Best Apps for Revision (And How to Use Them Effectively)

Bamboozled by the number of revision apps on the market? The trick is knowing which ones help you learn and which ones just make you feel productive whilst wasting your time. With thousands of study apps available, it's easy to download five different ones, spend an hour setting them up, and then never actually revise.

This guide cuts through the noise to show you the best revision apps that make a difference. Plus, you’ll discover how to use them alongside quality resources to boost your exam results.

Key Takeaways

• Revision apps work best when they support active learning techniques like flashcards, spaced repetition, and past paper practice.

• Different apps serve different purposes: some help you memorise, others keep you focused, and some help you organise your notes.

• The most effective revision combines multiple tools, including apps and exam-board-specific resources like Save My Exams.

Why Use Apps for Revision?

The best apps for revision support the best learning techniques, such as: 

• Active recall - where you actively retrieve information from memory rather than passively rereading notes. 

• Spaced repetition - where you review material at increasing intervals to strengthen long-term memory.

Apps can also help you: 

• Stay organised. They let you: 

  • Plan revision sessions

  • Track your progress

  • Keep all your notes in one place

• Reduce distractions. Yes, your screen is distracting, but the right apps can actually block the worst temptations, like social media and help you focus for longer.

Best Revision Apps for Active Recall & Memory

These apps help you actively test yourself, which is one of the most effective ways to revise.

Anki

What it is: Anki (opens in a new tab) is a flashcard app built around spaced-repetition algorithms that show you cards at optimised intervals based on memory performance.

What it’s good for:

• Memorising facts, definitions, formulas, vocabulary.

• Long-term retention

• Efficient revision with minimal wasted time

Key features:

• Spaced repetition automatically prioritises difficult cards

• Customisable flashcards 

• Free on desktop and Android; one-time paid app on iOS

Example use: 

If you’re studying GCSE Biology, you could create cards for each key photosynthesis term. The cards you find tricky appear more frequently than those that don’t.

Quizlet

What it is: Quizlet (opens in a new tab) is a user-friendly flashcard app with practice tests and study guides.

What it’s good for:

• Quick, simple study sessions

• Visual learners

• Students who want minimal setup and a polished interface

Key features:

• Flashcards you create or choose from millions of user-generated sets

• “Learn” mode that adapts to progress

• Free version available; some modes require a subscription

Example use: 

For GCSE French, you could create a set of vocabulary flashcards and use “Learn” mode each evening to ensure your weakest terms are being nailed.

Best Apps for Note-Taking & Organisation

Good notes make revision easier. These apps help you organise and use your notes effectively.

Evernote

What it is: Evernote (opens in a new tab) is a digital note-taking app that lets you organise information into notebooks and searchable notes.

What it’s good for:

• Detailed class notes

• Storing mixed media 

• Multi-device syncing

Key features:

• Create notebooks and notes with text, images, audio, and attachments

• Web Clipper for saving online resources

• Free version limits syncing to a small number of devices, but it’s still fine for most students

Example use: 

You can create a separate notebook for each subject and use the Web Clipper to save helpful revision articles. When revising, you can quickly search keywords to pull up all related notes.

Notion

What it is: Notion (opens in a new tab) is an all-in-one workspace that is a digital planner and database.

What it’s good for:

• Building personalised revision systems

• Organising large amounts of information

• Linking topics and resources

Key features:

• Create pages for each subject or module

• Add tables, toggles, calendars, checklists, embeds and more

• Link concepts together and build topic databases

Example use: 

You could build a revision dashboard with a calendar, to-do list, pages for each subject, and a database tracking which topics you’ve mastered and which still need revision.

Google Keep

What it is: Google Keep (opens in a new tab) is a simple note-taking app focused on quick lists, reminders, and short notes.

What it’s good for:

• Reminders and simple checklists

• Students who want minimal setup

• Quick ideas or last-minute notes

Key features:

• Colour-coded notes and checklists

• Voice notes and quick photo capture

• Syncs instantly with your Google account

Example use: 

You could jot down a quick list of vocabulary to learn before a quiz. It’s all captured instantly without needing to organise anything.

