Best Apps for College Students

This list of over 25 of the best apps for college students will help with everything from studying to safety, to saving money.

When I was in college, no one I knew even had a computer, let alone a smartphone. We navigated around by using actual paper maps and when we didn’t know something, we went to the library to look it up in a book.

Things have definitely changed a lot since I was a student. Technology has changed everything, and for college students, it’s changed it for the better in many ways.

Take, for example, all the different ways apps make it easier for college students to do everything from ordering pizza to getting directions to the cool new bar study area they just heard about.

The problem is, with all that time they spend “studying” they probably don’t waste a lot of time researching apps that can help them with other aspects of their lives, which is why I’ve put together this handy list of the best apps for college students.

I’ve broken my app recommendations into categories to make it easy to find apps that fit your student’s needs.

Reference

Whether you need a definition, a citation, or a synopsis – there’s an app for that.

Mendeley – A reference manager and academic social network that helps students manage and share research papers. You can search over 100 million cross-publisher articles. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

EasyBib – College involves a lot of research papers, which means lots of citations. EasyBib makes it easy to format your source according to current APA and MLA guidelines. They guarantee the most accurate bibliography. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

CliffsNotes – If you’re having trouble understanding Shakespeare, a CliffsNotes study guide can help. The app includes cram plans, summaries, quizzes and other features. The app is free on iOS devices, but you’ll have to pay for access to the study guides.

Planners

Staying on top of the homework, projects, and research papers due for multiple classes requires significant organization skills. These apps will help you manage your workload and stay on schedule.

My Study Life –  A planner for students to manage their classes, assignments, and exams. It includes a school planner and organizer, homework planner and task tracker, and reminders. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

MyHomework – Add your class times, homework, tests, and projects and get reminders when assignments are due. Plus, it syncs across all your devices so you can access up-to-date information from your phone, tablet, and laptop. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

iStudiez Pro – Track your class schedule and all of your assignments with this comprehensive and easy-to-use app. The main app functions are provided for free, but the multiplatform cloud sync requires a subscription. Currently available for iOS and Android.

Study Aids

No matter what your major is, college involves a lot of studying. These apps will help you study smarter.

Quizlet – This app is great for creating flash cards (or you can use ones created by other users), and it also includes a variety of other study tools, including games and quizzes to help students learn and retain information. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

Wolfram Alpha – A powerful computational engine for solving math problems, science queries, and more. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

Tools

Whether you need to save your work and share it with others, need a calculator, or don’t want to take handwritten notes, here are some apps for you.

Dropbox, One Drive or Google Drive – These three apps let you save everything to the cloud (documents, pictures, videos, spreadsheets, etc.) and can be accessed from any of your devices. All three also give you the option to easily share your files with others so you can exchange notes or collaborate on a project with a few mouse clicks.

Calc Pro – 10 calculators in one app. Whether you’re a finance major or engineering student, this app can double as your calculator for most of your math courses. Available for $7.99 for iOS devices.

Voice Recorder HD – If you want to make sure you get every word in your history lecture, it helps to record it as you take notes. This app lets you record endlessly (well, until your phone runs out of memory or the battery dies). Available for $5.99 for iOS devices..

Social

College is a unique environment where you are surrounded by a majority of people in a very limited age range. Aside from the rigors of school, you’re relatively free of the stress and responsibility that awaits you in adulthood.

You can focus on your studies, but enjoy yourself too. These apps will help you make the most of the social side of college.

GroupMe – Tired of trying to get your friends’ iPhones, Androids, and Windows phones to play nice in group chat? GroupMe is a messaging app that makes it easy (and it’s free!) to communicate with classmates or groups. It’s so cool, it even works with older phones and with your friends who don’t have the app.

Skype – Do this for your mom. She misses you and wants to see your face when you talk to her so she can see for herself that you are doing great at college. Available for free for both Androids and iOS devices.

RoomSync – Helps students find compatible roommates based on interests, living habits, and other preferences.  You’ll need to receive an invitation from the housing office at your school to be able to use this app. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

LinkedIn – Yes, this is the networking app your parents use, but college is the perfect time for you to set up your profile. It will make it easier for you to research and connect with potential employers in just a few years (or less!) and will make you an attractive candidate if you’ve established a strong profile and good connections. Available for free for both Androids and iOS devices.

Safety

It’s always better to be prepared in case there’s a problem. These apps will help you get the help you need from friends, family, and campus police.

bSafe –  A personal safety app that allows students to set up a network of guardians who can follow them via GPS, receive alerts, and see live streams in case of emergencies. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

LiveSafe (Android or iOS devices) – An app that connects students directly with campus police and provides safety resources, tips, and a way to report incidents. Check with your school to make sure they have this app. If they don’t, they might use the Rave Guardian app or the CampusSafe app instead.

Noonlight – Allows students to hold down a button when feeling unsafe. If the button is released and a PIN isn’t entered, local police are notified with the student’s location. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

Deals

If you’re paying for college yourself, almost all of your income is going there and you have very little to live on. If your parents are helping you out, they’re likely grumbling about how expensive college is, encouraging you to watch your spending.

The reality for most college students is — money is tight. Make the most of your limited dollars with these apps that help you get more for less.

UNiDAYS – Offers exclusive discounts for students on a wide range of brands, including clothing, tech, and food. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

Pocket Points – Get rewarded for NOT using your phone in class. Available on campuses across the US, you can cash in your points at participating businesses on campus or other local and online stores. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

Student Beans – Another app offering student discounts on fashion, tech, food, and more. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

Money

Learn to manage your money with both of these apps.

Mint (Mint features are now on Credit Karma) – Do yourself a favor and learn to manage your money while you don’t have much of it to manage. Mint (now on Credit Karma) is easy to use and will help you establish great budgeting habits that you’ll be thankful for later. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

Venmo – Easily pay your roommate for your share of the pizza. Keep track of who owes what for the party you’re throwing next weekend. Venmo lets you send and receive money instantly. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

Useful

These apps are super useful for when you need a ride, food, or to do laundry.

Uber or Lyft – Ride-sharing apps for safe and convenient transportation. There’s also Uber Eats that can bring you some food when you don’t have time to go out. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

TransLoc Rider – Provides real-time tracking of campus shuttles and buses, making it easier for students to navigate campus. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

BigOven – Offers easy recipes and meal plans that are great for students living off-campus or in dorms with kitchen access. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

LaundryView – Allows students to check the availability of washers and dryers in campus laundry rooms, so they can avoid waiting around. Available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

I did a lot of research and also drilled my college son for suggestions, but I’m sure this list is in no way “complete.” If you have an app that you just LOVE and think is a must-have for college students, please share it in the comments so I can add it to the list.