justified by the myriad of expansion options.
Balance: MacBook Air (2019)
One of the best features of the new 2019 MacBook Air model is its 12-hour battery life — enough to finish your homework after a day of classes without the need to carry a charger. MacBook Air is often named the best laptop for college by students because it’s light and portable, allowing for an effortless transfer between classes. Given the substantial power of its processor, this Mac laptop is almost unbeatable in terms of the price-to-quality ratio. A minor flaw to mention, however, is lack of extensive customization.
Price: MacBook Air (2017)
If the two previous MacBook models are not something you’re really into, you can try to turn to an older laptop and get a good MacBook deal for college students that way.
A MacBook Air model from 2017 is still a pretty good Mac for students, even though it doesn’t have a Retina display or Touch ID. And, of course, it being a few years old, you could argue that its processor is old or that storage space is limited. But if those things don’t concern you, this Mac is a solid performer overall, despite its age.
Buy MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro for college?
As one of the most frequently asked questions from students, getting MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro for college has no definitive answer — it all depends on your specific requirements and needs. MacBook Air, for example, is generally considered the best Mac for college students at large, due to its light configuration and long battery life. It’s also one of the cheap Mac laptops that nevertheless covers all the basics.
Those who anticipate spending lots of time working on complex projects need to look for an advanced processor, large storage capacity, high-resolution display, or all at once. MaBook Pro is a great option here, since it offers much more power without sacrificing portability and lightness. On the other hand, it’s safe to say that if you need a laptop simply for research and written assignments, then a MacBook Pro might be a waste of money. But don’t let that stop you just yet, since you could be eligible for the Apple MacBook Pro student discount.
How to speed up your learning
Now that you’ve settled on the best laptop for college to satisfy all your needs, you can look at some of the best apps out there that can make your learning process more interesting and productive, supporting you through your university years.
Studies is an indispensable tool used by students who are adamant about customizing their education to get the best results. Fully synchronized with iCloud, this flashcard creator allows students to easily maximize their learning experience. In addition, Studies has a convenient calendar for effortless class management.
To create your own stack of flashcards via Studies:
Click New Stack in the top left corner
Add a title to your stack
Click Save
How to organize your study notes
Regardless of the program you’re in, all college majors require you to work with an abundance of information. Paper notes are mostly inconvenient and irritating, so having the best MacBook for college is a really sound idea. But you need a proper all-in-one solution.
MarginNote takes a new approach to note-taking, by creating flashcards to optimize your learning and organize your textbook storage system at the same time. This app is perfect for students who want to save time on scribbling notes and keep them organized — easily search through the MarginNote’s smart system, and access any material on the go. MarginNote saves all your entries in one place and allows access from any Apple device, whether it’s a Mac for students or an iPhone.
To start using MarginNote:
Open the Document menu
Click Import in the top-left corner
Import a book
Now you can start reading and annotating as you go
How to optimize document and textbook search
Learning is always associated with the need to efficiently save useful clips, drawings, photos, or graphics — that’s why every student needs a good scanner app.
Prizmo is the perfect way to quickly convert all those physical documents (or PDFs) sitting on your desk to searchable digital material with very little effort. This smart app not only corrects the curvature of your photos and scans, but also has an incredible feature of translating any document to 59 different languages.
Here's how to turn any picture into a document file with Prizmo:
Click New Document
Drag and drop a picture of a page into the new window
Use Curvature Correction to crop the area that you need
Edit the text if needed
Click Export in the top-right corner to save the new PDF document
How to excel at math and science easily
Students majoring in sciences have to solve complex math problems on a regular basis and are often able to find the answer faster if they scribble the formulas on a piece of paper first. But since we live in the 21st century, it’s a good idea to hand in assignments digitally and keep a copy on your Mac just in case.
MathKey makes a students’ life easier by providing a way to write any formula on your MacBook using a trackpad, mouse, or an Apple Pencil. The app will then import your writing into any digital format like LaTeX, MathML, or images.
While math is not always easy, working with MathKey is refreshingly simple:
Launch the app and start drawing formulas using any input device
Click Convert
Save your work into your preferred format
In the end, a carefully selected Mac for students, with the right apps to enhance it, will not only provide immense support during your college years but will also be a useful tool when you go off to work in the professional field of your choice.
And it’s a positive bonus that Studies, MarginNote, Prizmo, and MathKey mentioned above are all available to you right now for a free seven-day trial through Setapp, a platform of over 170 of the best Mac apps, including some of the most essential ones for students. Now that you know how to pick the best MacBook for college and how to get the best apps, nothing can stop you from learning.
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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