APPS AND TOOLS TO AID IN YOUR SUCCESS
Below you will find a list of apps and tools that can help you manage your time, calendar and money. If you have an app recommendation that could be useful for other students email the recommendation to studentsuccess@email.arizona.edu.
Google Calendar
It is a useful planner to set up your class schedule and put reminders in beforehand so you show up on time. It can also be used to schedule events, create reminders, share availability and much more!
Price: free with a google account
Google Drive
Back up all your documents from class on Google Drive. That way it is always accessible, whether you’re on your phone or in front of a computer. Google sheets, Google docs, Google slides, Microsoft Office documents, PDFs and more are compatible
Everything is sharable for collaborative projects!
Price: free with a google account
MindMeister
Helps you visualize your ideas by creating idea maps. This includes project planning, note taking, meeting management – among many others!
Price: basic version is free. Other plans range from $4.99 to $12.49
MyLifeOrganized
This task management app lets you break things down into bite sized pieces. It automatically sorts priority action items and can see what is scheduled for the whole day.
Price: both free and paid options are available.
Brightspace
This app gives you access to D2L to access content for your classes and lets you download or upload documents if you are away from a computer. Available through the Google Play and App Store. Find the University of Arizona in the list under ‘Select your Institution.’
Price: Free
Need more help? Check out help.d2l.arizona.edu/content/student-mobile-apps
Mendeley
This reference manager and PDF reader lets you annotate and highlight your readings! You can generate references, citations and sync your work across several devices.
Price: first 2 gigabytes of storage are free. Plans range annually from $55 to $165 for more storage.
EasyBib
This app generates MLA citations for free! It can give grammar suggestions too.
Price: free. The premium version is $10, and you will get all citation styles as well as plagiarism detection.
Grammarly
Make sure your essays stand out and engage the reader. This app uses AI to check for grammatical issues, sentence structure and more.
Price: free. There are other options available: Grammarly Business for $15 or Premium for $30.
Canva
Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Use it to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more.
Price: free and paid subscriptions
Quizlet
Make your own flashcards and trade with your friends to get ready for a quiz or test! You can also play time-based games based off the information you need to know.
Price: free. You can also get Quizlet Plus – an ad-free version and available offline for $23.88 annually.
Duolingo
Learn a new language from your phone or use it to practice one you already are learning! This app helps you with speaking, reading listening, writing, grammar, and vocabulary. It can also be accepted as a form of English proficiency.
Price: free. There is a paid version where you get access to offline lessons and no ads.
Evernote
This note-taking and task-management system lets you sync up across your devices. You can make to do lists, save webpages, and make your documents digital.
Price: free. A premium version with more features is $69.99 annually.
CliffsNotes
Get a better understanding of a book you are reading for class with this app! It will help you understand the symbolism in a story or clarify a tough point. It also offers study guides and test preps!
Price: the study guides are free.
Note: it’s available online for both Android or iOS. But the Android app will only work if you have bought the Test Prep course.
Anki
Anki is a free and open-source flashcard program. It uses techniques from cognitive science such as active recall testing and spaced repetition to aid the user in memorization.
Price: free
Notion
Notion is a productivity and note-taking web application developed by Notion Labs, Inc. It is an online only organizational tool on many different operating systems, with options for both free and paid subscriptions.
Price: free and paid subscriptions
Endnote
EndNote is a commercial reference management software package, used to manage bibliographies and references when writing essays, reports and articles.
Price: free and paid subscriptions
Goodnotes
Goodnotes is a digital notepad and PDF markup tool. And it's very good at both. As a notepad, Goodnotes covers all the bases. Create notes with your keyboard or handwrite them with Apple Pencil.
Price: free and paid subscriptions
2Do
Color code your tasks using this time management tool! Find your tasks by type (school, work, personal, etc.).
Price: 21-day free trial, but then it varies from $3 to $25 depending on your device.
myHomework
This app is focused on homework and assignment planning. You can set up times, due dates, and calendars for your assignments. It is useful because you can also input your course schedule and class reminders.
Price: free
Studious
Silence your phone during class by inputting your schedule into this app! It can also remind you when homework assignments and tests are scheduled. It comes with maps of colleges and university campuses, and even connects to Facebook.
Price: free
Self Control
This Mac specific app blocks access to the internet or to apps of your choosing. It happens for a certain period of time so you can get things done without interruption.
Price: free
AppDetox
This Android specific app is a version of Self Control. It blocks chosen apps for set chunks of time to keep you from getting distracted.