Best Apps for Focus & Managing Distractions

These apps help you avoid the biggest productivity killer: your phone itself.

Forest

What it is: Forest (opens in a new tab) is an app that turns staying off your phone into a small game: you plant a virtual tree that grows as long as you stay focused.

What it’s good for:

• Reducing phone distraction

• Building consistent focus habits

• Visual learners who benefit from seeing progress

Key features:

• Over time you build a whole forest representing productive sessions

• Partners with a real-world tree-planting organisation

• Simple, motivating design

Example use: 

You plant a tree before starting a 40-minute revision session. Knowing the tree will die if you open social apps keeps you focused.

Freedom

What it is: Freedom (opens in a new tab) is a website blocker designed to get rid of digital distractions during study time.

What it’s good for:

• Blocking social media, games, or distracting websites

• Students who revise on laptops/tablets where distractions are harder to avoid

• Creating consistent study routines

Key features:

• Custom block lists for distracting websites and apps

• Free trial available, then subscription required

• Very effective for breaking compulsive browsing habits

Example use: 

You’re able to set Freedom to block social media when you need, say every weekday from 4–6pm. When you sit down to revise, those sites are completely inaccessible, making it far easier to stay focused.

Pomodoro Timer Apps (Focus To-Do, Pomofocus)

What it is: Pomodoro timer tools, like Pomofocus (opens in a new tab), use the Pomodoro Technique: 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break, with a longer break after four cycles.

What it’s good for:

• Preventing burnout

• Structuring revision into manageable pieces

• Students who struggle with long, unbroken study sessions

Key features:

• Simple built-in Pomodoro timers

• Encourages regular rest to maintain productivity

• Free and extremely quick to set up

Example use: 

Work through three GCSE Maths exam questions using 25-minute Pomodoro blocks. Use the short breaks to stretch and reset, avoiding burnout during long revision days.

Best Apps for Languages

Language learning apps can support your language revision, but they work best alongside classroom learning.

Duolingo

What it is: Duolingo (opens in a new tab) is a gamified language-learning app with short lessons covering vocabulary, grammar, listening, and speaking.

What it’s good for:

• Building vocabulary

• Daily practice and habit-forming

• Maintaining fluency between classes

• Students who benefit from quick, bite-sized revision

Key features:

• Spaced-repetition practice that reinforces tricky words

• Daily streaks and XP rewards to encourage consistency

• Lessons include speaking, listening, and matching tasks

Example use: 

You can complete a 10–15 minute Duolingo session each morning to keep vocabulary fresh and maintain a daily language habit.

Memrise (for Languages)

What it is: Memrise (opens in a new tab) is a language-learning app that uses short video clips of native speakers.

What it’s good for:

• Improving listening and speaking skills

• Learning everyday phrases

• Students preparing for oral exams

• Anyone who wants exposure to real native accents

Key features:

• Video clips of native speakers for every phrase

• Teaches practical, conversational language

• More authentic feel than textbook-style apps

• Great for reinforcing oral exam content

Example use: 

If you’re preparing for a speaking exam, use Memrise to practise hearing real accents and learning natural expressions. 

Best Apps for Audio Learning

Some students retain information better when they hear it. These apps support audio-based revision.

Audible

What it is: Audible (opens in a new tab) is Amazon’s audiobook platform, offering a huge library of fiction, non-fiction, and educational titles.

What it’s good for:

• Hearing the set texts you’re studying in English Literature

• Content-heavy subjects like History, Politics, or Sociology

• Learning during commutes 

Key features:

• Allows you to listen while following along in the physical text

• Great for multitasking (walking, exercising, travelling)

• Subscription-based, but offers a free trial with one included book

Example use: 

If you’re studying Macbeth, listen to the audiobook while reading the play. This will help you understand tone, pacing, and emotion. 

Voice Recorder Apps

What it is: Your phone’s built-in voice-recording app is a simple but highly effective revision tool.

