Apps To Help With Revision: 7 Powerful Tools To Learn Faster And Actually Remember Stuff – Stop wasting time on random apps and use ones that genuinely boost your grades.
So, you’re looking for apps to help with revision and you don’t want to waste time testing 20 different ones that all do the same thing.
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So, Which Apps Actually Help With Revision?
So, you’re looking for apps to help with revision and you don’t want to waste time testing 20 different ones that all do the same thing. The short answer: use one app that handles spaced repetition, active recall, and reminders properly, then add a few extras for notes and focus. That combo works because it matches how your brain actually remembers stuff—recall > reread, and spaced review > last‑minute cramming. Start by putting your key facts, formulas, vocab, or exam content into a flashcard app with spaced repetition, then layer in a notes app and maybe a focus timer. Flashrecall does the heavy lifting for the memory part, so you’re not guessing when or how to review anymore.
Why Flashcard Apps Beat Just “Reading Notes”
Alright, let’s talk about the big thing most people get wrong with revision: they reread instead of test themselves.
Your brain remembers way better when you pull information out (active recall) instead of just looking at it again. That’s why flashcards work so well—if you use them right.
A good revision setup needs:
- Active recall – testing yourself, not just reading
- Spaced repetition – seeing cards again right before you forget
- Low friction – fast to create, fast to review, works on the go
That’s exactly what Flashrecall is built around. It’s a fast, modern flashcard app for iPhone and iPad that bakes in active recall and spaced repetition automatically, so you don’t have to think about scheduling reviews.
👉 You can grab it here:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Let’s break down the best apps to help with revision and how they fit together—with Flashrecall as your main memory engine.
1. Flashrecall – Your Main App For Actually Remembering Stuff
If you only download one revision app, make it your flashcard app. And yes, I’m biased, but there are reasons.
What Flashrecall Does Really Well
You don’t have to decide when to review which card. Flashrecall uses built‑in spaced repetition and sends auto reminders so you review at the right time—daily at first, then less often as you learn it.
You can make flashcards in pretty much any way that fits your workflow:
- From images (class slides, textbook pages, handwritten notes)
- From text (copy‑paste from notes or websites)
- From audio (great for languages or lectures)
- From PDFs
- From YouTube links (grab key info from videos)
- From typed prompts or manually one by one
So if you’re revising for exams, languages, medicine, business, school, uni—whatever—you can turn your existing material into cards in minutes instead of hours.
Cards are automatically set up to force you to think before you see the answer. That “ugh, I kind of know this but not really” feeling? That’s the exact moment your memory gets stronger.
If you’re unsure about something, you can chat with the flashcard to go deeper—ask for clarification, examples, or a simpler explanation. It’s like having a mini tutor inside your revision app.
No Wi‑Fi? On the bus? In a boring queue? Flashrecall works offline, so you can squeeze in 5‑minute sessions anywhere.
No clunky 2009 interface. It’s clean, quick, and doesn’t make revision feel like punishment. And you can start for free, then decide if you want to go harder with it.
2. Note-Taking Apps – For Understanding Before Memorising
Flashcards are amazing for remembering, but you still need somewhere to:
- Capture class notes
- Summarise chapters
- Brain-dump messy ideas
Good options:
- Apple Notes – simple, built-in, syncs across devices
- Notion – great if you like databases, templates, and structure
- GoodNotes / Notability – if you’re on iPad and like handwriting
How To Combine With Flashrecall
1. Take your notes as usual.
2. After class or reading, highlight key facts, definitions, formulas, dates, vocab.
3. Turn just those into flashcards in Flashrecall.
That way, your notes are for understanding, and Flashrecall is for memorising. You’re not just copying your entire notebook into cards (which is a trap).
3. Focus Timer Apps – For Actually Sitting Down To Study
You can have the best apps to help with revision, but if you keep scrolling TikTok, it’s pointless.
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
A simple Pomodoro timer (25 minutes focus, 5 minutes break) can make a huge difference.
Options:
- Forest – grow a virtual tree while you focus
- Structured – plan your day with time blocks
- Or just use the built‑in iOS timer
How This Works With Flashrecall
- Set a 25‑minute timer
- Open Flashrecall and do a review session
- Take a 5‑minute break
- Repeat 3–4 times
You’ll be shocked how much revision you can get through in just a few focused blocks.
