Apps That Help In Studying: 9 Powerful Tools To Learn Faster (And Actually Remember) – These study apps don’t just organize your notes, they help you finally make stuff stick.
Apps that help in studying only work if they use active recall + spaced repetition. See why Flashrecall and a few other study apps beat just rereading notes.
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So, You’re Looking For Apps That Help In Studying? Here’s What Actually Works
So, you know how you download a bunch of “apps that help in studying” and somehow… still forget everything on test day? The fix is using apps that don’t just store information, but force your brain to actively recall it and space out reviews over time. That combo (active recall + spaced repetition) is what actually makes stuff stick long term. The quickest way to do this is with a flashcard app that handles all the timing and review logic for you, instead of you guessing when to study. That’s exactly what an app like Flashrecall does for you automatically, so you can just make cards, review when it reminds you, and stop cramming the night before.
Before we go through a list of apps, let’s start with the core idea:
Most people don’t need more study tools — they need the right kind of tool that matches how memory actually works.
The Two Study Features That Matter More Than Anything
If you remember nothing else from this article, remember this:
1. Active recall – making you pull info from memory (flashcards, quizzes, questions)
2. Spaced repetition – showing you stuff right before you’re about to forget it
Reading notes isn’t enough. Highlighting isn’t enough. Your brain remembers what it struggles to recall.
That’s why apps like Flashrecall are so effective: it’s built around active recall and spaced repetition by default. You don’t have to design some fancy system — you just create cards and study when the app tells you to.
Here’s the link if you want to check it out while you read:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
1. Flashrecall – Best All‑Round App For Actually Remembering What You Study
If you just want one app that covers 90% of what you need, Flashrecall is honestly the easiest win.
- Built-in active recall – everything is question → answer, so you’re always testing yourself, not just rereading.
- Automatic spaced repetition – it schedules reviews for you, so you see cards right before you forget them.
- Study reminders – it nudges you to review, which is huge if you procrastinate or just forget.
- Works offline – perfect for commuting, traveling, or when Wi-Fi is trash.
- Fast and modern – no clunky menus, just open and study.
- You can make flashcards instantly from:
- Images (lecture slides, textbook photos)
- Text
- Audio
- PDFs
- YouTube links
- Typed prompts
- You can also just make cards manually if you like full control.
- If you’re unsure about a card, you can actually chat with the flashcard to get more explanation and context.
- Works great for:
- Languages
- Exams (SAT, MCAT, USMLE, bar exam, etc.)
- School subjects
- University courses
- Medicine
- Business and job training
- Free to start, and works on both iPhone and iPad.
If you’re trying to cut down your app list and just want one main “brain app” to learn with, Flashrecall is the one I’d start with:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
2. Note-Taking Apps – For Organizing, Not Memorizing
Apps like Apple Notes, Notion, OneNote, or Google Docs are great, but they’re mostly storage, not memory.
They’re useful for:
- Collecting lecture notes
- Storing PDFs, links, and screenshots
- Drafting essays or assignments
- Organizing topics and chapters
But here’s the catch:
If your study routine is just “take notes → reread notes,” you’ll feel productive but not actually remember much.
A better move is:
1. Take notes in your favorite app.
2. Pull the most important facts, formulas, and concepts into flashcards in Flashrecall.
3. Let Flashrecall handle the spaced repetition and reminders.
That way your notes app becomes your knowledge library, and Flashrecall becomes your memory gym.
3. Pomodoro & Focus Apps – For Actually Sitting Down To Study
Sometimes the problem isn’t how you study, it’s just… starting.
Focus apps can really help with that:
- Pomodoro timers (25 minutes focus, 5 minutes break)
- Apps that block social media or distracting apps
- Simple timers that track your study streaks
How to use them with a study app like Flashrecall:
1. Set a 25-minute timer.
2. Open Flashrecall.
3. Do one full review session of your due cards.
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
4. Take a 5-minute break.
5. Repeat for 2–4 rounds.
You’ll be surprised how much you can learn in just a few focused Pomodoro blocks when Flashrecall is feeding you the right cards at the right time.
4. PDF & Text Reader Apps – Combine With Flashcards For Maximum Retention
If you’re in college, med school, or law school, you probably live inside PDFs.
Here’s a simple system that works really well:
1. Read your PDF / ebook / slides in whatever app you like.
2. When you hit something important, screenshot or copy the text.
3. Drop that screenshot or text into Flashrecall, which can turn it into flashcards quickly.
4. Review those cards over the next days/weeks with spaced repetition.
Because Flashrecall can make flashcards from images, text, and PDFs, you don’t have to rewrite everything by hand. You just grab the key bits and turn them into questions.
5. Language Learning Apps – Great For Input, Pair With Flashcards For Output
Duolingo, Babbel, Memrise, etc. are fun, but they’re mostly good at giving you input (seeing and hearing the language).
If you want to:
- Actually remember vocabulary long-term
- Recall grammar rules during speaking or exams
- Keep track of tricky words that never stick
Then it’s worth combining them with Flashrecall:
- When a word or phrase keeps tripping you up, add it as a flashcard.
- Use active recall in Flashrecall to practice translating or filling in the missing word.
