It’s hard to believe that the first iPhone appeared in 2007. Since then, smartphones evolved far beyond their original use. Today’s phones have the power to access unlimited knowledge and let you interact with people around the world.
You need apps to access all that knowledge. While millions of apps are available, not all are useful. College students have particular needs while in school.
From scheduling classes to budgeting, we combed through the internet for the best apps for college students. Below you’ll find our picks for essential apps for any college student.
Unless noted, all apps are available for iOS and Android devices.
Best Apps for College Students
These apps are the cream of the crap and essential for any college student.
Google Workspace
Google provides all the tools you need to succeed in college. Once you sign up for a free account, you’ll have access to several apps. Google Workspace lets you write essays, create spreadsheets, design presentations, and more for free.
- The free plan includes all tools most students need.
- Premium plans for $12 and $18 per month increase cloud storage and provide business tools.
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office offers writing and analytical tools, including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook. It’s also the industry standard in offices and colleges around the world.
- Microsoft offers Office 365 for free for students and educators
- Premium plans range from $6.00 to $22.00 a month.
Grammarly
Don’t let poor grammar or sloppy writing skills ruin your grades. Grammarly is extremely effective at fixing spelling and grammar issues. The free version of Grammarly removes grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. It can also detect tone and improve conciseness in your writing.
- The basic version of Grammarly is free.
- Premium Grammarly is $12 per month and adds rewriting suggestions, plagiarism detection, and word choice suggestions.
Study Apps for College
These apps make studying and learning easier. You can find apps that provide study guides, scientific calculators, and other tools.
Quizlet
Everyone studies in different ways, and flashcards remain a popular method for memorization and self-quizzing. Quizlet offers flashcard-based quizzes in over 100 topics and subjects, spanning maths, philosophy, and political studies, to name a few.
- Quizlet is free but offers a Plus version at $48 per year.
DuoLingo
DuoLingo is an effective app that helps you learn a new language. DuoLingo gives bite-sized lessons that take a few minutes to complete. It also features personalized learning that tailors to your level of expertise. The app currently offers 39 languages.
- DuoLingo is free but offers a Super version at $6.66 a month.
Wolfram Alpha
Wolfram Alpha offers a database of knowledge and computational power to students. You can use Wolfram Alpha to compute complex calculus formulas, convert measurements, or learn about people and culture.
- Wolfram Alpha is free for all users.
- The pro version costs $5.00 per month and includes a step-by-step solution and increased computation time.
RealCalc Scientific Calculator
RealCalc offers a free scientific calculator that ensures you always get the right answers. The calculator features ten different modes, memory functions, and algebraic functions.
- RealCalc is free to use.
Budgeting Apps for College Students
Saving money is stressful at College. These apps help you manage and save money even if you are on a tight budget. All the below budgeting apps are free, but there may be fees associated with every transaction.
Mint
Mint makes managing your finances simpler. Instead of using several apps, you can use Mint to manage your bank accounts, bills, credit cards, credit score, and spending habits.
Venmo
Venmo is one of the easiest ways to send money to friends and family. Venmo is also great if you need to split bills with others.
CashApp
Cash App lets you quickly send and receive money but adds other more robust features. You can also use CashApp as a debit card, receive direct deposits, or invest in stocks and cryptocurrency.
Best Investment Apps for College Students
While it’s hard to save money while in college, these apps help you save a little money along the way. Both these apps are free to use but do charge fees for transactions.
Robinhood
Robinhood is one of the easiest ways to start investing. The app offers a variety of investment opportunities, including stocks, ETS, cryptocurrency, and more.
Public
The public is another app that lets you invest in your future. You can invest in stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrency, art, NFTs, and more with Public. The app also provides tools to help you make educated investment decisions.
The Best Apps for Art Students
Smartphones and tablets can greatly improve your artistic skills. From photo editing to filming a movie, you can use your devices to express your artistic side.
Adobe Creative Suite Apps
Adobe’s suite of apps is essential for any type of artist. They are the industry standard and offer limitless potential. Some of their must-have apps include Photoshop, Premier, Creative Cloud, and Lightroom.
