Introducing the best apps to help students work smarter

The reality is that for teenagers in 2023, school, socialising and leisure time all revolve around screens.

Technology can be a huge help with keeping students organised, focused and motivated. It’s about finding the right tech that offers real benefits and balancing that with a screentime solution that works for your family.

Here at KTL Tuition, we hear about many apps that are a game changer for students. So, here is our guide to the top apps to help students study smarter, manage money better and help stay healthier.

Citationsy (IOS/Android)

When you’re in the flow of writing an essay, it may seem easier to put off your referencing until you’ve got your final draft. Citationsy makes referencing a breeze by allowing you to organise your citations with their barcode scanner.

Free to download, requires in app purchases

Google Drive (IOS/Android)

Google Drive is a student essential. It’s used in many schools, homes and workplaces and is one of the easiest ways to store and share your documents.

Free to download

Todoist (IOS/Android)

If you keep losing track of what you need to do when, try Todoist. It’s a simple but powerful task planner and to-do list app that can be used for everything from keeping track of assignments or organising your birthday party.

Free to download

Microsoft Lens (IOS/Android)

Don’t have time to copy all the notes on the whiteboard? Or need to borrow a friend’s notes to catch up on a missed class? Microsoft Lens is like having a portable scanner. Simply point, capture the image and export to PDF, Word or several other formats.

Free to download

Focus Keeper (IOS/Android)

If you struggle to maintain your concentration when doing assignments and study, try Focus Keeper. It’s a Pomodoro technique based app that will help keep you focused and avoid burnout.

Free to download

iStudy Alarm (IOS/Android)

Similar to Focus Keeper, this is another Pomodoro technique based studying tool that is designed to keep you focused. As well as keeping track of your study time, this tool also offers study tips, brain break ideas and exam tips.

Free to download

Pennies (IOS)

Although many of us cringe when we hear the words budget or budgeting, it’s an essential life skill. Pennies is a friendly, simple, easy to use app to help your student learn to manage their budget (and maybe even help them save!)

$8.99 to download

PocketSmith (IOS/Android)

A lot of budget apps don’t allow for more than one income but many in Generation Z have at least one side hustle on the go. If your student has a couple of part time jobs to make ends meet, PocketSmith may be the answer they’re looking for.

$8.99 to download

Waterllama (IOS)

It can be hard to keep track of how much water you have in a day when you’re a busy student. Enter Waterllama! A water tracker app that helps make sure you get your 8 glasses a day.

Free to download, in app purchases available for premium version

Headspace (IOS/Android)

Stress can be an issue for many students especially around exam time. Headspace is a science based guided mediation and mindfulness app that aims to help positively impact user’s mental and physical health.

 Free to download with in app purchases available

Luminosity (IOS/Android)

A science backed, daily brain training app that will help your student improve memory, processing speed and problem solving.

Free to download

We hope that you've seen some apps that can help your teenagers (or maybe yourself!) keep on top of life, work and school commitments.

Would like to introduce some of these apps to your children but you're not sure about how much screentime they should have? Or maybe you need some tips to help control screentime in your whanau? Many parents say that screentime is an everyday struggle in their household.

If you're looking for some advice and tips around screentime, make sure you read Kidz Therapy’s article Five useful strategies to help curb your child’s screen time.