It’s easy to see your smartphone as a study distraction rather than a helping hand, but this couldn't be further from the truth. From study-buddies to distraction-blockers and lifestyle coaches, check out some of the best study apps for students to get ahead.

Note-taking made easy

Do you have a hard time taking notes during class? Whether it’s because your lecturer is a fast talker, or because you’re trying to do several things at once, Soundnote can help you make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Soundnote is an app that keeps track of audio and text at the same time. Type or hand-write your notes during a lecture and if there is anything you miss or want to revise, simply tap your note on the screen to jump to the corresponding audio. It’s also easily shareable, so you can share your own notes with your study group.

If you already have note-taking locked down, Notability gives you cloud access to your notes, sketches, PDFs, and recorded lectures. It’s a really effective feedback program for group assignments and direct student-teacher contact.

For anyone with one of those tutors who writes at an impossible speed before wiping it all off the board immediately, Captureboard is a helpful study app that allows you to take a photo of a whiteboard whilst automatically correcting the perspective for a clear view for later use.

Help with Writing Essays

Every semester, without fail, your individual subjects will join forces and plot their essay and exam deadlines right next to each other. Relax! Your phone is here to help.

Start with Any.Do, the ultimate to-do list that allows you to use text or your voice to create new tasks, prioritise events, and sync across your devices. By getting organized well in advance, you can make sure you plan ahead and stay on top of your deadlines.

CliffsNotes began as a range of hard-copy study guides back in the 1950s. Today, it’s an online guide to virtually every character, plot or theme in a prescribed text. Information on CliffsNotes is written by real teachers and professors, so you know you’re getting the real deal.

For those on the maths side of the spectrum, there’s Mathway. Mathway provides step-bystep guides for virtually every aspect of mathematics to help you find the solutions to any difficult maths problems.

For the more research-heavy assignments, EasyBib takes the hassle out of bibliographies with its automatic citation generator in over 7,000 styles including MLA, APA, and Harvard referencing.

Time to Study

It’s the end of semester and holidays are a couple of weeks away, but a minefield of exam preparation still stands in the way. Your secret weapon? Free learning platform GoConqr, which has study portals, mind maps, flashcards, quizzes, and notes to boost your potential, plus a study planner and progress tracker to get you over the line. This super study buddy is specifically based on Australian textbook editions, and it also syncs to all your devices so you can study and share on the go.

Do you struggle with procrastination and leave your assignments to the last minute? SelfControl is a great app for students that blocks your most distracting websites for a set period of time, allowing you to pay attention to the essentials, and reward yourself for the effort. This can help you stay on track and finish your assignments on time, rather than procrastinating and leaving them until the last minute.

Mental and Physical Wellbeing

Being a student isn’t all study and exams; of course, there are the eating, drinking, and entertainment choices you have to make between classes. Naturally, there’s an app to help you every step of the way.

For those who live from a half-empty fridge, Mealboard plans healthy meals and recipes based on what you can throw together at home. There are plenty of options, no matter your dietary needs or preferences.

For those who are looking to try and stay fit between classes and social get-togethers, try WorkIt (Android), 7 Minute Workout, or Nike Training Club for free, trackable workouts that will whip you into shape.

Everyone’s pulled an all-nighter, whether it was an emergency cram, or you got carried away watching the latest binge-worthy TV show. Sleep Cycle can help get your sleep patterns back on track. Monitoring your body movements and sleeping time to wake you up at the lightest stage of your sleep cycle, the app works to get you back into a regular rhythm and sleep more effectively.

We hope you’ve found this guide helpful and can look forward to a productive and fun semester back at school!