Findr logo
Findr text logo
Sign In

Top 10 Productivity Apps for College Students in 2024

Arjun VC
Arjun VC Founding Engineer

Published on November 6, 2024

Last Updated on November 23, 2024

College life is always loaded with projects, assignments, and deadlines. You must juggle academic work and an active personal life every day. It can be challenging for a student to manage all their tasks in a way that allows them to be highly productive and organized. However, many productivity apps for college students can help you keep track of your tasks, assignments, and planning; ultimately, you will be able to do all your work with fewer distractions and in a shorter amount of time. A productivity app is a great solution because it's useful for every aspect of your university experience.

We will also list the best student productivity apps to keep track of their tasks and other affairs. Students' lives are never easy due to a lot of responsibilities, and that’s why we will share with you apps that will make your life more pleasant.

How to Be More Productive? Here’s what Science Says…

Productivity isn’t just about cramming more into your day; it’s about working smarter, not harder. Scientific research shows that productivity is enhanced by several factors: breaking large tasks into smaller ones, using tools for active recall, and taking regular breaks to boost focus and memory retention. Organizing tasks into visual representations like timelines and to-do lists can also aid in managing large projects while reducing distractions, which is key for maintaining focus.

Key Productivity Tips:

  • Break tasks into smaller, manageable chunks: This reduces feelings of overwhelm and helps students stay focused on what they need to accomplish.
  • Use productivity tools: Apps like note-taking tools or project management tools can help organize ideas and responsibilities effectively.
  • Take breaks during study sessions: Regular breaks help refresh the mind, especially when dealing with challenging topics or large amounts of material to study.

Best Productivity Apps for Students

Below is a preview of each productivity app before we dive deeper into their individual features and advantages:

Screenshot 2024-11-07 at 12.41.56 AM.png

1. Notion

Notion.png

Best for: Organizing tasks, notes, and projects in one place

But Notion is still an app that students turn to for help. It serves everything from essential to-do lists to elaborate group projects: you can organize your notes, build databases of information, schedule deadlines, and collaborate with classmates on shared study material. It’s a Swiss army knife for note-taking and project management.

For Notion users, integrating with Findr can supercharge their productivity by enabling AI-powered search across all their notes and projects in seconds. Embrace these apps and tools, and watch your productivity soar!

Key Features:

  • Customizable templates for tasks, notes, and project timelines
  • Integration with Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Sheets for seamless collaboration
  • Great for visual learners, offering a visual representation of tasks and projects

Why It Stands Out: Notion is more than just a note-taking app; it’s a comprehensive tool for managing your academic life.

2. Evernote

Evernote.png

Best for: Taking and organizing notes across devices

One of the most potent note-taking apps is called Evernote. It is a cross-platform app, so if you have a phone, desktop, or tablet, you can carry your class notes to-do lists, research all of them, and work on articles and essays on the move. You can record audio and handwritten notes in one program, which offers flexibility of style.

Key Features:

  • Syncs notes across multiple devices
  • Ability to attach images, PDFs, and voice notes to your notes
  • Browser extension for saving web content to your Evernote account with a couple of clicks

Why It Stands Out: Evernote is an ideal tool for students because it neatly organizes all notes – typed text, handwritten annotations, audio files, scanned materials, and more – and makes them accessible on any device. Any course will do.

3. Notability

Notability.png

Best for: Handwritten note-taking and annotations.

The below favorite productivity app among students belongs to those who like handwritten notes. The twelve gif images brief us about each tool. The further reading option helps us to understand more about the apps. Notability is a favorite app among the students. They love the app because it is easy for them to use handwritten notes in an appealing format. Various tools are provided in the Notability app, such as notes, PDF annotation, and voice notes written along with you.

Notability enables the students to put all the study materials in one place. After using this app, the students will have a better place to take their class notes and arrange them conveniently.

Key Features:

  • Allows for easy handwritten notes and PDF annotations
  • Audio recording syncs with your notes, allowing for detailed playback
  • Excellent for Cornell Method for note-taking and other study techniques

Why It Stands Out: With its features tailored for note-taking and review, Notability is the ideal app for organizing your study material and mastering tough topics.

4. Habitica

Habitica.png

Best for: Habit building and task management Habitica is an innovative productivity app that turns your to-do list into a fun RPG-style game. For students looking to build productive habits, whether completing assignments or sticking to a study routine, Habitica makes it feel like a rewarding adventure. Each task you complete helps your avatar level up, which motivates students to stick to their daily routines.