What it’s good for:

• Auditory learners

• Memorising definitions, quotes, formulas, and essay structures

• Revision during commutes or before bed

Key features:

• Record yourself reading notes or key points

• Use recordings to quiz yourself by pausing and recalling information

• Totally free and already installed on your device

• Zero setup required - just hit record

Example use: 

Record yourself summarising what happened on key dates in World War II in your own words. On the bus or before sleep, listen back, pausing the audio to test whether you can recall the next point before hearing it.

Best App for Mind Mapping & Visual Revision

Visual learners benefit from seeing how topics connect. Mind mapping apps make this easy.

MindMeister

What it is: MindMeister (opens in a new tab) is a digital mind-mapping tool that lets you visually organise ideas by branching out from a central topic into subtopics.

What it’s good for:

• Big-picture revision

• Understanding how concepts connect

• Breaking down complex subjects into manageable parts

Key features:

• Create mind maps on phone, tablet, or computer

• Easy drag-and-drop structure for organising ideas

• Share maps with classmates for collaboration

• Free version available with a limit on the number of maps

Example use: 

When revising GCSE Geography, create a mind map with “Climate Change” at the centre. Branches could cover causes, effects, case studies, and solutions. 

How to Use Apps for Revision Effectively

Apps are tools, not magic solutions. Here's how to use them properly.

Limit how many apps you use. Three or four well-chosen apps are better than ten you never use properly. 

Schedule app time intentionally. Use flashcard apps during short windows like bus journeys. Save deeper work for when you can focus properly with Pomodoro timers.

Combine digital and physical revision. Apps complement traditional methods like handwritten notes and past papers. Don't rely entirely on screens.

Combining Apps With Save My Exams Revision

Apps work best when paired with high-quality revision materials.

At Save My Exams, our resources are written by real examiners and expert teachers, and designed to match your exact exam board. Whether you're studying for GCSEs, IGCSEs, A Levels, or IB, you'll find clear, exam-focused tools that make revision simpler and smarter.

Here's how to combine apps with Save My Exams:

• Use flashcard apps (Anki, Quizlet) to memorise key definitions and formulae from Save My Exams revision notes. 

  • Our notes condense each topic into exactly what you need to know, making them perfect for turning into flashcards.

• Use focus apps (Forest, Pomodoro timers) whilst working through Save My Exams topic questions. 

  • Block out distractions and time your practice sessions to build exam stamina.

• Use note-taking apps (Notion, Evernote) to organise Save My Exams model answers by topic. 

  • Collect examples of perfect exam responses so you can reference them whilst revising.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best app for memorising content?

Anki is the most powerful app for memorisation because it uses spaced repetition algorithms. However, Quizlet is easier to use and more beginner-friendly. Choose Anki if you're willing to invest time learning the system. Choose Quizlet if you want something simpler that still works well.

What app helps most with staying focused?

There are a few, depending on your specific needs.

• Forest is excellent if you struggle with phone distractions because it gamifies focus.

• Freedom is better if you need to block specific websites and apps across multiple devices. 

• For timed work sessions, any Pomodoro timer app (like Pomofocus) works brilliantly.

What app should I use for planning my revision?

Notion offers the most flexibility for building custom revision planners and dashboards, while for basic to-do lists, Google Keep or even your phone's default reminders app work fine.

Can I revise effectively using only apps?

No. Apps support your studies but shouldn't be your only method. You need exam-board-specific resources, past papers, and proper revision techniques. Apps work best when combined with quality materials like Save My Exams revision notes and past papers. Think of apps as tools that enhance your revision, not replacements for actually studying content.

Final Thoughts

The right apps can genuinely transform your revision. They can help you memorise, stay focused, and organise your notes, but they can't do the learning for you.

Combine smart app choices with proven resources like Save My Exams, put in the work, and you'll see results. Your phone can be your biggest distraction or your most powerful revision tool. The choice is yours.

References

Anki App (opens in a new tab)

Quizlet (opens in a new tab)

Evernote (opens in a new tab)

Notion (opens in a new tab)

Google Keep (opens in a new tab)

Forest (opens in a new tab)

Pomofocus (opens in a new tab)

Duolingo (opens in a new tab)

Memrise (opens in a new tab)

Audible (opens in a new tab)

MindMeister (opens in a new tab)