Apps For Online Classes For Students: 9 Powerful Tools To Stay Focused, Take Better Notes, And Actually Remember What You Study – Most Students Don’t Know #3

So, you’re hunting for the best apps for online classes for students that actually make studying easier, not more confusing? Honestly, start with a good flashcard app, and that’s where Flashrecall) comes in. It turns your notes, screenshots, PDFs, and even YouTube links into smart flashcards with built-in spaced repetition, so you actually remember what your teacher said weeks later. It’s fast, free to start, works offline, and sends you reminders so you don’t “forget to study” and then panic before exams. Grab that first, then layer on a few other apps around it and your online class setup is basically pro-level.

Why You Need a “Stack” of Apps for Online Classes

Alright, let’s talk real: online classes are convenient, but they’re also a huge distraction trap.

You’ve got:

• Zoom or Google Meet open
• 15 tabs in your browser
• Notes scattered between docs, screenshots, and random PDFs
• And then… TikTok calling your name

One single app won’t fix all of that. What actually works is a small, simple stack:

1. One app to learn and remember (this is where Flashrecall shines)

2. One to take and organize notes

3. One for task management

4. One for focus and time blocking

5. A couple of extras for collaboration and file handling

Let’s walk through the best apps for online classes for students and how they fit together—starting with memory, because if you don’t remember anything, the rest doesn’t matter.

1. Flashrecall – Best App To Actually Remember What You Learn

If you’re only going to download one study app for your online classes, make it Flashrecall).

Why it’s so good for online classes

You’re constantly bombarded with:

• Slides from lectures
• PDFs from teachers
• Screenshots from your iPad
• Random YouTube videos you’re “supposed” to watch

Flashrecall lets you turn all of that into flashcards in seconds. You can:

• Create flashcards instantly from:
• Images (screenshots of slides, textbook pages, handwritten notes)
• Text (copy-paste from docs or websites)
• PDFs (lecture notes, assignments, articles)
• Audio
• YouTube links
• Or just type prompts manually if you prefer
• Built-in spaced repetition

It automatically schedules reviews at the right time so you don’t forget. No need to manually plan when to review – you just open the app and it tells you what to study today.

• Active recall baked in

Every card forces you to remember the answer before you flip, which is way more effective than re-reading notes.

• Chat with your flashcards

Stuck on a concept? You can literally chat with the content to get explanations, clarifications, or more examples. Super helpful for tricky topics.

• Works offline

Perfect for studying on the bus, in bad Wi-Fi dorms, or when your internet dies mid-lecture.

• Great for any subject

Languages, medicine, law, engineering, business, exams like MCAT, USMLE, SAT, finals—if it has info, you can turn it into flashcards.

• Free to start, iPhone + iPad

You don’t have to commit to anything crazy. Just download it, test it with one class, and see how it feels:

👉 Flashrecall on the App Store)

How to use Flashrecall with online classes

• After a Zoom lecture, screenshot key slides, import them into Flashrecall, and auto-generate cards.
• Got a 40-page PDF? Import it and pull out the important definitions, formulas, and concepts into cards.
• Watching a YouTube explainer? Drop the link and turn the key ideas into questions and answers.
• Before quizzes and exams, just open Flashrecall and review whatever it tells you is due that day.

Instead of cramming the night before, you’re getting tiny, manageable reviews over time—which is exactly how long-term memory works.

2. Notion or OneNote – For Organizing All Your Class Stuff

You need one place where everything for each class lives: syllabus, links, deadlines, notes, etc.

Notion

• Great for: organizing multiple classes, building dashboards, linking notes and tasks.
• Perfect if you like structure and customization.

OneNote

• Great for: handwritten notes with an Apple Pencil, mixed with typed text.
• Feels more like a digital notebook.

Take notes in Notion or OneNote → end of the day, scan through and turn the most important stuff into Flashrecall cards. Notes are for reference; flashcards are for memory.

3. Google Calendar or Apple Calendar – For Class Schedules & Deadlines

Online classes are easy to forget because there’s no physical classroom reminding you.

Use a calendar app to:

• Block out lecture times
• Add assignment deadlines
• Add exam dates
• Set reminders 2–3 days before big deadlines

Create a daily “Study with Flashrecall” event for 15–20 minutes. When the reminder pops up, open Flashrecall) and clear your due cards. Tiny habit, massive payoff.

4. Todoist or Microsoft To Do – For Keeping Track of Assignments

Notes and flashcards are great, but you still need to actually turn stuff in.

Todoist

• Great for: multiple projects (classes), recurring tasks, priority levels.

