In 2013, a team led by John Dunlosky reviewed the evidence behind ten common study techniques in a major report for Psychological Science in the Public Interest. Of the ten, only two received the highest utility rating: practice testing (quizzing yourself rather than re-reading) and distributed practice (spreading study sessions out over time instead of cramming). Widely-used habits like highlighting, underlining, and simply re-reading notes rated poorly by comparison.
That result matters more than which app you download, because it tells you what a study app actually needs to help you do: test yourself, and space that testing out. Apps that don't support either habit are, at best, neutral.
| App | What it's for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Anki | Spaced-repetition flashcards with a scheduling algorithm; the most powerful option for pure memorization (anatomy, vocabulary, dates) | Free, open-source (small one-time cost on iOS) |
| Quizlet | Simpler flashcards, large library of pre-made sets, easier to start with than Anki | Free tier; Plus is a paid annual subscription |
| RemNote | Combines note-taking with spaced-repetition flashcards created directly inside your notes | Free basic plan |
| Notion or OneNote | Organizing lecture notes, deadlines and course material; not a memorization tool on its own | Free tiers for both, often free for students |
| Google Calendar + a task app | Scheduling distributed practice sessions across the week, rather than one long cram | Free |
| FocusTomato | Running the actual study sessions, whichever app holds your material | Free, no sign-up |
If you're building a study system from nothing, the simplest honest starting point is: FocusTomato for the timer, Anki or Quizlet for review, and whatever calendar you already use to spread sessions across the week. Add tools only once you feel a specific gap, not before.
There isn't one best app because studying involves several distinct jobs: taking notes, memorizing facts, scheduling review, and running focused sessions. Anki or Quizlet cover memorization, Notion or OneNote cover notes, and a timer like FocusTomato covers the session itself.
Anki has a more powerful spaced-repetition algorithm and is free, but has a steeper learning curve. Quizlet is simpler, has a large library of ready-made study sets, and suits collaborative or quick review better than deep long-term memorization.
A major 2013 review in Psychological Science in the Public Interest found practice testing (quizzing yourself) and distributed practice (spacing sessions out over time) had the strongest evidence, rated well above common habits like highlighting and re-reading.
You can space out review manually with a calendar and a note of what to revisit and when. Apps like Anki simply automate the scheduling, calculating when you're likely to forget a specific card and showing it to you again around that point.
FocusTomato is free forever. No sign-up needed.
Start Free Timer →