Apps To Help You Study: 9 Powerful Tools To Learn Faster (Most Students Don’t Know #7) – If you’re tired of studying for hours and forgetting everything, these apps will actually help stuff stick.
Apps to help you study should boost recall, not fake productivity. See why active recall, spaced repetition, and Flashrecall beat pretty notes and timers.
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So, You’re Looking For Apps To Help You Study That Actually Work?
So, you’re looking for apps to help you study and not just feel “fake productive”? The fix is using apps that focus on active recall and spaced repetition, not just pretty notes and endless highlighting. Those methods force your brain to pull information out (instead of just rereading), which is what actually builds long‑term memory. Start by picking one main “memory app” and then add 1–2 support apps for planning and focus. Flashrecall is perfect as your core memory tool because it handles the hard part—what to review and when—so you can stop guessing and just follow the schedule.
Why Most Study Apps Don’t Really Help You Remember
A lot of “study” apps are just:
- Note-taking
- To‑do lists
- PDF readers
- Aesthetic timers
They feel productive, but they don’t really fix the main problem:
> “I studied this… why can’t I remember anything on the test?”
The two things that actually move the needle:
1. Active recall – testing yourself instead of rereading
2. Spaced repetition – reviewing right before you forget
That’s why flashcard‑based apps and quiz‑style tools are way more powerful than just reading your notes again and again.
So when we talk about apps to help you study, think in categories:
- One app for memory & review (this is where Flashrecall shines)
- One app for planning
- One app for focus / blocking distractions
- Optional: note‑taking, PDFs, etc.
Let’s start with the most important one.
1. Flashrecall – Your Main App For Remembering What You Study
If you want one app that directly makes you remember more in less time, use Flashrecall as your main study brain.
👉 App link:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
What Flashrecall Actually Does For You
Flashrecall is a flashcard app built around active recall + spaced repetition, but without all the annoying setup.
You can:
- Make flashcards instantly from:
- Images (lecture slides, textbooks, screenshots)
- Text
- Audio
- PDFs
- YouTube links
- Or just typed prompts
- Or create manual flashcards if you like full control
Then Flashrecall:
- Uses built‑in spaced repetition to decide when you should see each card again
- Sends auto reminders so you don’t forget to review
- Gives you active recall by forcing you to answer before flipping the card
- Lets you chat with the flashcard if you’re confused and want more explanation
It works offline, is fast and modern, runs on iPhone and iPad, and is free to start.
Perfect for:
- Languages (vocab, phrases, grammar points)
- Exams (SAT, MCAT, USMLE, bar exam, etc.)
- School subjects (history, biology, math formulas)
- University courses
- Medicine, business, tech, literally anything you need to remember
Why Use Flashrecall Over Other Flashcard Apps?
Other flashcard apps can be:
- Clunky and old‑school
- Overcomplicated with settings you never touch
- Annoying to build cards in (copy‑pasting everything manually)
Flashrecall is:
- Much faster to create cards (especially from images, PDFs, and YouTube)
- Cleaner and easier to use, so you actually stick with it
- Designed around “I don’t have time for complicated setups, just help me pass”
If you’re downloading a bunch of apps to help you study, honestly, make Flashrecall your core one. Then everything else just supports it.
2. Notion – For Organizing Your Study Life
Flashrecall handles remembering.
Notion is great for organizing.
You can use Notion to:
- Track your classes and assignments
- Plan out what topics to cover each week
- Keep a simple “study dashboard” with links to your decks in Flashrecall
Simple setup idea:
- Page = “Semester Dashboard”
- Sub‑pages = each class
- Inside each class page:
- A list of topics
- A checkbox when you’ve made flashcards in Flashrecall for that topic
- Links to PDFs, slides, and resources
Then, as you finish a lecture:
1. Drop the slides/PDF into Notion
2. Use Flashrecall to turn the key points into flashcards
3. Let spaced repetition handle the rest
3. Forest / Flora – For Staying Off Your Phone
If your biggest problem is “I open my phone to study and suddenly I’m on TikTok,” then a focus timer app helps a lot.
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
Apps like Forest or Flora:
- Use a cute tree/plant system
- You start a timer (e.g., 25 minutes)
- If you leave the app to scroll social media, your tree dies
Pair this with Flashrecall:
- Set a 25‑minute session
- Open Flashrecall
- Do nothing but flashcards until the timer ends
- Take a 5‑minute break
You’ll be shocked how much you can get through when you’re not bouncing between apps.
4. Google Calendar / Apple Calendar – For Planning Your Reviews
Spaced repetition works best when it’s consistent.
Flashrecall already sends you study reminders and automatically schedules reviews. But if you’re someone who likes structure, adding calendar blocks helps.
Example:
- Monday–Friday: 20–30 minutes “Flashrecall review”
- Right after school, or first thing in the morning, or before bed
You don’t need a crazy schedule. Just:
- Daily quick reviews
- Longer review sessions before big exams
Let Flashrecall tell you what to review, and your calendar just tells you when to sit down and do it.