Price: free
Forest
This app uses gamification to motivate effective time management The app encourages you to stay off your phone by growing a tree and awarding virtual coins . You can spend your virtual coins to plant real trees
Price: $1.99
Semester on Page
Organize and map out your semester
Price: free
Semester on Page
Organize and map out your semester
Price: free
TED
Everyone loves a good TED Talk, and if you’re needing inspiration – this app is a good place to start. It can help you find a focus for a paper or project. It is also a great way to unwind at the end of the day.
Price: free
All kinds of TED Talks are available for free on YouTube.
Mint
This money manager app can help keep your finances in order and in one place! It makes a budget with suggestions from the app based on your spending habits. You can also check your credit score.
Price: free.
Venmo
Avoid having to stop by the ATM to pay someone! This app lets you make and share payments by linking your bank account or debit card to the app.
Price: free.
Zelle
Zelle is a United States–based digital payments network run by a private financial services company owned by the banks Bank of America, Truist, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo.
Price: free
GroupMe
Bring your group together in 3 easy steps. Create group chats. Your community joins by link, QR code, or even SMS-only. Many students use it to communicate with clubs and make study groups
Price: free
Discounts for college students
Different services offer discounts for college students like Amazon Prime, Hulu and Spotify.
Price: price varies
Discord
Discord is an instant messaging and VoIP social platform which allows communication through voice calls, video calls, text messaging, and media. Communication can be private or take place in virtual communities called "servers".
Price: free
The U of A app
This University of Arizona app is your one stop shop for moving around the U of Arizona. See your class schedule, get directions, Cat Tran routes, explore campus resources and much more!
Price: free
Box
Box is an online cloud storage and collaboration tool that enables you to easily store, access, and share files from anywhere, at any time, and from any device. Topics covered here include who is eligible for an account, options for storage space and data types, and information on syncing files.
Price: free
Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) gives you unlimited access to the entire collection of Adobe desktop and mobile apps, from essentials like Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and InDesign to innovative new tools like Adobe XD and Rush. Use these industry-leading creation tools to design logos, posters, brochures, and ads, and create compelling and engaging video, animation, websites, user experiences, and motion graphics. Use Adobe CC's mobile apps to sketch, draw and create layouts to generate content wherever you are. It’s everything you need to create, collaborate and get inspired anywhere. Sign up now to leverage the power of Adobe CC.
Price: free
Passport
Pay, extend, and manage your parking session with just a few taps. Its easy! Just park where you see Passport Parking app signs & decals, pay for your parking session from your phone, and be on your way.
Price: pay for parking session in app
Campus Groups
The Associated Students of the University of Arizona is excited about student's interest in clubs and organizations. We recognize that student organizations provide a valuable service to the UA community by providing leadership development, spirit, activism, public service, and social and cultural interaction. As a student at UA, you have the unique opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities. Search clubs on Campus Groups
Price: free
Microsoft 365
All active UA faculty, staff, and students can download Office software to their desktops and mobile devices (5-device limit).
Price: free
Wellness Apps
From meditation and mindfulness to mood tracking and more, CAPS curated this list of apps to help support your health and wellness.
Price: varies
Transloc
Stay informed about detours, affected service routes, and real-time updates on the Transloc app or Cat Tran tracker.
Price: free
CATPRINTS
Print your documents from any device to one of the CATPRINTS kiosks in our libraries or on campus.
Price: varies
Handshake
Handshake is the #1 way college students find jobs. It is a free online career hub that gives all students access to job and internship postings, career fair and employer events, employer pages with peer reviews, and more! Log in to complete your profile at arizona.joinhandshake.com.
Price: free
Grubhub
Grubhub allows you to order ahead and skip the line for pick up. Connect your meal plan.
Price: app is free, pay with your meal plan, CatCash etc
New York Times
University of Arizona faculty, students, and staff can now access The New York Times online for free through a subscription provided by the University of Arizona Libraries (UAL). Access includes more than 150 years of articles, breaking news, multimedia content, Times newsletters, and the International, Spanish, and Chinese editions of the Times. NYT games are also a great way to take a break
Price: free
Night Cat by Lyft
Parking & Transportation Services (PTS) offers eligible University of Arizona students, faculty, and staff free Lyft rides starting and ending on campus, Safeway on Broadway, or Walmart at El Con Mall ONLY. Ride codes are valid Monday - Friday from 5:00pm to midnight.
Price: free