Looking for the best iPhone apps and best iPad apps to help you stay on top of things at college this year? No matter how far along you are in your college career, it's never too late to load up your iPhone or iPad with great apps that can help you study harder, organize better, and tackle assignments better than ever. Regardless what you need help with, there are tons of App Store apps to help. These are the iPhone and iPad apps we think no college student should ever go without!
You spend a lot of time in college writing papers, preparing presentations, and collecting data. Apple's iWork series is available for both Mac and iOS. With iCloud sync, all your papers, spreadsheets, and presentations will stay in sync no matter where you are or what device you're working on. You also have the ability to export to .doc, .xls, and .ppt formats so PC users can open and share your documents as well. Since each app is available separately, you can download just the ones you need. New iOS and Mac owners can download all of Apple's iWork apps for free. If you have an older device, you can still purchase them for extremely reasonable prices.
Jan 14, 2018 Also, many of these apps I have tested, but I may or may not have used them. Moreover, the vast majority of these apps can be found in the Mac App Store or through a thorough search of Google. So, without further ado, I give you 25 Mac Apps For University And High School Students. Jan 07, 2020 The best Mac apps for 2020 These 28 useful apps are absolutely essential for Mac lovers By Mark Coppock January 7, 2020 If you’re a Mac lover, there are some apps you simply need to have.
If you're writing papers, preparing presentations, or keying data in spreadsheets, Apple's iWork suite is a must-have.
- Pages for iOS - Free or $9.99 - Download Now
- Numbers for iOS - Free or $9.99 - Download Now
- Keynote for iOS - Free or $9.99 - Download Now
See also:
- Pages for Mac - Free or $19.99 - Download Now
- Numbers for Mac - Free or $19.99 - Download Now
- Keynote for Mac - Free or $19.99 - Download Now
iTunes U
iTunes U is a great resources for anyone, whether your university supports it or not. If it does, there's a good chance you can find lectures and class material available for download straight to your iPhone or iPad. For those that don't have iTunes U support yet, it's still a great supplementary study tool that's sure to have tons of videos and lecture material on topics you're currently studying. You can sign up for automatic downloads for courses you're interested in as well which means you don't even have to remember to go grab new lessons.
If you want a good supplementary learning tool or a fallback plan to study topics you're having trouble grasping, get iTunes U.
- Free - Download Now
Evernote
Evernote is hands down one of the best note taking apps available, with support for tags, separate notebooks, iCloud sync, and more. You can even take photos of a blackboard or syllabus and tag it accordingly for specific courses. With great syncing support, you can access your notes not only on your iPhone or iPad, but on your Mac, PC, and on the web as well. Evernote gives you a decent amount of cloud storage to start but if you find yourself going over or want some of the premium features Evernote offers, you can subscribe for more space and lots more features.
If you need a way to efficiently take notes and find them at a moment's notice, there's no better option available than Evernote.
- Free - Download Now
Wunderlist
Wunderlist is a task and todo app that's available on almost any platform you can think of, including iPhone and iPad. When you need to add a task, just enter it and throw it in your inbox. You can go back later and create individual lists, add due dates, notes, and much more. Since Wunderlist lets you create lists however you'd like, you can set them up for each class, or for individual projects. If you're working on group projects you can even share lists between each other and receive notifications when new tasks are added, updated, and completed. Wunderlist is free to use but if you want more advanced features such as in-depth collaboration tools, you'll need to subscribe. However, the free version should be sufficient for most students.
For a great way to stay on top of homework and projects, look no further than Wunderlist.
- Free - Download Now
See also:
- Wunderlist for Mac - Free - Download Now
PCalc
PCalc is one of the only calculators you'll ever need on your iPhone or iPad, student or not. Whether you're a science, engineering, or computer programming major, odds are PCalc has you covered. With support for all kinds of conversions, scientific notation, RPN mode, and tons more, it'll cost you a lot less than a physical calculator and it's always in your pocket. One download scores you PCalc on both your iPhone and iPad.
If you're majoring in something that requires a lot of math, definitely check out PCalc.
- $9.99 - Download Now
Dropbox
It's essential to have somewhere to store all your assignments and documents. From lecture notes to class syllabus' to term papers, Dropbox can store it all. When you sign up, you get 2GB of storage for free with paid options available for lots more storage. Dropbox will give you access to your files straight from your iPhone, iPad, or computer. With apps for virtually every platform and web access for everything in between, you'll never find yourself forgetting an important document or paper again.
If you need a central place to store all your media and documents so you always have them within reach, get Dropbox.
- Free - Download Now
Screens VNC
While cloud storage services like Dropbox serve as a great way to access documents from anywhere, what about using apps on our desktop? And let's face it, we don't always remember everything and there may come a time when you forget an important assignment in a folder on your Mac. Screens lets you remotely access your Mac or PC right from your iPhone or iPad as long as it's connected to the internet. Just create an account and set up Screens on your computer. Next time you forget something, just take control of your desktop and email it to yourself in seconds.
If you want remote control of your desktop computer no matter where you are, Screens VNC is what you want.
- $19.99 - Download Now
See also:
- Screens VNC for Mac - $29.99 - Download Now
Your picks for best iPhone and iPad apps for college students?
We know there are lots of you out there that are either in college or toted an iPhone and iPad around while you were there. Which apps did you find most useful for taking notes, keeping up with assignments, and helping you study? Make sure you let us know in the comments!
Note: Originally published, August 2013. Updated, August 2014.
Ipad Apps For College Students
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
alipayiOS 14 AliPay support will open up Apple Pay to over a billion users
Apple's iOS 14 operating system will bring support to AliPay, opening up mobile payments to potentially more than a billion customers.