5. GoodNotes / Notability – For Handwritten Notes You Can Turn Into Cards
If you love handwritten notes on iPad, apps like GoodNotes or Notability are perfect.
Here’s how they work well with Flashrecall:
1. Take notes in class on your iPad
2. After class, skim the notes and screenshot the key diagrams, formulas, or definitions
3. Drop those screenshots straight into Flashrecall to make instant flashcards
No need to rewrite everything. You can literally turn your handwritten notes into review cards in a couple of minutes.
6. YouTube – But Use It Smartly With Flashcards
YouTube can be the best or worst study app, depending on how you use it.
Instead of just watching:
- Pick a video that explains your topic (e.g., “Krebs cycle explained”)
- Pause when there’s a key point, definition, or diagram
- Use Flashrecall to:
- Paste the YouTube link
- Or screenshot the key frame and make a card out of it
- Turn that video into a mini deck
Then you’re not just binging videos—you’re converting them into memorable flashcards.
7. PDF Readers – Turn Textbooks Into Flashcards Fast
Most classes still give you:
- PDF textbooks
- Lecture PDFs
- Research articles
Instead of reading them straight through and forgetting everything:
1. Open the PDF
2. Highlight key concepts, formulas, or definitions
3. Copy/paste or screenshot into Flashrecall
4. Turn each important point into a question on the front, answer on the back
Flashrecall can create cards quickly from PDFs, so you’re not wasting time doing manual formatting.
You’re basically turning a 200‑page PDF into a personal quiz bank.
8. Voice Recorder Apps – For Auditory Learners
If you’re the type who remembers better by hearing things:
- Record your own explanations of concepts
- Or record important parts of lectures (if allowed)
- Then use Flashrecall to:
- Attach audio to cards
- Or write questions based on what you said and test yourself later
Example:
- Front: “Explain the difference between mitosis and meiosis”
- Back: Your own explanation, plus an audio clip
Hearing yourself explain something again actually reinforces the memory even more.
9. Chat-Based Tools – For When You’re Stuck
Sometimes you’re doing flashcards and you hit something like:
> “I kinda recognize this, but I don’t actually get it.”
Flashrecall has a neat feature where you can chat with the flashcard if you’re unsure.
So instead of leaving the app to search random explanations, you can:
- Ask follow‑up questions
- Get it broken down more simply
- Then go back to reviewing
This keeps you in the flow and helps you understand, not just memorize.
How To Combine These Apps Without Overcomplicating Your Life
You don’t need 20 apps to help you study. You just need a small stack that covers everything:
- Flashrecall – for memory, flashcards, spaced repetition
- One focus app (Forest/Flora) – to keep you off distractions
- One planner (Notion or your calendar) – to schedule study time
- Note‑taking app (GoodNotes, Notability, Apple Notes)
- YouTube + PDFs as content sources
A Simple Study Workflow You Can Actually Stick To
1. After each class
- Dump slides/PDFs/notes into your note app or folder
- Spend 10–15 minutes turning the key stuff into Flashrecall cards
2. Every day
- Open Flashrecall
- Do your scheduled reviews (the app handles the timing)
- Aim for 20–30 minutes
3. Before exams
- Add extra cards for weak topics
- Use focus timers to do 2–3 focused Flashrecall sessions
- Let the spaced repetition hit you with the stuff you’re most likely to forget
That’s it. No crazy system. Just:
- Turn everything important into flashcards
- Let Flashrecall schedule your reviews
- Show up consistently
Why Flashrecall Should Be Your First Download
If you’re scrolling through a list of apps to help you study and trying to decide where to start, go with the one that directly improves your memory.
Flashrecall:
- Uses spaced repetition so you review things at the perfect time
- Has active recall built‑in by default
- Creates cards quickly from images, PDFs, text, audio, and YouTube
- Sends study reminders so you don’t fall off
- Works offline, is fast, modern, and free to start
- Works for any subject—languages, exams, school, uni, medicine, business, you name it
Grab it here and make it your main study app:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Then add a couple of support apps around it. With that setup, you’re not just “using apps to help you study”—you’re actually building a system that makes remembering stuff way easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
What's the most effective study method?
Research consistently shows that active recall combined with spaced repetition is the most effective study method. Flashrecall automates both techniques, making it easy to study effectively without the manual work.
How can I improve my memory?
Memory improves with active recall practice and spaced repetition. Flashrecall uses these proven techniques automatically, helping you remember information long-term.
What should I know about Study:?
Apps To Help You Study: 9 Powerful Tools To Learn Faster (Most Students Don’t Know #7) – If you’re tired of studying for hours and forgetting everything, these apps will actually help stuff stick. covers essential information about Study:. To master this topic, use Flashrecall to create flashcards from your notes and study them with spaced repetition.
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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
Ebbinghaus, H. (1885). Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology. New York: Dover
Pioneering research on the forgetting curve and memory retention over time

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...
Credentials & Qualifications
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- •Product Development
- •User Experience Design
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