26 Best Educational Apps for Schools & Colleges

Amongst the multitude of AI tools and smart devices with massive computing power, teachers and students have countless teaching and learning apps at their disposal. From gamified milestone-based learning platforms to student progress trackers, you can pretty much install anything on your iPad these days.

When it comes to choosing the best apps for education, it can be a little overwhelming. Especially if you’re looking for the most effective learning apps, the best free education apps or easy to use communication tools.

So we’ve distilled the endless list of helpful educational apps into this simple list. If you’re looking for a little technological edge in the classroom, these apps are going to help.

1. Bear

Every teacher needs a brilliant note-taking, archiving, and collaboration tool. Evernote, Microsoft 365 and Google Docs have been big contenders for a while now, but then came Bear. This app gives you an easy way to create and share notes across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. 

Once your notes are there, you can use hashtags to collate different subjects or lesson plans. You can also share the notes with students and parents to save on printing time and cost.

Why Bear?

• You can view your word count and reading time, plus convert what you’ve written into a PDF or Word doc. 
• Cross-link notes so everything is easy to organize and your notes are logged securely and across devices, via iCloud
• Include students and parents to create a truly balanced teaching and learning experience 

Check out Bear here.

2. Twinkl

A comprehensive education resources suite, Twinkl is packed full of tools and resources for all stages of the educational system. Both educators and parents will find plenty here, from literacy and phonics training through to content for more advanced learners, college students and even school leavers and career planning packs.

Twinkl is a popular resource and probably the biggest educational app of it's kind. You'll find downloadable study materials, interactive content for teachers and students and even AI tools. There are also apps, books and games to encourage reading, phonics, writing and much more.

Why Twinkl?

• The biggest and most comprehensive repository of study material including downloadable sheets, apps and interactive content
• Suitable for all stages of the educational journey from nursery to school leavers
• Offers content for huge range of global curriculums

Check out Twinkl here.

3. Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a no-brainer for teachers looking to maximize app assistance in their classroom. It brings the power of the entire Google suite, making it easier for you to integrate a long list of helpful tools into your classroom needs. 

For example, you can create assignments for individual classes, access students’ answers from the shared classroom, and even exchange private comments with your students who need some extra help.

Why Google Classroom?

• Share assignments, presentations, and other class Docs with your students as easily as putting docs in shared folders
• Keep all your files organized if you teach more than one class
• Help students collaborate by accessing each others’ work, leaving comments, and sharing ideas on the shared Google Drive folder.

Check out Google Classroom here.

4. ClassDojo

ClassDojo is a highly helpful tool for teachers looking to encourage their students to express themselves in more creative ways. It is a reward system that awards points to students based on their behavior. Students get +1 points when they do good and -1 points when they do not so good.

It’s actually a really useful way to reward students and get them engaged, even in non-academic settings. 

ClassDojo also allows you to create your own targeted behaviors that fit within your goals for the class, ensuring that your students can make guided, measurable progress.

As well as this, ClassDojo allows teachers to communicate with parents by sending them either individual messages, or group/community based messages.

Why ClassDojo?

• Use behavioral points to guide students toward creatively expressive behavior 
• Share ClassDojo reports and other updates with students and teachers in over 35 languages
• Create cute avatars for each student and keep things fun
• Communicate with parents and communities as part of the school

Check out ClassDojo here.

5. Remind

Remind is a basic app that comes in handy when you’re trying to keep parents in the loop. The app allows you to chat with parents in over 90 languages with reliable and automatic translations. 

Remind also allows schools to join the conversation by providing an oversight and reporting area where admins can track communications, classes, and other relevant information.

Why Remind?

• Break down language barriers by communicating with parents in over 90 languages with automatic translation
• Simple text messaging that’s designed specifically for interactivity between teachers, parents, counselors, principals, and everyone crucial to students’ learning.
• Remind helps teachers coordinate with parents and make students’ learning more holistic and impactful.

Check out Remind here.

6. Klassly

One of several options for parent-teacher communication apps, Klassly allows teachers to share whats happening at school and to involve the parents via content. Think of it like a social media app, but focused on your kids privacy and mostly for one to one communication. A great way to share images of whats happening in class, share homework reminders or highlight events.

Why Klassly?

• Lots of useful communication tools to connect parents and teachers including one to one chat, video chat and more
• Manage homework, attendance and other school matters in the app
• The translation feature is a great option for multi-lingual schools - parents see content in their own language, whatever you type in...

Check out Klassly here.

