Being a student is difficult – there’s no two ways about it! But thankfully, as the demands on young academics have increased, so have the capabilities of our personal devices. Leveraging useful apps can help implement some good studying and learning habits, and we’ve tracked down some of the best you should be downloading! Here are our picks for 5 apps every student needs on the smartphone.
A smartphone can be an indispensable learning tool for any student. With so many apps geared towards helping students learn, study, and complete projects, having a reliable smartphone is indeed important. Of course, we understand that students are also on a budget and many students can’t afford the flagship devices available from many smartphone brands. Fortunately, there are many affordable entry-level and mid-tier smartphones available that are more than capable of handling most tasks a student would need. Find the best prices on smartphones in South Africa can be a tough ask, but PriceCheck offers a place to begin the search and compare prices on entry-level smartphones to find the best deal on a smartphone that will suit your budget and your needs.
If you’d prefer not to take written notes in a lecture, then Otter will be your new best friend. Otter records and takes detailed notes for you in real-time. It transcribes for you, giving you a searchable and shareable text document after your meetings.
Download it for Android here.
If you want to give yourself a bit of a challenge, or perhaps learn in a smart and easy way, Khan Academy is the answer. The app is essentially a hub that provides tens of thousands of quizzes, specifically geared towards science and maths-related material. In addition to the quizzes, there are video lectures to help you through certain material you may be diving into.
Download it for Android here.
Learning a new language can be a mammoth task, especially because most curriculums leave out the practical application of said language. DuoLingo’s approach is to make language learning similar to a game, which exposes you to vocabulary and real-world situations. It features a wide range of languages to choose from as well, so you’re likely to find what you’re looking for easily.
Download it here: iOS | Android
This one is for all the visual studiers that either need cue cards or written notes to make sure they retain information. Brainscape allows users to make flashcards that can help easily replicate the popular study material, but more than that, it offers pre-made content on popular subjects like geography or languages that can be bought, but the use and download of the app is free. Having study material available on the go also means that spare time spent waiting on a bus or in a restaurant can be used to go over study material, and you can even share things with your contacts, which makes group-studying and note-sharing seamless and accessible.
Download it here: iOS | Android
Transcribe your lectures with Otter:
If you’d prefer not to take written notes in a lecture, then Otter will be your new best friend. Otter records and takes detailed notes for you in real-time. It transcribes for you, giving you a searchable and shareable text document after your meetings.
Download it for Android here.
Save on textbooks with Rebooked
PriceCheck tip: From iPhone to Android devices, you can find the best deals on smartphones and accessories on PriceCheck.The Rebooked app connects sellers and buyers of second-hand books – offering an alternative to buying new academic books or prescribed textbooks at retail prices through a limited number of dealers. The app, developed by a student, Ncubeko Noyila, won R100,000 in the 2022 MTN SA Women in Digital Business Challenge and has since grown from strength to strength. While Rebooked was previously only active at certain times during the year because it focused solely on university books, the app has now developed to cater to all lovers of books – from members of book clubs to those just looking for something good to read. Rebooked will be officially launched on 15 October. “What is holding us back now is the Apple Store but we are ready on Play Store, so as soon as that is complete it will be available on both iOS and Android devices,” says Noyila.
PriceCheck tip: Pair your smartphone with a great set of Bluetooth headphones to enjoy the latest music and podcasts.
Learn more with Khan Academy
If you want to give yourself a bit of a challenge, or perhaps learn in a smart and easy way, Khan Academy is the answer. The app is essentially a hub that provides tens of thousands of quizzes, specifically geared towards science and maths-related material. In addition to the quizzes, there are video lectures to help you through certain material you may be diving into.
Download it for Android here.
DuoLingo
Learning a new language can be a mammoth task, especially because most curriculums leave out the practical application of said language. DuoLingo’s approach is to make language learning similar to a game, which exposes you to vocabulary and real-world situations. It features a wide range of languages to choose from as well, so you’re likely to find what you’re looking for easily.
Download it here: iOS | Android
Brainscape
This one is for all the visual studiers that either need cue cards or written notes to make sure they retain information. Brainscape allows users to make flashcards that can help easily replicate the popular study material, but more than that, it offers pre-made content on popular subjects like geography or languages that can be bought, but the use and download of the app is free. Having study material available on the go also means that spare time spent waiting on a bus or in a restaurant can be used to go over study material, and you can even share things with your contacts, which makes group-studying and note-sharing seamless and accessible.
Download it here: iOS | Android
PriceCheck tip: If you’re looking for an affordable and powerful new smartphone this Black Friday, check out our under R6,000 smartphone buyer’s guide.