4. Past Paper & Question Bank Apps – For Exam-Style Practice
Once you’ve got content in your head, you need to test it in the same way the exam will.
Depending on what you’re studying:
- School exams: your exam board might have an app or site
- Uni / medicine / law: there are usually question bank apps
- Languages: apps like Duolingo or test prep apps for specific exams
How To Link This Back To Flashrecall
Every time you:
- Get a question wrong
- Forget a concept
- Mix up two similar things
…turn that into a flashcard in Flashrecall.
That way, every mistake becomes something you’ll see again at the right time, instead of just “oh well, hope that doesn’t come up”.
5. Language Learning Apps – If You’re Revising Vocab Or Grammar
If your revision is for languages, you can totally use:
- Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu, etc. for structured practice
- YouTube for listening and pronunciation
But here’s the catch: these apps are great for practice, not long-term memory by themselves.
Why Flashrecall Is Perfect For Languages
Flashrecall is great for:
- Vocab (word on front, translation / sentence on back)
- Grammar patterns (example sentence on front, rule or explanation on back)
- Listening (audio on front, meaning or transcription on back)
You can:
- Make cards from YouTube videos you’re learning from
- Turn PDF worksheets into cards
- Record audio for pronunciation cards
So you use language apps to expose yourself to the language, then Flashrecall to lock it in.
6. PDF & Text Reader Apps – For Turning Content Into Cards Fast
If your course dumps everything in PDFs, slides, or long readings, you don’t want to be typing everything manually.
You can:
- Open your PDFs or slides
- Screenshot key sections or export pages
- Import them into Flashrecall, then create cards from those images or text
Because Flashrecall lets you make flashcards from images, text, and PDFs, you can turn even huge textbooks into bite-sized revision chunks.
7. Calendar & Reminder Apps – For Planning, Not Just Hoping
Last thing: revision fails when it’s “I’ll do it later”.
Use:
- Apple Calendar or Google Calendar to block revision sessions
- Built‑in Reminders app for deadlines and exam dates
Then let Flashrecall’s study reminders handle the “micro” side—daily reviews, spaced repetition notifications, and gentle nudges so you don’t forget to revise.
You don’t have to remember to remember.
How To Build A Simple, Effective Revision System With Apps
Here’s a simple setup that actually works and doesn’t require 10 tools:
1. Understand the material
- Use lectures, textbooks, notes, YouTube
- Summarise in your notes app
2. Extract the important bits
- Definitions, formulas, dates, key ideas, vocab
- Turn those into flashcards in Flashrecall
3. Review with spaced repetition
- Open Flashrecall daily
- Let the app decide which cards you should see
- Use active recall: answer before flipping
4. Test exam-style
- Use past paper/question bank apps
- Any mistakes → new flashcards in Flashrecall
5. Stay consistent
- Use a focus timer app for 25‑minute sessions
- Let Flashrecall’s auto reminders and study notifications keep you on track
That’s it. No complicated systems. Just understanding → extracting → reviewing → testing.
Why Choose Flashrecall Over Other Flashcard Apps?
There are a bunch of flashcard tools out there, but here’s where Flashrecall stands out as one of the best apps to help with revision:
- Way faster to create cards – images, PDFs, YouTube links, audio, text, typed prompts
- Built‑in spaced repetition and reminders – no manual scheduling or confusing settings
- Chat with your cards – get explanations when you’re stuck
- Works offline – perfect for commuting or travel
- Great for anything – school, uni, medicine, languages, business, certifications
- Free to start – you can try it without committing
If you want an app that actually helps you remember what you study instead of just feeling “productive”, this is the one to build your revision around.
👉 Try Flashrecall here and set up your revision in a few minutes:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Use other apps for notes, planning, and practice—but let Flashrecall handle your memory. That’s how you go from “I kind of remember this” to “I’ve got this” on exam day.
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.
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.
Related Articles
- Kahoot Flashcards: Why Most Students Are Switching To Smarter Study Apps In 2025 – And The One Tool That Actually Helps You Remember
- Apps That Make Flashcards For You: 7 Powerful Ways To Study Smarter Without Wasting Time – Stop typing every card by hand and let smart apps build your flashcards while you actually learn.
- Duocards Language Flashcards: Why Most Learners Switch Apps And The Best Alternative To Learn Faster – Stop wasting time with clunky decks and see how modern flashcard apps make languages way easier.
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

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