if you are looking for the best iPad apps for students, here are the apps that can help you increase productivity, retention, and workflow.
The possibilities to study smart and efficiently have never been greater. For the last couple of years, Apple has made some big strides to accommodate students. The release of the first iteration of the Apple Pencil in 2015 marked the beginning of what is undoubtedly the best handwriting experience on any tablet. iOS (now iPadOS for selected iPads) continued to improve steadily over the years and today the prospect of replacing laptops with the iPad Pro is within a shouting distance.
One of the things that makes the iPad such a great device is the seemingly endless number of apps in the App Store. Whatever task you want to do, there’s a high chance that there’s an app for it. Developers have made tremendous efforts to make use of the powerful operating system and outstanding hardware, making the iPad one of the best investments you could make as a student.
With that in mind, here are some of the best iPad apps for students. Enjoy!
#1. Notion
I found it challenging to come up with a perfect description of what Notion is, so I navigated to the App Store page. Notion is “the all-in-one workspace for your notes, tasks, wikis, and databases”. It’s so much more, though. You can use the app to count down days until deadlines and exams, keep track of projects, take notes, write article drafts, keep track of job applications, and much more. The list goes on and on.
Pros
- Very user-friendly — can be very advanced if you want it to be
- Clean user interface
- Versatile — no need of many other apps by using Notion
- GIF integration
- Top notch support that takes feature requests seriously and releases frequent app updates
Cons
- iPad app is not as polished as the macOS app.
- Drag-and-drop for images does not function — you have to manually copy and paste (minor con, but other note-taking apps have included this feature)
- Requires a keyboard to have most comfortable note-taking experience
#2. Notability
Looking for a great note-taking app for handwritten notes? Well, you’re going to want to choose between Notability and GoodNotes 5. I happened to start using Notability first, so I became used to the pen dynamics of Notability.
I’ve tried both applications, and while Notability is a little more “bare-bones” I find it to be incredibly powerful and a little polished than GoodNotes 5. The iPad + Apple Pencil allows for some really beautiful notes — if you have the time and patience.
Pros
- Fantastic user interface and note sorting system
- Runs very smoothly
- Users can record, take notes, and then play the recording back with note-taking recorded on top
- You can export directly to Google Drive
Cons
- Very few paper and pen options
#3. ScanPro
If you’re a student you probably know the struggle; Handouts. Loads of handouts. For The vast majority of people, using an iPad is all about going paperless. So, if you are looking for the Best iPad Pro apps for students, ScanPro is a very simple document scanner that converts your handouts into nicely scanned PDF:s. The scanner automatically crops the image you take of a document (you can manually do it too.
Pros
- The interphase is easy to navigate and use.
- Does exactly what it’s says.
Cons
- OCR scanning hidden behind paid upgrade
- (there are loads of sites that do this free of charge)
#4. Anki
The science of memory and information is an interesting field, especially when applied to the area of studying. Two of the most common methods of studying are active recall and spaced repetition. Basically, active recall involves actively retrieving information on a subject as you study. The most efficient method of doing this is to use flashcards. As doctor and YouTuber Ali Abdaal preaches: active recall is a way of life. Spaced repetition means that in order for information to truly stick, you need to revise it at increasing intervals. When it comes to tying the two methods together, Anki is arguably the most well-built flashcard app on the market. The Anki app for iPad costs $24.99, which is a high price point considering that the macOS app is free, but being able to revise on-the-go definitely makes it worth it.
I trust you enjoyed these app recommendations. Feel free to leave a recommendation of some of your favorite iPad apps in the comments section below!
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See also: Best drawing apps for iPad