7. Times Table Rockstars

Maths is usually no-ones favourite subject. But TT Rockstars actually makes kids want to do their math homework, with a fun rewards based study program. By first of all choosing their rockstar avatar, kids must study and answer maths questions to progress in their rockstar career. At certain milestones they can do a 'gig' and earn rewards.

It's actually a really fun way to build up maths skills and kids do actually love completing the maths tasks. TT Rockstars focuses on multiplication and division - but the partner app Numbots (below) is about addition and subtraction.

Why Times Table Rockstars?

• TT Rockstars actually makes maths fun... No, really!
• Avatars and rewards engage students and actually make the process easy and engaging
• Very reasonable annual pricing for schools and parents

Check out Times Table Rockstars here.

8. Numbots

From the same team behind TT Rockstars, Numbots offers a very similar educational app experience. Students can customize their robot avatar and then get started with the engaging maths quizzes. The quizzes are visually easy to understand and stimulating and, like TT Rockstars, kids find this style of learning is more like play than study...

Why Numbots?

• Visual maths learning style makes study more like fun than play
• Avatars and rewards make kids want to study
• Reasonable pricing with discounts for schools using Numbots and TT Rockstars

Check out Numbots here.

9. iDoceo

Tablets like iPads have become an integral part of teachers’ classroom management, and we suspect it’s the same for you. That’s why you’ll love iDoceo –  a planner, diary, grade book, and schedule all in one. 

It’s only available for iPad, but it allows you to do so much including adding files to your class’ bulletin boards, sending bulk emails to all your students, and even configuring seating arrangements in your classroom.

Why iDoceo?

• Easily plan your classes ahead of time so you’re on top of everything
• Create classes or import class data from other sources
• Explore the iDoceo manual for productivity and optimization tips

Check out iDoceo here.

10. Classlink

Classlink is a single sign-on platform that allows students and teachers to access educational resources, files, and apps with a simple username and password. The beauty is that you don’t have to share or provide any personal information, which makes it incredibly valuable in today’s reality of cyber security. 

Classlink is also helpful for teachers who love to use technology in their classrooms. It supports thousands of apps, including Seesaw, Canva, Schoolinks, Office 365, and others. 

Why Classlink?

• Let teachers personalize learning for each class they teach
• Analytics area that provides insight into student engagement, learning, and other information
• Doesn’t require you a Google account sign-in, which is an extra layer of security

Check out Classlink here.

11. WolframAlpha

Do you love Wikipedia? Well, WolframAlpha is in a similar theme, but more focused on answers to complex questions. Wolfram Alpha gives access to an entire trove of knowledge on desktop and the main app stores. It covers everything from Math and Statistics to Life Sciences and Computational Science. 

By plugging in questions like “What is the unemployment rate in Chicago?” WolframAlpha provides a whole list of answers, information and further reading that will help you to expand on the problem.

Why WolframAlpha?

• WolframAlpha is an instant source for some of the more complicated answers around math and science. 
• It provides fast answers to increasingly complex questions, making it easier to break down complex subjects in your classes
• It also works across almost any iPad, tablet, or desktop device so it’s great for sharing with other educators and using in almost any scenario

Check out WolframAlpha here.

12. Classcraft

Think of Classcraft as a World of Warcraft but for classroom learning and behavior reinforcement. Classcraft helps teachers reward positive behavior in their students by setting objectives and assigning points to their students based on their progress. 

Classcraft also gives administrators some insight into each classroom by helping them identify students who need the most support. Our favorite part of Classcraft is that it integrates well with other apps on this list like Google Classroom, Clever, and Classlink.

Why Classcraft?

• Students can create custom avatars and collaborate in a virtual gamified world
• Share feedback about student performance 
• Helps teachers keep an eye on each student’s performance without anyone falling behind

Check out Classcraft here.

13. Nearpod

Nearpod is the easiest app around to create lessons for your classes. With Nearpod you can import files or slides, add websites or videos, and create lessons from scratch that can easily be shared with your class. 

Think of it like PowerPoint, but a million times better. The slide format makes it super easy to use and there are a ton of different add-ins like text, video, questions, and quizzes to make things fun.

Why Nearpod?

• Nearpod’s intuitive UI makes adding new slides as easy as possible
• Dupe lessons to edit them slightly or prepare for a future class and avoid double work
• Share slides with students, parents, or other teachers collaborate, have students answer questions and give feedback, all from the Nearpod app, 

Check out Nearpod here.

14. Clever

Clever is a digital classroom platform, and its goal is to “make it possible for every student to instantly access a world of digital learning.” It’s ideally suited for distance learning more than physical classrooms, but its features make you forget that you’re not in a physical classroom. 