Key Features:

  • Turns your tasks into a game with an avatar and rewards system
  • Great for building study and personal habits
  • Tracks both academic tasks and personal life goals

Why It Stands Out: Habitica adds a unique, fun element to productivity, transforming daily routines and repetitive tasks into an engaging experience.

5. Tide

Tide.png

Best for: Focus and relaxation during study sessions

Tide, a meditative focus app, combines Pomodoro techniques with the finishing touch of some ambient sound, such as ocean waves or the sound of a forest, to structure study sessions. Tide is a great app as it can be used to destress, focus on topics you find most challenging, and structure your revision in a balanced fashion.

Key Features:

  • Focus timer based on the Pomodoro technique
  • Ambient sounds for relaxation and focus
  • Encourages breaks to avoid burnout

Why It Stands Out: Tide's combination of focus tools and meditative sessions makes it ideal for maintaining focus and balance during high-pressure study periods.

6. Google Calendar

Google Calendar.png

Best for: Scheduling and managing deadlines It is very good for any college student to organize classes, study sessions, and other things outside school. We have linked with Google Docs, Google Sheets, and others to make project timelines or meetings with other classmates. Reminders of essential deadlines can also be set in those documents.

Key Features:

  • Set reminders for assignments, exams, and group meetings
  • Integration with other Google tools like Drive and Docs
  • Ability to color-code different aspects of student life

Why It Stands Out: Google Calendar is a simple yet powerful productivity tool that helps students stay on top of their deadlines and manage the fast pace of student life.

7. Cold Turkey

Cold Turkey .png

Best for: Blocking distractions during study sessions Cold Turkey is a focus app that allows students to block distracting websites, apps, and even their entire browser, enabling them to focus on their studies. For those who struggle to stay focused, this app will help manage distractions so that important assignments or study sessions can be done without interruptions.

Key Features:

  • Block specific websites or apps for a set period
  • Helps reduce procrastination and increase productivity
  • Includes Cold Turkey Writer for distraction-free writing

Why It Stands Out: Cold Turkey is essential for students who need extra help, avoiding distractions and focusing on their work.

8. Google Keep

Google Keep .png

Best for: Quick note-taking and setting reminders

Google Keep is a note app for jotting down quick ideas, to-dos, reminders, etc. While other apps might offer more features, it’s lightweight and effective, and it's one of the best note-taking apps for students who need to jot down ideas or manage short-term tasks on the go.

Key Features:

  • Syncs with Google Drive for easy access across devices
  • Simple interface for quick, no-fuss notes
  • Reminders for tasks and to-do lists

Why It Stands Out: Google Keep’s simplicity and integration with Google’s ecosystem make it a great companion app for students who need a quick and efficient note-taking solution.

9. Trello

trello 2.png

Best for: Project management and group collaboration

Trello is one of the best project management tools for students, visually representing tasks, deadlines, and progress. Trello allows students to create boards for each class or project and organize tasks with cards, lists, and deadlines. It's beneficial for managing group projects, as functions can be easily assigned to team members.

Key Features:

  • Visual board layout for organizing tasks
  • Integration with Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets
  • Collaboration tools for group projects

Why It Stands Out: Trello’s simplicity, combined with its array of project management features, makes it an excellent tool for both individual and group tasks.

10. Microsoft OneNote

Microsoft OneNote.png

Best for: Comprehensive note-taking and organization

OneNote is a powerful note-taking app that allows students to organize class notes, create notebooks, and sync everything across devices. With features like drawing tools, audio recordings, and cross-platform syncing, OneNote is ideal for students who need a robust tool for managing a wide range of study materials.

Key Features:

  • Create and organize notes in digital notebooks
  • Syncs across devices for easy access
  • Great for drawing and handwritten notes

Why It Stands Out: OneNote’s flexibility and wide range of features make it one of the most comprehensive note-taking apps for best organizational apps for college students.

Conclusion

College life demands effective time management, organization, and focus. Whether managing a group project or tackling a challenging course, these productivity software for students can make your academic journey smoother. From note-taking apps like Evernote and OneNote to project management tools like Trello, these apps will help you stay on top of your tasks, keep you organized, and ensure you're using your time productively.

FAQs

What is the #1 productivity app?
Notion stands out as the top productivity app for its versatility as an all-in-one hub. It excels in organizing tasks, notes, and projects with customizable templates and seamless integration with Google tools, making it a comprehensive solution for managing academic life.

What app is useful for students?
Based on student needs, Evernote is beneficial for its cross-platform synchronization, ability to handle multiple note formats (text, audio, handwritten), and seamless organization features. It's precious for students who need to access their notes across different devices while managing coursework.