Microsoft To Do

• Simple, clean, and free; works well if you’re already using Microsoft 365.

Use it to:

• Break big assignments into small tasks (research, outline, draft, edit)
• Add “Make flashcards for Chapter 3” as a recurring task after each lecture
• Keep a daily “3 main things to do” list

5. Forest or Focus To-Do – For Staying Off Your Phone

Online classes + phone = disaster.

Forest

• You plant a virtual tree when you start a focus session.
• If you leave the app to scroll social media, your tree dies.
• Weirdly motivating.

Focus To-Do

• Pomodoro timer + task list.
• Great if you like 25-minute focus blocks with short breaks.

Use these while:

• Watching recorded lectures
• Doing problem sets
• Grinding through flashcards in Flashrecall without checking Instagram every two minutes

6. Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams – For Live Classes & Group Work

You probably already use one of these because your school picked it.

Quick tips:

• Use the recording (if allowed) to re-watch tricky parts later.
• Take screenshots of important slides and send them to Flashrecall.
• If your teacher drops links or definitions in the chat, copy them into your notes or straight into flashcards.

7. Google Drive or OneDrive – For Storing Class Files

Online classes = a mountain of files: slides, PDFs, essays, problem sets.

Use:

• Google Drive if you’re deep into Google Docs/Sheets/Slides
• OneDrive if your school uses Microsoft 365

Create a folder for each class:

• “Lectures”
• “Assignments”
• “Exams & Practice”
• “Flashcard Sources” (PDFs, slides, anything you plan to feed into Flashrecall)

Then when you’re studying, you know exactly where to grab content to turn into flashcards.

8. GoodNotes or Notability – For Handwritten Notes (iPad Users)

If you like writing by hand but still want everything digital:

• Import your teacher’s PDF slides
• Write directly on them during class
• Highlight, underline, doodle diagrams

Then:

• Export key pages as images or PDFs
• Import into Flashrecall)
• Auto-generate flashcards from your own handwriting + your teacher’s slides

It’s like turning your notebook into an interactive quiz.

9. Grammarly – For Writing Assignments and Discussion Posts

Online classes usually mean:

• More essays
• More discussion boards
• More emails to professors

Grammarly helps you:

• Fix grammar and spelling
• Make your writing clearer and more professional
• Avoid embarrassing mistakes in group projects or formal emails

Pair this with Flashrecall if you’re learning a language or technical vocabulary:

• Store key phrases, connectors, or academic phrases as flashcards.
• Practice them regularly so they show up naturally when you write.

How to Combine These Apps Without Overwhelming Yourself

You don’t need all the apps on this list. Start simple:

• One memory app → Flashrecall)
• One notes app → Notion, OneNote, or Google Docs
• One task app → Todoist or Microsoft To Do
• One calendar → Google Calendar or Apple Calendar

Then add:

• A focus app if you struggle with distractions
• A handwritten notes app if you use an iPad
• Cloud storage if your school doesn’t already give you one

The real magic is the workflow:

1. During class

• Take notes (Notion/OneNote/GoodNotes).
• Screenshot important slides.

2. Right after class (or same day)

• Import key slides, notes, or PDFs into Flashrecall.
• Generate flashcards for definitions, formulas, concepts, diagrams.

3. Every day (10–20 minutes)

• Open Flashrecall and review your due cards.
• Use a focus timer if needed.

4. Before exams

• Filter by subject or deck in Flashrecall.
• Do extra review sessions.
• Chat with your flashcards if something still doesn’t make sense.

This way, online classes stop being “watch video, forget everything” and become “watch, capture, convert to flashcards, review, remember.”

Why Flashrecall Deserves a Permanent Spot in Your Setup

There are tons of apps for online classes for students, but most of them help you store information, not remember it.

Flashrecall is different because:

• It’s built around active recall and spaced repetition, which are actually backed by learning science.
• It fits perfectly into your existing workflow—just feed it whatever you’re already using (images, PDFs, text, YouTube).
• It works offline, sends reminders, and is fast and modern, so it doesn’t feel like using some clunky old-school study app.

If you’re serious about doing well in online classes without living in constant cram mode, start there:

👉 Download Flashrecall for iPhone and iPad:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Set up one deck for one class, try it for a week, and see how much more you remember. After that, you’ll probably end up building decks for everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

Is there a free flashcard app?

Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.

How do I start spaced repetition?

You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.

How can I study more effectively for this test?

Effective exam prep combines active recall, spaced repetition, and regular practice. Flashrecall helps by automatically generating flashcards from your study materials and using spaced repetition to ensure you remember everything when exam day arrives.

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