- Let the spaced repetition handle long-term memory.
You can literally build your own personal dictionary inside Flashrecall that’s tailored to your weak spots.
6. YouTube & Lecture Apps – Turn Videos Into Flashcards
If you watch a lot of:
- Lecture recordings
- YouTube explainers
- Crash Course videos
- Tutorial videos for math, programming, or science
You can do something super effective:
1. Watch the video once.
2. Pause when you hit an important idea, formula, or definition.
3. Use the YouTube link in Flashrecall to generate cards or just copy the key idea into a card yourself.
4. Review those cards over the next days.
Instead of rewatching the whole video before every exam, you’ll have the core ideas distilled into flashcards that you can run through in a few minutes.
7. Task & Planner Apps – Keep Your Study Life Organized
To-do apps (Things, Todoist, Apple Reminders, Notion, etc.) are great for:
- Planning what topics to study this week
- Breaking big exams into smaller tasks
- Scheduling mock tests and practice papers
But you don’t need them to remind you of every review, because Flashrecall already has built-in study reminders and spaced repetition.
Nice combo:
- Use your planner for big-picture stuff: “Finish Chapter 5,” “Do practice exam.”
- Use Flashrecall for daily memory work: it tells you which cards are due today.
This way, you’re not cluttering your task app with “review flashcards” every day — Flashrecall handles that automatically.
8. Audio & Voice Apps – Great For On-The-Go Studying
If you like to study while walking, commuting, or at the gym:
- Record short audio explanations for yourself.
- Use that audio as input to create flashcards in Flashrecall.
- Or create text-based cards and just review them offline anywhere.
Since Flashrecall works offline, you don’t need a stable connection to keep studying. Perfect for train rides, flights, or campus dead zones.
You can also:
- Make cards with audio for language listening practice.
- Add pronunciation notes or short recorded definitions.
9. Why Flashrecall Should Be Your Main Study Hub
You can absolutely use multiple apps that help in studying — but if you want one core app that actually drives your learning, it should be the one that:
- Makes you recall information (not just read it)
- Schedules reviews automatically
- Is fast enough that you’ll actually open it daily
That’s exactly what Flashrecall is built for:
- Active recall built into every card
- Spaced repetition with auto reminders
- Creates cards from images, PDFs, YouTube, text, audio, or manual input
- Lets you chat with a card if you’re confused and want more explanation
- Works offline on both iPhone and iPad
- Free to start, simple to use, and not bloated with random features
If you’re serious about using apps that help in studying smarter, not just prettier, start by building a small deck in Flashrecall:
1. Pick one subject (e.g., biology, vocab, meds, formulas).
2. Create 20–30 flashcards with key facts.
3. Study them for 5–10 minutes a day when Flashrecall reminds you.
4. Watch how much more you remember after a week.
You can grab it here:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Quick Recap: How To Actually Use Study Apps The Right Way
To wrap it up:
- Note apps → store information
- Flashrecall → remember information
- Focus apps → help you sit down and study
- PDF / YouTube / lecture apps → give you content to turn into flashcards
- Planner apps → organize your bigger study goals
If you connect them all through one core habit — reviewing your Flashrecall cards when the app reminds you — you’ll get way more out of every other app you use.
You don’t need 20 different tools. You just need a solid system and one app that actually trains your memory.
That’s what Flashrecall is for.
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.
What is active recall and how does it work?
Active recall is the process of actively retrieving information from memory rather than passively reviewing it. Flashrecall forces proper active recall by making you think before revealing answers, then uses spaced repetition to optimize your review schedule.
Related Articles
- Best Apps For Focusing On Studying: 9 Powerful Tools To Stay Locked In And Learn Faster – Skip the endless scrolling and grab the apps that actually help you focus and remember what you study.
- GCSE Revision Apps Free: 7 Powerful Study Tools Most Students Don’t Use (But Should) – If you want free GCSE revision apps that actually help you remember stuff, not just scroll, this is for you.
- Good Study Apps: 7 Powerful Tools To Learn Faster (And The One Flashcard App You Should Try First)
Practice This With Free Flashcards
Try our web flashcards right now to test yourself on what you just read. You can click to flip cards, move between questions, and see how much you really remember.
Try Flashcards in Your BrowserInside the FlashRecall app you can also create your own decks from images, PDFs, YouTube, audio, and text, then use spaced repetition to save your progress and study like top students.
Research References
The information in this article is based on peer-reviewed research and established studies in cognitive psychology and learning science.
Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380
Meta-analysis showing spaced repetition significantly improves long-term retention compared to massed practice
Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378
Review showing spacing effects work across different types of learning materials and contexts
Kang, S. H. (2016). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 12-19
Policy review advocating for spaced repetition in educational settings based on extensive research evidence
Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966-968
Research demonstrating that active recall (retrieval practice) is more effective than re-reading for long-term learning
Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27
Review of research showing retrieval practice (active recall) as one of the most effective learning strategies
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58
Comprehensive review ranking learning techniques, with practice testing and distributed practice rated as highly effective

FlashRecall Team
FlashRecall Development Team
The FlashRecall Team is a group of working professionals and developers who are passionate about making effective study methods more accessible to students. We believe that evidence-based learning tec...
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