As the new school year approaches, students everywhere are preparing to get back into the rhythm of classes, homework, and extracurricular activities. While the excitement of reuniting with friends is in the air, so is the anxiety of staying organized, completing assignments on time, and balancing the myriad of responsibilities that come with being a student. Thankfully, there’s an app for almost everything in the digital age. Whether you’re looking to streamline your study habits, manage your time more effectively, or simply survive the chaos of back to school season, these essential apps have got you covered.

MyHomework: the ultimate digital planner

Gone are the days of paper planners filled with scribbles and sticky notes. MyHomework is a powerful, intuitive digital planner that helps students track their assignments, exams, and class schedules all in one place. The app’s clean, user-friendly interface allows students to organize their academic lives effortlessly, setting reminders for due dates and exams. While the free version offers robust features, a premium upgrade ($4.99) removes ads and unlocks additional customization options, such as theme variations and integration with external calendars. MyHomework is a must-have for students who want to stay on top of their workload without getting overwhelmed.

Quizlet: reinventing the study experience

Quizlet has revolutionized the way students study by transforming traditional flashcards into an interactive, multimedia learning experience. With Quizlet, students can create custom flashcards, tests, and games or tap into a vast library of pre-made study sets created by other users. The app also includes audio and video features to cater to different learning styles, and its offline mode ensures that students can review material even without an internet connection. Whether preparing for a big exam or just reinforcing daily lessons, Quizlet makes studying more engaging and effective.

Google Drive: your cloud-based academic hub

For students juggling multiple projects and group assignments, Google Drive is an indispensable tool. This cloud storage service allows users to store and organize files and enables real-time collaboration on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. With 15GB of free storage, Google Drive ensures that students never lose important work, even if their device fails. The seamless integration with other Google services, like Docs and Slides, makes it easy to access and edit files from any device, anywhere, anytime.

Photomath: the math tutor in your pocket

Math can be a challenging subject for many students, but Photomath makes it more manageable. This innovative app allows students to solve math problems simply by scanning them with their phone’s camera. Photomath provides the correct answer and offers a step-by-step explanation of the solution, helping students understand the process and learn independently. While the basic version of Photomath is free, a premium subscription unlocks additional features, such as animated tutorials and detailed explanations for a wide range of math problems, making it an excellent resource for both quick checks and in-depth learning.

Evernote: your all-in-one note-taking solution

Evernote remains one of the most popular note-taking apps for students, and for good reason. It offers a versatile platform where students can organize their notes, to-do lists, and research materials across multiple devices. Evernote’s robust tagging and search features make it easy to find specific notes when needed. Moreover, the app supports various media types, allowing users to embed photos, audio files, and even web clippings into their notes. Whether you’re preparing for exams or managing a complex group project, Evernote’s collaborative features allow multiple users to contribute to shared notebooks seamlessly.

StoryShots: quick and efficient book summaries

For students who struggle to find time for extensive reading, StoryShots offers a convenient solution. This app provides concise summaries of popular books in various formats, including text, audio, and video. Covering a wide range of genres from psychology to history, StoryShots is perfect for those last-minute study sessions before exams or when you need to grasp key concepts quickly. The app’s free version includes ads, but for $3.99 monthly, students can enjoy an ad-free experience and access additional features like offline reading and note-taking.

Peech: the handy text-to-speech converter

Peech is a fantastic app for students who prefer listening to their study materials rather than reading. Whether it’s a textbook chapter, a PDF document, or a web article, Peech converts text into audio, allowing students to listen on the go. This is particularly beneficial for auditory learners or those with visual impairments. The app supports 50 languages and offers various text input methods, including direct uploads and camera scans. While Peech is free to use, a $4.99 weekly subscription unlocks unlimited document uploads and other premium features.

Todoist: master your task management

Keeping track of assignments, deadlines, and personal tasks can be overwhelming, especially during the busy school year. Todoist helps students manage their tasks efficiently by allowing them to create detailed to-do lists, set priorities, and receive reminders. The app’s minimalist design is both aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate, making it simple to keep all tasks in order. Todoist also supports collaboration, making it a great tool for group projects. While the basic version is free, a premium subscription ($3 per month) provides additional features like labels, filters, and advanced reminders.

EasyBib: stress-free citation management

Creating citations for research papers can be tedious and time-consuming, but EasyBib takes the hassle out of the process. This app automatically generates citations in various formats, including APA, MLA, and Chicago, based on the source type and information the user provides. EasyBib supports over 7,000 citation styles and allows users to export their citations directly into their documents. This app is a lifesaver for students who need to focus more on content creation and less on formatting details.

Additional back-to-school apps worth considering

While the above back-to-school apps are our top picks, there are several other tools that students may find helpful:

Libby: Borrow free e-books and audiobooks from your local library.

Grammarly: Improve your writing with this grammar and spell-check tool.

Kahoot!: Engage in game-based learning with friends or classmates.

Newsela: Access current events articles tailored to your reading level.

Brainly: Get help with homework and explanations from peers and experts.

In the fast-paced world of education, staying organized and finding effective study methods are key to academic success. The back-to-school apps highlighted above are designed to help students make the most of their time, manage their responsibilities, and enhance their learning experience. As you head back to school this year, consider incorporating these tools into your routine to ensure a productive and stress-free year.