Teachers can create individual resource pages, share them with their students, and track their progress. Clever is also deeply invested in cybersecurity and has advanced measures in place to protect student and teacher data. 

Why Clever?

• One unified platform for distance learning that’s great for both teachers and students
• Let’s teachers connect with and teach students, mimicking a physical classroom experience
• Layered security approach to protect the identity of students and teachers

Check out Clever here.

15. Freckle

Freckle helps teachers engage their students with a bit of entertainment but it’s primarily a practice tool that focuses on helping students improve in math and KLA. 

Instead of presenting boring lessons and practice examples, Freckle incorporates gamification that rewards students for hitting new milestones of learning. We also love that Freckle allows teachers and administrators to track students' progress and make informed decisions on how to help them improve.

Why Freckle?

• Allows students to learn in a gamified environment, letting teachers spend less time manually planning lessons, and more time helping students progress
• Freckle has links to videos and lessons from platforms like YouTube to keep students engaged
• Customizable lessons, printable worksheets, and administrator oversight give teachers even more tools to teach students.

Check out the Freckle app here.

16. Apple Classroom

Apple Classroom sounds a lot like Google Classroom, but they help students learn in very different ways. Apple Classroom allows teachers to keep an eye on their students while they’re on their Apple devices. 

Think of it as a parental control app but for the classroom. Are students sneaking in some game time instead of lessons? You’ll be able to see that and lock them out of the distracting apps. Combined with other apps on this list, Apple Classroom is a great tool for helping students stay focused on learning.

Why Apple Classroom?

• Lets teachers monitor what students are doing on their Apple devices in real-time
• Allows teachers to lock students out of certain apps to encourage focus
• Teachers can open apps or web pages on all devices for guided lesson sessions

Check out the Apple Classroom app here.

17. Prodigy

Prodigy aims to make math fun for kids, and it achieves that goal through a series of fun, adaptive learning games that match the student’s learning levels. Many teachers have described it as a great tool for getting students who don’t like math into math. 

Prodigy also helps track student development, offering suggestions on which lessons are best for a rounded learning experience. Parents, of course, can also get in on the action, following their kids as they progress and learn.

Why Prodigy?

• Prodigy lets teachers adjust and align the in-game math content with lesson plans for students
• Prodigy is free for teachers with optional memberships for parents
• Perfect for keeping students engaged, even in lessons they aren’t crazy about

Check out the Prodigy app here.

18. Duolingo

Perhaps the best known language learning app, Duolingo makes reinforcing those language lessons fun. Led by the cartoon owl, Duo, and with lots of fun animations, Duolingo is a fun and slightly addictive way to encourage kids to try language learning.

With daily streaks, rewards and even stories and podcasts, Duolingo uses a mixture of gamification and diverse methods to keep kids engaged. And there is even a Duolingo for schools app to make it easier than ever to pick up the gift of language learning.

You can access Duolingo on iOS or Google devices, so it’s perfect for iPad or tablet learning.

Why Duolingo?

• Gamified language learning is perfect for kids
• Huge range of languages to learn, from French and Spanish to Mandarin and even fictional languages like Klingon!
• Duolingo is entirely free although you can sign up for an ad-free version

Check out Duolingo for schools

19. Quizlet

As the name suggests, Quizlet is an app that lets you administer quizzes to your students in a fun and interactive manner. For example, use flashcards and games to help students understand that it’s not just about scores and getting the answers right. 

Quizlet has also incorporated an AI tutor that makes your job as a teacher that much easier. 

Why Quizlet?

• Make quizzes and class activities interactive and fun
• Students can sign up and start learning on their own
• Turn flashcards into practice tests using the Q-Chat AI feature

Check out Quizlet here

20. Anki

Flashcards are a great way to memorize various things, and Anki offers a great custom flash card experience. Whether learning a new language, or studying plants or animals, memorizing lines for a presentation or theatrical performance, or even learning the alphabet, Anki can be a really useful and free tool.

Best of all, the original Anki (there are many imposters) is totally free, although the iOS app is paid. The Android app, however, is totally free.

Why Anki?

• Flash cards are a great aid for memorizing almost anything from languages to quiz questions
• The AnkiWeb app can sync across multiple devices
• The Anki desktop app is free, as is the Android app

21. Count Down Timer

The Count Down Timer is a nifty ScreenCloud app that you can use during tests and other limited-time activities in the classroom. Its function is simple – display a countdown timer alongside a message of your choice on your school digital signage. 

Planning a class field trip? Get students excited as the day approaches by having the countdown up on a screen. While it’s not strictly an educational tool, the Count Down Timer app can be very helpful for teachers because it’s one less thing you have to think about.