BestMacBook for StudentsiMore2020
Whether you're still in high school or racing across your college campus, a laptop is an essential piece of equipment for every student. Apple makes some of the best laptops around with its MacBook lineup. Whether it's a powerful MacBook Pro, or a light and portable MacBook Air, Apple's laptops will power you through any task you'll meet. For most students, the 2019 MacBook Air is the best choice. It has enough power to face most any academic challenge you come up against, while still offering up to 12 hours of battery life.
Best Overall: MacBook Air (2019)
Most students looking for a new MacBook should pick up the MacBook Air. It's less expensive than other MacBooks, as well as lighter. And though it might not be as powerful as the MacBook Pro, it offers enough power for the average student to get through their daily scholastic workload.
The 2019 MacBook Air should also have enough battery to take you from class to class. Like previous versions, the latest iteration of the MacBook Air features up to 12 hours of battery life.
The MacBook Pro is probably overkill for most students. Sure, some will be able to take advantage of its more powerful processors available to it. Still, if most of what you're doing is writing papers, putting together presentations, or doing research on the web, you probably don't need the level of power a MacBook Pro offers.
Pros:
- Great balance of price and power
- Light and portable
- Retina display
- Touch ID
- Up to 12 hours of battery life
Cons:
- Limited customization
- Butterfly keyboard may irksome
Best Overall
MacBook Air (2019)
Sweet spot of power, portability, and price.
Lightweight, yet with enough power to get you through most academic tasks, the MacBook Air is the perfect student computer.
Source: iMore
Because the 2019 MacBook Air uses the same processor as the 2018 model, you can save a good deal of money by going with the 2017 model of MacBook Pro. No Retina display, no Touch ID, but it's still a fairly capable machine, even if the processor is a few years old at this point.
You should also have enough battery life to get through your daily workload. Like the more recent models, the 2017 MacBook Air is rated for up to 12 hours of battery life.
While I'd still recommend the newest MacBook Air for most people, the 2017 model is still a solid alternative if you're looking to save some money. It's not flashy, and it won't win any awards for speed, but it'll still be a dependable device throughout your academic life.
Pros:
- Relatively cheap
- Still a solid performer
- USB-A ports
- SD card slot
- Excellent battery life
Best Value
MacBook Air (2017)
A capable computer for the money.
The 2017 revision of the MacBook Air is still a capable machine that will get you through most of your tasks without hassle.
Source: Rene Ritchie / iMore
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the computer to get if you need the most power that you can afford in a portable package. You can configure it with several options, whether you need that eight-core processor, 64GB of RAM, or 8TB of storage.
But even at its base configuration, a six-core Intel Core i7 with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M GPU, it'll still handle any task a student can set to it besides the most computationally intense workflows. If you want a no-doubt-about-it machine, get this MacBook Pro.
Pros:
- Latest Intel processors
- Configurable up to 8TB of storage
- Myriad of expansion options
- Bigger display
Cons:
- Bigger than other options
- More expensive
- May be overkill for most
Best for Power Users
16-inch MacBook Pro (2019)
Most bang for your buck.
Best Apps For College Students
The 2016 MacBook Pro will perform great at any task you set it and should last you well after your academic career is over.
Best Power Alternative: 13-inch MacBook Pro (2019)
Best Mac Apps For Students
Though this model won't reach the heights of the 16-inch model, for those students that need or want more power than the MacBook Air can offer while sacrificing as little portability as possible, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is a good choice.
It's missing some advantages of the 16-inch model, namely the bigger screen, large storage options, and discrete GPU. However, it's powered by recent Intel quad-core Core i5 processors, so you'll still have enough power for fairly demanding tasks, such as photo and video editing, graphic design, and mobile music production.
Pros:
- Balances portability and power
- More portable than 16-inch model
- Option for up to four Thunderbolt 3 ports
Cons:
- No discrete GPU
- Limited to quad-core processors
- Limited storage choices
Best Power Alternative
13-inch MacBook Pro (2019)
A big step up from a MacBook Air.
This is the MacBook you should get if you need a step up in power from the MacBook Air.
Best Free Mac Apps
Bottom line
Whether you need a computer for high school or college, the most recent MacBook Air is the right choice for most students. Whether you're writing papers, putting together a Powerpoint or Keynote presentation, or even editing some images for a photography class, the MacBook Air will be a reliable performer in your academic pursuits.
It doesn't have the power of something like the 16-inch MacBook Pro, nor even the 13-inch MacBook Pro. But it's still a capable machine at a solid price. The Retina display is beautiful and vibrant, and the built-in Touch ID sensor makes everything from authorizing operating system tasks to paying for things online with Apple Pay more convenient and secure.
The MacBook Air, for a long time, was the best Mac for most people, including students. Thanks to recent revisions, it occupies that space again, offering a light, portable package with enough power and battery life to get you through an entire day of school.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Joseph Keller is a senior writer at iMore. An Apple user for more than a decade and a half, he spends his time learning the ins and outs of iOS and macOS, always finding ways of getting the most out of his iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Rene Ritchie has been covering the personal technology industry for a decade. An outspoken analyst and critic, he writes at iMore.com/vector, podcasts at applepodcasts.com/vector, and you can find his show at youtube.com/vector. Follow him @reneritchie on Twitter and Instagram
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
📹 💻 🙌🏼Built-in isn't necessarily better. These are the best webcams for Mac!
Study Apps For College Students
Whether you want the best webcam that money can buy or a prefer a low-cost option, we have rounded-up some of the best webcams you can find for your Mac.