- Pricing varies per app. Students can sign up for a $19.99 monthly plan that includes over 20 creative apps
Autodesk Sketchbook
Autodesk Sketchbook is the premiere drawing program for smartphones and tablets. It includes plenty of brushes, pencils, and tools that make creating easier than ever.
- Autodesk Sketchbook is free for all devices.
Canva
Canva helps you take your graphic design skills to the next level. The app lets you create stunning logos, flyers, posters, resumes, and invitations. It’s also great at improving your social media posts. Inside the app, you’ll find thousands of templates, graphical elements, and fonts to create your next project.
- Canva is free to use.
- Canva Pro is $6.49 and gives users access to millions of premium elements and templates. It also adds new tools.
Snapseed
Snapseed is a free photo editing app for Android and Windows devices. It has a robust set of tools that can improve your photos. One-touch editing features make it simple to fine-tune your images in a matter of seconds.
- Snapseed is free for all users.
Quik
Quik is GoPro’s answer to video editing. The software lets you edit videos and photos in just a few taps. You can also add effects, music, and text to the videos. While the software works best with a GoPro, you can use video and images from any device for your projects.
- Quik is available for free.
Good Planner Apps for College Students
If you often miss class or have difficulty taking notes, it’s time to get a planner app. These are some of the best planner apps for students available today.
Evernote
Evernote is a robust note-taking app. It offers a variety of tools, including to-do lists, calendars, audio recording, document scanners, and more.
- The free version of Evernote gives you access to all available tools.
- Premium versions for $7.99 and $8.99 a month increase storage, customization, and the number of devices.
My Study Life
If you’re always late for class, you need My Study Life. This app lets you track appointments, tasks, assignments, homework, and more. Whether you’re a procrastinator or have difficulty organizing your life, My Study Life will help.
- My Study Life is free to use.
myHomework
myHomework also helps you track and organize your day-to-day life at college. You can easily track assignments, tests, due dates, and more.
- You can access most of myHomework’s features for free.
- A $4.99 a month premium version removes advertisements and adds additional features.
Trello
Trello makes collaboration easier. The app lets you manage projects with other students all from one interface. You can assign tasks, manage schedules, and improve your workflow while using the app.
- Trello’s free version gives students everything they need to manage projects.
- The premium versions of Trello costs $5.00 and up a month. These are for larger projects with many users.
Calendar Apps for College Students
A calendar app is a must for busy college students. These apps keep you on time and up to date. Both apps below are free and often included on Android and iOS devices.
Google Calendar
Google Calendar is a free calendar app that integrates seamlessly with your Google account. The calendar is easy to use and secure. Your calendar is always stored online and you can back it up if you lose your phone.
Apple Calendar
Apple Calendar is Apple’s alternative to Google Calendar. You can set up multiple calendars and integrate them with iCloud and Google accounts. The app also features integration with chat and Apple Maps.
Social Apps for College Students
Socializing is just as important as studying for most college students. These apps keep you in the loop and informed. All the below social apps are free to use.
Facebook is still an important social app for college students. Its userbase is massive and one of the easiest apps to use. It’s also a great place to find local events, restaurants, and businesses to support.
Instagram is a photo and, more recently, short-video sharing app. With its popular Stories feature, users can upload posts for a 24-hour period, allowing people to stay up-to-date with friends, family, and influencers without feeling bombarded with content.
Twitter is a short-form blogging site. It’s popular with celebrities, politicians, corporations, and other media-savvy users. The site is great for getting news and information quickly.
TikTok
Tik Tok burst onto the scene in 2016 and is now one of the best social media apps. Users upload short-form videos that are shared with other members
Fitness and Health Apps For Students
If you’re worried about gaining the freshman 20, you need these fitness apps. Fitness apps keep you on track so you never miss a workout or overindulge at dinner.
MyFitnessPal
A healthy diet is just as important as exercise if you want to stay healthy at college. MyFitnessPal is a food and nutrient tracker app that helps you stay on your diet. It’s easy to enter foods and keep track of calories, macros, protein intake, and more.