Why Count Down Timer?

• Let teachers display a countdown of their choosing along with a simple message
• Easily reset the timer and repurpose it for whatever event or activity comes up
• A great way to use digital signage and keep students engaged

Check out the Count Down Timer here.

22. TEDEd

Looking for a little inspiration for you or your class? Then you need TEDEd. From the popular TED talk phenomenon, this app gives you an entire library in your hands of educational talks and lessons from some of the world’s best innovators. 

All of these lessons are free and cover a range of subjects. Some of our favorites include The Psychology of Accents and Jamie Oliver’s “Why we should teach every child about food.”

Why TEDEd?

• TEDEd provides hundreds of interesting presentations and educational talks plus additional resources, talking points, and multiple choice questions
• Perfect toolkit for planning lessons around a talk, or using the talk as a jumping point for digging deeper into a specific topic. 
• It’s an endless well of inspiration for amazing new topics to teach.

Check out TEDEd here.

23. Udemy

While this is a home learning app, packed full of great courses (mostly for adults) you'll also find plenty of courses for kids too. Whether they want to brush up on their French language skills, learn to code, or even master the piano, you might be surprised whats on Udemy.

With self-paced learning a popular way to learn more skills, Udemy is an accessible and often fun way to get learning. Many Udemy courses are paid, but there are also regular promotions and discounts - so keep an eye out.

Why Udemy?

• Loads of choices of courses - many non-academic options too
• Self-paced learning means less pressure
• Earn a certificate on completion!

24. Chat GPT

The AI revolution is definitely here, and ensuring kids know how to use LLMs and AI properly is arguably one of the most important modern skills. Chat GPT is an excellent tool for helping to plan and research things like essays - but do remember that fact checking and proofreading are also important modern skills.

Chat GPT is just one of a growing cluster of free AI tools including Perplexity, Google's Gemini, DeepSeek and Claude.

Why Chat GPT?

• Incredible free tool can be used to ask questions and aid learning
• Using AI is likely to be an important skill in the coming years, so this is a great intro
• Fact checking AI content is also a good exercise in critical thinking for young minds

25. Mindgrasp

Mindgrasp is a modern AI-powered educational app built to help students prepare for tests, exams, and quizzes more efficiently. Its standout feature, the AI Flashcard Maker, automatically turns notes, PDFs, PowerPoint slides, images, and other study materials into clear, interactive flashcards in seconds.

Students simply upload their content, and Mindgrasp’s AI extracts key concepts, definitions, and examples, eliminating the need for manual flashcard creation.

Why Mindgrasp?

Instant AI flashcard creation from real study materials

Upload notes, PDFs, slides, or images and receive high-quality, exam-ready flashcards in seconds—no setup, no typing, no wasted time.

Flashcards tailored to your syllabus, not generic content

Every card is built from your own class materials, making study sessions more relevant and effective.

Clean, structured flashcards ideal for visual learners

Key terms, definitions, and concepts are presented in an easy-to-review format, perfect for quick revision and last-minute exam prep.

All-in-one study platform across devices

Alongside flashcards, Mindgrasp offers AI-generated quizzes and summaries, with seamless access on desktop, mobile, and via a Chrome extension—so students can study anytime, anywhere.

Check out Mindgrasp.

26. ScreenCloud app - Honorable mention

Most school halls now have screens dotted around the walls. But how many are making the most of them? With the ScreenCloud app, you could get any content that’s of interest to you and your students live on the walls. 

This could be departmental social media feeds, the latest school news, lessons, world events, or anything you like really. We also have tons of resources to help you get set up like setting up your digital signage hardware, what digital signage software to use, and a digital signage plan for elementary schools. You can also explore our guide on examples of digital signage for schools.

Why ScreenCloud?

• ScreenCloud allows you to create digital signage on any TV screen you already have. 
• Teachers have access to the dozens of apps on the App Store; everything from news feeds and social media displays to the latest currency rates
• Create playlists and schedule content, allowing you to create different content for different departments, days of week, and times of day

Check out the ScreenCloud app here.

Upgrade your classroom experience with ScreenCloud

Chances are that you’re already using apps in your classroom to plan lessons, enhance student participation, and keep parents in the loop. And thanks to this article, you have a new list to tinker with.

We highly recommend ScreenCloud if you’re looking for an easy way to integrate all these apps into your classroom without missing a beat. ScreenCloud allows you to display almost anything from lessons to gamified quizzes on your existing classroom screens making your job easier and keeping your students engaged.

Sign up for a demo here and see how ScreenCloud can help your classroom and school.