- MyFitnessPal is free.
- The $9.99 premium version adds better analytics, macronutrient information, and more.
Strava
Strava is a full-featured workout-tracking app. Originally built for cycling, you can now track a wide range of workouts with Strava. You get detailed performance stats after every workout that help you improve quickly. Strava integrates with devices, including heart rate monitors, smartwatches, and more.
- Strava is free to use and offers a $5.00 per month premium service with more features.
Headspace
Maintaining a healthy mental state is equally as important as a healthy body. One of the best ways to ease stress is to mediate. Headspace is a meditation, sleep, and relaxation app that has everything you need to destress after a tough day.
- Headspace costs $5.83 or $12.99 a month.
Best Dating Apps for College Students
Dating and socializing are easier than ever. The below apps help students find like-minded individuals for dates, relationships, and friendships.
Tinder
Tinder is a widely used dating app that can help you find your soulmate or a friend. The app features photo verification to ensure your dating experience is safe.
- Tinder is free but offers a wide range of premium services.
Bumble
Bumble prides itself on challenging antiquated dating rules. Once a match happens, women make the first move. Over the years, Bumble grew and is now more than just a dating app. You can use Bumble to make networking connections as well as romantic relationships.
- Bumble is free but you can purchase premium features to improve your chances on the site.
Grindr
Grindr is the best dating app for gay, bi, trans, and queer college students. You can use Grindr to meet locals with similar interests. The algorithm is location-based and only provides results near you.
- Grindr is free and offers a premium version for $9.99 a month.
Best Travel Apps for Students
Traveling is an important part of any college student’s life. The more you travel, the more you can learn about the world. These apps make it easier and more affordable to travel during your breaks. All these apps are free to use.
Google Translate
Google Translate is an essential app for any traveling college student. The app features the most advanced neural machine learning translation service. You can use it for conversations with locals or translate documents and signs. The app currently offers translation for over 133 languages.
Hostelworld
Traveling is expensive but you can find great deals on rooms with Hostelworld. Hostelworld specializes in hotel and dorm rentals. The app features affordable accommodations from over 178 countries.
Skyscanner
Current airfare rates are higher than ever. If you want to find the cheapest flights, you should download Skyscanner. The app aggregates flights from 1,200 other sites including, Kayak, Expedia, and Momondo. You can also book hotels, cars, and tours on Skyscanner.
Wise
Wise is an essential app if you are traveling abroad. Whether you ran out of money or lost your credit card, Wise makes sending money fast and easy. It’s also an affordable option compared to other services like Western Union or Paypal.
Best Apps for Finding a Job
You’ll eventually have to find a job after college. Download these apps today to get a headstart on your upcoming job search.
LinkedIn is a professional social network. Here, you can network with other professionals in your field, apply for jobs, and learn. Setting up a profile is quick and easy as well. It’s also one of the best places to display your resume and CV.
- LinkedIn is free but offers a variety of premium packages ranging from $29.99 to $119.95 per month.
Indeed
Indeed is the largest job site in the world. Once you upload your resume, you can apply for jobs at over 13,000 global employers. The site also features job hunting advice, employee reviews, salary advice, and more.
- Indeed is free to use for job seekers.
Upwork
UpWork is a great site for students looking to make money. The site connects potential employers to freelancers. Popular freelancing jobs include graphic design, copywriting, and video production.
- Freelancers are charged a commission on each project ranging from 5% – 20% of the costs.
Glassdoor
Do you have a job offer that seems sketchy? It’s time to visit Glassdoor and see if your potential employer has bad reviews. Glassdoor focuses on company reviews from employees. You can find salaries, information about management, and working conditions on the app.
- Glassdoor is free to use
Apps for College Students in Review
I hope you found this list of apps for college students informative. We hopefully added a few apps that are new to you.
Smartphones are an integral part of life but, many students forget how useful they are. These apps help you unlock the potential of your smart devices and hopefully make college a little easier.
Adding these apps to your phone is a great way to organize and improve your college experience. Studocu is another option for students looking to share and organize documents with other students.
